K Shanmugam
Singapore
“Bank accounts are frozen when there is reason to suspect that the bank accounts are involved in illicit activities, including money laundering activities.”
“The Singapore Police Force does not track the requested data. Distinguishing artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content typically requires more detailed forensic examination which may not be necessary in every investigation and may also not be conclusive as to whether AI-generative tools were used.”
“The Building and Construction Authority’s Code on Accessibility provides baseline requirements for accessible and inclusive buildings. It stipulates a minimum width of 1.5 metres or 1.8 metres for primary accessible routes, depending on the building type.”
“The Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licence) Rules under the Road Traffic Act set out the scope of the medical assessment required for motorists aged 65 and above who wish to retain their driving licences.”
“When a Police report has been made, the Police will investigate to determine if a criminal offence has been committed. If there is reasonable suspicion that a case is scam-related, the Police can direct online service providers to restrict Singapore users' access to the relevant online activity under the Online Criminal Harms Act.”
“Through intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement actions, the cross-border operation disrupted a transnational drug trafficking syndicate and downstream drug trafficking activities, with the UK arresting seven persons so far and further investigations underway.”
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Every one of 4,552 lines we hold for K Shanmugam, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 72 of 92.
“When Police went to the school, they did not know who he was or his history. An accused person unknown to the Police could well have engaged in other molest, and until then, maybe no one had reported. If the Police wait, and he molests someone else in the meantime, then the question would be: why did the Police not move in faster? When an incident happens, as a general rule, I am sure we want the Police to move in quickly. Every year, we pick up more than 1,300 young persons – students and also others. What do Members think the public's attitudes will be if it was the victim of the molest who had committed suicide? Police would be expected to have moved quickly. This will become clearer when I deal with my next point: the types of young persons we pick up. Young people get picked up for a wide range of offences, from rioting, sexual assault, physical assault to even murder. Some, obviously, involved in very serious offences. Police need to move quickly, arrest, investigate, before the others, including other gang members, destroy evidence. Should we make distinctions based on the types of offences involved? What about gang riots? What about deliberate arson or Unlicensed Money Lending cases? What about those which are more security related; say, a 14-year-old, who was radicalised and wants to go out and kill? Internal Security Department (ISD) has interviewed some in that age group. And to prove the point, two weeks ago, we stopped a 15-year-old radicalised boy from Indonesia. He had wanted to go and fight in the Middle East. So, let us take this seriously. Let me now turn to the third point. We must reduce systemic risk where possible. We cannot assume that all Police officers will always follow protocols. There will be some who will be tempted to take shortcuts.”
“We have the Appropriate Adult Scheme to provide assistance to suspects who have mental and intellectual disabilities. The role of the Appropriate Adult is to assist these persons to communicate more effectively with the Police. Police have said in their statement of 1 February that they will consider this point during the review. The Association of Criminal Lawyers of Singapore (ACLS) has contacted us and offered to give us their views. We will engage them and get their views. But I will caution against rushing to conclusions at this stage. If there is something we can do better, we will do so. In the review, the following three broad points will be taken into account, in addition to other factors. Those three points are: one, what happened in this case; two, the types of young persons who get picked up; and three, how can we reduce systemic risk. Let me deal with the three points. First, the experience in this case. Are there any specific indications in this case that the processes need to be changed? I have set out the facts that we know, facts which we believe are accurate. There is nothing so far on the evidence to suggest that Benjamin was mistreated by the Police. I have set out how the investigation was done. At this stage, we cannot say that the interview was the specific reason for the suicide. Suicide often involves a very complex set of factors. One has to look at the facts carefully, consult experts to try and get an assessment as to what happened. Police will also consult psychologists and other relevant experts. Some people have asked: why did we need to take him out of the school? Could we not have waited until Benjamin got home? Mdm Speaker, we need to be clear about how we expect Police to investigate cases in general. Let me explain.”
“Police would have taken into account his age, the fact that this is the first time and while all molests are taken seriously, the nature of the specific molest in any case has to be considered. The nature of the alleged molest in this particular case can be characterised as being less serious in a range. That is based on CCTV footages. I would, however, caution that the statistics I have given and the relatively tolerant approach that the Police take towards young persons should not be seen as a licence for young persons to commit offences on the basis that seven out of 10 will not be charged. Let me now deal with the second of my four points. The Police Protocol for dealing with young persons. Police adopt an expedited process for young persons: to interview them and release them as quickly as possible to their parents. In this case, Benjamin was released to his mother within four hours of being brought to the station. Where suitable, a young person will be placed on a programme to help him. An example is the Guidance Programme. The focus is on diversionary supervision and counselling. Young persons will usually be students. The Police guidelines are for the school to be kept updated on the progress of the case. That will allow the school to monitor and support the student. Do we need to amend the Protocol for interviewing young persons? I have asked my Ministry to review the Protocol. One suggestion that has been made is to video-record interviews of all minors. We have announced last year that we are studying the matter of video recording. We will make further announcements when we have worked through the legal and other issues. Another suggestion that has been made is that we extend the Appropriate Adult Scheme to all young persons being interviewed.”
“Benjamin had lunch. He played games on his phone. Sometime later, his mother told Benjamin that he would not be going to the school camp that was to start the next day. That was after a telephone conversation between the mother and a school counsellor. The Minister of Education will provide more details on that conversation. At about 4.20 pm, Benjamin was found dead at the foot of his block. These are the facts. Now, let us ask a question: if Benjamin had not taken his own life, what would have happened in this case? Let me give Members some statistics, which will show what usually happens. Over the last five years, from 2011 to 2015, a total of 7,196 young persons have assisted Police in investigations. Of these, 70%, that is, seven out of 10 were either warned or placed in a Guidance Programme or had no further action taken against them. About 15% were charged. Another 15% of the cases are under consideration. Charges are usually only brought against young persons when there are aggravating factors, such as when the offence is of a serious nature like rioting, or if the young person is a repeat offender, or has breached the terms of a conditional warning, for example, by failing to complete the necessary Guidance Programme. As the statistics show, the Police's approach to young persons is, wherever possible, to try and avoid criminalising the conduct. It is better to give young people a second chance and help in their rehabilitation. It is likely that on the evidence available to us, Benjamin would have received no more than a warning. He is unlikely to have been charged in Court.”
“Mdm Speaker, there are four pages. The first page shows the overall layout of the office and the particular workstation where Benjamin was interviewed is circled. The second page shows a specific photo of the workstation as well as the passageway in between the workstations. The third page shows a sketch of the specific workstation. Members will see, L1, L2 and L3. L1 is where the interviewing officer sat, L2 is where Benjamin sat, and L3, within the same cubicle was where another officer sat doing his own unrelated work. The fourth page shows a photograph of the chairs in the cubicle in question. As Members can see, Benjamin was interviewed in a typical open office setting and another officer unrelated to the case was nearby doing his own work. There were other officers at their respective workstations. Benjamin was not handcuffed at any time. He requested to be given some time to collect his thoughts about the incident. His written statement was taken at a quarter past 12, after he said he was ready. Benjamin was cooperative throughout. He was offered food and drinks after the interview and he declined that. After the interview, he was placed in a Temporary Holding Room which was secured. This was pending his mother taking him back. He was alone in that room. Police then recorded a statement from the mother who was at the station. Benjamin was then released on bail. He left the Police station with his mother and sister. Time spent by Benjamin in the Police station was about three and a half hours which included the time Police spent taking a statement from the mother. That was the last contact between the Police and Benjamin. What happened after Benjamin and his mother left the Police station? Based on investigations, the following is what we know. They went home.”
“That left two officers in the car: one to drive and the other to look after Benjamin. At Ang Mo Kio station, an officer recorded Benjamin's statement. This was done by the officer at his workstation, in an open plan office. Mdm Speaker, with your permission, may I ask the Clerk to hand out a sketch and picture showing the layout of the office, please?”
“The family filed a Police report on the same day, 25 January. Now, let me turn to the Police investigations. As stated earlier, Police retrieved some CCTV footages. Based on his school uniform, Police identified the boy to be from North View Secondary School. On the next day, 26 January, Police went down to the school. Five officers went: three from the Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) and two from Division. The three NPC officers have detailed knowledge of the community, they interact with the schools, they interact with the community and the teachers. They link up with the school; they make interactions smooth; they answer questions that the school may have. Basically, they facilitate the process. The Divisional officers assist in the investigation of cases. The five officers were not in Police uniforms. They were not in any attire with the word "Police". They went in plain clothes, in unmarked cars. The officers showed a screenshot of the CCTV footages to the school officials. The boy in the screenshot was identified to be Benjamin Lim. A school official then brought Benjamin to the Principal's office. One Police officer spoke with Benjamin. Some of the school's educators were present. The officer spoke with Benjamin about the incident. The other four Police officers were not present. After the interview, Benjamin was advised to call his mother by the Principal. And he called his mother. When he finished conversing with his mother, the Police officer spoke with the mother. He told her that Benjamin will be brought back to Ang Mo Kio Police Division to give a statement. Benjamin was then brought back to the station in an unmarked car with three officers. One of the officers alighted along the way.”
“There are two aspects to the facts in this case: one, why Benjamin was asked to assist the Police in the investigations; and two, how the Police investigated the case. On 25 January 2016, a Police report was made. An 11-year-old girl said that she had been molested. Amongst other things, Police retrieved the relevant CCTV footages. A boy in school uniform was identified as the suspect. The boy was later identified as Benjamin Lim. He lived in Yishun. On that day, 25 January 2016, while he was coming home from school, it appears that he made a detour. He went to another block in the neighbourhood, before going home. He seemed to have followed the 11-year-old girl. The two appear not to have met before. He went into a lift at her block, at the ground floor. He followed her in. And he is said to have molested the girl in the lift. There are CCTV footages showing Benjamin making his way to the other block, Benjamin quickly following the girl into the lift after she entered it and there is CCTV footage, within the lift, showing what happened. Police have these footages. Benjamin admitted to the Police that he touched a part of the girl's body and that he did so intentionally. The girl has said to the Police that Benjamin touched a part of her body. After the incident, he stepped out of the lift at the 13th floor. The girl said there was a brief exchange between them when he stepped out of the lift. She did not follow him. CCTV footage then shows Benjamin going down one floor to the 12th floor and then taking the lift down to the ground floor. It would appear, therefore, that his purpose of him getting into the lift was to follow her and, after the incident, get out and go back. She reported to her father what happened.”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to make a Statement. This is a very sad case. A young girl has been traumatised and a boy's life has ended prematurely. We must do right by these two young lives. When Police deal with young persons who have committed offences, their main aim is to rehabilitate them, so that they can go on to lead a crime-free life. That gives them a second chance. It is tragic that such an incident has taken place. It has been a very trying and distressing period for both families. We are very aware of that and we have refrained from commenting in detail on the matter for two reasons. One, out of respect for Benjamin's memory and to protect the young girl as well; and, two, because it would be improper to discuss the facts in detail − which will be disputed − prior to the Coroner's Inquiry (CI). Given that a CI is pending, I took advice from AGC on what I can say today. They have advised that I can set out what I am going to in the speech. But I do so with considerable reservations and I will explain later why. Mdm Speaker, if my voice gives way, I will ask my Senior Minister of State to carry on. I will now deal with the questions raised by Members by looking at the following: one, what are the facts in this case; two, what is the Police Protocol for interviewing young persons; three, the deliberate falsehoods that have been spread in this case to blemish the Police; some people were doing this, as I will show later; and four, why has my Ministry not commented in detail, until now, on the matter? First, the facts. I want to emphasise that the facts are as we know them now, at this stage. Whenever I refer to facts, that is the basis on which I refer to them.”
“The Legal Aid Bureau monitors the number of applications it receives and the number of cases which qualify for legal aid on a financial year (FY) basis, that is, from April to March the following year. The data for FY 2010 to FY 2014 are set out in the table below.”
“As at 31 January 2016, there were 1, 411 stateless persons living in Singapore. Of these, 59% are male and 41% female. One thousand and forty-eight or 74% of them are aged 50 and above. Page: 141 The majority came from other countries to live and work in Singapore. Others were born in Singapore but were not eligible for Singapore Citizenship (SC) at birth as their parents were not Singapore Citizens at the time of their birth and did not obtain foreign citizenship for them from their home countries. Many of the stateless persons have since become Permanent Residents (PRs). As PRs, they can enjoy the various benefits, such as healthcare, housing and education, that are accorded to PRs. Stateless PRs can also acquire SC if they meet the requirements for the grant of SC.”
“The annual breakdown of persons who have had their criminal records rendered spent from 2005 to 2015 is provided in Table 1 below. Under the Registration of Criminals Act, sections 7B and 7C provide that a record in the Register of Criminals will automatically be marked as spent if the ex-offender satisfies certain criteria. To qualify for a record to be spent, the ex-offender must not have been sentenced to an imprisonment term exceeding three months or to a fine exceeding $2,000. The ex-offender must also satisfy a five-year crime-free period, among other criteria. Based on these criteria, those who have had their records spent since 2005 include ex-offenders who committed minor offences, such as shop theft. They also include foreign offenders, Page: 140 the majority of whom are immigration offenders. Of the 157,369 persons who have had their criminal records rendered spent as of 31 December 2015, 68,792 persons are Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs). Of the 88,577 foreigners who have had their criminal records rendered spent as of 31 December 2015, more than half or 47,836 persons were convicted for entering or attempting to enter Singapore without a valid pass or are, in other words, illegal immigrants. All of these illegal immigrants have been repatriated. Their convictions were recorded in the Register of Criminals, and their criminal records would be automatically rendered spent after a five-year period. Notwithstanding the spent records, they are still required to seek prior written permission from the Controller of Immigration if they wish to enter Singapore.”
“There are currently no age restrictions imposed on Permanent Residents (PRs) who intend to renounce their PR status. Being a PR is a step towards citizenship and only those who intend to take up Singapore Citizenship should apply for PR. Male PRs who renounce their PR status before fulfilling their National Service obligations will face serious adverse consequences when they subsequently apply to study, work or live in Singapore. Any subsequent PR or citizenship applications will be affected. In addition, any renewal of Re-Entry Permits by PR's parents and immediate family members may be affected.”
“Apart from our neighbourhoods, SCDF is working with MOH and the Singapore Heart Foundation to encourage more public and private establishments to install AEDs and train their staff. All schools, community centres, sports stadiums, Singapore Armed Forces camps and Home Team facilities have already installed AEDs. A recent initiative that SCDF implemented last November was with SMRT and Temasek Cares to install AEDs in 100 SMRT taxis. In the event of a cardiac arrest case, the trained taxi driver can quickly go to the scene to help. SCDF will continue to expand the reach of its "Save-A-Life" initiative to enhance community self-help and to improve the survival rate of cardiac arrest cases.”
“The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) launched the Save-A-Life initiative in August 2015 to increase the survival rate of cardiac arrest victims by building a network of trained community first responders to respond to cardiac arrest cases in their immediate vicinity. As part of the Save-a-life initiative, SCDF will install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at the lift lobbies of Housing and Development Board (HDB) blocks, with one AED for every two to three blocks. The first phase was implemented from August last year where 160 AEDs were installed in six constituencies in Bedok, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Pasir Ris West, Radin Mas and Tampines West. Another 227 AEDs will be installed this year at these constituencies. We will progressively extend this to all HDB estates by 2018. The AED installation will be accompanied by training for residents to be community responders. SCDF has worked with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the People's Association to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and AED training to community responders through the "Dispatcher Assisted first Responder" (DARE) programme. To date, about 300 residents have Page: 130 been trained in each of the six pilot constituencies. Residents and members of the public who are trained in CPR and AED skills are then encouraged to download the SCDF myResponder Mobile app and register themselves as Community First Responders. In the event of a cardiac arrest case, SCDF will notify, through the app, Community First Responders in the vicinity to respond. Since its launch in April 2015, the app has been downloaded about 9,000 times. The Community First Responders have been alerted to more than 3,800 cardiac arrest cases.”
“They play an important role in complementing Police Officers to maintain law and order and to fight crime.”
“Over the last 10 years, the number of Police Officers has increased by about 18%, from 8,000 to 9,400. While it is more challenging to recruit officers with fewer Singaporean new entrants joining the workforce each year, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) has kept the Police career attractive by offering meaningful and exciting jobs, competitive terms and conditions, as well as good career development and advancement prospects. SPF is currently working on providing more seamless advancement opportunities for its officers by placing degree and non-degree holders on a single scheme of service. It is also introducing specialist career tracks to develop officers with deep expertise in specialist domains. Police jobs, especially at the frontline, will be redesigned to make greater use of data, technology and automation, with streamlined work processes. In October 2013, the retirement age of Police Officers was extended from age 50 to 55. This enables our older Police Officers to continue their contributions to the Home Team. After age 55, Police Officers may be offered re-employment depending on organisational needs. This is subject to performance, conduct and fitness criteria. About 60% of retired Police Officers were re-employed by SPF in the past five years, to both Police and civilian jobs. To allow our Police Officers to perform their core policing functions, more civilian officers have been recruited to take on civilian specialist roles. The Home Team Specialist Scheme was introduced in 2010 for civilian officers to take on specialised roles in areas, such as engineering, technology, crime scene investigations and forensics. There are currently 290 civilian specialist officers in the Police Force.”
“The Singapore Rifle Association (SRA) and Singapore Gun Club (SGC) are shooting clubs which have historically been licensed by the Police to allow Singaporeans to pursue shooting as a sport. Both shooting clubs operate separate armouries co-located at the National Shooting Centre. On 4 February 2016, following an inspection of the SRA and SGC armouries, the Police took into custody several arms which the clubs were not able to produce valid licences for. All arms with licences were, however, accounted for, and none was missing from the armouries. Police investigations into these arms without valid licences are still ongoing at this stage. In the interim, the Singapore Shooting Association, the national sports association for shooting, has been issued a licence to take charge of the armouries and arms within the National Shooting Centre. While Police investigations are still ongoing, access to the centre has since been strictly confined to national shooters from the Singapore Shooting Association and other persons specifically granted permission by the Police. Alongside ongoing investigations, the Police are concurrently conducting a holistic review of the overall security of the National Shooting Centre and will work with Sport Singapore and the Singapore Shooting Association to ensure that the security measures and processes at the National Shooting Centre are robust and satisfy all licensing requirements. Page: 124”
“SPF and the National Crime Prevention Council launched a dedicated anti-scam website, www.scamalert.sg, as a one-stop resource to keep the public abreast of the latest scams and the modus operandi of various scams. The website has attracted more than 170,000 visitors since its launch in November 2014. The Police also reach out to the public at locations with high human traffic, for example, displaying posters at hawker centres, bus stops and train stations. Crime prevention commercials are also aired on local TV channels and at over 500 office buildings. The Police will continually review and improve these public education measures to ensure they stay relevant and effective. Ultimately, however, beyond public education and outreach efforts, it is about how we as individuals and families are aware about the threats on the Internet and how vigilant and alert we are. We have to be cautious when we are online as the stranger on the other side may not be who he says he is and when the offer sounds too good to be true.”
“Online commercial crime nearly doubled from 1,929 cases in 2014 to 3,759 cases in 2015. Examples of such crimes include cheating involving e-commerce, credit-for-sex scams and Internet love scams. The Police are taking active steps to address this increase. First, the Police are stepping up local enforcement efforts. In 2015, the Police conducted four island-wide enforcement operations targeting online scams and arrested 139 persons. Persons found to be perpetrating an online scam or who knowingly assist foreign syndicates in such criminal activities will be investigated and prosecuted. Second, the Police work closely with their foreign counterparts to foil such syndicates. For example, the Police received reports of credit-for-sex scams committed by syndicates operating in China last year. As a result of collaboration between the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and their Chinese counterparts, the Chinese police conducted simultaneous raids and detained 43 members of one such syndicate. Third, the Police are reviewing our laws to enhance the powers for officers to deal with online crime. Fourth, the Police have stepped up public education programmes to raise awareness and prevent the public from falling victim to scams. Online crimes are particularly hard to solve because of the borderless nature of the Internet. A significant proportion of online commercial crimes are committed remotely by foreign syndicates. Despite our best efforts in going after the perpetrators in such online commercial crimes, they will find new ways to exploit and prey on the vulnerabilities of potential victims and hide themselves from law enforcement agencies. Awareness and prevention are, therefore, critical in addressing the rise in such crimes.”
“Under the law, a private liquidator may be appointed to wind up the company, but if no private liquidator is appointed, the Official Receiver shall be the liquidator of the company. The amount that creditors can recover from winding up an insolvent company depends on the amount of assets the company has for distribution. Employees' salaries are paid out of the liquidation proceeds in priority to other unsecured claims, after deducting the liquidator's costs and expenses of winding up. Employees are thus paid as preferential creditors, second only to the liquidator's costs and expenses. This follows the practice in other jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Windings up conducted by private liquidators typically involve insolvent companies with assets available for distribution, including to employees. However, the Ministry does not have statistics relating to insolvent companies that are wound up by private liquidators. In comparison, windings up conducted by the Official Receiver typically involve insolvent companies with little or no assets available for distribution. Even where assets are available, they tend to be insufficient to cover the Official Receiver’s costs of winding up the company. If the liquidator's costs and expenses of winding up are not granted first priority, the liquidator may not be willing to act in the winding up of the company. As this could ultimately prejudice the interests of the company’s creditors as a whole, there are no plans to amend the legislation.”
“The number of reports filed at the Registry of Moneylenders against licensed moneylenders for debt collection-related activities has fallen significantly from 124 in 2013 to 45 in 2015. Borrowers who encounter criminal behaviour from licensed moneylenders or their debt collectors should report the matter to the police or the Registry of Moneylenders. Moneylenders found to have committed offences may have their licences suspended, not renewed, or revoked by the Registry. There are sufficient safeguards currently to protect debtors from unreasonable or illegal conduct by creditors, including licensed moneylenders or their debt collectors. For example, the Protection from Harassment Act 2014 provides for criminal sanctions and civil remedies against Page: 92 unreasonable harassing behaviour. The Ministry of Law has implemented some of the recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Moneylending and will be implementing other recommendations in the coming months. The recommendation to introduce a set of guidelines for licensed moneylenders on acceptable debt collection practices will be reviewed at a later date, to give the moneylending industry some time to adjust to other regulatory changes.”
“Should a student be arrested for drug abuse, CNB will inform his school on the arrest and outcome of investigation. CNB will also conduct investigations on other students from the school who may have taken drugs. In addition, CNB works with the school to conduct talks for the student population on the harms of drug abuse, the seriousness of a drug offence and how to keep drug-free. Third, youth drug abusers will be placed on suitable rehabilitation programmes, depending on their risk profiles. Risk assessments are conducted by trained psychologists to assess the abuser's likelihood of drug re-offending, taking into account factors, such as criminal and drug abuse history, family support and antisocial peer associations. The abuser's risk profile will determine the type and intensity of rehabilitation programme that will be administered. These programmes range from six to 18 months.”
“The number of persons arrested for cannabis abuse has been rising in the past three years as follows: 142 (2012), 186 (2013) and 187 (2014). Ninety-four percent of those arrested were male and 57% were below 30 years of age. Page: 91 While our domestic drug situation remains under control, we have noticed an increasing number of cannabis abusers arrested. Many are young and are new drug abusers. This is an area of concern. The Ministry and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) will step up our efforts to tackle this. First, we have targeted our preventive drug education efforts at youths. CNB engages schools and educational institutions regularly to conduct anti-drug events and roadshows to inform students on the harms of drug abuse. We have increased our use of social media to reach out to youths. A study done by the Task Force on Youths and Drugs in 2015 showed that many young people held the view that cannabis is a soft drug and that the harms and addictiveness of cannabis were less serious than tobacco. We have incorporated messages dispelling these misperceptions in our anti-cannabis educational materials through advertisements at bus stops and articles on CNB's Facebook page. Second, it is crucial to enlist the help of parents and teachers to help our youths stay drug-free. CNB meets with schools regularly to update teachers on the latest youth drug abuse situation. Our teachers will be able to look out for and engage youths who exhibit behaviours of concern to steer them away from drugs. We also reach out to parents through articles in lifestyle magazines and MOE’s parents portal. A new resource brochure is being developed to provide facts and tips for parents on what to do if they suspect their children are abusing drugs.”
“The protocol is a very straightforward and transparent one. What are his teachings, what has he said whether in Singapore or outside of Singapore, and, if his teachings are contrary to our values, he will be denied. We cannot control the publicity that others may give. The Member did not mention a name but he is probably referring to a gentleman who, if we look up on the Internet, has said, for example, that it is absolutely wrong to wish Christians "Merry Christmas". Page: 6 It is contrary to the teachings of the Quran. He says other things. And, of course, he says it in much more powerful terms than the way I can put it to you.”
“But any religious group, whether registered or informal, that preaches values or promotes actions that are directly contrary to our social harmony and cohesion, or threaten our safety and security, will be treated as a security risk.”
“Mdm Speaker, the threat that our young people can be radicalised based on religion is a serious one. The Government has been working with various community groups and organisations to deal with this issue. Among other things, we work with the Inter-Racial and Religious Harmony Circles (IRCCs). MCCY has been engaging the leaders of religious organisations as well as youth leaders in the community and our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs). The approach and purpose are to sensitise them to the threat of radicalisation and the need to be vigilant. We will continue to work with community organisations, Self Help Groups (SHGs) like CDAC, Mendaki, the Eurasian Association and SINDA, to increase the awareness of this issue amongst our youths. Our local Muslim community and religious organisations have also put in considerable effort to counter the radical ideology of the jihadi terrorist groups like ISIS. They are also tailoring their messages and engagement platforms, including social media platforms, to better reach out to youths. Besides engaging youths, we have to take other steps to reduce radical religious influences in Singapore. One example is the fact that we do not allow foreign religious preachers to come to Singapore if their teachings are intolerant of other religious faiths and practices. Their teachings are available on the Internet. Even if they do not say these things in Singapore, we cannot allow them to build up their following in Singapore because, fundamentally, those teachings will destroy our society. Mr Yam also asked whether informal religious groups are tracked for potential risks. Freedom of religion is guaranteed under our Constitution.”
“Our smart cadastre capability will also be enhanced. We will continue to push boundaries in technology to improve business processes and land data management. The implementation of a paperless registration system will simplify the title registration process and enable more self-service transactions. MinLaw has started funding the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, which is run by the Law Society's Pro Bono Services Office. We will encourage law firms and the legal profession to continue to partner us in delivering legal aid. This will ensure access to justice for less privileged Singaporeans. The Registries of Moneylenders and Pawnbrokers work to ensure that borrowers are able to access credit in a safe environment. We will be implementing a series of measures to strengthen the moneylending regime, including the setting up of a centralised credit bureau for moneylenders and the introduction of an aggregate unsecured borrowing cap. We have also recently modernised the pawnbroking regime. For example, auctions have been abolished, allowing cost savings to be passed on to pawners. We have also introduced measures to strengthen the governance of the industry, such as requiring pawnbrokers to appoint an auditor to conduct a yearly audit of their business transactions. We will be introducing a more rehabilitative system that allows bankrupts to be discharged within clear timeframes. We will also implement reforms to encourage credit providers to undertake better risk assessment and borrowers to work responsibly towards clearing their debt. In parallel, we will update and unify the individual bankruptcy and corporate insolvency regimes into a single piece of legislation. Page: 43”
“Page: 42 We promote the Rule of Law by providing timely and quality legal policy input to all primary legislation. We also aim to propagate legal policy principles among public officers and cultivate better public awareness of the law to promote confidence and trust in our legal system. Internationally, we will continue to contribute to the discourse on international law issues. We will advance Singapore's interests by implementing and ratifying the Hague Convention on Choice of Courts Agreements, which will make it easier for the judgments of the Singapore Courts to be enforced in other countries, in instances where a Singapore Court is the chosen Court to hear the dispute. This goes in tandem with the overall review that we are undertaking on how the cross-border enforcement of Singapore judgments can be strengthened for the benefit of businesses and the legal industry. We will also promote Singapore as a neutral venue for inter-state disputes through collaboration with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for maritime disputes to be heard in Singapore. Working with the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), we will continue to ensure optimal use of our land resources and maximise the potential of state land and state properties to help meet Singapore's social and economic objectives. We will explore greater use of subterranean space as Singapore becomes more built-up. We will also promote more innovative use of spaces and allow for greater enjoyment of previously unused state land, such as land under viaducts, for sports, recreational and social purposes. To strengthen Singapore's geospatial capabilities in support of the Smart Nation initiative, SLA, together with IDA, will lead efforts to formulate Singapore's Geospatial Master Plan.”
“We will build on our strengths, help legal practitioners develop expertise in key practice areas, as well as enhance our supporting infrastructure, such as through the expansion of Maxwell Chambers, Singapore's flagship dispute resolution facility. We will look into ways to help the legal industry remain forward-looking and keep up with a rapidly changing economic, social and technological landscape. We will encourage Singapore law practices to raise productivity, deepen service and practice capabilities, encourage product innovation and adopt new technologies. On the intellectual property (IP) front, we have made progress to develop Singapore into a global IP hub in Asia. The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has commenced operations as an International Authority for patent search and examination work under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). We are also reviewing Singapore's copyright and design protection regimes to address new developments in technology, as well as to facilitate the growth of the creative sector and copyright and design-related services. We will work with MOE and UniSIM to build up the UniSIM Law School, to train lawyers who will serve the needs of the community in the areas of criminal and family law. This will also introduce a new pathway for mid-career individuals to join the legal profession. In line with SkillsFuture, we will also work with the Singapore Academy of Law, Singapore Institute of Legal Education and the Law Society to develop initiatives that support the continuing professional development of lawyers. In this way, we can ensure a continued pipeline of high-quality legal talent to meet the needs of our economy and society.”
“MinLaw will continue to work towards realising our vision of "A Trusted Legal System; A Trusted Singapore". We will do this through advancing access to justice and the Rule of Law in Singapore and developing our legal services to support our economy and society. We have worked to ensure that our laws and legal framework are progressive and practical. As part of the Community Disputes Management Framework, the Community Disputes Resolution Act came into force on 1 October 2015, providing a new course of action and tribunals for neighbours locked in intractable disputes. We are looking into substantive reforms in civil and criminal law. Our aim is to improve the civil justice system, improve enforcement of civil judgments and, where possible, remove unnecessary complexities in the civil justice system. In the family law sphere, we are working on reforms to the Guardianship of Infants Act, the Intestate Succession Act, and the Inheritance (Family Provision) Act. We will also ensure that our criminal justice system continues to protect society from crime and maintain law and order, while upholding due process for all and adhering to the Rule of Law. We will work closely with law practices and lawyers to drive Singapore's development as a hub for international legal services and dispute resolution. With the establishment of the Singapore International Commercial Court and the Singapore International Mediation Centre and continued growth of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, Singapore is well-positioned to offer commercial parties a comprehensive suite of dispute resolution options to support their business needs.”
“We will more holistically integrate intelligence efforts, investigations and operations across Home Team Departments. Our Home Team officers are at the heart of everything we do. We will step up efforts to recruit, develop and retain capable and committed people. Degree and non-degree holders will be placed on a single scheme of service within each Home Team Department. We will also develop specialist career tracks to build officers with deep expertise in specialist domains. We will partner leading institutions, such as local Universities, business schools and corporate universities, to deliver high-quality training and develop Home Team officers to their fullest potential. Page: 40 Our transformation plans for Home Team NS will see more NSFs and NSmen assume leadership and specialist positions. By better leveraging their capabilities, we hope to make their NS experience more challenging, meaningful and satisfying. The Home Team will maintain a high level of operational excellence and preparedness, even as we embark on our long-term transformation efforts. We will strengthen community resilience and ensure that our society remains cohesive and united. We treasure the trust and confidence that Singaporeans have placed in us. Together, with the community, we will keep Singapore safe and secure. Page: 41”
“SPF will also be stepping up its engagement efforts to tackle the rising incidence of cybercrime. Community engagement is a key plank of such an approach. We have been working closely with local communities, through initiatives, such as SPF's Citizens-on-Patrol and SCDF's Save-a-Life. In the coming years, we will take community partnerships to a higher level. SPF will reach out to millions of mobile device users for real-time crime-reporting and leads, through extending its crowd-sourcing reach to mobile platforms. We will deepen our cooperation and partnerships with international organisations, such as INTERPOL, ASEAN and the UN. This is critical, given the transnational nature of crime and security threats. To combat terrorism, we will share intelligence, as well as support international initiatives, to counter radicalisation and address the root causes of extremism. To combat the scourge of drugs, we will work with like-minded countries to affirm a zero-tolerance stance to prevent harm from drug abuse and stand firm against pressures to decriminalise and legitimise drug consumption. To address emerging threats more effectively, we are actively exploring new partnerships. For example, we will tap the expertise of organisations, such as INTERPOL, to develop our horizon-scanning capabilities. This will allow us to better detect emerging trends that have security implications, before their effects are manifest. To combat cybercrime, we will work with INTERPOL and regional counterparts to set up information-sharing platforms. Fourth, we will build a stronger and more integrated Home Team. This will help us better deal with issues that span different Home Team Departments.”
“We will also engage our community partners and grassroots organisations on programmes to strengthen community vigilance, cohesion and resilience. Terrorists aim to strike fear and divide Page: 39 society. We will build upon the Community Engagement Programme to ensure that our communities remain vigilant against such threats and stay united should an attack take place. We will conduct regular and realistic exercises to develop local communities to be better prepared and resilient in the event of crises. Second, the Home Team will review the way it operates and develop new operating models, to cope with increasing demands amid manpower constraints. We will adopt a data-driven, tiered and differentiated frontline response model to serve the public better. For example, emergency ambulance calls are increasing at a rate of 5% a year. It will not be realistic for the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to continually expand its ambulance fleet and personnel at the same rate. SCDF will review how it can better tier its emergency ambulance response – in terms of speed of response and manpower deployed – based on the severity of the cases. Data analytics is a crucial enabler for such a response model. It allows us to analyse the data, discern patterns and deploy our resources dynamically to where they are most needed. Third, we will adopt a holistic approach towards safety and security issues that covers not only intervention, but also upstream measures. We will review our laws to keep them relevant and effective against emerging threats. We will also scale up our public education efforts. For example, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) is expanding its outreach to parents to get them involved in keeping their children away from drugs.”
“These security and crime trends are taking place amid attempts to change global norms and Singapore's demographic shifts. An example is drug control policy. There are attempts by some countries to decriminalise drug consumption and possession, as well as to adopt practices, such as drug-substitution therapies and needle-exchange programmes for intravenous drug-users. For countries where drug consumption rates are high and out of control, they believe that such approaches will reduce the collateral harm of drug abuse. On the domestic front, Singapore's population will age and become more diverse. Traveller and cargo volumes at our checkpoints will increase due to upcoming developments, such as Changi Airport Terminal 4. While our work will grow in load and complexity, there is a limit to how much we can grow the size of the Home Team, given Singapore's manpower constraints. We will have to develop new operating models and concepts and make better use of technology. Over the next term of Government, MHA will focus on four key areas. First, we have to further step up our security responses to the evolving terror threat. This will be on several fronts. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will strengthen border security capabilities to bolster our first line of defence. Inland, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) will complete the installation of Police Cameras at all HDB blocks and multi-storey carparks in 2016. SPF will consider the feasibility of installing more Police Cameras in our HDB estates, including HDB blocks, as well as other public areas, to enhance our ability to prevent, deter and detect criminal and terrorist threats. SPF will work with commercial and private establishments to enhance their security measures.”
“Safety and security are cornerstones of Singapore's stability and economic development. To keep Singapore safe and secure, the Home Team will maintain a high level of operational excellence and preparedness. We will also step up efforts to deal with new and growing challenges. At the global level, terrorism, cybercrime and transnational crime continue to pose serious threats to our safety and security. The ongoing conflict in Syria and Iraq and the rise of ISIS have heightened the global terrorism threat. The recent attacks in Paris and elsewhere demonstrate that the global threat of violent extremism is real and present. In our region, the situation has become more serious. ISIS has attracted many foreign fighters to join its fight in Syria and Iraq. Regional authorities estimate that as many as 1,000 Southeast Asians have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join ISIS. When these people return, they will have the capacity to do harm, given their combat experience and networks. In Singapore, we have had to detain a small number of radicalised Singaporeans who were planning to stage "lone-wolf" attacks in Singapore. Transnational crime and cybercrime will also pose a challenge. The movement of people and goods across countries has made crime increasingly cross-border in nature. Syndicates and individuals are exploiting the speed, convenience and anonymity of the Internet to commit or enable crimes, such as theft and fraud. Our law enforcement agencies have detected the work of transnational syndicates behind serious criminal offences, such as drug trafficking and illegal bookmaking. With our high Internet and mobile penetration rates, cybercrime has also been on the rise, which is driving up overall crime rates.”
“Mdm Speaker, we have all been deeply shocked by the bombing in Central Bangkok yesterday. More than 20 people have died and over 120 have been injured. Sadly, one of our Singaporeans was among those killed. Seven other Singaporeans were injured. Members will join me in extending our deepest condolences to the family of the young lady who was killed. Someone's evil action and a life of promise snatched away in a moment of terror; an innocent family's lifetime of grief. It is a tragic loss. To all who were injured, including the Singaporeans, we wish them a speedy recovery. We also extend our deepest sympathies to the people and government of Thailand, and the others who have been killed or injured. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and our Embassy in Bangkok have been working overnight to contact and assist Singaporeans in Bangkok. This morning, our Ambassador, Mrs Chua Siew San, visited the injured Singaporeans in the hospitals. All are receiving medical attention and treatment. Some of those who suffered light injuries have been discharged. Our Embassy in Bangkok is in close contact and working closely with the Thai authorities. MFA will continue to render consular assistance to the affected Singaporeans. We strongly condemn this heinous attack. As we have said several times, nothing can justify the killing of innocent civilians. This is the latest in a long series of such attacks. Unfortunately, it would not be the last. The Thai authorities have launched investigations. Those responsible for this act must be brought to justice. Thank you, Madam. Page: 42”
“The Malaysian federal government has guaranteed in the Separation Agreement that Johor would abide by the 1962 Water Agreement and, as I have said earlier, the Agreement does not require the payment of this land tax. We have requested the Malaysian federal government to address this issue. The federal government Page: 12 has indicated that it would work with the Johor state government to address our concerns.”
“Mdm Speaker, as the House is aware, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) owns the Johor River Waterworks in the Kota Tinggi District of Johor. The Waterworks extracts and treats water from the Johor River. This is done in accordance with the 1962 Water Agreement. In late 2014, the Kota Tinggi District Council issued a Notice seeking to double the rate of land assessment tax imposed on the Waterworks. The revised rate was more than double that of the next highest rate in the entire Kota Tinggi District. The Waterworks' assessed property value was also increased. The new rate was applied to a category which was created solely for PUB. PUB's operations in Johor are governed by the 1962 Water Agreement. That Agreement governs what PUB has to pay. PUB is not obliged to pay the land assessment tax which has been sought to be imposed. There is some additional background on Johor authorities imposing such taxes in the past. For present purposes, I do not propose to go into what had happened in the past. In respect of the latest tax assessments, we have registered our concerns. My Ministry has done so with the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through two Third Person Notes (TPNs). PUB has got in touch with the Kota Tinggi District Council on the same. I have also raised this issue directly with my Malaysian counterpart, Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, twice, in April 2015 and on 4 August 2015. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has also spoken directly to Prime Minister Najib Razak in May 2015. Malaysia is aware that the issue of PUB's rights under the 1962 Water Agreement is critical and sensitive for us.”
“If the letter involves intellectual property matters, they can also seek assistance from IPOS’ IP Legal Clinics.”
“Speculative invoicing is a term commonly used in the context of copyright infringement on the Internet to refer to the practice where rights-holders send letters of demand to a large number of account holders who are alleged to be copyright infringers. The letter will typically indicate the sender’s willingness to settle the matter upon the recipient paying a sum of money, and imply that otherwise, legal action may be commenced. The act of sending a letter of demand is not wrongful by itself, unless it contravenes a lawyer's professional obligations. Letters of demand containing an offer to settle or stating a willingness to settle are common as they allow parties to resolve disputes amicably and quickly. Lawyers who send letters of demand are bound by professional obligations to behave in an ethical manner. The Legal Profession (Professional Conduct) Rules state that a lawyer shall not demand anything other than that recoverable by due process of law and the Law Society's Practice Directions prohibit lawyers from threatening criminal proceedings to coerce other parties, or from using offensive or acrimonious language. Any person who believes that a lawyer is guilty of professional misconduct can lodge a complaint with the Page: 174 Law Society. MinLaw and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) received two complaints and 26 queries respectively on speculative invoicing issues relating to a rights-holder's enforcement action for alleged copyright infringement of the Dallas Buyers Club movie. We are not aware of any other complaints or queries on speculative invoicing over the past five years. Recipients of demand letters can seek legal advice from legal professionals or from the Legal Aid Bureau (LAB) if they satisfy the requisite means and merits tests.”
“The Government's foreign policy on the Rohingya situation in Myanmar will be elaborated on in our oral reply to related questions raised by Mr Christopher de Souza. We have raised our views on the communal tensions in Myanmar with the Myanmars. As these discussions have taken place within the framework of diplomatic communications, it would not be appropriate to disclose the details.”
“A Writ of Seizure and Sale is needed before a party can seize and sell his debtor’s movable property, to satisfy the judgment debt against him and the costs of executing the writ. The costs of executing a Writ of Seizure and Sale are to be paid by the judgment debtor unless the Court orders otherwise. There are existing avenues for obtaining a waiver or deferment of the costs associated with executing a Writ of Seizure and Sale at the State Courts. Any party can apply to the Registrar of the State Courts to waive or defer the payment of fees or deposits that are payable to the Court. The Court does not charge any fees for applying for such a waiver. The Registrar of the State Courts will consider all the facts of the specific situation when exercising the discretion to waive or defer the payment of such fees, including the litigant’s financial abilities or circumstances. Page: 131 In addition, the Legal Aid Bureau may provide legal aid in relation to the execution of a Writ and Seizure and Sale, including that arising from an employment or labour dispute. Legal aid would be granted if the applicant satisfies the requisite tests based on means and merits. A person who receives legal aid is not liable for fees or deposits that are payable to the court.”
“As I explained in an earlier response to a similar question, there are existing laws protecting debtors from unreasonable or illegal conduct by creditors, including licensed moneylenders, or their debt collectors in collecting debts. For example, they may Page: 130 be liable to criminal sanctions under the Penal Code if hurt or threatening behaviour is involved. The Protection from Harassment Act 2014 (the Act) also provides for criminal sanctions and civil remedies against harassing behaviour. Some debtors have obtained Court orders against harassing debt collectors under the Act. Borrowers who encounter criminal behaviour from licensed moneylenders or their debt collectors should report the matter to the Police or the Registry of Moneylenders. Moneylenders found to have committed criminal offences during the debt collection process may have their licences suspended, not renewed or revoked by the Registry. There have been no such cases thus far. The present system provides sufficient safeguards to protect borrowers from being intimidated by licensed moneylenders or their debt collectors. The Ministry of Law remains committed to improving the professionalism of the moneylending industry. In this regard, an Advisory Committee on Moneylending recently announced a set of 15 recommendations to strengthen the moneylending regime. The Ministry has accepted 12 recommendations, including those relating to controls on borrowing costs and borrowing quantum.”
“The international community must come together. Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have met to find ways to tackle the problem. ASEAN has also been coordinating an intergovernmental approach. A Convention and an ASEAN Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons were adopted at the 15th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, from 7 to 12 June 2015. ASEAN has also explored measures to help Indonesia and Malaysia – countries providing temporary shelter to the migrants – to cope with the challenges. The recent Emergency ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime in Kuala Lumpur on 2 July supported Singapore’s proposal for ASEAN to establish a trust fund. The ASEAN Secretariat will administer this trust fund comprising voluntary financial contributions from ASEAN Member States and members of the international community to support relief efforts. Singapore has committed US$200,000 to this ASEAN trust fund. ASEAN is also considering setting up a Task Force to respond to crisis and emergency situations arising from the irregular movement of persons. Beyond ASEAN, there is a need to involve wider forums. For example, the Bali Process, which is a regional Ministerial-level conference involving ASEAN and non-ASEAN countries. We will continue to encourage all countries involved to work together towards resolving this issue.”
“Mr Christopher de Souza asked two questions which I will address together. His questions contain three parts: (a) whether Myanmar can be compelled to remedy the human tragedy facing the Rohingya people under Articles 1, 4, 39 and other relevant Articles of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD); (b) what other kinds of diplomatic pressures can be applied on Myanmar to curb the discrimination against alleged human trafficking of the Rohingya people pursuant to Articles 13, 14, 18 and 22 of the AHRD; and (c) what actions ASEAN will take to deter cross-border human trafficking, especially in light of the recently discovered mass graves along the Thai-Malaysian border. I will address both questions together as they are related to the crisis on irregular migration in the region. The AHRD is an aspirational document. It establishes a framework for human rights cooperation in the region. It is not a document that imposes legal obligations. Nonetheless, we hope that countries will observe the spirit and letter of the AHRD and aspire towards it. Page: 129 But we cannot force anyone to do so. We have to ask Myanmar to treat its minorities in a way consistent with international norms. That is the way ASEAN approaches discussions with member states. The question also is what can be done to help the Rohingyas. The process of human trafficking involves many criminal groups and takes places across multiple countries. Resolving the matter requires the cooperation of all countries concerned – whether they are source, transit or destination countries. Therefore, while we urge the Myanmar government to be mindful of the plight of all people within its borders, other countries in which these traffickers operate also need to take action against such criminal syndicates.”
“It also depends on whether the parties concerned can manage the situation constructively. If the situation is not properly managed, tensions may escalate, which could potentially lead to miscalculations and incidents leading to loss of assets and lives. In this regard, while ASEAN takes a neutral position on the competing claims, it can play a role to help keep temperatures down. ASEAN and China should work more closely to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and conduct cooperative activities to enhance mutual trust and confidence. Both sides should also accelerate their efforts towards an early conclusion of the Code of Conduct. Recent developments point to the growing urgency for an instrument to govern behaviour and reduce the chances of miscalculation in the South China Sea. Page: 140 Fundamentally, the relationship of ASEAN and China is deep, multifaceted and mutually beneficial. Both sides prize regional peace and stability, which have contributed to the rapid growth in the region over the past few decades. It is in the long-term interests of both sides to continue promoting their strong cooperation in many other areas, while managing the South China Sea issue constructively. I am optimistic that both sides will work towards this outcome.”
“Mr Christopher de Souza brought up the recent satellite images of construction activities in the South China Sea and sought the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)'s views on how they may affect peace and cooperation within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the surrounding region. This issue was also recently discussed at the 26th ASEAN Summit held in Malaysia in April, where some ASEAN Member States expressed concern over recent developments in the South China Sea, including the reclamation activities. At the outset, let me reiterate that Singapore’s position on the South China Sea disputes is clear and consistent. As a non-claimant state, we do not take a position on the merits of the competing claims. However, as a maritime nation that is highly dependent on trade, we have a fundamental interest in the maintenance of peace and stability as well as freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. That is why we have constantly emphasised the importance for all parties concerned to resolve their claims peacefully and adhere to international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in their conduct of activities in the South China Sea. Freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea should also not be jeopardised. This is critical because the South China Sea contains important Sea Lines of Communication that many countries depend on. All parties should also refrain from activities that will raise tensions or precipitate confrontation, and fulfil their international obligations. The long-term prospects for peace and cooperation on this issue largely depend on the extent to which the parties concerned adhere to these key principles.”
“Transitional provisions will be put in place for Singaporean Citizens and Permanent Residents who have secured a place to read the LL B (Honours) course in the omitted UK OSUs before 1 October 2015, or who have been admitted for Academic Year 2015/2016. They will be able to be admitted to the Singapore Bar. The list of OSUs will be reviewed by SILE every five years. Page: 131”
“The approved Overseas Scheduled Universities (OSUs) were first listed in 1994 pursuant to recommendations of the First Committee on the Supply of Lawyers. Since then, the composition of universities on the list has undergone periodic revisions following recommendations of subsequent Committees, based on the prevalent standards and desired quality of education required for the practice of Singapore law. The latest review by the Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE) was completed in February 2015. It was made pursuant to the recommendations of the Fourth Committee on the Supply of Lawyers (the Fourth Committee). The Fourth Committee, made up of key stakeholders in the legal industry, including practitioners from both local and foreign law firms based in Singapore, the Law Society of Singapore, Singapore Corporate Counsel Association, the local law schools, and various Government agencies, recommended a review of the list of OSUs to ensure the continued quality of overseas-trained entrants to the Singapore Bar. The SILE reviewed the list of OSUs (except those whose law degrees Singapore is required to recognise under Free Trade Agreements) in accordance with the assessment methodology set out by the Fourth Committee, which had proposed the use of objective standards to guide the qualitative review. Three publicly available rankings from reputable UK broadsheets over a period of years and representations from the OSUs were taken into consideration. The SILE review reached the conclusion that 11 UK OSUs and two New Zealand OSUs were of the standards and quality that were suitable for the list.”