Teo Chee Hean
Singapore
“The second point first, Mr Speaker. Certainly, it could have been a factor. But to the Panel which reviewed the thing, it was not an acceptable excuse or reason. The agencies still have to be responsible for what they are doing, whatever season of the year it is.”
“On the balance in ACRA, I would not say it is a conflict, but you have to strike the right balance between the functions that ACRA is meant to provide, which is to have a registry which promotes corporate transparency, and you have to balance that against how you protect personal data.”
“That means, if you do find a bug or you do find a way in which you can penetrate a Government system, you let us know, and there is a bounty for it. And this is evergreen. But we also do, from time to time, have a hunting season. So, for certain of our systems, we invite white hatters to attack those systems.”
“Then, he asked when the political office holders got involved in the public communications on the Bizfile portal issue. They got involved, I think, almost as soon as it became apparent that there was public anxiety. Next question about paragraph 40 and the email to senior officers, yes, the July 2024 CM was emailed to officers.”
“In fact, we monitor the dark web for a variety of things, including this, and we have not seen any sale of NRIC numbers as such. On the question of collection and use of NRIC numbers, actually, in the communication with the Government agencies, I think it is important to know who you are communicating with.”
“So, you actually make your email address available to others. But for authentication purposes, it is quite different. You do not tell your password to others. That is something which you keep for yourself and your email service provider knows. So, there is a difference between an identifier and an authentication.”
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“Currently, a person holding a valid foreign licence is required to pass the Basic Theory Test before he can convert to a local motorcycle or Class 3/3A licence. The requirement to pass the Basic Theory Test ensures that foreign drivers are acquainted with the Highway Code and traffic rules and regulations, including our traffic/road signs and signals. A foreign driving licence holder is also required to take and pass the Class 4 or 5 Practical Driving Tests before he can obtain a local heavy vehicle licence. We have recently reviewed the licence conversion requirements for foreign workers. As announced in this House in September 2014, we will raise the foreign licence conversion requirements for Work Permit and S Pass holders who drive Class 3 vehicles. From 1 June 2015, Work Permit and S Pass holders will be required to pass the Practical Driving Test in addition to the Basic Theory Test to convert to a local Class 3 licence. This will better ensure that these drivers are competent and familiar with driving on our roads.”
“The Long-Term Visit Pass-Plus (LTVP+) was introduced on 1 April 2012. As at 30 September 2014, there were a total of 7,300 foreign spouses on LTVP+. Two thousand foreign spouses were granted LTVP+ between January and September this year. A foreign spouse who has been married to a Singapore citizen (SC) for at least three years or has at least an SC child from the marriage would be eligible for consideration for LTVP+. In addition, ICA considers other factors such as the ability of the SC spouse to support the family. Every application for LTVP+ is assessed on a range of factors rather than a single factor such as the length of marriage or length of stay in Singapore. Where the foreign spouse does not qualify for LTVP+, ICA will consider the foreign spouse for the grant of LTVP.”
“The job of a security officer is to protect lives and properties. All security officers must be licensed and trained before they can be deployed. In assessing an applicant’s suitability to be licensed, Police take a number of factors into account, including whether the applicant has any criminal record. Successful applicants are required to undergo an approved training programme. When a security officer breaks the law or breaches licensing conditions, Police will reconsider his suitability to remain in the security industry and may revoke his licence. Police will consider granting security officer licences to ex-offenders if they have remained crime-free for a period of time. The period of debarment will depend on the nature and severity of the offence committed.”
“There has been a decrease in the number of study mothers over the last 10 years. As at end 2013, there were about 4,800 female visitors on Long Term Visit Passes (LTVPs) with up to one-year validity accompanying their children or grandchildren studying in Singapore on a Student's Pass (STP), compared to about 6,500 study mothers at end 2004. Once the student completes his studies, his STP is no longer valid and he has to leave the country. The accompanying mother or grandmother is also not allowed to remain in Singapore. However, there are certain circumstances where the mother may remain in Singapore, for example, when the mother qualifies for a work pass on her own merits and she stays in Singapore to work. The application for a work pass is a separate process and is not linked to the LTVP that she was earlier issued. We do not have readily available data on the number of such cases.”
“Between 2008 and September 2014, there were about 6,500 DRC inmate admissions and 5,700 DRC inmate releases. MHA is monitoring the drug situation closely and will continue working towards a drug-free Singapore. Page: 155”
“The Community Outreach Project was first launched in September 2010. Now known as the Yellow Ribbon Community Project (YRCP), it helps inmates focus on their rehabilitation, by providing their families with support and assistance during the incarceration period. By helping families stay intact, the YRCP also facilitates the inmate's rehabilitation as family support is critical when the inmate is eventually released. With the inmate's consent, YRCP volunteers visit the inmate's family, extend a hand of friendship and see if any help is needed. If so, the volunteers will link them up with existing community resources and refer them to the relevant agencies. If a family member requests help to look for a job, the volunteers will refer them to relevant agencies, such as the Social Service Offices and the Community Development Councils. Where possible, they will leverage on resources, schemes and programmes already available in the community rather than start new ones. The YRCP has grown from eight participating grassroots divisions in 2010 to 63 divisions today. The number of trained YRCP grassroots volunteers has grown from 26 in 2010 to 620 in 2014. These volunteers have, to date, reached out to more than 2,100 families. To conclude, many inmates and their families have benefited from the YRCP. However, I would like to emphasise the importance of individual responsibility. Ultimately, the success of YRCP depends on the commitment and spirit of self-reliance from the inmate and his family.”
“The Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) assesses applications for the renewal of a casino licence based on four broad areas: law and order, social safeguards and responsible gambling measures, integrity of gaming and the economic aspects of the Integrated Resort. Corporate donations by a casino operator is not a factor in deciding whether to renew a licence. Neither do we have plans to make this a requirement. However, both Integrated Resort operators, as part of their own commitment to corporate social responsibility, contribute to local community and social causes. Groups that have benefited from their contributions include the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Metta School, the Singapore Association for the Deaf, self-help groups and the Community Chest. Any application for exemption from restrictions on remote gambling will be assessed against the strict criteria stipulated in section 26 of the Remote Gambling Act. In particular, the applicant has to be a Singapore-based, not-for-profit entity which contributes to public, social and charitable purposes in Singapore. Additionally, the entity has to possess a consistent and good track record of compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Similar to the renewal of casino licences, we do not intend to require applicants to make Page: 152 corporate donations beyond these provisions in the legislation.”
“The Singapore Prison Service does not track the employment status of ex-offenders after release. However, the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) provides training and employment assistance services for offenders while they are in prison. From 2009 to 2013, SCORE provided employment assistance to about 1,600 inmates each year. Of those assisted, 96% of them successfully secured jobs before their release from prison. SCORE also provides employment assistance for ex-offenders who approach SCORE after their release from prison. About 360 ex-offenders a year were assisted over the last five years. About 65% of them attended the scheduled job interviews and accepted the job offers. A successful job match depends on many factors, including the needs of employers and the commitment of ex-offenders.”
“All inmates diagnosed with mental illnesses are seen regularly by prison psychiatrists. Those who are assessed to require dedicated treatment are housed in the psychiatric housing unit within the prison complex. This is run in partnership with the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). While there, inmates undergo a comprehensive treatment programme which includes therapy and counselling and is conducted by a multi-disciplinary team comprising prison officers, psychiatrists, psychologists and occupational therapists. Inmates whose mental conditions are stable are housed with the general inmate population. They undergo a prison regime similar to other inmates, which includes rehabilitation programmes as well as work and education opportunities. All inmates, including those with mental illnesses, are required to serve their sentences in full, with remission of up to one-third of the sentence length given for good behaviour. They may also be emplaced on community-based programmes and serve the tail-end of their sentence outside prison, if found suitable. Depending on the inmate's individual circumstances, the Singapore Prison Service may make aftercare arrangements with IMH or with VWOs to provide psychiatric treatment after the inmate’s release from prison. Page: 145”
“Specifically for engineering, we have a concerted effort to actively identify and strengthen our engineering capabilities in strategic areas. We will also be developing career paths to attract and retain good engineers. The Government has continued to promote engineering education through various programmes and outreach strategies to ignite students’ interest to pursue STEM-related courses and a career in the STEM-related industries subsequently. The plan to build a new Science Centre in Jurong is part of this strategy to enthuse students about science and technology. In 2013, 8,500 students entered STEM-related degree courses, including 5,700 students who entered courses in Engineering Sciences and Information Technology. This number is expected to increase as the Singapore Institute of Technology and Singapore University of Technology and Design continue to increase their intake. The Ministry of Education has been working closely with the Ministry of Manpower to ensure a steady flow of graduates from our universities to meet the industry demand. Page: 84”
“The Public Service Commission (PSC) awards scholarships based on merit. Candidates are assessed holistically for their suitability for a Public Service career based on qualities which include character, integrity and commitment to serve Singaporeans. All deserving candidates, regardless of their background and academic interest, will be offered a scholarship. PSC looks for scholarship holders who are trained in a range of disciplines as the diversity is useful for the Public Service. There are no quotas for the scholarships or sub quotas for the different courses. The same principles apply for President's Scholarships which are awarded to a small number of the most promising and outstanding scholarship holders each year. As the number of President's Scholarships each year is small, it would be more representative to look at the courses pursued by Government scholarship holders as a whole. Between 2009 and 2013, the Public Service awarded more than 400 scholarships for engineering courses alone and more than 1,200 scholarships for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) – which is about four in 10 of all Public Service scholarships awarded. Many of these scholarship holders have been matched with agencies, such as the Land Transport Authority, the Housing and Development Board and the Defence Science and Technology Agency amongst others, for meaningful careers linked to their fields of study. Among the 80-90 PSC scholarship recipients each year, one quarter pursued STEM courses in 2013 and one fifth did so in 2014. Beyond scholarships, the Public Service as a whole continues to recruit able officers trained in a variety of fields to serve in the different sectors.”
“Mdm Speaker, we have offered re-employment to nine out of 10 of our officers who reach retirement age. I think it is not a bad number. There are reasons why some of the officers are not re-employed. They may not be medically fit. They may not have good service records and so we should not expect 100% because there are considerations which every employer will have to take into account when offering re-employment. For those officers who are eligible for re-employment, but are not offered re-employment, the Public Sector does assist them to find alternative avenues for employment Page: 22 and, where that is not possible, there is also a system, according to the guidelines of the Tripartite Committee, to provide them with some ex gratia payment to help them.”
“Mdm Speaker, on the first comment that the Member made, I have explained already the basis on which re-employment offers are made in the public sector and those are the factors which are taken into consideration. On the issue of employment of persons with disabilities, the Public Service Division is working with SG Enable and the Ministry of Social and Family Development to see how we can do a number of the things which the Member has suggested and to see how we can employ more persons with disabilities and even restructure some of the jobs to make them more accessible.”
“The casino entry levy regime is part of our overall social safeguards regime to discourage Singapore residents from casual and impulse gambling in the casinos. In 2013, about 8% of the day entry levies were purchased by casino patrons to extend their stay in the casinos. Of the casino patrons who made such purchases, more than half did so on two occasions or less during the year. The day entry levy is valid for multiple visits within a 24-hour period. Hence, it does not mean that all those who purchased a consecutive day entry levy stayed continuously in the casino for more than 24 hours. We do not have readily available data on the number who stayed beyond 24 hours in a continuous stretch. The Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) works closely with MSF, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and the casino operators to identify casino patrons who show signs of problem gambling. For example, responsible gambling ambassadors will look out for patrons who show signs of distress and will refer them for counselling and other help services. In addition, there are targeted measures such as Casino Exclusions and Visit Limits to protect at-risk groups from problem gambling. The NCPG has powers under the Casino Control Act to impose Third-Party Visit limits or an Exclusion Order on frequent casino patrons who are identified to be financially vulnerable or in financial distress. There are currently no plans to place restrictions on the purchase of consecutive day entry levies. CRA and MSF will continue to monitor the situation closely and ensure our social safeguards remain robust.”
“The pension of a retired officer is fixed based on his length of service and pensionable salary as at his eve of retirement. Although the pension is fixed, the Government has given an ex-gratia Singapore Allowance (SA) since 1974 to help low-income pensioners whose monthly pensions are below a gross monthly pension ceiling. The current SA quantum is $280 per month and the gross monthly pension ceiling is $1,210. Since its introduction, the SA has been increased on 12 occasions, with more frequent revisions made in recent years. The last five increases were made between 2007 and 2013. The SA was last increased on 1 April 2013 by $20 to $280 and the gross monthly pension ceiling was correspondingly increased by $20 to $1,210. The Government will continue to carry out regular reviews on the SA and gross monthly pension ceiling and revise them when necessary. In addition to the SA, eligible Government pensioners also receive Medisave top-ups and GST Vouchers in the same way as other Singaporeans. Government pensioners who meet the Pioneer Generation criteria are also eligible for lifelong Medisave top-ups, outpatient care subsidies and MediShield Life premium subsidies under the Pioneer Generation Package. When MediShield Life is introduced in end 2015, the Government will help pensioners to benefit from MediShield Life. Pensioners will enjoy the benefits of MediShield Life and continue to receive their existing post-retirement medical benefits. Government pensioners will be better off than before with MediShield Life. Page: 142”
“I would say that the threat is always there but we have to continue to work hard together to bring people together and help them understand the problems and that our Muslim community is taking proactive and real steps to deal with this issue.”
“Mdm Speaker, this possibility is always there and we must be alert to it. That is why earlier this year, when we saw the threat from ISIL increasing and we saw the ways in which it was reaching out particularly to young people all over the world, to attempt to radicalise and motivate them to go and fight in Syria and Iraq, we were very concerned. So, we had discussions with the leaders of our Muslim community in Singapore, and shared with them our concerns. And our Muslim leaders in Singapore were also very concerned about this. We developed various ideas and programmes in order to see how we can neutralise and counter these radical ideas which were coming out from ISIL and, at the same time, see how we can provide legitimate and safe avenues for those who were concerned about the suffering of the innocent people in those countries, so that they could contribute in a meaningful way and we were able to do that. Subsequent to this, we then had a meeting in July, as I mentioned, with all the different community group leaders in Singapore, so that we could together understand this issue and the other community leaders in Singapore could understand what the Muslim community in Singapore was doing to counter the threat and also to express their concerns and to empathise with those who are suffering. We had a very good discussion and there was good mutual understanding. In fact, at the end of the discussion, quite a number of the leaders of the other communities felt very heartened and reassured and commended our Muslim leaders for taking these proactive steps. A number of them also stepped forward as they too were concerned about the suffering of the innocent people in those countries and made Page: 22 some contributions also to this effort.”
“When I said that there were Singaporeans, I meant Singapore citizens. We know of two specific individuals who are there. We do not know exactly where they are. We believe that they are still there.”
“Mdm Speaker, Singapore has always played its part in countering terrorism by working together with its international partners in various ways. We cooperate fully and in accordance with our capabilities. It is not appropriate for me to comment on any specific areas of cooperation at this time. Foreign Affairs Minister Shanmugam will be taking a related question later and I am sure he will be happy to answer any other points that Members may have.”
“I am happy to note that various collaborative community initiatives have since been established to counter ISIL's radical rhetoric. The Religious Rehabilitation Group, for example, plans to produce online videos to debunk ISIL's ideology to better reach out to Internet-savvy youths who are most at risk of being radicalised via social media. Bona fide channels are also available for Singaporeans who wish to provide humanitarian aid to those in Syria and Iraq. All members of the public can also play their part by being alert to suspicious persons, objects and activities. A timely call to the authorities could well save many innocent lives. By working together, we can make Singapore a safer place for everyone.”
“Any Singaporean who assists, supports, promotes or joins violent organisations like ISIL would have demonstrated a dangerous tendency to support the use of violence. Such a person poses a real threat to Singapore's national security and will be dealt with in accordance with our laws. Our approach will be carefully calibrated to the specifics of each case. Where necessary, the Internal Security Act (ISA) will be used in order to pre-empt and neutralise these terrorism threats to the security of our citizens and our country. A handful of Singaporeans have gone to Syria to take part in the fight and are last known to still be there. We will continue to investigate anyone who expresses support for terrorism or an interest to pursue violence. Everyone can play a part in protecting our country against the terrorism threat. Page: 20 First, Singaporeans should help to safeguard family and friends from becoming radicalised. Alert the authorities early, so that those dear to you can be assisted and prevented from going down the path towards violence and doing themselves and others harm. Second, Singaporeans must remain united and cohesive and not let any fallout from the violence adversely affect our national cohesion. Communal backlash is often seen after major terrorism-related incidents. In Brisbane, in Australia, there were cases of abusive messages spray-painted in mosques and retaliatory vandalism at Christian churches following the arrests of the ISIL supporters. In July, I met leaders from the various community and religious groups in Singapore to discuss the Government's concerns over the Syrian conflict and the potential impact on our social cohesion.”
“This House may recall that Al-Qaeda, working with the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), had planned to bomb the US and other embassies in Singapore in 2002. There are reports that some Malaysians and Indonesians who fought for ISIL have formed a militant group called Katibah Nusantara Lid Daulah Islamiyyah or Malay Archipelago Unit for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. If this group expands in Southeast Asia, it will pose a regional terrorism threat like the JI terrorist network, which had also aimed to set up a South East Asian Islamic Archipelago that encompassed Singapore, through the use of violence and terrorism. The Indonesian and Malaysian governments have taken action against their citizens who support ISIL or who have gone to Syria or Iraq to fight. The Indonesian government has banned the teachings of and support for ISIL and has said it would revoke the citizenship of Indonesians who join the group. The Malaysian government has designated ISIL as a terrorist group. Our security agencies are working with our security partners to monitor the situation in Syria and Iraq closely through the exchange of information and will cooperate with them to counter the threat posed by foreign terrorists to Singapore. At the same time, we are taking measures to prevent Singaporeans from getting involved in the violence there or from carrying out activities in support of ISIL. We have co-sponsored the United Nations Security Council resolution on foreign terrorist fighters that requires all nations to adopt laws that would make it a serious crime for their nationals to, among others, join extremist groups such as ISIL and AQ affiliate Al-Nusra Front.”
“Mdm Speaker, in July this year, I informed this House about the increased terrorism threat posed by foreign fighters in Syria and the potential impact on our social cohesion if Singaporeans are involved in or support violence there. The escalation of violence in Syria and Iraq over the last three months has further increased these threats to Singapore. The group that calls itself Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) which I referred to in July, continues to actively recruit foreign fighters, including Southeast Asians. Its brutality has not been confined to beheadings of Westerners, but also to the killing of other Muslims and minority communities in Syria and Iraq. A US-led coalition of more than 40 countries including several Arab states is now taking counter-action against ISIL. In response, ISIL is encouraging its supporters in other countries, including self-radicalised extremists and returnee fighters, to kill military personnel and civilians from the coalition countries. Australia, which is a coalition member, recently arrested several ISIL supporters who were planning to behead some random person in Sydney and video the act. The US, UK and French authorities have also recently made arrests. We currently have no information of any specific threat to us arising directly from the beheadings by ISIL or as a result of the anti-ISIL threats. However, our assessment remains that the expansion of the ISIL threat beyond Syria and Iraq has raised the threat not only to countries who are part of the US-led coalition but also to Singapore. As with the threat from Page: 19 Al-Qaeda, even if Singapore is not itself a target, foreign interests here may be targeted.”
“Such barriers and fences are not practical in places where sea traffic actually calls into Singapore at wharves, jetties and other landing places. These security measures have proven to be generally successful. In the three years from 2011 to 2013, 46 vessels were seized for intruding into Singapore. In the same period, PCG arrested 144 persons for entering Singapore waters illegally or attempting to land illegally by sea. Last year alone, 2,890 vessels were detected and stopped from entering Singapore's Territorial Waters. Most of these vessels had strayed off course and complied with instructions when duly advised. In the same period, 49 persons were arrested for entering Singapore waters illegally or attempting to land illegally by sea. Page: 18 Mdm Speaker, our security agencies have made significant progress over the years, and MHA will continue to review and tighten the security processes with relevant agencies and, importantly, private partners, including studying this incident for useful lessons. In particular, the owners and occupiers of vessel landing points also have a responsibility to ensure that there are adequate security measures on their premises. This is for the safety and security of persons and property on their own premises, apart from contributing to our overall national security effort. Our sea-faring and coastal community can also do their part to alert authorities of any suspicious vessels or activities occurring within our territorial waters. In the coming months, the Home Team agencies and their maritime security partners will further review the security regime and work closely with stakeholders to put in place any needed additional measures to keep our waters and borders safe and secure.”
“These vessels do not require CIQ clearance but they are traversing through the same waters as the foreign vessels which come into Singapore. Foreign vessels are also permitted under international law to pass through our territorial waters on transit or innocent passage, without CIQ clearance, when they do not call into Singapore. Hence, there are also foreign vessels in transit; sometimes, passing through the same waters, but because they do not call into Singapore, they do not require CIQ clearance. This large number and variety of vessels within and across our waters pose a daily challenge for our maritime agencies. To keep the sea borders secure, our maritime security agencies, comprising the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Police Coast Guard (PCG) and ICA, have adopted a coordinated and multi-layered security regime which we have been improving and tightening over the years. The RSN and PCG patrol our waters to detect and intercept unauthorised vessels. They make use of radars and optical devices to carry out surveillance of our waters. The PCG also conducts joint operations with ICA regularly to check on vessels for illegal activities or persons. Where feasible, we have put up physical structures to deter illegal landings at vulnerable areas. For example, there are currently 63 km of land- and sea-based physical barriers, such as fencing and floating sea barriers, around our shores and PCG has plans to erect another 80 km of such barriers over time. These will cover 143 km of our 197 km of coastline deterring and preventing illegal entry and channelling vessels. This allows our security agencies to focus their attention on areas and vessels that are more likely to pose a threat.”
“Mdm Speaker, on 19 August 2014, a private boat carrying three foreigners arrived at Raffles Marina outside the operating hours for its Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) clearance. Two of the persons then disembarked from the boat and entered Singapore illegally, while the boatman sailed the boat away. The two who disembarked in Singapore were arrested on the same day, while the boatman was arrested the following day when the private boat re-entered Singapore waters. Before I describe the maritime security situation at sea and how we secure our maritime borders, perhaps, I should make some general comments about our borders as a whole. Our land, aviation and sea domains have quite different characteristics. The land and aviation domains are areas where we can funnel and control the movement of persons entering or departing Singapore via a very small number of immigration checkpoints at the airport, Woodlands and Tuas. This arises because we are an island. And also because we are an island, the maritime domain is far more complex. Our coastline is 197 km long, and the distance between our international boundary and the shoreline is short, in some places less than 500 m, compared to the length of our shoreline. Along the shoreline, there are 180 wharves and jetties. Many of these wharves and jetties are within private premises, such as shipyards and marinas. The volume of sea traffic is also Page: 17 high and they fall into multiple categories. In 2013 alone, about 140,000 foreign vessels called into Singapore ranging from large passenger and cargo vessels, to small pleasure, trading and fishing craft. Apart from that, Singapore vessels also travel within our own waters departing and calling at various of our own landing places.”
“Mdm Speaker, I did not see a question there. I do not think I need to respond to it. I do not disagree with Mr Seah.”
“The Police have implemented the Victim Care Cadre (VCC) pilot project in June 2014 to provide care services to victims of serious sexual crimes. It offers an additional avenue of help to victims and complements the Child Protection Service programme offered by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). The Police also work closely with the Ministry of Education (MOE), the National Crime Prevention Council, crisis support groups and medical social workers to provide additional victim care. VCC volunteers must be at least 21 years of age, possess relevant qualifications and experience in counselling, psychology and/or social work. Suitable candidates are required to undergo a training programme conducted by trained psychologists. To date, 15 volunteers have been appointed under the VCC programme. Upon activation by the Police, the appointed volunteer will respond to the assigned victim, providing emotional and other support according to the needs of the victim. The consent of the victim is required before a volunteer is assigned. Appointed volunteers are not allowed to sit in during Police interviews to ensure proper conduct of the interviews and Page: 137 for confidentiality reason. Police will be evaluating the VCC pilot project in June 2015 upon completion of the one-year trial.”
“As a key component of the Community Policing System (COPS), Police Cameras will be installed at all HDB blocks and multi-storey car parks (MSCPs). Since May 2012, a total of around 18,000 Police Cameras have been installed in 3,300 HDB blocks and MSCPs across all 16 Town Councils and the 87 wards that they cover. We are at the one-third mark and installation at the remaining HDB blocks and MSCPs, including those in Yew Page: 136 Tee, is on track for completion by 2016. In the last two years, Police has used video footage retrieved from Police Cameras to solve more than 200 cases. Investigative leads have been obtained in more than 450 cases. I would like to thank Members for your support in the Police Camera programme. Residents have also welcomed the installation of police cameras and reported an improved sense of safety and security. We will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of the Police Camera programme as more cameras are installed.”
“Since 1 April 2005, all new Singapore passports are issued with a validity period of five years, instead of the previous 10-year validity period. The shorter five-year validity period enables the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to incorporate changes to security technology and features in a timely manner. This ensures the security and integrity of the Singapore passport and makes it robust and less susceptible to forgery and tampering. High confidence in the integrity of Singapore passports protects Singaporeans and minimises any inconvenience when they travel. ICA has implemented several measures to make it more convenient for Singaporeans, including Singaporeans with physical disabilities, to apply for and collect their passports. These include online applications for passports through ICA's website and collection of passports from selected SingPost outlets nearer their homes. At the ICA building, the self-service lobby and service counters are wheel-chair friendly. Wheelchair loan facilities are available and counter staff will facilitate persons who require assistance. The five-year passport validity period applies to all Singapore passport holders and we are not considering making an exception for the physically-disabled.”
“In 2013, the Traffic Police received about 2,600 appeals for traffic-related offences per month, while the Land Transport Authority (LTA) received about 7,900 appeals for illegal parking offences per month. Both agencies adopt a firm but fair enforcement stance, which seeks to reinforce the message that motorists are required to comply with traffic rules to avoid, causing danger to other road users or impeding the smooth flow of traffic. We want to deter errant road behaviour and promote good road use habits to keep our roads safe for all users. In line with this, both the Traffic Police and LTA adopt a firm stance when reviewing appeals for summonses to be cancelled or waived. Each appeal is considered carefully on its merits and this does require considerable resources. As a policy, the two agencies will not accede to appeals unless there are very strong extenuating factors. In particular, as summonses from the Traffic Police usually relate to moving offences, which can pose serious danger to other road users, very few appeals to cancel or waive such summonses are acceded to. Road users should be responsible and abide by traffic rules at all times and those who commit traffic violations will be dealt with in accordance with the law. Page: 132”
“The Management Support Officers can already progress to take on similar jobs as graduates, and be paid comparable salaries. From October 2014, they may be progressed faster when they demonstrate the required performance and capabilities. Agencies will review the nature of jobs that Management Support Officers do so that they have the opportunity to demonstrate their potential to take on larger roles. Second, PSD is studying merging of the Management Executive Scheme and the Management Support Scheme. Most graduates join the Civil Service under the Management Executive Scheme. A merged career scheme will allow non-graduates and graduates to enter at different points of the scheme and progress in the same scheme based on their performance and readiness to take on larger roles. Naturally, officers need time to gain the relevant skills, knowledge and experience before progressing to larger roles and the time Page: 131 taken varies across individual officers. The Civil Service has a wide range of jobs, which require officers with a range of abilities. For example, some jobs will require better communication abilities, while other jobs require better conceptual abilities, or physical fitness. The Civil Service assesses its officers according to the requirements of each type of job, providing multiple pathways for officers with different abilities, skills and aptitudes. The Civil Service will provide more opportunities to support the aspirations of all our officers, graduates as well as non-graduates and will continue to reward all officers who show good performance and readiness to take on larger roles.”
“The Civil Service hires officers based on merit so that the most suitable candidate is selected for the job. For new job seekers at entry level jobs, educational qualifications serve as a proxy for competencies needed for these roles. Hence, recruitment for certain job or job levels have specified a university degree, while a degree is not required for other jobs or job levels. The Civil Service has announced that it intends to merge more of what used to be separate graduate and non-graduate schemes of service into integrated schemes. In these schemes, officers might start at different entry points but, thereafter, they will progress according to their demonstrated performance and the ability to take on larger responsibilities, regardless of their starting point or education qualifications. All officers are given training to acquire the right competencies and knowledge to do their jobs well. The People's Association, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore and the Ministry of Home Affairs already have such integrated schemes of service which are open to both graduate and non-graduate officers. There will, however, be certain professional fields where professional accreditation is required to practice, eg, medicine or engineering. In these cases, the Civil Service will also require our officers to meet those accreditation requirements. This is in line with the Prime Minister’s National Day Rally (NDR) Speech on 17 August 2014. Following the NDR, the Public Service Division (PSD) announced the following in its press release on 26 August 2014. First, faster career progression for Management Support Officers from October 2014. Most non-graduates join the Civil Service under the Management Support Scheme.”
“These drugs are known to have long-term physical, social and psychological effects on abusers. Hence, the CNB works closely with schools to coordinate and implement preventive drug education to inform the young about the danger and consequences of drug abuse. The Government will do its part to educate and engage our juveniles and youths with meaningful activities. However, the support of families and the community is critical. We all have a part to play in shaping the future of our next generation.”
“The juvenile will be allowed to continue with his or her education while families are actively involved in supporting and helping their children stay crime-free. Higher-risk or repeat offenders are typically placed on probation or in juvenile Page: 128 homes so that they can benefit from more supervision and structure. As juvenile offending is a complex issue, the Government has set up the National Committee on Youth Guidance and Rehabilitation (NYGR) to coordinate a whole-of-Government response to the issue. I chair the Committee and it has representatives from MSF, the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Ministry of Health (MOH), AGC and State Courts. In recent years, we have focused our efforts on upstream measures. For instance, in 2013, the Central Youth Guidance Office (CYGO) in MSF started a Parent Outreach and Support project (POSt) in secondary schools to reach out to parents of juveniles who were displaying early signs of risk. Through such dialogues, parents are able to understand how they can play their part to steer their children away from a life of crime. CYGO has also been conducting YouthGO!, a street-outreach programme where youth workers support at-risk juveniles so they will be meaningfully occupied in their studies or work and be resilient when tempted by crime. Since inception in 2011, this programme has seen almost 8,300 interactions between workers and juveniles or youths. One of the areas we are concerned about is the attitude of the young towards drugs. Many of them may wrongly perceive drugs such as methamphetamine, cannabis or New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), which are chemically modified substances mimicking the effect of controlled drugs, to be less addictive or less dangerous. This is not true.”
“A juvenile is defined in the Children and Young Persons Act as someone equal to or above seven years of age, and below the age of 16. Over the last three years, the number of juvenile offenders arrested has decreased by 11%, from 1,488 in 2011 to 1,323 in 2013. This is largely due to a decrease in the number of first-time juvenile offenders arrested. First-time juvenile offenders made up 74% of all juveniles arrested in 2011 and this fell slightly to 71% in 2013. They were mainly students and male and the type of crime most commonly committed by them was theft-related. The recidivism rate for juvenile offenders is defined as the percentage of juveniles who reoffended within three years after completing a Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) programme such as the Guidance Programme, the Streetwise Programme, probation, or rehabilitation in the Juvenile Homes. The recidivism rate for the most recent cohort discharged in 2009 was 18.9%. The recidivism rates for the 2008 and 2007 cohorts were 16.6% and 20.3% respectively. MSF, Attorney-General Chambers (AGC), State Courts and MHA work closely together to ensure that juvenile offenders are placed on the most appropriate rehabilitation programme, based on a holistic assessment of each individual's background, circumstances and risk of re-offending. The programmes encourage offenders to take responsibility for their actions and equip them with the resources and life skills to embark on constructive lifestyles, instead of resorting to crime. First-time, low-risk offenders are usually placed on diversionary programmes, such as the Guidance Programme or the Streetwise Programme, which have a strong focus on counselling and rehabilitation.”
“The Traffic Police (TP) has deployed portable Police Speed Laser Cameras in support of its enforcement work. Due to their flexibility, the cameras can be used to respond to speeding feedback or tip-offs along specific roads and for speed enforcement operations at locations which are unsuitable for static cameras. TP currently publishes on its website a list of more than 50 locations island-wide where it may deploy portable cameras. This serves to deter motorists from speeding along these roads. TP considers several factors when determining the location and frequency of portable camera operations. These include feedback from road users and ground officers and the number of road traffic violations and accidents recorded along the road, especially those which are speeding-related. Sengkang East Drive is one of the locations where portable camera operations are conducted. In 2012 and 2013, about 460 speeding violations were detected along Sengkang East Drive, with a majority of these violations detected through these cameras. Page: 127”
“Since the Public Order Act was enacted in 2009, 20 move-on orders have been issued by the Police. These move-on orders were issued to stop unauthorised assemblies and activities in public places that could cause alarm or disorder. By issuing the move-on orders, the Police were able to discontinue the illegal actions and disperse those involved without the need to effect their arrest. Page: 121”
“The Traffic Police install speed enforcement cameras to deter and detect speeding offences. They consider several factors when deciding the locations where such cameras should be installed. The factors include the number of road traffic accidents, especially speeding-related ones, suitability of the terrain and feedback from the public. Currently, there are more than 20 locations islandwide with speed enforcement cameras. Besides static cameras, the Traffic Police also have portable speed enforcement cameras that can be deployed at different locations, depending on operational needs. There are currently more than 50 locations where portable speed cameras can be deployed. Information on these locations is available on Traffic Police's website. The Traffic Police are considering expanding the speed camera network under the Safer Roads Singapore action plan. A study is on-going to identify locations where such cameras may be useful. We appreciate the support and feedback given by many Members and will consider them in our review.”
“The Public Service supports the needs of our officers. We provide leave benefits and offer flexible work arrangements like part-time employment. In 2013, 1,488 (1.7%) Division 1 officers and 318 (0.6%) non-Division 1 officers were on part-time employment. Seventy-two percent of eligible public officers used the six-day childcare leave and 48% of eligible public officers used the two-day extended childcare leave. Seventy-eight percent of eligible public officers used their paternity leave. It is not meaningful to compare part-time employment and the leave take-up rate across Ministries Page: 104 and Statutory Boards, given their diverse work nature and employee profile.”
“There are 230 pensioners who are Singapore Permanent Residents (PRs). They account for less than 1% of Government pensioners. As the pension scheme has largely been discontinued since 1986, these pensioners would have joined the Civil Service many years ago. Over the years, the Government as an employer has been encouraging public officers who are PRs to take up citizenship. Our agencies initiate regular conversations with these officers to explain the obligations and benefits of citizenship. They too, can see that our citizens get more support and benefits in areas such as housing, healthcare, education, and marriage and parenthood. Obligations and benefits aside, the decision to take up citizenship is a serious commitment which is ultimately a personal decision.”
“Certainly, that is a good idea and we will continue to do so. Today, I appreciate very much the opportunity of having been able to update the House on the issue and what we are doing, and we hope that this messaging will also get out to the wider community in Singapore.”
“The security agencies are, as usual, keeping their ears to the ground to see whether they have received information on people who are becoming radicalised or who have such tendencies. We work with other countries. Most of these sites, in fact, all of these sites, are hosted overseas. We encourage the community in Singapore to be aware of them and not to subscribe to the ideology. We also encourage Singaporeans not to stoke inter-communal tensions, where these do not exist and are unnecessary. It is also important for the community itself to take active steps to protect itself. As I have said, the way it was described to me by one of my Middle Eastern counterparts is, when they do take action or do counselling over the person who had such tendencies, they tell the family, "I have saved your son", because, in truth, that is what has happened. By taking action early, we are able to bring counselling and other resources to save this person from doing harm to himself, to others and to his family as well, by the direction that he has taken. It is also important that all Singaporeans are aware of what is going on in Syria and the serious implications it can have on us. Tomorrow, I will be having a dialogue with several local religious leaders of different faiths together with Minister Yaacob, to discuss with them Government's concerns over the Syrian conflict and to foster better understanding and appreciation of the challenges we face, so that we do not look at it just as an issue for one community but we look at it as an issue which we all need to face together. Page: 15”
“More recently, in the Syrian conflict, the Muslim community has taken active steps, for example, to provide bona fide channels for Singaporeans to render humanitarian aid to Syria, so that the good intentions of our Singaporeans are not exploited by extremists who use humanitarian aid as a cover for their violent agenda. I should say that it requires the effort from all of us, so that we build our community harmony together, we try to make sure that Singaporeans remain united, and that we do not cause additional friction and tensions between the communities where these have not arisen and are not necessary. Page: 14 The Syrian conflict does pose a very serious long-term threat for Singapore and for other countries, and we do want to make sure that we work together and not allow it to pull our society apart.”
“Mdm Speaker, once again, we have to look at this issue from two aspects. One is the security aspect and the other is the community resilience aspect. From the security aspect, it requires vigilance. We take the matter very seriously. It requires vigilance – both locally, but also in cooperation with other countries. Our security agencies are working closely with their regional and international counterparts to exchange intelligence and cooperate in investigations. We are all concerned about the cross-border flows and the potential interactions between foreign fighters who may have gone to Syria, and form networks among themselves. We will investigate anyone, whether local or foreign, who poses a terrorism threat to Singapore and Singaporeans. There is also the community resilience aspect. To counter the threat of extremism and terrorism holistically, the Government is working in partnership with the community to counter the radical ideology propagated by the terrorists. We have a good base for this because we have been working with the local community religious leaders for some years now. As I said, we have the Religious Rehabilitation Group which has taken upon itself the responsibility of helping to counsel and rehabilitate those who have gone down the wrong path. Not only that, they reach out to the wider community, to put forward anti-extremist messages, and also to explain why certain interpretations which lead people towards extremism are not the correct teachings, and to guide the wider community along the right path. The objective of these efforts is to marginalise militant ideas and prevent them from gaining a foothold among the wider community.”
“As one of my Middle Eastern counterparts explained to me, by intervening early, family members, friends, the community and the authorities would be "saving" these individuals from taking a course of action that would have caused them and others harm. Singaporeans who wish to help the Syrian civilians who have been victims of the violence should not go to Syria and run the risk of getting involved in the violence. They can help by giving humanitarian aid through bona fide local organisations. They are strongly advised to check with MUIS before making any donations, because some foreign humanitarian organisations are, in fact, covers used by radical elements to raise money or recruit fighters.”
“We will continue to investigate persons who intend to engage in violence overseas, so as to prevent them from posing a security threat to Singapore and their fellow citizens. A key challenge is to counter the radical propaganda used by the terrorists and radical ideologues to recruit foreign fighters. At the core of the issue is an ideological battle, between those who distort Islam for their violent political ends, and those who uphold the Page: 12 tenets of Islam as a religion of peace. We have discussed the security concerns arising from the Syrian conflict with our religious leaders, who are looking at ways to expand and build on their ongoing efforts to counter radical ideology. A related challenge, which the Member has rightly identified, is the use of social media and the Internet for recruitment. The Soviet-Afghan conflict in the 1980s was in the pre-Internet age. Social media and the Internet have been a game-changer in the Syrian conflict. Some foreigners have been lured by the sense of "adventure" marketed by the extremists online. Others are attracted by the "jihad cool" factor, with "selfies" of fighters posing with weapons. Youths, who are the primary users of social media, are particularly vulnerable to such propaganda. Mdm Speaker, it is not possible to insulate Singaporeans from the radical rhetoric that is so prevalent online. Singaporeans therefore must play their part in preventing loved ones and friends from becoming radicalised and embarking on a path of violence and self-destruction. They should seek help by bringing such individuals to the attention of the authorities early, rather than let the individual go deeper down the path towards violence, and causing the death of others, and of themselves.”
“Indeed, any Singaporean who assists violent organisations like the Al-Nusra Front, IS or any other violent group, have demonstrated a dangerous tendency to support, or resort to, violence to pursue a political or ideological cause. They would thus pose a real threat to Singapore's national security. Our second concern over the Syrian conflict is its potential to damage our social cohesion. If we find more Singaporeans fighting or supporting the fighting in Syria, or harbouring intentions of doing so, it will cause disquiet on the ground, and mistrust and tension between our communities. This was the situation in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US, and the arrests of the Singapore JI members shortly thereafter in December 2001. The Government puts in considerable effort to work with the communities to protect ethnic relations and social harmony. Our Muslim community also played a key role, acknowledging the danger and taking responsibility for countering violent extremist ideology and rehabilitating those who had gone down the terrorist pathway. We also formed the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles and launched the Community Engagement Programme to build good social relations, so that our society can weather similar social stresses. These efforts are ongoing. They stand us in good stead when we encounter new incidents, for example, in 2010 when we detained a National Serviceman who was planning to fight in Iraq or Afghanistan. Mdm Speaker, the Syrian crisis has increased the terrorism threat to Singapore. I assure Members that the Government will maintain vigilance in counter-terrorism measures.”
“UK and French nationals who returned from fighting in Syria have already targeted Central London and the French Riviera. Let me cite a recent example of how foreign fighters in Syria can threaten our security here in Singapore. A French national who had fought in Syria recently attacked the Jewish Museum in Brussels in Belgium on 24 May 2014, killing four persons. He was subsequently arrested in France. This French national, whose identity we had not previously known, had in fact, travelled through Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore en-route from Syria back to Europe. Most likely, he did this to mask the fact that he was a returnee from Syria. Page: 11 Of more direct concern is if there are foreign fighters in Syria who have come from our region. The Indonesian authorities have said that some 56 Indonesians have joined in the armed violence in Syria and Iraq. Most belong to militant groups like the Indonesian JI and the Jemaah Anshorut Tauhid (JAT) which was founded by Abu Bakar Bashir, the former Spiritual Leader of the JI. More than 30 Malaysians have gone to fight in Syria and Iraq, with some reports citing as many as 100. Some 15 of them have reportedly died while fighting in Syria, while another undertook a suicide mission on behalf of IS in Iraq on 26 May 2014 which killed 25 persons. Meanwhile, the Malaysian authorities had arrested at least 18 people who were involved in activities related to fighting in Syria, including two servicemen in the Malaysian Navy. The presence of former foreign fighters in our region – whether they originate from Southeast Asia or elsewhere – is a security threat to us. This threat is magnified if these returnee fighters are Singaporeans.”
“A third Singaporean, Khairul Sofri bin Osman, was interested to carry out militant jihad overseas in places like Syria, and had also abetted Zakaria in his plans. Both Zakaria and Khairul were issued with Restriction Orders (RO) under the ISA in December 2013. There are others who have expressed interest to go to Syria to join in the fighting, and are presently under investigation. We have established that they were radicalised by videos, articles and social media postings online. They subscribed to the sectarian-religious or ideological rhetoric that calls for engaging in militant jihad in Syria. Mdm Speaker, Singapore is concerned about the flow of foreign fighters into Syria for two reasons. First, we worry about the terrorism threat from these foreign fighters after they leave Syria. There are parallels between the Syrian crisis and the Soviet-Afghan war of the 1980s, which drew in several thousand foreign fighters and led to the creation of the Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation. Al-Qaeda had, among other things, planned terrorist attacks in Singapore through the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) group. Several Singaporean JI members involved had trained in Afghanistan with Al-Qaeda. JI planned suicide truck bomb attacks against a number of diplomatic missions in Singapore, in collaboration with Al-Qaeda. Fortunately, their plans were foiled by ISD's operation in December 2001. The foreign fighters in Syria may similarly return from the conflict, proficient in terrorist skills. They may undertake terrorist activities in their home countries or overseas, or at the very least provide logistical and operational help to terrorists whom they befriended in Syria. Mdm Speaker, this has already happened.”