Wong Kan Seng
Singapore
“We all want a better future for our children and the future generations. Amid the debates, let us not lose sight of what we are working for – we are working for the benefit and future of Singaporeans. Not for growth targets, not for foreigners, but for Singaporeans.”
“Mrs Mildred Tan also suggested doing a longitudinal study on the impact of new citizens on Singapore. I am told that there is a periodic study on the perception of integration and rootedness of Singaporeans and PRs. A study is now ongoing too.”
“All they need to do is simply declare that they meet the residential criteria. EASING IN US ECONOMY (Impact on Singapore) 9. Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Senior Minister what will be the expected impact on the Singapore economy arising from the US Federal Reserve's announcement on 3rd November 2010 of a "quantitative easing" of the US economy…”
“Well, from the data I have here, 553 registered to vote before the 2006 GE and this is the data I have but Ms Lim may be right. There may be 1,000-odd that Ms Lim had mentioned. From what I am told now, we have 1,325 Singaporean overseas who are eligible to register to vote have registered.”
“But, as I said, there are so many other possibilities that they could come in and there could also be many possibilities that we could have missed and they have entered or left Singapore. LAND SWAP AGREEMENT FOR KTM STATION AND RAILWAY LANDS 2.”
“They are also recruiting people by offering them scholarships. So, we hope more of our companies can do that. Hopefully they come here to work for a while and, if they like our place, they may want to settle down. This is a place which they can think about. POPULATION AND TALENT DIVISION 5. Assoc. Prof.”
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“I think that section 27(2)(d) and section 27B(2)(d) which cover GRCs in the amendment should be deleted. Candidates should only be required to make an ordinary declaration, not a statutory one. The other comment I would like to make is on new section 29A which states that the Returning Officer is given the discretion to correct errors and omissions on a nomination form. This amendment appears sensible, for in the past a candidate can be disqualified if he makes a small clerical or typographical error on his nomination form. That law seems unreasonable, but it existed. The present law under the new section definitely makes more sense, although I hasten to say that this amendment benefits the ruling Party more than the Opposition. The ruling Party always takes part in election in every constituency, be it a single constituency or a GRC. By its sheer number, the possibility of the ruling Party making a mistake is greater than that of the Opposition. Also, I think the Opposition at this point in time can afford to have one of its GRCs disqualified, but the ruling Party certainly cannot afford to have even one GRC disqualified due to an error or omission under the current law. If that happens, it can cause a domino effect, with the possible final result of the loss of the PAP at the polls. Yes, I do think that the new section 29A has great advantages for the ruling Party. Before I sit down, Sir, I would like the Minister to make certain clarifications in regard to the words "the one other person", as mentioned in new sections 30(1A)(c) and 31(c). I would like to ask the Minister the following questions: (1) What is the purpose for the candidate to appoint the "other person"? (2) What are the criteria for appointing the "other person"?”
“Worst of all, the date of the nomination day for election is a closely guarded secret, and workers who wish to help in the election process are not able to ask for leave in advance. There are also sudden illnesses. The proposer or seconder may suddenly fall sick on nomination day and be hospitalised. Their absence will constitute a fatal omission on the part of the candidate under the new section 29, and his nomination shall be declared null and void. If the Government is really sincere in wanting to simplify the election procedures, then it should not have this amendment. I would like now to speak on the amendments to section 27, in particular section 27(2)(d), where a person to be nominated as an election candidate must make a statutory declaration that he is qualified to be elected. Since the purpose of this Bill is to simplify election procedures, why not just require the candidate to make an ordinary declaration? In that way, the candidate need not take the trouble to appear before a Commissioner for Oaths or a Justice of the Peace, which may prove quite time-consuming and inconvenient. In any event, if a candidate is disqualified under the provisions of the Constitution, I do not think that he would dare declare under an ordinary declaration that he is fit to contest an election. He knows that should he subsequently be found out, he shall forthwith be debarred from taking part in future parliamentary elections. And should he win the election, his seat in Parliament shall be declared null and void. His name shall also be tarnished and his credibility shall be lost forever. Further, he shall also suffer criminal charges for making a false declaration. I do not think that any person in his right mind would ever commit an election offence, as the price is too high.”
“Especially for a new or unknown candidate, he usually finds it difficult to persuade six strangers to sign his nomination form. Because in Singapore, even up till today, the element of fear still exists. People are afraid to be seen to be helping the Opposition. In past elections, people who wanted to help the Opposition had only to put down their names and sign the election form. That act needed plenty of courage. Now, with the amendment, these Singaporeans have not only to append their names and sign the nomination form, but they are also called upon to attend personally at the nomination centre. That is really asking too much of those volunteers. Why do the proposers, seconders and assentors need to attend personally at the nomination centre? Is there evidence of any fraud? Over the last 40 years, I have not heard of reported cases of dishonest practice as far as the nomination forms are concerned. These days, one can make various applications to the authorities through the Internet. The application to take part in an election should also be one of such applications. Instead, the Government is seen to turn the clock backwards, completely ignorant of the advancement of technology, and opting for outdated practice by forcing applicants to attend personally at the nomination centre. Why make things so difficult, especially for the Opposition parties? The other difficulty of making six people attend personally at the nomination centre on nomination day is that nomination day, unlike polling day, is not a declared public holiday. In these days of high unemployment, workers find it difficult to get leave from their employers.”
“In connection with the amendments on nomination proceedings and post-election reporting of election expenditure, clause 17 amends the First Schedule by deleting Form 10 and Form 21. The proposals will help candidates standing for elections because they simplify the processes and will cut red tape. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Sir, the amendments to the Parliamentary Elections Act (Chapter 218) are supposed to simplify nomination procedures. As one who has taken part in seven general elections and one By-Election, I can say that not all the amendments meet this aim, especially the one under clause 7 where section 29 of the principal Act is amended to require all the six signatories in support of the candidate to be present at the nomination centre on nomination day between the hours of 11.00 am and 12 noon. In the past 40 years, in all the 11 General Elections, the proposer, the seconder and the four assentors were never required to be present personally at the nomination centre on nomination day. That practice was time-tested and proven to be efficient. Why is there a sudden need to change? I think this new requirement is purely political. It has nothing to do with the simplification of nomination procedures. In fact, it is just the opposite. It puts more difficulties in the way of the Opposition parties and their candidates, especially their new candidates. The membership of Opposition parties does not cover the whole of Singapore. When an Opposition party wishes to file a candidate or candidates in a constituency where there are no party members there, the party will have to look for non-party members to sign the nomination form. Those people roped in to sign the nomination paper may be total strangers to the party.”
“In the latter instance, criminal proceedings are taken only after the election and hence fail to deter repeated breaches during the election period. Clause 16 inserts a new section 109 to allow the Returning Officer or an authorised officer of the Elections Department to compound appropriate offences. Composition of an offence is a procedure by which an agency that administers a written law gives a person who is reasonably suspected of committing an offence under that law (the alleged offender) the chance to avoid prosecution and conviction in court by paying a sum of money to the agency. This is done by many Government agencies. On payment of the sum of money by the alleged offender, the agency will not take or will discontinue any criminal proceedings against the alleged offender in respect of the offence and the alleged offender is taken not to have been convicted of the offence. The offences will be those the Minister prescribes by regulations to be compoundable. For example, what we have in mind are offences such as displaying an election poster/banner without affixing to it an official stamp issued by the Returning Officer, damaging authorised posters/banners displayed by other candidates or using a loudspeaker on polling day. The composition sum will be half the amount of the maximum fine that is prescribed for the offence, or a sum not exceeding $500, whichever is lower. Composition will definitely not be a means for the Elections Department to generate revenue. The Elections Department will be drawing up internal mechanisms so that there will be clear and consistent criteria as to when composition can be offered, and in every case that meets these criteria, composition will be offered.”
“As the Political Donations Act forms do not require a statutory declaration and will be filed with the same Government agency, ie, the Elections Department, there is no strong reason to insist on the returns to be accompanied by a statutory declaration. In any event, the punishment for making a false statutory declaration is the same as that for making a false ordinary declaration. Therefore, abolishing the need for a statutory declaration to accompany the returns with respect to election expenses will be consistent with the requirement for an ordinary declaration under the Political Donations Act forms. Clause 14 amends section 74(2) of the Parliamentary Elections Act to this effect. Obsolete stamp fees Let me now deal with the last group of miscellaneous amendments. Clauses 3 and 4 of the Bill concern provisions on objections and appeals as to the inclusion of a name in a register of electors. Following the amendments to the Stamp Duties Act that do away with adhesive stamps, the requirement in the Parliamentary Elections Act for an objection or appeal to bear a stamp of $1 is rendered obsolete. Clause 3 amends section 11 of the Act by abolishing the payment of a stamp fee of $1 for filing an objection. Clause 4 amends section 12 for the same reason by abolishing the payment of a stamp fee of $5 to the Revising Officer for an appeal against any decision of the Registration Officer. Composition of offences Let me now turn to the issue on composition of offences. The Returning Officer currently faces a constraint in dealing with technical breaches of the provisions of the Parliamentary Elections Act pertaining to offences such as the illegal display of posters. Offenders are either let off with a light warning or prosecuted.”
“Now that we have a clear definition of "donation" in the Political Donations Act (PDA), we should do away with the impractical requirement for promises to be disclosed in the returns respecting election expenses and adopt a consistent language in our election law. Clause 14 amends section 74(1)(e) to dispense with the requirement to disclose promises made to candidates or their election agents as regards election expenses. Candidates and their election agents will in future need to disclose all donations as defined by the Political Donations Act that have been accepted by the candidate or his election agent. Next, under the Parliamentary Elections Act, the election agents are required to file with the Returning Officer a return on election expenses with their statutory declaration, together with another statutory declaration from their candidates, within 31 days after the election results are published. Under the Political Donations Act, the election agents, together with the candidates, must also file a post-election donation report and declaration with the Registrar of Political Donations within 31 days after the election results are published. The Political Donations Act forms only require an ordinary declaration from the candidates and their election agents. It is administratively inconvenient for candidates and their election agents to make a statutory declaration each to accompany the returns with regard to election expenses. This is because the statutory declaration must be made before a Commissioner for Oaths or Justice of the Peace, and any statutory declaration has to be re-sworn or re-affirmed if the form, which is the subject of the declaration, has to be corrected in any way.”
“The provision now sets out a list of such persons. Finally, I turn to withdrawal of candidature. Today, a candidate who wishes to withdraw his candidature must do so before 12 noon by a written notice signed by him or her. The law does not require the withdrawal to be done in person, although that has been insisted upon in practice. However, this is good practice. It is vital that the Returning Officer be satisfied that a withdrawal is genuine before he acts on it. For this reason, clause 11 amends section 32(1) to make it clear that withdrawal of candidature must be done in person. While technology allows for facsimile transmissions of notices of withdrawal, we consider this unacceptable, even if there is a dedicated line to receive such signed withdrawals. We do not wish to encourage deliberate multiple nominations and last-minute withdrawals by candidates and parties, as this can only confuse matters. The electorate deserves the assurance that persons who present themselves for election to Parliament do so in a serious and responsible manner. Returns respecting elections expenses Let me now move on to explain the changes to post-election reporting of election expenditure. Currently, the returns must contain details of election expenses incurred by the candidate and "all moneys, securities and other valuable considerations received by or promised to the election agent from or by any €¦ person for the purpose of expenses incurred or to be incurred on account or in respect of the management of the election €¦ whether it is received as contribution, loan deposit or otherwise", regardless of their origins. Sir, promises are not something that will certainly be fulfilled.”
“If, at the close of nomination for an election, a person is nominated to be a candidate in more than one constituency, or a person is nominated to be a candidate in the same constituency more than once, all his nominations will be void. Finally, Sir, I now come to the amendments which seek to clarify certain provisions in the interests of certainty during nomination proceedings. First, owing to the shortage of suitable premises, we have always had a single school serving as the Nomination Centre for more than one constituency during a general election. Invariably, candidates of one constituency find objections being filed by candidates of a different constituency as they are all within the same Nomination Centre. Under section 29(4) of the Act, it is clear that only the candidate for a constituency and his/her proposer, seconder, assentors and one other person, if any, appointed, are entitled to examine the nomination papers of the opponent candidate for that same constituency. They have no entitlement to inspect the nomination papers of candidates of other constituencies even if the Nomination Centre is the same. Logically then, only those persons allowed to examine a nomination paper are entitled to lodge an objection to that nomination paper. To avoid further confusion in proceedings on nomination day, clause 9 amends section 30 of the Act to make it clear that only candidates or groups of candidates contesting in a constituency, and their proposers, seconders, assentors and the one other person appointed by each candidate, and that only persons authorised to be present at the Nomination Centre can lodge objections. Clause 10 repeals and re-enacts section 31 regarding persons entitled to be present at nomination proceedings.”
“If the recommendation that objections to any nomination for a constituency can only be lodged by persons authorised to be present at a Nomination Centre and seeking nomination for that same constituency, there will be no basis to prolong proceedings for the additional 30 minutes in instances where only one candidate or group of candidates in a GRC is nominated for a constituency. Thus, if at the close of nominations at 12 noon, only one candidate or group stands nominated for that constituency, the Returning Officer or his delegate may, under the amended section 33, proceed to declare that sole candidate or group duly elected as Members of Parliament. Sir, in 2001, the law was amended to invalidate multiple nominations. However, it does not deal with the situation of multiple nominations of the same person in the same constituency. This can happen in the present environment where alliances have been formed between political parties. For example, we now have the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) making up of the Singapore People's Party (SPP), the National Solidarity Party (NSP) and the PKMS, etc. An individual belonging to a political party, say, the SPP, may contest in a GRC concurrently as a member of the group from SPP and as a member of the group representing SDA. Who knows, there may be other alliances in future. Multiple nominations of this sort are therefore not hypothetical. To make it clear that this is not allowed, clause 12 amends section 32A to invalidate multiple nominations involving the same person in the same constituency.”
“Two amendments are made to enlarge the scope for corrections to be made. Clause 8 introduces a new section 29A to allow a candidate or nominee to correct his nomination papers before 12 noon on the day of nomination. This facility does not, however, allow the candidate or nominee to substitute another person as candidate or nominee or as proposer, seconder or assentor. In addition to the facility to correct errors, the list of non-fatal errors in section 103 is expanded by clause 15 to provide that a nomination paper may still be accepted, and an objection may be disallowed, notwithstanding any error in numbers or any omission in the nomination paper in relation to the description or any particulars of the candidate or his proposer, seconder or any of his assentors, provided that the place or person can still be identified from the information contained in the nomination paper. Sir, these changes to allow candidates and nominees to correct their nomination papers prior to final determination if defects are discovered will help the aspiring candidate. However, the responsibility for filling in and verifying the accuracy of their papers remains with the nominees and their supporters. They have to ensure that their papers are in order. The Returning Officer still cannot overlook serious mistakes in nomination papers. Next, Sir, clause 13 amends section 33 to make the nomination process more efficient. Presently, nomination proceedings last from 11.00 am to 12.30 pm. Papers must be delivered to the Returning Officer no later than 12 noon. Withdrawals must also be filed before 12 noon. Objections may be lodged at any time from 11.00 am to 12.30 pm.”
“Next, clauses 5 and 6 amend sections 27 and 27B by merging the nomination paper with the statutory declaration as to qualifications to stand for election. This will reduce the number of papers to be filed with the Returning Officer on nomination day. Sir, the manner in which nomination papers are to be delivered to the Returning Officer is also changed. Clause 7 amends section 29 to require nominees to be present at the Nomination Centre in person and accompanied by their proposer, seconder and at least four of their assentors. Besides facilitating corrections of any particulars in the nomination paper, this requirement will also prevent any insertion of particulars or forging of signatures of any registered elector in nomination papers without the elector's knowledge. As our present law already requires nominations to be made by the nominees in person, and accompanied by their proposer and seconder, it should not be difficult for the nominees to comply with the additional requirement of having their assentors to be present during nomination. Currently, there is little room under the law for some minor errors in nomination papers. Defects in a nomination paper that are potentially rectifiable can be overlooked since they will not invalidate the nomination. Hence, inaccurate names or misnomers, inaccurate descriptions of persons, or inaccurate descriptions of places can be overlooked where despite these inaccuracies or mistakes, the person or place is still identifiable. That is the position under section 103 of the Parliamentary Elections Act. However, blanks and errors in numbers are fatal errors. That is, these cannot be rectified and a nomination paper with any such defect has to be rejected or may be successfully objected to.”
“These documents have to be submitted to the Returning Officer, in a certain manner following certain formalities and within the prescribed time. Nominees or candidates with incomplete or incorrect documents may find their nomination rejected or objected to successfully by their opponents. In practice, the most common errors in nomination papers are wrong or incorrect register serial numbers of the proposer, seconder or the assentors. To reduce the risk of such errors invalidating nominations, the Government has decided to remove the requirement for register serial numbers in the nomination paper. The nominee and his proposer, seconder and assentors may be identified in the nomination paper by their NRIC numbers. You can see this change in clauses 5 and 6 of the Bill as they amend sections 27 and 27B respectively. The form of the nomination paper will be revised after this Bill is enacted. The new form will also have space for up to eight assentors, instead of the six. The nominees can therefore help themselves by obtaining a higher number of signatories just in case some of them are invalidated on account of errors. This will allow the nominees a margin of error of up to four, ie, an increase of two. However, these changes do not do away with the current legal requirement that every nominee must secure constituent support for his nomination. The proposer, seconder and assentors must all still be electors registered in the constituency for which the nominee is seeking election. To facilitate the checking of the electoral status of these signatories in nomination papers filed by their opponents, the Returning Officer will make available personal computer (PC) facilities loaded with the database of the registers of electors at every Nomination Centre for their use.”
“The Bill tries to improve accessibility to standing for election to Parliament by reducing or mitigating the existing risk of aspiring candidates failing to be nominated on account of technicalities and errors. We are also taking the opportunity to clarify certain provisions to ensure greater certainty in operation. The second group of amendments relates to post-election processes, namely, post-election reporting of election expenditure. The third and last group of amendments consists of miscellaneous amendments ranging from abolishing obsolete fees connected with voter registration to conferring powers of composition on the Returning Officer or officials in the Elections Department. I will cover each one of them in turn. Nomination procedures Sir, the purpose of any parliamentary elections is to enable the electorate to cast votes to select representatives to Parliament from the various candidates who come forward. However, the best and most suitable individual cannot be elected if he or she does not successfully complete the nomination process. The process by which a person is nominated is therefore as important as the final act of casting a vote. While our nomination process must continue to ensure that only responsible and serious candidates can gain access, the process can afford to be simplified to reduce the risk of aspiring individuals failing to be nominated due to formal errors or non-compliance with procedures. Deserving candidates should not be disqualified from standing because of minor technicalities. Our nomination proceedings today centre heavily on four sets of documents: the nomination paper, a Statutory Declaration as to qualifications, a political donations certificate and the relevant Certificate for a Group Representation Constituency (GRC).”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Introduction Sir, after the General Election (GE) in 2001, the Prime Minister set up a Review Committee to study how the election processes can be streamlined and simplified and how the conduct of elections can be improved, for both candidates and voters. The Review Committee was chaired by the Permanent Secretary (Prime Minister's Office), Mr Eddie Teo and comprised senior officials who were involved in the conduct of past General Elections. The Committee made a number of recommendations, many of which have been adopted. Members may recall reading about the public officers undergoing election training. This is one of the Review Committee's recommendations which was implemented by the Elections Department as it did not require a legislative change. The amendments contained in this Bill, and in the Presidential Elections (Amendment) Bill that will be read a Second time after this, are introduced to implement those recommendations that require legislative changes. A number of the amendments to the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill also apply to the Presidential Elections (Amendment) Bill. The reasons or rationale for the amendments under these two Bills are the same. I will not repeat them afterwards when I speak on the Presidential Elections (Amendment) Bill. Sir, there are three main groups of amendments in this Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill. Firstly, there are the amendments which focus on nomination processes. These are meant to reduce the present complexity in nomination procedures but still ensure responsible candidature to stand for parliamentary elections.”
“Sir, we are studying the various legislative issues concerning the regulation of the casino. We will need to have a casino regulatory agency. Whether that agency will be a statutory board, whether it will be called a commission, or whatever - these are issues that are still being studied, although we have some rough ideas about them now. We will have to have the powers in order to enforce the rules. To have the powers, we must have the law in place. And to do that, we need to come to Parliament later.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move that the proceedings on item No. 1 in the Order Paper for today be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order No. 48(3) to enable the Ministers who have spoken, to speak again in this debate. This will allow the Ministers to respond to the questions raised by Members.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I know that this is a subject which many Members feel very passionate about. I hope they can make their speeches brief so that they can sustain our attention. EXEMPTED BUSINESS (Motion) Resolved, That the proceedings on the Proposal to Develop Integrated Resorts be exempted at this day's sitting from the provisions of Standing Order No. 2." - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP INTEGRATED RESORTS Debate resumed.”
“Dr Tan Sze Wee asked the Minister for Health, in view of the recent outbreak of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection, how many persons now have VRE and what is the breakdown of these in terms of (i) symptomatic patients and asymptomatic carriers (ii) immuno-compromised patients (ie, diabetic, renal failure, haematology and oncology patients) and non-immuno-compromised patients and (iii) bed class status. 6. Dr Tan Sze Wee asked the Minister for Health, in view of the reported deaths of four patients in the Singapore General Hospital, whether vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) is a contributing cause of these deaths and, if not, was there any other infection that was present in these patients. Mr Khaw Boon Wan: As at 14th April 2005, 88 patients have been found to have vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). Of these, only three have symptomatic clinical infection while 85 have asymptomatic colonisation. Of the 88 patients with VRE, 78 can be classified as "immuno-compromised" (ie, diabetic, renal failure, haematological or oncology patients) while 10 are not. The distribution of the patients by ward class is as follows: Class B1 - 2 Class B2 - 25 Class C - 61 Seven patients found to have VRE have died but none of the deaths are related to VRE. They all were elderly and had multiple chronic medical conditions. Two died from acute myocardial infarction, three of pneumonia and two of septicaemia from different bacterial infections. APPENDICES”
“For example, in January this year, some 1,200 top performing executives from pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca in China were in Singapore for a week-long incentive trip. Improved accessibility Thirdly, we must continue to make Singapore even more visitor-friendly. From January this year, China Unionpay RMB cardholders can withdraw cash at selected Automated Teller Machines (ATM) in Singapore and use our Point of Sale systems at shops and restaurants. We will also provide more multi-lingual signages to make it easier for Chinese visitors to get around in Singapore. Hotel room rates Although our hotel room rates are higher than Johor, they are among the lowest in Asia, as indicated by a recent study by Horwath, a hospitality consultancy company**. In any case, we cannot compete based on price alone, but must provide a quality experience so that visitors feel rewarded for their time and money spent here. There are some encouraging signs - the average length of stay of all tourists in Singapore has risen from 3.08 days in 2002 to 3.2 days in 2004. STB will work to further increase visitors' length of stay in Singapore. __________________________ * Asian Civilisation Museum, Singapore Art Museum and Singapore History Museum. **The Horwath Asia Pacific Study which shows the comparative average hotel room rates for Asian cities was reported in a Straits Times article dated 4th March 2005. VANCOMYCIN-RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCI (VRE) INFECTION 5.”
“As part of the Tourism 2015 vision, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will step up its efforts in attracting and developing world-class tourism products, organising a wide variety of events, and enhancing tourism marketing and promotion. It will pay special attention to the fast growing Asian market. One key target market is China. Last year, we welcomed 880,000 Chinese visitors to Singapore and they generated $612 million in tourism receipts, up 33 percent increase compared to 2002. They have become our second largest visitor market after Indonesia. The STB will intensify its efforts to attract more Chinese visitors. Quality tour products Firstly, we must enhance the Singapore experience for visitors. Many first-time Chinese visitors to Asia come on a Singapore-Malaysia-Thailand (新 马 泰)group tour, which includes one to two days' stay in Singapore as well as visits to our local attractions and ethnic precincts. However, such tours only provide a fleeting glimpse of what Singapore has to offer. To give Chinese visitors a more enriching experience in Singapore, STB is actively working with Chinese tour operators to develop quality tour packages. STB is also promoting Singapore through a Chinese drama that was filmed here featuring our local attractions. Better customer segmentation Secondly, we will focus our developmental and marketing efforts on targeted segments of visitors such as families, business travellers and students. We will capitalise on our multi-ethnic and cosmopolitan appeal, our quality education services and our strength as a business hub to position Singapore as a premier destination of choice for these visitors. These efforts are already beginning to bear fruit.”
“Ong Soh Khim asked the Minister for Trade and Industry in respect of tourists visiting Singapore (a) what are the root causes for the decline of tourism revenue; (b) what are the average spending of tourists from the various Asian countries; (c) what is the typical tour itinerary of a Chinese tourist; (d) what are the typical patterns and trends in the tour itineraries of the tourists from the various Asian countries; (e) what are the main cost factors making hotel stay in Singapore expensive such that tourists are whisked off to Johor Bahru after a day's travel here. Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Tourism sector performance Between 1993 and 2002, tourism receipts fell by 17 percent from $11.3 billion to $9.4 billion. There are several reasons for the decline. Under-investment in tourism products Firstly, there has been a lack of investments in quality tourism products. Apart from some sizeable investments in cultural attractions such as the Esplanade and museums*, there were no major investments in tourism attractions over the past decade. On the other hand, regional destinations have improved their tourism product offerings. Change in visitor profile Secondly, there has been a shift in our visitor profile with the number of visitors from China, India and ASEAN overtaking traditional source markets such as Japan, Europe and the US. These visitors have different preferences and spending patterns. Our tourism industry has to adjust its products and services to better serve these customers. External factors Thirdly, external events such as the Asian financial crisis, September 11th, SARS and bird flu have taken their toll on the tourism. Growth opportunities However, looking ahead, there are good reasons to be optimistic about the future of the tourism industry.”
“Police is thus working with telecommunications firms and banks to implement measures to curb the ability of loansharks to use such tactics. In addition, Police will continue to give priority to investigations involving illegal moneylending and harassment cases, particularly those involving innocent victims who are not debtors, and step up enforcement efforts against runners and syndicate members who harass debtors. On the ground, Police is studying the use of Closed Circuit TVs and the Community Safety and Security Programme to deter and apprehend "harassers". In addition, Police is exploring introducing mandatory minimum sentences for illegal moneylending and harassment in order to press for deterrent sentences. The Police will continue to leverage on the Vandalism Act which provides for the caning of loansharks who vandalise public property. Other measures Apart from enforcement measures, the Police is also working with various government agencies to explore upstream measures to deal with this problem. This would include studying the impact of our moneylending legislation, social policies and public assistance schemes on the IML situation. Other initiatives being considered include enhancing public awareness on prudent financial planning as well as increasing the scope and accessibility of credit counselling services and mandatory credit advice for borrowers of large loans. These measures would help to reduce the demand for illegal moneylending and the downstream consequences such as harassment. TOURISM SECTOR PERFORMANCE 4. Assoc. Prof.”
“In 2004, about 5,800 cases of illegal moneylending (IML) and harassment activities were reported. This was an increase of about 460 cases from 2003. Compared to the increase of about 2,300 cases from 2002 to 2003, the IML situation has improved. In fact, the situation has stabilised since April 2004. The average number of cases reported per month from May 2004 to December 2004 was about 420. This is a decrease from the same period in 2003, which averaged 520 cases per month. Enforcement efforts The Police takes a serious view of all reported cases of illegal moneylending and harassment. Its priority is to cripple syndicates involved in illegal moneylending activities. In 2004, Police successfully crippled five moneylending syndicates. The total number of persons arrested for both IML and harassment activities has increased from 330 in 2003 to about 390 in 2004. Police has now established a taskforce dedicated to tackling IML and harrassment activities and is exploring several measures to curb them. These include the use of the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act to detain not just syndicate leaders but loanshark runners as well, the Income Tax Act to prosecute illegal moneylending syndicate leaders, and the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Serious Crimes Act to confiscate their assets and to deny them the illicit proceeds to re-start their IML activities when they are released from jail. Police has discovered that illegal moneylenders have made use of foreign workers to open bank accounts and purchased pre-paid phone cards under these workers' names to allow the loansharks to operate freely and harass debtors, making it difficult for the authorities to trace them.”
“The need for webcasting of parliamentary proceedings to members of the public was discussed in the House previously. In 1992, there was a live telecast of the Budget debate for 10 days during a trial period, but less than 1% of the people viewed the programme. In view of the low viewership, the idea of a live public webcast was shelved. Those who are interested in the detailed proceedings in Parliament can attend its sittings. If they want to get a summary of the proceedings, they can watch the television summary at night or read the newspapers the following day. In addition, they can log on to the Parliament website to access the Hansard. Nevertheless, I will ask Parliament to study whether there is demand for a live public webcast service. ILLEGAL MONEYLENDING 3. Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many cases of illegal moneylending and harassment had been reported over the last one year; (b) is the number of reported cases increasing; and (c) what measures have been taken to give better protection to those being harassed by illegal moneylenders.”
“Singaporeans must be aware of the dangers and the warning signs so that they can keep themselves, as well as their family members and friends, out of trouble by seeking timely help in counselling and treatment when needed. Mr Speaker, Sir, dealing with casino-related criminal activities will be a new and challenging task for the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Police. We will be scaling up our capabilities and preparing ourselves to deal with the situation. Our study of other jurisdictions with casinos shows that, with proper controls and adequate resources, casino-related law and order problems can be kept under control. Also, our proven track record in clamping down on secret societies and drug syndicates gives us a measure of confidence that our police officers can deal firmly with these problems. I would like to assure this House and the people of Singapore that my Ministry will spare no effort to help ensure that Singapore remains a safe and secure best home for all Singaporeans.”
“Last year, independently from the casino debate, Police established a dedicated taskforce to look into measures to deal more resolutely with illegal money lending and harassment activities. We are exploring the introduction of tougher legislation to deal with illegal money lenders. Other measures being studied include tightening the change of address procedures and installing CCTVs when innocent victims are harassed by illegal money lenders. Strong action will be taken against any criminal syndicate leaders, whether local or foreign, who try to exploit the presence of casino operations. If necessary, we will detain them under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act and confiscate all ill-gotten gains using the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act. In addition, we will consider enacting new laws or amending existing ones to deal with any threat to the law and order situation. On problem gambling However, we must also proactively develop our understanding on how we can prevent or minimise the risks of those for whom harmless, recreational gambling can become compulsive and pathological. As part of the Ministry's efforts to assess the potential impact of casino gambling, the Commercial Affairs Department recently interviewed ten prison inmates who had committed commercial crimes like criminal breach of trust, money laundering, cheating and forgery and who had gambling problems. The study aimed to gain a better understanding of the factors that led such persons to become pathological gamblers and eventually resort to crime. More of such studies need to be conducted.”
“In addition, the casino will be required to set up a dedicated security team and a comprehensive CCTV surveillance system to ensure security within the casino premises. The regulator will also work closely with the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports to ensure that the social safeguards are strictly enforced. The Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports has elaborated on these earlier on. Enhanced law enforcement Sir, the regulator will work closely with the Police to manage the law and order situation within the casino. In addition, the Police will implement measures to ensure that the overall law and order situation remains under control. Police will set up a dedicated Casino Investigation Branch within the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to detect and investigate crimes that take place in the casino. We will have Police presence on the periphery of the casino to deter robbery and snatch theft cases, as well as prevent the proliferation of vice and illegal money lending activities. Where necessary, CCTV systems will be installed in the surrounding areas to enhance security. Police will also build up its intelligence capabilities and strengthen cooperation with other police forces to exchange information and intelligence on gaming syndicates and other related criminal activity. Police will take sustained enforcement actions against prostitution, adopting a zero-tolerance approach towards women soliciting in the areas around the casino. The casino will also be required to take the necessary measures to prevent women from soliciting within the casino. On the issue of illegal money lending, we will take a holistic approach to tackle the situation. The Ministry of Home Affairs has been studying this issue for some time now.”
“The casino regulator will put in place a strict regulatory regime to ensure that the casino remains free from criminal influence and that illegal activities on the premises are kept under control. The full details on the casino regulatory regime are still being worked out. Today, I shall highlight some key measures that the regulator will implement to regulate the casino operations. Sir, we recognise that having the right owners, managers and employees will be important to pre-empt the infiltration of criminal elements and money laundering syndicates into the casino operations. The regulator will, therefore, screen the principal shareholders, directors, key managers and employees involved in gaming, not just once-off, but over regular intervals. The regulator will also monitor the casino's relationship with its vendors, suppliers and agents. Contracts between the casino and its vendors and suppliers above a certain threshold will be scrutinised. The regulator will have the right to require that the casino does not enter into contracts with vendors and suppliers which are deemed unsuitable, due to suspicious backgrounds, or known involvement in criminal activities. Casino agents or junket operators who bring in premium players from overseas will also be screened and licensed. To combat money laundering activities, we will adopt international best practices in tracking suspicious transactions. The regulator will require the casino to record transactions of S$5,000 and above. Transactions of S$10,000 and above and all other suspicious transactions will have to be reported to the regulator. The casino will also be required to keep all relevant records for a minimum period of seven years.”
“We will also work closely with the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Health to implement the comprehensive national framework to deal with the social impact of gambling, including casino gambling. While the Ministry of Home Affairs will oversee the regulatory and enforcement aspects of casino gambling, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports will cover the social safeguards and preventive public education aspects. In addition, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Health will look at the treatment of those with gambling problems. All three Ministries will work closely together to implement this framework. MHA's plan of action Sir, let me now highlight what the Ministry of Home Affairs plans to do to deal with potential law and order issues relating to the casino. Singapore will not be the first country to have a casino. We can, therefore, benefit from benchmarking ourselves against other jurisdictions that have much more experience in regulating casino operations. The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Police have studied the structures and strategies of law enforcement agencies in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. We will adapt the best practices for Singapore. As we gain greater experience, we will refine them to fit our social context and circumstances. Casino Regulatory Authority One of the key institutions to help manage the social impact of having a casino in Singapore will be the casino regulator. The Ministry of Home Affairs will set up a new regulatory agency to regulate the casino.”
“The nature and frequency of criminal activity seem to be directly related to the extent and duration of involvement in gambling activities. On the other hand, other studies have shown that communities with casinos are not worse off compared to those without casinos. The United States National Gambling Impact Study Commission's 1999 report analysed data from 100 communities with varying degrees of proximity to casino gambling, and concluded that casino gambling has had no effect on the rates of serious, violent or property crimes. The evidence from the various research studies is, therefore, inconclusive. It would appear that, while having a casino in Singapore raises the possibility that there could be a negative impact on the law and order situation here, it is not a foregone conclusion. Study visits by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Police to various jurisdictions with casinos in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom seem to suggest that, with proper controls and adequate resources, casino-related law and order problems are manageable and can largely remain under control. Singapore's record in dealing with crime Sir, Singapore has been able to deal with other social vices and negative addictions in the past. Our response to narcotics and illegal drugs, which are highly lucrative businesses controlled by international syndicates, has been decisive and effective. Sustained action against secret societies and organised crime has kept the situation under control. We will adopt the same strategy of comprehensive, tough and decisive action against any threats to our law and order situation arising from the casino.”
“Just as there are risks in proceeding, we must be clear that there are also costs to Singapore for not acting. Moreover, if we do not try, we will never know whether we would have generated significant economic benefits and, at the same time, managed the social costs. Sir, it is finally a judgement call, and on the balance of probabilities, we need to act in favour of what brings more benefit to Singapore and Singaporeans. There is no doubt that considerable risks are involved. The robust debates we have had in the media and even in Cabinet show that most of us are aware of that. Having heard all the arguments and studied the economic case, putting aside my personal views, and taking the national perspective, I thought seriously about the options we have and the cost of having or not having an Integrated Resort with a casino. Personally, I am still ambivalent about having the casino. But the significant economic and larger national interests at stake persuaded me that we must give the Integrated Resort with casino option a try. The PM and Cabinet have taken a decision. I share in the collective responsibility for this decision. I will do everything possible to minimise any negative impact which may arise from the Integrated Resort with casino. Managing the impact Sir, since last year, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Police have been studying the possible impact of a casino on the law and order situation in Singapore. Some research studies in other countries have shown that the casino factor has accounted for an increase in crime rates. For example, the Australasian Centre for Policing Research found what appears to be a causal link between excessive gambling behaviour and criminal activity.”
“Having seen these submissions, the possible investments to be made and the jobs to be created, I can see the potential attraction of the Integrated Resort as an economic case to revitalise our tourism attractions which have become lacklustre over the years. If two Integrated Resorts are built, the prospective investors could invest up to some $5 billion and create about 35,000 jobs for the whole economy. I found the economic case compelling and concluded that these Integrated Resort proposals cannot be lightly dismissed. The decision Frankly, a safe option is to maintain the status quo and not to proceed. This way, we defer the issue and avoid making those who have personal, moral or religious objections to the casino unhappy. I understand and respect the views of those who have expressed strong moral, ethical or personal objections. However, I must also take into account the wider and strategic long-term interests of Singapore and all Singaporeans. What is clear to me is that in an intensely competitive and dynamic economic environment, we cannot afford to ignore opportunities for growth. If Singapore sticks to safe options, with tried and tested solutions, we will stagnate. If we fail to seize and act when a window of opportunity opens, we may regret taking such a cautious approach if the projects go to other cities in the region. The world has undergone great changes and so has our region. For instance, with China booming and its citizens travelling abroad in the millions each year, and with the numbers growing as they become wealthier, I am concerned that we will miss out on the opportunities to attract them to Singapore. We cannot afford not to take steps to advance our economic interests and stay ahead of our neighbours.”
“One high profile case is Chia Teck Leng, the former finance manager of Asia Pacific Breweries, who was sentenced to 42 years in jail in Singapore's biggest ever case of commercial fraud. He embezzled more than $110 million as he got deeper and deeper into debt while gambling in casinos around the world. Recently, Chia wrote a paper "Taming the Casino Dragon" to share his thoughts on the casino debate. This was published in the newspapers a couple of days ago. Chia provided an interesting insight into the operations of the casino business. He also suggested various safeguards for the Singaporean punter and against casino-related crime. Chia has had a bitter experience which he has paid dearly in personal and material losses. In a dispassionate manner, he set out the negative impact of a casino on the social and crime fronts. But despite all these, his conclusion is that a casino will have an enormous positive impact for our economy. The economic case Sir, the question for Singapore, therefore, is whether we can afford to ignore the very significant economic potential of an Integrated Resort with a casino as a boost to our tourism industry. Right from the start, there was consensus in Cabinet that if it was just purely a stand-alone casino, then it was a "no-go". The Cabinet decided that we should explore, in more tangible terms, whether there is an economic case for an Integrated Resort, so that we could more clearly appreciate how the potential benefits stack up against the potential social cost. The Singapore Tourism Board's invitation for concepts attracted 19 submissions.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, when the idea of a casino was first raised a year ago, I was not for it. My reason against a casino then and now is not one of personal morality or religious belief. Rather, my concern is over the change in the ethos and tone of our society which a casino may bring about. I am concerned whether a casino would erode the Singaporean work ethic. Our achievements as a nation over the past four decades have been built on hard work and a meritocratic system. We do not want to promote the idea that depending on luck at the gambling table, rather than personal diligence in doing an honest day's work, is the route to making money. I am concerned that Singapore's image as a safe and secure place will be tarnished. People know us as a safe, secure and wholesome place to bring up families. We have a gold standard reputation which is admired by many who desire a safe and secure home. With a casino, there could be an increase in organised crime and law and order issues, like illegal money lending, prostitution, money laundering and criminal gangs. Both Singaporean and foreign criminal elements may think that they can exploit the situation to perpetrate their criminal activities. Another concern is that a casino in Singapore would increase the incidence of problem gambling. Apart from more families having problems and more individuals facing bankruptcies as a result of casino gambling, there is a strong possibility that such people with gambling problems will turn to crime to feed their gambling habit. A recent study on gambling by the Commercial Affairs Department of the Police found that many pathological gamblers turn to crime to feed their addiction.”
“I think before Dr Wang's imagination go a bit wilder, let me explain this detection capability that we are talking about. It is an experiment that we are doing at the Airport to identify objects that have been placed in a location and which nobody has moved them for some time and, therefore, it will signal to the officer concerned to check what this particular object is about. The Airport is a confined facility and, particularly in the transit area, sometimes things do happen there. It is not that we are going to pry into other people's privacy. That is not the intention. But when there are syndicates exchanging documents, for example, illegal smuggling or human smuggling, that is an area which the Police will have an interest in helping the other countries to deal with the problem of human smuggling. In the case of Geylang, it is just a plain straightforward CCTV. It is basically to ensure that those who go there do not create problems. It is no different from the kind of cameras we see in Little India, Boat Quay, or Newton. For Singaporeans, they are more concerned about security and safety than privacy. I am not saying that they are not concerned about intrusion into their privacy. But let me assure Singaporeans that the Police will not intrude into their privacy if it has nothing to do with law and order problem. 3.15 pm”
“Sir, as regards CSSP funding for CCTV, this is an issue which was raised previously as well. I have asked the Police to see how we can be more sympathetic, but we have limited funding under the CSSP programme. We leave it to the advisers concerned to decide how to use the money. But if the residents really find the need for CCTV, I think it is something that they themselves can do because it is not a very expensive equipment. The prices have come down, and they can find a reasonable equipment that can do the job. The town council can also chip in because it makes the estate a bit more safe. Also, the residents will welcome the kind of improvement that the town councils do for their estate. I think all parties can play a role in making the whole estate safer, cleaner, friendlier and more neighbourly. 3.00 pm”
“Let me assure him that ISPs are not the only parties required to produce evidence that is required for investigations. There are all kinds of cases which Police investigates from time to time which require businessmen' cooperation, and I hope they will continue to do so. I think I have covered most of the issues.”
“Yes. I am finishing soon, Sir. Let me now come to Mr Steve Chia's point about the bird flu problem. Certainly, we are all very concerned about the bird flu problem. Let me assure him that the Home Team is prepared to deal with this together with the other Ministries because, under the Home Team, we have a crisis management structure and this crisis management structure includes the challenges that we may face, like the bird flu crisis or a flu pandemic. Let me assure Mr Chia that the Government has taken steps to stockpile some anti-virals in case there is a need for anti-viral drugs. As the flu vaccine for the H5N1 has not been developed yet, we are taking a keen watch on this and see what others do. On Dr Wang Kai Yuen's question on Internet Service Providers, let me assure him that the Police does not just barge into anyone's office to take away files, servers or whatever equipment that are necessary for its investigation. Firstly, the Police would do its job according to the law. Under section 58 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Police has powers to require a business operator to produce documents or, in the case of an Internet Service Provider, to provide the ISP logs for investigation when they are investigating a crime. It will not make it more onerous than any other kind of investigation for businesses. There is no brute force approach used in this and the Police has its own team of computer forensic investigators to look for data in the logs if there is a need to do so. Indeed, the Police has done so in some cases. In other cases, perhaps because the owners are not cooperative, the Police may have to use a section of the law to compel the provision of that particular log.”
“More recently, the Hotwheels Patrol Team, which is the CSSP from the Jurong Central Civil Defence Executive Committee (CDEC), discovered some discarded items on fire at a void deck in Jurong West and successfully put out the fire using fire extinguishers. These are just some examples of the many CSSPs which exemplify the community's vigilance and preparedness in taking ownership of their own safety and security. Other than CSSP, the public can also actively take part in the various activities that deal with security and safety issues. There is the Neighbourhood Watch Zone (NWZ) Scheme which involves the public taking ownership of community safety. Residents will sign up as NWZ volunteers. They will work closely with the Police to identify and address the local safety problems. Singaporeans can also enhance their emergency preparedness skills by joining the Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) so that they can help their neighbours in the event of an emergency. There is also the Emergency Preparedness Groups (EPGs) initiated by the People's Association to lead and coordinate the emergency preparedness activities of the various grassroots organisations and to prepare our residents to deal with emergencies such as disease outbreak, water shortages, a huge fire or even a bomb blast. The framework for the community to look after its own safety through self-help and mutual support is therefore already in place.”
“Coupled with strict laws and vigorous enforcement, we are confident that this multi-pronged strategy will continue to help us ensure that the drug situation in Singapore will remain well under control. Let me now turn to Dr Mohd Maliki's question about the Community Safety and Security Programme. He asked how can community groups be involved to take ownership of the CSSP and what other things can we do. 2.15 pm Sir, our experience shows that Singaporeans are taking part very actively in the Community Safety and Security Programme. Since the introduction of the CSSP in 1997, over 3,900 CSSP projects have been implemented to tackle the safety and security concerns such as crime and fire prevention, and emergency preparedness. In 2004, more than 700 CSSPs were implemented in more than 600 Residents' Committees (RCs) and their Neighbourhood Committees (NCs). While these numbers show the success in engaging the community at large, the effectiveness of each CSSP must be measured on its own merits. Obviously, some are more successful than others. For instance, there was a spate of motor vehicle thefts at Bukit Merah Lane from February to June 2004. The residents of Bukit Merah Lane and the Bukit Merah West Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) came together and set up a CSSP. They also got the Housing and Development Board (HDB), Bukit Merah Town Council and National Parks Board (NParks) involved and implemented several crime prevention measures, including joint patrols, raising awareness among motor vehicle owners in the area and installing brighter lights at the identified car park and the neighbourhood park locations. As a result, no motor vehicle theft was further reported in that neighbourhood.”
“Currently, for third and subsequent time heroin abusers who do not change after two admissions into the DRC, they will be charged in court if they are arrested for the third time or more and, if they are convicted, they will be sentenced to the Long Term Imprisonment regime. Under this Long Term Imprisonment regime, the abusers will be sent to prison for five to 13 years and given three to 12 strokes of the cane. This has proven to be very effective in changing the habits of heroin abusers. Therefore, when the DRC regime is introduced for synthetic drug abusers, we will consider placing them on the Long Term Imprisonment regime, if they fail to change after two DRC admissions and are caught the third time for synthetic drug abuse. Essentially, this new approach for synthetic drug abusers will dovetail with the current approach for heroin abusers which has worked very well. Further details on this will be released in due course by the Prisons Department. Ms Indranee also mentioned that we have young professionals and others who go to work or party in neighbouring countries and they may consume synthetic drugs. I do not think they can avoid detection at our checkpoints because, some years ago, the law was amended such that if a person is detected to have taken drugs when he is overseas, he will also be subject to the same laws in Singapore. We have had cases of Singaporeans or permanent residents who took drugs overseas and, when they were detected at the checkpoint, they were dealt with according to our laws. So, my advice is, it does not matter where a person takes the drugs, so long as he is detected in Singapore, he will be subject to the law.”
“I think one of the reasons could be the comprehensive and multi-pronged approach consisting of pro-active preventive drug education, rehabilitation, strict laws and rigorous enforcement to deal with the drug problem and to combat the perception that synthetic drugs are harmless and cool. In the area of preventive drug education, the Central Narcotics Bureau has already stepped up efforts to highlight the dangers of synthetic drug abuse through talks and distribution of audio-visual materials in schools. In addition, the National Council Against Drug Abuse has conducted the "Clubs Against Drugs" campaign since 2000 to enlist club operators to disseminate anti-drug messages to their patrons. The National Council Against Drug Abuse also conducted a media campaign against ketamine abuse last year. Another important prong of our strategy is the rehabilitation of synthetic drug abusers. Currently, these abusers are sent to prisons, because they are charged in court and they do not benefit from the focused treatment regime that opiate heroin drug abusers undergo at the Drug Rehabilitation Centres (DRCs). The imprisonment option was adopted because little was known about the nature of synthetic drug addiction in the 1990s. The Singapore Prison Service will soon be launching a DRC treatment regime for the first and second time synthetic drug abusers. This is a change. While a rehabilitative approach is taken for first and second time synthetic drug abusers, there is also a need to deter and punish recalcitrant abusers from persisting in their drug habit.”
“The police is looking into developing this initiative into a Community Safety and Security Programme to complement and enhance its efforts in managing the vice situation in the Orchard Road area. The police and the Ministry will continue to monitor the level of vice activities in Singapore to ensure that it does not get out of hand. On the drug situation, which Ms Indranee Rajah asked, I am pleased to inform her and the House that the drug situation remains well under control, with a sustained and significant decline in the number of drug abusers arrested in 2004. The number of drug abusers arrested last year decreased very sharply by 47% from 1,809 in 2003 to 955 last year. The number of new abusers fell by 17% from 730 in 2003 to 604 last year, an average of 50 new drug abusers were arrested last year every month. Synthetic drug abusers continued to form the majority of the drug abusers arrested, at 56%, while heroin abusers formed only 12%. This is a sharp drop compared to recent years, in particular in the mid-1990s to 1997, 1998, 1999, when heroin abusers formed the majority of the drug abusers. This is the second year since synthetic drug abusers have displaced heroin as the main drug of abuse in Singapore. But before we become unduly alarmed by this, let me assure this House that, in absolute terms, the number of synthetic drug abusers also fell by 46% from 980 in 2003 to 532 last year. The number of heroin drug abusers fell by an even larger percentage of 80% from 567 in 2003 to only 111 last year. So, you can see that, over the years, we have been keeping the drug situation under control, and the number of drug abusers, whether it is heroin or synthetic drug abusers, has declined quite considerably. What is the cause of this?”
“We do recognise that we need to deal with the problem at source. So, the ICA continues to fine-tune its policies and procedures to deter the entry of visitors who come for vice activities without affecting the entry of bona-fide visitors. Apart from having the appropriate visa requirements and sustained enforcement actions, we will extend the use of CCTVs to parts of Geylang from next month. This will help to enhance the sense of public safety and security for residents and businesses, and to deter public soliciting in that area. In addition, police is also engaging the community in projects under the Community Safety and Security Programme (CSSP). One such project - the Joo Chiat Road Community Watch Group - was recently launched by Mr Chan Soo Sen. The Joo Chiat Road Community Watch Group is an initiative of the Joo Chiat Citizens' Consultative Committee with support of the Singapore Police Force, National Environment Agency, Land Transport Authority and Urban Redevelopment Authority. The Watch Group aims to provide a focused and coordinated approach to address community related issues, which include the congregation of foreign women in public areas, noise pollution from pubs and illegal parking. Feedback from the residents has been very encouraging, and anecdotal evidence suggests that the situation in Joo Chiat Road is now much improved. Similarly, in Orchard Road - a subject which I think Ms Indranee was concerned about because she is the MP there - police has also been working with the relevant stakeholders, such as shop tenants and residents, as well as commercial partners like hotels, shopping centres and office buildings, to address a host of issues, including traffic congestion, noise pollution and vice activities.”
“This Act enables Singapore to provide legal assistance in criminal matters to other foreign authorities, and vice versa. To this end, Singapore has signed a multilateral Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with seven other ASEAN member countries, as well as a bilateral MLAT with Hong Kong. These treaties allow the signatories to provide each other with assistance in criminal matters, such as the taking of evidence and the service of documents. Singapore is also a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime. MHA recognises that regional and international cooperation is critical in the fight against transnational organised crime. Therefore, in addition to tackling the domestic crime situation, the Home Team also places great emphasis on building networks and good relations with our foreign counterparts. Let me now turn to the issue of vice, which was raised by Ms Indranee Rajah and Mr Ahmad Khalis. The police has been closely monitoring the vice situation, and has stepped up enforcement action. In 2004, a total of about 5,200 female foreigners were arrested for involvement in vice activities, compared to 2,300 in the year 2003, and 3,400 in the year 2002. This dip in 2003, if we remember, is because we had a few months of the SARS crisis in the region. Any foreigner found to be involved in vice activities will be repatriated and banned from re-entering Singapore. To some extent, the increase in vice arrests is not unexpected. In recent years, we have been attracting more visitors. In particular, the number of female visitors from the top nationalities arrested for vice has increased by 37% between 2002 and 2004. The increase in vice arrests is due in part to the liberalised visa policies introduced to support our tourism efforts.”
“Aside from this, cooperation between the various Home Team agencies and their foreign counterparts also extends to the development of joint training programmes and the strengthening of institutional frameworks, for example, regular meetings among them, sharing of data and information on intelligence. One such example specifically is the Interpol I-24/7 Communications System (I-24/7), which was adopted by the police force in 2003. Singapore is the first country in ASEAN to implement this. The core function of I-24/7 is to facilitate speedy communication between member countries on a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week basis. Member countries are also able to access the various databases and information contained within the I-24/7 database. Cooperation and information sharing between the Royal Malaysian Police and the Singapore Police Force led to the crippling of a human smuggling syndicate and the arrest of the syndicate leader, together with his two henchmen, by the Royal Malaysian Police in October last year. They were extradited to Singapore and were eventually convicted. The police force has also successfully cracked cases through multilateral cooperation, such as an FBI-led operation involving 13 other countries. A world-wide simultaneous raid was conducted against members of an international Internet piracy organisation called "Fairlight�?. Four persons were arrested in Singapore, and software worth S$10,000 was seized. Singapore was the first country to successfully convict the syndicate members in this operation. In terms of legislative framework to facilitate international cooperation with foreign authorities, we had enacted the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act in April 2000.”
“First of all, Sir, I thank the Members for raising these questions and giving me an opportunity to explain what we do in the Home Team and also I want to thank Mr Ahmad Khalis for commending the Home Team for tackling crimes at home. Indeed, the domestic crime situation in Singapore has remained stable and under control with the total number of seizable offences rising slightly by 3% to 34,480 offences compared to 2003. This increase was at a slower rate compared to the 5% increase from 2002 to 2003. Minor crimes, such as theft and related offences, accounted for much of the increase and can often be prevented if crime prevention measures are undertaken by the victims. The number of arrests made has also increased by 6.4% with nearly 25,000 people arrested last year. However, most of the major offences, such as house-breaking, robbery, rape, cheating and related offences, registered increases. So Members can see improvement in some areas and, of course, slight deterioration in other areas. Mr Ahmad Khalis also pointed out that crimes, such as drug abuse, illegal immigrants which is human smuggling in some instances, and intellectual property right violations have also an international dimension. Let me assure this House that we have put in place several measures in both enforcement as well as the legislative framework to tackle the menace of international organised crimes. 2.00 pm In terms of enforcement cooperation, the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) have regular information and intelligence exchanges with their foreign counterparts. These networks are essential in helping the Home Team tackle all the ill-effects of transnational crime.”
“I am very happy to answer his question. But, first, on a point of order, this is really not part and parcel of the debate that we are having. Because we have got to consider how much slack time we have in dealing with the MHA cuts. We may have a lot of time but I think that is for the Speaker to decide. I do not know whether Dr Wang Kai Yuen was here when I said that the new biometric passport will be issued in October and it is for five years. The fees are yet to be determined. We will notify the public once that is settled. I hope it will not be more than the present one. Whether the existing passports will continue to be valid, yes, the existing passports will continue to be valid. For those who hold a valid passport, please do not rush to change to a new passport when it is being issued. Otherwise, they will jam up the system. Organised Crimes”
“The result of this survey is not surprising because in an earlier Ministry of Home Affairs' survey, we found that 92% of the people surveyed agreed that the public had a role in keeping Singapore safe from terrorism, and 86% of them had confidence in the Government for its efforts on counter terrorism. In plain language, what this finding means is that the public is saying, "The Government will look after the problem for us." I think that is not good enough and, of course, we need to do a lot more work in convincing the public that they themselves have a role to play. Finally, Sir, the various parties - the Government, the people, the businesses - have to work together to make Singapore an inhospitable place for terrorist groups and their sympathisers. Even if a terrorist incident were to happen here, despite our best efforts, we must be able to respond as a nation and we must be resilient, we must be socially cohesive, to recover from such an attack. Vigilance and preparedness are the key to making Singapore more resilient and there is no other way about it. 1.45 pm”