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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“So I do not worry that, by giving them more powers to investigate offences under other Acts, they will abuse their powers. Mr Jeyaretnam raised this drafting point in clause 2. That is the way the law has been drafted by the AG and I depend on the AG for legal advice on the way the law should be drafted. I have no reason to doubt that that will open itself to abuse. What we know in Singapore is that the laws are clear enough. There are rules and guidelines and there is recourse for people who feel that their rights have been transgressed to take the matter to the proper channels. So if an officer abuses his powers for whatever reason, just because he does not like a certain person and he starts to investigate that person, that would be an abuse of power. I do not think there is anyone here more concerned about abuse of police powers than I am for the reason that our law enforcement agencies have acquired a reputation which is quite high. Anybody who tries to abuse his powers and as a result undermines public confidence in the organisation will be disciplined and, if necessary, charged in the courts. So there will be safeguards and there will be checks and balances. For the CAO who investigates and eventually recommends a prosecution, the decision does not lie with the CAD, nor does it lie with the Commissioner of Police. Unlike now, the decision to prosecute in the great part is being decided by the CAD Director in consultation with the AG. Under the new arrangement, the CAD officers will investigate and send their investigation papers to the Attorney-General's Chambers which has a specialist team to study and eventually decide on prosecution. I do not believe that any investigation can be conducted without a complaint or a report.”
“Sir, let me deal with Prof. Chin's question first. Would the officers be retrained to perform a wider role? These Commercial Affairs Officers have already been on the job for a long time. They have been conferred with police powers since 1989 to investigate seizable offences under the Companies Act and the Securities Industry Act, or any other seizable offences disclosed in the course of such investigation. So they already know how to exercise such police powers. In the reconstituted CAD, they will be given powers to investigate offences disclosed under other Acts, for example, the Penal Code, Futures Trading Act and a list of other Acts. So they are not fresh or totally new to the way the police conducts its investigation and therefore they are not unfamiliar with the procedures. What they need to do of course is to be familiar with the Acts as well. I can assure the Member that proper training will be given to them. They are not police officers. They are Commercial Affairs Officers, civilian officers who have powers to investigate certain offences, just like the CPIB or Immigration officers who are civilians and who have powers to investigate the offences committed under the Acts under their charge. So this is not something new that we are doing. The Police Force Act does not apply to them, but certainly the civil service rules, the disciplinary procedures and the IMs do apply to them. They are fully aware of what they have to do in order to maintain the reputation that they have acquired over the last 15 years. There has not been any incident that I could recall that these officers have abused the powers when exercising the powers which they have under those Acts which have been prescribed.”
“Can the Minister clarify whether these officers are to be subject to the same discipline as the other members of the police force?”
“Sir, this combination of two elite departments marks a new milestone in our efforts to gear up for the challenges of the new millennium. The reconstituted CAD will go beyond a mere transfer of the current functions of CAD to the Police Force and the AGC. We will expand the capabilities of the new CAD to match the increasingly sophisticated nature of commercial crime. The new CAD will strive to be a world class investigative/enforcement agency, in line with Singapore's growing status as a financial hub. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. Assoc. Prof. Chin Tet Yung: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Bill and the reasons given by the Minister as to why the CAD will be merged with the CCD. I have only two clarifications to ask of the Minister. Clause 2 inserts a new section 58A which provides for the appointment of Commercial Affairs Officers. By integrating these officers into the Force, they are given the power to investigate any suspected offence under written law. I should like to ask the Minister whether this means that officers will all be retrained to perform a wider role in investigation. By empowering them to investigate any suspected offence, is it the intention that they be regarded as regular Police Officers who may be expected to investigate all manner of crimes? Secondly, these officers are to be invested with the powers of investigation with the rank of not below inspector. In fact, the Commissioner of Police may confer the powers of an ASP (Assistant Superintendent of Police) on such officers. Yet the general provisions of the Police Force Act do not apply to them other than section 37 which is already mentioned by the Minister. That section exempts them from liability if they perform an act that was done in accordance with the warrant.”
“The CAD will be working in collaboration with the Financial and Securities Offences sub-division of the Criminal Justice Division in the Attorney-General's Chambers, a dedicated specialist unit formed in August this year. A mechanism will be put in place to ensure that the transfer of CAD to the Police Force will not result in CAD losing touch with MAS and the Finance Ministry on policy development issues relating to the financial sector. Proposed Amendments Currently, the Commercial Affairs Officers appointed by the Minister for Finance already have police powers to investigate offences under the Companies Act, the Securities Industry Act and other seizable offences under any written law disclosed in the course of investigations under the Companies Act and the Securities Industry Act as provided under section 409B of the Companies Act. In order to ensure that the new CAD has the necessary legal powers to carry out their functions effectively, clause 2 of the Bill seeks to introduce a new section 58A to empower the Minister for Home Affairs to appoint Commercial Affairs Officers to investigate any suspected offence under any written law. The new section also confers on CAOs, for the purposes of investigation, all the powers of investigation of police officers under the Criminal Procedure Code or any other written law as the Minister for Home Affairs may prescribe by notification in the Gazette. The Commercial Affairs Officers are also given the immunities relating to acts done in obedience to a warrant under section 37 of the Act. Clause 3 of the Bill seeks to repeal section 409B of the Companies Act as CAD will now be reconstituted as a department under the Singapore Police Force.”
“Why Merge - Anticipating Commercial Crime in the Future To have a specialised agency to investigate "serious or complex" commercial fraud remains relevant not only today, but more so in the future. As Singapore opens up its finance sector and further develops as a regional financial hub, the development of our capital market, banking and financial industries and electronic commerce is likely to attract increasingly sophisticated commercial crime frauds. Commercial crimes in the coming years are likely to become more complex and the perpetrators may be involved in a mix of company and penal code offences - expertise to deal with these should therefore be merged. An effective enforcement regime is critical to protect the integrity of our financial markets and business environment. This increasing sophistication and complexity of commercial crimes necessitates the pooling of scarce resources, the enforcement and intelligence capabilities in CAD and CCD, into a single unit. So early next year, the CAD and CCD will merge. The CAD will be reconstituted as a separate department in the Singapore Police Force with the same standing as the CID. The combined department will still be known as CAD to retain its reputation as the premier anti-commercial crime agency. The new CAD will investigate a wide spectrum of major commercial crimes. Other commercial crimes, such as cheating, will still be handled by the Police land divisions. By merging the CCD with the CAD, investigative resources and intelligence capabilities will be pooled, thereby resulting in synergies and even greater effectiveness in combating commercial crimes.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Background The Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) was set up in October 1984 as a specialised agency within the Ministry of Finance to investigate and enforce serious and complex commercial fraud cases. In March 1989, Parliament conferred certain police powers on the Director CAD and Commercial Affairs Officers (CAOs) appointed by the Minister for Finance. Currently, depending on the classification of the offences, most major commercial crimes are investigated either by the CAD or the Criminal Investigations Department's Commercial Crime Division (CCD). The CAD is responsible for investigating and prosecuting complex commercial crimes, including offences under the Securities Industry Act, the Companies Act, the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Acts, and the Futures Trading Act. CID's Commercial Crime Division investigates fraud offences punishable, for example, under the Penal Code, and the Multi-Level Marketing and Pyramid Selling (Prohibition) Act. Over the years, CAD has built up its strength in combating complex fraud, syndicated white collar crimes, securities offences, such as insider trading and market rigging, and serious corporate offences, while CCD has had considerable successes against cheats, credit card fraudsters and syndicates behind scams that promise quick profits. Both Departments have distinguished themselves in their own right. But changes are needed to position them to tackle the changes and new threats in the operating environment.”
“Sir, my Parliamentary colleague in my GRC has moved a motion to thank the President for his Speech and, on behalf of Members, I thank him for moving that motion. ADJOURNMENT Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn to a date to be fixed." - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. Adjourned accordingly at Six o'clock pm to a date to be fixed. Table - Trends of Wages vs Property Prices (Cols. 397-398)”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I think we have heard enough for the day. I beg to move, "That the Debate be now adjourned." Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That the Debate be now adjourned. - [Mr Wong Kan Seng].”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to move, That Parliament do now adjourn. Question proposed. THE NEED TO PRIORITISE PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE 5.14 pm”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we will come back tomorrow for the remaining Bills and motions. Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn." - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. Adjourned accordingly at Twenty-one Minutes past Six o'clock pm. WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BILATERAL TALKS BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA 1. Mr Shriniwas Rai asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will indicate the latest development on bilateral talks between Malaysia and Singapore.”
“A total of about 130,000 and 39,000 people were granted permanent residence and citizenship status respectively from 1995 to June 1999. SETTING UP OF PERMANENT CONSTITUTIONAL COURT 31. Mr Shriniwas Rai asked the Prime Minister if he will consider amending the law to set up a permanent constitutional court comprising a minimum of five judges to be approved by the Chief Justice to hear disputes on constitutional issues.”
“Pyramid selling activities are prohibited under the Multi-Level Marketing and Pyramid Selling (Prohibition) Act. The Police would investigate individual cases on receiving relevant information or complaints. Over the past 3 years, the Police received a yearly average of only 9 complaints of alleged pyramid selling. None of the cases were substantiated. In view of the small number of complaints, and the infrequent nature, the current process is adequate. PERMANENT RESIDENCE AND CITIZENSHIP GRANTED TO FOREIGNERS 29. Dr Lee Tsao Yuan asked the Minister for Home Affairs how many foreigners have been granted permanent residence and citizenship respectively since 1995.”
“It is necessary to keep criminal records for all serious offences. These records are used by the Courts for consideration in sentencing. They are also useful in facilitating police investigations. Police do not disclose criminal records to employers, except for jobs that have public safety and security implications. The Prisons Department already has in place a range of rehabilitative measures to help prisoners re-integrate into society upon their release, when it matters most. Vocational training and academic programmes are available to prisoners to help them develop good work ethics and acquire relevant skills that would help them secure jobs after their release. Ex-prisoners who have difficulties in obtaining employment can approach the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) for assistance. SCORE has tied up with a number of companies that are prepared to employ ex-prisoners and would assist them in finding a job with one of these companies. Ultimately, it is the companies which decide whether to employ any person. WRITS OF SUMMONS ISSUED FOR COPYRIGHT AND PATENT INFRINGEMENT 22. Mr Chng Hee Kok asked the Minister for Law how many writs of summons were issued in 1997 and 1998 in relation to copyright and patent infringement.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we will resume our sitting tomorrow for the remaining Questions and items of business on the Order Paper. Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn." - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. Adjourned accordingly at Seventeen minutes past Two o'clock pm. WRITTEN ANSWER TO QUESTION EXPATRIATES 1. Mr Tay Beng Chuan asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what are the current and projected numbers of expatriates working in Singapore; and (b) whether the Government will introduce any tax efficient pension scheme as an alternative retirement provision to the Central Provident Fund scheme for such expatriates, in line with its efforts to attract and retain international talent.”
“NUS will be able to ascertain the number of first-year students who applied to read South Asian Studies (SAS) as one of their 3 first-year subjects and provide information on the number of students allocated to read SAS on 12th July 1999. Appendix A - Regional Exposure and NPLs of Singapore Incorporated Banks (Cols. 1813 - 1814)”
“) Singapore will continue to promote global companies to base their E-commerce hubs in Singapore to further grow the industry. EDB targets to anchor at least 25 of the leading logistics, manufacturing and services companies to set up their e-commerce operations in Singapore by 2003, in order to tap the tremendous growth worldwide2. NUMBER OF TOURISTS 4. Mr Shriniwas Rai asked the Minister for Trade and Industry what is the number of tourists that have come to Singapore during the second quarter of this year. BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: An estimated 1.65 million tourists came to Singapore during the second quarter of 1999, about the same number as that for the first quarter of the year. This number is 8.3% higher than the same quarter last year. 1 Capturing over 2000 companies in Singapore. 2 In a University of Texas study funded by Cisco Systems, it was found that in 1998, total E-commerce for US based companies alone exceeded $102 billion. At this rate of growth, it will easily surpass the earlier prediction of US$200 billion by 2000, made by IBM, for E-commerce worldwide. SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES DEPARTMENT 5. Mr Shriniwas Rai asked the Minister for Education what is the number of students who have applied to study at the South Asian Studies Department of the National University of Singapore. RAdm Teo Chee Hean: At the National University of Singapore (NUS), students are first admitted to the faculty and not directly to departments or programmes. For this academic year (AY), they will matriculate on 7th July 1999, after which they will declare their subject preferences on 8-9th July 1999.”
“This soared 85% to S$267 million in 1998 and is expected to increase by another 34% to S$359 million in 1999. The focus remains primarily on business-to-business (B2B) rather than business-to-consumer (B2C). Similar projections by agencies like the International Data Corporation (IDC) also paint a very optimistic scenario. IDC projected that E-commerce revenue in Singapore would grow by about 110% per year over 1998~2003. We do not have comprehensive data on the percentage of small and medium-sized enterprises which have embarked on E-commerce. However, a recent NCB sample survey on the state of E- commerce readiness (based on a sample of more than 1000 companies in 8 industry sectors) showed a high level of Internet-readiness among companies in the selected industry sectors, notably in the manufacturers of electronic products. About 73% of the companies surveyed already had corporate Internet access and over a third owned corporate websites. About 9% already use the Internet to conduct business-to-business e-commerce. Of the companies already procuring through the Internet, 57% were already procuring through Web-based trading platforms and another 32% used e-mail. The survey, however highlighted that many small and medium-sized companies were still relatively behind larger companies in the area of E-commerce. It is important for these SMEs to do more to move into E-commerce, by taking advantage of various Government schemes currently in place. Corroborating our state of overall EC readiness, the World Competitiveness 1999 ranking of whether the E-commerce environment is sufficiently developed for business opportunities, ranked Singapore as the 3rd, after Iceland and Finland. (In comparison, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea were ranked 13th, 16th and 40th respectively.”
“Mr Tay Beng Chuan asked the Minister for Trade and Industry if there are any (i) projections regarding the potential contribution of E-commerce over the next 5-10 years to Singapore's Gross Domestic Product compared with other regional economies; and (ii) statistics as to the percentage of small and medium-sized enterprises in economies such as Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea which have embarked on E-commerce. BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: There are no such projections regarding the potential contribution of E-commerce to our Gross Domestic Product over the next 5-10 years. The E-commerce industry is still a very new industry, whose impact on the economy, not just for Singapore, but also for the global economy cannot be correctly estimated. But its rapid growth confirms the conclusion of most analysts that this is major global trend with far-reaching effects. The problem of estimation arises because the industry is potentially very broad and cuts many economic sectors, making any computation of the exact contribution of E-commerce activities on the existing value-chain a complicated undertaking. Singapore is however keeping abreast of statistical developments relating to the measurement of E-commerce, where there is still no international consensus. In February this year, DOS launched a new survey1 to obtain information pertaining to electronic commerce (EC) activities in Singapore to enhance our understanding of this emerging sector. The full set of results would be published in due course. Preliminary findings confirm that the E-commerce growth potential in Singapore is good, even if the actual level of activity is still small at the moment. For example, revenue derived from EC supporting services amounted to S$144 million in 1997.”
“Guidance Programme The Guidance Programme, administered by Police and MCD, targets juvenile offenders who have committed petty crimes, but where there are mitigating factors. It is a 6-month supervision and counselling programme which involves the parents of the offenders. The programme aims to help the juvenile offenders recognise the seriousness and consequences of their act and to acquire life-skills and self-control. It also aims to equip parents with the necessary skills and knowledge for effective parenting. Upon successful completion of the programme, these juvenile offenders may be cautioned by Police in lieu of Court prosecution. StreetWise Programme The StreetWise Programme, initiated by the National Youth Council and Police, is a 6-month programme designed to change the behaviour of youths who have unwittingly drifted into gang activities. Youths who are identified as gang members or associating with gang activities, but where there are mitigating factors, may be placed under this programme. The programme aims to inculcate life skills and discipline through counselling and developmental training sessions, as well as voluntary curfew. Juveniles involved in serious offences with mitigating factors may also be placed under this programme. Restriction on Participation in Tea Dances Juveniles have been restricted from patronising entertainment outlets that serve alcohol with dancing facilities or tea dances. This is to protect them from undesirable influences at such entertainment outlets as well as to prevent the gangs from using these entertainment outlets as grounds for youth gang recruitment and congregation. E-COMMERCE 3.”
“The number of youths arrested for offences relating to unlawful assembly, rioting and serious hurt from 1st January to 31st May 1999 is 189, a 10% decrease from 209 for the same period last year. (IV) Measures in Place to Tackle Youth Crimes The Inter-Ministry on Youth (IMYC) cordinates a range of measure on prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation. Measures to tackle youth crimes involving MHA include: School Talks Police and CNB jointly conduct school talks to educate high-risk students about the dangers of secret societies and drug abuse, and to advise these students to lead drug-free and crime-free lives. Caution And Prison Visit Programme This programme is part of the rehabilitative programme for high-risk youths, such as gang members or those who are associated with gangs. Students who are involved in gangs will be cautioned by officers from Secret Societies Branch (SSB) of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) against future gang involvement. They will also be counselled by CID and invited to participate in the Prison Visit Programme. Under this programme, they will see for themselves the harsh realities of prison life. The students will be recalled during the school holidays after the visit for a review. Honorary Volunteer Special Constabulary (VSC) Scheme The honorary VSC scheme aims to strengthen links between schools and the Police so as to keep juvenile delinquency problems and youth-gang influence away from the schools. School discipline masters/mistresses and disciplinary teachers from secondary schools are appointed as honorary VSC senior officers. These honorary VSC officers serve as school liaison officers in networking with the Police. They also help to project a symbol of police presence and authority in the schools.”
“(I) Statistical Trend of Youth Crimes Juveniles1 arrested for seizable offences from 1994-1998 are as follows: Year 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 No. of JD 2,102 2,574 2,110 2,147 2,408 Arrested Comparative statistics on youths2 are available only for the period 1997-1998: Year 1997 1998 No. of Youths 4,412 4,396 Arrested 1 Juveniles are persons aged 7 to 15 years old. 2 Persons aged 7 to 19 years old. (II) Education & Family characteristics of Youth Gang Members The education characteristics of youth gang members dealt with by Police in 1997 and 1998 are as follows: Education Youth Gang Youth Gang Members Level Members Arrested in 1998 Arrested in 1997 (%) (%) Primary 103 (13.7) 64 (10.6) Secondary 589 (78.3) 488 (81.0) Vocational 41 (5.5) 46 (7.7) Institution Polytechnic 12 (1.6) 4 (0.7) Unknown 7 (0.9) 0 (0) Total 752 (100) 602 (100) Police does not keep records of the family characteristics of youth gang members. (III) Kinds of Crimes Committed For the period 1st January 1999 to 31st May 1999, 1,366 youths were arrested for seizable offences. This is 37% lower when compared to the 2,159 youths arrested for the same period last year. Theft and its related offences form the bulk of seizable offences committed by youths. About 66% of those arrested for seizable offences in the first five months of 1999 (or 900 youths) committed such offences. For the same period last year, such offences were committed by about 72% of those arrested for seizable offences (or 1,522 youths). Shoplifting is the most common theft related offence among youths. 522 youths were arrested for shoplifting in the first five months of 1999 while 978 were arrested for the same period last year.”
“It will continue to conduct checks on suspicious juveniles found loitering in the void decks, coffee shops, fast food outlets and shopping malls. LAWS TO PREVENT INTRUSION INTO PRIVACY OF INTERNET ACCOUNT HOLDERS 18. Mr Zulkifli bin Baharudin asked the Minister for Communications and Information Technology whether there are plans to introduce laws to prevent Internet service providers from intruding into the privacy of account holders.”
“Juvenile Delinquency Trend The incidence of crime involving juvenile delinquents is not rising. In the first 5 months of 1999, the number of juveniles arrested decreased by 42%, from 1,079 to 631 compared to the same period last year. The misperception could be due to a number of recent cases happening in quick succession and extensive media coverage on these cases. Juvenile delinquency is a multi-faceted problem. The reasons why a juvenile turns to crime are diverse and complex in nature. A concerted effort by Governmental bodies, social agencies, community organisations, and parents and family members is needed to deal with the problem effectively. In this regard, the "Inter-Ministry Committee on Youth Crime" or IMYC which I chair monitors the youth crime situation and coordinates the various measures by key agencies such as the Police, schools, the Courts, MCD, NYC and VWOs to tackle youth crimes. A wide range of measures, such as the Streetwise Programme, the Honorary VSC Scheme and the Guidance Programme, have been put in place over the last 2-3 years. These measures have kept in check the incidence of juvenile and youth crimes in the past couple of years. Meanwhile, the Government is reviewing the Children and Young Persons Act to enhance the rehabilitation programmes for youth offenders. The review will look at provisions for the treatment of juvenile offenders. In the area of juvenile delinquency, we will be looking at alternative treatment options and provisions to enhance the rehabilitation process. On its part, Police will continue to make its presence felt on the ground and monitor places where youths usually gather.”
“The Ministry of Home Affairs and its departments are fully conscious of the trust and respect accorded to them by the public. The exemplary conduct and behaviour of officers contribute to this trust and respect. We will continue to uphold the high standards and values that we have set for our officers. REVIEW OF LEGISLATION AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENTS 17. Mr Shriniwas Rai asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Government has any plans to review legislation affecting juvenile delinquents in view of rising crimes among the group.”
“There is no consistent upward trend in the number of Police and Civil Defence officers committing corruption and other criminal offences. As at 26th June 1999, 21 Police officers have been charged in court for corruption and criminal offences as compared to 33 in 1998, 29 in 1997, and 34 in 1996. As for Civil Defence officers, the numbers are 1 in 1998, 4 in 1997 and 2 in 1996 for various offences. None was charged for corruption. There is 1 case under investigation this year. The number of police officers charged in Court for corruption and criminal offences averaged about 28 per year from 1995 to 1998. This makes up less than 0.4% of the Police Force strength (strength to-date is 7,417). Nevertheless, these cases are still of concern. The harm caused by a few rogue officers goes far beyond the numbers they represent. A single case is one case too many. The Commissioner of Police has given the assurance that such officers will be systematically weeded out and charged in Court. They will be held fully accountable for their actions even if it means having to make their acts public. Such transparency clearly demonstrates the Police's determination to eradicate corruption and criminal acts. We cannot allow public confidence in the Police to be eroded because of the acts of a few rogue officers. The Ministry of Home Affairs places a high premium on honesty and integrity for all its officers. Police has implemented a range of enhanced measures aimed at eradicating corruption and criminal acts in the Force. These include: (a) Better preventive measures; (b) Stronger detection mechanism; and (c) Proactive co-operation with CPIB. The situation is well under control.”
“The matter of overseas voting was last raised in Parliament in October 1998. There is no change to the Government's position that we are not yet ready to introduce such voting. This is because the limitations of the various forms of overseas voting remain. We estimate from experience that only about 3.5% of electors are likely to be overseas on polling day for various reasons. They are dispersed in many countries and many locations within them. We have only 26 missions, which means that many electors will not live or work close enough to one of these missions to go there to vote, especially in large countries like the United States or China. Voting in our overseas missions would probably not effectively reach the majority of these Singaporeans. There are no plans to introduce overseas voting in the forthcoming Presidential Election. However, the Government recognizes that this is not a static situation. With globalization, more Singaporeans will work abroad and the case for overseas voting may change. CRIMES INVOLVING POLICE AND CIVIL DEFENCE OFFICERS 16. Mr Zulkifli bin Baharudin asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the recent incidents of crimes involving the police and civil defence officers reflect an increasing trend of crimes amongst officers in the force.”
“They have had their day during the last general elections and they made no impact. Two Members were returned. There is no reason why the Government should satisfy the vanity of certain opposition figures by holding a by-election. Predictably, the opposition makes loud calls for a by-election to be held. But Mr Jeyaretnam fools himself if he thinks that having a by-election is the topmost priority of Singaporeans now. Not holding a by-election is not a breach of parliamentary democracy. In accordance with the law, the electorate has a choice at every general election. The law does not require a by-election to be held when an MP in a GRC vacates his seat for whatever reason. The law provides leeway to the Prime Minister to decide. If he considers it necessary, by-elections will be held. The PAP has not shied away from by-elections in the past. As for the vacancy that has arisen at Jalan Besar GRC, the Prime Minister has decided that, on balance, it is not necessary nor is it in our interest to hold one.”
“He wants Singaporeans to focus on our incipient economic recovery. Do not take for granted that our economic growth is assured. Look around us. Many things can still happen and it is still in the early stages. So despite the changes and the rising stock market, do not take for granted that things will be good. This was the same message that we put out even before the 1997 crisis. We said: "Don't take things for granted." The people said, "It cannot happen. The PAP will handle it." Indeed, we have an economic crisis due to external reasons. So for very good reason, do not take things for granted. The Prime Minister has indeed cautioned Singaporeans against assuming that the current upturn would be quick or permanent. He feels that a by-election held at this time will be a distraction from the main task in seeing through this economic recovery. I think Singaporeans on the whole appreciate that the Government's far-sighted policies have stood the test of time, particularly in this time of regional economic crisis. They also know that the Government has acted decisively to review and improve many of its policies, some in very fundamental ways, like the way we handle our financial institutions and banks. Ensuring that these revised policies are implemented effectively and successfully will therefore require the undivided attention of all Singaporeans. I think that should be our primary objective. It is not the time for fractiousness and partisan politics which a by-election will foment. This is the pragmatic, hard-headed approach that we have taken which has worked for Singapore all these years. The opposition parties, on the other hand, like what Mr Simon Tay has alluded to, want excitement and political agitation.”
“So it is a lesson not just for Singaporeans but also a lesson for the opposition parties themselves to find the right kind of people to lead them. Mr Chiam, in fact, said that we should have a by-election to put the Government's handling of the economy to the test. We do not need a by-election to put the Government's handling of the economy to the test. If he had been following events, and reading reports from financial analysts, from people who know, they have said that Singapore indeed has come out with flying colours in the way we have handled the economy. But the real test is, at the end of the term, how would the people vote for the PAP? That is the real test, not in a by-election. So what does he want? To get an opportunity to contest? But his party cannot even get organised. So he would not be contesting. Maybe he would leave it to Mr Jeyaretnam. I do not know whether the Workers' Party could also be organised to contest. The Government's record for good governance is widely acknowledged. So we do not need to have a by-election to test the Government. Mr Jeyaretnam also suggests that maybe at a time like this, we should save money and have the Presidential election together with the by-election. That is a facetious argument. A Presidential election is vastly different in purpose, scope and format compared to a by-election. The candidates are different, the issues are different, the objectives are different. So we should not hold the two together and confuse our electorate with two different elections going on at the same time. The prerogative to call a by-election, "considering all the circumstances", really rests with the Prime Minister. His decision will be based on the best interest of Singapore. He has explained why he has decided not to call a by-election.”
“So regardless of the reasons or the circumstances under which an MP has to resign, there is no need for a by-election because the existing MPs will carry on with the task which they have been entrusted. Mr Jeyaretnam must be fooling himself when he said that the PAP is afraid to lose the by-election in Jalan Besar because according to him that is the only reason why we do not want to have a by-election. He said that the PAP accused him of chickening out in the Marine Parade by-election. I do not know why he chickened out. Maybe he did not chicken out but he was played out! There were four of them. One of them who was supposed to be there with him happened to be somewhere else in Jurong and lost his way. He was supposed to be in the Marine Parade nomination centre but he could not find his way to Marine Parade. So he should find out why that team-mate of his decided not to turn up. Maybe he chickened out. So there was good reason why the PAP said the Workers' Party chickened out because they did not find the right person to contest. There is no reason why the PAP should fear a loss in a by-election either. We won convincingly in 1997 - 67.7% of the votes. There is no question that we will win again should there be a contest. I read Mr Jeyaretnam saying that he would quit politics if he were to contest and lose. We do not want him to lose. We want him to remain here. It would be a pity if he were to contest and lose. In fact, his presence here is a good lesson for all Singaporeans that that is the kind of opposition leaders we have in Singapore. I think it is a salutary lesson. If the opposition does not wake up, then they may lose again in the next election.”
“It is the same thing for the three MPs now in Jalan Besar GRC. They work hard and they will work very hard so that through their efforts they will be returned again. I have no doubt that they will be returned again. Indeed, the three of them lost no time in making arrangements to cover the Whampoa area since Mr Choo Wee Khiang went on leave of absence in December last year. They took turns to attend meet-the-people sessions. They took turns to attend the RC functions, block parties, house visits and so on. So they are still active. They remain active, and they will have to be active. Why is Mr Heng Chee How sent there? Is it to replace Mr Choo Wee Khiang? Certainly not. Mr Choo Wee Khiang was elected together with the others. Mr Heng cannot be appointed by the Government to represent the people. He is not there to represent the people. He is there - the PAP always plans ahead - for training. We sent him there for training so that he gets ground experience on how to work with people, how to understand the issues and concerns, how to deal with their problems and help them with their problems. But in the signing of letters during the meet-the-people session, the three current MPs will still be there by rotation to take care of such cases, as they do for block party attendance and so on. So there is no question that the constitutional rights of the voters in Whampoa have been diminished. They have their rights. They voted for the four MPs and the MPs carry on. The voters, in fact, voted with the knowledge that should a vacancy arise, such a vacancy need not be filled, as provided for in our law. There is no question that the mandate has been thwarted or withdrawn.”
“By an internal arrangement, Mr Choo Wee Khiang went to work in Whampoa and Kallang and also by arrangement, the MPs in the area also take turns to visit one another's area when they have block parties, block visits, meet-the-people sessions, and so on. For example, at the end of every third Tuesday of the month, I am in another Branch meeting the residents who may be living in the Sin Ming area or in the Toa Payoh East area. Similarly, the MP in that area will come to my area. We are MPs of that GRC. We do not just belong to Bishan East, like myself, for example. Neither does Mr Choo Wee Khiang belong to Whampoa only. So in 1997 the voters elected the four of them, Dr Lee Boon Yang, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Mr Peh Chin Hua and Mr Choo Wee Khiang, as one team. Dr Lee Boon Yang also canvassed in the Whampoa area together with Choo Wee Khiang. Similarly, he did the same thing in Geylang West with Peh Chin Hua or in Kolam Ayer together with Dr Yaacob Ibrahim. So there is no reason whatsoever for the remaining MPs to resign just because one MP has resigned. In fact, I would say that the remaining MPs have a moral obligation to carry on and implement the programmes which they promised and pledged to the voters in 1997. Of course, this means that they have to work a bit harder. Mr Sin Boon Ann talks about the example of a board. It does not need to resign if one board member resigns and they need to call an AGM. There is no such requirement. Mr Simon Tay gave the analogy of football. I can also use the analogy of football. If the striker beats up the referee for a wrong ruling and the referee gives him the red card, he is out. But that does not mean that the other 10 members have to quit. They will carry on and they will play hard, and they will win if they play very hard.”
“Section 24(2A) says: 'In respect of any Group Representation Constituency, no writ shall be issued under subsection (1) for an election to fill a vacancy unless all the Members for that constituency have vacated their seats in Parliament.' Members may recall that we debated the GRC issue during the debates on the amendments to the Constitution and the Parliamentary Elections Act, and why we specifically made this provision. We specifically and expressly prohibit the issue of a writ for an election in a GRC, unless all the MPs resign their seats. The legislative intent then was not to allow any particular MP so elected as part of a group of MPs for the GRC to hold the rest to ransom through resignation or otherwise. The thinking then was that all the other MPs should not be forced to vacate their seats on account of one MP vacating his seat for whatever reason - death, resignation or whatever. So it is quite clear that under our law, it expressly provides for the exclusion of the issue of a writ for a by-election in a GRC. That is the legal position which Mr Jeyaretnam may well know, and some of our colleagues here have also mentioned this. So there is no conflict between Article 49 of our Constitution and section 24 of the Parliamentary Elections Act. There is also no breach of parliamentary democracy, as Mr Jeyaretnam has suggested. As Mr Sin Boon Ann and Mr Simon Tay have said, the MPs in a GRC are elected together as a team, and not singly. This is our GRC system. I choose the words "Whampoa area". There is no such thing as "Whampoa Constituency". The GRC is Jalan Besar GRC. The number of MPs there is four.”
“Sir, Mr Jeyaretnam argues and I quote him in his motion that "in all the circumstances it is only right and proper" that a by-election be held in Jalan Besar GRC in view of Mr Choo Wee Khiang's resignation. I completely disagree with that. He quotes us the Singapore Constitution and the Malaysian Constitution, Article 54, saying that the Malaysian Constitution provides a limit within which a by-election should be held. But Article 54 of the Malaysian Constitution is really the Malaysia's Constitution. Singapore adopted it only when Singapore joined Malaysia in 1963. Before 1963, we had in our Constitution which was then called the Singapore (Constitution) Order in Council 1958, Article 44. And that Article 44 is exactly what we have in today's Constitution Article 49(1) which says: 'Whenever the seat of a Member has become vacant for any reason other than a dissolution, the vacancy shall be filled by election in the manner provided by or under any law for the time being in force in Singapore.' This was in the 1958 Constitution. In the 1965 Constitution, we changed it after we left Malaysia. We adopted the same words in the 1958 (Constitution) Order by expunging the words "within three months from the date on which it is established that there is a vacancy" in the Malaysian Constitution because we did not take the position that the Malaysians had taken. And it is for good reason that we went back to the 1958 Constitution, because that was our position before we went into Malaysia. As the Constitution says, we will hold a by-election "in the manner provided by and under any law for the time being in force". The law being in force is our Parliamentary Elections Act.”
“Sir, I thank the speakers for supporting the Bill. I have explained why we have pegged the penalty of $30,000 for those who were convicted of tipping off information to the people concerned. This is actually consistent with section 44 of the current DTA. So we are not doing anything new. Similarly, for the other provisions, it is also consistent with the current DTA, and we have from experience no reason right now to increase that penalty. And on some subsequent occasion if we need to do that, we will consider the change. As to whether we should have imposed "actual knowledge" instead of "reasonable ground to believe", the latter is a standard set in many other countries, and I do not believe that we should be more stringent than the other countries. Since we are part of the international community in this area, we should therefore be in line with what the other countries are doing. We are not doing more; we are not doing less than what others are doing. We are in keeping with the international mood and climate and the trend as required of the other countries. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. DENTISTS BILL Order for Second Reading read.”
“In addition, the proposed amendments would also allow my Ministry to keep ahead of the ever-changing transnational crime and global money laundering situation. In particular, although Singapore is one of the key financial centres in the world - it is open, efficient and sophisticated - we also want to ensure that she is not susceptible to money laundering. These proposed amendments would in fact enhance Singapore's growth and reputation as a modern international financial centre. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. EXEMPTED BUSINESS (Motion) Resolved, That the proceedings on the item of business under discussion and the remaining items on the Order Paper for today be exempted at this day's sitting from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1. - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. DRUG TRAFFICKING (CONFISCATION OF BENEFITS) (AMENDMENT) BILL Debate resumed.”
“Fourthly, clause 25 inserts a new section 43B to make it an offence for a person who has reasonable grounds to suspect that a money laundering investigation is being or about to be conducted to tip-off another person with information which is likely to prejudice the investigation. Since the new offence of tipping off is merely an extension of the offence of prejudicing investigation, the penalty for this will be the same as that for prejudicing investigations under section 44, ie, a maximum of three years imprisonment and/or a $30,000 fine. Fifthly, as drug money laundering offences are already extraditable, clause 31(3) similarly amends the Extradition Act to make serious crimes money-laundering offences extraditable. Finally, the Bill also provides for repealing the Corruption (Confiscation of Benefits) Act in clause 31(2). This is because the amended DTA would apply to corruption offences and would have a scope wider than the Corruption (Confiscation of Benefits) Act as it also includes provisions relating to foreign corruption offences and criminalises the money laundering of corruption proceeds. In addition, the Bill provides for the amended Act to be renamed the "Corruption, Drug Trafficking and other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act" to reflect its wider scope. The word "Corruption" is placed in the title as we want to send the signal that corruption will continue to be tackled even more seriously in Singapore after the repeal of the Corruption (Confiscation of Benefits) Act. Sir, to conclude, the new laws, by confiscating the illegal proceeds of serious crimes and preventing criminals from enjoying the fruits of their crimes, would render many crimes unprofitable ventures. These will be additional weapons to fight against crime in Singapore.”
“This means that a person who, in the course of his professional duties, comes to know or suspect that any property represents the proceeds of drug trafficking or serious crimes is obliged to disclose the knowledge or suspicion to the authorities. The maximum penalty for non-disclosure is a $10,000 fine. Some permissible exceptions are mentioned in the new section. Suspicious transactions reporting is already mandatory for banks under current MAS Guidelines which have the force of law. This new section extends the obligation to non-financial institutions and centralises the provisions in the DTA. Many countries, especially those in the FATF, have already enacted similar provisions as there is worldwide recognition that the reporting of suspicious transactions is a key source of intelligence for law enforcement authorities tackling money laundering. Thirdly, the new sections 26B and 34 lower the standard required for foreign offences in respect of applying for court warrants or orders to obtain information from financial institutions from "prima facie case" to "reasonable grounds for suspecting". As I have mentioned, money laundering is often an international crime and hence international cooperation is vital. However, in our experience of forging international cooperation with foreign countries, "prima facie case" is too high a hurdle to meet in order to assist other countries in their investigations. "Reasonable grounds for suspecting" is also the test in many countries. Hence it is necessary to lower it.”
“In the case of foreign requests for financial information, some of the safeguards include the need for the existence of a bilateral agreement or treaty with the requesting country, the offence being a crime in both countries and the assistance not being contrary to public interest. The amended legislation is not more liberal than those of other financial centres in releasing information to foreign enforcement agencies. Sir, the Bill also introduces various amendments to fine-tune the provisions of the DTA to make it a more effective tool to combat money laundering and deprive criminals of their ill-gotten gains. Let me explain the more important ones. Firstly, clauses 22 to 25 amend the money laundering offences to clarify that the prosecution need not prove that the accused had actual knowledge of the relevant facts, that is, that the person is a drug trafficker, or that his proceeds are derived from drug trafficking or other serious crimes. Instead, the accused can be convicted based on evidence showing that he had "reasonable grounds to believe" that the person trafficked in drugs or the proceeds were derived from drug trafficking or other serious crimes. This would facilitate enforcement because in practice, proof of actual knowledge is difficult to produce. This is in line with the laws of many countries. We are also increasing the penalties for money laundering from seven years jail and/or $100,000 fine to seven years jail and/or $200,000. As money laundering is primarily a crime involving large amounts of money, the current maximum of $100,000 should be increased. Secondly, clause 20 inserts a new section to make the reporting of suspicious transactions mandatory for all persons, including financial institutions and non-financial institutions.”
“For example, to obtain an order to investigate into the accounts of a suspect, the authorities have to be able to satisfy the courts that, among others, there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the suspect has carried out or has benefited from drug trafficking. This may be difficult to do as criminals, nowadays, can be involved in several crimes, where the proceeds are mixed. Hence, this Bill seeks to amend the DTA to extend the asset confiscation and anti-money laundering provisions of the DTA beyond drug trafficking to cover other serious crimes. To give effect to this, clauses 23 and 25 of the Bill seek to provide for the money laundering offences arising from benefits of serious offences. These include the conspiracy, incitement, attempt and abetment of these offences. Clause 30 of the Bill inserts a Second Schedule to the DTA to specify the list of serious crimes to be included in the Act. The list includes crimes that are serious in nature but excludes serious crimes that cannot be linked to money laundering (for example, bigamy and incest). Many of the amendments in the Bill merely extend current provisions covering drug trafficking proceeds to serious crimes proceeds. For example, clause 7 of the Bill inserts a new section 4A. In extending our measures to deal with serious crimes, we are mindful that the Bill should not adversely affect the operations of the financial institutions in Singapore. Hence, the Bill provides similar safeguards, found in the existing DTA for investigations into drug offences, to prevent third parties from being able to pry into a person's financial accounts under frivolous pretext or under the guise of investigations into serious offences. These can be found in the new sections 26A, 26B and 34 and the amendments to section 31.”
“Criminal organisations are multi-faceted and other serious offences constitute an important and growing source of illegal wealth entering legitimate financial channels. This has led to an international trend of criminalising the laundering of not only drug money but also the proceeds of other serious crimes as well. For example, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), or an inter-Governmental body formed in 1989 by the G-7 to combat money laundering globally, started first by requiring its members to take measures to combat drug money laundering. Then in June 1996, it required its members to extend money laundering predicate offences to beyond drug trafficking. All Financial Action Task Force members, which include most of the Western developed countries and Hong Kong among others, have already extended or taken measures to extend the scope of their anti-money laundering regime to include the proceeds of serious crimes. Singapore, which joined the Financial Action Task Force in 1991, should do likewise, to demonstrate that we are committed to being a responsible partner in international initiatives to combat crime. Apart from international trends, it is also important for our local enforcement efforts to target the proceeds of a wide range of serious crimes. Firstly, drug trafficking is not the only crime that results in significant amounts of illegal proceeds. Crimes, such as fraud and criminal breach of trust, do too. We do not want criminals or their families to be able to enjoy the fruits of such crimes. Secondly, our enforcement efforts against money laundering have sometimes been hindered at the investigation stage.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Sir, since the Drug Trafficking (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, or the DTA in short, was enacted in 1993, global efforts to curb money laundering have intensified substantially. As trade and capital flows become increasingly international and as Singapore expands its role as a financial centre, there is increased scope not only for cross-border crimes but also international money laundering to occur here. Hence, further amendments to the DTA are necessary to enable us to deter and combat money laundering more effectively as well as to deprive criminals of the enjoyment of the benefits of their crime. The amended legislation will give our enforcement agencies and financial regulators sharper tools in their work to help maintain Singapore's reputation as a well-regulated financial centre and a city largely free of crime. Serious Crimes - Money Laundering The DTA was enacted to criminalise the laundering of benefits derived from drug trafficking, as well as to allow for the investigation and the confiscation of such benefits. Money laundering, as is commonly known, consists of concealing the origin of moneys derived from illicit activities and passing them off as the legitimate proceeds of lawful activities. When the DTA was enacted, drug trafficking was viewed internationally, and in Singapore, as the primary source of funds for money laundering. However, since then, there has been overwhelming evidence that transnational crime, which is a growing problem for the world community, is not restricted to drugs or proceeds of drug trafficking.”
“Sir, when the police interview a person, it is all done within the context of what they are supposed to do. "BUILT-IN AREA" AND "BUILT-UP AREA' 8. Mr Chuang Shaw Peng asked the Minister for National Development whether the Government will give an official definition of "Built-in Area" and "Built-up Area" so as to remove any ambiguities in future property transactions.”
“Sir, everyone of us has rights. Nobody can deal with anybody in any way he chooses. It must all be done within the context and confines of the law.”
“Sir, not every citizen offends the law. Most of them do not. Those few who do really have reason to fear why they should be interrogated by the police. When the police interview a person they are not interested in just getting a confession from that person. They are interested in the truth, and in getting the truth, they have to make sure that they conduct their interview process in accordance with the law. If they cannot do it in accordance with the law and the case is challenged in court, then the whole case will be thrown out. So there is no reason for the police to go all out and get people who are innocent. What right has he got? What does he know about his rights? I think Mr Jeyaretnam himself knows that the Law Society has published a few such publications on "Police Investigation and You", "Arrest and Bail", "Proceedings in Court", "Criminal Legal Aid Scheme", and so on. And if the person is interested in finding out, read these publications.”
“I am not sure I heard clearly his point about moving what houses from Little India.”
“Sir, the relevant section in the Women's Charter is still being enforced. If there are underaged girls being involved in prostitution, if there are people coercing women or girls into prostitution, they will face the force of the law.”
“Sir, there is no need to legalise it but we can at the same time deal with the problem in a pragmatic way.”
“What the Ministry has done is to ensure that crime syndicates, gangsters and secret societies do not get involved in controlling this trade. And if they do, then Police will take action. We all know that no country has ever succeeded in eradicating prostitution and therefore we have taken a pragmatic approach in ensuring that only certain areas have such activities taking place. And it is better that the Police know where these areas are and enforcement action can be taken, rather than to disperse these brothels to the whole of Singapore and we have a cat-and-mouse game chasing after them or, worse still, drive them underground, and they will be operating everywhere.”