Monitoring Large Crowds at Paya Lebar and Tanjong Katong Complex

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Home Affairs what are the guidelines and monitoring mechanisms in place pertaining to the large congregations of persons, especially over the weekends and holidays, in the vicinity of Paya Lebar and Tanjong Katong Complex.

The Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs (Mr Desmond Lee) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mdm Speaker, the vicinity of Paya Lebar is popular among foreign workers, especially on Sundays. They tend to gather around the Paya Lebar MRT station and nearby shopping malls such as City Plaza, 1KM Mall and Tanjong Katong Complex.

The Police patrol these areas to engage the foreign workers on crime prevention messages and also advise them to abide by the law. POLCAM CCTV cameras are deployed at public areas to deter crime, and help Police detect and respond to incidents. The foreigners are generally law abiding and orderly.

To manage social disamenities, Police also deploy Auxiliary Police Officers (APOs) to conduct daily high visibility patrols in the vicinity of Paya Lebar MRT, Tanjong Katong Complex and City Plaza, particularly in the evenings. The APOs take enforcement action against littering, urinating in public and smoking in prohibited places.

The Police also regularly engage the security guards at Paya Lebar Square, 1KM Mall and City Plaza. The security guards are advised to look out for suspicious behavior and highlight any issues to Police immediately.

The Police will continue to monitor closely the congregation of crowds in the vicinity of Paya Lebar.

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade): Mdm Speaker, I thank the Senior Minister of State for his response. Much as we know the foreign workers are generally well-behaved, we cannot run away from the fact that such congregations do offer a fertile soft target for other groups to infiltrate, which include, from my regular walks and observations, drug-related activities and other unhealthy illegal activities. We also cannot run away from the fact that such congregations may be viewed as an ethnic-based congregation, especially in certain areas. These are the concerns and I was wondering whether the Ministry is keeping a close eye; and what else can we do instead of keeping a close eye on the area.

Mr Desmond Lee: I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. I have earlier articulated in my reply that efforts put in by the Police to engage directly the foreign guests population who congregate around the area, as well as with the security guards in the malls around which these workers congregate. Beyond that, the Ministry of Manpower has its outreach to workers in foreign dormitories to encourage them to understand and abide by our laws. There are also Auxiliary Police Officers on the ground. Supplementing the Police efforts are also POLCAMs that help to keep an eye over large crowds of people.

Certainly, we will be prepared to engage the hon Member on further measures if she thinks they are necessary to manage the situation on the ground.