SECURITY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT

SECURITY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT:

(Suspected terrorist plot on Orchard MRT station): 20.

Ms Ellen Lee asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether his Ministry can provide more information on the suspected terrorist plot on Orchard MRT station; and (b) what his Ministry is doing to proactively respond to this threat besides the current measures already undertaken by LTA, SBS Transit, SMRT and the Police (including the Public Transport Security Command).

21.

Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs what role does the Government play in ensuring that security on public transport is not compromised.

Mr Speaker: You have four minutes, Mr Shanmugam.

The Second Minister for Home Affairs (Mr K Shanmugam) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs): I will try, Sir, particularly as I have to take Question Nos. 20 and 21 together.

Mr Speaker: Yes.

Mr Shanmugam: Sir, the Indonesian authorities' raid on a militant training camp in Aceh in February this year gave some leads. Thereafter, a security operation was mounted against suspect Ahmad Sayid Maulana in East Jakarta in May. During the operation, the Indonesian authorities found the map showing our MRT network, where Orchard MRT station was circled, and also a street map of Orchard Road. This map is similar to those which are readily available from the Internet.

An Internal Security Department (ISD) team went to Jakarta to discuss these findings with the Indonesian Police. I am

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not able to provide further details of our engagement for operational security reasons. However, I assure Members that we view this matter seriously.

This discovery shows that, despite counter-terrorism successes by regional authorities, the terrorist threat in the region and to Singapore remains real. This should come as no surprise. Singapore has been targeted in the past, and continues to remain a trophy target. We cannot let our guard down.

Intelligence and international cooperation remains an important component of our efforts. We work together with our foreign counterparts to apprehend terrorists, and restrict the ability of their networks to obtain financial support as well as plan and prepare for attacks. This collaboration underscores the strong cooperation and trust between the intelligence and security agencies in the region.

Beyond intelligence sharing, we have also been proactively developing capabilities to prepare ourselves for evolving security threats. One example is Singapore Police Force's Public Transport Security Command (TransCom) which was set up in August 2009 to enhance our ability to police the public transport network.

Since the recent discovery, Police has stepped up high visibility patrols within Orchard MRT station and its vicinity. We have also reminded the Public Transport Operators (PTOs) to remain vigilant against possible terrorist threats. This is an addition to ISD's ongoing investigations.

Let me now turn to the security in the public transport sector. The PTOs bear primary responsibility for the day-to-day operational security of the premises and the environment in which they operate.

They are the domain owners best placed to decide what measures are most

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feasible, taking into account the operating context and other considerations such as operational efficiency. This principle of domain owners bearing the responsibility for security in their respective domains is not new, and is the most practical and sustainable approach to ensuring our national security. The alternative is to have the Government everywhere and watching everything, but this is impossible, indeed not desirable.

As for the provider of public transportation services, PTOs thus have first line responsibility for ensuring that the service they provide is safe. This includes safeguarding the public transport infrastructure, by implementing and maintaining appropriate security measures for the infrastructural assets, as well as carrying out their duty of care to protect the lives of their staff and the users of the public transport system.

The Government also plays a key role. It sets out the general security framework and the security standards (such as the Video Surveillance System standards) to be met by the PTOs. The Government sets the framework to examine security issues in a structured manner. The Government also brings together various stakeholders through platforms like the Public Transport Security Committee, (whose members comprise both the relevant Government agencies as well as the PTOs) to advise on security issues.

As regards security functions, the Government handles areas which cannot be handled by the PTOs. These security functions include intelligence gathering and collaboration with overseas law enforcement agencies. In addition, the Government also handles some aspects of operational security. It deploys Police personnel (such as TransCom officers) as needed by the threat environment to

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provide an additional layer of security, beyond the first level of security maintained by the PTOs.

The Government and the PTOs thus have their respective roles to play in building an effective and strong partnership to secure a public transport network in Singapore. This partnership is vital, as it is a more practical and sustainable approach in the long run. In ensuring the safety and the security of the assets, operating premises, staff and customers, PTOs that have a strong security mindset are in fact protecting the continuity of their own business and making a longer-term investment. It is not just an expenditure with no returns.

3.00 pm

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question time.

[ Pursuant to Standing Order No. 22(3), Written Answers to Question Nos. 22, 28-29, 34, 36, 40-41, 43-46, 48-51, 54 and 56-60 on the Order Paper are reproduced in the Appendix*. Question Nos. 23-27, 30-33, 35, 37-39, 42, 47, 52-53 and 55 have been postponed to the next available sitting of Parliament. ]

*Cols.

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