EXEMPTED BUSINESS

EXEMPTED BUSINESS:

(Business Motion): 6.10 pm

With the consent of Mr Deputy Speaker and the general assent of the Members present,

Question put, agreed to.

Resolved,

That the proceedings on this day's sitting on the Estimates for FY09/10 be proceeded with beyond 7.00 pm and be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order No. 91(3). – [Dr Ng Eng Hen]

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY: Head P (cont.) –

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Wong Kan Seng): Mr Chairman, I thank all the MPs who have given their views on how to make the Home Team do better. Dr Teo Ho Pin is right that terrorism is indeed a serious threat. The key terrorism threat continues to be posed by the Al Qaeda and its associated groups, including the Jama'ah Al-Islamiyah (JI) and many other militant groups in our region. We are always concerned about self-radicalised individuals, who may operate singly or in small groups, to carry out their violent beliefs.

Many Islamist militant groups associate themselves with Al Qaeda and its use of violence to achieve political goals. As long as extremism is taught by radical preachers and schools, or is spread via the Internet, Al Qaeda's appeal will persist. So even if Al Qaeda is dismantled, its ideas could potentially continue to inspire militant groups and individuals the world over. Concerted efforts have to be made to arrest jihadist militancy.

As Dr Teo rightly pointed out, how Guantanamo Bay detainees are managed when it is closed, will bear serious security implications for many countries. In January 2009, Al Qaeda in Yemen issued an online statement identifying its new deputy leader as Said Ali al-Shihri. Said was released in 2007 from Guantanamo Bay. Now he has gone back to jihadist terrorism. The same may be expected, if other detainees are released from Guantanamo Bay, such as Hambali, Al Qaeda’s link to JI, and Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, mastermind of the 11th September attacks. I agree with Dr Teo that it would be useful if there is a mechanism to track the movement of detainees. However, this is up to the Obama Administration which is studying how Guantanamo Bay can be closed. Our security agencies will monitor developments and keep in close touch with our foreign counterparts.

Mr Hri Kumar has asked what steps the Home Team has taken to ensure coastal security, in light of the terrorist attack in Mumbai. Border security is a major preoccupation of the Home Team. Security at the air and land checkpoints has been significantly enhanced. However, Singapore is an island and maritime security remains our most challenging domain. For normal shipping, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) already requires ships above 500 gross weight tonne to install equipment to comply with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. For smaller craft operating in our shores, operated by Singaporeans or craft from regional countries, they are already required to install the HARTS, which is the Harbour Craft Transponder System. Many of these are already installed on these smaller crafts, and MPA can track their movements. However, we need to constantly be on the guard against intrusions by sea. We must treat smugglers as a security threat. If one can smuggle contraband such as duty unpaid cigarettes into Singapore, one can smuggle dangerous items into Singapore.

The Police Coast Guard and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore make use of technology to detect intrusions into our waters. These agencies use advance radar, electro-optics and transponder systems to monitor vessels in our waters. The reality is that zero intrusions can only be achieved if we impose a complete lock-down of Singapore, and we know that that cannot be done because we are an open economy. The best we can do is to deter, detect and intercept infiltrations through timely intelligence, effective border control and swift enforcement action. We will continue to study how we can further enhance our operational capabilities to deter and neutralise such infiltrations.

6.15 pm

Our security agencies will continue to work closely with their regional counterparts to arrest JI operatives and fugitives. In so doing, we reduce the chance that they could infiltrate Singapore to mount attacks. New JI operatives and cells have continued to sprout and these need to be identified early and disrupted.

Dr Teo has asked about the search for Mas Selamat. We have no credible information on Mas Selamat’s whereabouts to share at this point in time. But let me assure Dr Teo that we have not slackened in our search. Whether Mas Selamat is in Singapore or he has fled our country, we will hunt him down, as we did before. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Members of this House and also members of the public for the support they have shown to the Home Team officers over the past year. They have worked tirelessly in difficult conditions, and made tremendous sacrifices. It means a lot to them to know that the public are behind them.

Dr Teo also asked about the number of detainees currently detained in the Whitley Road Detention Centre. There are currently 20 persons under ISD’s detention for terrorist activities.

Communal harmony is key in fighting terrorism. We have widened outreach beyond the traditional grassroots sector under the Community Engagement Programme (CEP) to involve religious groups, Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCCs), schools, workplaces, media and the arts.

The mass media plays an important role too. Ms Indranee Rajah correctly points out that responsible media reporting is important in the event of a terrorist attack. We can learn a lesson not only in the Mumbai attacks but also in the London bombings in July 2005. Incident sites have to be cordoned off to prevent disruption by media or others when the security agencies respond to the situation.

When a terrorist incident happens, facts will, at best, be sketchy. Yet, the media and the public will be clamouring for information. It is therefore important that the Government communicates regularly to the public and the media to calm public anxiety and restore public confidence. Such information has to be well coordinated. The Police must also sieve through and ensure that information given to the media does not unwittingly aid perpetrators.

Responsible media reporting is crucial in a crisis. Speculative and irresponsible reporting can lead to mistrust and animosities between communities. This is especially so in a multi-racial and multi-religious society like ours. Since July 2006, the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts has created a Media Emergency Forum to provide a regular platform for open and frank exchange of views between our domestic media and the Government on crisis issues and crisis management. This on-going engagement is an important pillar to ensure that in a crisis we can count on the media to report responsibly.

We must also not let up on our efforts to counteract the Al Qaeda and JI ideology. Leading JI observer, Ms Sidney Jones, believes that there are about 40 Islamist schools associated with JI scattered across Indonesia that continue to teach members' children. If these children are radicalised, they will grow up to form the new rungs of the JI leadership, or become ready JI operatives for terrorist attacks. Sidney Jones is not alone in her views, as the US National Intelligence Council came to the same conclusion too.

To guard against radicalisation, especially among the young, seminars for students on the threat of terrorist ideology have been organised by community groups, such as the Malay Youth Literary Association and the Inter-Agency Aftercare Group comprising Taman Bacaan, Yayasan Mendaki, the Association of Muslim Professionals and Khadijah Mosque. In addition, the Religious Rehabilitation Group continues to educate the community about the dangers of terrorist ideas through public forums, media interviews and articles, as well as on its website. The Internal Security Department has also been working with the Ministry of Education and various educational institutions to bring counter-terrorism messages to educators and students.

On the issue of emergency preparedness, I agree with Ms Ellen Lee that we should work towards a well-prepared Singapore that is ready to respond to any civil emergency or natural disaster. But we should never think that we have arrived and that Singapore is ready for any emergency. This is because preparedness is not an end-state. It is always "work in progress". The Government has created a crisis management system designed to respond to a wide variety of hazards, both natural and man-made, that could affect our country on a national scale. However, a timely and effective response requires the preparedness of the public and private sector domain owners. In most major disasters, it is the people on site who make the most critical difference in terms of saving lives or mitigating the damage. In the case of the Singapore Flyer, a matter raised by Mr Hri Kumar, the SCDF was at hand and ready to assist even as the Flyer management activated its contingency plans. A fire had destroyed the Flyer’s backup system and such a scenario was unforeseen. The Flyer management has since rectified this and installed additional safeguards.

In training our people on emergency preparedness, we should maximise our resources and concentrate our efforts on training leaders rather than just the masses. This is a practical approach which will pay good dividends given that the public in general do not feel the urgency to learn about emergency preparedness until the crisis is upon them. When key people in charge know what to do, they can help the rest of their co-workers and community to respond appropriately in an emergency. This is a lesson from the Mumbai attacks in November 2008 where quick thinking hotel staff helped steer innocent people from the path of the attackers and saved many lives.

In constituency response plans, CEP community leaders are looking into incorporating the psycho-social aspect and being vigilant in maintaining communal harmony. Grassroots organisations in Ang Mo Kio and Yio Chu Kang have good response plans and they have been certified as CEP Ready. I encourage other grassroots advisors to do likewise and achieve CEP Ready certification for their constituencies.

Let me now turn to Dr Lam Pin Min’s question on dual citizenship. To survive and prosper as a nation, Singapore needs to compete with other countries for human capital. We must continue to ensure that Singapore remains an attractive place in all aspects, not only as an immigration destination for other nationalities, but also as a best home for our own people.

There are many countries which recognise dual citizenship and there are others considering this option, like Dr Lam mentioned, perhaps believing that this is a way of retaining and attracting talent. They have to decide what is best for them, in the context of their political, social and historical development.

For Singapore, we are a young nation and we are still in the process of forging our national identity. Citizenship is and should be for us a badge of commitment, for those who are born here, and also for those who come from overseas and make this their home. A commitment to this country and a willingness to defend its sovereignty is first and foremost what we are about as a nation.

I do not think that allowing dual citizenship is the right course for us at this point in time. However, we will keep our options open and review this position in future, if necessary.

Sir, my colleagues will answer the other questions and points raised by Members.

The Second Minister for Home Affairs (Mr K Shanmugam): Sir, I will address the issues raised by Members relating to how we maximise Home Team resources in today’s operating environment, and also questions on nuisance and cyber-crime.

Our resources have been stretched for reasons already mentioned in the House. In addition, high-profile international events can require up to 10,000 Home Team officers, and there have been an increasing number of such events. We also face other challenges arising from population growth, the increasing sophistication of international criminal elements, and advances in technology.

One way we have been dealing with such challenges is through "force multipliers". Community involvement is one such "force multiplier" and has been a key strategy for some time.

In relation to traffic issues, which Mr Lim Biow Chuan has raised, Traffic Police forms alliances with community stakeholders to inculcate personal responsibility for road safety. Police leverages on the Community Safety and Security Programme (CSSP) and the Neighbourhood Watch Zone (NWZ) scheme.

Another "force multiplier" is technology. For example, Police has established Public Camera Zones (PCZs) in areas such as Little India, Boat Quay, Geylang and Suntec Convention Centre. These PCZs have allowed Police to free up otherwise static resources and deploy them elsewhere while maintaining a deterrent effect. Town Councils, in consultation with Police, have also deployed mobile CCTV systems.

Training, which Dr Fatimah Lateef has asked about, is another strategy to enhance the effectiveness of the Home Team. All Home Team officers receive training in certain core areas, such as policing and counter-terrorism. The focus is on equipping front-line officers with practical skills and knowledge because the best chance of mitigating or arresting any incident occurs at that level. Officers who interact with the public are given communications training, which covers both telephone call handling and drafting written replies.

All Police and SCDF officers are also trained in basic first aid and CPR. In addition, all SCDF officers are trained to use Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), which all SCDF ambulances are equipped with. I would add that first aid and CPR skills are something everyone can learn, and the SCDF provides training on life-saving skills which the public can attend free-of-charge.

We have also been working to enhance the capabilities of our partners in the private sector. Ms Sylvia Lim has spoken about the private security industry. That industry has expanded rapidly in recent years. We corporatised CISCO and approved licences for additional armed Auxiliary Police Forces (APFs) like AETOS. We have also set up the Security Industry Regulatory Department (SIRD) within the Police to manage and upgrade the industry.

It is estimated that an additional 2,200 security officers will be required from 2008 to 2010. In tandem with greater demand, manpower supply has increased. There are currently more than 29,000 approved guards compared to about 18,000 at the beginning of 2005. These numbers do not include officers from APFs, such as CERTIS CISCO and AETOS.

As Ms Lim notes, with higher standards and competencies, security agencies have started charging more for their services over the years. The higher demand for such officers has also resulted in an increase in wages in the industry from a gross monthly salary of about $900 - $1,000 per month in 2004 to about $1,300 - $1,800 per month now. Supervisors and other more specialised security professionals in the industry may even command a gross monthly salary of over $2,000.

Ms Lim also asked about the annual grading of security guard agencies. SIRD has been conducting annual grading exercises since 2006. Grading serves a dual purpose of encouraging firms to upgrade their service quality and systems, and providing market information to buyers. 59% of the assessed agencies achieved an "A" or "B" grade in 2008, up from 53% in 2007. As Ms Lim has pointed out, grading is not compulsory. SIRD is presently considering the feedback and inputs it has received from the industry in order to refine the grading system which is relatively new. Since this audit

has been conducted only since 2006, it would be premature to rush in and impose compulsory audit immediately. There are no current plans to make the audit compulsory but we may consider doing so in the future. We believe time has to be given for the industry to adapt to the changing situation and the audit requirements.

6.30 pm

Dr Teo Ho Pin and Mr Lim Biow Chuan have asked about Home Team resources. We are reviewing how we can increase the number of officers on the ground to alleviate some of the stress faced. Police will increase recruitment this year by a further 250 officers, bringing the total number of vacancies to be filled to 700. Most of these officers will be deployed at Neighbourhood Police Centres (NPCs).

The Home Team has embarked on a publicity and outreach campaign. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will also be introducing a Home Team Merit Award (HOME Award (Polytechnic), targeted at new and existing polytechnic students. Under this award, successful applicants, who signed up with the Home Team, will have their full tuition fees paid for and receive a monthly allowance of $1,000.

We will also enhance our resource management. We are piloting a series of courses to sensitise officers and supervisors to fatigue and how to manage its consequences. This will, however, be a long-term effort. We are also working with MOF and external experts to determine the optimal level of resources for sustainable management of increasing security demands. But, at the end of the day, expectations have to be set right. Our Police Force is lean when compared with other agencies and we have to bear that in mind.

Ms Ellen Lee spoke about non-urgent "999" calls. "999" calls are grouped into urgent calls and non-urgent calls. Urgent calls include cases where a crime is in progress, or where someone is in danger. Non-urgent calls include situations where there are no imminent threats to life or property such as noise-related nuisances and sightings of stray animals. Many "999" calls do not require a Police response as they are not even Police matters in the first place. Reports of illegal parking at HDB carparks and noise pollution caused by renovation in HDB flats and shops, for example, are handled by the Housing Development Board (HDB).

Police has in place a set of service standards for response times to "999" calls. Urgent incidents should be attended to within 15 minutes of the call for 87% of the cases; non-urgent incidents within 30 minutes for 90% of the cases. Police has been able to meet these service targets to-date. In 2008, Police received 1.5 million "999" calls and responded to over 320,000 incidents. Close to 60% of the calls to Police are nuisance calls and 57% of incidents responded to are non-urgent incidents.

So whenever we debate in this House, we only look at the Police's response. People seem to forget that the public also have a responsibility to use this resource responsibly. And in terms of 60% of 1.5 million calls being nuisance calls targeted at the Police, I think it should bring home to the Members of this House the kind of constraints the Police work under. Therefore, the public has a part to play in this. Public resources should be used responsibly. The Police should not be treated as a free resource which can deal with any complaint just because it is convenient to call them at any time round the clock. People who call the Police when their neighbour's karaoke singing is too loud, or if they spot a snake, are potentially taking the officer away from a real emergency which may result in injury or loss of life. In many jurisdictions such as New Zealand and London, the Police do not despatch immediate resources for non-urgent calls. Ms Ellen Lee suggested having a separate telephone number for the public to call in certain non-urgent cases. There are, in fact, existing hotlines for the public to call in relation to noise and other issues but not all are manned round-the-clock. Our experience has been that, nevertheless, callers to the Police typically tend to consider all their problems as urgent. But we will not rule out Ms Lee's idea.

Now, let me deal with the points Mr Siew made on the need to reform the offence of nuisance, and his personal experience. But let us look at it fairly. There was a complaint which had been made which had to be investigated. Police went down and they observed what was happening. Based on his own account, they did not intervene. Finally, they asked his colleague some questions. After checking with their superiors and within about an hour, Mr Siew and his partner were told they could proceed with what they were doing. There was no further action and the complaint was obviously treated as non-meritorious. So what do we take away from this? First of all, Mr Siew will accept that complaints when made to the Police, have to be investigated even if it involves someone as important as Mr Siew. It would be difficult for us to tell the Police that whenever Mr Siew is involved, there should be no investigation. Nevertheless, it was dealt with openly and transparently. They went down, they looked at the incident, they spoke and they went away.

Mr Siew talks about transparency. What about identifying the complainants? Sir, 40% of the crimes in Singapore are solved with the assistance of the public by the Police. We treat the public as our partners in this. That is why Singapore is one of the safest cities in the world. Do you want to make all complaints public? What impact do you think that will have on civic-minded citizens who want to file a complaint? Many people will start saying, "Why would I want to file my complaint when my name is going to be published?" If the case goes to Court, the complainant may well become public.

On Mr Siew's suggestion that the Police's action to investigate on receipt of the complaint was politically motivated, I regret that that suggestion was made. It should not have been made. I am not sure of the precise circumstances because Mr Siew has not told us about this before. But as I have said, if a complaint is received, then the Police have to look into the complaint. Let me assure Mr Siew that when complainants call up the Police, the way they will describe the event and what is happening will be more graphic and will make it sound more serious than may actually have been the case from Mr Siew's perspective. In fact, as I have said earlier, the problem that the Police is facing is that they receive up to 60% nuisance calls, and 57% of the incidents they respond to are, in fact, not urgent. And, often, the Police should never have been involved, but the Police have no choice.

Let me make this point. I earlier spoke about the public partnership with the Police. There is a very high degree of trust in the Police in Singapore. Singaporeans have that. That is a very valuable asset. Members of the House, citizens of Singapore should not fritter away that asset lightly. My Ministry and the Police are not intending to let that asset be debased by allowing the Police to become a tool for dirty politics. The integrity and impartiality of the Police Force should be beyond reproach. And that has been, and will be, our policy.

Mr Siew also spoke on the proposed "move-on" powers. We have been reviewing our framework for managing public order so as to be more accommodative of cause-related and political activities. This is always an exercise of judgement, balancing different imperatives. The result has been a gradual shift in the policies relating to such activities. For instance, there is no longer any need for permit application for indoor political events. As for outdoor political activities, the Speakers' Corner was established to provide an outdoor venue to address this. Recently, besides public speaking, protest and demonstration activities were also accommodated, and conditions for its use were further liberalised. The review of our public order laws is part of this on-going process to evolve and change in tandem with societal change. The scope and operation of such powers will certainly be debated in Parliament when the Bill is presented. It is somewhat premature to deal with them at this stage on a Bill which is not even present before the House.

Let me now end off by addressing one further issue - cyber crime, which Dr Teo Ho Pin has spoken about. The Internet is today an integral part of most people's lives. In 2007, about 74% of Singapore households had Internet access. An estimated 58.6% of the local population are Internet users.

The greatest challenge in dealing with cyber-criminals is the borderless and anonymous nature of the Internet. Organised crime syndicates have realised that this allows them to operate from anywhere without exposing their true identities. They have thus adapted their modus operandi . One trend we have noticed is that of drug traffickers befriending women through social networking sites and then using them as drug couriers. Such groups enlist the help of women through false identities and empty promises, preying on their good nature and exploiting their vulnerabilities. Children, too, may become victims of cyber crime. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Masagos Zulkifli will share more about specific efforts on that front.

To tackle cyber crime, Police has forged close alliances with law enforcement agencies. In the ASEAN region, SPF is known for its cyber crime capabilities and regularly organises highly regarded and well-attended cyber crime investigation courses. Police also works with various partners in pushing out cyber-wellness programmes to the community.

MHA will continue to be abreast of trends in cyberspace which have law and order implications. We have not as yet created any specific offences to deal with cyber-bullying and other such acts, preferring instead to work within our current legal framework. This approach is currently adequate, but we will watch developments in countries which have moved ahead and adopt their best practices where appropriate.

We will continue to maintain a lean and effective Home Team, constantly refining our mission and methods, and optimising our resources in every possible way. With support from the public and our partners, I am confident that we will be able to maintain the safe and secure environment we enjoy today.

The Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee): Sir, let me now address issues relating to foreign workers, treatment of prisoners, vice and loan sharking.

Sir, Mr Arthur Fong is concerned that foreign workers congregating in large numbers in various parts of Singapore may turn disorderly and cause law and order problems. On the whole, foreign workers living here are law-abiding. While such gatherings may cause some social disamenity, they generally do not disturb the peace or involve unlawful activities.

Recent groups of foreign workers gathering at MOM – I think Mr Fong alluded to them – were there primarily to seek assistance to resolve outstanding disputes with their employers, not to cause trouble. Indeed, MOM officers helped them with their claims.

Sir, the vast majority of foreign workers respect our laws. They know that the authorities here are impartial and professional and will look into their grievances. They are aware that if they breach our laws by staging demonstrations or protests, whether at MOM or elsewhere, Police will have to enforce the law and prosecute or repatriate them.

I assure Mr Fong that MOM and the Police have been working closely together to enhance the operating protocols for handling such incidents. However, the key is to address this issue upstream. Hence, in January this year, in this House, the Acting Minister for Manpower shared that his Ministry has introduced early intervention measures to detect non-payment of salaries and stepped up mediation efforts to ensure that employers honour their obligations to their workers.

Interaction between the Police and foreign workers is ongoing. That is another approach. Police visits foreign worker dormitories regularly and collaborates with dormitory operators and their security agencies to ensure that the workers maintain good behaviour. Leveraging on CSSP initiatives, foreign workers are apprised of law and order issues and familiarised with our social norms. Some foreign workers are involved as crime prevention ambassadors themselves. Such ongoing interaction is useful because it allows Police to effectively detect and deter potential law and order problems before they escalate. In any event, should any public order incidents occur, Police will deal with them swiftly and firmly.

6.45 pm

Let me now turn to the issue of assaults in our prisons, raised by Ms Sylvia Lim. As the incident Ms Lim mentioned is currently before the Courts, I am sure she will understand that I cannot go into the details of the case. But let me address her queries generally.

Sir, I will assure Ms Lim and the House that Prisons has well-established security procedures and measures in place for the secure and safe custody of inmates under its charge, and these include regular patrols, muster checks, and interviews by Prison officers who act as personal supervisors. Inmates who feel threatened or are assaulted have every opportunity to share this with his personal supervisor or other prison officers. That is the environment that we are operating under.

Let me assure Ms Lim that our prisons are among the safest in the world. Over the last three years, the number of major assaults on Prison staff and inmates, per 10,000 inmates, was 16 in FY 2005; it went down to 15 in FY 2006 and went up slightly to 22 in FY 2007. This is low by international norms. There are actually a lot of figures that compare us very well with other countries. Let me cite an example of New Zealand, which is 46 assaults per 10,000 inmates.

Ms Lim then asked, why do these incidents happen at all? Prison authorities will not tolerate any form of assault by inmates and indeed will spare no effort to ensure that those guilty are brought to task immediately. Whilst Prisons has in place effective security procedures and safeguards, it is unrealistic to expect Prison authorities to guard against every conceivable eventuality especially in the context of how the inmates interact with each other in the prison setting. From time to time, assaults amongst inmates do occur. Inmates are therefore in a sense responsible also for their own safety. They should cooperate with Prison authorities by complying with the rules and regulations and not engage in risky behaviour themselves, for example, bullying other people, that may lead to their own harm. As I have said, the key point really is that inmates who are threatened or in danger have ample channels to expeditiously seek assistance immediately, for example, cells have distress alarms or intercoms.

Mr Chairman, issues which the Home Team deals with are complex. Solutions are often alloyed as there is no answer which pleases everyone. People may agree about law and order but they are not always agreed on how it should be maintained. To what extent should our measures go?

Several Members have raised issues relating to vice and loansharking. These two issues illustrate how we need to strike a balance between competing considerations. As we do so, we steer by certain fundamental principles, always bearing in mind that our approach must be calibrated, and our solutions pragmatic and workable on the ground.

Mr de Souza and Dr Lateef raised concerns about the vice situation. As Members are aware, prostitution is not an offence in Singapore. We recognise that it is not possible to eradicate it and forcing it underground will lead to the greater likelihood of involvement by triads and organised crime, the trafficking of women and public health risks.

Dr Lateef said that more should be done about the vice situation in Geylang. Substantial Police resources are indeed dedicated to enforcement efforts against prostitutes who solicit in public and pimps who force women into prostitution. As we know, Geylang is a key focal area. That is why Police has installed CCTV cameras in Geylang. While CCTVs aid in general crime prevention, they also have the salutary effect of deterring prostitutes from soliciting.

Like I have said, Police has intensified enforcement - they conducted some 1,450 operations last year and arrested some 5,000 foreigners. This compares with 950 operations and the arrest of 5,400 foreigners the year before. Such offenders are repatriated from Singapore and banned from re-entering. As for those who force women, local or foreign, into prostitution, we take tough action under our laws against them.

Mr de Souza translates the number of vice-related arrests to about 100 a week. Sir, I suggest we put this figure in context, which is about 190,000 tourists entering Singapore weekly. It is possible to tighten up further on checks and screening on female tourists but this will cause delays and inconvenience and hamper our efforts to promote tourism.

Mr de Souza is concerned that vice is spilling into the heartlands. Let me assure him that only 1.35% of the total arrests for vice-related activities were made in our HDB heartlands last year. The Duxton area actually has very few residential units nearby. It comprises primarily entertainment outlets, and is visited mainly by those who patronise these outlets.

I assure Mr de Souza that CID is geared up to counter what he calls a "disturbing trend". CID was reorganised last year into three Specialised Crime Investigation Branches, supported by a Specialised Crime Expert Branch. With this, CID now has a larger pool of trained officers to deploy for anti-vice operations. This is of course an assurance to Dr Lateef too. Also, in November last year, powers under the Women's Charter were extended to selected Police officers in all Land Divisions, enabling more officers to take on enforcement responsibilities. This is something that I had talked about before. It has happened, so CID is indeed geared up for this fight.

Another component would be the grassroots, and I think Dr Lateef takes a very active role in this. Grassroots are also engaged through CSSP initiatives that complement Police's efforts. So, in Geylang, grassroots leaders and residents – and I am sure Dr Lateef knows that – have initiated monthly patrols at the upper lorongs to monitor the situation and provide feedback to the Police. This is very valuable. Regular dialogues involving Geylang business owners, residents and the Police have also been constructive and yielded positive results.

In all these, I take this opportunity to commend Dr Lateef for taking the lead and walking the ground with her grassroots leaders. I want to assure her that MHA will continue to work with her to keep the situation in Geylang under control.

Is there more that we can do beyond enforcement? Mr de Souza speaks about plans in the UK to criminalise the act of paying for sexual services with women who have been trafficked into the UK or who are working for a pimp.

Sir, let me say that different countries take different approaches in accordance with their social conditions and political situations in tackling vice. None of these approaches has emerged as the best solution. The UK law actually has not yet come into force. It is difficult to gauge if it will be effective and, indeed, a serious concern is whether it will drive the problem deeper underground instead of mitigating it. Moreover, unlike the UK, the trafficking of women into Singapore for vice is not a problem. But nevertheless, let me just let Mr de Souza know that we are watching and considering developments overseas, particularly when there is a significant harm to be prevented. We will monitor how this UK law works out.

Mr de Souza's next point is about shops selling novelty sex toys. Such shops do not require a Police licence to operate. However, Police advises these shops to display their wares discreetly. Articles which may offend or embarrass others should not be in plain view of the public. Objects which promote offences such as bestiality and necrophilia are not permitted. In addition, such shops should not admit persons below the age of 21.

Mr de Souza raised the example of how Scotland licenses sex shops. Should we similarly restrict where these shops can operate? Our current approach is that premises designated for commercial use may be used for any legitimate business purpose. Singapore is a compact city state where most commercial areas will have residences nearby. Moreover, with the Internet and other modern technologies, restricting where these retail outlets can operate will not necessarily insulate our children from such influences.

The key, really, is for parents, teachers and caregivers to provide appropriate sex education to their children and youths. Having said this, I thank him for raising this issue, and I assure Mr de Souza that MHA will monitor the situation. And we will also study how the Scottish legislation works.

Dr Lam Pin Min and Mr Lim Biow Chuan voiced concerns on harassment by loansharks. Last October, I reported in this House a drop of about 9.2% in loansharking and related harassment cases - from 5,240 in the first half of 2007 to 4,759 cases in the same period last year.

Unfortunately, there was a surge in the number of harassment cases reported in the last quarter of last year, which bumped the total number of cases last year up to 11,400, compared to 9,366 cases a year before. This sharp rise occurred in tandem with the deteriorating economic situation.

But let me assure Members that we are not letting up in our fight against loansharks. Each harassment report is taken seriously. Statements are recorded from witnesses and all credible leads are pursued. This includes numbers splashed on the walls – I think that is the point that Dr Lam also mentioned – based upon which Police works with other agencies like IDA and the telcos to try to identify the loansharks, persons who assist them, and their runners. Police has intensified enforcement efforts, including enhancing patrols at loanshark-prone areas. But let me share that Police's efforts are focused more and essentially on tackling syndicates because when you bring down a syndicate, you will stop quite a number of harassment cases from perpetuating. More arrests have been made and more syndicates crippled last year compared to the year before: 505 arrests compared to 390; nine syndicates crippled compared to six. This is good news and indeed the Police will continue to press on.

As Dr Lam urges, we have also toughened our laws. The Moneylenders Act was recently amended so that loansharks themselves will be liable to caning if their runners harass and cause damage or injury on their directions. The aim is to make loansharks equally liable for instigating such acts. To achieve greater effect from tracing telephone numbers, subscribers of telecommunication services used in loansharking will be presumed to have assisted in the business of an unlicensed moneylender, unless proven otherwise. That is also something that we had introduced last year in the Moneylenders Act. And also the amendments eased access to legal loans, paving the way for borrowers in genuine need of cash to borrow more easily from licensed moneylenders.

We have galvanised the community in our efforts. A good example is the PROWL project. Under this initiative, Police NSmen living within the jurisdiction of the Ang Mo Kio Police Division maintain a look-out for loanshark runners. But I would say that the community can do more.

As HDB flat owners are particularly vulnerable to intimidation by loansharks, the community can also harden their neighbourhoods against harassment. One way is by installing more CCTVs. In this regard, Police and Town Councils co-fund the installation of mobile CCTV systems to address local safety and security concerns, including harassment by loansharks.

Dismantling loansharking syndicates is not easy because loansharking is a form of organised crime – persistent and insidious in nature. We must take a hard look and be prepared to take resolute action to address the heart of the problem if it persists.

On the demand side, so long as there are people who borrow from loansharks, the problem of loansharking will persist. But studies show that many borrowers are excessive gamblers, not borrowers in need of urgent cash for genuine purposes.

I had mentioned in this House that we were considering making borrowing from loansharks an offence. We are still studying the pros and cons of doing this. This will hold accountable persons who endanger the safety and security of the community through their reckless borrowing and gambling habits. Moreover, from the arrests made, we know that many borrowers eventually become part of the loanshark organisation, acting as runners to carry out harassment and vandalism.

7.00 pm

Nevertheless, we have not rushed into criminalising borrowing. We recognise that there are borrowers in genuine financial need

who turn to loansharks because they have no collateral to pledge for their loans. In this regard, I hope that by modernising the moneylending regime, we will dampen the demand for loans from loansharks and we can focus our efforts on dealing with these reckless borrowers. In the meantime, we will press on with existing measures and enforcement efforts.

Sir, let me conclude. The issues of loansharking, vice and the public sense of safety are matters which concern the community. We will continue to seek views from a wide spectrum of stakeholders and adopt pragmatic solutions that balance the competing considerations.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M): Mr Deputy Speaker, I will speak on our efforts to prevent crime, including helping the vulnerable and partnering with private establishments. I will also touch on drink driving and road safety involving heavy vehicles.

Dr Teo asked about measures to prevent crime during the economic downturn. Let me first say that the 2008 crime picture was positive compared to 2007. However, with the economic contraction forecasted for 2009, Police is anticipating an increase in crimes such as theft, cheating, vice and loanshark activities as historically there is a correlation between crime and economic conditions. The economic difficulties in other countries may also encourage illegal immigration.

Police will continue to pursue swift and tough enforcement against criminals. Senior Minister of State Ho has already spoken about Police’s enhanced enforcement in response to vice and loansharking. Let me touch on the other areas raised by Members. Theft-related crimes traditionally make up a large proportion of crimes committed, and are likely to increase in an economic downturn. Yet these crimes are often the most preventable. The key to reducing such crimes lies in public awareness and vigilance.

Phone scams and other cheating offences are also likely to increase. Scammers prey on our concern over loved ones. The Police will continue to raise awareness of common modus operandi through the media, including SMS advisories and the Internet. The community can play a part by making sure that their family members and friends stay vigilant against such frauds.

Mr Arthur Fong has suggested encouraging private establishments to equip their stores with closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs). This is indeed a good suggestion. Frontline patrol officers already encourage storekeepers and commercial building management to install CCTVs where appropriate. MHA has developed and published technical guidelines and best practices on video standards called the "Guidelines for Enhancing Building Security". However, we are mindful that CCTVs incur costs; business owners must weigh the benefits against the risks and potential losses they face.

I would also like to thank Dr Teo for highlighting that the elderly and children require our special attention, whatever the economic situation. Police recognises the vulnerability of the elderly and has stepped up its efforts to protect them from cheating-related offences and violent offences like snatch theft and robbery. In 2008 alone, Police arrested seven serial robbers and snatch thieves who were responsible for a total of 35 cases against elderly victims. Of the seven arrests, I am glad to note that three were made with the assistance of the community.

The Police also partners the community on special crime prevention awareness initiatives that focus on senior citizens. The "Elderly Crime Prevention Ambassador Scheme" launched in 2002 in collaboration with the National Crime Prevention Council, is still going strong. The number of crime prevention ambassadors has continued to grow, reaching 150. In 2008, they conducted 138 Senior Citizens’ chit-chat sessions, reaching more than 79,700 senior citizens. Another example is the "Eldercare" CSSP (Community Safety and Security Programme) project launched in Marine Parade in 2007. The aim of the project was to prevent crimes against the elderly through education and installation of alarms in their homes to protect them and their homes. Since the launch of this project, there has been no reports of crime in those homes.

On crimes against children, the number of children abuse victims who suffered serious hurt or ill-treatment has actually decreased from 2007 to 2008. However, we are worried about the increase in the number of children who were sexually exploited and are monitoring this closely. Dr Teo has rightly mentioned the high risk of cyber-crime faced by children as they use the Internet.

We have strengthened our legal framework to protect children from such crimes. The Children and Young Persons Act makes it an offence to commit obscene or indecent acts with any person below 16 years of age. We also recently introduced the Penal Code offence of "sexual grooming" which criminalises the acts of sexual predators who prey on children including those who groom children over the Internet.

Police has built up capabilities to fight cyber-crime. For example, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has a Technology Crime Division specialised in investigating crimes related to computer misuse. Police also partners the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) to disseminate crime prevention messages related to cyberwellness to frequent computer users. In February 2008, Police and NCPC supported the Cyberwellness SUMM.IT which targeted students, IT experts and teachers, and covered topics such as online safety and security. NCPC also collaborates with MOE on cyberwellness programmes for schools. But the role of parents, as the immediate family member, remains most crucial. They should supervise and inoculate their children from as young as possible from visiting objectionable websites. Putting computers in full view of all family members will definitely help.

Let me now turn to traffic-related matters. Dr Teo has asked about enforcement and public education efforts on drink driving. The Traffic Police enhanced its enforcement strategies in 2008, including the ringfencing of particular areas. The initial results are encouraging. With the increased enforcement, the number of persons arrested for drink driving in 2008 fell to 3,586 from 4,010 in 2007, or by about 11%. However, we cannot afford to be complacent. Over the past 10 years, the number of persons arrested for drink driving has more than doubled from 1,513 in 1999. Police must continue with its tough enforcement efforts in 2009.

In December 2008, Traffic Police launched its annual anti-drink driving campaign with the key message, "If you drink, don't drive." To expand its reach and engage young drinkers, Traffic Police has also produced an Internet game highlighting the effects of alcohol on driving, as well as the severe penalties for drink driving.

Dr Teo has asked the Ministry to consider a "Work Drivers Licence Scheme" to allow drink-driving offenders restricted driving expressly for employment, to lessen their financial hardship. While I understand Dr Teo's concerns, such a scheme would lower our enforcement standards, and is incongruent with the strong stance against drink driving, which Dr Teo has also supported. Even Tasmania, which has the same scheme, does not award this for people who have been convicted of drink driving. Drink driving is therefore for us, a very serious offence and we take a zero-tolerance approach. Our stand has not changed in this economic downturn. In addition, professional drivers, especially those transporting passengers, have an added responsibility for the safety of others. Drivers who have consumed alcohol are needlessly and recklessly putting lives at risk. I urge all members of our community to support Police’s effort by ensuring that your loved ones do not drink and drive.

Mr Fong has raised the issue of traffic violations committed by heavy vehicles. Accidents involving heavy vehicles are likely to cause extensive damage and more serious injuries. Fatal accidents involving heavy vehicles increased from 12 cases in 2007 to 18 cases in 2008. In view of this, Traffic Police stepped up its enforcement efforts against traffic violations by heavy vehicles in 2008. Summonses issued to heavy vehicles for various moving offences almost tripled from 1,160 in 2007 to 3,030 in 2008. Traffic Police has also actively engaged the heavy-vehicle industry through Road Safety outreach and education programmes, and will be sending letters to all Class 4 and 5 drivers, to remind them about the importance of abiding by the traffic rules and giving way to other road users.

Traffic Police has also considered the use of digital tachographs, which Assoc. Prof. Kalyani Mehta suggested in Parliament on 22nd January this year. Digital tachographs record but do not limit a vehicle's speed. Currently, we have a speed limiter regime for heavy vehicles but we recognise that the technology is somewhat dated. Traffic Police is exploring a new solution to limit the speed of heavy vehicles, based on Global Positioning System technology. We will release more information when we have completed the study.

Most accidents involving heavy vehicles are however not speed-related but rather the result of poor driving, for example, failing to give way or to keep a proper lookout. There has been no fatal accident involving a heavy vehicle due to speeding in the past three years. It is important therefore that vehicle owners ensure that their drivers are properly trained and have adequate rest. Comprehensive safety checks should also be put in place, including systems which monitor and audit driver behaviour.

Mr Lim Biow Chuan has shared his concern on the issue of more motorcycle fatalities in 2008. Increasing the number of officers on the ground, as Second Minister Shanmugam has mentioned, may help. But just as building a safety mindset is key to reducing accidents caused by drivers of heavy vehicles, it is as much for motorcycle riders. Traffic Police has already announced last week that they will be incorporating more safety education into the curriculum for learner motorcycle riders.

Sir, let me conclude by thanking the Members who have spoken. The year ahead will certainly bring many new challenges. But I am confident that, together with all our Home Team partners, we will overcome them, as we have done before.

The Chairman: Any clarification? Mr de Souza.

Mr Christopher de Souza: With respect, I do not understand two points in reply to the questions. I do not see the logic in them. It seems that the Ministry of Home Affairs is using the 190,000 tourists per week to justify the 100 vice arrests per week. I am sure MHA will not just use the 190,000 tourists per week to justify 100 drug traffickers per week.

Second, on the ease of access to the Internet and purchase of items on the Internet - how can that be used to justify a lack of enforcement or regulation against the sex shops sprouting up next to schools? I am in favour of pragmatism being married with principle, but I must say that I am not in favour of weak practical arguments. And I display this with two points and two questions.

First, on principle: do we want to see the prostitution numbers reduced? And second: if we, on principle, do not agree that a woman should be pimped or trafficked, then ought not we to look at the UK suggestions very seriously? On principle, do we want to see sex shops sprouting next to schools? I am sure the answers to these questions are all obvious. So I ask that practicality and pragmatism be put in their place and principle override them.

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, we cited the figures so as to put things in context because Mr de Souza cited 100 arrests per week. The majority of these people who are arrested are foreigners who come to Singapore on social visit passes. 90% of them, in fact, come on social visit passes. So I cited the figures to show the ease with which people can come into Singapore. This is part of our effort to promote tourism in Singapore. So when you let in 190,000 tourists into Singapore every week, you will get some who will come for these illegitimate purposes. And that is the context to the figures.

The second point is about sex shops, and about trying to shield young people from knowledge about these toys or sex apparatus. What we are saying is that young people nowadays, in fact, are very knowledgeable. I am sure Mr de Souza, if he has children, will know that. So if you go into the Internet, you will see all kinds of things proliferating there. Will young people go into these sex shops to buy? I do not think so, and indeed like I have said, the shop operaters know that those under 21 are not supposed to go into these sex shops. And that is the context in which this debate takes place.

7.15 pm

Mr Siew Kum Hong: Mr Chairman, I have a few clarifications for the Second Minister. My first fact clarification, Sir, is to highlight that no where in my speech did I ask for the complainant to be identified and I did not refer to that as a flaw in the process.

I had initially considered making that point but I was undecided, and I decided otherwise after a conversation with the Second Minister himself yesterday where he convinced me of the merits of not asking for that. So I think the Second Minister is mistaken when he noted that I asked for that.

Sir, my second clarification for the Second Minister is that he suggested that I somehow feel important and deserving of special treatment. I assure the Second Minister that I am far from an important person anyway. I certainly did not feel special. And I think nowhere in my speech did I ask for or suggest that I expected any form of special treatment. Nobody is above the law and I certainly did not in my speech suggest that anyone, least of myself, should be. So I think the Second Minister was again mistaken there.

Sir, I am getting to my question here. My concern was not that I did not get special treatment. My concern was over how the Police had handled this case. When the Second Minister simplified the matter, and I think he over-simplified it, there was no explanation as to why the Police had taken about two hours from the first time they saw us to actually approaching us and asking us to stop. So if indeed we had been a public nuisance, I think that the Police allowed us to continue being nuisances for two hours.

So, in that regard, Sir, I would like to ask the Second Minister to confirm whether the Police is empowered to make decisions on whether to investigate or to interfere based on what is clearly evident and not whether a complaint was made, which I think is a little mechanistic.

Sir, my final point for the Second Minister. The Second Minister makes a very good point about trust between the Police and the community. I certainly have no argument with that, I agree. And I thank the Second Minister for clarifying that the Police will not be used for petty politics and that the incident was not politically motivated. And that is precisely my point, Sir. Greater clarity, greater transparency on the spot in explaining to me and my fellow volunteer what had happened, why they had taken action, and why they were letting us go and asking us to continue, that would have taken care of this entire matter. I will not have had to make this issue in Parliament today. So I think that is my point - there was no transparency in the way in which the Police had exercised their powers in this instance. This is why I felt aggrieved. So I would like to ask the Second Minister whether he agrees that the Police also has a role to play in maintaining this trust between the Police and the community by being transparent and clear in how they exercise their powers.

Mr Shanmugam: Sir, on the first point on the identity of the complainant, I accept that Mr Siew did not specifically mention it. But since he made the point about transparency, I was trying to work it out and I assume that he was referring to the identity of the complainant, but I am happy that that point is resolved. As for feelings of "self importance", I do not think we want to blow this out of proportion. It was a light-hearted way of my making the point that if the Police receives a complaint, then they have to investigate, whether it is Mr Siew Kum Hong's or someone else's. And I will ask Mr Siew to take my comments in context. It was not intended to suggest that he was in any way feeling self important. But the fact is a complaint was received, they have to investigate without knowing that it was Mr Siew, probably, I assume.

The third point about waiting for two hours. Again, Sir, it is not as if I have the records here - I do not know what exactly happened - the fact that this complaint came about and the police officers went down to investigate is shown by the fact that when he raises this, I can only surmise as to what must have happened. Depending on the nature of the complaint, the Police might well have felt that they would have needed to observe what was going on for a couple of hours. And having observed and come to the conclusion probably that Mr Siew was not making a nuisance of himself nor was his companion, they probably asked some questions and then checked with their superiors and went off – open, transparent, clear – and Mr Siew knows exactly what was going on, and he was told he could carry on. So, that is the point on the ground, the way it happened.

Finally, as for greater clarity and greater transparency, one of the aspects of this debate is we probably seem to be coming to some common ground. He accepts the explanations I have given and I thank him for that. As to whether the police officers should have explained it on the ground, I have said this in answer to Dr Lateef's question. The police are trained to deal with the people they interact with. But, bear in mind, they also cannot reveal the nature of the complaint or the identity of the complainant. So they work within some fairly close parameters. But Mr Siew would have gathered from their questions and subsequent actions that a complaint has been made and they felt satisfied that the complaint was unmeritorious, and there was nothing more that needed to be proceeded with. And that is really where the matter ends and he could easily have sought explanation from us much earlier, and this explanation would have been given if we could have known the facts a little bit better. But, on the ground, today, we have a great asset, which is that there is a substantial bond of trust between our police officers and the people. And I think we should do everything we can to maintain and strengthen that trust.

Dr Lam Pin Min: Mr Chairman, I would like to raise a point of clarification for the Senior Minister of State with regard to loansharking. It is heartening to know that MHA is sparing no effort in tackling the problem of loansharking. But the surge in the number of cases over the past few months is definitely not very assuring to the public. And I have come across more cases in my MPS about residents complaining about harassment by loansharks to the extent that some can even tell me that loansharks come at certain time and certain days. And whenever the residents report that to the Police at the police post, the answer they get is, "There is really nothing much we can do. This is under the jurisdiction of the CID". I think this is not very reassuring to the public. Whilst it is important to target the main syndicates, I think it is also important to nab the runners, so that they do not continue harassing the residents.

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: I agree with Dr Lam that that is not the line that the police officer in the station should give. A report has been made, I think the answer should be "Yes, we will look into it. We will work with the other police forces which, in this case, is CID". And they do it at different ends. CID tackles the syndicates but, on the ground, I think working with the residents and whatever leads that are available, the Police will also try to apprehend the runners. So, for example, I have mentioned the placement of CCTVs, because the Police cannot be on the ground all the time. So the judicious use of CCTVs, I think, can help in this process. The assurance I give, nevertheless, is that whatever leads that the Police has, it will pursue. And I hope that with the concerted effort by everybody, including the various measures that have been implemented, the numbers will be arrested.

Ms Sylvia Lim: Sir, I have some clarifications, firstly, regarding the private security industry and, secondly, regarding the prisoner incident that I raised earlier.

First of all, for the Second Minister, regarding the private security industry. I would like to know whether the Ministry tracks the dropout rate of security officers who have been trained, licensed, and then fall out of the industry after three months. Because, from my feedback, this is one of the challenges that the security providers face.

Secondly, in relation to the prison incident, I heard the Senior Minister of State explain the various precautions taken to ensure that prisoners have recourse to protect themselves and to complain. But from the report of the recent incident, it seems that the incidents occurred over a period of about nine days, and the injuries to the victim were rather serious. And I am just wondering whether after that incident, there was any review taken by the prison authorities as to whether the existing channels of reporting are actually adequate and whether there has been any enhancement to that. Earlier, the Senior Minister of State mentioned that there are panic buttons in the cells. I am just wondering whether there are also other things, eg, closed-circuit TV. Are there guards just stationed outside the cells, if so, why did anybody not hear anything? Has there been any strengthening of the safety measures after that incident?

Mr Shanmugam: Sir, I am not aware that the Ministry keeps track of officers who have specifically given up their licences, though, of course, at any given point in time, we have the total number of officers who have been given the licence. But if I am wrong in any way, we will get back to Ms Lim.

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, I have said just now the case is before the courts, so I do not think it is in order for us to say anything which is related in any way with the case. But as I have said just now, generally, the position in Prisons is that safeguards are in place, and these safeguards have worked to keep our Prisons one of the safest in the world.

Mr Yeo Guat Kwang (Aljunied): Sir, can I seek clarifications from the Senior Minister of State, Assoc. Prof. Ho? Before we amend the law to classify borrowing from loanshark as a criminal act, should we not consider a more severe penalty for those who purposely do not change the address in their ICs and go and borrow from the loansharks? And would MHA work more closely with, say, HDB to ensure that all the residents in HDB, upon completion of the sale of the HDB flat, to change the address on their ICs?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, in fact the penalty for not changing the IC under the National Registration Act is already quite severe. If I am not wrong, it is either up to one or two years' imprisonment. But it is a question of the courts meting out a punishment that fits the offence. And in this case, certainly, if the person has not changed his IC to avoid loansharks coming after him, and knowing in the process that the innocent buyer will be afflicted, the prosecution will press for a deterrent sentence.

On the other point, I agree that there should be closer collaboration between, say, the Police and HDB, to ascertain and see whether those who sell the HDB flats can be tracked to the next address.

Dr Teo Ho Pin: Sir, I wish to thank the Deputy Prime Minister and his team for their comprehensive replies. I also would like to commend the good work done by the Home Team.

Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $2,682,538,100 for Head P ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.

The sum of $350,246,900 for Head P ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.