MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

In the 1980s the Ministry will continue to devote its energies to the maintenance of internal security, suppression of crime, combat of drug abuse and enforcement of road discipline. However, manpower will be increasingly scarce and the Ministry will have to make up for this by recruiting better quality officers, reducing the enforcement workload through the prevention of offences, and extensively computerising the work.

A System Study Team has studied the Ministry's computerisation needs and recommended the installation of four inter-linked systems. These systems deal with personal records of Singapore residents, immigration records, police operations and police administrative records. One sub-system which will come into operation this year will speed up screening at the Woodlands and Railways Checkpoints.

Internal Security

The long-term threat to Singapore's internal security is the underground Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) and its satellite organisations. In the 1970s the Internal Security Department (ISD) arrested many of their members and sympathisers. As a result it is lying low. In the 1980s the ISD will continue to watch the communists and prevent them from rebuilding their underground networks and penetrating trade unions, institutions of learning, cultural and other organisations.

Another threat to Singapore's internal security will be Muslim fundamentalism. ISD will keep surveillance on foreigners who try to instigate Singaporean Muslims and on Singaporean Muslims who flirt with foreign extremists.

Foreign students and workers will be coming to Singapore in increasing numbers. ISD will keep a lookout for communists and religious extremists amongst them.

Crime

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) cadre will be considerably strengthened in the next few years when SPF and other Scholars return from their studies. They will help to modernise and manage a Force that will use the computer to screen persons, vehicles and properties, record and track the development of incidents and control the fleet of patrol cars.

The public with the help of the Police will have to play an increasing role in crime pre- vention. In the last five years thefts and housebreakings accounted for more than 60% of all seizable offences. Most of the thefts and housebreakings could have been prevented if the victims had been more careful.

A National Crime Prevention Council will be set up consisting of influential representatives from the commercial, manufacturing, construction and insurance sectors, the Security Industry, Police and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Under this Council smaller groups will deal with security in specific areas such as commercial buildings, private housing, public housing etc.

The Police will enlarge and upgrade its Crime Prevention Branch to give the crime prevention programme impetus and support.

Drug Abuse

The drug abuse situation in Singapore is under control. The Ministry will use this opportunity to rehabilitate more drug addicts.

However, drugs of abuse are easily available across the Causeway and it is difficult to stop the 'ant traffic' of drugs into Singapore so long as there is a demand for it. In the long run the solution is to immunise our youths against drug abuse. This must be done in the early years of schooling so that as many as possible of the premature school-leavers are immunised before they leave school. The Central Narcotics Bureau will collaborate with the Ministry of Education to educate pupils on the dangers of drug abuse.

Road Safety

The Traffic Police is finalising a Master Plan to make roads safer. The first pan of the Plan is aimed at helping all road users avoid accidents. It includes road safety education for the public and the school-going population and the training and licensing of motorists. The other part deals with enforcement against errant road users, deterrence for those who are faulted and re-training of motorists who are a source of danger on the road.

The Master Plan will also set out ways of better co-ordination among all the authorities which are involved with road safety.

CHUA SIAN CHIN Minister for Home Affairs