Committee of Supply – Head P (Ministry of Home Affairs)

The Chairman: Head P, Ministry of Home Affairs. Mr Murali Pillai.

Home Team's Manpower Strategy

Mr Murali Pillai (Bukit Batok): Mdm Chairperson, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head P of the Estimates be reduced by $100".

Madam, thanks to the dedicated service of the officers of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Home Team – past and present – Singapore continues to be one of the safest countries in the world with relatively low crime rates.

They ensure the safety and well-being of Singaporeans in a more dangerous, risky world. The demand for their work has gone up, but the number of those who do this important and often hazardous work has not.

In October 2023, I sought to understand the impact of the increased white-collar crime caseload of investigators from the hon Minister. I filed the Parliamentary Question after noting that the exponential rise of the sheer number of e-documents that these investigators have to parse through for each case.

In his characteristic direct manner, the hon Minister shared some stark facts. He said over the past five years, scam cases went up 400%. The number persons arrested increased by 100%. The number of Police investigators, on the other hand, increased only by 7%. The rise in white-collar crime is an important sign of how the operating environment as a whole has become more difficult.

The workload of the Police has shot up tremendously with the explosion of tech-related crime and scams all over the world, including Singapore. Criminals enabled by technology, are getting smarter too.

With the transnational nature of most crime, solving cases and recovering stolen proceeds has become much more complex. Dark webs provide safe havens to conduct illicit transactions without being detected. It is, therefore, no wonder that the dollar value of crime is continuing to shoot up. From a response to a Parliamentary Question I filed, I noted that between 2017 and 2021 the subject matter value of cases investigated by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) was $4.49 billion. My understanding is that the subject matter value of the cases for 2022 and 2023 continues to be high.

Against this backdrop, our officers naturally will have to be better resourced to match not just these operational challenges but to deal with future threats too. How does the Home Team plan to do this?

When giving the figures above, the Minister frankly admitted that this is not a sustainable situation. He also said that the performance and effectiveness of the force may deteriorate as a result. Should that happen, there will have an impact on our criminal justice system. Coming from the hon Minister, this is a red flag.

Earlier this month on 6 February 2024, the hon Minister in response to a question posed by the hon Leader of Opposition in this House, candidly admitted that whilst Police officers have strong esprit de corp, the Police Force is facing a severe manpower shortage and this would ultimately have an impact on morale.

When he shared his view, it brought back memories of my service as a regular in the Police Force in the investigation branch of a division in the early 1990s. Then, we faced a manpower crunch too. Investigating Officers (IOs) had 24-hour shifts, which meant they were on duty for about 36 hours at a stretch. The next day, they reported for work during office hours and this cycle repeated itself every three days. I believe hon Members who also served around the same time as I, such as Ms Sylvia Lim, Mr Ang Wei Neng and Mr Patrick Tay, would have undergone similar experiences.

I have seen officers who could not cope with such high demands of their jobs. They accumulated more than 100 Investigation Papers per person and just got bogged down. Certainly, their morale and well-being suffered as a result. We should not return to those days.

I recently had a chance to speak to an ex-colleague who retired as a Station Inspector. His daughter is serving in the Police Force. I recalled how proud he was when his daughter decided to follow his footsteps to join the men and women in blue.

Now, unfortunately, his views have changed. He shared that almost every day – for a long period of time – his daughter has been working feverishly, often well beyond midnight. This has gone on to an extent where he is now actively advising his daughter to resign because as a father, he is concerned about her mental wellness. Coming from a decorated retired-Police officer, this is significant.

I looked at the Police turnover figures. Whilst they are still relatively small, the numbers are trending up and have almost tripled from 2.06% in 2020 to 5.78 % in 2022. Anecdotally, I understand that the turnover figure for 2023 remains elevated. I would be grateful if the hon Minister could share the latest turnover figures.

Part of the reason is because the private sector is able to attract these officers with higher pay and better work conditions.

I accept that Home Team officers are a special breed. They are not drawn by salary alone. Home Team officers also know that: as uniformed officers charged with the responsibility of keeping our country safe and secure, they are expected to make sacrifices in the discharge of their duty to our country.

Nonetheless, the combination of high workload of the Home Team officers and the lure of the private sector constitutes, in my view, a warning sign on the ability of the Home Team to attract and retain talent. It would be prudent to tackle these issues sooner rather than later.

I wish to ask the hon Minister how does the Home Team intend to address its manpower constraints?

Given the tight manpower situation across all sectors in Singapore, I accept that this is not an easy issue to resolve but we have no choice but to double down our efforts on this front. Our security and safety as a nation, depends on ensuring that our Home Team has an adequately sized force. We also need to ensure the well-being of our officers and not to constantly overload them. Can the hon Minister please give some details about the efforts to recruit and retain officers in the past few years?

Since 2015, the Home Team has invested heavily in technology to enhance its operational effectiveness and productivity. Much of the innovation was driven by the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) which was set up in end 2019.

The technology card however, should not be overplayed.

The Home Team, on a daily basis, interfaces with our community. How can it ensure that it retains its human touch when interfacing with the community? How will the Home Team enhance its service delivery to make these services more accessible, efficient and convenient for members of the public? Finally, may I please ask how the Home Team can better tap on volunteers and community partners to achieve its mission?

In this regard, I have sought and reviewed the figures that the Ministry provided to me on the recruitment numbers of Citizen on Patrol volunteers as well as Voluntary Special Constabulary officers. It seems to me that the recruitment figures are on the downtrend, generally. I would like to understand the reasons for this.

I also look forward to hearing the plans that the Home Team has to strengthen its partnership with these volunteers. Mdm Chairperson, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

Politically Significant Persons

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song (Aljunied): Mdm Chair, recently Mr Philip Chan, a Singaporean businessman and former People's Association grassroots leader, was designated by MHA as a politically significant person (PSP) under the Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act, or FICA. MHA said that Mr Chan had shown susceptibility to be influenced by foreign actors and willingness to advance their interests.

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I understand that there are other Singapore residents who are publicly known to be associated with foreign political organisations, but have not been designated as PSPs. Therefore, I would like to request for more details of the Ministry's criteria for designating PSPs. How does the Ministry assess the risk of foreign interference and the public interest in applying FICA's measures to PSPs? What are the factors that distinguish Mr Chan from other persons who engage in similar activities but who are not designated as PSPs?

Madam, I understand the Ministry might be reluctant to be too transparent about the criteria to prevent people from circumventing FICA's provisions, however, MHA should provide better guidance to the public on where the out of bound markers are, so they can avoid becoming unwitting agents of foreign influence and interference.

Long-Term Visit Pass

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap (Aljunied): Madam, in August 2023, MHA had, in a reply to a question from my colleauge, Mr Gerald Giam, said that from 2016 to 2022, the Ministry had processed an annual average of 7,200 applications for Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) for foreign spouses of Singaporeans. Processed, not approved.

Just a day after that, Minister of State Dr Faishal Ibrahim, in replying to a question relating to LTVP for foreign spouses had said that such applications were assessed individually and holistically and elaborated on some of the factors that are taken into consideration, including length of marriage, the sponsor's ability to financially support the applicant, among others. Caregiving needs were mentioned as a unique consideration. The Minister of State also said that marriage to a Singaporean did not grant automatic right of entry into Singapore or approval for a long-term stay.

I have appealed for many of my Singaporean residents who are married to foreigners and many of them come from less well off households. It is a stressful process and the financial cost are challenging for them, even if they are relatively affordable for most Singaporeans. I can appreciate that MHA and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) have to consider many factors in determining whether a LTVP application is approved or not.

I would like to ask if ICA has engaged other relevant organisations such as the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), the Registry of Marriages (ROM), Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and others towards formulating a more coordinated approach in assessing LTVP applications for foreign spouses of Singaporeans.

The Pre-marriage LTVP Assessment (PMLA) is a useful tool, but it has its limitations. Of the 7,200 applications ICA process annually, only around 3,000 applicants completed the PMLA. The low take-up rate is a concern. Singaporeans intending to marry a foreigner must have a clearer picture on whether their spouse will be able to remain with them in Singapore, ideally before they get married.

The Chairman: Ms Sylvia Lim, please take your two cuts together.

Manpower and Outsourcing

Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied): Madam, at various points over the years, the issue of manpower shortages at the Home Team has been raised. This is perfectly understandable, since the officers of the Ministry interface with the public daily and in critical ways, be it calls for police service or investigations, paramedic and ambulance services, immigration matters and others. The relevance of proper staffing levels is not just a matter of maintaining staff morale. Inadequate staffing potentially affects public outcomes.

It would be useful if the Ministry could explain whether the manpower crunch is getting worse and if so, what the main reasons are.

Take the Police as a prime example. A brief comparison of the number of officers from 2013 to date shows an increase from about 8,800 regulars to more than 10,000 today. No doubt, within that time, the population in Singapore has increased too, by about 8%. From 5.47 million in 2014 to 5.92 in June last year, an increase of 450,000 people. Besides population increase, what are the drivers that add to manpower shortfalls? How much of this is due to new demands, for example, the formation of new land divisions such as Woodlands Police Division, or new specialised units such as the Anti-Scam Command.

Within the functions that the Police retain and do not outsource, there is acknowledgment that the workload has increased dramatically. MHA has highlighted that the preponderance of scam cases has added significantly to the load of Police investigators. On the ground, it is not uncommon to hear from our residents that the investigator for their case has resigned or that there has been a change of investigators, which would add to delays in the investigations.

As for other public services such as Neighbourhood Police establishments, the trend has been to leverage on technology so as to reduce manpower demands. While I accept that this is necessary, has the Ministry assessed the public satisfaction levels for such changes, especially in the elderly population?

Retaining experienced officers is an important stabiliser. For officers who have resigned, some may have done so due to pull factors such as better prospects elsewhere. Could the Ministry share what proportion of resignations were due to push factors, such as workload or high public expectations?

Outsourcing of police functions to auxiliary police officer (APO) or private security is logical and a necessary strategy to overcome manpower shortfalls. Overall, I do see that the outsourcing moves over the years have been incremental and deliberate. By that, I mean that the nature of the task is assessed first to be potentially capable of being outsourced, then training of the auxiliary police or private security will be done before the outsourcing is effective.

Thus, over the years, we see many modular courses being offered in security screening, crowd and traffic control, threat observation and so on. It is common these days to see APO escorting prisoners and manning our land checkpoints, or private security officers deployed at major events.

That said, there must be some limits to outsourcing, as some tasks are probably too complex, are too risky or require the exercise of discretion. Take for instance, police investigations. During the recent debate on the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, I voiced my concern about whether APOs should be deemed authorised officers for the purpose of exercising force to extract a forensic specimen from an uncooperative criminal suspect. While the Ministry of Law replied that they would be trained for this, this to me, is a confrontational task that carries high risk.

In making decisions on outsourcing, there are legal accountability issues to consider as well. If say, a police officer acts wrongly or negligently, being a public servant, the Government is potentially liable for his acts as an employer. This is a reassurance to the public that losses can be recovered. In the case of an APO or private security officer, a private employer is vicariously liable. While companies providing APO services are well resourced, many private security agencies are not.

Finally, it is useful to speak about the APOs. Sixty-eight percent of APOs are Singaporeans, while the balance 32% are Malaysians and Taiwanese. In answer to a Parliamentary Question (PQ) I filed in January, the Minister affirmed the need to allow auxiliary police forces to recruit foreign APOs to meet the increasing demand for security services. It was further mentioned that besides Taiwan, some other source countries for APOs being considered are China, India, the Philippines and Myanmar. It was further recognised that letting non-Singaporeans carry firearms was a risk which would be managed through security screening, training and supervision.

Could the Ministry elaborate a little on the reasons for the selection of the four Asian jurisdictions? Does proficiency in certain languages play a part? And if so, I am wondering why countries such as Nepal have not been named.

Private security industry. I am supportive of the Government's efforts in recent years to uplift and transform the private security industry. At the national level, with a better trained private security workforce, there will be better cost efficiencies through utilising the workforce from both the public and private sectors and right-sizing them to the task at hand.

At the ground level, we see the growth of security providers with better operational capabilities. Many of our residents also work as security officers and are enjoying higher salaries through regulatory requirements. A key driver of these changes is the Security Industry Transformation Map (ITM) launched in 2018.

In response to a PQ I filed in 2021, the Ministry reported that significant progress had been made on the four pillars of the ITM. Of particular interest to me is the first pillar, namely, to push for technology and innovation to transform operating models. The aim of such technology adoption is to achieve manpower efficiencies. The Ministry reported then that in 2019, 98% of SME security agencies had adopted at least one stage one digital solution, while 82% had adopted at least one stage two solution as recommended by the security industry digital plan. These are encouraging signs.

As one of the biggest bugbears of security officers are the long 12-hour shifts, it will be useful to know whether the adoption of these technologies has resulted in shorter working shifts. I believe it is still common to have 12-hour shifts. What is the Ministry's assessment, would be entailed to move to an eight-hour shift? With the further concerted efforts to improve the image and working conditions of security officers, does the Ministry also detect any change in the demographic profile of those in the industry? For example, are younger people considering such a career?

The Chairman: Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim. You have five cuts, you may take your five cuts together.

Training and Industrial Transformation Map

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim (Nominated Member): Madam, in response to the evolving landscape of security threats, it is imperative to equip security professionals with enhanced skills and capabilities. Elevating security personnel to skilled professionals is essential to strengthening public safety and confidence in the face of emerging security challenges.

Consequently, the Security Industry Transformation Map was launched in 2018, to uplift the private security industry to meet these evolving security challenges. In November 2022, Ministry announced a refreshed version, to prepare the industry in delivering security services as part of integrated facilities management.

In view of this, my questions are: What impact will the Security Industry Transformation Map 2025 have on the professionalism and skill development of security personnel? Will both security and non-security personnel within organisations/facilities receive training on the Threat-Oriented Person Screening Integrated System (TOPSIS)? What strategies are in place to recruit and retain suitably qualified personnel across the security industry?

Unity and Expression of Views

Racial harmony is essential for Singapore's peace and stability, fostering mutual respect and deterring tensions. In terms of managing the differences, a study conducted by The Institute of Policy Studies study in 2019 revealed that younger generations prefer community-driven approaches. They responded positively to dialogue and community efforts to address racial or religious issues, reflecting their sensitivity to discrimination and willingness to challenge prejudices.

In view of this, my questions are: How will the proposed new Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act reflect the importance of dialogue and understanding to promote racial harmony? How will the proposed new Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act reflect "gentler measures" and "persuasion and rehabilitation" to assist resolve racial issues? Is the Ministry considering incorporating the principles and practices of restorative justice in the proposed new Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act to assist resolve racial issues? And finally, what avenues do Singaporeans have to peacefully and publicly express their views on domestic and international issues, including the Israel-Hamas conflict?

Rehabilitation of Offenders

Supporting offenders' rehabilitation during incarceration decreases reoffending upon release, promoting safer communities and reducing the burden on the criminal justice system. Incorporating trauma-informed care, desistance theory and restorative justice practices into rehabilitation is vital for holistic healing, positive behaviour change and successful reintegration.

In view of this, my questions are: What strategies are in place to incorporate the suggested theories into rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for inmates, ex-offenders and their families? A report released on 14 February 2024 by Singapore Prison Service indicated an increase in the two-year recidivism rate for the 2021 release cohort, primarily due to higher recidivism among repeat drug offenders.

What are the key outcomes to date from the new Inter-Ministry Committee formed in 2023 to address rising levels of drug use among young people?

Scams and Cybercrimes

In 2023, scam cases in Singapore surged by 46.8% compared to 2022, with victims losing a total of $651.8 million.

Supporting these victims is crucial, as they suffer financial losses, emotional distress and psychological trauma. By providing assistance, we aid in their recovery, restore security, and offer resources for support.

In view of this, my questions are: what programmes are in place to support victims of scams? Community plays a crucial role in combating scams in Singapore. By raising awareness, educating individuals, and fostering vigilance, we empower the community to identify and prevent scams effectively. What programmes are in place to enhance the community's interest and capacity to detect, prevent and report scams and cybercrimes?

Support and Well-being of Home Team Officers

In the Ministerial Statement on 6 February 2024, the Ministry highlighted several initiatives and support mechanisms to address the wellbeing of Home Team officers. I commend the Ministry for these initiatives. However, stigma remains a concern.

In view of this, would the Ministry consider establishing clear policies, procedures and mechanisms to protect the privacy, confidentiality, and job security of Home Team Officers who choose to seek mental health support?

Would the Ministry consider establishing an anonymous reporting system that would enable Home Team Officers to seek and obtain private and confidential mental health support, without fear of reprisal?

And in view of the integration of technology into law enforcement, how will the integration of technology into law enforcement enhance the effectiveness of policing, improve public safety, promote community policing and support front line officers to manage their workload?

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Support for Police Investigations

Mr Raj Joshua Thomas (Nominated Member): Madam, the SPF IOs are the first front in the criminal justice process. The whole investigation process can be complex and requires an eye for detail as well as skills in preparing and presenting evidence. As a lawyer who takes up criminal matters from time to time, I have seen that our SPF IOs are competent and do a good job collecting evidence and assisting the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC).

Sometimes, investigations take some time; but this is understandable given the increasing complexity of crimes, including cybercrimes. I note that the number of physical crimes has remained stable but that the number of scams has risen significantly. Could the Minister provide some insight into the workload of our SPF IOs as well as the average turnover of investigations from first information reports (FIRs) to making recommendations to the AGC?

On a related note, I agree with the hon Member Ms Sylvia Lim and I would like to join her in calling on the SPF to consider engaging private investigators (PIs) to assist in the work of SPF IOs. In particular, in collecting and organising evidence. PIs are trained and have experience precisely in doing so and their contributions have been invaluable in civil suits. Perhaps the Ministry could consider availing of their expertise in criminal investigations as well?

And on a related note, perhaps the SPF can also consider engaging security agencies to outsource some of their functions – their security-related functions to them as well.

The Chairman: Ms Sylvia Lim, you wish to clarify?

Ms Sylvia Lim: Yes, Chairperson. I just wanted to clarify that in my speech, I did not call for outsourcing of Police investigations to private investigators. I did not call for that.

The Chairman: Yes, Mr Raj Joshua Thomas.

Mr Raj Joshua Thomas: Yes, I stand corrected. I think it was engaging PIs to do some of these works.

The Chairman: Ms Sylvia Lim, do you want to further clarify?

Ms Sylvia Lim: Yes. No, I did not call for that. So, my speech was actually about outsourcing, but it did not specifically call for investigations to be outsourced because I did mention that I considered it to be a rather high-risk activity. So, just to clarify: I did not call for that.

Mr Raj Joshua Thomas: Mdm Chairman, Ms Lim, I stand corrected.

The Chairman: Okay. Mr Neil Parekh.

Home Team Transformation

Mr Neil Parekh Nimil Rajnikant (Nominated Member): Chairperson, officers serving in the Home Team are friends of our citizens today. A good example is the Neighbourhood Policing System. The Singapore Civil Defence Force has opened its doors and held open houses at many of its fire stations. The Home Team is people-centric and with this comes a higher expectation of service delivery standards – be it at a 999 or a 995 call or at service centres. My question for the Ministry is what plans does the Home Team have to enhance its service delivery to make these services more accessible for the public?

Home Team Transformation and Manpower

Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan (Pioneer): The Home Team is facing a plethora and spectrum of challenges with the growing complexity of crimes exacerbated by the speed of digitalisation, technology and GenAI. At the same time, the Home Team is also confronted with a tight labour market and a slowing workforce growth. I wish to ask what are the plans moving forward for the Home Team's Transformation to meet these exacting challenges – especially in the areas of operational capabilities, training reality and preparedness, reduction of its reliance on manpower and helping our Home Team officers to focus on key operational tasks and eradicate tasks which can be done with technology and process improvements?

In the same vein, I wanted to get an update on the rollout of SPF's suite of services to enhance service delivery to members of the public and to develop the next generation of officers to be equipped with new competencies and capabilities to stand ready, relevant and resilient – ready with the new skills and training, relevant to the redesigned jobs and tasks and resilient to the many curve balls and changes.

In this regard, I suggest that all of MHA's agencies especially SPF, SCDF and SPS explore even greater partnerships with stakeholders and the community to achieve its goals and mission. I further submit that we should also find ways to engage the services of ex-Home Team officers – who may have left service long ago or retired from service – to support and take up some of the roles of those in active service to alleviate the manpower crunch.

The Chairman: Ms Usha Chandradas. You have two cuts. Please take them together.

Expression of Views on Israel-Hamas Conflict

Ms Usha Chandradas (Nominated Member): Madam, the police and National Parks (NParks) Board have prohibited protests and demonstrations on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Nonetheless, there are many Singaporeans who continue to feel strongly about the conflict and are looking for way to express their views and emotions. While Singaporeans may be able to understand the Government's foreign policy position, one has only to look to social media to see the outpouring of reactions amongst Singaporeans about the devastation that has been inflicted on Gaza.

This has not abated and may even have increased as the conflict continues to rage on. Influencers have also been reported in the press as having been approached or questioned by authorities on their activism about the conflict. There is still clearly very strong sentiment on the ground about the conflict. I would like to ask: can the Ministry provide a clear clarification on how Singaporeans can express their views, but in a way that is lawful and that will continue to keep our society united and harmonious?

Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act

In his 2021 National Day Rally speech, the Prime Minister announced that the Ministry will be introducing a Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act. This law is meant to include "softer" measures that can order someone who has caused offence to stop doing it and to make amends by learning more about the other race concerned with a view to mending ties. Can the Ministry provide updates on the status of this proposed law? Will it in fact be implemented and if so, how will this new law seek to balance the maintenance of social order with the need for freedom of expression in our society?

The Chairman: Mr Vikram Nair, you have two cuts. Please take them together.

Mr Vikram Nair: Mdm Chair, Singapore has enjoyed racial and religious harmony for decades. However, this harmony did not come by accident. In the 1960s for example, Singapore experienced race riots between the Chinese and Malay communities. Since then, we have taken steps to build a cohesive society, including with unique measures like ethnic quotas for public housing – to ensure different races live together.

In relation to religious harmony, we have had the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act in place for more than 30 years. This gives authorities the power to take pre-emptive measures against those that threaten our religious harmony and a variety of powers to prosecute and deal with those who commit offences under the act.

Interestingly, while we often talk of racial and religious harmony in the same breath, we do not have similar legislation in place to deal with racial harmony. One explanation for this may be that religion built around organisations and there was a need to deal with religious organisations in a systematic way.

In any event, in 2021, the Prime Minister – in his National Day Rally speech – addressed the topic of racial harmony and indicated that there was a plan to introduce a Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act. I will be grateful if MHA can provide an update on this?

The Chairman: Mr Nair, just to let you know. You still have another two minutes.

Mr Vikram Nair: Thank you, I was a bit worried about the time.

Israel-Hamas Conflict and Public Order

The Israel-Hamas conflict has been a matter that has evoked strong emotions amongst many of us. Hamas' attack on Israeli civilians on 7 October was shocking and Singapore had called it an act of terror. Yet, the sympathy for the Palestinian cause is also strong and Singapore and many of our citizens believe in a two-state solution. As the conflict is escalating, the death and damage in Palestine and the mounting civilian death toll has been staggering.

Singaporeans have been vocal on this issue, but sympathies are divided; and it appears sometimes along religious and communal lines. This was also evident in recent reactions to how this matter was being discussed in the Singapore schools.

Deep divisions like this may threaten religious and racial harmony in Singapore. I would like to know if MHA has analysed the reactions of different communities on this matter and whether it is taking any steps to keep Singaporeans united in the face of threats like this.

Related to this, in some other countries, there have been public protests and demonstrations related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. In Singapore, the Police and NParks have – in my view – rightly prohibited protests and demonstrations on this matter. Given the strong views that people have on this matter, it may be helpful to have healthy outlets where people can share views on this matter and remain safe. Does MHA have any guidance or suggestions on this front?

The Chairman: Mr Alex Yam. Not here. Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, you have two cuts. You can take them together.

Balancing Humanity in Harmony

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (Chua Chu Kang): Mdm Chair, this year marks more than two years since the Ukraine war began. It is also coming into the fifth month since the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza unfolded. Wars are not just between physical combatants, but the battlegrounds are increasingly fought in the cyberspace as well to capture the minds and hearts. There is thus possibility for disinformation campaigns by non-state actors which aim to destabilise and sow divisions in societies.

Singapore's susceptibility to foreign influences and fake news is a pressing concern – particularly in the context of such global conflicts. As a multicultural and globally connected society, Singapore is inevitably exposed to diverse perspectives and information from around the world. While this openness is a strength, it also renders us vulnerable to misinformation, manipulation and divisive narratives propagated through various channels, including social media and online platforms.

There are also false foreign donation campaigns in the guise of humanitarian campaigns that may take advantage of the generosity of Singaporeans. It becomes imperative for Singaporeans to exercise critical thinking, verify sources and seek balanced perspectives to navigate the influx of information responsibly. I want to thank our MHA security officers who have worked tirelessly day in and day out to monitor our regional and national security situation and keep us safe.

In light of the increased risk of foreign influence and the global uncertainty, what is the outlook of national security in Singapore; and what are the ways in which MHA will or have undertaken to ensure that our national security, social cohesion and racial harmony are preserved while – at the same time – allowing for well-intentioned Singaporeans who resonate with increasing humanitarian causes around the world to have a safe platform in Singapore to channel their efforts and resources towards constructive narratives and initiatives?

Supporting Desistors Combating Drugs

In recent years, there is a concerning trend globally of increasing lax attitudes towards drugs among youths. Despite Singapore's strict anti-drug policies and extensive educational campaigns, we need to safeguard against this attitude creeping among our younger demographics. Factors, such as peer influence, social media glamorisation and a perception of drugs as recreational substances rather than harmful narcotics, contribute to this worrying shift in attitudes. The rise of online platforms and social networks groups on Telegram channels for instance, has facilitated the dissemination of pro-drug messages and normalisation of substance abuse – posing a significant challenge to Singapore's efforts to maintain a drug-free society.

Previously, I spoke in this House on how – globally – drug cartels and certain drug lobbyists are specifically targeting youths and young professionals. We need to remain vigilant.

At the same time, for those who have fallen to the trap of drug abuse, we need to help our desistors in terms of emotional, financial and social support so that they can remain steadfast in their path towards recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration; and not fall towards recidivism and fall back to crime and drugs. What are the ways that MHA have undertaken together with community partners and YRSG to ensure better outcomes for desistors and keep our guard up to prevent the increase in drug abuse in Singapore and fellow Singaporeans?

Rise of Drug Use and Scams

Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi (Nominated Member): Mdm Chair, first on drugs. Singapore is swimming against the tide in its fight against drugs. Where we rightly double down in our fight against drugs, global and regional trends suggest a more permissive attitude towards drug use and drug abusers are starting younger.

We need to ask ourselves, how is it that teenagers as young as 14 years old – as reported by the Singapore Drug Situation Report – have access to these drugs? It cannot be that they just suddenly develop the habit and achieve access to these substances.

Beyond the quantitative the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) statistics released thus far, I urge MHA to have a deeper look at the qualitative aspects of each case to study the social determinants that lead to drug use and target these proximal factors better – as part of a whole-of-Government approach. And to look deeper at community prevention strategies with other ministries, community partners and the National Addictions Management Service to better strategise a broader, wrap-around approach in its drug prevention efforts in Singapore.

Preventive drug education and teaching drug harms in schools need a better approach, for we must protect our young robustly from having access to these substances. I also wonder whether the numbers of new psychoactive substances are an underestimation, because they can be harder to detect in standard detection kits.

Second, on scams. Scams permeate all aspects of our lives. Where there is money to be made, scammers are ruthless in baiting and ensnaring individuals in their moment of vulnerability and when they least suspect it. And victims – having been scammed – are often encumbered with guilt and shame, as well as the incredulity and disbelief after.

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Second, on scams. Scams permeate all aspects of our lives. Where there is money to be made, scammers are ruthless in baiting and ensnaring individuals in their moment of vulnerability and when they least suspect it. And victims, having been scammed, are often encumbered with guilt and shame, as well as the incredulity and disbelief after.

Recent figures released by SPF show a continued rise in scam numbers and that more and more people are falling prey to scammers. It does not reassure us that scammers continue to be guile and creative in their ways and equip themselves with the technology to scale scamming operations remotely to find their next unsuspecting victim and scam to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars per year.

It suggests a knowledge gap in the public and a lack of general vigilance and awareness of the potential of being scammed. We also do not want people to feel so paralysed that they retreat inwards and not avail themselves to the use of technology that could make their lives easier.

Can MHA elaborate how the Ministry intends to strengthen its approach to prevent scams at the population level and share the breakdown of scam victims by demographic indicators? Are there specific vulnerable age groups and communities that need more help?

The Chairman: Mr Keith Chua, you have two cuts. Please take them together.

Youths and Addiction

Mr Keith Chua (Nominated Member): Mdm Chairperson, the latest statistics from CNB reported that new drug abusers aged under 30 rose to 480 in 2023, which is a 20% increase from 2022. Among those arrested last year were five 14-year-olds. Earlier this month, three teenage girls were arrested for abusing Ice, two of them were 13 years old.

The increase amongst youths and at a younger age is a worrying development. This is despite education campaigns against drugs in schools, along with the constant and consistent reminders on the dangers of abusing drugs. An Institute of Mental Health (IMH) survey in 2023 shared that the average age when drug users in Singapore start taking illegal substances is around 16. About a fifth of those who had taken drugs did so because they were curious about the illicit substances. Other reasons were the belief that the drugs would help with their problems and also from being influenced by friends.

In the third quarter of 2023, the Inter-Ministry Committee on Drug Prevention for Youths was formed to look into developing a whole-of-Government response to the drug problem amongst youths, with a focus on drug prevention.

Could the Ministry and the Government share on the efforts made since and, if it not too soon, how effective some of these responses have been?

Can we also improve the recidivism rate through a relooking of the process for a drug abuser's treatment and journey of rehabilitation and reintegration?

Scams and Seniors

The prevalence of scams in our society has been an increasing source of concern. These are, essentially, cheating and stealing in this digital age.

On 18 February 2024, The Straits Times reported there were 46,563 cases in 2023 where victims lost $651 million. This was despite numerous media warnings, education and new measures.

We are now aiming to grow digital literacy amongst our seniors to perform their daily activities, access digital Government services, manage their health on mobile apps and make electronic payments. Several will potentially be new to technology. Current statistics do not show seniors as a major group of victims of scams. This could shift as more seniors embrace technology.

Could the Government share what efforts are in place and planned to protect seniors from scams? How will we actively engage seniors to stay alert to new scams potentially targeted at this group while helping them to embrace technology with confidence?

The Chairman: Dr Tan Wu Meng. Not here. Mr Derrick Goh.

Keeping Youths Away from Harmful Substances

Mr Derrick Goh (Nee Soon): Mdm Chairman, Singapore has been steadfast in its zero-tolerance approach towards drugs amid more permissive attitudes globally.

Worryingly, CNB reported new drug abusers arrested have increased 18% last year and even more concerning is that more than half of new drug abusers are aged well below 30, with the youngest being 14.

The situation is compounded by the continued emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) as well as the increasingly rampant use of vaporisers. Notably, the digital space continues to be an avenue for the spread of misinformation and aid transactions to occur swiftly and anonymously, which makes drug detection challenging.

I appreciate that an Inter-Ministry Committee on Drug Prevention for Youths was formed in 2023 to set targeted strategies with an ecosystem approach.

Against this backdrop, can MHA elaborate on its plans to engage other agencies, schools and parents more effectively to identify at-risk youths for timelier intervention? Can MHA also share in greater detail plans by the Inter-Ministry Committee, the implementation timeline and if they will also address vaporiser use, in addition to drugs and NPS? What are MHA's new plans to disrupt the supply of such substances targeting our youths and to curb online misinformation that wrongly promotes liberal drug use attitudes?

Ex-offenders/Yellow Ribbon

Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan: In my interactions with inmates during our Every Worker Matters conversations, I realise we stand at a critical crossroads in the journey toward a fair and just society, a society that not only punishes the wrongdoer but also strives to rehabilitate and reintegrate those who have paid their debt to society.

As we consider the fate of ex-offenders re-entering our communities, we are confronted with a moral imperative to provide them with the support and resources necessary to become more productive members of society once more.

We collectively recognise that the cycle of crime and punishment cannot be broken through punitive measures alone. We must invest in programmes that aid in the reintegration of ex-offenders, providing them with the tools they need to secure employment, housing and a sense of dignity. By doing so, we not only reduce recidivism rates but also foster a more compassionate and inclusive society.

Can MHA provide an update on what we have done and how far have we come thus far and whether laws, such as the Registration of Criminals Act, can be reviewed to offer them second chances?

The Chairman: Mr Christopher de Souza, you have three cuts, you can take them together.

Drugs – Deterring Recreational Cannabis

Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah): Thank you, Mdm Chair. My first cut is about drugs and deterring recreational cannabis. The statistics in Singapore for abusers of recreational cannabis are highly concerning. It ranks as the second most commonly abused drug for new abusers, with a 17% increase between 2022 and 2023. What is even more concerning is that almost two-thirds of the new abusers are below 30 years of age.

Last year, we amended our Misuse of Drugs Act to increase the punishments for possession of selected controlled drugs above certain weight thresholds, which include cannabis, cannabis mixture and cannabis resin. This is a very good step and a necessary one, given the severity of its impact on society and especially our young.

Of all drug use disorder cases, approximately 41% is due to cannabis abuse.

Even as we fight the battle to help our young people battle their mental health issues, we must take a very strong stance on cannabis and other drugs from entering our borders or being accessible by anyone, but especially young people. Our young people are heavily influenced by social media and the global shift in public attitudes has led to more countries not only legalising medical use but also the recreational use of cannabis.

Here, I would like to pause and use as an example the case of Thailand. It is an example which I was quite alarmed at a few years ago when I visited Thailand with my family. There were pop-up shops of cannabis being sold to general tourists. You could smell the whiff of cannabis in the air. I was genuinely very concerned. You fast forward a year or two, there seems to have been a U-turn.

So, let me share with the House that, in particular, Thailand decriminalised the cannabis plant in June 2022 with the purpose of supporting medical use and research purposes. But the outcome of the decriminalisation ended up allowing young people, especially those under 18, to become cannabis abusers with a sharp increase in usage. The findings have spurred or looked to have spurred Thailand's Justice Minister to call for a classification of cannabis as a narcotic substance until proper regulation can be put into place.

Thailand's arguable quick reversal, not more than two years after decriminalisation, shows how rampant the drug abuse problem can become among young people. We must never let this happen in Singapore. I have spoken about this multiple times and I think we should not let an example like this go unnoticed.

We have to continually enforce strong laws against drugs and keep up to speed with developments and ensure our legislation is flexible and adaptable.

There will also be pro-cannabis groups with commercial interests who want to influence the narrative surrounding recreational cannabis by diminishing youth's perception of its harm and we have to be active in countering such a view.

Drugs – Rehabilitation of Former Offenders

Mdm Chair, next, on rehabilitation support for former offenders. With the constant increase in drug abusers in Singapore, but repeat and new offenders, it is critical that our enforcement and monitoring of drug usage is matched by rehabilitation support in a double-pronged approach. This is especially so since 51% of new abusers arrested in 2023 were under 30, but also because repeat offenders still form the bulk of drug abusers.

For those who are young, they have much potential if given the right environment to rehabilitate and allow them to make choices to walk away from drugs and never return. They need the love and support of their family and friends and the wider community.

The statistics surrounding repeat offenders show that despite our strict laws, those who have served their jail time continue to be placed in an environment where they have made the choice to re-offend.

Building support in our community to come alongside former offenders is a national effort. The Yellow Ribbon Project and the song which its namesake emphasises, that the idea of welcoming home those who have been to prison, that while offenders can be released from prison, the key to unlocking them from social stigma lies, first, in their families and loved ones and us as society to welcome them back and give them that chance.

Beyond familial support, we can look to education and employment as well. Even as we intensify our preventive drug education through Government agencies, community groups and anti-drug advocates, we must also educate on how to support and include former offenders so that they can move on. This education on support must come alongside promoting drug-free values and lifestyles so as to not unintentionally introduce prejudice and stigma. Instead, we can inculcate drug-free values at the same time that we introduce values, such as compassion and mercy, which give the public a holistic picture of our battle against drugs.

That same lens can be taken by employers in giving former offenders a second or third, or even possibly, a fourth chance.

Scams – Need for Enforcement and Education

Mdm Chair, my third and last cut on scams and the need for prevention and education.

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The prevalence of scams and its impact need no reiterating. Billions have been lost in tens of thousands of cases in the past few years. It gives rise to the need for the twin pillars of prevention and education. In seeking to reinforce our blockage of preventing scams, it is pertinent to look to other jurisdictions in this global fight.

In the UK – as part of its fraud strategy – they are restructured to allow for cross-sector work to focus on scams. This allows for sharing of information across the banking and finance sectors on emerging threats. Data breaches and compromised card details; as well as blocking high-risk advertisements and numbers spoofing. UK has also placed sanctions to prevent British citizens and companies from any dealings with designated people and entities and sanctioned actors in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

This is also reflected in China, where it has issued arrest warrants for major players – especially those who work and interact with the Myanmar junta. In that light, we should consider how ASEAN can cooperate in dealing with the allies of the junta regime who are actively involved or – quite possibly – overseeing scam farms.

Additionally building an infrastructure and legislative regime that would allow for responsibility to be shared among the right actors would bring about cooperative incentives to address the current lapses. While individuals who fall prey to scams should have their level of individual responsibility – the burden cannot be entirely borne by them. The right allocation would allow for the right resources to be allocated to combat scams. Nevertheless, we need to also educate the public and each individual on all the potential avenues for scams.

Therefore, I ask in conclusion, what is MHA doing to strengthen our ability to prevent scams and to help our citizens identify scams?

Scams and their Effect in the Community

Mr Sitoh Yih Pin (Potong Pasir): Mdm Chairperson, I had raised the issue on scams at last year's Committee of Supply. At that time, the statistics released by the Police on scams in 2022 produced worrying numbers. The headline numbers for 2022 were 33,669 scams and cybercrime cases and $660.7 million lost.

In the recently released statistics by the Police for 2023, the total amount of loss deceased slightly by 1.3% to $651.8 million but the number of scam cases increased significantly by 49.6% to 50,376.

Madam, we understand that one of the reasons for the decrease in the amount lost is due in part to the good work that our agencies have put in – working with private sector stakeholders to stop or mitigate losses during ongoing scams.

This is a positive development. However, the increase in the number of scams overall is surely a deeply worrying statistic. Based on the numbers – while each scam victim may have lost less than in previous years, there has been a significant increase in the number of Singaporeans falling for scams. This means that more and more Singaporeans are falling for scams in one way or another.

One of the items in the Police Report that caught my attention was the Police's concern about the sharp increase in the number of scams that are perpetuated through social media and messaging platforms. I understand that part of this trend includes fraudulent advertisements that are placed on social media platforms.

I am concerned with this trend. As consumers, we place a certain level of trust on paid advertisements that are circulated by reputable organisations. The written media is one example. We certainly do not expect to encounter advertisements in the Straits Times, Zaobao, Berita Harian or the Tamil Murasu to be fraudulent or phishing advertisements.

We must therefore surely expect the same from reputable social media platforms, given the fact that they are profiting from these fraudulent advertisements placed on their platforms. A simple extrapolation – the more successful scam ads are on social media platforms, scammers will place more of such ads – leading to increased advertising revenue for the platforms.

This surely cannot be right. In such cases, we should look into ways to hold such social media platforms accountable for such scam ads when Singaporeans fall prey to them. Overall Madam, I am sure that all of us hear many anecdotal stories from residents who seek our assistance when they are scammed. Scams have evolved rapidly. When a line of attack is foiled, one or two others seemed to emerge. This is alarming.

The threat of scams and the harm it brings to those scammed is insidious and significant. I hope that the Government will take steps to augment the powers of the Police, by legislation or otherwise, work with the private-sector partners, such as our financial institutions, social media platforms and other stakeholders, in the process to combat scams and protect the community.

In the premise, I invite the Minister to share with this House, the steps that the Government is taking to address the threat of scams in the community: whether the Ministry has plans to strengthen legislation to combat scams; and importantly, the efforts that are made to educate and keep the public informed of the latest developments so that Singaporeans can take the necessary precautions against scams?

Combat Scams Effectively in the Digital Age

Mr Derrick Goh (Nee Soon): Mdm Chair, Singapore is well-known for its physical safety and security. We should uphold this reputation in the digital sphere too – so our residents and businesses can truly thrive within.

MHA has made significant strides in fighting scams. From the Anti-Scam Command to the ScamShield app and new legislation, such as the Online Criminal Harms Act, they reflect MHA's commitment to enhancing its capabilities against scams.

Thanks to such efforts, scam losses stayed flat at $650 million last year. However, the amount remains significant and of worry is the steep increase of cases by 46% to 46,000.

I previously emphasised the importance of having a concerted "all-hands-on-deck" approach by every stakeholder in the digital ecosystem, which has been crucial in preventing worser outcomes. I commend the combined efforts of MHA, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, banks and telecom companies in reducing phishing scams and swiftly reduced malware scams.

Nevertheless, scams that account for the majority of cases and biggest losses are those that exploit victims' emotions and psychology, for them to authorise and willingly part with their money. These include jobs, e-commerce and fake friend scams. While public vigilance is key to deal with the scourge of scams, our agencies must be more proactive too in monitoring and analysis – to be even more agile and responsive towards new exploitative scam typologies together with partners.

I have three questions against this backdrop.

One, given the success of the Anti-Scam Command in working with banks to stem the flow of monies from phishing scams, will MHA consider establishing similar partnerships with platform companies, such as Meta and Carousell, to swiftly disrupt and investigate tainted e-commerce and messaging accounts?

Two, how can MHA be even more proactive in leveraging trends and insights for smarter deployment of anti-scam resources, to pre-empt and mitigate exploitative scam types? For example, the expectation of concert ticket scams related to a foreseeably high-demand performance; or job scams related to popular job categories or activities that seem to earn easy money.

Three, what are new plans and strategies MHA will adopt to further equip the SPF and related agencies to deal with scams perpetrated by new technologies, such as AI?

The Chairman: Mr Gan Thiam Poh. You have two cuts. Please take them together.

Online Scams

Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Ang Mo Kio): Mdm, for the past few years, our Government authorities; the media and various private organisations, such as banks; have been issuing advisories and warnings to the public about scams, including online scams. Unfortunately, the number of cases in Singapore continues to increase.

Many of these scams have been conducted via platforms and channels like Facebook, Telegram, WhatsApp, Carousell and other e-commerce sites. How will MHA work with online platforms to better protect Singaporeans from scams? How much impact does the Ministry expect the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA) to have on reducing such online criminal activities? Will MHA be reviewing its public education strategy to improve its reach and effectiveness for the prevention of online scams?

Anti-scam Capability

Online scams are a scourge affecting not just Singapore, but also many other countries. Many lives and families have been wrecked by this growing digital pandemic. Scams in other forms are equally problematic – causing financial hardships, undermining the social fabric and eroding public trust in societies.

Will the Ministry look into drawing public and private investments into developing anti-scam capabilities in Singapore? These capabilities have the potential to be developed into a leading industry's products and services, like the role anti-virus software play in digital devices.

The Chairman: Minister Shanmugam.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr K Shanmugam): Thank you, Mdm Chairman. MHA's budget has grown over the years and that has allowed us to build up the Home Teams' capabilities – so that we can deal with security challenges more effectively.

I thank Members who have spoken up and raised a number of questions. We have many challenges and those challenges evolve. I will touch on three issues – the scam situation in Singapore; drug abuse among youths, especially cannabis; and the resourcing of the Home Team. And my fellow officeholders will deal with the other points raised by Members of Parliament (MPs).

In terms of overall safety and security, Singapore continues to rank well in international assessments. In the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2023, we were ranked one of the top three countries in the "Order and Security" category – for the seventh time in a row. Our physical crime and drug situation has remained relatively stable and under control.

However, similar to 2022, scams were the main driver of crime in 2023. There were more than 46,000 reported scam cases, which is a nearly 50% increase from 2022. And the total amount lost to scams was more than SGD$650 million. Several MPs have asked about the Ministry's efforts to combat scams. We face two major challenges in this.

First, the speed and convenience of online transactions. Scammers can reach out to potential victims easily. They can move stolen funds quickly and they can hide behind the anonymity of the internet.

The second major challenge is that most scammers operate from overseas, beyond our jurisdiction. Once the monies leave Singapore, it is very difficult, if at all possible, to recover them. So, the most effective way to tackle scams is really to prevent them from taking place at all.

In this regard, the Government works with stakeholders to strengthen our communications and banking channels, our digital systems and our online platforms. For instance, telecom companies now block likely scam calls and SMSes from reaching victims in Singapore. Banks have introduced new banking features to secure monies in bank accounts, such as the "Kill Switch" and the "Money Lock".

Government agencies and banks have upgraded our e-services to protect users from malware scams. MHA is also progressively operationalising the Online Criminal Harms Act, or OCHA. OCHA will allow the Government to require designated online platforms to put in place stronger safeguards against scams and other criminal activities.

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Prevention is one limb. We have also strengthened what we can do, post-incident. The Police Anti-Scam Command, or ASCom, works with more than 100 partners, including financial institutions and online platforms, to combat scams. Staff from financial institutions are co-located with the ASCom, and that allows us to trace and freeze funds and trace and freeze accounts quickly before they are gone.

Last year, we also amended the CDSA, which is the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, and the CMA, which is the Computer Misuse Act, to make it easier to punish money mules and those who abuse Singpass.

MHA will also be introducing new laws next month to punish the abuse of local SIM cards for scams. The Government has done what it can do. It continues to explore other measures to protect the public from scams. But there is a limit to what we can do. There is not a single magic bullet, an ironclad shield against scams, unless we roll back digitalisation, which means no more Internet shopping, no smartphones and social media, no Internet banking. And that is obviously not possible.

The key line of defence – the critical line of defence – has got to be every individual who has to guard himself or herself, friends, families from scams, and, together with all the other efforts by the Government, banks and other partners, it may be possible to put up a better barrier. The Government has also been conducting extensive public awareness campaigns – and the Minister of State, Sun Xueling, will elaborate on that in her speech.

Next, on drugs. In the last decade, there has been an increase in the global push to decriminalise and legalise drugs consumption. A number of MPs spoke about it. I will be delivering a Ministerial Statement later this year, where I will speak in more detail on the drug situation around the world and our approach.

Today, I will focus on our response to the youth drug problem. Minister of State Faishal Ibrahim will be elaborating on our other measures to combat drugs.

Mr Christopher de Souza, Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi, Mr Keith Chua and Mr Derrick Goh, as well as Assoc Prof Razwana Begum have raised concerns about the rising number of young drug abusers. They asked about our plans to deal with this problem.

Our drug situation remains generally under control, but in 2023 there was an 18% increase in the number of new drug abusers arrested in Singapore, and more than half of them were under the age of 30. The youngest were 14-year-olds. Just earlier this month three Singaporean girls, aged 13 and 14, were arrested for taking drugs.

An IMH survey published last year also found that many Singaporeans start abusing drugs before the age of 16.

Also, as Mr Christopher de Souza highlighted, cannabis is of particular concern. Cannabis abuser arrests in Singapore were at a 10-year high last year, in 2023. It was the third most-commonly abused drug overall and the second most commonly abused drug amongst new drug abusers. Of the new cannabis abusers arrested last year, more than 60% were young people under 30.

There is a slightly more permissive attitude amongst our younger people towards drugs. They are sometimes influenced by what they read and see online, the lifestyles promoted by permissive cultures and societies, and the falsehoods that are peddled.

Globally, cannabis is the most-commonly abused drug. Arguments for cannabis legalisation are often driven by parties with commercial interests. They say that cannabis is a harmless soft drug. They even suggest that it can benefit those who consume it. These are all untruths, blatant untruths, much like what tobacco companies used to claim that smoking tobacco, smoking cigarettes was harmless. You have it on TV and videos.

But the scientific evidence is that cannabis abuse causes harm to the abuser's health. Studies show quite clearly that cannabis can cause irreversible brain damage, brain shrinkage and serious mental and psychiatric illnesses. Research from the United Nations (UN) Office on Drugs and Crime has shown that in places where cannabis has been legalised, the proportion of people with (a) psychiatric disorders and (b) suicides associated with regular cannabis use has increased, together with the number of hospitalisations.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Cannabis not only harms the individual, but also those around them. We have seen this for ourselves. In January this year, a man slashed a victim after consuming cannabis. The media reported that the man was suffering from cannabis-induced psychotic disorder at the time of the offence. After a drug-fuelled session, the man became paranoid. He thought that the victim wanted to harm him, so he grabbed a chopper from his kitchen and slashed the victim on the wrist, hand and knee. We will see many more such cases if we go soft on cannabis. These are all instructive examples.

There are also good examples from outside Singapore and we do not have to look very far.

Thailand decriminalised cannabis in June 2022. Since then, thousands of cannabis dispensaries, cafes, street vendors offering cannabis or cannabis-infused food have come up. Within six months of changing the law, the number of people considered by the health authorities to be addicted to cannabis increased fourfold, from 72 cases per month to 282 cases per month. The Thai media reported a few weeks ago that estimates on the number of cannabis users in Thailand has gone up 10 times to about 10 million, or around one in seven Thais.

Now, one and a half years later, having seen the consequences of decriminalisation, the Thai government is now deliberating a Bill to ban the recreational use of cannabis. But it will not be easy because the genie is out of the bottle. Maybe there will be strong pushback from businesses who have invested large sums of money in the industry and those already addicted to cannabis will struggle to cope if supply is suddenly restricted. The healthcare system will feel this burden for many years to come.

So, we really have to be very careful about this.

To deal with this youth drug problem, last year, we formed an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) which I chair. And let me share three of the IMC's planned initiatives.

From this year, every third Friday of May will be designated as "Drug Victims Remembrance Day" so that we remember the victims of drug abuse. Activism usually focuses on drug traffickers and the penalties they face, but there are thousands of others whom we should think about. These others are the victims of the drug traffickers and the lucrative drug trade – the abusers who suffer, their families, their loved ones. They are forgotten in activism, but we must remember them, and we must remember the suffering that they have gone through, and the harm that drugs have done to them and their families.

The Government, schools, Institutes of Higher Learning will all be organising various activities on this Remembrance Day. More details will be given in due course.

Second, to encourage students to think critically about drugs, schools will cover this in their school curricula by extending it to other subjects, such as General Paper. This builds on an initiative announced at COS last year, when we said CNB would expand preventive drug education, or PDE, efforts in schools. All secondary schools have completed at least one PDE engagement session in the last two years. At the primary school level, 42,000 students from 116 schools participated in the Anti-Drug Ambassador activity in 2023.

Third, we will also enhance PDE for full-time National Servicemen (NSF) and better equip NS commanders to identify and support drug abusers and those at risk. This will better sustain the drug-free message beyond schools.

Mr Derrick Goh also asked about measures to curb online misinformation about drugs. Mr Christopher de Souza suggested leveraging on social media to reach out to young people.

We agree. CNB puts out information, evidence, stories on the harm of drugs on multiple social media platforms in formats that are easy to digest. But CNB cannot do this alone. We need the help of the community.

This is one reason why we have appointed DrugFreeSG champions, social workers, educators and youth mentors. Last week, for example, I spoke with more than 1,000 of these anti-drug ambassadors and other partners. Their response was very positive. They are happy that we are doing this, standing firm on drugs. And they are eager to share the message, make it clear, especially to our young people, that drugs destroy societies, destroys their families, and can destroy their lives. And that is why we must not allow it to take root here.

Mr Chairman, I will now touch on resourcing. The demands on the Home Team across all the departments are growing sharply.

The SPF has been dealing with more sophisticated crimes, including financial crimes and money laundering. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has been receiving more emergency medical services calls, with annual demand increasing by more than 30% in the last five years. Calls are expected to continue to rise as our population ages. The ICA has been dealing not only with an increase in traveller volumes, but is also preparing for new gateways into Singapore, like the Rapid Transit System Link with Malaysia and Changi Airport Terminal 5.

Mr Murali Pillai and Ms Sylvia Lim asked about the manpower situation in MHA agencies. I have said it before, it is very tight. This shortage of manpower is faced not just by MHA, including all the Home Team departments, but by many other parts of the Civil Service as well.

I have also said that births are declining in Singapore and there are limits on the growth of resources. Government agencies are put on a very tight quota on new employment. We can understand it, rightfully so because you cannot have a situation where the public sector continues to grow and employ Singaporeans while the private sector suffers through severe shortages. The public and private sectors need to share resources across many fields, and MHA is no exception.

The fact is, both public and private sectors in Singapore face shortages of manpower, particularly if they wish to employ Singapore citizens. In MHA, we are obviously in a position of having to employ Singapore citizens for most of our work.

One way we try to deal with this, partially, is to use technology wherever we can. My colleague, Minister Josephine Teo, will talk about these efforts in the Home Team.

Second, we have also been relying on retired officers, community partners and volunteers. Mr Murali Pillai asked about this. We encourage our retirees who are suitable to consider re-employment. Over the past five years, 36% of our retirees were re-employed in uniformed roles. So, that is a significant number. Our volunteers with the various Home Team Departments, for example, the Police, Prisons and Civil Defence, are also critical. They are on the ground, raising awareness of crime prevention, patrolling their neighbourhoods, supporting ex-offenders' re-integration into society and performing many other roles.

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In response to Mr Murali Pillai's question, recruitment numbers for the Voluntary Special Constabulary (VSC) have steadily increased in the last three years by 30%. Over the past five years, there has been an almost 40% increase in the number of Citizens on Patrol, or COP, volunteers, and a 60% increase in the size of Civil Defence Auxiliary Unit (CDAU), just to give two examples of schemes.

Some volunteers may naturally leave after a while to pursue other priorities, but the overall numbers have been going up. So, we will continue with our efforts to attract more to join as volunteers, and to retain and engage existing volunteers. There are many ways in which this is done, for example, through Volunteers Appreciation Dinners, awards at the Departmental, MHA and national levels and so on.

Third, of course, in terms of maintaining our workforce, we need to focus on the welfare of our officers, ensure that they are properly remunerated, properly trained, and properly taken care of.

Despite all the challenges as Mr Pillai very graphically explained and talked about an ex-Police officer who is now telling his daughter to leave because of the hours she is working, I should add that, in terms of resignation rates, the figures for MHA as a whole are below 5%, and that is better than the resignation rates in the Public Service as a whole. And I think that is an illustration of the efforts that MHA has taken to help our officers and keep up the morale, the esprit de corp and a sense of belonging our officers feel to the organisation. So, despite all the challenges, the resignation rates are actually better than the Public Service. But I have spoken about this before, do not get me wrong, it is very challenging, including on morale.

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum asked about the health and well-being programmes in place. MHA provides mental health and resilience training programmes for our officers. We have initiatives to educate our officers on the importance of self-care and how to deal with work stressors. We also provide confidential counselling and psychiatric services so that our officers can receive help when they need it.

But after taking into account all the steps we take and can take to mitigate manpower needs, there is still a significant gap between the manpower that we need and the manpower that we actually have.

We have been discussing with the responsible Government agencies to try and increase the Ministry's manpower allocation. This will, of course, be subject to the balancing of needs across the whole-of-Government. If we are short of manpower, then we have to be upfront about the trade-offs, what we can do and what we may have to deprioritise. These are the long-term consequences of our declining birth rates.

One area of specific concern is the workload in SPF's investigation fraternity. Mr Murali Pillai and Mr Raj Joshua Thomas also expressed concern about this. Let me give Members a context using scams as an illustration, and that is just one illustration. Scams now account for the majority of crimes, and this trend is likely to continue. The number of reported scams has gone up six-fold since 2018. Many of these cases are complex and require our investigators to pursue more evidential areas than before. Demands and expectations from the public have also gone up, be it on the direction of the investigations or the speed of the investigations.

On the other hand, the number of investigation officers (IOs) has increased by about 11%. So, you can see there is a significant gap. Police are already a very lean outfit. With the increase in cases, our IOs are increasingly even more overstretched and overworked, and it will not be sustainable for them to continue cancelling their leave days, covering extra duty shifts and so on. If we do not deal with this, it will affect the safety and security situation in Singapore.

So, as I said earlier, we have been working closely with the relevant Government agencies to see if MHA can get additional resourcing support for the SPF's investigation fraternity, and that is under consideration. At the same time, many other Government agencies are also needing additional manpower.

Second, as I also mentioned, we are trying to automate and streamline investigation work processes where possible. For example, SPF launched CRIMES3, a next-gen investigation case management system. It automates manual tasks, gives our officers sense-making capabilities, allows them to work digitally on the go.

And in this context of automation and what we prioritise and where we put our manpower, Ms Sylvia Lim asked about the Ministry's changing of Neighbourhood Police Posts (NPPs) from being manually operated with having officers there at the counter, to being automated. For those who need assistance, there will be both audio and video help available, with some officer taking you through the steps. She asked if a survey has been conducted on the perception of the elderly population on the removal of manned NPPs. Members will understand why we removed the manned NPPs and converted them to automated NPPs.

We have not done a specific survey on the elderly, but we have been running publicity campaigns to educate the public on the use of digital services. There have also been ongoing efforts to review the digital services for lodging of Police reports to make them more user-friendly. We also still have physically manned counters available across Singapore for those who prefer to report in person. So, it will not be at the NPP, but they will have to go to the specific Police stations.

So, while we have not conducted a survey specific to manned NPPs, there are alternatives available, including manned counters, albeit a little bit further away. And second, there are general surveys that have been done which are statistically valid because they cover different demographics and that would include the elderly. And I have given the numbers before.

Based on the Home Team's public perception survey of 2022, 95% of respondents surveyed personally trust the Home Team. And as I said, these surveys are statistically representative of the Singapore population, so they include both the elderly and the younger populations. And the 2021 IPS World Values Survey said 87% were confident or very confident in SPF, and that is the highest level of confidence in the Police around the world.

So, I think, overall, there is that confidence and the trust. But it all depends on how the Police and the Home Team agencies conduct themselves year by year, and also a variety of factors, including how investigations are conducted and the manpower resources.

Coming back to my points, the third point I would make in the context of resourcing is that within the SPF, we have also looked at prioritising the areas that have the most pressing needs, for example, investigating scams and sexual offences, and we are looking to channel more resources towards them. But Members will appreciate that, on the flip side, this also naturally means that there will be some other areas where work will be deprioritised. These are the trade-offs.

Mr Raj Thomas asked whether we would consider enlisting support from private investigators. Police IOs are specially trained to meet very stringent requirements and they can exercise Police powers which are quite wide-ranging. Private investigators do not undergo the same level of training, and I think we have to be very careful before we clothe private investigators who have not gone through the same level of training and who are not subject to the same discipline to be given the level of powers that our Police officers have. And the PI agencies will also need to hire their staff from somewhere.

Today, those with investigative skills and experience are mostly in the Police. There is little point in outsourcing to PIs if the net talent pool is the same. So, we have no plans to do this at present. But we will continue to look at what we can do.

Mr Chairman, before I end, let me briefly deal with two other issues. First, several MPs asked about our plans to introduce a Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill. We spoke about this Bill before. The Bill will consolidate the Government's powers to deal with racial issues and strengthen our suite of powers to preserve racial harmony. We will also introduce softer reparative measures which would seek to help the aggrieved community take a more reconciliatory view towards an offender and strengthen mutual understanding between the races. My Ministry has been developing the proposals. We will introduce them in Parliament later this year, subject to the drafting being done.

Second, Mr Gerald Giam asked about the criteria for designating Politically Significant Persons (PSP) under the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act or FICA. The criteria are set out in the Act. The individual must be a member of a foreign legislature or foreign political organisation, or the individual's activities must be directed towards a political end in Singapore. But in addition to this, there is also the public interest criterion that must be satisfied. So, you could be a member of a foreign legislature or foreign political organisation, but if the public interest criteria is not satisfied, you would not be designated.

Mr Giam asked about the considerations for whether those who are members of foreign bodies will be designated. The deadline for declaring whether a person is a member of a foreign legislative body or foreign political body is actually today, and, as I said, that is just one criterion. The other criterion, public interest, needs to be assessed.

The Registrar of Foreign and Political Disclosures will look at the facts, consider the relevant matters in deciding whether to designate an individual as a PSP. What would this include? Typically, what the person has done in Singapore, his past actions, statements, conduct, his reach and influence and, especially, how likely he is to be a target of foreign interference or influence, and that would include an assessment of the extent to which he has linkage with the other country. These would be among the criteria. I am not setting this out as exhaustive.

And if there is or there are such individuals in our view, not in all cases, but where appropriate in circumstances where we think it will be useful, we will also have discussions with the individuals, and we will see whether after that there is a need for designation. We will look closely at the activities. So, where possible, where appropriate, we will seek to advise them. After that, we may still assess that it is necessary to designate. If we do, we will designate them.

In respect of the specific individual that Mr Giam referred to, I have to be careful because I am the appellate authority and the period for appeal is not yet over. But I can disclose that we did have some discussions with the individual. He was advised about our concerns. Thereafter, based on the Registrar's assessment, the Registrar decided to designate him. If he appeals, I will have to look at the facts and make a decision.

And Members must understand, what does designation as a PSP mean? That means an ordinary person outside now has the same status as MPs, because all of us are PSPs. And therefore, there are obligations for the person to be transparent in the context set out in the Act. Not that he has actively done some wrong, per se, at that point of designation. Just that we have assessed him to be at a higher risk of being susceptible to influence by foreign actors and have imposed on him the requirements for transparency.

This is somewhat different, let us say, from designating corporates or corporate entities, because by their very nature, some corporate entities could be designated, not because they are close to any particular country, but because of their very nature.

For example, trade unions. You can imagine that trade unions, regardless of whether they are close to a foreign country or not, could be relevant to be designated, and that is no indication or suggestion that they have been suborned, or that they are close to or they have undertaken any activity that suggests anything. Just like us as MPs – our very nature requires us to be defined automatically as PSPs.

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So, these are nuances which sometimes might be overlooked in public, but I thought I will set that out.

Mr Chairman, my colleagues will now elaborate on some of the areas that I have mentioned and also address the other issues raised by Members. I thank Members for their support for MHA.

The Chairman: Minister Josephine Teo.

The Second Minister for Home Affairs (Mrs Josephine Teo): Mr Chairman, I will update Members on the Home Team's transformation efforts and our vision for the future.

MHA started our Home Team Transformation journey back in 2015. We recognised then, the need for the Home Team to prepare for more challenges ahead.

Let me share an initiative to give Members a sense of our progress and achievements so far.

The Body Worn Camera (BWC) has made a meaningful difference to our officers. Since its introduction in 2016, the cameras have helped our officers focus on doing their jobs well rather than be distracted by malicious allegations. Members may recall the incident in 2021 where Police officers were alleged to have bullied an elderly woman. Camera footage showed beyond any doubt that this was untrue and that the officers were, in fact, helping the woman, who suffered from dementia.

Since then, we have embarked on BWC 2.0. The cameras are now even more compact, with longer battery life and live-streaming capability. This improves officers' situational awareness and helps officers make better-informed decisions to manage incidents.

In the next phase of the Home Team's transformation, we will focus our efforts in four areas.

First, strengthening our operational capabilities, which Mr Patrick Tay and Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked about.

To stay ahead of the changing threat landscape, we need to improve our sense-making capabilities, to detect threats earlier, respond faster and better. Police cameras, or PolCams, are a good example of how we can do that.

PolCam has proven to be very effective in deterring, detecting and solving crime. They have helped Police to solve around 7,500 crime cases. In some incidents, footage, aided by video analytics, have enabled the Police to identify, locate and apprehend the suspects involved within hours of a crime being reported. Members may recall that physical harassment by unlicensed moneylenders was once a major concern. In 2012, there were more than 7,600 reports of such property damage. Last year, there were fewer than 1,200.

By the mid-2030s, SPF and the HTX plan to deploy a total of over 200,000 PolCams, more than double what we have today. We will progressively replace all the cameras. We will also expand coverage across more locations island-wide.

SPF and HTX will also deploy autonomous patrol robots to serve as additional eyes on the ground and project Police presence. These patrol robots will provide live video feeds to the Police's Operations Command Centres. Officers at the Operations Command Centres will also be able to communicate with members of the public remotely through the patrol robots and provide advice when required.

The Home Team will continue to innovate and co-create with industry partners to further our capability building efforts through HTX's new innovation centre, known as Hatch. Hatch works closely with the Home Team to identify and define key challenges, while simultaneously scouting globally for cutting-edge technologies across diverse sectors.

Hatch facilitates direct interactions between startups and the Home Team, providing essential funding and enabling the validation of innovative proof-of-concept (POC) projects through real-world testing and expert guidance.

Mr Chairman, our second focus is on transforming our operations which Mr Murali Pillai, Mr Patrick Tay, Mr Neil Parekh Nimil Rajnikant and Ms Sylvia Lim asked about.

We are redesigning our public-facing services so that we can serve Singaporeans more efficiently and still get good security outcomes. The redesign of Neighbourhood Police Centres and the Neighbourhood Police Posts supports SPF's push for digital service delivery to the public. Minister Shanmugam has already explained how they work. They are part of SPF's efforts to restructure deployments and optimise resources to serve the community better.

To better manage the surge in travellers, ICA and HTX will be launching the New Clearance Concept at the immigration checkpoints. By the middle of the year, 95% of arriving travellers at the airport would be able to clear immigration using automated lanes, compared to just over one-third pre-COVID. Contactless clearance will also be introduced, allowing travellers to be identified and cleared via biometrics at the automated lanes, without having to present their passports.

All Singapore residents, long-term pass holders and departing foreign visitors, will be able to enjoy this hassle-free experience and reduced clearance time.

ICA aims to operationalise its new Services Centre in 2025. Located beside the current ICA Building, the new Centre provides a single touchpoint to meet the public's multiple immigration needs. Documents, such as passports can be collected through self-service kiosks during the Centre's operating hours, without the need to book an appointment. These are part of ICA's efforts to provide the public with a seamless, one-stop "No Fuss, No Visit, No Waiting" experience.

On a separate note, Mr Faisal Manap suggested that ICA creates a streamlined approach to give Singaporeans with foreign spouses more clarity on whether the spouse can qualify for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP). We understand and empathise with the applicants.

Since 2015, ICA has offered the Pre-Marriage LTVP Assessment (PMLA) to all Singaporeans with foreign spouses. This is a free online assessment tool to find out if the prospective non-resident spouse is likely to qualify for a LTVP after the marriage. The application takes no more than 30 minutes and will be processed within one month. Applicants who have difficulties going online can also approach the ICA's Services Centre or ServiceSG Centres located island-wide.

From 2021 to 2023, ICA processed an annual average of 4,900 PMLA applications. This is an increase over the previous period, likely because of greater awareness through additional touchpoints like the ROM or ROMM as the Member has suggested.

Mr Patrick Tay, Mr Murali Pillai and Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked about the Home Team's efforts to address manpower constraints. This is, in fact, our third area of focus. We have been streamlining and automating our internal workflows to free up our officers to focus on more important tasks.

For example, the supervision of urine tests. The Singapore Prison Services (SPS) conducts regular urine tests for both male and female supervisees undergoing Community-based Programmes.

Currently, the process of urine collection is both labour-intensive and time-intensive. It requires officers to manually register the supervisee, supervise the urine procurement and conduct drug testing on the sample. To alleviate the tedium and unpleasantness of this task, SPS has worked with HTX to develop the Prison Automated Screening System (PASS). With PASS, a single officer will be able to manage the end-to-end process of urine procurement and testing across multiple cubicles. This will be done in a contactless and fully automated manner, that also provides privacy. In addition, PASS will leverage technology to interpret the results of the urine tests.

The Home Team have also been exploring the use of speech-to-text AI technology for transcription of video recorded interviews. The Police is working to streamline the transcription process and will evaluate its usefulness to investigation officers through a trial to be conducted later this year.

Mr Patrick Tay asked about the Home Team's efforts to develop the next generation of officers. This is our fourth and likely most important area of focus – to train and develop competencies in our officers to ensure that they are future-ready.

One example is the StressVest that SPF has trialled, which is a laser-based simulation system to hone the skills of Police officers in tactical maneuvers. Such systems provide greater realism as they can simulate a range of scenarios, including armed combat. This will better prepare officers to tackle security threats on the ground.

Prisons and HTX are currently trialling an Accuracy and Impact Manikin (AIM) that is able to measure force and zonal impact and will help to assess the accuracy of strikes and the deployment of force. This will enhance the training of our officers in unarmed and defensive tactics and trainers will be able to monitor the progress of each trainee via a dashboard. Prisons and HTX intend to roll out the AIM system by 2026.

Mr Murali Pillai and Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked how technology will be used to improve community policing. Let me state upfront that the community plays a crucial role in helping the Home Team achieve its mission. The Home Team is therefore keen to deepen and widen our engagement and partnership with the public and other stakeholders. We will use technology to strengthen our officers' engagement with the community, rather than to replace it or diminish it.

This can be seen with SPF's Community Engagement Robot, known affectionally as "CODY", which will be deployed during community outreach events. CODY will interact with and disseminate crime prevention messages to the public through a wide range of multimedia interactive activities, such as videos, games, quizzes and chats. CODY will be accompanied by SPF officers and will enable SPF officers to reach out to more members of the public.

Another example is SCDF's myResponder 2.0 app that will be rolled out later this year. The app has new features, such as a video call function, which enables SCDF's Operations Centre to initiate live video streaming through the Community First Responders' mobile phone. This will allow the Operations Centre personnel to see what is happening on the ground and to provide the Community First Responders with live guidance. This will, in turn, enable the Responders to provide better and more timely interventions in emergency situations, where every second counts. Mr Chairman, I would like to conclude with some comments in Mandarin.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Over the past few years, the Home Team has made good progress in its transformation efforts. In the face of increasingly severe challenges in the security environment, we will continue to adopt technology to strengthen our response capabilities, work together to ensure the successful implementation of transformation measures and strive to maintain the public trust in the Home Team.

We also understand that some members of the public may feel unfamiliar, or even uneasy, about the rapid advancement of technology.

Therefore, while leveraging technology, the Home Team will carefully consider its impact on the public, adopt a people-centric design and maintain empathy and human touch when serving the people.

The Chairman: Minister of State Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim): Mr Chairman, Singapore's safety and security have been achieved in large part, by us staying united and protecting our social cohesion.

There are many conflicts around the world. Most recently, the war in Gaza. Many in Singapore have been following the developments in Gaza closely. What we have seen has been disturbing: tens of thousands dead, towns completely destroyed. We feel deeply for the many innocent lives lost and hope to see the end of suffering in Gaza soon.

Mr Vikram Nair asked how our different communities have reacted to the conflict. How the different communities react will vary according to how they identify with the affected groups in the community. This is natural.

For example, the Muslim community has shown great concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. But there are also many non-Muslim Singaporeans who are also moved when they see and read about the suffering of the people in Gaza. In particular, when we see young innocent children living in poor conditions, being injured or even losing their lives, it tugs at the heartstrings of all of us.

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Mr Vikram Nair, Ms Usha Chandradas, Assoc Prof Razwana Begum and Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked what Singaporeans can do to help those affected in the ongoing conflict and how Singaporeans can express their views while preserving social cohesion. There are channels for these views to be shared and heard. My colleagues and I have been engaging different groups in many dialogues. We will continue to do so.

There are also channels for Singaporeans to provide humanitarian assistance. The Government has supported several public fundraising events. We started one in Nee Soon. Many Members of this House – including the Opposition – have done the same. If Singaporeans have other constructive ideas on how we can help those affected, the Government will support them.

At the same time, I urge all Singaporeans to be cautious about what you see and hear online. Mr Zhulkarnain asked about the national security outlook, in light of the increased risk of foreign influence and global uncertainty. There are actors on different sides manipulating social media posts to win people over to their own position. Such activities are dangerous and I urge everyone to be discerning in looking at the facts and try to understand the complex backdrop against which the current crisis is taking place.

It is challenging – as the conflict has deep roots with a long history spanning decades or centuries, depending on when you consider the starting point to be. But it is important as it affects how we respond, both to the situation and to others who might hold different views. We must not let external events divide us or damage our harmony.

I will now move on to how the Home Team ensures safety and security in Singapore. A key component of our strategy is to minimise re-offending.

In this regard, our rehabilitation approach has been effective. We have halved the two-year recidivism rate between the 2000s and 2020s – from 40% then to around 20% today. The Singapore Prison Service (Prisons) and Yellow Ribbon Singapore (YRSG) have been driving efforts to achieve this. They have equipped inmates with skills to get better jobs and helped them manage the challenges of re-entering the workforce.

Prisons has also mobilised community partners to help ex-offenders reintegrate into the society. This is in line with one of the themes in the Forward SG exercise – on doing more to empower those in need, to uplift themselves and their family.

Mr Patrick Tay and Mr Zhulkarnain asked about support for ex-offenders and desistors – those who have stayed clear of crime and drugs after release. Assoc Prof Razwana asked about strategies to incorporate desistance theory into rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.

Prisons recognises that desistance requires an ecosystem of community support. Ex-offenders need encouragement to forge pro-social networks and make lifestyle changes to stay on the straight and narrow. Hence, last year, Prisons launched the Desistor Network to strengthen the community of social agencies that support desistors and to create opportunities for desistors to support each other. Over 70 agencies are onboard and Prisons is developing a guide of best practices to help desistors form pro-social support groups.

Assoc Prof Razwana also asked about strategies to integrate trauma-informed care into rehabilitation programmes. Prisons recently incorporated trauma-informed practices in their psychology-based correctional programmes for female inmates. Female inmates who may have experienced trauma, will be equipped to regulate their emotions better to cope with the trauma.

Building on existing efforts, I am pleased to announce that Prisons will embark on another major transformation initiative this year – Corrections 2030. Corrections 2030 is anchored on three key strategies.

The first is to strengthen the families of inmates, to reduce intergenerational offending.

Assoc Prof Razwana asked about the use of restorative justice in rehabilitation programmes. Prisons applies restorative practices to help inmates understand the impact of their actions and how they can make amends. This has been one of Prisons' strategies to curb violence amongst inmates. Prisons will expand the use of restorative practices to help inmates reflect on their role in their family and rebuild their relationship with their family. Since 2020, Prisons has been working with MSF and Family Service Centres to support inmates' families. To date, Prisons has referred more than 900 families for assistance.

Prisons has also started referring families to self-help groups and other community partners. From April 2024, inmates and their families who require marriage support, will also be referred to Strengthening Families Programme@Family Service Centre (Fam@FSC) for counselling.

The second strategy is to maximise the employability and career opportunities of ex-offenders. Gainful employment raises self-esteem and provides financial stability – thus reducing re-offending risks. Under the TAP & Grow initiative, YRSG set up academies in prison to equip inmates with in-demand industry skills. To date, YRSG has worked with partners across the precision engineering, media, logistics and food services sectors. More than 1,500 inmates have benefitted.

To complement TAP & Grow, YRSG introduced the YR Sandbox to explore opportunities for ex-offenders in emerging and fast-growing sectors, such as the environmental sector, with opportunities for training in the community. I am pleased to share that in 2024, YRSG will expand YR Sandbox to the hospitality and tourism sectors.

Getting employers onboard is also important. Even as YRSG continues to champion inclusive hiring, it has moved beyond merely securing jobs for ex-offenders. Under "Project Beyond Hiring", YRSG equips workplace supervisors with skills to support and empower ex-offenders under their employment. This year, YRSG will expand this to more employers across industries, such as logistics and hospitality.

The third strategy is to mobilise community partners to better support rehabilitation and reintegration. The five-year recidivism rate is currently at its lowest ever – 36.8% for the 2018 release cohort. This improved long-term desistance is likely due to the strong pro-social support ex-offenders receive. Efforts by volunteers and partners in the community complement Prisons' rehabilitation efforts.

Prisons has been providing basic corrections-related training for volunteers and community partners who work with inmates, ex-offenders and their families. I am glad to announce that Prisons will make such training more effective through a revised Development Framework for Offender Rehabilitation Personnel. Under this framework, Prisons will equip volunteers with specific competencies needed for their work, such as grief and trauma management.

This year marks the Yellow Ribbon Project's 20th anniversary. To commemorate this, we want to encourage community partners and ex-offenders to advocate for second chances more actively. For instance, ex-offenders will be involved in "Moving HeARTs in the city" – an art exhibition in a roving truck and will conduct workshops and perform music to raise awareness of the Yellow Ribbon Project.

Mr Patrick Tay asked for a review of the Registration of Criminals Act to further support ex-offenders.

MHA periodically reviews the spent regime for criminal records. In our last review in 2021, we found the current regime appropriate for facilitating the reintegration of ex-offenders – in particular, those who committed minor crimes. Besides the spent regime, there are other initiatives that support reintegration, including those under Corrections 2030, which I shared earlier.

Rehabilitation is a key priority for MHA. It embodies the spirit of Forward SG – where we seek to temper unequal outcomes, uplift those in need and prevent them from being trapped in a vicious cycle.

I will now speak in Malay on the role of Malay/Muslim Organisations (MMOs) in our rehabilitation efforts.

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Malay/Muslim Organisations (MMOs) are an important part of the ecosystem of support for Malay/Muslim inmates and ex-offenders.

They are our key partners in developing culturally-nuanced rehabilitative programmes and have played a major role in reducing the two-year recidivism rate for Malay/Muslim offenders, from about 34% to 26% in the past decade.

The MMOs Rehabilitation Network was established to help MMOs to enhance their collaboration and leverage on each other’s expertise. It has made good progress in supporting rehabilitation efforts.

The Malay Activity Executive Committees Council under the People's Association, or MESRA, introduced courses such as financial literacy to residents of the Pertapis Halfway house, Jamiyah and Rise Above to help them better manage their lives as they re-integrate into society. More than 150 residents have benefited from it.

Some MMOs have set up a referral system among themselves. For example, FITRAH refers cases requiring education assistance to MENDAKI. This effort has helped beneficiaries who may not know where to seek help for certain issues.

We will continue to strengthen this Network. Last month, MHA organised the inaugural MMO Rehabilitation Network Conference to promote greater collaboration between MMOs.

Mr Syed Harun Alhabsyi spoke about the importance of community partnerships in preventing drug abuse.

We agree and will continue to work with the community in Preventive Drug Education (PDE).

To date, CNB has been working with many MMOs to organise more than 140 events under Dadah Itu Haram campaign, to encourage the Malay/Muslim community to lead drug-free lives.

CNB will equip mosques with resources to organise their own drug-free initiatives and further expand the PDE.

(In English): Sir, the Minister spoke earlier about how we are addressing the youth drug problem. I will speak on firstly, how we are improving support for drug abusers undergoing rehabilitation; and secondly, enforcement against drug activities.

Mr Christopher de Souza, Mr Keith Chua and Mr Syed Harun Alhabsyi asked about efforts at treating drug abusers and preventing recidivism, including through community intervention.

Prisons will continue to partner community organisations to offer pro-social support to abusers in the Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) before they are emplaced on community rehabilitation programmes. Prisons will work with organisations, such as the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA) and religious organisations under the Desistor Network, to invite desistors to share their experiences and motivate abusers through support groups.

As repeat abusers have more complex needs, Prisons has enhanced its psychology-based correctional programmes based on desistance and addictions studies. These programmes help abusers in the DRC better recognise their drug triggers and strengthen their resolve to resist drugs and pursue pro-social lifestyles. They also help abusers reflect on the harm that drugs have caused their loved ones and mend frayed relationships.

After DRC, drug abusers are emplaced in the community under Prisons' supervision. There, they are given opportunities to work. Tailored support from YRSG career coaches help them manage challenges, like stress. These help to reduce the risk of relapse and ease abusers back into the society.

After completing their community-based programmes, the now ex-abusers are placed under the supervision of CNB. CNB will monitor them for up to five years – through regular urine or hair tests to ensure they stay clean. For ex-abusers with greater integration needs, case details will be shared between CNB and Prisons. This tight coordination amongst Home Team agencies ensures ex-abusers continue receiving the interventions they need.

To better curb long-term relapse, CNB will enhance its approach under a new "Supervision 2.0" regime. "Supervision 2.0" aims to better support supervisees' reintegration journey through more efficient monitoring.

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A key move is CNB's plans to generally replace urine testing with hair testing as the default drug detection method during supervision. Previously, supervisees had to report to CNB for urine testing frequently, as often as twice a week. As hair retains evidence of drug consumption longer than urine, with similar testing reliability, hair testing will allow supervisees to report only once every quarter. This will reduce disruption to supervisees' lives and the stigma associated with reporting. CNB is piloting this and will study the results before full implementation.

To fight the scourge of drugs, we must also intensify enforcement. We will operationalise the amendments made last year to the Misuse of Drugs Act to enable CNB to enforce more quickly against NPS, which is a growing threat. The HTX is developing novel NPS testing capabilities to enable this.

We will also continue to collaborate with other countries to curb drug supply into Singapore. In 2023, CNB conducted 19 joint operations and investigations with foreign counterparts. One such operation led to the arrest of a Singaporean in Seoul involved in transnational drug trafficking on Telegram. At home, CNB dismantled 25 drug syndicates and seized more than $15 million worth of drugs.

Sir, the Home Team will continue to work hard to keep Singapore safe and secure. We will continue to partner the community and innovate in corrections, rehabilitation and reintegration to get even better re-offending outcomes. I encourage Members of this House to show your support by wearing the green ribbon for a drug-free Singapore and the yellow ribbon for giving second chances to ex-offenders – like what I have on here as well as Minister Shanmugam, Minister Josephine Teo and Minister of State Sun Xueling. Members can collect these ribbons at the Parliament Library. So, on that note, thank you, Mr Chairman.

The Chairman: Minister of State Sun Xueling.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs (Ms Sun Xueling): Mr Chairman, we must press on in the war against scams. In this fight, fellow Singaporeans, residents and Government agencies are on the same battle front, defending ourselves against bad actors who are out to scam Singaporeans of hard-earned monies.

Scams are a big problem around the world, not just in Singapore. Australia reported a loss of more than A$3.1 billion in 2022, an 80% increase from 2021. In the United States, more than US$10 billion was lost to fraud in 2023, up by 72% from US$5.8 billion in 2021.

The 2023 statistics on scams in Singapore show us where our weaknesses are and where further work needs to be done. The number of scam cases increased by close to 50% in 2023 while amounts lost to scams remained more or less the same since 2021. And 2023 was the first time in five years that we actually saw a slight decrease in scam losses from the year before.

The increase in scam numbers was largely driven by scams using social engineering and deception to manipulate victims into transferring monies. These scams accounted for 92% of scam losses, or about $600 million, out of approximately $650 million lost to scams in 2023.

In many of these cases, the victims initiated the transfer of monies to scammers. We know this because the top 10 scams in terms of number of victims included job scams, e-commerce scams and fake friend call scams. Victims of these scams believed in the fake job or e-commerce offers promoted to them, or that calls made to them by scammers pretending to be their friends were real. Such scams rely more on social engineering rather than technological sophistication. In fact, one could say that these are old fashioned fraud conducted through online means.

Mr Derrick Goh and Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi asked how we can reduce such scams. As individuals, our optimism bias leads us to mistakenly believe that we will not be deceived. We may also let our guard down, making us vulnerable to our inherent human desire to be loved, to make an extra buck, to seize an attractive looking offer and so on. That is why even younger Singaporeans, who are generally more digitally savvy, fall prey to scams. In fact, Singaporeans under 50 years old made up 73% of the total number of scam victims in 2023.

Thus, even as we ramp up our digital and technical defences against scammers, we must not lose sight that public education remains key in our fight against scams. Our best defence is an aware, watchful and discerning public.

To help our citizens identify and protect themselves from scams that Mr Christopher de Souza spoke about, we have launched the Add, Check, Tell (ACT) campaign: (a) Add security features, such as ScamShield and multi-factor authentication for personal accounts; (b) Check for signs of scams; and (c) Tell the authorities and others about your scam encounters.

Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi and Mr Keith Chua asked how we can better support vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, as part of scam prevention efforts. The Government works with partners to roll out targeted programmes for different segments of the population. For example, to reach out to the elderly, the Police weaves anti-scam messages into "Getai" shows. SPF also works with Silver Generation Ambassadors to educate the elderly on scams.

To respond to Mr Gan Thiam Poh, we will further boost our public education efforts by consolidating anti-scam resources into a one-stop portal on scams this year. The website will include information on what you should do if you think you have fallen prey to a scam, how you can protect yourself, as well as the latest scam trends. It will also provide information on where victims of scams can seek support, which Assoc Prof Razwana Begum spoke about. For example, Police can activate volunteer Victim Care Officers (VCOs) to look into their needs. The VCOs can then direct the victims to community and professional resources for psychological and financial support.

The Government is also studying additional measures to better support unwitting members of the public, including those who refuse to believe that they are being scammed. They could be victims of love scams or investment scams where they have invested affection or significant amounts of monies, making it difficult for them to extract themselves out of the situation.

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum spoke about the importance of community partnerships in tackling scams. To build a vigilant online community, we will expand existing community initiatives to include cybercrimes. This includes the Cyber Guardians on Watch and Crime Prevention Ambassador (Cyber) programmes which will be launched later this year.

As Mr Sitoh Yih Pin has pointed out, scammers are constantly evolving their modus operandi to get around our defences. We have moved aggressively to put in technical defences to pre-empt this. As a result, we saw improvements in the phishing scams situation. The number of reported phishing cases in 2023 decreased by 16% from the year before, and the amounts lost decreased by 14%. In 2023, malware-enabled scams emerged as a scam of concern. Government agencies acted swiftly with the banks to implement a series of measures to secure CPF and bank accounts, such as Singpass Face Verification for high-risk CPF transactions and anti-malware security features on banking apps.

With this coordinated effort, we arrested the spike and, by the end of last year, the number of malware-enabled scams dropped 70% in the last quarter from the quarter before to about 280 cases.

But scammers evolve their methods. For instance, to bypass the blocking of overseas calls, more scammers are using Singapore SIM cards to make scam calls and send SMSes. To address this, we will introduce offences to deter the misuse of local SIM cards for scams and other criminal activities. We are also enhancing ScamShield to improve the accuracy of scam SMS detection and allow users to report scams more easily.

In the fight against scams, partners are essential. The Government cannot do this alone. As Mr Derrick Goh said, the co-location of staff from banks at the Anti-Scam Command has facilitated faster tracing of scam proceeds and recovery of victims' monies. This initiative was recently expanded to include the co-location of Carousell staff. As a result, the turnaround time for taking down online monikers involved in scams and suspicious advertisements on Carousell has now been reduced from days to hours. We will continue to engage key stakeholders to co-locate at the Anti-Scam Centre.

We implemented measures to block scam calls and SMSes, but scammers then pivoted to social media and messaging apps to reach out to victims. Meta products, in particular, Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, were among the top online platforms exploited by scammers. They accounted for close to half of the scam cases in 2023, and about 43% – around $280 million – of losses.

Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked how the Government works with online platforms to better protect Singaporeans from scams. MHA and SPF have been engaging online platforms, specifically those which account for a large number of scams. We have encountered varying levels of receptivity. Some, like Shopee and Carousell, have been willing and are working closely with MHA and the Police, such as by strengthening their user verification processes. In December 2022, Shopee introduced the seller verification features where sellers were required to verify their identities against Government records. Shopee observed a sharp drop of 71% in e-commerce scams between 2021 and 2023 reported on their platform.

Other platforms have been less willing to implement additional measures. For instance, Meta has consistently pushed back against MHA's recommendations for them to put in place safeguards to combat e-commerce scams on Facebook, such as verifying users against Government issued ID and offering a secured payment option for Marketplace users. This is despite Facebook contributing close to 50% of e-commerce scam cases in 2023. It is the only platform amongst those rated in MHA's E-commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings that has not implemented or commenced implementing the recommended safety features. As a result, Facebook Marketplace was ranked the lowest in the Transaction Safety Ratings for the second consecutive year. I urge Meta to step up to do right by your users.

The coming into force of the Online Criminal Harms Act, or OCHA, will give Police the legal powers to issue directions to online platforms to prevent scam accounts and content from interacting with or reaching Singapore users. OCHA will also allow us to issue Codes of Practice to put in place systems, processes and measures to disrupt scams affecting people in Singapore.

Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked if we will do more to attract investments and incentivise financial institutions to further develop anti-scam capabilities in Singapore. We will continue to drive the industry's anti-scam efforts through the Association of Banks in Singapore's Standing Committee on Fraud to implement robust measures to safeguard customers and reinforce public confidence in the security of digital banking.

The transnational nature of scams necessitates international cooperation. Under Singapore's Presidency of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), we have made fostering global cooperation to strengthen asset recovery one of our priorities. For example, we have facilitated the agreement across FATF member countries to strengthen global standards on the recovery of criminal proceeds. These standards will require countries to enhance their laws on the freezing, seizing and confiscation of assets, and international cooperation.

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To further forge international partnerships to tackle scams, Singapore will participate in the inaugural Global Fraud Summit in March this year. Mr Chairman, in Mandarin, please.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In 2023, the total number of cases showed an upward trend. Among all the scam cases, the three most common types of scams with the highest number of victims were: job scams, e-commerce scams and fake friend call scams. It is evident that perpetrators primarily manipulate victims through social means, rather than using complex technological means.

Ninety-two percent of the losses in scam cases resulted from scammers using social engineering tactics and fraudulent schemes to deceive victims into transferring monies. In many of these scam cases, victims often transfer monies to the scammers themselves.

All of this indicates the importance of enhancing public awareness and maintaining vigilance. For example, adding the anti-scam application ScamShield and anti-virus applications, as well as looking out for signs of scams and double-checking the identity of recipients before making any transfers.

We will explore additional measures to protect the public, including those who refuse to believe that they are being scammed.

We have made significant progress in preventing and blocking scam calls and SMSes. We are exploring how to better utilise technology to detect scams and make it easier for the public to identify and report scams.

We will continue to pool efforts from various parties to combat scam syndicates and recover scammed monies.

(In English): I will now briefly speak about the security industry, who is our key partner in keeping Singapore safe and secure.

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum asked about the skill development of security officers. Under the refreshed security industry transformation (ITM) 2025, we will continue to drive the upskilling of security officers so that they are better equipped to operate new integrated solutions and models, such as integrated facilities management. We will do so in close consultation with industry stakeholders to ensure that the training provided is accessible and relevant to all officers.

On the TOPSIS framework – which Assoc Prof Raswana Begum spoke about – the SPF Centre for Protective Security offers training for organisations who are interested to implement the TOPSIS framework at their premises.

Both Assoc Prof Razwana Begum and Ms Sylvia Lim asked questions related to the welfare of security officers. MHA and tripartite partners are actively looking at these issues as one of the means to help with the recruitment and retention. We are, of course, also very interested in maintaining the welfare of our security officers.

As Members will be aware, wages of security officers have been raised and will continue to increase at a sustainable and meaningful pace through the Progressive Wage Model (PWM). The monthly gross wage of an entry-level, full-time outsourced security officer was increased to $2,650 since 1 January 2024. It will be raised to $3,530 by 2028. More than 40,000 resident security officers will benefit from the PWM wage increases.

On shift hours raised by Ms Sylvia Lim, the new PWM wage schedule has already taken the first step to impose a maximum cap of 72 additional working hours per month. The Government – together with its tripartite partners – are monitoring the implementation of the new wage schedule and will review further the working hours and deployment patterns of security officers. Our recent initiatives have implications on resourcing and we will need to monitor the industry's response to these initiatives.

Ms Sylvia Lim asked if there has been any change in the demographic profile of security officers.

The demographic profile of security officers has remained stable, with the average age of security officers being about 52 years old. With growing integration of technology and advanced systems, anecdotally, we do see growing interest from younger Singaporeans and that is very encouraging.

On Ms Sylvia Lim's question on the source countries being considered for the recruitment of APOs, the four countries cited by the Member are not the sole sources being considered. All APOs must pass a basic English proficiency test, but it is not the sole requirement.

On Ms Sylvia Lim's questions on the limits of duties that can be outsourced from SPF to APOs, I would like to clarify that only Police officers, forensic specialists and medical practitioners can conduct forensic medical examinations, otherwise known as FME. I would like to assure the Member that APOs cannot conduct FME directly. APOs may be involved only to support the conduct of the FME.

The Chairman: We have time for clarifications. Mr Murali Pillai.

Mr Murali Pillai: Mr Chairman, Sir, I seek clarification from the hon Minister in relation to the recruitment of volunteers for the Home Team's mission. I recall him mentioning that actually recruitment is on the up.

I had actually obtained the figures through Parliamentary Questions filed in November 2023. And in respect of recruitment figures for VSC – between 2018 and 2022 – I see a drop. In 2018, it was 180 and it went down to 63 in 2022. Every succeeding year from 2018, it was actually a downward trend as well. I would suggest perhaps some effort be put in to increase the recruitment, particularly given that VSC is a venerated organisation that would celebrate its 80th anniversary in two years' time.

For COP volunteers, I understand from the answer provided to me in November 2023 – that the statistics were started to be recorded from 2019 onwards. So, the numbers again were 1,086 for 2019 and – save for a spike in 2021 – it went down to 953 in 2022. Notwithstanding the figures, I think the hon Minister and I agreed on the point that these volunteers serve as a valuable multiplier effect.

The Chairman: Is a response required? Minister.

Mr K Shanmugam: Mr Chairman, I see that more as a comment. On the specific data, I do not have it with me. If the Member files a question, I will check it out.

The Chairman: Mr Gerald Giam.

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: I thank the Minister for responding to my cut. I just have some clarifications for him.

Firstly, each time MHA designates or intends to designate an individual as a PSP, will there always be a public announcement? If not, is the Minister able to share if there are other individuals designated as PSPs, that have not been publicly announced? Secondly, is there a requirement for every Singaporean who becomes a member of a foreign legislature or foreign political organisation to declare it to MHA at each instance?

Mr K Shanmugam: I can confirm that there are no other designated PSPs in the sense that the Member is asking. I have pointed out that MPs are automatically PSPs, for example. As regard to whether we will announce each time, I do not want to tie a future Government's actions. Where necessary, we will announce it publicly. We think it makes sense to announce it so that Singaporeans are aware and hopefully it also shapes some behaviour. I cannot recall the Member's second question. Can the Member please repeat it?

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: Second question is whether it is a requirement – if someone becomes a member of a foreign legislature, whether they must declare it themselves?

Mr K Shanmugam: I indicated that there are two different points. You declare if you are a member of a foreign legislature or foreign political organisation. In fact, the deadline for declaration is today. But that does not automatically lead to the designation of a PSP. For precise requirements, rather than trying to set it out here, the Act sets it out quite clearly.

The Chairman: Mr Christopher de Souza.

Mr Christopher de Souza: Mr Chairman, I thank the Minister for responding to parts of what I had raised in terms of the Thailand example of decriminalising cannabis plant for the purposes of supporting medical use and research purposes. The Minister did respond and he also put in a caveat to say that there is going to be a Ministerial Statement later on in the year, specifically on drugs.

So, I was hoping to use this opportunity to express my hope that that Statement would cover the example of the Thailand situation of decriminalising; and then what looks to be a U-turn and all the potential harm that has happened in between – as an example of how we must be extremely cautious in decriminalising the consumption of drugs in Singapore.

So, I reiterate my position that both consumption being the demand and trafficking being the supply should be deterred.

Mr K Shanmugam: I note Mr Christopher de Souza's point. We will refer to relevant examples. Thailand is obviously a relevant example – but bearing in mind we also need to be careful about how we talk about other countries, particularly the nearer they are to us and they are ASEAN members. I think we need to exercise some considerable care.

There is another serious point which is that: Singapore is small; Thailand is big. Many other countries are big. Just because we are able to do certain things here does not mean that others can do the same thing in their countries. Likewise, we do not necessarily get brownie points for being able to do some things better. We have many limitations because of size, but we are also able to do certain things because of size. Others have their own challenges. So, we need to apply that lens carefully to others. But there is a point that two years ago, they changed in 2022 and then now, they see that — they are changing back. There are some lessons for us from that, I think.

If I can quickly clarify a couple more points. On Mr Pillai's point, actually, my people who are working rather hard have sent me the data. The recruitment for, if I may say so, COPs for example. Yes, in 2019 there were 1,086. Last year – 2023, 463. But if you look at the volunteers – VSCs, for example – it was 838 last year. It was 998 in 2019. Total number of COPs, VSCs and CDAU volunteers – between 2019 and 2023; if you take the total number of volunteers – 5,202 in 2019, last year was 7,105.

So, overall, the total number of Home Team volunteers has increased over the five years and we are trying to increase our recruitment efforts. The recruitment numbers for VSCs have gone up. The overall numbers maybe a bit less – came down – but the actual recruitment numbers are now going up.

On Mr Gerald Giam's question, our position is that we will declare and we have put that in the law, but a future Government can always change the position. So, that is why I do not want to tie any future Government's position.

The Chairman: Mr Christopher de Souza.

Mr Christopher de Souza: I thank the Minister for his response. Just to be sure, my intention is not to put down any country, certainly not any ASEAN country or beyond ASEAN.

The point that I was trying to make is that the arguments by the lobbyists to each country are somewhat similar, wherever they lobby – that cannabis is not destructive, that cannabis is possibly good.

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If we are able to use a recent example where the reasons provided by the lobbyists have, perhaps, been proven as incorrect; then that provides even more firepower for us domestically to move the narrative against the legalisation of consumption. That was the point that I was trying to get across rather than to put any country down.

Mr K Shanmugam: I fully accept that, and I think that is a fair point. There were any number of interviews in 2022 where I was told that since Thailand is doing this, should Singapore not do this? I said we do not necessarily do whatever other countries do. We look at what is in Singapore's interest.

But the very same media outlets that asked me those questions have not come back to ask me: now that Thailand is reversing course, perhaps you are right and they were wrong. They do not say that, because that does not fit in with their agenda, nor do the activists who were all trumpeting Thailand's actions, who have now gone quiet.

The Chairman: Any clarifications? If not, Mr Murali, would you like to withdraw your amendment?

Mr Murali Pillai: Mr Chairman, Sir, I would like to express my appreciation to the hon Members for making 32 cuts and providing very thoughtful points in this COS debate. But we are all united on one thing: that the Home Team officers and the MHA officers are doing a good job in keeping our country safe and secure, and this duty is done without fear of favour and with integrity. It also reflects the trust and confidence that our members of the public have in the Home Team.

I also would like to express my thanks to the hon Minister, hon Second Minister and two hon Ministers of State for their considered responses. With that, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $7,488,779,300 for Head P ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.

The sum of $800,560,100 for Head P ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.