Action to Protect Reputation of Police Force

11 Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Police will consider taking action to protect its reputation when persons make false and malicious allegations against the Police.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr K Shanmugam): I thank the Member for asking this question. Madam, my Ministry takes a serious view of false and malicious allegations against the Police.

I refer Members to a recent Public Perception Survey where 91% of Singaporeans had said that Police had demonstrated the core values of courage, loyalty, integrity and fairness when interacting with them. We will always have some people who are not happy but 91% said this. Over the years, through the consistent upholding and exemplification of these values, the Police have built an enormous reservoir of trust and confidence with the public. That is a huge benefit, not just to the Police but also to Singaporeans as a whole.

Whenever any allegation is received, the first task of the Police is to investigate the allegation quite carefully and thoroughly. If the conclusion of the investigation is that the allegation is false or unwarranted, then the first thing the Police will do after making an assessment, if necessary, is to issue a public response to say that this is untrue. They will correct and rebut the falsehoods.

For example, The Online Citizen (TOC) glorifies in running the Police down with a series of untrue stories. I referred to some stories last year on their untruths. In a recent case, TOC alleged that Police officers had accused a wheelchair-bound man of motorcycle theft. It was designed to make people angry: falsehood. The Police corrected the allegation within a day. The man was never accused of being involved in any motor vehicle theft, nor was he asked to provide any statement at a Police station.

The Member has asked what actions the Police can take. We are considering the adequacy of our laws to ensure sufficient protection against unfounded attacks on the reputation and integrity of our public institutions, like the Police.

Do not get me wrong. It is not to say that the Police do not make mistakes. It is not to say that some policemen do not commit offences. They do; they are also human. Therefore, there can be no objection to comments, feedback, fair criticism, complaints. And all of them will be looked at. This is Singapore. You read of Police Officers, other public servants, being charged in Court where criminal action is warranted and they face the consequences. That is why people have faith in the system. It will not be covered up.

What is objectionable are deliberate falsehoods. If there is no wrongdoing or misconduct and you deliberately accuse, to pull down the institution by manufacturing lies, and if public trust in Police is eroded and you can no longer enforce the rule of law effectively, all of us will be the worse for it. So, we have to take the question of fake news about Police and other agencies seriously and deal with it.

Mdm Speaker: Mr Lim Biow Chuan.

Mr Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten): I notice that over the past few months when people made false and malicious allegations against the Police, the Police issue a correction. Unless the Government takes action to protect the integrity of Government institutions, I am concerned that the trust and faith in Government institutions will be undermined. May I ask the Minister whether the Ministry of Home Affairs would consider implementing or taking stern action to make it a punishable offence, make it a jailable offence, for people to make false and malicious allegations, which are not the same as what the Minister earlier said, which is, that when officers are investigated. But I am referring to false and malicious allegations against the Police.

Mr K Shanmugam: I thank the Member for the points he made. I will distinguish between three types of situations.

First, genuine feedback. It could be in error where the person could have made a mistake, but genuine, well-intentioned feedback or complaints because there is a difference of viewpoints, allegations based on an honest belief in certain facts. That is one category. That is understandable. Generally, there should be no consequences for that.

The second category where the complaint is justified, feedback is justified, and we must take action.

The third category is what the Member is focused on, which is, false, deliberate, malicious allegations. We are not talking about errors, we are talking about deliberate falsehoods, malice. I agree with the Member, it has to be taken seriously, and I think the time has come for us not to simply rebut but to actually actively deal with it, so that the people who seek to profit from such conduct will actually feel the pain of it. We are looking at it and something will be done.