Minimising Inconvenience and Improving Preparedness for Enhanced Security Screening at MRT Stations
Ministry of TransportSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns MP Mr Desmond Choo’s inquiry regarding the minimization of commuter inconvenience during enhanced MRT security screening trials and the improvement of transport operators' preparedness against security threats. Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan explained that a six-month trial using metal detectors and X-ray machines is necessary to fine-tune operations and develop capabilities to respond to heightened threat levels. To manage delays, the trial commenced during the year-end holidays to sensitize the public, with special assistance provided for groups such as students sitting for national examinations. The Minister highlighted that the Public Transport Security Committee reviews threats while regular emergency exercises, such as those at Newton and Hougang stations, test the readiness of agencies and operators. These measures seek to balance public safety with efficiency, ensuring security protocols are well-practiced by both personnel and commuters for potential emergency situations.
Transcript
77 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Transport with regard to the trial on enhanced security screening at MRT stations (a) how will the Ministry minimise inconvenience and delays to commuters; and (b) how the preparedness of transport operators be further improved in the face of security threats.
Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Security screening at MRT stations is not new to commuters. Since 2004, commuters have been subjected to random bag checks at all MRT stations. It is timely to review and update our security measures given that our public transport system has expanded significantly and remains a soft target for perpetrators who wish to do us harm. We are therefore trialling person screening using walk through metal detectors and X-ray machines. The six-month trial is necessary to allow LTA and PTOs to fine-tune the security operations, and develop the capability to step up our response against heightened security threats, when the situation warrants. During this period, commuters at selected stations will be subjected to the new search process.
Security screening will lengthen travel time. This is the balance we have to strike between public safety and efficiency. As commuters become more familiar with the screening process, we expect additional time taken to be kept to a minimum. We have chosen to start the trial over the year-end holiday period so that affected commuters can be sensitised to it before the start of the new year. We are also mindful that there are various groups of commuters whom we need to pay special attention to, including students sitting for their GCE ‘A’ Level examinations, so that help can be rendered if necessary.
The Public Transport Security Committee (PTSC) constantly reviews security threats to our public transport network, and calibrates the security measures accordingly, leveraging technology where applicable. LTA and the PTOs conduct regular security and emergency exercises involving 100% checks to test our preparedness and response against security threats. This year, we conducted two exercises, one at Newton MRT station and the other at Holland Village MRT station. The third exercise will be carried out in December at Hougang MRT station. Such exercises are crucial to ensure the security preparedness of our PTOs and relevant agencies, and to help commuters familiarise with security protocols in the event of heightened security.