Preventing Outrage of Modesty Cases on MRT Trains

21 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) in the past three years, how many cases of molestation in MRT trains have been reported; (b) what are the plans to cut down on these cases; and (c) whether warning signs can be put up in train carriages to alert commuters.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Amrin Amin) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mdm Speaker, over the past three years, there has been an annual average of 71 outrage of modesty cases on MRT and LRT trains. There were 65 cases in 2013, 79 cases in 2014 and 69 cases last year. These numbers have to be seen in the context of an increasing number of passenger trips on trains over the years, with almost three million passenger trips daily on trains. The number of outrage of modesty cases on trains represent about 5% of the total number of outrage of modesty cases reported annually.

Police officers from the Public Transport Security Command (TransCom), a specialist unit within the SPF commissioned in 2009, conduct patrols within the public transport network to project police presence. This helps to deter and detect crime, including cases of outrage of modesty. Police have also been active in their crime prevention outreach to commuters. Police display posters on trains and train station platforms, screen videos and conduct crime prevention roadshows in train stations and bus interchanges to raise commuters' vigilance against crime, including outrage of modesty. Commuters are reminded to be aware of their surroundings, look out for suspicious persons and to take steps to protect themselves from being victims of crime. Our assessment is that the current level of crime prevention messages is sufficient and there is no need at present to include warning signs in trains.

The maximum penalty for outrage of modesty is two years' imprisonment or a fine or caning, or any combination of these punishments. This increases to five years' imprisonment if the victim is under 14 years of age. The Courts have been meting out stiff sentences for those convicted of molestation on trains.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon): Mdm Speaker, I would like to thank the Parliamentary Secretary for the answer. Though it is only 5%, I believe there are a lot of cases not reported because the victims feel very embarrassed. That is the feedback from my residents.

So, I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether the Ministry will step up education, that means to educate commuters, remind them about personal space, educate victims how to make reports and what are the key details that need to be furnished. The next question is whether there are sufficient cameras on the train platforms or inside the carriages to help to deter crimes.

Mr Amrin Amin: As for the suggestion to step up awareness, there has been cooperation with the public transport operators, and these have included in-train panels, advertisements and videos to encourage people to be aware to protect themselves. As for the suggestion on how to make reports and all that, it is something we will look at closely.

As for the adequacy of cameras in trains, for operational reasons, I am not able to go into detail on the use of cameras on the trains, but the Member can be assured that this is something that we take very seriously, and not just for outrage of modesty case but the general security of our trains. So, be assured of that.

Mr Leon Perera (Non-Constituency Member): Mdm Speaker, if I can just ask a supplementary question on Question No 21. If the number of molestation cases worsens or shows a worsening trend, would the Government consider experimenting with women-only carriages, which I think is a scheme that has met with some success in other countries?

Mr Amrin Amin: There are currently no plans to have women-only carriages. I do not think we have reached that stage. As the Member has heard, the number of cases is very small, it is 5%; I do not think we would go to such a drastic measure at this stage.

Mdm Speaker: Mr Leon Perera, next question.