Parliamentary Debates Singapore Official Report
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Volume 94 Monday No 81 6 August 2018 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SINGAPORE OFFICIAL REPORT CONTENTS Written Answers to Questions Page 1. Access to and Privacy Protection Measures in Place for Street Lighting Cameras 3 Using Facial Recognition Technology (Mr Leon Perera) 2. Results of Investigations into Fatal Accident near Pasir Ris MRT Station on 22 4 March 2016 and Tunnel Flooding between Bishan and Braddell MRT Stations on 7 and 8 October 2017 (Mr Christopher de Souza) 3. Plans to Review Eligibility Criteria for National Service Deferment (Dr Intan 4 Azura Mokhtar) 4. Proportion of Full-time National Servicemen Downgraded for Mental Issues (Ms 12 Sylvia Lim) 5. Number of Deaths from Alcohol-related Violence and Traffic Accidents in Last 10 12 Years (Mr Kok Heng Leun) 6. Closing and Expunging of Police Reports Made by Private Parties against Other 13 Private Parties but Not Pursued (Mr Kok Heng Leun) 7. Plans to Digitise Current Photocard Driving Licence (Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye) 14 8. Investigations into Chairman and Management of Swiber Holdings and Related 14 Companies (Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong) 1 9. Reported Cases of Investment Scams Targeting Members of Public (Mr Ong Teng 15 Koon) 10. Hospital Admissions and Deaths from Alcohol Overdose in Last 10 Years (Mr 16 Kok Heng Leun) 11. Statistics on Awareness and Practice of Breast Self-Examination among Females 17 in Singapore (Ms Joan Pereira) 12. Average Life Expectancy of Disabled Persons Receiving Payouts under 18 ElderShield (Mr Murali Pillai) 13,14. Safeguarding Records and Personal Particulars against Cyberattacks (Mr 18 Zainal Sapari, Mr Murali Pillai) 15. Provision of Free Digital TV Starter Kits (Mr Png Eng Huat) 19 16. Ensuring Good Re-employment and Age-friendly Hiring Practices by Public 20 Service's Outsourced Providers (Mr Desmond Choo) 17. Solution to Mynah Nuisance along Upper Serangoon Road (Mr Sitoh Yih Pin) 21 18. Inspection Regime for HDB Facades (Ms Joan Pereira) 22 19. Plans for Animal Rescue Shelter for Stray Cats Awaiting Adoption (Mr Ong Teng 23 Koon) 20. Update on Revitalisation of Shops Scheme in Rejuvenating HDB Neighbourhood 24 Shops (Mr Desmond Choo) 21. Special Needs Children of School-going Age (Er Dr Lee Bee Wah) 26 22. ITE, Polytechnic and University Graduates in 2015-2017 from Normal Technical, 27 Normal Academic and Express Streams (Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang) 23. Regular and Comprehensive Programme to Fight Prejudices and Stigmatisation of 28 Mental Well-being in Secondary Schools (Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong) 24. Aggregate Monthly Balances in Ordinary Accounts of CPF Members for 2015- 29 2017 (Mr Pritam Singh) 25. Workers Classified as Managers and Executives Earning Less than $2,500 and 29 $2,600 a Month as at 30 June 2018 (Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan) 26. Workers Classified as Managers and Executives Earning Less than $2,500 and 30 $2,600 a Month as at 30 June 2018 (Mr Kok Heng Leun) 2 27. Cases of Underaged Domestic Helpers for Past Five Years and Actions Taken 31 against Errant Agencies (Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye) 28. Coverage of Singaporeans Working in Foreign Diplomatic Missions in Singapore 32 under Employment Act (Ms Tin Pei Ling) 29. Verbal Test Option for Singaporeans with Low Educational Qualifications 33 Attending Mandatory Workplace Safety Courses (Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong) 30. Proportion of Registered Trade Unions not Initiating Collective Agreement 33 Negotiations with Employers (Mr Leon Perera) 31. Elderly Singaporeans without Family Support (Dr Chia Shi-Lu) 34 32. Education Institutions in Singapore for Special Needs Youths Aged 18 and Above 35 (Er Dr Lee Bee Wah) 33. Divorce Cases Awarded Shared Care and Control of Children (Mr Louis Ng Kok 37 Kwang) 3 ACCESS TO AND PRIVACY PROTECTION MEASURES IN PLACE FOR STREET LIGHTING CAMERAS USING FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY 1 Mr Leon Perera asked the Prime Minister in respect of planned installations of street lighting cameras using facial recognition technology (a) what measures are in place to ensure security and privacy protection; and (b) which Government agencies and what types of personnel within those agencies will have access to the data so generated. Mr Teo Chee Hean (for the Prime Minister): Under the Smart Nation Sensor Platform project, the Government is progressively testing and deploying different sensors and related technologies, with the objective of providing better and more responsive services to citizens. These sensors include cameras mounted on street lamps that can support facial recognition for follow-up investigation in the event of a security incident. These cameras are similar to those already installed in other public places. To ensure security and protection of privacy, the Sensor Platform will incorporate industry best practices and standards in data security. These include access controls, encryption and identity hashing to prevent re-identification. Data collected from these sensors will only be accessed by public officers who require such data for their specific operational needs. The Public Sector Governance Act (PSGA), recently passed by Parliament, makes clear when data sharing is allowed across Government agencies, clarifies which agency is responsible, and criminalises the misuse of data. Back to Contents 4 RESULTS OF INVESTIGATIONS INTO FATAL ACCIDENT NEAR PASIR RIS MRT STATION ON 22 MARCH 2016 AND TUNNEL FLOODING BETWEEN BISHAN AND BRADDELL MRT STATIONS ON 7 AND 8 OCTOBER 2017 2 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Transport (a) what is discovered in the investigations leading to the fines imposed on SMRT on 20 July 2018 in respect of the fatal accident near Pasir Ris MRT station on 22 March 2016 and the tunnel flooding incident between Bishan and Braddell MRT stations on 7 and 8 October 2017; (b) what lessons have been learned from the investigations; and (c) what measures have been put in place by SMRT to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. Mr Khaw Boon Wan: On 20 July 2018, the Land Transport Authority announced its intention to impose two financial penalties totalling $1.9 million on SMRT for the fatal accident which took place on 22 March 2016 near Pasir Ris MRT station, and the flooding incident in the tunnels between Bishan and Braddell MRT stations from 7 to 8 October 2017. SMRT has apologised and accepted responsibility for these incidents. Under the Rapid Transit Systems Act, following the imposition of financial penalties, SMRT has the right to lodge a statutory appeal to the Minister for Transport. As the appeal window has not closed, it would not be in order for the Minister for Transport to comment on this case now. Back to Contents PLANS TO REVIEW ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR NATIONAL SERVICE DEFERMENT 3 Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked the Minister for Defence (a) whether there are plans to review the eligibility criteria for National Service (NS) deferment; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider setting up a review committee comprising esteemed individuals beyond the defence and armed forces sector to review applications for NS deferment on their individual merits. 5 Dr Ng Eng Hen: Singapore’s founding leaders knew the strict conditions that National Service (NS) would impose on its citizens when they passed the NS (Amendment) Bill 51 years ago and the Enlistment Act in 1970. In 1984, just as he was about to retire, a reflective Dr Goh Keng Swee acknowledged it plain and simple – "National Service imposes (not only) a great sacrifice of time and money on the young men called up."1 But Dr Goh followed with the reason why NS was crucial to our nation’s survival – "deep in his heart the average Singapore citizen knows the danger he faces are real and not hypothetical, and that there is a need to defend ourselves."2 The Appellate High Court also brought their minds to bear on our NS policy in 2017 during an appeal on the sentencing of NS defaulters. Their written judgement3 spelt out the reasons why more stringent sentencing benchmarks were justified but those same reasons lie at the heart of what Members of Parliament (MPs) have asked today – how strict is this requirement for every male to serve his NS when required? What exceptions or flexibility can be given? It was a landmark decision, presided over by the Chief Justice. The Appellate High Court referred to DPM Teo's Ministerial Statement given in 2006 to this House, when he was Defence Minister. That Ministerial Statement coupled with the written judgement, illuminate the fundamentals on which our NS policy are based, that we must not unwittingly weaken lest we undo this nation's foundations. I urge all Members to read them. The judges opined that, "In practical terms, what the three fundamental principles of national security, universality and equity mean is that in order to ensure Singapore's national security, every male Singaporean must serve NS and at the time he is required to under the [Enlistment] Act, without regard to his personal convenience and considerations. When a person refuses to serve NS at the time that he is required to and instead returns to serve at a time of his own choosing, or worse, at an age when he can no longer serve, his actions strike at the very core of the principles of national security, universality and equity."4 6 Thirteen NS defaulters were prosecuted after the new sentencing framework was established last year. In Court, each gave reasons why he did not enlist as required. Some wanted to complete their university degree first before NS. Others said they had to support their families. In every judgement, the Courts dismiss these personal reasons, convicted and sentenced them to jail terms. Harsh as it is, the Enlistment Act is blind to "personal convenience and considerations"5 , no matter how talented the individual or exceptional his circumstances.