ALWAYS VIGILANT, ALWAYS LEARNING 
Checkpoint Inspector 2 Maniseh Bte Ishak
Deputy Team Leader, Coastal Command, Integrated Checkpoints Command (Sea), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)
Recipient of the Minister for Home Affairs National Day Award (Individual)

Tell us about your work.
I joined ICA as a Primary Screening Officer when I was 24. I’m currently a Deputy Team Leader at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, where I manage a team of ICA officers in conducting immigration clearance for passengers while safeguarding our borders. 

Share with us a memorable incident from work. 
When I was on duty in 2016, an Indonesian traveller came up to my counter. I checked his passport and noticed that his personal details didn’t match his identity indicated in other documents that he carried. 

I interviewed him further and asked why his details didn’t tally. He feigned ignorance and said that the passport belonged to him and was valid. I notified my supervisor and after further checks, the traveller was refused entry into Singapore for producing a fraudulent travel document and for attempting to enter Singapore with a false identity. 



How long have you been with ICA, and how has your work changed over the years? 
I’ve been with ICA for 35 years. There’s been a lot of changes in terms of how we manage and clear passengers, as well as in our scope of training and deployment. I have personally experienced how technology enables us to perform our duties more efficiently in facilitating secure clearance of passengers.

It hasn’t been difficult for me to adapt as I always tell myself to keep looking forward. I like to share my experiences with my team during in-service training sessions and pre-shift briefings. I encourage them to be positive, and not to fear change!



FROM NEW OFFICER TO MENTOR 
Senior Staff Sergeant Siti Khalijah Binte Roslan
Team Member, Enforcement Sector 2, Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) 
Recipient of the Minister for Home Affairs National Day Award (Individual)

Tell us about your work. 
As an Enforcement officer, I assist my Team Leader in overseeing our team, managing our drug supervision reporting centre and conducting enforcement operations against drug abusers. 

At our drug supervision reporting centre, we monitor ex-drug abusers on the supervision regime to make sure they stay drug-free, and so that there can be timely interventions should any ex-abusers relapse. If they miss their appointments and don’t report to us, we have to talk to them to find out why. Those who have relapsed will have to undergo further rehabilitation. 

In 2018, a drug supervisee reported to the centre and provided two medical certificates for absences. I noticed certain discrepancies in the certificates and, after further investigation, spoke to the supervisee who admitted that they had been forged. This case was referred to the Police for further investigations.

How has your role changed over the years? 
I’ve been with CNB for nine years. When I first joined, I had different mentors. Then, as I was transferred from enforcement work to investigations, I became a mentor myself, and helped guide other officers. It’s been an eye-opening career in the Home Team and I’ve learnt to handle many different challenges and situations. 

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Minister for Home Affairs National Day Awards 2019
The Minister for Home Affairs National Day Award recognises Home Team officers who have distinguished themselves through significant and commendable contributions in their respective areas of work. This year, there were 105 Individual Award recipients and 14 Team Award recipients. Read the speech by Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Home Affairs Mrs Josephine Teo.