Committee of Supply Debate 2025 on "Combatting Drugs, Enhancing Rehabilitation, Strengthening Reintegration" – Speech by Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of National Development"

1. Mr Chairman,

2. I will now speak on the drug situation.

3. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reported that 190 tonnes of methamphetamine were seized in East and Southeast Asia in 2023, a 26% jump from 2022.

4. This amount is almost 8,000 times the amount seized in Singapore that year.

5. Drug abuse threatens public safety and impacts innocent victims, as those under the influence of drugs may resort to crime to feed their habit, or commit violence against others.

Addressing the Drug Situation in Singapore

6. Even though Singapore’s drug situation is under control, we still have drug-related crimes. We are an attractive market for drug traffickers. Our purchasing power means that the street price of drugs in Singapore can be many times higher than in other countries, allowing traffickers to reap massive profits.

7. Singapore has in place tough laws and effective enforcement to curb drug supply. More importantly, we also focus on reducing demand through:

(a) Firstly, creating strong public awareness of the harms of drugs through preventive drug education, or PDE; and

(b) Secondly, helping drug abusers turn over a new leaf through evidence-based rehabilitation.

8. This approach has proven effective, and the drug situation in Singapore remains under control. In 2024, about 3,100 drug abusers were arrested, similar to 2023.

9. Mr Vikram Nair pointed out that the number of young drug abusers is on the rise. In 2024, 156 youths below the age of 20 were arrested for drug abuse, up from 132 in 2023. This is an area of concern for us.

Preventive Drug Education

10. Mr Vikram Nair and Ms Mariam Jaafar asked how we can inoculate youths against the harms of drugs. We will continue to expand our PDE efforts.  The Inter-Ministry Committee on Drug Prevention for Youths will focus on the following areas.

11. First, strengthening our network of over 1,000 DrugFreeSG Champions, comprising educators, counsellors, youths, and healthcare workers, who help disseminate drug-free messages in the community. We will enhance their skills and knowledge with training.  In March 2025, we will organise the DrugFreeSG Champions Conference to equip the DrugFreeSG Champions with insights on drug matters.

12. Second, continuing to promote anti-drug awareness through the Drug Victims Remembrance Day. The inaugural Remembrance Day held last year had a very good turnout and over 100,000 pledges to be drug-free were logged. I am happy to announce that Remembrance Day 2025 will be held on 16th of May and commemorated with a main observance event and exhibition.

13. We will also continue collaborating with schools and parents. All schools will continue to conduct at least one PDE programme annually. MOE will work with CNB to invite Parent Support Group leaders to participate in capability building sessions on drug-related topics and will continue making PDE resources available for all parents on the Parents Gateway portal.

Rehabilitation and Reintegration

14. Besides preventing drug abuse among the young, it is also important to rehabilitate drug abusers to wean off their drug addiction.

15. To this end, CNB piloted the ‘Supervision 2.0’ regime in January 2024 for ex-drug abusers who are placed under supervision upon release from Drug Rehabilitation Centres.

16. Under this pilot, Hair Analysis Tests are used as the default monitoring mechanism for CNB’s supervisees, as it can detect drug abuse over a longer period compared to urine tests. Supervisees can then report to the reporting centre less frequently, reducing disruption to their daily lives.

17. Assoc Prof Razwana Begum also asked how we can prepare ex-drug abusers for successful reintegration. Under Supervision 2.0, supervisees will undergo Community Supervision Sessions, where the CNB supervision officer will check in on the supervisee’s well-being, the progress of interventions and assess the supervisee’s residual reintegration needs. CNB can then refer the supervisee to the appropriate agencies for support, such as for assistance with housing or employment.

18. The preliminary findings from the pilot are positive. CNB was able to swiftly detect more supervisees who had relapsed via hair tests as compared to under the urine supervision regime due to the longer detection window for hair tests. About two-thirds of the supervisees rated the scheme as “very helpful” in their reintegration. CNB will fully operationalise Supervision 2.0 in phases, with the aim of emplacing all supervisees on this regime by 2026.

Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Inmates and Ex-Offenders

19. I will now move on to other rehabilitation and reintegration efforts for inmates and ex-offenders, which Mr Patrick Tay, Prof Razwana, and Ms Jean See have filed cuts on.

Women Inmates

20. Prof Razwana asked how these efforts account for the specific needs of female drug abusers. Prisons incorporates trauma-informed practices in their psychology-based correctional programmes for all women inmates. These programmes teach inmates to replace unhealthy ways of coping with past trauma, like drug abuse, with techniques to regulate their emotions. These programmes have been effective. The two-year recidivism rates for women have decreased significantly from 48.6% for the 1990 release cohort to 13.0% for the 2022 cohort.

Prisons

Strengthening Family Relationships

21. Prisons currently works with 20 family-focused partners to deliver structured family programmes, benefitting more than 3,000 inmates and families.

22. Prisons is conducting a trial of the Family Engagement Model, which aims to strengthen the ability of inmates and their family in building and maintaining relationships, through family reintegration programmes. Inmates will also attend support group sessions led by community partners and peer supporters who had completed the programme. This allows inmates to shift their identity away from being offenders, to being role models.

23. Since 2022, Prisons has collaborated with schools to pilot Project Hope, in which video visits are conducted between incarcerated parents and school-going children. This initiative allows inmates to stay involved in their children's lives and understand their progress in school. Project Hope has 18 cases with 14 schools involved.

24. The pilot participants have experienced improvements in their relationships, and the schools have also observed positive changes in the students’ behaviour and emotional well-being. Prisons is working with MOE to expand Project Hope to more schools.

Reintegration Hub

25. To better prepare inmates for release, Prisons established the Reintegration Hub in September 2024. The centralised facility allows Prisons to better implement targeted reintegration-centric programmes for suitable inmates such as those emplaced on Community-based Programmes, prior to release.

26. The Reintegration Hub provides easier physical access for community partners and volunteers to support the inmates. They need not travel to separate prison institutions on separate occasions.

27. The Hub has also implemented pre-emplacement programmes, which include sharing sessions with desistors, to provide motivation and encouragement.

28. At steady state, about 550 inmates and supervisees will be housed at the Reintegration Hub.

Access for Inmate Digital Experience

29. We will also equip inmates with relevant skills to navigate an increasingly digitalised world, which can impede reintegration. The Access for Inmate Digital Experience, or AIDE, is a new initiative to allow inmates to familiarise themselves with, and independently access citizenry e-services, such as those provided by CPF and HDB, during incarceration. Since its start in September 2024, more than 400 inmates have benefitted from AIDE.

YRSG

30. Another pillar of our reintegration strategy is to equip ex-offenders with market-relevant work skills. Ms See asked what more we can do in this regard.

31. Yellow Ribbon Singapore, or “YRSG”, will be enhancing its career facilitation efforts, in particular to assist ex-offenders attain their career goals. This includes refining ‘Career Circles’, which was piloted in 2023.

32. The ‘Career Circles’ programme comprises facilitated sessions on various career-related topics, such as career planning and addressing common workplace challenges. Inmates are equipped with the skills to set career goals and prepare for job searches. The enhanced version of ‘Career Circles’, with a revised curriculum and frequency, was implemented from February 2025.

Spent Regime

33. Mr Tay asked if the spent regime for criminal records could be reviewed to further support ex-offenders. MHA periodically reviews the spent regime for criminal records. An ex-offender could have his offence spent as early as five years, if he or she stays crime-free during this period and fulfils the criteria set out in Registration of Criminals Act. Our current assessment is that the criteria and regime remain appropriate in striking the balance between the interests of ex-offenders, employers, and society at large.

Community Partnerships to Enhance Rehabilitation and Reintegration Efforts

34. Prof Razwana asked how partnerships with social services and the broader community can complement MHA’s rehabilitation and reintegration efforts.

CARE Network

35. The Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-offenders Network, or “CARE Network”, was formed in May 2000 by an alliance of ten core members comprising Government organisations and social service agencies. It has since expanded to coordinate the efforts of over a hundred community partners. In 2023, more than 16,000 beneficiaries benefitted from the services provided by CARE Network agencies, such as financial assistance and skills training.

36. I offer my congratulations to the CARE Network, which will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and will be unveiling its workplan for the next five years. The Network has provided an invaluable service to society in assisting and transforming the lives of ex-offenders.

Prisons

37. Prisons and YRSG also work with more than 4,200 volunteers to address the rehabilitation and reintegration needs of both inmates and ex-offenders. Over 6,700 employers have also partnered YRSG to hire ex-offenders, which is an almost 20% increase from 2021 to 2024.

38. Prisons has enhanced its volunteer training framework, called “Igniting and Maximising Partners’ Agility for Correctional Transformation”, or “IMPACT” for short. IMPACT aims to develop the competencies of volunteers and community partners, by introducing structured and tiered training pathways. In 2024, more than 1,800 volunteers were trained under IMPACT.

39. Prof Razwana asked how we can increase support for the halfway house regime. In 2024, our halfway house partners provided step-down support for more than 1,200 offenders. Building on these efforts, Prisons has introduced an enhanced Halfway House Service Model called HSM+ on 1 Jan 2025, which has onboarded 11 halfway houses.

40. Under HSM+, supervisees will undergo a longer duration of aftercare support. Halfway house staff will be equipped with skills to work effectively with different profiles of supervisees. Infrastructural works will also be carried out to improve accessibility for those with mobility issues.

Malay/Muslim Organisations

41. I will now speak in Malay on the role of Malay/Muslim Organisations, or “MMOs”, in our rehabilitation efforts.

[Beginning of Malay segment]

42. Tuan, MHA bekerjasama dengan pelbagai badan-badan Melayu/Islam (atau ‘MMO’) untuk memberi sokongan yang relevan bagi budaya masyarakat Melayu/Islam kita.

43. Pada tahun 2024, CNB telah merasmikan sebuah geran baru dengan kerjasama MUIS. Geran ini akan menyediakan sumber biaya bagi pihak masjid untuk menganjurkan program-program yang menyokong usaha pencegahan dadah (ataupun ‘PDE’) dibawah kempen DrugFreeSG dan Dadah Itu Haram. 10 acara sebegini telah pun dianjurkan, termasuk Forum Anti Dadah yang dijalankan oleh Masjid Hasanah bagi ibu bapa dan para belia.

44. Rakan-rakan MMO kami juga terus giat mengukuhkan jalinan antara satu sama lain, demi membina sebuah rangkaian yang padu untuk menyokong para pesalah dan bekas banduan. ‘Rangkaian Pemulihan MMO’ telahpun ditubuhkan pada November 2021 agar MMO kami dapat memanfaatkan kekuatan dan keupayaan satu sama lain.

45. MHA akan terus berganding bahu dan bekerjasama dengan rakan-rakan MMO untuk mengukuhkan sokongan bagi mereka yang memerlukan di kalangan masyarakat kita, termasuk keluarga dan belia berisiko, dan para pesalah dan bekas banduan yang kurang sokongan keluarga.

[End of Malay segment]

Indian Community Partners

46. Sir, we will also enhance engagement with our Indian community partners to support the rehabilitation and reintegration journey of Indian inmates, ex-offenders and their families.

47. We will improve recruitment of volunteers through engaging organisations with extensive networks, such as SINDA. We will also work with community partners to streamline training for new volunteers involved in providing faith-based counselling.

48. In addition, Prisons will develop a directory of rehabilitation programmes and services to enhance awareness of resources available in the Indian community. This will facilitate inter-agency coordination to enable agencies to better meet the beneficiaries’ needs.

Road Safety and Active Mobility Device (AMD) Fires

49. I will move on to address MPs’ cuts on road safety.

50. Mr Pritam Singh asked how we can improve public participation in our road safety efforts, such as encouraging the reporting of dangerous driving practices. We urge the public to report traffic violations via our e-Feedback on Road User portal. We have observed a consistent upward trend of such reports since the portal’s introduction.

51. Mr Singh suggested providing financial incentives for reporting traffic violations. However, this may lead to false or exaggerated reports for financial gain.

52. Mr Singh suggested reintroducing speed warning lights on the top of commercial vehicles. Those lights were mandated of light goods vehicles in the early 1980s.

53. Since April 2001, such lights were no longer required by LTA due to feedback that they increased the overall height of the vehicle, causing accessibility issues into carparks, which was both an inconvenience and safety hazard.

54. On balance, we do not think we should reintroduce such lights. We will instead rely on other means of detecting speeding vehicles such as more speed cameras.

55. Ms Sylvia Lim asked if the licence renewal process for seniors could be improved. Currently, two letters are sent, 10 weeks and 4 weeks before the driver’s 65th birthday, to remind them to complete the necessary procedures. If they have not done so by their 65th birthday, their licence ceases to be valid, and the Traffic Police sends them a third letter. The third letter will inform the drivers to submit their medical report within 3 years to reinstate the licence, failing which, they would have to apply anew for a licence, including going through the various tests. We believe the current process provides sufficient notice and time to the driver to comply with the requirement.

56. In 2024, the Traffic Police redesigned the notification letters to use visual aids, making it easier for seniors to understand what they need to do.

57. Ms Lim also asked if the medical examination requirement for seniors to renew their licence can be deferred to a later age. Any increase in the age at which a medical examination is required, would need to take into consideration the possible adverse impact on the safety of other road users. We do not plan to do so at this time.

58. Before I end, let me also address Mr Derrick Goh’s cut on mitigating the fire risks posed by Active Mobility Devices, or AMDs.

59. The Active Mobility Fire Safety Taskforce, co-chaired by LTA and SCDF, launched the “Be Device-Safe” programme in 2023. The programme educates users of motorised AMDs the risk of AMD-related fires and how to safely procure, use, maintain and dispose of such devices.

60. In September 2024, we unveiled a refreshed campaign with new visuals.

61. SCDF will also continue to disseminate advisories on AMD fires via social media and mainstream media.

62. MOT’s COS debate will further address enforcement measures against AMDs.

Conclusion

63. Sir, it is incumbent upon us all to ensure a safe and secure Singapore.

64. Last year, we encouraged members of this House to show your support by wearing the green and white ribbon for a drug-free Singapore, and the yellow ribbon for giving second chances to ex-offenders. This year, we seek your continued support, by wearing the ribbons again, which can be collected at the Parliament Library.

65. Sir, thank you, Mr Chairman.