Minister’s Appreciation Event – Speech by Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Social and Family Development

My colleague, Minister of State Assoc. Prof Faishal Ibrahim,

Members of Home Team Boards, Councils and Committees,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A very good evening to everyone.

Introduction

1. As we all know, Singapore remains one of the safest cities in the world. We have much to be grateful for. We ranked top in the Gallup global study on law and order in 2022.

2. This achievement is possible only because of the strong partnership with the community and our volunteers, and that is every one of you. Thank you very much – please give each and every one of us a round of applause!

Being Advocates for the Home Team

3. You have done so much for the Home Team. Beyond being general advocates for the work that we do, you have specific contributions in our BCCs.

4. On and off, we will share with you via email or social media or messaging apps, important news or messages about the Home Team.

5. We continue to seek your support to help us spread these messages around, to share these messages with your own networks. Because in this time, in this age, where we see so much danger, uncertainty and flash points around the world, making sure we have good and accurate information is extremely important to our cause.

6. I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the current security landscape that we face.

7. Three issues are topmost on our minds. Firstly, domestically, we are facing the scourge of scams. Secondly, we remain concerned about terrorism threats. Finally, we continue in our efforts to fight against drugs.

Scams

8. First, the increasing prevalence of scams.

9. You would have heard that more than $330 million was lost to scammers just this year, from January to June 2023. The total number of scams and cybercrime cases increased by almost 70% as compared to same period in 2022.

10. Now these numbers are shocking to us in Singapore. Most of the scammers are based overseas. They are adept at using technology, social media and messaging apps, to reach out to and fool potential victims.

11. There is a lot that we are doing. We work with many stakeholders – not just the Home Team. We work with IMDA, the telcos, the banks – all stakeholders who are concerned with this issue.

12. We are partnering various public and private organisations to block and take down scam calls, SMSes, online accounts and listings and websites.

13. Just on Wednesday in Parliament, I shared that telcos, at the network level, have blocked off about 180 million suspected scam calls. ScamShield, a GovTech developed app, has helped us block off 80,000 unique scam-tainted phone numbers and about 5 million SMSes.

14. We have to work closely with stakeholders to secure government services and banking channels, and we will continue to update the public on the various measures that we are taking across various channels to better protect our public.

Terrorism

15. The next point of security concern is terrorism. With the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, the threat for us here in Singapore is now higher than it has been for many years.

16. Singapore is an attractive target to foreign terrorist groups. Since the conflict started, there has been an increase in anti-Singapore rhetoric online, including violent threats against Singapore.

17. Extremist and terrorist groups are using the conflict to rile up sentiments and radicalise more individuals. Hamas has issued statements, calling on all Muslims to fight. Other terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS, have called on followers to join in a wider Jihad.

18. Regional internet traffic on extremist sites has gone up three-fold since the conflict started.

19. The heightened security risk is not just from foreign terrorist groups. Individuals may be self-radicalised by the online rhetoric about the conflict.

20. Individuals who, in the heat of the moment, can be incensed by the images they see on TV or the internet, and might do something very impulsive – they might decide to stab a Muslim or Israeli, or whoever they consider to be a sympathiser here in Singapore who sides either Israel or Hamas.

21. We already see that there have been many incidents of violence in other countries motivated by the Israeli-Hamas conflict.

22. A French teacher was fatally stabbed by a Russian-Muslim attacker in a town with sizeable Muslim and Jewish communities. A six-year-old Palestinian-American boy was fatally stabbed, and his mother wounded. An Israeli staff from the Israeli Embassy in Beijing was stabbed in front of a supermarket.

23. Our Ministry, together with other security agencies, is on heightened alert. Additional measures, such as enhanced security patrols at certain events and places, have been put in place as a precaution.

24. We assessed the risk to public safety and security, and issued advisories against organising events and public assemblies; and the public displaying foreign national emblems which are related to the conflict.

25. We have to and will deal swiftly and firmly with any remarks or acts that could potentially affect the peace and harmony of Singapore.

26. The SGSecure Movement was launched in 2016, and today, is even more important given the heightened risk we face as a consequence of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

27. It rolled out its next phase of SGSecure with the tagline, “What’s Your Role” this year to inspire Singaporeans to discover the role they can play in countering terrorism.

28. There are many roles we can play, and there is so much each and every one of us can do.

29. So the very basic things are: reporting to the authorities any suspicious behaviour, or individuals whom you suspect could have been radicalised; raising awareness of the SGSecure movement; and galvanising the community, colleagues, friends and family to participate in the SGSecure community programmes and roadshows.

30. These are everyday things that each and every one of us can contribute towards.

Drugs

31. The last area which I would like to touch on is on drugs.

32. The global drug situation is worsening. About 300 million people worldwide aged between 15 and 64 were estimated to have used drugs in 2021.

33. Worldwide, there were half a million drug-related deaths last year. We see increase in crime and drug-related violence in US states like Oregon and Philadelphia and European cities like Antwerp.

34. Regionally, there is a softening in public attitudes towards drugs, and this has influenced their government’s drug control approaches, including Thailand’s decriminalisation of cannabis use in 2022.

35. In Singapore, we have kept the drug situation under control.

36. We have strict laws against drug trafficking, including the use of the death penalty.

37. It has been an effective deterrent. We put in place a comprehensive strategy, tackling drug supply and demand.

38. In 2022, CNB seized drugs amounting to an estimated street value of more than $16 million , and arrested close to 3,000 drug abusers .

39. We continue to roll out preventive drug education efforts, and are committed to the rehabilitation of drug offenders.

40. Our overall two-year recidivism rate amongst ex-offenders remains low and stable, and is one of the lowest globally.

41. But still, there are some signs of concern. IMH did a recent survey, and found that the average age when people started abusing drugs was 16 years old .

42. Some younger Singaporeans take a more permissive attitude towards drugs, especially cannabis. They think, wrongly, that cannabis is less harmful.

43. To address this, we have formed an Inter-Ministry Committee on youth drug prevention, led by MHA, and involving MOE, MOH, MCCY, MSF, MCI, and MINDEF. Minister Shanmugam chairs this committee.

44. Our efforts focus on drug prevention efforts in homes, through parents; in schools; in the community; and during National Service as well.

45. We ask you to partner us in the fight against drugs. We need to counter misleading propaganda that using drug recreationally is permissible, and safe; and we also need to inspire Singaporeans, especially younger ones, to lead drug-free lives.

Long Service Award

46. As you can see, there are so many things that we can, and we need to do together. I have just listed out three priority areas that MHA is focused on, and you can see that close partnership is required in the community, in schools, at homes.

47. So coming back to today’s theme, it is really about our appreciation to all our members and volunteers here today. I thank you for your service and support to MHA.

48. Today we will be giving out Long Service Awards to 48 recipients. They have served between 5 and 35 years.

49. Among the recipients are three members who are receiving their 35 years Long Service Award:

(a) Mr Chng Beng Guan, currently serving in the Board of Visitors (SCDF & SPF Detention Barracks), and the Institutional Discipline Advisory Committee

(b) Mr Quah Siew Heng, currently serving in the Institutional Discipline Advisory Committee, and

(c) Mr Steven Seah, currently serving in the Drug Rehabilitation Centres Review Committee, and the Mandatory Aftercare Advisory Committee.

50. Thank you so much for your long-standing contributions to Singapore’s safety and security.

Ending

51. In conclusion, congratulations to our Long Service Award recipients, and my thanks to all BCC members for your service to the Home Team and Singapore.

52. It is only with your continued support and your contributions that we can keep Singapore safe and secure.

53. Thank you.