Latest news with #LawandHomeAffairs
Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Singapore part of new coalition to tackle drug trafficking, abuse: Shanmugam
Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam addressing attendees of the Asia-Pacific Forum Against Drugs at Furama Riverfront Hotel on May 15. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO SINGAPORE - The Republic will be part of a new regional coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse. The group, called the Asia-Pacific Confederation against Drugs (APCD), will push for the creation of drug-free societies and stronger drug demand reduction efforts. The founding group will include members from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Hong Kong. On May 15, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam announced the formation of the coalition and said Singapore will be represented by the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association. Mr Shanmugam, who was accompanied by Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, was speaking at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Forum Against Drugs held at Furama RiverFront Hotel in Havelock Road. More than 300 coalition members, NGOs, partners, overseas correctional officers and local government officials are expected to attend the forum, which will take place from May 15 to 17. Mr Shanmugam, who is also Law Minister, said the APCD will strengthen regional cooperation through joint programmes, and speak up against the rising tide of liberal policies and misinformation on drugs. He announced this in the wake of the rising threat of potent synthetic drugs like fentanyl. He said Malaysia had detected traces of the opioid in its sewage systems in March, suggesting that locals were abusing the drug there. Said Mr Shanmugam: '(Fentanyl) is 50 times more potent than heroin, and its effects have been devastating. 'Between 2018 and 2022, or a 5-year period, over 250,000 Americans died from fentanyl overdose. In 2022 alone, there were about 200 people dying in the US every single day.' Mr Shanmugam added that the total number of deaths from fentanyl overdose in the US outnumbered the total number of people who have died in all of America's wars, including the Second World War, and the ones in Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan. He said unlike traditional plant-based drugs like cocaine or heroin, synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine, ketamine and fentanyl can be produced anywhere, even in the backyard of someone's house. He noted Myanmar is already one of the world's largest manufacturers of synthetic drugs, and one of the biggest hosts of organised crime in the world. 'The situation in our region is also worrying… This is happening right at our doorstep. But given how interconnected the world is, what happens in Myanmar has deep implications all over the world,' he said. He added that the rapid liberalisation of cannabis controls around the world has fuelled an increase in demand. A report by the United Nations estimated there are 228 million cannabis users globally in 2022. This is despite clear medical evidence that the use of cannabis can cause irreversible brain damage and serious psychiatric disorders, Mr Shanmugam said. Statistics by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) show that in 2024, more than half of new cannabis abusers arrested in Singapore were below 30, which suggested a growing permissiveness among young people towards the drug. The report showed methamphetamine, heroin and cannabis were the most commonly abused drugs in Singapore that year. Mr Shanmugam said a false narrative that cannabis is a 'soft drug' has been largely driven by commercial entities, similar to how tobacco corporations marketed smoking in the 1990s. '(Tobacco corporations) ran advertisements of doctors saying smoking was good for health. They even introduced flavoured cigarettes to make it more appealing to the younger generation. Cannabis companies are likewise downplaying the risks, driven by profits. They are also trying to entice the young,' he said. Mr Shanmugam said he had heard how cannabis lobby groups had argued for the drug's use as medicinal tools when he attended international forums, including at a United Nations forum. He said he would only support the use of cannabis for medical use if a national medical association said it required the drug for treatment. He added: 'But I won't support it if it is some company that is profiting from the use of cannabis that wants to legalise it without any controls, and is trying to do it in the form of candy to 10-year-olds.' He stressed Singapore will remain resolute in maintaining its tough stance against drugs, explaining that countries should be under no illusions about the difficulty in dealing with the global drug problem. He explained the Republic's death penalty is most commonly used for drug traffickers, and that these criminals are only focused on making money out of the death and misery of others. He said: 'And so we make our laws very clear. We tell people you traffic in drugs, you face the death penalty, and we impose it.' Mr Shanmugam said the global drug trade was a multi-billion dollar industry with powerful, vested interests. It exploits the vulnerable, corrupts state institutions, and undermines the will of governments to tackle this problem, undermining the fabric of societies, all for profit. He said: 'Challenging as it may be, we have to press on, because we have morality and right on our side, and it is the right thing to do.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
AsiaOne
10-05-2025
- AsiaOne
'This is not who we are as a people': Shanmugam on Yishun community cat found killed; feeder appeals for witnesses , Singapore News
Minister for Law and Home Affairs K. Shanmugam has deemed the recent killing of a community cat in Yishun to be "appalling cruelty". The 66-year-old, who is also a member of parliament in Nee Soon GRC where the incident took place, made a Facebook post on Friday (May 9) night. "A community cat in Yishun had been tortured, eyes gouged out, body cut up and organs split," he wrote, pondering what kind of person would do such a thing. "This is not who we are as a people." Earlier that day, a Facebook user, identified as Min Kaung by The Straits Times, posted on the Sayang Our Singapore's Community Cats page that "a cat killer is at large in Yishun" and appealed for witnesses at the Oleander Breeze @ Yishun HDB estate, where a tabby-and-white cat was found "tortured to death". In her photos, the cat had a collar on. "The cat's name is King Kong and he was well-loved. I fed him daily and cannot believe this news," she added. Another post was made on the same page by a user going by Janet CashCash Chin, showing an uncensored photo of King Kong's body, which appeared to be disemboweled with his eyes gouged out. Adding the merits of rehoming community cats, she wrote: "As long the cats are on the streets, it's never safe, especially when you know there are cat haters around." Speaking to The Straits Times, Min Kaung, 25, said that the cat's body was found at around 6.15am on the road at the entrance to the HDB estate, and she suspected that it was placed there to appear as a victim of a hit-and-run. [[nid:705326]] However, she told the publication that cats' bodies would usually be crushed in such cases, and King Kong's body was not. "His eyes looked gouged out and his left thigh and body looked [like it was] slashed by sharp objects," she added. Min Kaung hoped King Kong would receive justice as he was a "caring and loving cat", and said that pet lovers in Nee Soon South are currently looking out for the three other community cats that reside there. National Parks Board's (NParks) group director of enforcement and investigation Jessica Kwok told The Straits Times that they had received feedback about a cat that was found dead in Yishun Street 51 and were looking into the incident. Kwok advised the public to promptly report any suspected cases of animal cruelty, and that NParks takes all feedback received on it seriously. Members of the public can call NParks' Animal Response Centre on 1800-476-1600. "As with all investigations, all forms of evidence are crucial to the process, and photographic and/or video-graphic evidence provided by the public will help," Kwok added. [[nid:716149]] drimac@
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
GE2025: First-time PAP candidates in Nee Soon GRC have roots in area and wider community, says Shanmugam
Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – Two new faces on the PAP's Nee Soon GRC slate have ties to the constituency, and all four have a track record of community service, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam and party veteran Lee Bee Wah. They urged voters to support Ms Goh Hanyan, Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi, Mr Jackson Lam and Ms Lee Hui Ying at an April 29 rally at Yishun Stadium. The rally took place four days after Mr Ravi Philemon, secretary-general of the opposition Red Dot United, questioned the decision to field four newcomers alongside Mr Shanmugam, and raised doubts about their readiness to succeed him in time to come. Mr Philemon is leading the RDU's bid to win the five-member group representation constituency in a straight contest. The PAP had won Nee Soon GRC with 61.9 per cent of the vote against the PSP in 2020. During the rally, Ms Lee Bee Wah – a Nee Soon GRC MP from 2011 to 2020 – said in Mandarin that all five on the opposition slate were new faces to Nee Soon residents. 'How much can they know about our residents? Who doesn't know how to criticise the Government? Talk is cheap.' Ms Lee, who was known for her colourful and vocal advocacy for her constituents in Parliament, said she had mentored the younger Ms Lee for 15 years, a fact that roused the crowd into a swell of cheers, applause and blaring air horns. 'Someone asked me, what is Hui Ying like? I told them, Hui Ying has a bit of Lee Bee Wah in her – a straight talker, sincere and hard-working.' Ms Lee Bee Wah, 64, also pledged to continue guiding Ms Lee Hui Ying should the younger Ms Lee, 36, be elected. She said the younger Ms Lee has helped her with Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS) and house visits, and served in the constituency's youth executive committee, among other things. She also said Mr Lam, 40, is a familiar face in Nee Soon – one who grew up in the constituency – calling him 'the Yishun boy'. 'I have worked with him many times and I know he is a man of action,' she said. Mr Shanmugam also spoke up in support of all four candidates, noting that Ms Goh and Dr Syed Harun are new to Nee Soon but bring with them long years of service to the community. Ms Goh, 39, was formerly a director in the Smart Nation Strategy Office and the national artificial intelligence group for policy and strategy at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information. Before that, she had a stint in the strategy group of the Prime Minister's Office, after spending around a decade at the Economic Development Board. Dr Syed Harun, 40, is a psychiatrist by training who has, among other volunteer work, been a board member of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore for seven years. Mr Shanmugam indicated that appointments to political office are on the cards for both Ms Goh and Dr Syed Harun. 'If this team gets elected, and if the Prime Minister has space, and he thinks like I do, which sometimes is the case, then you will have three office-holders in Nee Soon,' he said. In their speeches, the four first-time candidates set out their plans for Nee Soon residents if elected. Mr Lam, who heads a pest management and cleaning firm, said he would seek the roll-out of more active ageing programmes, better accessibility and strong community care for the elderly. He also spoke of providing second chances to young people facing challenging circumstances, and promised to draw on his experience of owning a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) to speak up for local businesses. 'I fully understand the difficulties and challenges SMEs are facing, especially in such global uncertainty. A strong, stable PAP government gives me the confidence to excel.' Ms Lee Hui Ying said she hopes that Nee Soon would be a home where seniors can live well and stay active, families can grow stronger with good support, and youth chase their dreams without fear. This would involve increasing availability of good eldercare services, sport facilities and childcare facilities, she said. She also said that becoming a candidate in the GRC meant that her journey has come full circle, after having spent nearly two decades volunteering in the area. For his part, Dr Syed Harun said the PAP team hopes to build not just physical infrastructure, but also 'paths of life that offer shelter, protection and hope'. This includes community initiatives for those struggling with rising costs, as well as supporting education for children and enhancing care for seniors. He also spoke about the need to strengthen harmony across races and religions, even as communities seek to preserve their cultural values, heritage and identity. 'That is Yishun's true strength. We are all diverse, but we are united, and it is what we must preserve in Singapore and never ever let anyone else suggest or tell us otherwise.' Ms Goh spoke of three values – kindness, hope and strength – that she said would help Singapore navigate future challenges. Being a society built on kindness involves supporting families and caregivers, Ms Goh said. She outlined policies already in place, including increasing caregiving grants and adopting flexible working arrangements. Hope for the future means creating jobs for all Singaporeans – ones that students and young people are excited to fill, and ones that tap the wisdom and experience of older workers, she added. On strength, Ms Goh said a vote for the PAP is a choice to keep Singapore strong, build the kind of future that children here deserve and make Singapore a place to dream. All five candidates – the four new faces and Mr Shanmugam – repeatedly referenced the slogan for their campaign: 'Residents First'. Addressing the audience at the rally, Mr Shanmugam, who is 66, asked: 'How many of you would have seen a video of something that happened at my MPS a few weeks ago?' He added, to raucous cheers: 'What did I say in the video? I look after my residents first. 'It is part of my DNA, it's part of Lee Bee Wah's DNA, it's part of the DNA of these candidates here.'
Straits Times
29-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
GE2025: GST hike necessary to address rising costs but Govt will take care of you, says Shanmugam
Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam pointed out that the top 20 per cent of earners and foreigners pay most of the GST. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR GE2025: GST hike necessary to address rising costs but Govt will take care of you, says Shanmugam Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - The goods and services tax (GST) hike was a necessary move to address rising healthcare expenses and an ageing population, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam on April 29. Speaking at a PAP rally for Nee Soon GRC at Yishun Stadium, Mr Shanmugam pointed out that by 2030, those aged 65 and older would make up a third of the population. He said: 'Healthcare costs are going up. Who is going to pay for them? How are we going to pay for them?' The GST – which was raised from 7 to 9 per cent over two years, in 2023 and 2024 – has been a hot-button issue in the General Election. Opposition parties have been critical of the move, and have sought accountability for the timing and need for its implementation. The WP, PSP and Singapore Democratic Party have called for a reduction of the GST to 7 per cent or less to alleviate cost of living pressures. Mr Shanmugam challenged such rhetoric and suggestions that the Government could tap more of the investment returns from Singapore's reserves, instead of raising taxes. 'When people tell you you can spend without having to pay for something, in a few years your future, your children's future and the country's future will go down,' he said. He pointed out that the top 20 per cent of earners and foreigners pay most of the GST. 'We take that money and we distribute that to all those people who are less well off' he said. Mr Shanmugam added that the GST hike, by design, has been cushioned by the Government's handouts. 'The majority of Singaporean households will get more money from the government than they will pay in GST for five years,' he said. 'And if you are lower income, what the government is giving you will more than pay for 10 years of GST.' He cited the GST Voucher scheme, which helps to permanently defray GST expenses for lower- to middle-income Singaporeans. Acknowledging that many people are concerned about the rising cost of living, he said: 'Never fear... economy, jobs, living expenses; as long as you are prepared to work, the Government will take care of you.' In a wide-ranging address, Mr Shanmugam – who was flanked by the five-member PAP team contesting Nee Soon GRC as well as former MP Lee Bee Wah, who used to helm the Nee Soon South ward, struck a sombre note when he spoke about the global economic climate. He spoke of the uncertainty brought about by the United States' move to impose tariffs, and the unpredictability of the US' actions. 'Maybe after three months, the position will become clearer, but you and I cannot say what's going to happen,' he said, adding that while Singapore cannot control the actions of other countries, it can prepare itself. Mr Shanmugam said: 'We are not a country that waits for trouble. We prepare beforehand.' Despite such uncertainties, he noted how discussions between Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry, and US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, have been positive. The discussions include negotiating concessions for critical exports such as pharmaceuticals, as well as facilitating access to high-end AI chips from the American market for companies here. 'I can say, without going into detail, that the discussions have been good, because there is trust – but there's a long road (ahead). Both DPM Gan and Secretary Lutnick agreed that we should try to find a solution,' said Mr Shanmugam. 'If we can find a solution, it saves jobs. It saves businesses. So we can all hope DPM Gan remains in government after May 3,' he added, referring to DPM Gan's role as anchor minister of a four-member PAP team facing off against the WP in the newly-formed Punggol GRC. Acknowledging concerns over the cost of living, Mr Shanmugam said the best way to help Singaporeans is to ensure that they get good jobs, such as by generating investments in the Republic and creating employment for Singaporeans. 'We've already put in a lot of benefits for families, because we knew some things might happen, and if they happen, we better prepare for our people... as the Prime Minister said, we will do more, if necessary.' Besides Mr Shanmugam, the PAP team contesting in Nee Soon GRC comprises four new faces: former civil servant Goh Hanyan, 39; former Nominated Member of Parliament Syed Harun Alhabsyi, 40; cleaning service and pest control company director Jackson Lam, 40; and long-time Nee Soon volunteer Lee Hui Ying, 36. They will face a Red Dot United team comprising party secretary-general Ravi Philemon, 56; RDU chair David Foo, 60; private school teacher Syed Alwi Ahmad, 57; tech start-up business director Pang Heng Chuan, 56; and IT consultant Sharon Lin, 40. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
CNA
24-04-2025
- Business
- CNA
GE2025: Important to make clear GST is taken from top and redistributed, says Shanmugam
Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam says it is important to make it clear that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is primarily paid by top income-earners and redistributed across the population. This is as Red Dot United, which will go up against a PAP team led by Mr Shanmugam in Nee Soon GRC, had suggested rolling back the GST. Alexandra Anand with more. Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam says it is important to make it clear that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is primarily paid by top income-earners and redistributed across the population. This is as Red Dot United, which will go up against a PAP team led by Mr Shanmugam in Nee Soon GRC, had suggested rolling back the GST. Alexandra Anand with more.
