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CNA
a day ago
- Health
- CNA
Commentary: Singapore's journey from cybersecurity to cybermaturity
SINGAPORE: Seven years ago, Singaporeans were shocked when a cyberattack resulted in the theft of personal data belonging to about 1.5 million SingHealth patients, including then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Yet, 2018 seems almost like a different age when it comes to cyberthreats. Last June, a ransomware attack on a service provider to the United Kingdom's National Health Service disrupted operations in some hospitals, resulting in thousands of postponed surgeries and appointments. The hackers published almost 400GB of patient data on the dark web subsequently. In February the same year, a ransomware attack in the United States compromised the data of about 190 million people and disrupted insurance processing that left patients the choice of delaying treatment if they could not pay out of pocket. Halfway through 2025, there is no end in sight for the proliferation of this type of attack. A wave of attacks against prominent British retailers began in late April, with Marks & Spencer losing £1 billion (US$1.35 billion) in market value and another £300 million in lost profit expected. In the 10 years since Singapore's Cyber Security Agency (CSA) was set up in April 2015, technology has evolved considerably, and with it has come an expansion of the threat surface. Enterprises are increasingly moving to the cloud, where attackers now exploit weak identity and access management. Malicious actors have also taken to scams, fuelled by AI-generated content and deepfakes. Some target software supply chains or phish employees; others engage in hacktivism. By sheer scale and scope, the lines between cybercrime and cyberthreats to national security have blurred. NOT JUST REACTING Singapore has not confined itself to reacting to an evolving threat environment. It has shored up defences and increased awareness, within government and the private sector, through the creation of Singapore's first Cybersecurity Strategy, the Cybersecurity Act and the Safe Cyberspace Masterplan. These ensure that organisations, particularly in the private sector, have the incentives and tools to implement cybersecurity measures and manage risks before any attacks occur. Amid the increasing use of AI in cyberattacks, CSA launched in 2024 a comprehensive framework for organisations to manage cybersecurity risks throughout the AI system lifecycle. Its SG Cyber Safe programme offers resources such as toolkits and certification schemes like Cyber Trust marks to guide businesses in implementing cybersecurity measures. Cyber diplomacy is also a key aspect, since malicious cyber activity and cybercrime knows no borders. Protecting the digital sovereignty of our country is just as important as safeguarding physical boundaries. Singapore recognises that having a seat at the table to discuss on the dos and don'ts of state cyber activity, is critical for a small state. When, in 2018, the United Nations Group of Government Experts (GGE) was undermined by disagreements between rival blocs, Singapore led ASEAN states to adopt the GGE's voluntary norms of state behaviour in cyberspace. This took place during the Singapore International Cyber Week, which has itself become the key node for regional cyber discussions. Singapore's Ambassador to the United Nations, Burhan Gafoor, has garnered praise for his chairing of the UN's Open-Ended Working Group on cybersecurity and information technology. Singapore has also been a responsible stakeholder when it comes to cyber capacity building, establishing the ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence in 2019. REALISTIC APPRAISAL OF THE ROAD AHEAD In considering strategies Singapore can pursue, we should not be under any illusions about what can be done. Some cyber practitioners have pushed for 'attributing' cyberattacks, believing that calling out malicious conduct may prevent recurrences. For example, US lawmakers have blamed the Salt Typhoon attacks on US telecommunications infrastructure on Chinese groups. While large states with well-resourced cyber offensive capabilities may take this view, Singapore's position is somewhat different. Observers would have noticed that there was no official attribution of the actor behind the cyberattacks against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2014, nor on SingHealth in 2018. In the latter case, it was made known that a state-backed advanced persistent threat was most likely responsible, but this is as far as the authorities went. This is a space where the threat actors can cover their tracks through technical means, and even our close partners may probe our cyber defences or attempt to exfiltrate valuable information (especially if they feel they can get away with it without being caught). In any case, a small state cannot afford to take the aggressive posture that others do, threatening retaliatory measures in response to every incident. One major challenge is also in identifying and grooming the next generation of cyber defenders, when there is already currently a shortage of cybersecurity professionals in Singapore as is the case globally. FROM SECURITY TO RESILIENCE What more can be done? Cybermaturity requires a mindset shift that recognises cybersecurity as a critical national and personal priority. With CSA as the overall guide, more agencies will need, increasingly, to have skin in the game when it comes to covering digital threats. This process has already started. When one falls victim to online scams or ransomware, one generally thinks to call the police, not the CSA. Under the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA) that came into effect last year, the Ministry of Home Affairs has the powers to deal with online content which facilitate malicious cyber activities. Technological solutions to counter the malicious use of deepfakes are also something that the SPF is working on, with the Home Team Science and Technology Agency. Beyond policies and frameworks, real resilience requires deeper public investment: a cultural change, greater individual responsibility and baseline awareness. CSA surveys consistently show a troubling gap: There is widespread acknowledgement of the importance of cybersecurity, but considerably fewer believe they are personally at risk. Awareness is also low in key areas such as Internet of Things (IoT) security, even as more invest in smart homes. Silos make us vulnerable to threat actors who are using new tools with increasing sophistication and devolution. For the next leg of our cyber journey, it's worth bearing in mind how CSA CEO David Koh sees it: We need to 'assume breach'. This principle encourages not simply vigilance, but the ability to ensure continuity in a compromised environment. This is the digital future we will have to live with – one brimming with promise, and also peril.
Independent Singapore
2 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Singapore's soaring ambitions: Changi Airport and SIA prepare for the next takeoff
'Build and they will come' may be the idea behind the construction of Changi Airport's Terminal 5, which will be able to handle another 50 million passengers annually when the first phase is completed in the mid-2030s. The airport already seems to have excess capacity. With a capacity to handle 90 million passengers annually, Changi recorded 68.4 million passenger movements in the financial year 2024/25 ended March 31, according to a Changi Airport Group (CAG) press release dated May 24. That was more than any recent year. Passenger movements totalled 62.5 million in 2023/24 and 42.6 million in 2022/23 after dropping during COVID to 5.2 million in 2021/22 and 1.1 million in 2020/21 from 62.9 million in 2019/20, according to the CAG 2024 annual report. Changi Airport's soaring profit However, despite operating below capacity, the airport is a goldmine. Net profit jumped from S$431 million in 2023/24 to S$841 million in 2024/25. Revenue grew from S$2.7 billion to S$3 billion in tandem with the rise in passenger traffic. One of the world's busiest airports, Changi now links Singapore directly to about 170 cities globally, with close to 100 airlines operating more than 7,200 flights weekly. Passenger movements were much lower – 53.7 million a year – when the Terminal 5 construction project was announced by the then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2013. He said then that the new terminal would double the airport's passenger capacity. Changi didn't have to be so big at the time, but the planners were building for the future. See also Education: Goodbye Streaming, Hello Full Subject-Based Banding Aviation is a business run on high hopes and big dreams. The business just had a bumper year. 'Airlines delivered a combined net profit of $32.4 billion in 2024 when passenger numbers reached a new high of 4.8 billion,' says the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in its 2025 Annual Review. SIA Group profit and revenue The SIA Group rode this wave of growth with resounding success. It posted a record net profit of S$2.8 billion in 2024/25, bolstered by a one-off non-cash gain of S$1.1 billion from the Air India–Vistara merger. Together, SIA and its low-cost subsidiary Scoot carried a record 39.4 million passengers while group revenue reached a new high of S$19.54 billion. As of March 31, 2025, the SIA Group operated a fleet of 205 aircraft with an average age of seven years and eight months. This included 145 passenger planes and seven freighters under SIA, and 53 passenger aircraft under Scoot. In April 2025, the group added one Airbus A321neo and one Boeing 787-8 — and, as of May 1, the group had another 78 aircraft on order. Its combined passenger network spanned 128 destinations across 36 countries and territories, with SIA serving 79 destinations and Scoot flying to 71. See also A four-step video in renewed attempt for clean toilets Both Changi Airport and SIA continue to shine on the global stage. Changi was named Skytrax World's Best Airport in 2025, while Singapore Airlines ranked second in Skytrax's 2024 list of the world's best airlines, just behind Qatar Airways. Fierce competition Yet, the competition is fierce. In Northeast Asia, Hong Kong International Airport and Incheon International Airport (Seoul) are major contenders, supported by carriers like Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, and Asiana Airlines. Within Southeast Asia, Changi faces regional rivals in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Kuala Lumpur International, and Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta airports. Airlines such as Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, and fast-growing low-cost carriers like AirAsia and Lion Air offer aggressive pricing and expansive networks. Further afield, Middle Eastern giants like Dubai International and Doha's Hamad International, along with their flagship carriers Emirates and Qatar Airways, also compete heavily in the long-haul and transit passenger segments. Despite this, Singapore's aviation ecosystem enjoys key competitive advantages. Changi is widely praised for its efficiency, passenger experience, and seamless connectivity. SIA's reputation for exceptional service, a modern fleet, and strategic global partnerships enhances its appeal to international travellers. Looking ahead, growth prospects remain strong. The rise of the Asian middle class, increasing disposable incomes, and an appetite for international travel are likely to fuel sustained demand. For Singapore, a well-connected aviation hub is vital—not just for tourism, but for trade, investment, and its standing as a global business centre. 'The aviation ecosystem now contributes 5% of our GDP, and creates and sustains many good jobs for Singaporeans,' as Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said at the Terminal 5 groundbreaking ceremony on May 14. Nonetheless, challenges persist. Geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and the aviation industry's urgent need to adopt sustainable practices demand vigilance and adaptability. Environmental pressures are rising: airlines are under scrutiny to reduce emissions. In response, SIA is exploring sustainable aviation fuels and acquiring more fuel-efficient aircraft, while Changi is rolling out energy-saving measures and tapping renewable energy sources. The airline and the airport's efforts to reduce carbon emissions and save energy stem from the same vision that underpins Terminal 5. This is more than just infrastructure expansion—it is a statement of intent. Singapore is building for the future. The terminal may seem outsized for today, but it is designed for tomorrow, befitting a nation that will continue to grow. Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)
AsiaOne
29-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
MHA to conduct social experiments in June to gauge public vigilance, response to terror threats, Singapore News
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will be conducting a series of social experiments to understand the level of public vigilance and response to terror threats. In a press statement on Thursday (May 29), MHA said that the experiments are part of the SGSecure movement and will be conducted between early to mid-June in the heartlands. The experiments are controlled, and will involve planned scenarios with actors and realistic props. MHA said that the experiments will be "executed with careful oversight to ensure that they are carried out safely, with minimal inconvenience to members of the public". Authorities will also be on standby to safeguard the public during the exercise. The social experiments will also be recorded, and footage will subsequently be used to create an educational web series to raise awareness on key SGSecure advisories on how to respond to terror attacks — like "Run, Hide, Tell" and "Press, Tie, Tell". The first episode of the web series is slated for release on July 30, along with more details on the results of the experiments. MHA also reminded members of the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities promptly. SGSecure movement The SGSecure movement was officially launched in September 2016 by then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, with the goal of training and mobilising Singaporeans to handle crises like terrorist attacks. The SGSecure mobile application launched at that time allows users to make mobile reports on emergencies and has various features like maps for locating emergency facilities, and social media sharing options for SGSecure alerts. It also allows the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force to send emergency alerts to the public, and enables the public to report suspicious activities. SGSecure entered its current phase with the tagline 'What's Your Role?' in July 2023 to inspire Singaporeans and leverage their individual strengths to help counter terrorism. In April, the SGSecure Programme Office launched a SGSecure-themed storybook for young children, in an effort to educate the new generation of youths on the importance of safety and security. [[nid:715151]]
CNA
26-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Singapore leaders send condolences to Vietnamese counterparts after death of ex-president Tran Duc Luong
SINGAPORE: Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong sent condolence letters to their Vietnamese counterparts on Monday (May 26) after the death of Tran Duc Luong, the country's former president. Mr Luong, who served as Vietnam's president from 1997 to 2006, died on May 20 at the age of 88. 'President Luong served his country with steadfast determination during a time of profound transformation for Vietnam,' wrote Mr Tharman in a letter to Vietnam President Luong Cuong. Mr Tharman noted Mr Luong's role in Vietnam's integration into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) following its formal accession in 1995. He also steered the country through the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. 'His contributions were immense, and will be remembered,' he said. In a letter to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Mr Lee said he was greatly saddened to hear of Mr Luong's death. Mr Lee recalled meeting Mr Luong during his introductory visit to Vietnam in December 2004 as then-prime minister of Singapore. 'President Luong was a statesman who devoted his life to serving his country,' wrote Mr Lee. 'Under his leadership, Vietnam advanced steadily along its reform path and deepened its engagement with Singapore and the rest of the region. He played a crucial role in laying the foundation for the enduring trust and friendship between our two countries.'
Malay Mail
24-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Singapore PM Lawrence Wong, new Cabinet sworn in after PAP election victory
SINGAPORE, May 24 — Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong led the swearing-in of the Cabinet for the new term of government at the Istana yesterday, following the People's Action Party's (PAP) resounding victory at the May 3 general election. The ceremony, broadcast live on television and streamed on social media platforms, began at about 8 pm with the national anthem, Majulah Singapura, followed by a speech from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Wong, who also serves as Finance Minister, took and signed the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath for the Due Execution of Office before President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon. The Prime Minister was then presented with the instrument of appointment by the President. Next to be sworn in were Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, and the three coordinating ministers. They are Coordinating Minister for National Security and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing, and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Health Minister Ong Ye Kung. Subsequently, nine Ministers, 12 Senior Ministers of State and eight Ministers of State were also sworn in. All ministers took and signed the Affirmation of Allegiance and the Affirmation for the Due Execution of Office and received their instruments of appointment from the President. One additional Minister of State, Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, will be sworn in at a later date, as his appointment takes effect from Feb 1, 2026. The senior parliamentary secretaries will also be sworn in at a later date. Wong announced his new Cabinet lineup on Wednesday (May 21). — Bernama
