SINGAPORE: Parliament is gearing up for a crucial session on Monday (18 Sept) as Members of Parliament (MPs) prepare to delve into a range of pressing issues that have gripped the nation’s attention. Among the key topics to be discussed are the billion-dollar money laundering case, a disturbing incident at a Kinderland preschool, and concerns over electoral processes.
More than 20 MPs have submitted questions regarding Singapore’s largest money laundering case. Last week, 10 foreigners faced charges in court after authorities seized and froze approximately S$1 billion in assets. These assets included properties, vehicles, luxury goods, and gold bars. This marked one of the most extensive police investigations into money laundering and forgery offences in Singapore’s history.
Some of the questions raised by parliamentarians include the government’s plans to enhance scrutiny of individuals from “golden passport” jurisdictions, the necessity of tightening anti-money laundering laws, the number of money laundering cases reported by financial institutions, and the extent to which real estate transactions were obstructed once the case came to light.
The Kinderland child abuse incident has also sparked significant concern among MPs. Parliamentarians seek answers on how the Early Childhood Development Agency intends to improve the quality of childcare services, measures to protect whistleblowers, the mental health support provided to affected children and their families, and whether regulations mandating the installation of closed-circuit televisions in preschool education centres should be implemented in advance.
The issue of 200 eligible voters omitted from the electoral roll during the 2023 presidential election is also expected to be discussed, with Leader of the Opposition and Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh set to question any past incidents of a similar nature and the measures authorities plan to undertake to prevent such occurrences in the future. Some MPs will also inquire about the number of polling stations that experienced technical difficulties during the presidential election.
Monday’s session will also see three amendment bills receive their first reading. These include amendments to the Income Tax Act, the Free Trade Zones Act, and the Societies Act.
WP chairperson and Aljunied GRC MP Sylvia Lim is also introducing a motion addressing the losses incurred due to fraud and malware scams. This motion underscores the growing concern surrounding cyber threats and the need for comprehensive measures to safeguard individuals and organizations from digital threats.