Parliament
Chan Chun Sing: MOE ensures rigorous testing and international standards before acquiring software services
Education Minister Chan Chun Sing assured that rigorous tests, including vulnerability assessments and penetration tests, are conducted before acquiring software services. During 10 September Parliamentary sitting, he addressed questions from Workers’ Party MPs Gerald Giam and Dennis Tan, who scrutinised the tests conducted on Mobile Guardian before the August cyberattack.
SINGAPORE: Education Minister Chan Chun Sing assured that rigorous tests, including vulnerability assessments and penetration tests, are conducted before acquiring any software service.
During the parliamentary session on 10 September, Minister Chan responded to questions from Workers’ Party Members of Parliament Gerald Giam and Dennis Tan, who scrutinised the extent of vulnerability assessments and penetration tests conducted on Mobile Guardian.
Mr Giam inquired whether all vulnerabilities discovered before the August cyberattack were addressed and whether such tests were conducted before the app was initially rolled out.
He expressed concern about the severe impact on students, especially those facing exams, due to the cyberattack.
He questioned whether the Ministry of Education (MOE) had backed up student data during the period Mobile Guardian was used.
Mr Dennis Tan, WP MP for Hougang SMC, uestioned whether vulnerability assessments and penetration testing were conducted on Mobile Guardian before its deployment and whether such tests will be carried out regularly in the future.
Following the cyberattack on Mobile Guardian in August, which affected 13,000 users across 26 secondary schools, the Ministry of Education has initiated legal action against the relevant contractors.
In response, Minister Chan confirmed that vulnerability assessments and penetration tests are carried out periodically, with patches applied as issues are discovered.
The tests conducted in June and July identified vulnerabilities that were addressed progressively.
However, he could not comment on whether these vulnerabilities contributed directly or indirectly to the subsequent cyberattack until the full forensic investigation is completed.
Minister Chan explained that before the government acquires any service, various tests are performed to ensure that the systems meet international standards.
This approach is consistent for all services, including Mobile Guardian.
He assured that regular assessments will be conducted moving forward and that lessons learned from the breach will inform future service provider assessments.
On the topic of backups, Chan explained that while MOE handles system-level backups, the responsibility for individual backups rests with users.
“it will not be possible for the system to back up the individual (data) all the time, because the individual you need to decide what you want to back up.”
He noted that, similar to personal devices, students are expected to back up their own data.
Although most students had successfully backed up their information, a small percentage experienced data loss due to inadequate individual backups.
Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Hazel Poa from the Progress Singapore Party also asked about the learning points from this episode with respect to the service provider assessment process.
Minister Chan responded that agencies must choose between general, widely available services or highly customized solutions.
General services are more accessible and adaptable due to a larger subscriber base but may not fully meet specific needs.
Customized services can be tailored to exact requirements but might lack comprehensive support and updates.
He emphasized the importance of finding a balance between these options based on the agency’s specific needs and risk profiles.
Parliament
Minister Shanmugam rejects request for detailed information on visa-free visitor offences: Cites bilateral considerations
Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam rejected Workers’ Party MP He Ting Ru’s request for detailed statistics on visa-free visitors involved in crimes, citing bilateral concerns. He affirmed current screening measures are sufficient, with no plans for an electronic travel authorisation system.
On 10 September 2024, Minister for Home Affairs and Law, Mr K Shanmugam, refused to provide detailed information requested by Workers’ Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Sengkang GRC, Ms He Ting Ru, regarding visa-free visitors involved in criminal offences in Singapore.
Ms He had asked for statistics on how many visa-free visitors had been arrested or identified as persons of interest for criminal activities from 2021 to June 2024, along with a breakdown of offences by type, number, and country of origin.
She also queried the consideration of enhanced screening measures and the possibility of introducing an electronic travel authorisation system similar to those in other jurisdictions.
In his written response, Mr Shanmugam stated that with over 150 countries on the visa-free entry list, it would not be practical or meaningful to publish crime statistics specific to visitors from these nations.
He added that doing so could carry bilateral implications and potentially send the wrong message to bona fide visitors from these countries.
Mr Shanmugam affirmed that Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) employs a risk-based, multi-layered approach to balance border security with traveller facilitation and assured that the current measures are sufficient. He reiterated that there were no immediate plans to implement an electronic travel authorisation regime, as it would increase inconvenience for visitors.
“We are satisfied with the current measures, and for now, do not see a need for an additional electronic travel authorisation regime. Also, such a regime will make visiting Singapore more inconvenient,” said Mr Shanmugam.
This response followed an oral reply delivered earlier that day by Minister of State (MOS) for Home Affairs, Ms Sun Xueling, who addressed a related question posed by Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Mr Leong Mun Wai from the Progress Singapore Party (PSP).
Mr Leong had expressed concerns about the potential rise in crime following the introduction of a 30-day visa exemption arrangement for Chinese nationals in February 2024. He specifically questioned whether the recent burglaries involving foreign syndicates had any link to this exemption and whether automated lanes at Changi Airport increased the risk of non-bona fide travellers entering the country.
Ms Sun refuted Mr Leong’s concerns, clarifying that there had been no increase in arrests among short-term visitors from China since the visa exemption came into effect.
She noted that the arrest rate of Chinese visitors had, in fact, decreased compared to the previous year. While acknowledging the involvement of some foreign nationals in criminal activity, she highlighted that the visa regime alone cannot eliminate all risks. Instead, ICA employs enhanced technology, such as biometrics and advanced data analytics, to screen travellers.
Ms Sun also emphasised the importance of the tourism sector to Singapore’s economy, generating S$27.2 billion in receipts in 2023 and employing over 71,000 workers. She argued that closing borders to prevent crimes would not be a viable solution, especially given Singapore’s competition with neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Thailand, which are also working to attract Chinese visitors.
Despite further calls from Mr Leong for additional security measures and tougher penalties for cross-border crimes, Ms Sun reassured that the government continually reviews its laws, including the Criminal Procedure Code and Penal Code, to address transnational crimes such as human trafficking, drug trafficking, and online scams.
She affirmed that Singapore remains vigilant in adapting its laws and measures to combat evolving criminal trends.
Parliament
Leong Mun Wai questions why NTUC leaders often come from the ruling party
During the Platform Workers Bill debate on 10 Sept, Mr Leong Mun Wai, NCMP from the Progress Singapore Party, backed WP MP Gerald Giam’s call for an independent NTUC. He expressed concerns about NTUC’s ties to the ruling party, questioning its independence given that its leaders are often from the PAP.
SINGAPORE: Mr Leong Mun Wai, Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) from the Progress Singapore Party, voiced support for the Workers’ Party and its MP Gerald Giam’s call for an independent and non-partisan NTUC, separate from the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).
During a parliamentary debate on the Platform Workers Bill on Tuesday (10 Sept), Mr Leong acknowledged that tripartism is a fundamental aspect of governance that all parties, including opposition ones, seek to foster.
He noted that unions naturally seek political power to effect change but expressed concerns about the extent of NTUC’s relationship with the ruling party.
However he questioned the level of NTUC’s independence from the government.
He pointed out that the NTUC’s secretary-general is often a minister or former minister and that many NTUC leaders come from the ruling party.
“Can you find another trade union in the world where the trade union chief is a minister? Are there any countries? Please let me know if there are,” Mr Leong asked, further noting that few opposition politicians are given appointments in NTUC.
“I think we are entitled to think that the independence of NTUC ought to be better than this.”
Earlier, PAP MP Christopher De Souza criticized MP Gerald Giam for using the term “tether” to describe the NTUC-PAP relationship, emphasizing that the NTUC operates through partnership, alliance, and solidarity rather than subordination.
In response, Mr Giam clarified that when he used the terms “tether” or “untether,” he meant that the NTUC and the PAP should be separate and independent organizations.
He sought to ensure that NTUC does not appear to be biased towards the ruling party.
Mr Giam also raised concerns about NTUC’s structure, particularly questioning why the Platform Associations need a Council of Advisors with the power to dismiss the Executive Council and why these advisors are predominantly PAP members or MPs.
He suggested that this structure indicates a lack of independence for NTUC.
The current NTUC secretary-general is Ng Chee Meng, a former PAP minister who assumed the position in 2018 and continues to hold it despite losing to WP’s new team in GE2020.
-
Comments7 days ago
Christopher Tan criticizes mrt breakdown following decade-long renewal program
-
Comments3 days ago
Netizens question Ho Ching’s praise for Chee Hong Tat’s return from overseas trip for EWL disruption
-
Crime2 weeks ago
Leaders of Japanese syndicate accused of laundering S$628.7M lived in Singapore
-
Current Affairs2 weeks ago
Chee Soon Juan questions Shanmugam’s $88 million property sale amid silence from Mainstream Media
-
Singapore6 days ago
SMRT updates on restoration progress for East-West Line; Power rail completion expected today
-
Singapore7 days ago
Chee Hong Tat: SMRT to replace 30+ rail segments on damaged EWL track with no clear timeline for completion
-
Singapore5 days ago
Train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista to remain disrupted until 1 Oct due to new cracks on East-West Line
-
Singapore4 days ago
Lee Hsien Yang pays S$619,335 to Ministers Shanmugam and Balakrishnan in defamation suit to protect family home