Law firms may be facing economic headwinds, but there are still opportunities up for grabs in the legal sector, said Law Minister K. Shanmugam yesterday.

He pledged that the Government will provide the framework and a conducive business environment to support the industry, but said law firms too need to do their part to stay competitive.

“The profession must ensure that it is in a position to attract and handle high-value work, and be entrepreneurial, competitive and innovative in identifying and capturing opportunities,” he added.

Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC), Ms Rahayu Mahzam (Jurong GRC), and Nominated MP Mahdev Mohan asked during yesterday’s debate on the Law Ministry’s budget if there are plans to grow the legal sector amid evolving economic conditions.

The bleak outlook has led to law firms laying off corporate lawyers, cutting back on pay rises and bonuses as well as pay packages for new recruits.

Mr Shanmugam acknowledged the legal sector’s prospects are ultimately dependent on the economy, given that it is a support industry.

But he said that with the world’s economic centre of gravity shifting towards Asia, new opportunities will open up for Singapore’s lawyers.

He listed the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community, which aims to create a single market for the group, the conclusion of trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

These developments will raise economic activity in the region and are likely to result in greater demand for legal services, he said.

Mr Shanmugam added that some sectors would do well despite the downturn: There is likely to be more work involving regional cross-border debt restructurings with companies facing tough times, and also in the area of projects and infrastructure, given Asia’s infrastructure needs.

The Government has moved to help law firms grab these opportunities, he added, citing the dispute resolution services offered here.

It has set up the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, the Singapore International Commercial Court and the Singapore International Mediation Centre, and is also looking to introduce a Mediation Bill later this year, he said.

Another way the Government is growing the legal sector, said Mr Shanmugam, is through promoting the use of Singapore law.

While New York or English law has typically been the preferred choice for cross-border transactions, there are signs that Singapore law is gaining ground, he said.

A recent survey of those who handle regional work found that Singapore law is the second most common choice, after English law, in such transactions, he added.

Besides these efforts, said Mr Shanmugam, the Committee on the Future Economy is looking into potential growth areas for the legal industry, as part of its task to chart the next phase of Singapore’s economic development.

Turning to aid for smaller law firms, Mr Shanmugam said there are schemes to help them develop new capabilities, improve productivity and venture overseas.

His ministry is also working with the Law Society on a six-month study to identify their technology needs, to provide support more directly and effectively.

But he lamented that efforts to help these firms adopt technology have met with muted response so far, saying: “While we have schemes and the money available, the take-up rate is not very high.”

Ultimately, said Mr Shanmugam, law firms must be ready to take advantage of the opportunities, and lawyers must make sure they can offer value to their clients.

To Mr Mahdev, who asked how law firms can be incentivised to help transform the legal industry, Mr Shanmugam said: “In a way, you are asking me how we can use taxpayers’ money to help lawyers make more money through industry transformation. I am not sure that is a popular subject.”

But he said the Government would make sure there are jobs available, and invest in the training of lawyers to move things along.

“With all this help, it is now for the lawyers to go and see how they can take advantage of the situation,” he said.

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This article was first published on April 7, 2016.
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While traditional crime rates have gone down, cybercrime has been on the rise, driven mainly by a surge in online cheating scams.

To give the police more teeth in tackling this scourge, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Lee said yesterday: “We will continue to renew our legal framework to address the transnational nature of cybercrime and keep pace with the changing tactics of cyber criminals.” This could mean amending the Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act (CMCA).

Mr Lee was responding to questions posed by Members of Parliament Desmond Choo (Tampines GRC), Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) and Tan Wu Meng (Jurong GRC) on steps taken to deal with the transnational and changing nature of such crimes. “Criminal masterminds can hide outside our borders, while making use of local henchmen to take advantage of unsuspecting Singaporeans,” said Dr Tan.

Last year, online credit-for-sex scam cases increased by 1,723 per cent, resulting in a loss of $2.9 million, said Mr Choo.

The borderless and anonymous nature of the Internet pose a special challenge to law enforcement agencies around the world, Mr Lee said. Furthermore, many of the perpetrators are based overseas. As such, “many of these investigations could lead to dead ends” despite close cross-border working relationships between law enforcement agencies.

He stressed the need to step up preventive measures to tackle cybercrime, including engaging online shopping platforms to identify and remove fraudulent advertisers.

This article was first published on April 7, 2016.
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The police force will step up recruitment, enhance its scheme of service and, alongside the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), expand the roles of full-time national servicemen (NSFs) and operationally ready national servicemen (NSmen).

The Home Team will also take on a more data-driven approach and harness technology effectively.

These were among announcements addressing manpower concerns made by Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam at the Committee of Supply debate yesterday.

Among those who raised questions were Mr Louis Ng (Nee Soon GRC), who asked about the Home Team’s slowing pace of recruitment, and Mr Melvin Yong (Tanjong Pagar GRC), who addressed the declining number of police NSFs.

These issues are exacerbated by a greying population, growing traveller and cargo volumes, with land checkpoints handling almost 400,000 travellers a day, and new types of crime such as cybercrime.

Such developments will have a “profound impact on the complexity and volume of work” handled by the Home Team, said Mr Shanmugam.

He added that “all these factors increase the workload on the Home Team” which has 170 police officers for every 100,000 people, a low number compared with cities such as London.

To manage the workload, a new operating model is needed, he said.

Besides using data analytics to anticipate where emergencies may take place while deploying resources to focus on hot spots, there will be a greater use of technology at Singapore checkpoints as well, said Mr Shanmugam.

By the end of the year, all motorcyclists passing through the Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints will be screened by automated clearance facilities, and there will be more self-service immigration facilities at Changi Airport Terminal 4.

The police will also implement a single-rank structure for officers, and diploma holders will have “seamless advancement opportunities up the ranks”, said Mr Shanmugam.

The police will step up recruitment this year to fill new posts, such as in its Emergency Response teams, and expert tracks will be introduced as well, he added.

Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin also said that NSFs and NSmen will soon take on an expanded role.

Over the next few years, more national servicemen will be deployed to front-line positions, leadership roles and specialist positions, said Mr Amrin.

The police force will set up a Protective Security Command comprising both NSF and NSmen units.

The SCDF has established new NSmen positions in its Marine Command and will place more servicemen in operational roles such as in its Emergency Medical Services.

Mr Shanmugam also highlighted an increasing trend of abuse against Home Team officers. Last year, 344 such cases were reported – working out to about one case per day.

He added that this is “unacceptable”, and that firm action would be taken against such abusive people, including prosecuting them and pressing for stiff sentences.

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This article was first published on April 7, 2016.
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The battle against terrorism is waged against extremism and violence, and not aimed at any race, ethnicity or religion, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said in Parliament yesterday.

He was responding to Ms Rahayu Mahzam (Jurong GRC), who said Islamophobia was an unfortunate by- product of terror attacks. “The concern is if we let these sentiments fester, it may grow into resentment and distrust and some extreme few may take their feelings too far,” she said.

Mr Shanmugam stressed that the Government would exercise sensitivity when calibrating its anti-terror messaging, adding that Singaporeans need to stay united to “protect the multiracial and multi-religious soul of Singapore”.

He also highlighted how Singapore would not allow hate speech in the name of civil liberties.

Other countries such as Belgium have allowed this, and coupled with the presence of ghettos, significant under-employment and unemployment, it has contributed to the foment of extremist groups, he said.

He was responding to Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied GRC), who asked how Singapore could be inoculated against the threat of terror groups.

He highlighted how in February, Singapore deported four Indonesians who had planned to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria group, but the Indonesian authorities have since released them. “In Singapore, they would have been subjected to the Internal Security Act, no questions,” he said.

“If other countries wish to treat would-be terrorists in a different way, they do so taking the consequences of their decisions.”

This article was first published on April 7, 2016.
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SINGAPORE – “I am deeply sorry for having let you down,” former Bukit Batok MP David Ong wrote in a personal letter of apology to residents of Bukit Batok constituency. 

In the letter issued to residents on Wednesday (April 6) and widely circulated online, he asked residents to accept his “sincerest apology for my resignation as your Member of Parliament”.

Mr Ong, 54, had resigned over an alleged affair with Ms Wendy Lim, 41, who had served as a grassroots leader in his ward. Ms Lim has since quit the PAP.

“I made a serious error of judgment in my personal life, leading to my resignation as MP. I am deeply sorry for having let you down, and for not being able to serve you for the full term that you elected me for,” he wrote.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, Berita Harian, Shin Min Daily News

“I had publicly apologised to Bukit Batok residents in my letter of resignation on March 12, and in my subsequent apologies through the media. However, I have also wanted to write this personal letter to each of you.”

He thanked the residents for their friendship and for giving him the privilege to serve them as an MP for the past six years.

He added that he was “grateful to all those who have stood by me during the recent difficulties, especially my wife and family”.

Bukit Batok residents that AsiaOne contacted confirmed that they received the letter that was printed in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil.

Mr Ong’s sudden resignation prompted Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to announce a by-election that could be held as early as May. 

Jurong GRC MP Desmond Lim has taken over Mr Ong’s duties in the meantime.

On March 20, Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) secretary-general Chee Soon Juan confirmed that he will contest in the upcoming by-election.

A day later, the PAP announced that lawyer Murali Pillai would be the party’s candidate to defend the constituency.

By-election battle for Bukit Batok SMC

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The Straits Times, The New Paper, Lianhe Zaoabao, Berita Harian

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