Some members of public have
expressed surprise and unhappiness upon learning that
Police are investigating into the recent incident
involving a few white elephant placards erected outside
Buangkok MRT station. A few have also commented that this
is a 'peaceful, humourous' and 'innovative way by ordinary
residents' to 'express public feedback' and questioned the
need for Police to 'over-react' and take the matter so
seriously.
The Police received a 999 call
complaining about the presence of the white elephants
placards along the road divider outside Buangkok MRT
station. When a complaint or report is received or lodged,
Police will have to look into the matter to determine
whether any offence has been committed. As we have stated
earlier, Police are presently investigating the matter
under the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act. The
Police must be fair and transparent at all times and not
investigate cases selectively.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
7 September 2005 @ 12.00 pm
MINDEF Statement on Next
Fighter Replacement Programme
In response to media queries
on the status of the SAF¡¯s Next Fighter Replacement
Programme (NFRP), a spokesperson said that MINDEF is now
in the process of seeking final clarifications and
contract negotiation with Boeing.
"In our current security
situation, finding more partners and stakeholders in
national security is a vital initiative for the Home Team.
These partners include corporate citizens in our private
sector.
"One such initiative which
will be operationalised in the months ahead is in the area
of control of pre-paid cards.
"I had
previously raised the issue of prepaid phone cards as an
area of security concern. The exploitation of the
anonymity given by prepaid cards to avoid detection is not
new. Criminals have exploited this. And terrorist groups
like the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have done
so too.
"In more recent times, other terrorist
organizations have followed suit in attacks all over the world. In
the region, we have seen elements of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) using
prepaid cards extensively to avoid detection and sometimes to rig
improvised explosive devices.
"The Homefront Security Division in MHA
has been working closely with the IDA and the commercial service
providers to work out a practical regulatory regime.
"These regulatory controls are likely to
be implemented from early November. Details will be announced next
month..."
Excerpt of speech by Home Affairs
Minister Wong Kan Seng on 6 Sep 2005
There has been an increase in
the number of outpatient attendances for conjunctivitis
(red eyes) at the polyclinics in the first four weeks of
August 2005. About 1,300 cases per week were treated for
the condition compared to the average weekly figure of 610
cases per week from January to July 2005.
Conjunctivitis is usually
caused by a viral infection. The commonest complaint is a
sudden onset of red, itchy eyes. There may also be fever,
headache, runny nose, sore throat, cough and muscle aches.
The disease is usually mild
but it is infectious. It spreads easily from
person-to-person, especially those living in the same
household and in crowded places. Therefore, family members
should avoid sharing common household articles, such as
face and bath towels, handkerchiefs, pillows or bed linen
with infected persons.
Hand-to-eye contact is another
common route of spread. The public should avoid rubbing
their eyes and wash their hands after touching their eyes.
They should not share eye drops and eye washes.
Persons with conjunctivitis
are advised to seek treatment from their family doctors
and continue to practise good personal hygiene and proper
disposal of contaminated items.
September 2005
