Everyone knows when the CPIB calls you up to lim kopi, it’s…

LET’S talk about defence and deception. First, defence: Expect to see more boots on the ground as the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) increases its presence in civilian surroundings. Patrols will be expanded beyond the nation’s military outposts to include MRT stations, malls, and other high-rise buildings.

The move is part of the Republic’s push to ramp up counterterrorism measures since terrorist attacks in Paris, Jakarta, and Brussels – though, it also makes you wonder what the police are going to do… Read more about the new measures to ready Singapore’s men in green to tackle terrorism on homeground here.

The role of the SAF was discussed in the Budget debate yesterday (April 7), as were new incentives for NSmen, including a $100 voucher for getting married or having children. So you could say, yes, it’s official – starting a family is part of national service…

What to expect in today’s debate: education and employment.

Now onto deception. Despite a rise in the number of complaints to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) last year, the number of cases pursued by the anti-corruption agency dipped slightly from 136 in 2014 to 132 last year.

Not sure how significant this slight fall is – but it was enough for the MSM to trumpet a “new low” in corruption cases here. The Straits Times forgot to mention the agency’s total caseload – including cases registered in the course of investigations and uncompleted cases – actually hit a three-year high of 678 last year.

The figures were released yesterday, coinciding with the opening of a new exhibition called “Declassified: Corruption Matters” at the National Library. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who officiated the opening gave CPIB the thumbs up, saying: “Everyone knows that when the CPIB calls you up to lim kopi (drink coffee), it is not a casual invitation.”

He wasn’t kidding – the agency had a conviction rate of 97 per cent last year and this has remained above 95 per cent for the past three years. Of the 120 people prosecuted for corruption last year, 90 per cent were from the private sector, mainly in construction, marine services, and procurement sectors, reported TODAY.

That makes 12 people prosecuted last year from the public sector – anyone remembers who they were?

Meanwhile, back in court… Yang Kaiheng, 27, who is facing sedition charges as the co-founder of The Real Singapore website, yesterday admitted to lying in court when cornered by the prosecution about when he met his wife, Ai Takagi. Now entering the eighth day of the trial, Yang will re-take the stand today.

Read our coverage of the trial yesterday here.

 

Featured image from TMG file. 

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