Home Team should ‘reflect on what went wrong’: DPM Teo

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean has urged the Home Team to “reflect on what went wrong” and “work together as one” to put things right when individual officers fall short of “high standards”.

DPM Teo, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, was speaking at the Home Team National Day Observance Ceremony on Monday, where 109 Home Team officers were honoured for their contributions to Singapore’s safety and security.

DPM Teo added that those who have done wrong will be “taken to task”, regardless of their position or seniority.

His comments come after the integrity of the Home Team was called into question following the recent high-profile Kovan murder case, where a police officer, Staff Sergeant Iskandar bin Rahmat, was charged with killing a father and a son. In the same month, a prison officer was found guilty of causing the death of an inmate through negligence

Still, DPM Teo said Singapore is a peaceful and harmonious place to live in.

Singapore was ranked 16th among 162 countries for its level of peace in the 2013 Global Peace Index published by the Institute for Economics and Peace.

DPM Teo attributed this good ranking to the Home Team’s dedication to keeping Singapore safe and secure “round-the-clock and in all conditions”.

He said that even at the height of the recent serious haze episode, the Home Team officers “continued to perform their duties with commitment and professionalism, while taking the appropriate health precautions.”

“Our Home Team officers helped to maintain calm and assisted those who had difficulties due to the haze,” added DPM Teo.

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