Home Team Journal

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS • 2010 ISSUE NO.
by practitioners,
for practitioners
HOME TEAM JOURNAL
EDITORIAL BOARD
CHAIRMAN
Derek Pereira
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
Audrey Ang
EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS
ISSUE NO. 21 Jackson Lim
Susan Sim
The Home
Home TeamTeam Journal
Journalis isa a Melvin Wong
professional journal
professional journal published
published
by the
theHome
HomeTeamTeam
AcademyAcademy
to CHIEF EDITOR
highlight
to highlight
the work
theofwork
the Home
of the
Omer Ali Saifudeen
Team and
Home Team
its knowledge
and its knowledge
partners ASSISTANT EDITOR
in Homefront
partners in Security
Homefrontand Safety.
Secu- Eunice Tan
The Journal
rity and Safety.
also functions
The Journal
as a DEPARTMENTAL EDITORS
platform
also functions
for engagement,
as a forumallow-for Bridget Robert
ing a broad pluralistic
engagement, exchange
range of and Cherielyn Leong
viewpoints and
discussion overinterests
the broad
to be and Lu Yeow Lim
represented,
diverse range
contrasted
of issues
and syn- and Wilson Lim
thesised. that come under the
interests Jace Goh
subject of Homefront security Loh Eng Choon
and safety. Suguna Ramasamy
Chow Chee Kin
Jaswant Singh
Alex Chin
Arlenny Ahmad
Cheryl Foo
Joyce Ho
EDITORIAL PRODUCTION
Tay Lu Ling
JOURNAL ADMINISTRATION
Nurul Farhana
Esther Chang
Yvonne Chan
Goh Guan Long
Please address all contributions and correspondence to:

Editorial Board, Home Team Journal
Knowledge Management Branch, Strategic Affairs Centre
Home Team Academy
501 Old Choa Chu Kang Road, Singapore 698928
Email to MHA_HT_Journal@mha.gov.sg
Or fax to +65 6465-3793.
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS • 2010 ISSUE NO. 2
FOREWORD 2 Foreword by Chairman
COVER 4 Innovating to keep Innovating

STORY
14 Strategic Technology Planning in Home Team
FEATURE 26 How the Red Rhino was Born

ARTICLES
31 The eVisitor Programme
43 APEC Trojan Email Attacks
47 Technology Crime Forensic Branch:

Hitting the Hard Drives
HOME TEAM 58 Thinking about the Future:

PARTNERS What the Public Service Can Do
67 Risk Assessment and Horizon Scanning Programmes:

The RAHS System
87 Bioterrorism in the Mail:

An Innovative USPIS Response to a New Challenge
94 Bioterrorism and the Role of Public Health
103 Suspect Detection System:

A Detective and Preventive Forensic Tool
HOME TEAM 110 Homefront Insights: Interview with Peter Ho

EXCHANGE
121 New Media:
Potential Value for Home Team Agencies
135 Book Review: The Start-Up Nation

The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle
Copyright ©2010. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication (i.e. content and images) may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, scanning, recording
or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The opinions expressed in this Journal are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect the
opinion of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
FOREWORD
Foreword by Chairman
T
HE SECOND ISSUE of the Home Team Journal is in many ways continuing
the journey we have embarked on; to create a repository of knowledge
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our tagline, ‘for practitioners by practitioners’, the second issue contains
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Team that embody this theme don’t simply talk about the latest gadget in the
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been reconstructed and manifested in the policies, programmes, and most
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an innovative idea has met an early demise due to poor cultural buy-in and
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with daring to think the impossible and challenging the conventional paradigm,
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to have’ but something that in our present Homefront Security climate becomes
an absolute necessity given the dynamic nature of our potential security threats
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We are honoured to feature an interview for the Home Team Journal on
this theme with the former Head of the Singapore Civil Service, Permanent
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view on the changing landscape of Homefront Security in Singapore and his
insights on how the Home Team can leverage on innovations and foster a
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We are once again grateful to have a very interesting mix of articles from
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which is part of the National Security Co-ordination Secretariat, the US Postal
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page 2 HOME TEAM JOURNAL

FOREWORD
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MR. DEREK PEREIRA

Chairman Editorial Board
HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 3

COVER STORY
MR. BENNY LIM, MR. JACKSON LIM, MR. TEONG HOW HWA
INNOVATION IS NOT NEW ZHOODVLQWKHUHJLRQDQGEH\RQG7KLV

TO THE HOME TEAM suggests that among other things,
the Home Team departments and its
T
HE HOME TEAM departments RI¿FHUV KDYH RYHU PDQ\ \HDUV EHHQ
have a long history of able to effectively adapt to and even
consistently enjoying a exploit the opportunities of change
VLJQL¿FDQWO\ KLJK OHYHO RI SXEOLF to their operating realities, to stay
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HDB Household Survey in 2008, the entails innovation at work in these
Police scored the highest amongst all RUJDQLVDWLRQV
other institutions for public trust and Innovation therefore is not new to
FRQ¿GHQFH1 ,Q RWKHU VXUYH\V SXEOLF the Home Team in it’s long history
FRQ¿GHQFHLQWKH+RPH7HDPWRNHHS and experience even if the term
6LQJDSRUHVDIHLVFRQVLVWHQWO\KLJK “innovation” as a self-conscious
No amount of creative public label and buzz word in our public
relations can account for this high sector discourse, is of a younger
OHYHORISXEOLFFRQ¿GHQFH8OWLPDWHO\ vintage, dating to the early 80s. ,W LV
it is anchored to the Home Team’s important to recognise this because it
objective record of performance provides a critical historical context
which has made Singapore one of to any policy or plan to promote
WKHVDIHVWFLWLHVLQWKHZRUOG2 This is innovation as a purposive and
a quality of life Singaporeans value, centrally managed programme in
and one which expatriates living here WKH +RPH 7HDP 7KLV XQGHUVWDQGLQJ
YDOXHHYHQPRUH of the organisation’s history and its
:KDW LV VLJQL¿FDQW DERXW WKLV people is key to crafting the approach
consistently good performance is the and engagement of any innovation
fact that it has been achieved in the programme in a manner best suited
IDFH RI VLJQL¿FDQW DQG UDSLG FKDQJHV for it to connect, gain traction
in Singapore society and economy as DQGVXFFHHG

COVER STORY
THE “INNOVATION” FRPPLWPHQWDWWKHKLJKHVWOHYHO+HDGV
CAMPAIGN – WITS RI'HSDUWPHQWVSUHVLGHGRYHUWKHLU:,7V
programme and senior management
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UMAN BEINGS ARE all capable of made time to listen to presentations by
creativity and they innovate WKH WHDPV$V ZLWK DOO QHZ HQWHUSULVHV
DOO WKH WLPH :KHWKHU WKLV LV there were of course the skeptics but
expressed in our work or in our social E\ DQG ODUJH WKHUH ZDV D VLJQL¿FDQW
relations or in other arenas, this innate degree of buy-in and positive spin-
potential, even if not of equal quality offs like team-bonding, acquiring new
DPRQJ XV UHVLGHV LQ HYHU\RQH knowledge of analytical tools through
The aim of any organisation-wide :,7V WUDLQLQJ DQG JDLQLQJ H[SRVXUH
LQQRYDWLRQ VWUDWHJ\ VKRXOG EH WR ¿QG to new empowering experiences like
effective ways to harvest the positive presentations of ideas by the rank
value that this creative potential in DQG ¿OH WR WKHLU ELJ ERVVHV RQ KRZ WR
the individuals of its work-force LPSURYHDSDUWRIWKHEXVLQHVV
have towards the achievement of its
REMHFWLYHVRUPLVVLRQ INNOVATION IN THE
:KDWZDVVLJQL¿FDQWZKHQWKH:,7V HOME TEAM –
:RUN ,PSURYHPHQW 7HDP PRYHPHQW MORE THAN JUST WITS
began in the early 80s, was the bold
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recognition by the top leadership of the N THE HOME Team, our bottom-
public service that the average worker line is to keep Singapore safe and
has a useful perspective to offer to help VHFXUH $Q\ XVHIXO LGHD WKDW FDQ
¿QG LQQRYDWLYH VROXWLRQV SUHFLVHO\ help us better achieve our mission is
because he is in touch with the practical ZHOFRPHG+RZHYHUDQLQQRYDWLRQLV
realities of the business often at the QRWMXVWDSURPLVLQJLGHD
ground level – he has knowledge to ,QQRYDWLRQ LQ WKH RUJDQLVDWLRQDO
offer from his direct experience; he context is an idea that is operationalised
knows of gaps, of persisting problems to bring about a practical change to
and contradictions and he has an DFKLHYH HLWKHU JUHDWHU HI¿FLHQF\ RU
appreciation of which solutions are HIIHFWLYHQHVVRUERWK7KLVLVWKHOLWPXV
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Hitherto, the tendency was to think of only as ideas are not innovations
problem-solving in the organisation as regardless how attractively imaginative
the elevated province of managers and RUFUHDWLYHWKH\DUHLQWKHLUFRQFHSWLRQV
that the worker-bee’s job was to just do By this measure, the innovations
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,Q WKH +RPH 7HDP WKH :,7V of new products or change to process
PRYHPHQWLQWKH¿UVWGHFDGHRUVRVDZ or business model – have been

COVER STORY
FRQVLGHUDEOH 7KH VWRU\ RI KRZ WKH – it was eventually called the “Red
Red Rhino was born in the Singapore Rhino” and became the signature
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a critical factor for successful
“Even more importantly, the innovation – leadership support.
leadership boldly reviewed 2I¿FHUV ZRUNLQJ RQ WKH JURXQG
and refined fire-fighting knew the operational challenge or
practice and assumptions SUREOHP 7KH\ ZHUH DOVR FULWLFDO WR
which have been entrenched developing the solution and testing
institutionally in the LW +RZHYHU WR PDNH WKH LGHD D
ogranisation for most part practical innovation, there was need
of its long history”. for leadership support to secure
access to resources to develop the
Fire engines are not built in SURWRW\SHDQGSLORWWHVWLW
Singapore and except for the choice Even more importantly, the
of colours – typically yellow or OHDGHUVKLSEROGO\UHYLHZHGDQGUH¿QHG
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PDGH7KHVHDUHW\SLFDOO\KXJHKHDY\ which have been entrenched
vehicles carrying a crew of 6 to 8 men institutionally in the organisation for
and packed with a large water tank as PRVWSDUWRILWVORQJKLVWRU\7KH6&')
well as all kinds of heavy equipment leadership saw the value of the Red
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city environment like Singapore, engine, but as a valuable complement
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and roads or lanes especially in the D¿UHHQJLQH(YHQIRUWKRVHLQFLGHQWV
HDB heartland where 80% of its which are larger and beyond the Red
SRSXODWLRQOLYH Rhino’s capacity to manage, a forward
,Q WKH 6&') IRUPHG D professional force which can take
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The solution they came up with was professional assessment on the ground
launched in 2000 – a sleek, all-terrain RI WKH QDWXUH DQG VL]H RI WKH WKUHDW
¿UH¿JKWLQJYHKLFOHZKLFKORRNHGOLNH and what is needed to manage it, is
a dune-buggy – it was much smaller, invaluable to the operational planning
lighter and easier to manoeuvre than RI6&')¶VLQFLGHQWPDQDJHPHQW
WKH VWDQGDUG ¿UH HQJLQH $ SXEOLF $QDO\VLV VKRZHG WKDW PRVW ¿UH
exercise was conducted, inviting incidents attended to in Singapore
the public to name the new vehicle could be managed effectively by the

COVER STORY
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turn, reduced the capacity of the water
tank that needed to be borne on the INNOVATION AND
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Singapore’s built-up urban terrain, NNOVATION IN AN organisation
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critical since access to water was not purposively pursued at least at two
a problem given the availability of OHYHOV$WRQHOHYHOZHKDYHZKDWKDV
risers which is a building requirement been called “incremental innovation”
and a network of hydrants at road which involves mass participation
OHYHO $OO WKLV LQ WXUQ PHDQW WKDW typically via structured activities
D VPDOOHU FUHZ PHQ DQG PRUH WKURXJKRXW WKH RUJDQLVDWLRQ 7KLV LV
OLPLWHG HTXLSDJH ZHUH VXI¿FLHQW WR ZKDW RXU :,7V PRYHPHQW LV DERXW
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– a dune buggy compared to a bus/ ZKDWZHGREHWWHU
truck - also meant that the chances The second level is an older
RI SXWWLQJ RXW WKH ¿UH HDUO\ EHIRUH LW and more familiar form of top-
JURZVELJJHUDUHJUHDWHU down organisational structure for
The story of the Red Rhino LQQRYDWLRQ7KLVOHYHODGGUHVVHVZKDW
UHÀHFWHG QRW MXVW LQQRYDWLRQ RI has been called “radical innovation”
product, but also of process and even – typically requiring specialists
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was the result of the work of a project technology development, strategic
team, the members of which the IXWXUHV VFHQDULR SODQQLQJ KRUL]RQ
SCDF leadership carefully selected, VFDQQLQJ RXW¿WV RU FRPSRVHG LQ WKH
and tasked in a very targeted and IRUPRIGHGLFDWHGWDVNIRUFHRUWHDPV
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and drive the innovation to gain DUHSRWHQWLDOO\JDPHFKDQJLQJ
acceptance was crucial as there was 6XFKVSHFLDOLVWRXW¿WVDOVRDQDO\VH
initially strong resistance from the trends and signals to anticipate the
men, schooled as they had been, in a possible futures we may face – in the
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COVER STORY
which have deep implications to the RI UHÀHFWLRQ RYHU DQG OHDUQLQJ IURP
Home Team’s prevailing ability to experience, especially by practitioners
continue to achieve its mission in the themselves?
future. Such changes if well analysed The WITs movement created an
and understood, also typically offer RI¿FLDOO\ HQGRUVHG GLVFRXUVH DQG
critical opportunities for innovation. a set of approved structures which
“The overwhelming majority provided a “safe” channel for staff to
of successful innovations exploit surface problems, to analyse them and
change.” “Systematic innovation offer solutions. It sought to empower
therefore consists in the purposeful each individual regardless of his
and organised search for changes, status in the organisation to take
and in the systematic analysis of the ownership of the performance of his
opportunities such changes might work unit and not just of himself. It
offer for …innovation”4. sought to cultivate values and habits
of practice which fostered a culture of
LEADERSHIP – innovation in the public sector. The
THE MOST VITAL FACTOR hope was to develop in time, thinking
IN FOSTERING AN RI¿FHUV LPEXHG ZLWK WKH SRVLWLYH
INNOVATION CULTURE values of ownership and pride in their
work and their organisation.
T
HE QUALITY OF leadership at The value of the innovation
all levels in an organisation programme in the Home Team is
is the single most important QRW MXVW WR GLVFRYHU WKH VSHFL¿F
factor determining the depth and innovation itself that would promote
extent of success of the innovation JUHDWHU HI¿FLHQF\ RU VROYH D SUREOHP
strategy in any organisation. Above at work. It is even more important to
all, it sets the tone and values in the promote the broader development of
relationship between supervisor an innovation culture. This is more
and the supervised which can either valuable than any single innovation.
inhibit or facilitate innovation. Is This is because invariably, such a
staff feedback welcomed? Are staff culture means having developed
PHPEHUV FRQ¿GHQW DERXW VXUIDFLQJ DGDSWLYH DQG WKLQNLQJ RI¿FHUV ZKR
LGHDV RU UHÀHFWLQJ SUREOHPV DQG are engaged.
challenges that they see or face This is more critical today
without risk of being misunderstood then ever before. An organisation
or embarrassed by being put down RI VXFK RI¿FHUV ZLOO EH EHWWHU
or rejected dismissively? Do placed to possess and exercise the
we value the experience of our DGDSWLYH UHÀH[HV DQG FDSDFLWLHV WR
RI¿FHUV" 'R ZH SURPRWH WKH KDELW survive disruptive operating and

COVER STORY
environmental change, and to be able REVITALISING THE
to overcome the surprises and critical INNOVATION MOVEMENT
challenges in their work that these IN THE HOME TEAM
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Creating and rooting practices to NE SIZE DOES QRW ¿W DOO DQG
develop such a culture of innovation, FHUWDLQO\ QRW RYHU WLPH
adaptability and receptiveness to Progress in the innovation
change in the public service was a journey among different people in
NH\YDOXHLQ:,7V7KLVZDVSHUKDSV different organisations is inevitably
the reason why mass participation XQHYHQ +HQFH PRUH DQG PRUH
EHFDPH VXFK D ¿[DWLRQ LQ WKH FHQWUDO departments and their staff outgrew
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movement probably held more gains DIWHU WKH ¿UVW KDUYHVW RI ORZ KDQJLQJ
than losses, the decades that followed fruits, the next order of meaningful
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Participation became a chore and for extended time-lines than adherence
many managers including those in WR WKH DQQXDO FDOHQGDU WKDW WKH :,7V
WKH+RPH7HDPWKH:,7VPRYHPHQW F\FOHDOORZHG
EHFDPHDQXPEHUVJDPH Fortunately, these excesses
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a subject that merits deeper research EHLQJ DGGUHVVHG 7KH IRFXV LV PRUH
DQG D IXOO FDVH KLVWRU\ +RZHYHU LQ RXWFRPHEDVHG :H KDYH OLEHUDOLVHG
the Home Team, what was clear was the forms of innovation activity
WKDWPHHWLQJ.3,V.H\3HUIRUPDQQFH and hopefully lower the barriers to
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an end in themselves and led to a departments are today free to adopt
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movement in the Home Team, as realities of their organisation and
elsewhere, became undermined by RSHUDWLQJWHUUDLQ
bureaucractic excesses and rigidities 7KH+RPH7HDP+7'HSDUWPHQWV
in the management of the programme have in recent years created their own
itself, ironically the very thing – IRUPV RI HQJDJHPHQW 7KH 6&')
VWLÀLQJ EDUULHUV WR LQQRYDWLRQ ± WKDW ODXQFKHG LWV ,QQRYHQWXUH &OXE LQ -XO\
the movement and its programme IRULWVRI¿FHUVIURPYDULRXVXQLWV
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COVER STORY
UHODWHGDFWLYLWLHV7KH6LQJDSRUH3ROLFH students to generate innovations
)RUFH 63) KDV GHFLGHG WR IRUP LQ WKH ¿HOG RI VDIHW\ DQG VHFXULW\
,QQRYDWLRQ 7HDPV DFURVV WKHLU /DQG The new event was called the MHA
Divisions and Specialist Units with a ,QQRYDWLRQ )HVWLYDO +HOG RQ 2FW
special writ to challenge deep-seated LW GUHZ SDUWLFLSDQWV DQG
assumptions as well as established YLVLWRUV FRQVLVWLQJ RI +7 RI¿FHUV
SURWRFRO DQG SURFHGXUHV 7KLV IRFXV students and representatives from
UHFRJQLVHV WKH FRQFHUQ RI RI¿FHUV RQ RWKHUPLQLVWULHV
WKH JURXQG EHFRPLQJ 623 6WDQGDUG Besides adding much energy and
2SHUDWLQJ3URFHGXUHFRPSOLDQWEXWOHVV EX]] WR WKH HYHQW VXFK SDUWLFLSDWLRQ
effective when scenarios are different by youths allowed the mixing of ideas
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With the lifting of prescribed ,WDOVRSURYLGHGDQHIIHFWLYHSODWIRUP
quotas or numbers for teams, we have to engage youths - a key constituency
QRW VXUSULVLQJO\ VHHQ D VLJQL¿FDQW IRU WKH +RPH7HDP LQ LWV ZRUN 2QH
UHGXFWLRQ LQ WKH QXPEHU RI :,7V tangible outcome was the opportunity
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of teams has been reduced, what is the help of Home Team mentors and
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FRVW VDYLQJV IURP:,7V SURMHFWV VDZ 7KH 0+$ &RUH ,QQRYDWLRQ
an increase from $1 million in 2008 Fund was set up in 2008 to provide
WR PLOOLRQ LQ 7KLV LQ RXU funding to support those who have
assessment, is a sign of quality and DQLQQRYDWLRQSURSRVDO7KLVUHVRXUFH
meaningful participation returning gives the Home Team innovation
to the Home Team innovation managers the means to support
SURJUDPPH6 H[SHULPHQWDWLRQ +RZHYHU WKH
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annual Ministry of Home Affairs for funding and an inter-agency
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a platform to showcase new products *URXS ,(:* ZLOO MRLQWO\ HYDOXDWH
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the event by combining it with an platform to facilitate the sharing of
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an experiment where MHA provides the pipeline to serve as a central
a platform to engage youths and repository for all past successes and

COVER STORY
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COVER STORY
WKH ,PPLJUDWLRQ &KHFNSRLQWV The manager who oversees the
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work and the prevailing culture of within his organisation and how staff
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COVER STORY

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EDITOR’S NOTES
Our cover story shares insights and lessons about managing innovation in the Home Team
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story is jointly written by Mr Benny Lim, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs
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COVER STORY
MR. CHEN TZE PENN, MS. TEO MUN ENG
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ECHNOLOGY IS STRONGLY tools, rules and discipline to
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last few decades and the pervasive solely managerial tasks, but are also
impact of technology on our lives, RUJDQLVDWLRQZLGHWDVNV
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ahead of our adversaries, especially 673 IUDPHZRUN ,W LV D IRUPDO
when faced with tight resource process that brings together relevant
constraints such as manpower, Operational and Technology
the Home Team must leverage on 2I¿FHUVIURP0LQLVWU\+HDGTXDUWHUV
technological innovation as a key +4 DQG WKH +RPH 7HDP
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culture that can respond rapidly can meet its challenges effectively
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COVER STORY
L 0LQLPLVH WKH GXSOLFDWLRQ RI STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY
efforts, resources and funds PLANNING PROCESS
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Team harness technologies XVHG WR ¿QG SURPLVLQJ FDQGLGDWHV
applicable to their operational from the vast and ever-changing
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Architecture Governance Council is below depicts the iterative nature of
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is chaired by Deputy Secretary/
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COVER STORY
HTDs’ operational needs, the STCT As part of the effort to identify
uses the following key inputs to this new technologies of interest to
stage of the planning process: the Home Team, the STCT forms
new Technology Clusters and also
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TECHNOLOGY CLUSTERS
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Technology Planning Process
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be of operational importance to plays a crucial role in ensuring the
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COVER STORY
i. Video Analytics – covers v. Modeling, Training and
technologies associated with Simulation – covers
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COVER STORY
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COVER STORY
b. Moderate G Low
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COVER STORY
Technology Cluster will be formed LY5HPRYH WKH WHFKQRORJ\ IURP
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COVER STORY
Architecture to facilitate the Home Team strategies
system interoperability and and goals while ensuring that
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COVER STORY
Fig 3: Strategic Technology Planning website
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to get a holistic view of drug The trial also showcased the
RIIHQFHV¶ WUHQGV DQG VWDWLVWLFV ability for analysts to uncover
The trial has proven that the possible reasons behind the
deployment of the business drug offence trends in the
analytics tool can result in cost VKRUWHVW SRVVLEOH WLPH )RU
savings as data/information example, analysts are able to

COVER STORY
drill into the data to identify The trial was able to show
UHDVRQV IRU VLJQL¿FDQW the basic trends of offender
spikes in offence trend behaviour as well as the
for a particular drug type IRUHFDVWRIWKHWUHQGV
HJ GHWHFWLQJ LQFUHDVHG The analysts employed
offences from a particular correlation analysis on the
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,Q VXPPDU\ WKH &1% identify the most likely factors
trial has been successful in contributing to repeat offender
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of the business analytics will be helpful to assist MHA in
software, such as dashboard SROLF\ PDNLQJ ,Q DGGLWLRQ WKH
and statistical analysis, to the predictive modelling capability
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risk” offenders who were more
ii. Ministry HQ’s trial OLNHO\WRUHSHDWWKHLURIIHQFHV
on the effectiveness of Together with other data
corporal punishment using mining capabilities, such as
Prisons Services’ (SPS) pattern discovery, the trial has
operational data. proven that the data mining
This trial employed more tools can enhance the depth
advanced data mining of researchers’ analysis on
capabilities to analyse, compare DYDLODEOH GDWD 7KH UHVHDUFK
and study cohorts of ex-offenders results can in turn be used
who were imposed with and to aid policy making and
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b. Video Analytics ii. Video Content Search
Technology Cluster (VCS) Trial.
This trial aimed to determine
i. Mobile Automatic Vehicle LI FXUUHQWO\ DYDLODEOH 9&6
Screening System Trial. software can be applied to
This trial evaluated the video footage taken from
effectiveness of mobile existing close circuit television
cameras used for general
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were tested and these included
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SLFWXUHVEHORZ This will help to narrow down
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will enable our frontline WLPHV 7KH WULDO KDV SURYLGHG
RI¿FHUV WR UDSLGO\ VFUHHQ insights into the capability of
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successfully completed, and
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COVER STORY
'HIHQFH )RUFH 6&') WR
explore an integrated live and
virtual environment training and
simulation V\VWHP 7KLV NLQG RI
training and simulation system
will allow the HTDs to train in
realistic environments which are
costly or impossible to create in real
OLIH HQYLURQPHQWV 7KH IUHTXHQF\
of training can also be increased
and the actions of all participants
can be recorded for post-
training reviews, thus raising the
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takes into account operational needs
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HROUGH THESTRATEGIC Technology and marries these with emerging
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its key strategy for leveraging on DQGVHFXUHKRPH
technological innovation to meet the
daunting challenges of Homeland REFERENCES
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technologies that can act as force 0D\
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MR. TEONG HOW HWA
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high-rise residential and industrial VWDWH RI DIIDLUV ZRXOG EH VXVWDLQHG
buildings and estates in Singapore $V VXFK PDMRU ¿UHV LQ LQGXVWU\
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raised the practical possibility of a
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introduced to allow for a speedy ,Q $SU WKH SURWRW\SHV ZHUH
UHVSRQVH WLPH WKDQ WKH UHJXODU ¿UH deployed at Bt Timah and Ang Mo
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tapped from an external source at the SCDF management assess that these
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that can complement the existing spaces, mount curb and accelerate on
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The SCDF leadership established a CAPABILITIES OF THE
project team composed of selected RED RHINO VIS-À-VIS
RI¿FHUV DQG WDVNHG LW WR ORRN LQWR WKH THE STANDARD FIRE
possibility of having a custom-built ENGINE/PUMPER
all-terrain vehicle with an aim to
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UHTXLUHPHQWV RI D SURWRW\SH YHKLFOH LV SHUIRUPHG E\ WKH ¿UH HQJLQH
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required to carry based on the kind of PRVW RI WKH VPDOO ¿UHV DQG VLPSOHU
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Traditional Fire Red Rhino Red Rhino

engine/ Pumper (1st generation) (2nd generation)
Water 3600 litres 50 litres 50 litres
tank size
Pump OLWUHVSHUPLQXWH 2000 litres per minute 2000 litres per minute
capacity
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equipment including • Selected rescue • Selected rescue
features those for height rescue equipment including equipment including
like ladders forcible entry tools, forcible entry tools,
• Fixed water monitor hydraulic cutter and hydraulic cutter and
head spreader spreader
• The ability to maintain • The ability to maintain
pumping operations pumping operations
while the vehicle is while the vehicle is
mobile mobile
• Detachable water • Detachable water
monitor head monitor head
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designed to enhance
safety with features
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Fire
Total No Incident Total No Rescue Incident
of Fire attended by of Rescue attended by Red
Year Incidents Red Rhino Incidents Rhino
2007
2008 2371
5235 2508
A positive spin-off arose when

“The end result is a product
WKH5HG5KLQREHFDPHDYDLODEOH7KH
which is 10% smaller
Red Rhino proved instrumental to the
and 40% lighter than the
creation of a new forward deployment
original version.”
arrangement – the establishment of
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times depended much on travel speed spaces while improving vehicle safety
IURP ¿UH VWDWLRQ WR LQFLGHQW VLWH7KH DQG HQYLURQPHQW HI¿FLHQF\ 7KH HQG
LQFUHDVLQJYROXPHRIWUDI¿FRYHUWLPH result is a product which is 10% smaller
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this problem and became strategically FRQ¿JXUHG WR EH HTXLSSHG ZLWK UHVFXH
located extensions to conventional equipment which is more portable in
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FURTHER ENHANCEMENTS existing appliances in service
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project team to re-visit and challenge

the norms and assumptions of then
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team to break tradition and conceive
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ELUWKRIWKH5HG5KLQR
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introduction, the Red Rhino has
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the most recognisable “persona” that
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immigration services to visitors PDQXDOO\ ¿OO XS D SDJH DSSOLFDWLRQ
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can receive the approval online within DQGWKHJHQXLQHRQH
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over the traditional process was doing
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Enhanced Security YLVLW SDVV H[WHQVLRQ VWDPSV HQWLUHO\
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opportunity to introduce ‘auto-rules
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risk applications for closer scrutiny,
while allowing the ‘remaining’ –
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aboveboard cases – to be approved physically check extension stamps to verify
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'( FDUG XSRQ GHSDUWXUH DQG WKH free compared to the integrity of the
system will automatically validate/ information endorsed or printed in
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RU RWKHUZLVH ,Q VXPPDU\ ZLWK greater reliance on the data residing
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reservations and raised concerns ODEHOVWRYDOLGDWHWKHSDVVHQJHU
on how to check a foreigner’s stay
if there is no physical immigration Integrated and Seamless Service
endorsement in the passport, the
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Programme’s implementation revealed HE eVISITOR PROGRAMME
the advantage of verifying the meets the increase in
immigration status of a foreigner demand of visitor services
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foreigners in Singapore on the streets application portals online, visitors
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LQ6LQJDSRUH again make a return trip to complete
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FEATURE ARTICLES
facilities, he/she would have to DGGLWLRQDO HIIRUW RQ WKHLU SDUW 7KH
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card, applicants will automatically Pass was significantly slashed
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ENGAGING PARTNERS TO Singpost will help the interested
CREATE ALTERNATIVE visitor apply for an extension of
SERVICE WINDOWS KLV VWD\ 7KLV QRW RQO\ UHGXFHV
– BRINGING SERVICE TO the need for applicants to come to
THE DOORSTEP ,&$IRUDVVLVWDQFHLWDOVRLQFUHDVHV
the number of potential ‘service
windows’ significantly – there are
62 Singpost outlets that provide
such immigration services, and
some of them even operate 7 days
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partners to create new value for their
customers by ‘empowering’ them
with access to apply for immigration
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$Q H[DPSOH RI KRZ WKLV EHQH¿WV
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to alternate service windows to expand and extend who come to Singapore for medical
the reach of our eServices
treatment previously are required to
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provides an opportunity for receiving treatment they would
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is especially beneficial for visitors provider to ascertain if the documents
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for online immigration services XQGHU WKH H9LVLWRU¶V 7UXVWHG 3DUWQHU
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FEATURE ARTICLES
)LJXUH±H9LVLWRU3URJUDPPHHQDEOHVSDUWQHUVWRSURYLGHYDOXHDGGHGVHUYLFHVIRUWKHLUFXVWRPHUVZKLOH
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healthcare providers can apply a visa

“With all these time and
or extension of stay not only for their
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patients, but also his caregiver and
to channel our marketing
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efforts to promote Singapore
application and extension of stay for
as the ultimate choice for
medical tourists both convenient and
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seek treatment…. They
of the paperwork and can fully focus
need not worry about these
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[immigration] matters.”
hassle free approach has given our
hospitals and healthcare providers the
Raffles International
extra edge to draw medical tourists
Patients Centre
to Singapore and help augment
Raffles Medical Group
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IMPACT RQOLQH 7KH QXPEHU RI YLVLWV PDGH
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customer satisfaction results arising HE IMPLEMENTATION OF the
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RI FURZGV LQ ,&$¶V 9LVLWRU RXW ,&$ ZDV DOVR DEOH DFKLHYH D
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infrastructure /imputed rental costs to handle higher risk cases and
to meet the increased demand for FRQWULEXWH WR YDOXH±DGGHG ZRUN
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for their immigration facilities –
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technology
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to process cases with
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competition featuring the best from
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INSPIRING CONFIDENCE
IN ALL
I
N C ONCLUSION , T H E
H9LVLWRU 3URJUDPPH
has significantly
enhanced service delivery
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to their doorsteps by working
with partners to provide numerous
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EHQH¿W DQG YDOXH WR WKH FXVWRPHU LQ life balance with less need to work
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“This journey has also DZDUGV FRQIHUUHG WR WKH H9LVLWRU
boosted staff morale by Programme is recognition of the
encouraging better work- excellent service consciousness and
life balance with less need VHFXULW\IRFXVRI,&$±VWDPSLQJRXU
to work overtime since role as a world-class border security
work processes have been DQG LGHQWL¿FDWLRQ RUJDQLVDWLRQ WKDW
reduced and streamlined.” renders services delighting the public
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7HFKQRORJ\ 'LYLVLRQ RI WKH ,PPLJUDWLRQ DQG &KHFNSRLQWV $XWKRULW\ ,&$ 7KH ,&$¶V
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MR. LOH PHIN JUAY
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YBER-ESPIONAGE IS THE theft the attacker’s malware delivery as
of information, in particular OHJLWLPDWHHLWKHUE\VSRR¿QJWKHHPDLO
classified government as coming from a trusted source or
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1 underscores the seriousness of the ZHEOLQN2QFHKRRGZLQNHGWRRSHQWKH
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VRFLHWLHV ,QYHVWLJDWLRQV LQWR GhostNet web-link to be directed to a malicious
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VXFFHVVIXOO\ LQ¿OWUDWHG WKURXJK HPDLOV victim’s computer, monitor the victim’s
that contained malicious software, or activities so as to gather passwords
PDOZDUH 7R GDWH WKH SHUSHWUDWRUV RI and other sensitive information, or to
GhostNetUHPDLQXQNQRZQ spread malware to others by posing
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refers to a malware that appears to be 7URMDQDWWDFNVQRDPRXQWRI,7VHFXULW\
legitimate but facilitates unauthorised software and hardware can substitute
remote access to compromised for user vigilance when confronted with
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malware to circumvent computer 2005, the Singapore Government saw
security detection and to execute the several waves of Trojan email attacks
orders of its controller, a successful which were commonly referred to
attack usually also involves crafty as the Trojan Riler2 DWWDFNV ,Q IRXU
VRFLDO HQJLQHHULQJ WHFKQLTXHV 7KHVH waves of attack over a span of 2 years,
techniques are aimed at masquerading civil servants in several ministries

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ZHUH WDUJHWHG 7KH HPDLOV VHQW E\ WKH were at least 7 waves of attacks between
SHUSHWUDWRUV WRWDOOLQJ PRUH WKDQ 6HSWHPEHU DQG 1RYHPEHU 7KH
typically contained relevant news and attacks were highly targeted, focusing
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to entice the recipients to open up the Committee and APEC delegates whose
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Such attacks are opportunistic various APEC websites, or found within
and often leverage on the window of $3(&PDLOLQJOLVWV
opportunity resulting from unpatched ,Q RQH RI WKH ¿UVW ZDYHV RI 7URMDQ
VHFXULW\ ÀDZV ZLWKLQ D FRPSXWLQJ attack, the perpetrators sent an email
VRIWZDUH RU KDUGZDUH 7KHUHIRUH warning Singapore civil servants
adopting a holistic approach towards involved in the APEC meetings of
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cautious assessment and evaluation of perpetrators further provided photos
the potential risk, at times, taking into of supposed terrorists in a Microsoft
consideration the worst-case scenario PowerPoint document which was
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then be built in to prevent loss of any RI¿FLDOV WR WULJJHU DQG H[HFXWH WKH
sensitive data even if the systems malware, thus infecting the targeted
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was repeated in at least one other
“There were at least 7 waves 7URMDQDWWDFNRQ$3(&GHOHJDWHV
of attacks between September but using a different subject matter and
and November 2009.” using an Adobe PDF document to host
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TROJAN ATTACKS DURING ,Q DQRWKHU 7URMDQ DWWDFN VRFLDO
APEC 2009 engineering techniques were again
used, but in a slightly different way,
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of various APEC economies, with the details of an actual APEC symposium,
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FEATURE ARTICLES
$3(& GHOHJDWHV WR WKH V\PSRVLXP DWWDFNV 7KH SHUSHWUDWRUV ZHUH DOVR
Thinking that the email was genuine, interested in obtaining usernames
APEC delegates who opened the email and passwords for web-forums and
and its attachment had their computers webmail services; they executed an
LQIHFWHGZLWKWKHPDOZDUH application to extract cached email
passwords from a number of email
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COMMUNICATION PATTERNS scanned the infected system’s network
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PRVW DQWLYLUXV SURJUDPPHV 7HVWLQJ Understanding such vulnerabilities
of the malware surfaced that the would facilitate the perpetrators in
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control server on a regular basis UHVLGLQJLQWKHVDPHQHWZRUN
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the compromised computer, monitor they also established anti-tracking
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obtain usernames and passwords, and control servers were registered with
essentially take full control of the fake names just prior to the attacks,
YLFWLP¶VFRPSXWHU and likely to be used purely for
controlling the Trojans and discarded
PROFILE OF PERPETRATORS: DIWHU WKH DWWDFNV ZHUH FRPSOHWHG
INTERESTS AND TECHNICAL Analysis of the communication
CAPABILITIES between the malware and the control
servers led to dubious domain names
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in contact information such
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useful intelligence, these documents INGAPORE INFOCOMM TECHNOLOGY
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FEATURE ARTICLES
specialist authority undertaking CONCLUSION
the responsibility of operational
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ZRUNHGZLWK,QIRFRPP'HYHORSPHQW government suffered minimal
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for cyber security within the to lessons learnt from previous cyber
government sector, to identify the incidents and also the close cooperation
relevant malware characteristics EHWZHHQ 6,76$ DQG NH\ VWDNHKROGHUV
QHHGHG WR SXW XS FRXQWHUPHDVXUHV VXFKDV,'$
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incident response activities while evolving and we will not be seeing
6,76$ SXW LWV UHVRXUFHV WR ZRUN WKH ODVW RI VXFK F\EHU DWWDFNV /DSVHV
on investigating the attacks and and complacency may bring about a
addressing other potential threats µ'LJLWDO 3HDUO +DUERXU¶ WR WKH QDWLRQ
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example, some of the malicious 100% of all attacks from succeeding,
emails contained details of actual the key to minimising and mitigating
$3(& HYHQWV GDWH WLPH YHQXH QRW this increasing number of sophisticated
NQRZQ WR WKH JHQHUDO SXEOLF 7KDW attacks and its consequences is a
attackers’ access to such information holistic strategy that involves the
could potentially threaten the smooth cooperation of all stakeholders, in
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of information was promptly shared QRW IRUVDNH ,7 VHFXULW\ PHDVXUHV DQG
with other security agencies to ensure best practices because of reasons such
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MS. CONNIE SEEK
OUR HUMBLE BEGINNINGS 7&,% VHUYHV DV DQ LQYHVWLJDWLYH

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Tong Sen Street with only four staff authority on technology forensic
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With rapid development of formed with the objective to tackle
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CCB evolved to become the
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2000 before it expanded to become
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the Technology Crime Division CFB ENDEAVOURS TO be the
7&' RQ 2FWREHU WR VHUYH cutting edge in technology
as an investigation, response and FULPH ¿JKWLQJ DQG WR EH WKH
computer forensic processing entity premier unit in technology forensic
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cry from when we started as CCB
Technology Crime Forensic Branch at
LQ Police Cantonment Complex

FEATURE ARTICLES
ORGANISATION SET-UP TCFB has adopted the various
OF TCFB best practices from other law
enforcement forensic experts and
T
CFB IS A very small branch agencies over the years such as
that is made up of only two the Association of Chief Police
teams of technology forensic 2IILFHUV $&32 JXLGHOLQHV LQ WKH
examiners and Technical Support handling of electronic evidence in
2I¿FHUV (DFK WHDP LV VXSHUYLVHG E\ maintaining a proper chain of the
an OC Team who also assists Head exhibit custody, and to ensure the
TCFB to plan, oversee, provide LQWHJULW\RIWKHHOHFWURQLFHYLGHQFH
leadership, and devise strategies and
counter-measures for the overall What Is Computer Forensics?
operational effectiveness of the
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'HSXW\'LUHFWRU&,' RIILFLDOO\UROOHGRXWLQ
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CORE CAPABILITIES preservation and analysis of
OF TCFB electronic data found in computers
and digital storage mediums in a
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CFB HAS FOUR capabilities systematic and scientific manner to
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Forensic, Mobile Phone ,Q WKH DUHD RI FRPSXWHU IRUHQVLF
)RUHQVLF 9LGHR )RUHQVLF DQG 0DVV 7&)% RI¿FHUV DUH WUDLQHG WR KDQGOH
&&793URFHVVLQJ and extract evidences from storage

FEATURE ARTICLES
devices such as hard drives from What Is Mobile
desktops, laptops and portable Phone Forensic?
devices such as thumb drives and
B
VWRUDJHFDUGV ETWEEN 2003 AND 7&)%
TCFB uses a variety of operationalised its mobile
commercially available computer SKRQH IRUHQVLF FDSDELOLW\
forensic softwares to conduct Mobile phone forensic refers to the
DQDO\VHV RQ WKH H[KLELWV 6RPH RI collection, preservation and analysis
the common computer forensic of electronic data found in the mobile
requests that TCFB received SKRQH LQ D V\VWHPDWLF DQG VFLHQWL¿F
includes: PDQQHU WR XQFRYHU GLJLWDO HYLGHQFH
,W XVXDOO\ LQYROYHV WKH H[DPLQDWLRQ
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‘deleted’ documents/pictures/ 6XEVFULEHU ,GHQWLW\ 0RGXOH 6,0
videos of various formats; FDUGDQGWKHDWWDFKHGVWRUDJHPHGLD
Retrieval of internet activity There are a wide variety of
ORJV HJ ,QWHUQHW KLVWRU\ operating systems used by different
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exchanges, chat logs etc;
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PRGHOVDQGEUDQGVRIPRELOHSKRQHV FDSDELOLW\ LQ WR IROORZLQJ
Hence, mobile phone analysis has to WKH SUROLIHUDWLRQ LQ &&79 FDPHUD
be conducted using different mobile coverage in both public and private
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procured different commercial mobile examination, comparison and/or
forensic softwares to support mobile evaluation of video footages to uncover
SKRQH DQDO\VHV 7&)%¶V PRELOH GLJLWDOHYLGHQFH9LGHRHYLGHQFHIURP
phone forensic capabilities include: WKH &&79 UHFRUGLQJV KDG SURYHQ WR
be a strong supporting lead in many of
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606SLFWXUHV¿OHVDQGYLGHRV Some common video forensic
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and add-on memory storage; TCFB are:
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dialled numbers, missed calls, Digitising video tape footage;
received calls from mobile Converting digital videos
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Retrieval of phone book digital video formats usable
records from mobile phone for forensic analysis;
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forensic capability in TCFB Enhancement;
that was rolled out together Highlighting subject of
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sequence recreation; and
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camera views
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screen
a contingency capability
Digital video with sixteen
camera views on screen rolled out by TCFB in 2006
7HFKQLTXHRIVHSDUDWLQJPXOWLSOH[HG&&79IRRWDJH following the success of the UK

FEATURE ARTICLES
0HWURSROLWDQ3ROLFH¶V&&79WUDZOLQJ IDFLOLW\7KLVFDSDELOLW\ZDVH[HUFLVHG
operation to establish the identities LQ([HUFLVH1RUWK6WDU9RQ-DQXDU\
of the perpetrators in the immediate DQGLQ&,'¶VLQKRXVHSRVWEODVW
aftermath of the London Bomb Blast investigation exercise, Exercise Storm
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processing of large volumes of CHALLENGES FACED
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multiplexed footages or proprietary
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digital formats, to a ‘viewable’ format CFB’S FORENSIC WORK is
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in the immediate aftermath of a bomb IDVW HYROXWLRQ RI WHFKQRORJ\ HJ
EODVWLQFLGHQW development of bigger capacity
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‘viewable’ format helps to provide of different types of exhibits which
timely investigation leads for QHHG WR EH VHL]HG E\ ,2 DOVR
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apprehension of the perpetrators after All exhibits received by TCFB
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build up the capability to process any imaged electronic data as if it were
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in the event of a bomb blast incident exhibits come to TCFB physically
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&&79IRRWDJHVRISHUSHWUDWRUVREWDLQHGE\/RQGRQ0HWURSROLWDQ3ROLFH¶V&&79
trawling operation for the London Bomb Blast on 7 July 2005

FEATURE ARTICLES
a hard drive with a storage capacity
RI WR WHUDE\WH$V D UHVXOW WKH
manual analysis is fast becoming
more tedious and time-consuming
compared to the past as the forensic
examiner will need to go through a
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Laboratory after processing by TCFB
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damaged by criminals in a bid to by television crime dramas such as
destroy evidence while others are WKH µ&6, &ULPH 6FHQH ,QYHVWLJDWLRQ¶
already in poor physical conditions and have unrealistic expectations on
resulting in read-sector errors during how far technology forensic can be
the acquisition process or lengthened XVHGWRVXSSRUWWKHLULQYHVWLJDWLRQ)RU
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be dismantled carefully to reveal the WKDW DOO &&79 IRRWDJHV RU LPDJHV
storage devices, which are sometimes could be enhanced to the same degree
hidden, without causing further of clarity they saw on crime dramas
GDPDJHWRWKHP without realising that the degree of
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the forensic processes are entirely LPDJHRUYLGHRVRXUFH
automated, rudimentary and can
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of the forensic data is actually a NEVER ERASED
manual process performed by the
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increasingly common to receive never simply erased at the click of
an exhibit computer system that WKH µGHOHWH¶ EXWWRQ 7KLV KDV EHHQ
contains more than one hard drive or extremely helpful in uncovering the
Damaged laptops sent to TCFB for forensic examination –

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FEATURE ARTICLES
wrongdoings of Anthony Ler Wee Teang ZDV VHQWHQFHG WR LQGH¿QLWH GHWHQWLRQ
who manipulated a 15-year-old teenager LQOLHXRIWKHGHDWKVHQWHQFH
WRVWDEKLVZLIHRQ0D\
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uncovered nine Microsoft Word EVIDENCE WITH
documents deleted in Anthony DETECTIVE SKILLS
Ler’s home computer that revealed
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a ‘silent’ conversation between him LTHOUGH ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE
and his accomplice, three days after played a key part in convicting
WKH GHDWK RI KLV ZLIH 8VLQJ WKHVH Anthony Ler for plotting the
GHOHWHG¿OHVSROLFHZDVDEOHWRSURYH murder of his wife, it was not the
that Anthony Ler used his computer only piece of evidence that police had
to communicate ‘silently’ with the DJDLQVWKLP9HU\RIWHQWKHJRRGROG
WHHQDJHUDWKLVÀDW6RPHOLQHVLQWKH detective skills still have to be applied
GHOHWHG ¿OH LQFOXGHG ³7KH\ FDQ KHDU together with electronic evidence to
what you are saying”, “Act shock that VROYHDFDVH
the woman is my wife”, “Payment On 11 April 2003, Suresh Nair
might have to wait” and “Yu threw 9HOOD\XWKDPD\HDUROG0DOD\VLDQ
WKHNQLIH´ working in Singapore, was arrested
Anthony Ler was found guilty for for aggravated sexual offences
the abetment of the murder of his FRPPLWWHG DJDLQVW WZR ,QGRQHVLDQ
wife and sentenced with the death air stewardesses at the Grand Hyatt
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FEATURE ARTICLES
A piece of electronic evidence – a the crime scene. All these corroborated
photograph of a lady in an airline with the electronic evidence from
uniform – recovered by TCFB from the memory card misplaced by the
a memory card left by the accused at accused at the crime scene.
the crime scene led the police to solve Suresh Nair Vellayutham was
the case successfully. IRXQG JXLOW\ RI ¿YH FKDUJHV ± RQH
Through relentless detective count of rape and four counts of
works, police traced the lady in the aggravated molestation. He was
photograph to her workplace and sentenced to twenty-six years of jail
subsequently established the accused sentence and twenty-four strokes of
to be her boyfriend. Witnesses’ the cane.
testimonies also revealed that the
accused was seen waiting in the hotel
lobby and had claimed that he was
waiting for some airline staff when
he was questioned by a duty manager
from the hotel.
The hotel’s CCTV also captured
his movements at the hotel lobby of
him following the two victims into the
lift and out of the lift. The accused’s CCTV evidence corroborated with the electronic
photographs were also recovered by evidence recovered from the memory card to
place the rape accused
TCFB from the memory card left at at the crime scene
Photograph of a lady in an airline uniform was recovered by TCFB from a memory card left at the crime
scene – It led the police to establish the identity of the rape accused through subsequent detective works

FEATURE ARTICLES
TAKING A PROACTIVE the Formula 1 SingTel Singapore
APPROACH Grand Prix each year. During the
mapping exercise, TCFB will collate
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INCE 2006, UNPRECEDENTED WKH &&79 WHFKQLFDO VSHFL¿FDWLRQV
demands were placed on including the software players, CCTV
TCFB to support SPF in the layout plans from the CCTV owners
area of investigation into crimes, and vendors through ground visits.
major incidents and public order The information collated from the
situations related to the conduct of mapping exercise is critical for CCTV
the S2006 International Monetary Mass Processing due to the large
Fund/World Bank Group Meetings, number of proprietary digital video
ASEAN Summit 2007, Formula 1 formats used.
SingTel Singapore Grand Prix and the
$VLD3DFL¿F (FRQRPLF &RRSHUDWLRQ FLYING TCFB’S FLAG HIGH
(APEC) Singapore 2009 Meetings.
Set against the backdrop of a
heightened security and public order
threat climate, TCFB was driven by
the need to ensure that its capability
of Mass CCTV processing can
support a post-incident follow-up.
This is especially so when some
incidents took place during these high
SUR¿OHHYHQWVZHUHFDSWXUHGE\&&79
systems. To ramp up the Mass CCTV
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capability in preparation for these INCE THE of TCFB
INCEPTION
events, TCFB would devote much of in 2001, we worked tirelessly
its resources to conduct CCTV terrain to make a name for ourselves
mapping in the event localities before as the premier unit in technology
the start of each event. forensic investigation in the region.
The CCTV terrain mapping is a :H ¿QDOO\ KDG DQ RSSRUWXQLW\ WR
tedious and time-consuming process participate in an INTERPOL mission
that requires TCFB to visit each in 2008.
estate owner in the event localities On 7 March 2008, a TCFB
and their respective CCTV vendors forensic examiner, Senior Staff
to understand the CCTV systems. Sergeant (SSSgt) Joe Ng, was
For example, TCFB spent an average deployed as part of the INTERPOL
of one month to conduct CCTV Computer Incident Response Team
terrain mapping before the start of to Bogota, capital city of Colombia.

FEATURE ARTICLES
7KH ,17(532/ &RPSXWHU ,QFLGHQW ASEAN LEAD
Response Team was requested SHEPHERD FOR
to examine laptops and storage CYBER CRIME FIGHTING
devices recovered following a raid
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on a terrorist camp belonging to INGAPORE WAS APPOINTED the
the Revolutionary Armed Forces of lead shepherd for the ASEAN
&ROXPELD)$5&RQWKH(FXDGRULDQ ¿JKW DJDLQVW F\EHU FULPH LQ
side of its border with Columbia on DW WKH $6($1 0LQLVWHULDO
0DUFK Meeting on Transnational Crimes
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5DXO 5H\HV ZKR ZDV WKH 1R PDQ As the lead shepherd, Singapore’s
RI WKH )$5& &RORPELD FODLPHG responsibility is to create awareness
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computers that indicated that Ecuador ¿JKWLQJFDSDELOLW\DPRQJWKH$6($1
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document could have been inserted IRUF\EHUFULPH7RJHWKHUZLWK7&,%
E\ &RORPELD¶V DXWKRULW\ 7KLV UDLG TCFB introduced some initiatives
created a border tension between such as the organisation of the bi-
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and another Australian technology ,QYHVWLJDWLRQ :RUNVKRS &&,: 7R
forensic expert was to examine date, TCFB has conducted two runs
the laptops and storage devices to of 2-week working attachment for the
determine whether any data had 5R\DO%UXQHL3ROLFH)RUFH5%3)LQ
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Joe Ng and his teammate spent various training programmes for
more than 1,000-man hours going the ASEAN countries, TCFB has
WKURXJK PRUH WKDQ *% RI GDWD also put up a project paper to assist
7KHIRUHQVLF¿QGLQJVZHUHVXEPLWWHG some ASEAN countries to set up
to a panel of Computer Forensic basic technology forensic capability
Experts for evaluation and the panel to help enhance their cyber crime
DJUHHG ZLWK WKH IRUHQVLF ¿QGLQJV RI ¿JKWLQJ FDSDELOLW\ 7KLV SURMHFW LV
the technology forensic examiners currently pending funding from
that there was ‘no evidence of dialogue partners through the
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FEATURE ARTICLES
FULPH¿JKWLQJ7&'DOVRZRUNHGZLWK
“With the increasing demand
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for digital forensics, TCFB will
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continue to harness innovative
to conduct the second Regional
technologies to meet the
&\EHU &ULPH 6HPLQDU IURP challenges of bringing
WR 1RYHPEHU 7KH WKHPH about stronger evidence for
of the seminar was ‘Combating the prosecution in future.”
Threats of Cybercrime and Financing
7HUURULVP $ WRWDO RI WKLUW\¿YH CONCLUSION
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Attorney-General’s Chambers, CFB HAS COME a long way since
Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore LWV LQFHSWLRQ :LWK WKH OLPLWHG
$UPHG )RUFHV +RQJ .RQJ 6RXWK VWDI¿QJZHKDYHDFKLHYHGPXFK
Korea, Japan and eight other ASEAN in the eight years since commencing
FRXQWULHV0DOD\VLD%UXQHL7KDLODQG RSHUDWLRQ WR IXO¿OO RXU PDQGDWH LQ
3KLOLSSLQHV/DRV9LHWQDP&DPERGLD ensuring that SPF has the competency
DQG ,QGRQHVLD DWWHQGHG WKH VHPLQDU to deal with technology-related
The speakers included French Justice LQFLGHQWVHIIHFWLYHO\DQGHI¿FLHQWO\
and Police representatives and With the increasing demand for
:RUOG %DQN FRQVXOWDQWV 7KH ¿UVW digital forensics, TCFB will continue to
Regional Cyber Crime Seminar was harness innovative technologies to meet
VXFFHVVIXOO\FDUULHGRXWIURPWR the challenges of bringing about stronger
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What the Public Service Can Do

MR. PETER HO
I
T IS FAIR to say that Singapore warning signals of imminent
recognises the need for crises? Why, despite support
decision-makers to prepare for from the public sector leadership,
WKH IXWXUH 2XU HIIRUWV WR XQGHUVWDQG and years of scenario planning
and plan for the future have evolved workshops, and with new tools like
DQG LPSURYHG RYHU WKH \HDUV RAHS, are we still not fully adept
Scenario planning is now a key in anticipating the future? How
part of the Government’s strategic can government agencies better
planning process, and has proven organise their strategic thinking
useful in surfacing otherwise hidden about the future?
assumptions and mental models
We miss out on signals
DERXW WKH ZRUOG 0RUH LPSRUWDQWO\
not only because of the
the scenario planning process has
limitations of our tools
helped to inculcate an “anticipatory”
and methods, but also
mindset in many of our civil servants
because of the nature
by getting them to raise “what if”
of human cognition.
questions on the issues that they
GHDO ZLWK 7KH 5LVN $VVHVVPHQW
DQG +RUL]RQ 6FDQQLQJ SURJUDPPH OBSTACLES
RU 5$+6 ODXQFKHG LQ DV D IN ANTICIPATING
complementary capability to scenario STRATEGIC SURPRISES
planning, is being used to examine
T
complex issues in which cause and
HE HUMAN MIND can play tricks
effect are not easily discerned; it
RQXV:HVHHZKDWZHZDQWWR
also serves as a shared platform for
analysts from different agencies to see, and sometimes miss out
collaborate on perspective-sharing, WKH JODULQJO\ REYLRXV 6R LW LV ZLWK
PRGHOOLQJDQGUHVHDUFK1 WKLQNLQJ DERXW WKH IXWXUH :H PLVV
Yet why do decision-makers, out on signals not only because of the
who have ready access to ample limitations of our tools and methods,
information, fail to respond to but also because of the nature of

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KXPDQ FRJQLWLRQ 0DQ\ VXUSULVHV The reasons why we do not are
that governments have to deal with VHYHUDO 7KHVH LQFOXGH FRQ¿UPDWLRQ
– natural disasters, pandemics, even biases, groupthink and other
¿QDQFLDOFULVHVDQGSROLWLFDOXSKHDYDOV cognitive failures; our inability
– can often be assigned probabilities, to make sense of complexity; the
or anticipated through the “stories” problem of retrospective coherence;
or “narratives” that scenario planners poor or missing incentives to
XVH 7KLV VKRXOG OHDG JRYHUQPHQWV prepare for strategic surprises;
WR WDNH SUHFDXWLRQDU\ PHDVXUHV 7KH DQG IUDJPHQWDWLRQ RI ULVN VHH ER[
UHDOLW\LVWKDWZHRIWHQGRQRW VWRU\EHORZ
WHY WE FAIL TO
ANTICIPATE THE FUTURE
COGNITIVE FAILURES
Decision makers tend to discount future risks and contingencies, and
place too much weight on present FRVWVDQGEHQHILWV*RYHUQPHQWVDUH
also prone to confirmation bias, which is the tendency to pay attention
RQO\ WR GDWD ZKLFK LV FRQVLVWHQW ZLWK H[LVWLQJ PHQWDO PRGHOV )RU
example, during the boom years before the current financial crisis, most
H[SHUWV GLVPLVVHG WKH ULVNV RI D PDMRU ILQDQFLDO RU HFRQRPLF FULVLV
The few who foresaw an impending crisis – like Nouriel Roubini and
1DVVLP7DOHE±ZHUHURXQGO\LJQRUHG
Social networks and groupthink are also a source of confirmation
ELDV0DYHULFNV±ZKRVHYLHZVGRQRWFRQIRUPWRJURXSRSLQLRQV±WHQG
to be rejected; they will disappear over time unless a mechanism is set
XS WR SURWHFW WKHP &ULVHV FDQ DOVR EUHDN RXWGDWHG PHQWDO PRGHOV EXW
WKH\DUHDQH[SHQVLYHZD\WRIRUFHUHFRJQLWLRQRIFRQILUPDWLRQELDVHV
What can be done: Well-crafted, challenging scenarios that articulate

imaginative yet plausible ways in which the future could evolve, can
prompt management to think the unthinkable and consider radical
DSSURDFKHVDQGFLUFXPVWDQFHV
INABILITY TO MAKE SENSE OF COMPLEXITY

There is a tendency to focus on what can be modelled or extrapolated
from today’s trends; what is not modelled is discounted or assumed

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DZD\ $V D UHVXOW VFHQDULR SODQQHUV RIWHQ FRQFHQWUDWH RQ ³NQRZQ

XQNQRZQV´ UDWKHU WKDQ RQ ³XQNQRZQ XQNQRZQV´ %XW IXWXUH VWDWHV RI
the world can emerge from parallel developments whose interactions
are unforeseeable, unforeseen, or unseen, and cannot be predicted from
DOLQHDUH[WUDSRODWLRQRISDVWGHYHORSPHQWV
Rational, quantitative thinking is easier to deal with than complex,
RSHQHQGHG UHDVRQLQJ +RZHYHU WKH PHWULFV XVHG FDQ IDLO WR UHIOHFW
reality, and worse, inhibit thinking about underlying complexities in
WKHRSHUDWLQJHQYLURQPHQW
What can be done: Scenario planning should not be reduced to a

simplistic engineering exercise in which driving forces are the inputs,
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in bewildering ways to produce unpredictable outcomes and patterns in
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The current pattern, while logical, is only one of many patterns that
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the way, retrospective coherence says that even if we were to start
again and take the same decisions, there is no certainty we would end
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contingency, they often do not have the incentives to hedge against

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– spill across boundaries in ways that make it impossible for a single
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were even incentivised, on a local basis, towards risky behaviour that
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not beneficiaries of bank bonuses, such as economist Nouriel Roubini,
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The strategic planner often has a hard time challenging the official
future, especially when that future is consistent with an organisation’s
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alternatives risks being branded as lacking a sense of reality; he has a
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reduces the impetus for the organisation to confront its uncomfortable
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planner should aim to be a court jester – he must be able to say the most
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that perfectly matches its “local” performance goals can create a big
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WHAT THE SINGAPORE aware that we have biases is
PUBLIC SERVICE CAN DO DOUHDG\ D VWHS IRUZDUG :KHQ ZH
started scenario planning nearly
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VER THE YEARS , , KDYH two decades ago, we were not as
become increasingly sensitised to cognitive biases as we
convinced that thinking DUH WRGD\ .QRZLQJ ZKDW ZH NQRZ
about the future and strategic today, we can take a number of
surprises will remain a messy deliberate steps to compensate for
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predictions, we are pursuing the We should take steps to inject
ZURQJ DLP :H FDQQRW SUHGLFW WKH much more real diversity into
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noted, “the objective is not to get the United States, the Defense
a more accurate picture of the Science Board is commissioned
ZRUOG DURXQG XV´2 Rather, we by the Department of Defense to
should seek to provide input for FRQVLGHU VWUDWHJLF LVVXHV %HVLGHV
decision makers to make informed bringing experts, academics and
DVVHVVPHQWV +LV FROOHDJXH IURP professionals to the table, the
Royal Dutch/Shell, Pierre Wack, Board sometimes includes in
added that scenarios should “help its discussions people with no
change assumptions about how the defence background at all – artists,
world works” and “compel people DFWRUV PXVLFLDQV %XW WKHUH LV
to reorganise their mental models PHWKRG LQ WKLV VHHPLQJ PDGQHVV
RIUHDOLW\´3 Good scenarios should By gathering a diverse group
facilitate better decisions, not of people, the Board hopes to
EHWWHUSUHGLFWLRQV garner insights that would not be
The challenge for us is how achievable from a team comprising
we can find a better approach to only professionals and experts with
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me outline five key ideas for our ,Q 6LQJDSRUH ZH SUREDEO\
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that we will always face limitations They ought to be tapped more
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Even in the most forward-looking a rich source of fresh insights that
government, leaders and officials can better inform policymaking
will have their own mental models DQG SODQQLQJ &RQYHUVLQJ ZLWK
and cognitive biases, and seek think-tanks, like engaging in public
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part of the effort to operate in a eliminate every risk, but we need
complex, inter-connected and non- to manage them in such a way that
linear world, in which insight and strategies and their premiums are
good ideas are not the monopoly of QRWIURQWORDGHG
JRYHUQPHQW Third, we have to calibrate
Networked government does strategic thinking processes
not just mean networking among around the psychological and
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networking with individuals and LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ,QDGGUHVVLQJWKHVH
organisations outside government “downstream” issues, methods
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FDQ DYRLG WKH WUDS RI JURXSWKLQN relative strengths of the scenario
We should actively organise our planning and RAHS to mitigate
strategic conversations to keep an issues of cognitive dissonance and
open mind, by encouraging a range FRQVLVWHQF\ELDVHV
of perspectives that do not conform
to our own mental models, and Insight and good ideas
by challenging our thinking with are not the monopoly
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does not mean we must agree with
HYHU\ YLHZ %XW ZH VKRXOG JLYH Fourth, it is important to engage
each a hearing so as to honestly and communicate with decision-
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Second, we should recognise involvement are crucial in achieving
that the cost of responding to better decisions and strategic
some strategic surprises can be RXWFRPHV)RUDPHVVDJHWRUHVRQDWH
just too high politically, especially strongly with decision-makers,
if governments will be perceived the work should be presented in
to be allocating an inordinate GLVWLOOHG IRUPV ZLWK VXI¿FLHQW
amount of resources to prepare detail, using creative expressions
for eventualities that may never and relevant, compelling graphics
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a possibility of the earth being scenarios and strategies can be
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asteroid, but this is probably not VL]HG´SLHFHV7KHVHDUHPRUHHDVLO\
D ULVN WKDW ZH LQ 6LQJDSRUH FDQ digested by decision-makers who,
meaningfully prepare for, given the in turn, are more likely to recall and
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Fifth , we have to recognise systems that are purely focused on
that even as we endeavour to avoid only efficiency are unlikely to have
being surprised, we should still sufficient resources to deal with
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this, governments should build argument for establishing bloated
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Among other things, resilience is is to be “fat”, it must be directed to
the ability to address issues with VSHFLILFSXUSRVHV
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also the ability to adjust to rapid idea is to have a small but
DQG WXUEXOHQW FKDQJH ,W LV JRLQJ dedicated group of people to
about our daily business while WKLQN DERXW WKH IXWXUH 7KH VNLOO
operating in an environment of sets needed for long-term policy
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increasingly important driver of LPPHGLDWH YRODWLOLW\ DQG FULVLV
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,Q D ZRUOG RI JURZLQJ YRODWLOLW\ charged with thinking about the
and uncertainty, our approach to future should be given the freedom
policymaking needs to go beyond and allocated the bandwidth
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ROLES OF THE
CENTRE FOR STRATEGIC FUTURES
CHALLENGE CONFORMIST THINKING IDENTIFY EMERGENT RISKS
• build networks with diverse perspectives within • communicate emerging issues, wildcards
and outside Singapore and strategies to decision makers
• engage local think-tanks and universities, • in parallel with an integrated WOG Risk
international counterparts and global thought leaders Map and Risk Register
• conferences on futures-related issues
CALIBRATE STRATEGIC CULTIVATE CAPACITIES,

THINKING PROCESSES INSTINCTS AND HABITS
• focus on practical policy development • mindsets and HR capability for dealing
and implementation with uncertainty and disruptive shocks
• Scenario Planning Plus: integrated • promote strategic conversations among
framework together with RAHS, public servants
WOG Risk Management • nurture WOG-level strategic thinking
• coordinated platform for interagency discussion and sharing across agency lines on
• develop new capabilities and a core group of facilitators “what if” questions

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GD\WRGD\ URXWLQHV 7KHVH SHRSOH LVVXHV RI WKH GD\ ,W ZLOO VXSSRUW
will become repositories of patterns the development of capabilities
that can be used to facilitate within the Singapore Government
decision-making, and especially to in futures methodologies through its
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What we need from this small The Civil Service College
group of people is the capacity to will play an important and
conduct strategic thinking about complementary role to the CSF, by
future possibilities to facilitate helping civil servants develop the
more considered decision-making, competencies, instincts and habits
perhaps even to conduct policy of mind to tackle uncertainties and
experiments on possible alternative PDQDJH FRPSOH[LW\ 7KLV ZLOO EH
futures, or policymaking done through seminars, programmes
E\GLVFRYHU\ and courses on complexity as well
as futures thinking and tools, and
In a world of growing the documentation of case studies
volatility and uncertainty, on how the civil service has applied
our approach to IXWXUHVZRUN
policymaking needs to
While the CSF will play a
go beyond an emphasis
role in the cultivation of the
on efficiency, towards
Government’s preparedness for
building resilience.
the future, every ministry will
also need to build up its individual
A CENTRE FOR FDSDELOLW\ 7R IDFLOLWDWH WKLV ZH
STRATEGIC FUTURES have just established a “Strategic
Futures Network”, to be made
I
N ORDER TO put these principles up of Deputy Secretaries from
into operation and strengthen HDFK 0LQLVWU\ :H H[SHFW WKDW WKH
our capacity to think about the Network will play a catalytic role
future, we have set up a “Centre for in promoting futures work within
6WUDWHJLF)XWXUHV´&6)LQ36'VHH the civil service, by expanding the
ER[ VWRU\ RQ SDJH 2YHU WLPH reach of the CSF into the ministries
together with the Strategic Policy DQG DJHQFLHV 7KH 1HWZRUN ZLOO
2I¿FH DQG VXSSRUWHG E\ 5$+6 WKH have a key role in establishing a
CSF will become the focal point of common vocabulary for strategic
futures-related work in the Singapore planning, and nurturing the
*RYHUQPHQW ,W ZLOO ZRUN WRZDUGV instincts and habits of strategic
promoting whole-of-government whole-of-government thinking
thinking on the key strategic DERXWWKHIXWXUH

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CONCLUSION in futures work, and to develop and
strengthen interagency collaboration
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VERALL, THE CSF will IRUQHWZRUNHGJRYHUQPHQW7KH&6)
seek to build on the work will play a key part in keeping us
of scenario planning in at the leading edge of governance,
facilitating a common, whole-of- enhancing our decision-making
government vocabulary for strategic capability and the service that we
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to analyse the future, but also to
XQGHUVWDQGWKHSUHVHQW ENDNOTES
To deal with consistency bias and 1
RAHS incorporates into a computer-based
cognitive dissonance is to nurture in platform a suite of methods and software
our people the instincts and skills to designed to help analysts detect and investigate
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increasingly uncertain and complex 2
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environment, it is imperative that 6HULHV 3HWHU 6FKZDUW] 7KLQNLQJ WKH
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we have the courage to open our scenario planning futurist,” The Business,
minds and take bold but pragmatic 6HSWHPEHU
VWHSV IRUZDUG 7KH &6) LV DQ 3
:DFN 3 ³6FHQDULRV 8QFKDUWHG :DWHUV
important step in building capability Ahead,” HarvardBusiness Review
EDITOR’S NOTES
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at the 2010 SPC provided updates, in particular, on the activities of the Centre of Strategic
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Programmes:
The RAHS System
MS. MAGDALENE CHOO A
OPERATIONAL IMPETUS Given the complex and multi-
FOR EARLY WARNING domain nature of the issues faced,
it is no longer feasible to forecast
T
HE COMPLEXITY OF issues and a future based only on past trends,
tempo of activities handled by or to adopt a single-domain
the Singapore Public Service strategy when addressing emerging
has increased substantially over LVVXHV 7KH GLI¿FXOWLHV IDFHG ZKHQ
the past years, due to an increase in adopting a singular future approach
overall scale of activities and inter- are exacerbated by Singapore’s
connectivity, as well as the interplay unique physical and demographic
of different components exhibiting endowments which are highly
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this, a Government review panel had world-class air and sea transport hub
to look at issues handled by multiple infrastructure, and a heterogeneous
departments, such as employer population of four main races and
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employee wages, family cohesion $VVHVVPHQW DQG +RUL]RQ 6FDQQLQJ
and values, manpower for national 5$+6 ,QLWLDWLYH ZDV WKXV ODXQFKHG
defence, and the rising educational to enable the Public Service to
VWDWXV RI ZRPHQ $QRWKHU H[DPSOH leverage on the vast amounts of data
is addressing the threat of Avian and expertise residing in various
Flu spreading to Singapore, which DJHQFLHV 7KLV DPDOJDPDWLRQ RI
involved the foreign affairs, human agencies would result in a better
health, veterinary health, housing, and understanding of alternative futures,
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threats/opportunities and the ability capabilities – concepts and methods,
to engage in anticipatory action to tools and technologies, networks and
PLWLJDWHWKHLPSDFW associations – to perform two key
The initiative would involve the roles: explore emerging issues and
utilisation of technology in designing LQYHVWLJDWHFRPSOH[LVVXHV
a system that
SURVEY OF
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in the sense-making processes
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and N A STUDY of various overseas
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information exchange across DVVHVVPHQW DQG KRUL]RQVFDQQLQJ
various Public Service functions, it was found that data
departments to meet the analytics and scenario planning were
challenges of understanding the two main methods used in most of
and reacting to cross-domain WKHRUJDQLVDWLRQV
LVVXHV The Global Public Health
Intelligence Network (GPHIN)
Through this, the initiative will was developed for World Health
also ensure optimal allocation of 2UJDQLVDWLRQ :+2 WKURXJK
limited Public Service resources, by collaboration with Health Canada
allowing departments to focus efforts LQ DQG IXQFWLRQV DV D VHFXUH
RQLGHQWL¿HGORZSUREDELOLW\EXWKLJK ,QWHUQHWEDVHG HDUO\ ZDUQLQJ V\VWHP
impact issues, otherwise termed as that gathers information about potential
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The 2 entities which will be serves as a web crawler, conducting
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6FDQQLQJ &HQWUH +6& DQG WKH with a focus on infectious diseases
RAHS Experimentation Centre DQG KXPDQ VDIHW\ LVVXHV $FWLQJ RQ
5(& 7KH +6& ZLOO ³LQYHVWLJDWH keywords assigned by Health Canada’s
DQG UHFRPPHQG WKURXJK KRUL]RQ Laboratory Centre for Disease control
scanning, case studies or other /&'& DQG NH\ZRUGV DVVRFLDWHG
initiatives, key emerging issues as well with public, environmental and animal
as risks or uncertainties across various health, it monitors over 10,000 online
GRPDLQVWKDWZRXOGKDYHDVLJQL¿FDQW sources, such as newspapers and
impact on Singapore” while REC will ELRPHGLFDOVRXUFHV1
“spearhead technological exploration, The Australia and New Zealand
experimentation and capability Horizon Scanning Network
development in support of the Centre (ANZHSN) is an initiative under the
for Strategic Futures and the Risk Australian Government Department
$VVHVVPHQW DQG +RUL]RQ 6FDQQLQJ RI +HDOWK DQG $JHLQJ 'R+$
SURJUDPPH´ 7RJHWKHU WKH +6& that utilises internet scanning and
and REC will develop the necessary stakeholder consultation to provide

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DGYDQFH QRWLFH RI VLJQL¿FDQW QHZ tank for global issues, has employed
and emerging technologies to health scenario planning together with
departments in Australia and New the Delphi participatory method, to
Zealand, and to exchange information produce a large range of scenario
and evaluate the potential impact sets in various domains such as
of emerging technologies on their Demographics and Human Resources,
UHVSHFWLYHKHDOWKV\VWHPV2 Environmental Change and
The UK Horizon Scanning Biodiversity, Technological Capacity,
Centre, under the Department of *RYHUQDQFH DQG &RQÀLFW DQG
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identify future issues and trends
relevant to the entire public policy PRINCIPLES OF
spectrum, often employing scenarios THE RAHS SYSTEM
and expert consultation in the
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feed into cross-government priority is to develop a system that
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work has been used by the Health suite of methodologies and
and Safety Executive to inform technologies based on existing work
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KHDOWKDQGVDIHW\3 WR IXWXUH PHWKRGV DQG WHFKQRORJLHV
The traditional Scenario Planning This system allows the RAHS team to
method has also been employed leverage on the advantages of existing
by Shell International Petroleum methodologies and technologies while
Company to allow the company to DFNQRZOHGJLQJLWVFRQVWUDLQWV
anticipate the rise and subsequent fall The two key principles and
RIRLOSULFHV,QWKHPLGV6KHOO implementations for the development
also created scenarios that focused on of the RAHS system are:
the future of the Soviet Union, as that
country was a major competitor in the D 7R OHYHUDJH RQ WKH PXOWLSOH
(XURSHDQJDVPDUNHW H[SHUWLVH RI LQGLYLGXDOV 7KH
Siemens AG has utilised a form RAHS system will facilitate
of scenario planning as part of its collaboration across agencies
technological forecasting technique, via linking up various
QDPHG ³3LFWXUHV RI WKH )XWXUH´ agencies through a common
This technique involves selecting a platform, to offer people
suitable time frame in the future, and from different agencies
generating comprehensive scenarios opportunities to communicate
taking into account various aspects, DQGFROODERUDWH
such as socio-political environments The inclusion of
DQGQHZFXVWRPHUQHHGV5 perspective-sharing facilities
The Millennium Project, a global enables further knowledge
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move beyond data sharing to with complex situations with
perspective sharing to broaden KLJK OHYHOV RI XQFHUWDLQW\
his perspectives and prevent This hypothesis was further
attention tunnelling when substantiated and popularised
GHDOLQJ ZLWK FRPSOH[LW\ by subsequent publications
Knowledge management IURP'U.OHLQ, as well as by
expert Dr Dave Snowden Malcolm Gladwell10 $ORQJ
has argued for the need for this line, the RAHS System
perspectives sharing when explores the use of various
operating in the complex models as different means of
domain, in order to gain new data structuring, to help the
views on the situation, rather analyst better make sense of
than rely on entrained patterns incoming data and monitor
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Technologies will be METHODOLOGIES &
available to augment their TECHNOLOGIES
work in performing searches,
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analysing the search results HERE ARE 3 major capability
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Firstly, the RAHS software The research and analysis tools
will reduce the amount of time allow analysts to closely examine
VSHQW RQ VHDUFKHV ,W FRQVLVWV signals collected from environmental
of a range of analytical VFDQQLQJ 7KH SHUVSHFWLYHVKDULQJ
tools, which aid the analyst tools allow analysts to offer insights
in reducing the amount of on pieces of information they
reading time required, as well receive, and for these perspectives
as software to automate the to be analysed for convergence and
running of pre-determined divergence, and for possible outliers
ZRUNÀRZV RU HYHQ ZLOG FDUGV 7KH VFHQDULR
Secondly, the analyst building tools allow analysts to build
can use the RAHS software system maps and ranking models,
to create models for sense- and to examine various scenario and
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According to the Naturalistic
Decision Making framework RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
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experts rely on mental models HE RAHS SOFTWARE empowers
and pattern matching against analysts with a suite of tools,
these models to discern subtle to help them process large
clues and choose the correct amount of data, which can either be
path of actions when dealing unstructured text obtained from the

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Figure 1: Screen Shot of the Advanced Search Tool
,QWHUQHW RU UHSRUWV XSORDGHG E\ WKH of articles, after which realising
DQDO\VWV 7KH V\VWHP JLYHV DQDO\VWV that only a handful are relevant to
WKHÀH[LELOLW\WRDSSO\WKHVHDQDO\WLFDO WKH WRSLF RI UHVHDUFK 7KH 5$+6
tools in any order, in support of the multiple document summariser
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describes various analytical tools: the amount of reading required,
by picking up key sentences that
Advanced Search Tool best summarise a single article or
a collection of articles (refer to
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HE RAHS SOFTWARE allows Figure 2)
analysts to search for articles
within its repository (refer to Entity Analysis Tool
Figure 1)7KH$GYDQFHG6HDUFKWRRO
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SURYLGHV SRZHUIXO IHDWXUHV IRU ¿QH an object that
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and times, monetary amount or
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percentage; Entity Analysis thus
Summary Tool is the process of extracting such
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A
COMMON PROBLEM FACED by on automatic word alignment of
analysts today, is having to speech recognition output, through
read through a collection natural language processing of the

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Figure 2: Screen Shot of the Summary Tool
(QJOLVK JUDPPDU DQG ODQJXDJH Timeline Analysis Tool

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0RUHLQIRDWWKH'7,ZHEVLWHDWKWWSZZZ 5LWFKH\7*HQHUDO0RUSKRORJLFDO$QDO\VLV$
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'HWDLOV LQ &KS ³6FHQDULRV´ )XWXUHV Nicholas Taleb in his book ‘The Black Swan’
5HVHDUFK 0HWKRGRORJ\ &'520 Y RQ to explain the existence and occurrence of high-
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MR. OSCAR VILLANUEVA
A
S THE LAW enforcement and incidents are rare and the reasons
security arm of the United varied, often resulting from business
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and explosive threats, and bringing upon us following the
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FRPPXQLWLHVLQWKH86DQGDEURDG tremendous impact on the USPS and
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challenge was created with the the mail had been used to successfully
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efforts were very costly requiring for such prevention and detection
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and the creation of new operating expenses are enormous
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portable x-ray units now considered and equipment without proven records
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began to develop plans to address XQLIRUPLW\ FRPSURPLVHG WKH 863,6¶V
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KDG QRW EHHQ H[SRVHG WR KD]DUGRXV reducing response time to incidents,
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window of time for a perpetrator to of public health and clinical sectors,
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unexplained illnesses or deaths, additional requirements for assuring
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population or group and unusual a court of law if the criminal is
disease presentations8. Awareness of apprehended and tried. Adequate
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infectious disease outbreaks. is not contaminated along the way
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inhalation anthrax in the 2001 letter also maintain appropriate chain of
mailings of anthrax in the United custody requirements.
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for inhalation anthrax. His occupation by inadequate legal frameworks
was in the news media and he had not governing the detection and
come in contact with or participated in repression of bio-weapons.
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acquisition of the disease. Knowledge the biological agent is actually
of this information quickly led public deployed. Developing the legal
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something was highly unusual about aspects and public health issues
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and investigate the situation9. sectoral approach that involves the
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to identify diseases clusters communicate with the other about
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Much of the information that for public health and law enforcement
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RIWLPH REFERENCES
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DR. VAYA, MR. NILESH, DR. DEVVARTA

(Gujarat Forensic Sciences University)
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how it can be assessed and last but may become “passion” waiting to
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experimenter who had to assess the aborting the course of action by
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suspects suggested that it is a useful
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MR. PETER HO HAK EAN

Former Head Civil Service,
Permanent Secretary,
National Security and Intelligence Coordination
and Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
10th March 2010
Interviewer: PS, welcome to the the Permanent Secretary for Foreign

Home Team Academy. We are very Affairs and Permanent Secretary,
pleased to have you share with us National Security and Intelligence
your perspectives on the changing Coordination. Now, from your
landscape of Homefront Security in experience at the helm of these
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place when the Ministry of Home Transport Authority, all coming
Affairs created this concept of the together to tackle a new and very
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the milestone, wasn’t it? it much easier for them to transition in
the end from thinking about the Home
PS: <HV , WKRXJKW WKDW ZDV D Team to thinking about the ‘whole-
milestone, not because overnight it RIJRYHUQPHQW¶ WKHPH 6R , WKLQN
changed things but what it changed that was very critical, the concept of
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course, it takes many years for this to achieve this…
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see that the agencies came together very clearly, big turf battles, though
and saw that there was a mission everybody would deny that those
that no single agency could meet on WKLQJVKDSSHQHGLQ6LQJDSRUH
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was easier to work together – that this Interviewer: That was the reality
was a national mission and therefore wasn’t it?.…
they had to commit resources, and
put their heart and soul into it, even PS: But that was the reality of how
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other governments which have taken our priorities.” But of course, in the
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US Homeland Security combined SURWHFWLQJ WXUI7KH\ PLJKW VD\ “not
something like 25 agencies from invented here – if it is not my idea, I
different departments to create the am not going to support…” So that
Department of Homeland Security, ZDVWKHUHDOLW\
in the hope that they would be able to
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Second, the departments have other from what you’ve told me, how this
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a department that is dedicated to view of these challenges both internal
Homeland Security, what about their and (the internal aspect is quite big),
other responsibilities? So something and of course external, faced by all
KDVWRJLYH6RRXUDSSURDFKKDVEHHQ our Homefront Security agencies
slightly different – let’s try to operate these past few decades, what do you
in a matrix, whole-of-government think are some of the noteworthy
fashion and try to create a mindset innovations or developments that
in which people give as much happened during this period or
commitment to their responsibilities as they evolved, that particularly
in this network of cooperation as they impressed you?
would to their own statutory board
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this is an immediate problem, we “Let’s look at it from a different point
better do something about it.” And of view. This will be your competitive
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studies and in fact, the study showed people put money, in this new world
that if there was an attack in the right of protection against transnational
places, the consequences could be terrorism, where they believe that
TXLWH FDWDVWURSKLF 6R ZH PHW WKH their investments, infrastructure and
SHRSOH LQ FKDUJH RI -XURQJ ,VODQG assets can be protected. So this will
– JTC, the Ministry of Defence, the become your selling point.”
Ministry of Home Affairs, Police,
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was we needed to do something about investors are very much interested in
it and the immediate consequence knowing that their assets are secure.
was to put out SAF and police
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this is not a sustainable approach.. DQG VSHQG WKH PRQH\ , FDQ LPDJLQH
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and those kinds of numbers in terms some money might have to be taken
of deployment and with the number RXW IURP RWKHU SURMHFWV %XW LQ WKH
RI FRPSDQLHV LQYROYHG 6R ZH VDLG end, they had a reasonably good
we needed to spend money to build protective capability around the
some kind of security infrastructure, island, not perfect, but a reasonably
including a proper facility to check JRRG RQH $QG TXLWH VRRQ WKH\
ORUULHVSHRSOHFRPLQJWKURXJK« discovered that this really was their
competitive advantage, and they
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and manageable…? $QG , LOOXVWUDWH WKLV SRLQW WR H[SODLQ
KRZ GLI¿FXOW LW LV WR FKDQJH SHRSOH¶V
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you talk about innovations, it is not solution to the problem of harbour
always the obvious, such as putting craft is a ‘no brainer’: simply put some
up fences, checkpoints and those kind of transponder on the harbour
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up with the concept and framework The reply to this was, “Let’s use
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innovation here, was the idea that what they did because these small
“this is your competitive advantage.” craft are all within range of our GSM
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Interviewer: Essentially, you had
to convince people that it is in their Interviewer: So essentially we
interest….? tapped into an already available
solution?
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it is in their interest and once they PS: 7KHVROXWLRQZDVDYDLODEOHWKHUH
half believe it, then things will start You just need to do a bit of work on
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We were of course, very worried was going to be how do we persuade
about the security of our seaward the harbour craft to do it?
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it is relatively easy to monitor the Interviewer: The same question
movement of the large ships, it is crops up again, how do we ensure
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There are so many more of them, PS: <HV +RZ GR \RX JHW WKHP WR
moving all over the place, moving buy-in? We felt it would be not
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LW$IWHUWKDWLWEHFRPHVDFRQGLWLRQRI Interviewer: If not more so at
OLFHQVH6RLI\RXZDQWWRUHQHZ\RXU times…?
license to operate as a harbour craft,
you must also agree to put and install PS: ,IQRWPRUHDWWLPHV
these parts, namely the transponder
system and you must be prepared Interviewer: And it brings us very
WR SD\ IRU LW +HQFH WKH SUREOHP nicely to the next point, because,
ZDVVROYHG many of these policy innovations,
cannot operate in isolation, you
Interviewer: I suppose the can’t just look at our own internal
intention is to make one realise that environment but also at what’s
the whole package for getting the happening outside. Quite naturally, in
license involves incorporating these this globalised world that we now live
security measures? in, it’s very important that we adopt
an international outlook to validate
PS: So the whole package is this: and improve these local capabilities
,I VRPHRQH ZDQWV WKH SULYLOHJH RI that we just talked about. Now, we
operating a harbour craft, getting are not alone and we have a lot of
the transponder is part of the entire partners, foreign counterparts. I am
SDFNDJH 6R ZKHQ ZH WKLQN RI just wondering how we can actually
innovation, we should not just be learn from them as well?
thinking about innovation in terms
of technical innovation, or process PS: , JXHVV EH YHU\ RSHQPLQGHG
innovation, we should look at policy You must go out to actively look
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innovations in order to support some must meet people of all kinds and
of these systems and ideas which sometimes they’ve got harebrained
\RX ZDQW WR LPSOHPHQW 6R ZKDW¶V ideas, sometimes they’ve got very
the policy innovation for harbour good ideas.
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What’s the policy innovation for You must know how to
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the chaff, but at the same
innovation of saying, “That’s your
time look at their ideas.
competitive advantage.” So let’s not
Don’t reject them
just think about policy innovation
unnecessarily out of hand.
at just the small level, because the Be prepared to meet people.
policy innovation is as critical as
the technological innovation or the But if you try to take in everything,
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out the wheat from the chaff, but at KDYHWKDWNLQGRIDPLQGVHW6R,WKLQN
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My operating principle is not to close off the search but we must be
just focus on what the international prepared after a while, to say, “Okay,
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to believe that all the best practices always have a problem solving
DUH WR EH IRXQG RYHUVHDV , WKLQN ZH mindset that does not aim for 100%
have reached a stage where many of LPPHGLDWHO\ /HW¶V WU\ WR JHW LW IURP
the best things which are being done, WRWR¿QDOO\WR
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When we think of innovation,
Interviewer: In Singapore itself…? we should not just be
thinking about innovation
PS: Yes, ORFDOO\ :H GRQ¶W QHHG WR in terms of technical
ORRN EH\RQG RXU VKRUHV WR ¿QG EHVW innovation, or process
SUDFWLFHVRUWR¿QGJRRGLGHDV7DNLQJ innovation. We should look
WKHH[DPSOHRIWKH+RPH7HDP,¶YH at policy innovations.
YLVLWHG WKH 6&') 6LQJDSRUH &LYLO Because you need policy
'HIHQFH )RUFH PDQ\ WLPHV DQG LW innovations in order to
is a source of great admiration to support some of these
me, to see how the SCDF has relied systems and ideas which
on its own people and its own sense you want to implement.
to innovate and create some truly
innovative products – such as the Red Interviewer: I suppose to allow it
5KLQR DQG PDQ\ RWKHU HTXLSPHQW to work with the ground reality and
These are not ideas which they’ve see how it goes….
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believe that they are as good as PS: Let it work, see how it works and
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believe they can translate these ideas Interviewer: Yes, that will come
into workable products, and they later; you improve as you go along.

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It’s interesting that you should people to surface their ideas and
mention that, because you are very then, you need to create some kind
correct to say that many of these of critical mass around these ideas
solutions sometimes can be right so that these can be translated into
under our noses. Sometimes what our some piece of equipment or some
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Moving on from that point and the WKHWLPHWKURXJK:,76 and the Staff
whole idea of fostering innovation Suggestion Scheme – the kind you
and a culture of creativity…. the VHH LQ RUJDQLVDWLRQV OLNH WKH 6&')
notion of having to innovate is not a 7KHQ , WKLQN LW¶V JRW D ORW WR GR ZLWK
very new concept. It’s been repeated the quality of leadership and what the
many times in different contexts and OHDGHUVKLS LWVHOI HQFRXUDJHV 7KHUH
often it can run the risk of becoming LV QR VLQJOH WHPSODWH DQG ,¶P VXUH LW
rhetoric and routine. Now I’m just starts off with “I’ve got a problem
wondering, how can we actually – now what’s the solution?”
encourage this culture of innovation ,W¶VDVLPSOHTXHVWLRQ±“what’s the
and creativity among our Home Team problem, what’s the solution?” 1RZ,
RI¿FHUV ZLWKRXW WKHP WKLQNLQJ LW¶V can ask someone to tell me what they
being imposed on them? WKLQN WKH VROXWLRQ VKRXOG EH *HWWLQJ
the right type of people? The right
PS: Well you cannot really impose type of encouragement? They might
innovation because people are not come back to me and say, “well, okay,
going to be innovative because you I think I dreamt of this idea of a ‘Red
WHOO WKHP ³/RRN \RXU .3, LV WR EH Rhino’5, that’s it.” Now what does the
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a framework you establish within the WKDWZRXOGEHWKHGHDWKRILQQRYDWLRQ
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what the leadership itself does to Interviewer: I can see how it
facilitate new ideas to surface, to help always has to start with the problem
translate, and to encourage these new at hand and asking those very simple
ideas to be translated into something questions like, “this is the problem,
ZRUNDEOH,JREDFNWRWKHH[DPSOHRI what are the immediate solutions we
6&'),¶PTXLWHVXUHLWLVQRWEHFDXVH have around us”…… but just to tap
James Tan3 at that time said, “Go out on this idea of ‘problems’, because a
DQGLQQRYDWH´6RZLOOWKH\LQQRYDWH" lot of these problems are not always
7KHDQVZHULVSUREDEO\QR internal, some of them are happening
<RXQHHGDORWPRUHWKDQWKDW<RX as a result of our rapid globalisation
need a system in place, which allows in all arenas – both the economic

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and political. In today’s climate our problems are therefore globalised
we’re getting a lot of new challenges, SUREOHPV:KHWKHU LW LV WUDQVQDWLRQDO
stemming from let’s say, new media, terrorism or our concerns about
a burgeoning foreign population security in the aviation arena, there
and of course an outward and very are concerns about the movement
expressive younger generation. I’m of strategically sensitive material,
just wondering, all these challenges criminals crossing borders around
that are coming, both internal and the world, money laundering, and
external, what do they pose for our VR RQ 7KHVH LVVXHV UHTXLUH D ORW RI
Homefront Security landscape? cooperation with authorities, not
just in neighbouring countries but
PS: Well, clearly it will require new LQWHUQDWLRQDOO\,WUHTXLUHVFRRSHUDWLRQ
W\SHV RI UHVSRQVHV ,W ZLOO UHTXLUH with global organisations such as,
new skill sets and new capabilities ,17(532/ 6R LW PHDQV WKDW PRUH
among the people who work in the and more, our people in the Home
+RPH7HDP%XWDOOWKHYDOXHVZKLFK Team will have to think not just
you consider important will still be DERXW WKH ORFDO LVVXHV 7KH\ KDYH WR
WKHUH )XUWKHUPRUH \RX¶UH GH¿QLWHO\ WKLQN DERXW JOREDO LVVXHV7KH\ PXVW
dealing with the population that is feel comfortable, not just operating
more demanding, has much higher in the local domestic environment
expectations of the Home Team and but equally comfortable operating
of the individual services within LQ D JOREDO HQYLURQPHQW 7KH VNLOO
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tolerant of failure; they will be less ,Q WKH ORFDO HQYLURQPHQW \RX DUH LQ
WROHUDQW RI SRRU VHUYLFH VWDQGDUGV , IXOO FRQWURO <RX JRW WKH UHJXODWLRQV
think that means your ability to deal and legal statutes to back you up;
with the community – face to face, \RX FDQ FRQWURO WKLQJV PRUH RU OHVV
through the new media – will have You go overseas, it’s quite different
WR EH HQKDQFHG , WKLQN \RX FDQQRW – you are one of many, you need to
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are unable to both communicate WKH FRQ¿GHQFH WR GHDO ZLWK \RXU
through the new media or deal with FRXQWHUSDUWV ZLWK FRQ¿GHQFH DQG
SUREOHPV IDFH WR IDFH <RX PXVW ZLWK DXWKRULW\ DQG , WKLQN WKHVH DUH
have both skills; you can’t have one going to be skill sets that we will
ZLWKRXW WKH RWKHU , WKLQN WKHUH LV LQFUHDVLQJO\H[SHFWRIRXUSHRSOH
another important skill set that is
EHFRPLQJ PRUH DQG PRUH LPSRUWDQW Interviewer: Yes, I can see how we
You mentioned that we live in a can of course dictate a lot of things
globalised world and increasingly if they are internal to us, but many

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of these issues and problems which truly believe in and must be prepared
require cooperation outside our to act on and this is what we are
borders require an entirely different PRYLQJWRZDUGV
set of skills that are not just technical We have to internalise it and
but more people based. ZH KDYH WR SUDFWLVH LW , WKLQN LW KDV
clearly improved in the last decade or
PS: 2XU +RPH 7HDP RI¿FHUV ZLOO VR , ZRXOG VD\ ZH DUH SUREDEO\ RQH
have to cooperate and work with of the most networked governments
WKHP 7KDW¶V DOUHDG\ KDSSHQLQJ LQ WKH ZRUOG :H DUH QRW MXVW WDONLQJ
DPRQJ WKH LQWHOOLJHQFH DJHQFLHV )RU DERXW LW 7KLV LV RXU FRPSHWLWLYH
LQVWDQFH,6'6 and the police in their DGYDQWDJH7KLVLVVRPHWKLQJLQZKLFK
GHDOLQJ ZLWK WKHLU FRXQWHUSDUWV ,Q we have some inherent advantage,
IDFW ZH FDQ VHH RXU SROLFH RI¿FHUV because we are small; everybody
deployed in places like Timor Leste NQRZV HYHU\ERG\ HOVH :H DUH D
and in the last couple of decades ÀDW RUJDQLVDWLRQ DQG ZH FDQ PRYH
WKH\¶YHEHHQDOORYHUWKHZRUOG things much more quickly than even
much larger countries that have many
Interviewer: I think we have taken PRUH OD\HUV ,Q VXFK FRXQWULHV \RX
a big step in that direction and the might have the federal government,
road ahead looks very promising. But provincial governments, central
of course there are going to be a lot of JRYHUQPHQW DQG VR RQ 6R ZH GRQ¶W
challenges to overcome. In light of all KDYH WKRVH NLQGV RI FRPSOLFDWLRQV
these current trends and developments, We also don’t have the geographical
can you tell us what you think is the problems associated with large
single most current and innovative FRXQWULHV :H DUH YHU\ FRPSDFW 6R
solution that is basically helping to ZH FDQ PDNH WKHVH WKLQJV KDSSHQ
address these issues? But this is not something that
happens naturally, it requires constant
PS: , SHUVRQDOO\ EHOLHYH WKDW RXU attention, it requires the attention of
competitive advantage is going to WKHWRSOHDGHUVKLSDQG,WKLQNZHZLOO
come from our ability to work at a KDYH WR FRQWLQXH WR IRFXV RQ WKLV ,
‘whole-of-government’ level – in a think if we do this well, we will gain
networked IDVKLRQ ,Q RWKHU ZRUGV the recognition of our counterparts as
we don’t just take the point of view of a government that is going to truly be
one individual agency or individual RQHRIWKHEHVWLQWKHZRUOG
PLQLVWU\RULQGLYLGXDOVHUYLFH%XWZH
also try to contextualise what we do ENDNOTES
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not just an academic or intellectual
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RINH\LQVWLOODWLRQVLQFOXGHWKHRLOUH¿QHULHVRQWKH conduct studies on how to improve their
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service, knowledge and skills, team work, work
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Former Commissioner Singapore Civil
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EDITOR’S NOTES
7KH+RPH7HDP-RXUQDOLVYHU\SULYLOHJHGWRKDYHLQWHUYLHZHG0U3HWHU+RIRUPHU+HDG
of the Singapore Civil Service who retired from the Administrative Service in September
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Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Permanent Secretary for National Security
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Senior Advisor to the Centre for Strategic Futures, in which he was instrumental in setting
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MR. KOH KEW SOON
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HE QUESTION CAN be stated topping their online activities2
simply: Why is new media Synovate¶V<RXQJ$VLDQV6WXG\0DU
relevant for the Home Team? IRXQG RI 6LQJDSRUHDQ
The answer, however, may require a youth into blogging, with 35%
lot more space, both to state and to updating their blogs regularly; while
HOXFLGDWH 7KLV DUWLFOH LV DQ DWWHPSW 51% updated their social network
to do so, by looking at where new SUR¿OHV DV ZHOO DV UHDG SUR¿OHV RI
media is heading and the manifold others37KHNielsen Media Index2FW
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adults going online daily, with
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WHAT’S HAPPENING online communications, entertainment
AND WHAT NEXT and social networking
The top social media platforms
Growing Popularity of Social here are Facebook, YouTube,
Media in Singapore Wikipedia, Twitter, and Flickr,
each leading its own category5 ,Q
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HERE IS NO doubt that social particular, Facebook has grown
media is big, and getting even tremendously popular and is today
bigger, not just worldwide Singapore’s most visited online
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EXW LQ ZHOOFRQQHFWHG 6LQJDSRUH $ destination, even overtaking search
recent study by Nielsen 1RY HQJLQH *RRJOH VLQFH $XJ
found that 52% of Singaporeans 7RGD\ RI ORFDO ,QWHUQHW XVHUV
were already using social media1 or about 27% of Singaporeans, are
According to ComScore, more than )DFHERRNXVHUV7KHUHDUHQRZPRUH
PLOOLRQ SHRSOH KHUH HDFK VSHQW than 2 million Singapore-based
an average of 21 hours online in Facebook accounts6 7ZLWWHU ZKLOH
)HE ZLWK LQVWDQW PHVVDJLQJ new, is growing fast with an estimated
entertainment, and social networking ORFDO7ZLWWHUXVHUV7

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A Singapore Polytechnic survey IHHGV 0DLQVWUHDP PHGLD FRPSDQLHV
'HF IRXQG WKDW GDLO\ RI recognising the potential of ‘real-
local youths visited Facebook, 35% time news’ and the need to compete
YouTube8 with social media sources, have used
Twitter and ‘breaking news’ sites to
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HE NEW MEDIA landscape has 7KHUHZHUHPRUHWKDQPLOOLRQ
continued to develop rapidly, mobile Internet users worldwide
with new technologies and rich LQ D QXPEHU WKDW LV H[SHFWHG
applications emerging, underscoring to more than double by the end of
the need to constantly anticipate 201311 ,Q 6LQJDSRUH WKH PRELOH
trends and their impact, so that even penetration rate increased to 136%
if we cannot manage to ‘stay ahead of LQ 'HFHPEHU IURP LQ
the curve’, we can at least stay abreast -DQXDU\ 12 :RUOGZLGH WKH
RILW iPhone alone accounts for about 33%
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ZDV WKH VKLIW WRZDUGV D µReal- of the iPhone have reached 57 million
time Web’, including ‘real-time’ units, and Singapore is number six on
news, comments, interaction, search, WKHOLVWRIFRXQWULHVXVLQJWKHL3KRQH
collaboration, etc :KLOH LQVWDQW Today, more than three million
PHVVDJLQJ YRLFHRYHU,QWHUQHW DQG people in Singapore have mobile 3G
video-conferencing have long catered subscriptions, allowing them to ‘plug
to smaller groups, the rise of Twitter into’ countless online sites and data
and Facebook have enabled ‘instant’ ZKLOHRQWKHPRYH
social updates to be sent, shared At the same time, geo-spatial
and forwarded among much larger JHRORFDWLRQ DSSOLFDWLRQV KDYH
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integrate such discussions with other powerful, allowing the integration
live content such as video streams10 of richer data, including social and
Search engines and social news sites multimedia, with interactive map
have also upgraded themselves to LQWHUIDFHV GoThere.sg, a popular
offer more ‘real-time’ search results, local start-up, provides dynamic
DOORZLQJRQHWRVHDUFKDQG¿QGQHZV maps with instructions on how to get
blog posts, tweets or other content IURP $ WR % XVLQJ SXEOLF WUDQVSRUW
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lets you observe and discuss events Singapore and have a 3600KRUL]RQWDO
happening remotely, in real-time, via YLHZ RI HDFK ORFDWLRQ 0HDQZKLOH
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launched OneMap to bring combined DV VHFXULW\ 2QH VKRXOG DOZD\V ZHLJK
locational data from government WKH SRWHQWLDO EHQH¿WV YHUVXV WKH OLNHO\
agencies to the public via an online FRVWVLQYROYHGDQGSRVVLEOHGUDZEDFNV
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Related to mobile and geo-spatial Image-Building, Community
technologies is the rise to augmented Outreach and Recruitment
reality, a hot growth area in the new
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technologies such as GPS and built- multimedia, interactivity and
in compasses, it brings location- the potential to form online
based data to mobile phone screens, communities and galvanise positive
enabling layers of web data or action, is an ideal platform for image-
virtual images to be super-imposed building, community outreach and
on top of ‘live’ camera views on recruitment, especially if young
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reality applications such as Layar The use of multimedia RQOLQH
and Wikitude are already available YLGHRV DQG SKRWRV WR VKRZFDVH
locally on iPhones and Android- the actions of uniform groups and
EDVHG SKRQHV ,QFUHDVLQJO\ DV PRUH VHFXULW\ DJHQFLHV LV QRW QHZ 7KH
online data such as videos or tweets challenge is how to make such
become geo-tagged, we will see even multimedia content more interesting,
richer data and social interaction via appealing and even interactive,
PRELOHGHYLFHV in order to capture attention and
connect to youths, and have a chance
NEW MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES RI VSUHDGLQJ YLUDOO\ 7KLV UHTXLUHV
FOR THE HOME TEAM innovation, and perhaps a degree of
humour, originality and spontaneity
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number of examples of new ,QWHUQDOO\ WKLV PD\ UHTXLUH PRUH
media usage from overseas dedicated resources and roles,
agencies, presented as possible such as setting up a dedicated role or
opportunities with some observations portfolio for digital communication
IURP WKH ZULWHU ,QGLYLGXDO +RPH DQG HQJDJHPHQW )RU H[DPSOH WKH
Team agencies are in the best position UK’s West Midlands Police recently
to evaluate whether to explore them DQQRXQFHG WKDW D VHQLRU RI¿FHU$VVW
conceptually, experiment on a small Chief Constable Gordon Scobbie,
VFDOH HJ D SLORWWULDO RU SHUKDSV JR had taken on a new portfolio for
further, while complying with existing digital engagement ,W ZRXOG DOVR
policies and addressing concerns such require more extensive use of online

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FKDQQHOV WR GLVVHPLQDWH RI¿FLDO specialists to share about their work
communications, such as speeches, RQOLQH VXEMHFW WR VHFXULW\ DQG RWKHU
press releases, press conference, SROLFLHV LQ RUGHU WR JLYH WKH SXEOLF
LQWHUYLHZV HWF LQ D WLPHO\ PDQQHU more intimate, rare glimpses into
Content would also need to be the type of work they do and their
customised and adapted for different WKRXJKWV 7KLV FDQ EH GRQH XVLQJ D
RQOLQH SODWIRUPV )RU H[DPSOH D combination of tools such as blogs,
long article, like the one you are now )DFHERRN7ZLWWHUYLGHRVDQGSKRWRV
reading, is generally ill-suited for 9LGHRV FDQ IHDWXUH LQWHUYLHZV ZLWK
RQOLQHUHDGLQJ front-line staff, or show them going
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on personal inclinations, it would capture highlights, such as parades,
be useful for key leaders and exercises or when forces are deployed
spokespersons to be new media- LQ DFWLRQ :KLOH WKHUH LV QR QHHG WR
savvy and to have an active online over-dramatise the ‘action’, it would
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a blog, where the public can read WKHMRE5HFUXLWPHQWPHVVDJHVFDQEH
about their vision and hopes for their ZRYHQLQDVZHOO7KH3ROLFH&KLHILQ
organisations, and their thoughts Lincoln, Nebraska, USA, himself an
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can help to recruit by blogging or police academy recruits to blog about
posting about their organisation’s their experience16
need for public-spirited individuals Where social networking is
with similar interests and dedication concerned, Facebook is the obvious
WR MRLQ WKHLU WHDP 5HFUXLWPHQW FDQ choice given its overwhelming
DOVR EH GRQH YLD D FRUSRUDWH EORJ SRSXODULW\ LQ 6LQJDSRUH$ JRRG WKLQJ
One example is the Houston Police about Facebook is that it also allows
Department, which has a recruitment- PDQ\SDUDOOHOFKDQQHOVIRUUHDFKLQJRXW
dedicated blog15 with daily entries )RUH[DPSOH\RXFDQVHWXSDQRI¿FLDO
giving insights into police jobs; )DFHERRNIDQSDJHIRUDQRUJDQLVDWLRQ
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RQUHFUXLWPHQWDQRI¿FLDOUHFUXLWPHQW your organisation can also use their
site; and on top of all this, the personal pages to reach out at an
Houston Police Department Chief’s LQGLYLGXDO OHYHO 7KH LQGLYLGXDO SDJHV
RZQEORJ can connect at a more personal level,
At the same time, especially resembling the “cop on the beat”
for agencies that perform a vital VWRSSLQJWRFKDWZLWKDQ\SDVVHUVE\,W
public service, one could consider is also possible to create social network
allowing the UDQNDQG¿OH DQG pages targeted at youths or children, so

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that children who are witnesses to or RXWUHDFK DQG SXEOLF HGXFDWLRQ
victims of crimes have a safe, friendly %HVLGHV RI¿FLDO SUHVHQFHV RQ NH\
online channel to inform or seek help social media platforms like Facebook,
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³0\ )ULHQG LV D &RS´ 0\6SDFH on Second Life18, it also created a
SDJHVHWXSE\WKH)DLU¿HOG&DOLIRUQLD “Most Wanted” iPhone and iPod
Police Department17 Touch application which was
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can also be considered for recruitment in 80 countries worldwide between
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cost-effective to adapt existing print/ successful initiatives is a series of
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advertising can be done on selected can add to any blogs/websites to
websites, search engines and social VKDUH LWV RQOLQH FRQWHQW PRUH ZLGHO\
QHWZRUNV$GVRQ*RRJOHWKHOHDGLQJ $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH )%, WKHLU ZLGJHWV
search engine in Singapore, can be have been “enormously popular”,
ERXJKW IRU VSHFL¿F VHDUFK ZRUGV RU DQG WKH ³¿UVW IRXU ZLGJHWV DORQH
phrases, and can be targeted at people KDYH EURXJKW PRUH WKDQ PLOOLRQ
ORJJLQJRQIURP6LQJDSRUH)RUVRFLDO people to our website”, while the
ads, Facebook is probably the best latest widgets averaged “more than
choice due to its reach; furthermore, DWKRXVDQGYLHZVDGD\´7KHLUODWHVW
RQH FDQ WDUJHW VSHFL¿F VXEJURXSV -DQ LV D 9LGHR :LGJHW20 that
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Going further, one can perhaps videos, social sharing options, buttons
consider creating a Facebook app OLQNLQJ WR YDULRXV )%, VRFLDO PHGLD
for existing members of Home Team FRQWHQW566DOHUWVHPDLODOHUWVHWF
agencies to recommend job openings Video games and online
WR WKHLU IULHQGV RQ )DFHERRN 7KLV games are another form of digital
sort of social recommendation can media that can help to showcase an
be more effective than ordinary organisations’ work and contributions,
advertising because the invitation and even allow the public a ‘hands-
comes from a friend who knows one’s on’, interactive way of virtually
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7KH 86 )HGHUDO %XUHDX RI For example, a game can simulate
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example of an agency that has VWUHHW FULPHV &DVXDO JDPHV DQG
actively leveraged on various new highly interactive social games on
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HOME TEAM EXCHANGE
especially useful, because they are YouTube videos can give step-by-step
generally cheaper to produce, and LQVWUXFWLRQV RQ PDWWHUV VXFK DV ¿UH
can reach more people because they safety, while Twitter messages can
are easy to play, there is no need to be used to disseminate daily tips or
download or install and well-designed DOHUWVDERXWFULPHVKD]DUGV)RUPRUH
JDPHV FDQ VSUHDG YLUDOO\ ,W LV DOVR interactivity, a Facebook app or game
possible to consider ‘deeper’ games can guide people through a step-by-
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players to immerse themselves in the polls can be used to assess their level
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games, one can also tap on 3-D virtual can be set up for those with special
worlds such as Twinnity to host interest in learning more, sharing with
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RU D YLUWXDO HPHUJHQF\ H[HUFLVH RU VXJJHVWLRQV +DUG FRS\ UHVRXUFHV
virtual locations, or create interactive like posters and booklets should be
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a 3-D world presence or 3-D tours IRUPDWV2QHFDQDOVRSURYLGHOLQNVWR
may have a novelty appeal, one RQOLQHUHVRXUFHVIRUIXUWKHUUHDGLQJ
should also consider the downside New media can also be
as they can be costly to produce and used to highlight good citizen
their reach and impact may be limited contributions and praise public-
FRPSDUHGWRWKDWRIVRFLDOJDPHV spirited volunteers, in order to
For all multimedia, games, encourage and reinforce such
interactive digital media, widgets etc, SRVLWLYH EHKDYLRXU %XW VRPHWLPHV
it is important to have a clear publicity WKHUHYHUVHFDQDOVREHXVHIXO6RPH
VWUDWHJ\ XVLQJ HI¿FLHQW RQOLQH police forces have adopted an online
distribution channels/mechanisms to ‘name and shame¶ WDFWLF 7KH
HQVXUHWKDWWKH\KDYHVXI¿FLHQWUHDFK Denton Police Department in Dallas,
and impact to justify the resources USA, publishes its arrests on Twitter,
LQYHVWHGLQFUHDWLQJWKHP together with Twitpics showing
mugshots of the people arrested21
Public Education and Alerting This not only shows that the Police
Department is actively doing its job,
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channel to educate the public, ,Q DQRWKHU H[DPSOH RYHU WKH
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Montgomery decided to name and There is an established trend of
shame drunk drivers on Twitter22 crime-mapping ([DPSOHV LQFOXGH
More positively, new media can Stumble SafelyZKLFKDOHUWVSHRSOH
also highlight rehabilitation and on crime spots in Washington so that
reintegration efforts for convicts, they can navigate safely though the
and help ex-convicts gain acceptance VWUHHWV GD\ RU QLJKW DQG Oakland
DQGFRPPXQLW\VXSSRUW$QH[DPSOH Crimespotting25 ZKLFK PDSV FULPH
is the Yellow Ribbon Project website types to different locations and one
in Singapore23 can view how this changes over time;
An online database of crime the site also provides crime reports,
reports is also one way of educating information on police beats and alerts
DQGDOHUWLQJWKHSXEOLF2QHH[DPSOH YLD566DQGHPDLO2YHUDW$XVWUDOLD
LV ZZZFULPHUHSRUWVFRP ZKLFK QRW \RXFDQ¿QGWKHNSW Crime Explorer
RQO\ FROODWHV GDWD IURP PDQ\ 86 and How Safe is Your Suburb26
law enforcement agencies on crimes, Even the media have picked up
but also integrates the data with FULPHPDSSLQJ )RU LQVWDQFH WKH LA
*RRJOH0DSV Times’s The Homicide Report27 maps
,Q IDFW geo-tagging has a lot of KRPLFLGHV WR *RRJOH 0DS ORFDWLRQV
potential for safety/crime-related 9DULRXVRWKHUH[DPSOHVH[LVW28
HGXFDWLRQ DQG DOHUWLQJ $OO UHOHYDQW Geo-spatial information can
location-based details can be geo- also be integrated with other types
tagged, such as crime scenes or RI FRQWHQW )RU LQVWDQFH <RX7XEH
KLJKULVN VSRWV ORFDWLRQV RI KD]DUGV videos of Crime Watch episodes can
HJ EXVK ¿UHV ORFDWLRQV RI SROLFH include embedded video links to
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made available on online interactive the public a view of the actual crime
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photos of locations can also be geo- and apps brings even more
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can further extend into augmented Additionally, the contributor can
reality mobile applications; for geo-tag this information so that the
instance, apps that tell people which authorities can ascertain the precise
direction to go, how to get to, how ORFDWLRQ IRU IROORZXS 5HVSRQGHUV
far to travel or how long it would to all kinds of emergency situations
WDNHWRUHDFKWKHQHDUHVWSROLFHSRVW can glean valuable information from
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triggers whenever one walks past DWWKHVFHQH
a crime scene, popping a photo of Mobile apps can encourage the
a suspect and inviting witnesses to public to help keep a watchful eye on
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reality can also be used in conjunction YXOQHUDEOH LQGLYLGXDOV $Q H[DPSOH
with crime scenes is the Offender Locator iPhone
app that reveals the location of sex
Citizen Alerting offenders, reportedly downloaded
and Reporting more than a million times30 0RELOH
apps can also allow the public to
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KEY COMPONENT OF :HE not just report a crime in progress
is the rise in user-generated but also seek immediate assistance,
FRQWHQWDQGµFLWL]HQMRXUQDOLVP¶ including practical tips on what to do
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website shows there is no shortage the Jtrek app allows one to quickly
RI 6LQJDSRUHDQV NHHQ WR FRQWULEXWH alert friends, families and security
STOMP’s most popular section is the personnel of an emergency or a crime
“Singapore Seen” section where users in progress31
submit photos or videos highlighting Facebook can also be a good
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,Q WKH VDPH PDQQHU QHZ PHGLD SPF has already been doing so to
can be used to encourage active VRPH H[WHQW ,W KDV HYHQ FDXJKW
FLWL]HQU\ WKURXJK SRVLWLYH UHSRUWLQJ the notice of a law enforcement
and alerting of crimes or safety blogger who praised the SPF’s
WKUHDWVLQFLGHQWV &DPHUDHTXLSSHG Facebook fan page as an example
mobile phones make it easy for the of progressive use of social media
public to not just report an incident or for law enforcement32 %H\RQG MXVW
threat immediately, but to also record using a Facebook fan page, one
photos or videos and send them to can even create a Facebook app to
the relevant authorities YLD 006 IDFLOLWDWHUHSRUWLQJ)RUH[DPSOHWKH
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)DFHERRN DSS GMP Updates WKDW easily interact and give feedback
provides users with crime news and via Twitter36
missing-persons stories while making
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police departments are also using Management
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Chicago, Dallas, etc33 WHUURULVW DWWDFNV DQG creeping crises
Finally, dedicated neighbourhood HJ SDQGHPLFV LW LV HVSHFLDOO\
portals can also enable residents to important for the former because
interact with Home Team agencies demand for information is likely to
and to exchange information with spike tremendously in the immediate
WKHP 3RUWDOV WKDW FRYHU VSHFL¿F DIWHUPDWK People will be searching
neighbourhoods are useful because, online IRU GHWDLOV ZKRZKDWZKHUH
again using the example of Police, ZKHQKRZ DQG H[SHFW WR ¿QG
relevant Police Divisions or police updates, advisories and assurances
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in a neighbourhood can interact visiting government websites, many
directly with the residents in that may simply do an online search and
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more direct and focussed sharing of UHOHYDQW VRXUFHV 2WKHUV ZLOO WXUQ WR
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over social media is that information and discussion forums for online
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thus providing a trusted online SODWIRUPVRQWRSRIRI¿FLDOZHEVLWHV
channel for “local, county and state With the move towards real-time
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agencies to connect with local PHGLD¶ SHRSOH ZLOO H[SHFW WR ¿QG
residents over cell phone, email and XSWRGDWH LQIRUPDWLRQ YHU\ TXLFNO\
web and to deliver information”35 So another key challenge is for
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in order to quickly generate and integrated into a single emergency
push out information through online messaging system for broadcasting
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preparation and planning during Facebook can be especially useful
‘peacetime’, to lay the groundwork in providing emergency alerts, since
for the use of various new media D VLJQL¿FDQW VHJPHQW RI WKH ORFDO
channels, and to prepare relevant population is on Facebook, and can
new media content and ‘templates’ as DOVRDFFHVVLWXVLQJPRELOHGHYLFHV
IDU DV SRVVLEOH ,Q VKRUW LW LV EHVW WR Going beyond Government
proactively pre-empt and prepare, communications, new media
UDWKHUWKDQEHUHDFWLYH can also be used for sharing of
7KH 86 )HGHUDO (PHUJHQF\ data between responders, rescue
0DQDJHPHQW $JHQF\ )(0$ LV DQ workers, volunteers, hospitals,
example of an organisation that has charity/humanitarian organisations
made use of new media platforms and members of the public, in
GXULQJ ERWK SHDFHWLPH DQG FULVHV ,WV order to facilitate crisis rescue/
comprehensive website includes a UHFRYHU\ HIIRUWV WR KHOS WKH SXEOLF
IXOOVHDUFKDEOHPHGLDOLEUDU\YLGHRV Also, community resilience can
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emergency preparedness widgets for platforms and channels where the
downloading, and a detailed list of general public can chip in to give
RSS feeds for different topics and WKHLU VXSSRUW LQ YDULRXV ZD\V HJ
regions37 7KLV LV FRPSOHPHQWHG E\ by volunteering or providing asset,
accounts on YouTube, Facebook and PRQHWDU\RUHPRWLRQDOVXSSRUW
Twitter that are regularly updated on Take the recent Haiti earthquake
preparedness, protection, response, ,Q LWV DIWHUPDWK ZKLOH OLWWOH ZDV
UHFRYHU\ DQG PLWLJDWLRQ HIIRUWV done by the Haiti government,
Recently, there is news that FEMA is the international community used
searching for a social media company a number of digital platforms to
that can provide on-demand services help Haitians and rescuers 2SHQ
to deliver information from disaster source maps and geolocational data
areas via social media channels38 were shared via platforms like Haiti
During a crisis, emergency OpenStreetMap, providing locations
messages and alerts can be pushed of critical infrastructure, damage
WR UHFLSLHQWV YLD YDULRXV FKDQQHOV EXLOGLQJVKHDOWKIDFLOLWLHVHWF0DQ\
$Q H[DPSOH LV WKH $UL]RQD 6WDWH of these maps were also available via
University’s use of a Facebook app, mobile apps so that responders and
Twitter and RSS to complement rescuers could assess them anywhere
email and text messaging7KHVHDUH in or outside Haiti $ ZHEVLWH

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wehaveweneed.org43, was set up so 5HG &URVV <HOH +DLWL DQG 81,&()
that donors could quickly match also used a range of social media
available resources with the victims’ SODWIRUPV WR FDOO IRU GRQDWLRQV
QHHGV IRRG IXHO PHGLFDO VKHOWHU 9DULRXV VRFLDO PHGLD JLDQWV DOVR
WUDQVSRUW HWF $ Person Finder chipped in, with Google making
app44KHOSHGSHRSOHWRVKDUHDQG¿QG post-earthquake images available
LQIRUPDWLRQ RQ SHRSOH 7KH Help on Google Earth; YouTube adding
Haiti Heal website allowed people ticker-tape messages on every page to
to check on the status and locations call for donations; Facebook adding
RI KRVSLWDOV DQG WR ¿QG IRRG ZDWHU information to its global relief and
VKHOWHU DQG RWKHU UHVRXUFHV 7KH disaster relief pages; and even Zynga,
Relief Oversight website tracked the leading producer of Facebook
how disaster relief organisations were games, allowed its players to donate
allocating donated resources in Haiti, GLUHFWO\IURPZLWKLQJDPHV
HQVXULQJ WKH\ ZHUH SURSHUO\ XWLOLVHG The Haiti example shows the range
A Hatian Voices websites enabled the of uses of new media for managing
+DLWLDQVXUYLYRUVWRWHOOWKHLUVWRULHV FULVHV :H FDQ SHUKDSV VXP LW XS
At the same time, there was much ZLWK D IHZ &¶V Communicate
DFWLYLW\ RQ VRFLDO PHGLD SODWIRUPV – for the authorities to communicate
An entry on the earthquake was key messages and information to
quickly started on Wikipedia and the NH\ DXGLHQFHV Coordinate – for
public contributed thousands of edits, responders, rescuers, volunteers and
adding details, photos, citations, relief organisations to coordinate
GHVFULSWLRQV HWF 7ZR NH\ )DFHERRN HIIRUWV Connect – for people
JURXSV ZHUH FUHDWHG ³(DUWKTXDNH to locate missing friends/relatives;
+DLWL´ DQG ³6XSSRUW WKH 9LFWLPV Charity – to solicit and enable
RI 7KH (DUWKTXDNH LQ +DLWL´ ZLWK GRQDWLRQV Comfort – to help the
VHYHUDO KXQGUHG WKRXVDQG PHPEHUV community provide emotional and
More than 36,000 videos relating SV\FKRORJLFDO VXSSRUW :KLOH VXFK
to the earthquake were uploaded C’s are often initiated ground-up,
to YouTube, including raw news government agencies can also play a
stories, footage of the earthquake role in catalysing or supporting them,
and rescue efforts, and celebrities LIQRWLQLWLDWLQJWKHP
calling for donations; while Flickr $ ¿QDO SRLQW LV WKH QHHG IRU
FDUULHG PRUH WKDQ SKRWRV innovation7ZLWWHUZLWKLWVPRELOH
Haiti-related topics such as “Help friendly nature, was a useful tool for
Haiti” and “Port-au-Prince” also everyone in Haiti to exchange news
GRPLQDWHG7ZLWWHUGLVFXVVLRQV5HOLHI and information on the go, but is
and charity organisations such as the OLPLWHG WR FKDUDFWHUV SHU WZHHW

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To enable more information to be continually experiment and innovate
packed in and more precise targeting, with new tools and initiatives in new
the community invented a new media communications; be familiar
hashtag syntax ZLWK YHU\ VSHFL¿F with the latest platforms and tools;
KDVKWDJV )RU H[DPSOH KDVKWDJV and learn to apply the best practices
VXFK DV QHHG RU LQMXUHG FRXOG EH IRUWKHP$JHQFLHVPXVWDOVRGHYHORS
used to trigger a need for help, while a clear new media strategy, bolstered
QDPH ORF DQG FRQWDFW SURYLGHG by clear standards and internal
YDOXDEOH LQIRUPDWLRQ IRU ¿QGLQJ DQG guidelines and procedures
FRQWDFWLQJSHRSOH
“New media is just a vessel.
There is no substitute for
CONCLUSION
good content.”
W
HILE NEW MEDIA has brought ,W LV DOVR LPSRUWDQW WR align new
many opportunities, media strategies with one’s overall
it has also brought communications strategy for any
new challenges 7KHVH LQFOXGH LVVXHRUVXEMHFWPDWWHU1HZPHGLDLV
the battle for eye-balls as online MXVWDYHVVHO7KHUHLVQRVXEVWLWXWHIRU
sources continue to proliferate; JRRGFRQWHQW2QOLQHFRPPXQLFDWLRQV
the ever-rising challenge of online must also be balanced and integrated
PRQLWRULQJ DQG KRUL]RQ VFDQQLQJ ZLWKRIÀLQHFRPPXQLFDWLRQV
the need to deal with online rumours $ ¿QDO SRLQW ± don’t do it
and misinformation; the need to alone 1HZ PHGLD ZRUNV EHVW DV
authenticate one’s own information; D FRPPXQLW\ HIIRUW 7LH XS ZLWK
and the need to adapt internal IHOORZ DJHQFLHV %HWWHU VWLOO WLH XS
SURFHVVHVWRWKHUHDOWLPHQDWXUH ZLWK WKH SXEOLF )RUP SDUWQHUVKLSV
RI QHZ PHGLD )RU ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW with the private and people sectors
agencies in particular, two additional and, where appropriate, leverage on
challenges are: balancing the need the online community for crowd-
IRU ,7 VHFXULW\ DJDLQVW WKH QHHG IRU VRXUFLQJ DQG WKLUG SDUW\ DGYRFDF\
access to new media technologies and ,QYLWH WKH SXEOLF WR FRQWULEXWH
platforms; and the use of new media feedback to user-generated-content,
by criminalsDQGWHUURULVWV but also be prepared to engage them
To deal with these challenges, and RQOLQHZKHQQHFHVVDU\
to leverage on the many opportunities,
there is no easy short-cut 3XEOLF REFERENCES
sector agencies must build up their &KDQQHO1HZV$VLD )HE ³6RFLDO PHGLD
internal new media capabilities and part of life in S’pore, especially among the young:
Nielsen” KWWSZZZFKDQQHOQHZVDVLDFRPVWRULHV
experience; allocate more resources; VLQJDSRUHORFDOQHZVYLHZKWPO

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&RP6FRUH 0DU ³6LQJDSRUH -DQ “New Twitter and Facebook
,QWHUQHW8VHUV6SHQG+DOIRI2QOLQH7LPHRQ 5ROH IRU 6HQLRU :HVW 0LGODQGV 2I¿FHU´
Social and Entertainment Sites” Singapore KWWSZZZZHVWPLGODQGVSROLFHXNODWHVW
,QWHUQHW8VHUV6SHQG+DOIRI2QOLQH7LPHRQ QHZVSUHVVUHOHDVHDVS"LG
Social and Entertainment Sites
15 KWWSZZZKSGEORJFRP
0HGLDDVLD0DU“Synovate shows
young Asians are driven by media and -DQ “Recruits Who Blog” http://
music” KWWSZZZV\QRYDWHFRPQHZV FRQQHFWHGFRSVQHW"S
DUWLFOHV\QRYDWHVXUYH\VKRZV 0D\ ³,Q )DLU¿HOG &DOLIRUQLD
that-young-asians-are-driven-by-media-and- My #1 Friend is a Cop” KWWSFRSVSRLQW
PXVLFKWPO FRPFDVHVWXG\LQIDLUILHOG
california-my-1-friend-is-a-cop/
1LHOVHQ 2FW “Popularity of Social
Media and the Internet Continue to Rise 0D\ KWWSZZZIELJRYSDJH
in Singapore” KWWSZZZDFQLHOVHQFRPVJ PD\VRFLDOPHGLDBKWPO Also see:
VLWHKWP 7HFK&UXQFK 0D\ “FBI Adds
)DFHERRN <RX7XEH 7ZLWWHU 3UR¿OHV
$FFRUGLQJ WR ZHE WUDI¿F WUDFNHU +LWZLVH MySpace Completely Dissed” http://
ZKRVHGDWDLVEDVHGRQORFDO,63WUDI¿F WHFKFUXQFKFRPIELDGGV
IDFHERRN\RXWXEHWZLWWHUSUR¿OHVP\VSDFH
6 Based on Facebook Ads, which estimates the completely-dissed
number of Facebook accounts tied to each
FRXQWU\ 6RPH SHRSOH PD\ KDYH PXOWLSOH KWWSZZZIELJRYZLGJHWVKWP
DFFRXQWV
7HFK&UXQFK -DQ “The FBI Adds
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of Twitter around the world” KWWSEORJ Social Media Arsenal” KWWSWHFKFUXQFK
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of-twitter-around-the-world
&QHW 1HZV $SU “The city where
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RI\RXWKVVSHQGRYHUKRXUVGDLO\VXU¿QJ FQHWFRPB
net” KWWSZZZOLYHVJ1HZV6LQJDSRUH KWPO"WDJ PQFROW[W
('&6XUYH\BVKRZVBKDOIB
RIB\RXWKVBVSHQGBRYHUBBKRXUVBGDLO\B ³&QHW 1HZV 'HF “Police to put
VXU¿QJBQHW drunk drivers’ names on Twitter” http://
QHZVFQHWFRPB
&11FRP 'HF “Brace yourself KWPO
for the real-time Web” KWWSZZZFQQ
FRP7(&+FDVKPRUHUHDOWLPH 23 KWWSZZZ\HOORZULEERQRUJVJ
ZHELQGH[KWPO
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10 This was demonstrated by a highly successful
&11)DFHERRN FROODERUDWLRQ FRYHULQJ 86 25 KWWSRDNODQGFULPHVSRWWLQJRUJPDS Read
President Obama’s inauguration in early more here: KWWSPLNHWHF]QRFRPQRWHV
,Q WKH ORFDO FRQWH[W &KDQQHO1HZV$VLD RDNODQGFULPHPDSV9,KWPO
featured a Facebook Livestream integrated
with live streaming video for PM’s National 26 KWWSJRRJOHPDSVPDQLDEORJVSRWFRP
'D\5DOO\ JRRJOHPDSVRIDXVWUDOLDQFULPHKWPO
,'& 'HF “Number of Mobile 27 KWWSSURMHFWVODWLPHVFRPKRPLFLGHUHSRUW

Devices Accessing the Internet Expected blog/page/1/
to Surpass One Billion by 2013” http://
ZZZLGFFRPJHWGRFMVS"FRQWDLQHU,G SU86 28 See, for example, those listed at KWWSZZZ
SURJUDPPDEOHZHEFRPWDJFULPH
)URP ,'$ “Statistics on Telecom Services .MHWLO 6DQGZLN DQG $QQH 0DULW :DDGH
for 2009 (Jul – Dec)” KWWSZZZLGDJRY “Crime Scene as Augmented Reality
VJ3XEOLFDWLRQVDVS[ 2Q 6FUHHQ 2QOLQH DQG 2IÀLQH´
KWWSZZZNULPLIRUVNDDXGNDZSDSHU
5HDG :ULWH :HE 'HF “10 Ways .6$:FULPHVFHQHDVZSGf
Social Media Will Change in 2010” http://
ZZZUHDGZULWHZHEFRPDUFKLYHVBZD\VB &11FRP 6HS “iPhone apps
VRFLDOBPHGLDBZLOOBFKDQJHBLQBSKp help track sex offenders, spot crime”

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KWWSZZZFQQFRP&5,0( )HE³$UL]RQD6WDWH$GGV)DFHERRN
LSKRQHDSS¿JKWFULPH and Twitter for Emergency Alerts” http://
FDPSXVWHFKQRORJ\FRPDUWLFOHV
ZZZUHGRUELWFRP -DQ “JTrek DUL]RQDVWDWHDGGVIDFHERRNDQGWZLWWHUIRU
Smartphone Personal Security App HPHUJHQF\DOHUWVDVS[
Downloaded More Than 5000 Times
During Consumer Electronics Show ‘CES *DGJHWZLVH -DQ “Digital Help
2010’ Week” KWWSZZZUHGRUELWFRPQHZV for Haiti” KWWSJDGJHWZLVHEORJVQ\WLPHV
WHFKQRORJ\MWUHNBVPDUWSKRQHBSHUVRQDOB com/2010/01/27/digital-help-for-haiti
VHFXULW\BDSSBGRZQORDGHGBPRUHBWKDQBB
WLPHVLQGH[KWPO"VRXUFH UBWHFKQRORJ\ KWWSFULVLVFRPPRQVRUJ+DLWL2SHQ6WUHHW0DS
KWWSPLFKDHOYDOOH]FRPIDFHERRN K W W S Z L N L R S H Q V W U H H W P D S R U J Z L N L

slowely-becoming-law-enforcement-tool :LNL3URMHFWB+DLWL(DUWKTXDNHBPDSBUHVRXUFHV
ZZZLQVLGHIDFHERRNFRP )HE KWWSZHKDYHZHQHHGRUJ

“Police Use Facebook to Fight Crime, Talk
to Residents” KWWSZZZLQVLGHIDFHERRN KWWSKDLWLFULVLVDSSVSRWFRP
FRPSROLFHXVHIDFHERRNWR
¿JKWFULPHWDONWRUHVLGHQWV Also, read: KWWSKHOSKDLWLKHDOZRUGSUHVVFRP
KWWSLQIRGDLO\VSOLFHFRPEORJEHVWZD\V
police-use-social-mediaIRUPRUHH[DPSOHV KWWSZZZUHOLHIRYHUVLJKWRUJ
KWWSZZZQL[OHFRP 5HDG:ULWH:HE-DQ“New Twitter

Hashtag Syntax for Sharing Information
35 KWWSHQZLNLSHGLDRUJZLNL1L[OH During Catastrophes” KWWSZZZ
UHDGZULWHZHEFRPDUFKLYHVDBQHZBWZLWWHUB
&RSVSRLQWFRP 0D\ “Nixle KDVKWDJBV\QWD[BWRBKHOSBGXULQJBFDWDVWSKS
Adds Stability to Tyrone, GA Tweets”
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adds-stability-to-tyrone-ga-tweets FULPLQDO OLNH 0DVKDEOH -DQ
“Criminal Taunts Police on Facebook,
37 FEMA website: KWWSZZZIHPDJRY; Media Gets Caught” KWWSPDVKDEOH
Library: KWWSZZZIHPDJRYPHGLDOLEUDU\; com/2010/01/13/facebook-criminal
Widgets: KWWSZZZIHPDJRYKHOSZLGJHWV;
RSS feeds: KWWSZZZIHPDJRYKHOSUVV 3 X E O L F V H F W R U D J H Q F L H V F D Q U H I H U
shtm $OVR VHH WKLV )(0$ SUHVV UHOHDVH to the restricted document “Social
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KWWSZZZIHPDJRYQHZVQHZVUHOHDVH &RPPXQLFDWLRQV´ GLVWULEXWHG E\ 0,&$
IHPD"LG LQ )HE 'R QRWH KRZHYHU WKDW WKHVH
are just general tips, and one must always
38 K W W S Z D V K L Q J W R Q W H F K Q R O R J \ F R P be flexible in adapting them to the situation
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EDITOR’S NOTES
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Book Review:
Start-up Nation
the Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle
Start-Up Nation:
The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle
%\'DQ6HQRUDQG6DXO6LQJHU
1HZ<RUN7ZHOYHSS
SUSAN SIM
Adjunct Lecturer, Home Team Academy
& Consulting Editor, Home Team Journal
S
OON AFTER THE 2006 Lebanon Buffett, the apostle of risk
War, with damage from 2,000 aversion, was not indifferent to
missile strikes still visible, ,VUDHO¶V YXOQHUDELOLWLHV ZKHQ KH
¿UVW %LOO *DWHV WKHQ :DUUHQ %XIIHWW decided to buy machine tool company
VKRZHGXSLQ,VUDHO7KHULFKHVWPDQ ,VFDU IRU 86 ELOOLRQ LQ
LQ WKH ZRUOG ZDV RQ KLV ¿UVW YLVLW WR authors Dan Senor and Paul Singer
,VUDHO WR VHH ZK\ KLV FRPSHWLWRU WHOOXV,VFDU¶VPDLQIDFWRU\DQG5 '
Google had just opened its second IDFLOLWLHVLQWKHQRUWKHUQSDUWRI,VUDHOL
UHVHDUFK IDFLOLW\ LQ ,VUDHO LQ D \HDU eight miles from the Lebanese border,
The second-richest man in the world were then, and remain, a prime
ZDVYLVLWLQJWKH¿UVWFRPSDQ\KHKDG WDUJHW IRU URFNHW ¿UH %XW PLVVLOHV
HYHUERXJKWRXWVLGHWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV do not represent catastrophic risk for

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Buffett because the plant does not ,VUDHOL VWDUWXSV WR WUDQVFHQG WKHLU
UHSUHVHQW WKH YDOXH RI WKH FRPSDQ\ geopolitical realities, where war is no
³,WLVWKHWDOHQWRIWKHHPSOR\HHVDQG LPSHGLPHQW WR GRLQJ EXVLQHVV +RZ
management, the international base HOVH WR H[SODLQ ZK\ ,VUDHO¶V IRUHLJQ
of loyal customers, and the brand direct investment tripled from 2000
WKDW FRQVWLWXWH ,VFDU¶V YDOXH´ Start- WRDWDWLPHZKHQ,VUDHOLVRFLHW\
Up Nation quotes Buffett biographer was being devastated by a relentless
$OLFH6FKURHGHUDVH[SODLQLQJ string of suicide bombings, say
What Senor and Singer call the 6HQRU DQG 6LQJHU 7KH\ RIIHU PRUH
Buffett Test – a company’s ability staggering statistics:
to deliver under adverse conditions ,VUDHO KDV PRUH KLJKWHFK VWDUW
± ZDV VRRQ DFHG E\ ,VFDU ZKRVH ups per capita than any other nation
chairman Eitan Wertheimer decided RQ HDUWK LQ WKH FRXQWU\ RI
his factory would not miss a single million had 3,850 start-ups, one for
VKLSPHQW³)RURXUFXVWRPHUVDURXQG HYHU\ ,VUDHOLV 7KHUH DUH PRUH
the world, there was no war,” he ,VUDHOLFRPSDQLHVOLVWHGRQ1$6'$4
UHFRXQWVIRUWKHDXWKRUV than all companies from Europe
,W LV D IDPLOLDU VWRU\ RI FKXW]SDK DQG $VLD FRPELQHG %HWZHHQ
WKDW EOHQG RI JDOO EUD]HQ QHUYH DQG ,VUDHOLV UHJLVWHUHG
presumption and arrogance often patents, more than the entire Middle
DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK ,VUDHOLV DQG -HZV (DVW ,Q SHU FDSLWD YHQWXUH
LQ JHQHUDO ,Q ZKHQ 6DGGDP FDSLWDO LQYHVWPHQWV LQ ,VUDHO ZHUH
Hussein rained Scud missiles WLPHV JUHDWHU WKDQ LQ WKH 8QLWHG
RQ ,VUDHO ,QWHO¶V +DLID GHVLJQ States, more than 30 times greater
centre astounded their American than in Europe, 80 times greater than
counterparts by staying open and in China, and 350 times greater than
delivering on schedule the 386 chip, LQ,QGLD
WKHQ,QWHO¶VPRVWLPSRUWDQWPLFURFKLS +RZ GLG ,VUDHO EHFRPH VXFK DQ
SRZHULQJPRVW3&VJOREDOO\2SHQLQ entrepreneurial hotspot? As Start-
GH¿DQFH RI JRYHUQPHQW RUGHUV ,QWHO Up Nation points out with breathless
,VUDHO FUHDWHG LWV RZQ ³QHZ QRUPDO´ wonder, “almost half of the world’s
Carrying gas masks, workers set up a top technology companies have
wartime kindergarten on the premises bought start-ups or opened research
VLQFH VFKRROV ZHUH FORVHG7KH PRUH DQGGHYHORSPHQWFHQWUHVLQ,VUDHO´
EUD]HQWKH,UDTLDWWDFNVWKHODUJHUWKH With stirring stories of
VWDIIWXUQRXW perseverance and success, the book
,W LV WKLV ³,VUDHOL JULW´ ± WKH SRVLWV WKDW ,VUDHO KDV D FXOWXUH RI
drive to succeed that is as much innovation that thrives because it has
national as personal – that allows an ecosystem that turns the “unique

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combinations of audacity, creativity, DFURVV GLIIHUHQW ¿HOGV DQG PHVKLQJ
DQG GULYH´ LQKHUHQW LQ WKH ,VUDHOL technologies to create entirely new
national character into battle-hardened SURGXFWV Thus
7KXV WKHthe VRSKLVWLFDWHG
sophisticated
entrepreneurship, helped along in electro-optical devices invented
the early years by an interventionist E\ DQ ,') ZHDSRQV GHYHORSHU WR
government that was trusted because help a missile hit its target has been
“at no point did anyone pocket even WUDQVIRUPHG E\ D ,VUDHOL VWDUWXS LQWR
one cent,” and an open immigration a camera within a pill – the PillCam
policy allowing Jews from anywhere - that can transmit images from inside
WRVHWWOHLQ,VUDHO \RXULQWHVWLQHV
Start-Up Nation often reads like Are the ingredients for a
it was co-written with the mothers successful start-up nation present in
of an award-winning cheerleading Singapore? The national experiences
squad, so eager is it to discover the RI ,VUDHO DQG 6LQJDSRUH DUH QRW WRR
spirit of davka residing in every GLIIHUHQW6WUXJJOHIRULQGHSHQGHQFH"
,VUDHOLHQWUHSUHQHXUZKRVXFFHHGHGLQ &KHFN &RPSXOVRU\ PLOLWDU\
GHI\LQJWKHRGGVDavka, as Senor and VHUYLFH" &KHFN $ PLOLWDU\ UHOLDQW
Singer tell us, is “an untranslatable RQ UHVHUYLVWV" &KHFN /LYLQJ XQGHU
Hebrew word that means ‘despite’ WKUHDW" &KHFN *RYHUQPHQW SROLFLHV
ZLWK D µUXE WKHLU QRVH LQ LW¶ WZLVW´ WR SURYLGH ¿QDQFLDO VXSSRUW IRU QHZ
7KDW ,VUDHO KDV EHFRPH WKH VWURQJHVW FRPSDQLHV"&KHFN
economy in the Middle East despite So why has Singapore failed to
WKH$UDEER\FRWWLVVZHHWUHYHQJH incubate start-ups? Because it is
Where the book gets really too tidy, too orderly and its people
interesting is its description of how WRR REHGLHQW VD\ 6HQRU DQG 6LQJHU
WKH ,VUDHOL 'HIHQVH )RUFHV ,') ³,WV JURZWK VWRU\ QRWZLWKVWDQGLQJ
has become the incubator of the Singapore leaders have failed to keep
FRXQWU\¶V WHFKVDYY\ 7KH PLOOLRQV up in a world that puts a high premium
RI GROODUV WKDW WKH ,VUDHOL PLOLWDU\ on a trio of attributes historically
has poured into defence research alien to Singapore’s culture:
and training has fostered not only an LQLWLDWLYH ULVNWDNLQJ DQG DJLOLW\´
innovation-is-survival mentality and Some chaos, including acceptance of
anti-hierarchical and enterprising “constructive failures,” is important
ethos, but conscription has also because entrepreneurialism requires
spawned networks of war buddies ÀXLGLW\ $FFRUGLQJ WR D QHZ VFKRRO
who feed off each other’s creativity of economics, when people can
and connections to create an cross boundaries, turn societal norms
innovation cluster with a reputation upside down, and agitate in a free-
for technology mashups, reaching market economy, radical ideas are

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FDWDO\VHG ³7KH PRVW IRUPLGDEOH pipe with LEDs that when inserted
REVWDFOHWRÀXLGLW\LVRUGHU´Start-Up into a barrel can illuminate its entire
NationGHFODUHV FRQWHQWV$ 3ROLFH &RDVW *XDUG WHDP
Most readers can sympathise with came up with this award-winning
their perceptions of Singapore but innovation to deal with the problem
their analysis of our business culture of checking live seafood cargoes kept
LV JOLE DQG GDWHG:H UHPDLQ RUGHUO\ LQ ZDWHU EDUUHOV IRU FRQWUDEDQG 7KH
and not so tolerant of failure but there Singapore Civil Defence Force’s Red
is now a new looseness in Singapore Rhino is another creative solution
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begin 30-day trial that could lead to expansion,”
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Start-Up Nation is available at the Home Team Library

and National Library Board branches.

A publication of the
Home Team Academy
About the Home Team Academy

The Home Team Academy (HTA) is a Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs that
is committed to the training of Home Team officers in Homefront Security and Safety.
The Academy aims to spearhead training in Counter-Terrorism, Law Enforcement, Crisis
Management and Emergency Preparedness. It also conducts a wide range of programmes,
including Behavioural Sciences and Leadership Development.
www.hta.gov.sg
ISSN: 2010-0167

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MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS • 2010 ISSUE NO.

Please address all contributions and correspondence to:

FOREWORD 2 Foreword by Chairman

COVER 4 Innovating to keep Innovating

FEATURE 26 How the Red Rhino was Born

43 APEC Trojan Email Attacks

47 Technology Crime Forensic Branch:

HOME TEAM 58 Thinking about the Future:

67 Risk Assessment and Horizon Scanning Programmes:

87 Bioterrorism in the Mail:

94 Bioterrorism and the Role of Public Health

103 Suspect Detection System:

HOME TEAM 110 Homefront Insights: Interview with Peter Ho

135 Book Review: The Start-Up Nation

Copyright ©2010. All rights reserved.

page 2 HOME TEAM JOURNAL

MR. DEREK PEREIRA

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 3

INNOVATION IS NOT NEW ZHOODVLQWKHUHJLRQDQGEH\RQG7KLV

page 4 HOME TEAM JOURNAL

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 5

page 6 HOME TEAM JOURNAL

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 7

page 8 HOME TEAM JOURNAL

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 9

page 10 HOME TEAM JOURNAL

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 11

page 12 HOME TEAM JOURNAL

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 13

MR. CHEN TZE PENN, MS. TEO MUN ENG

page 14 HOME TEAM JOURNAL

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 15

page 16 HOME TEAM JOURNAL

ii. T r a c k i n g – c o v e r s Each Technology Cluster

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 17

page 18 HOME TEAM JOURNAL

b. High Stage 4: Evaluate

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 19

L 3URFHHG WR RSHUDWLRQDO b. Facilitate Procurement/

page 20 HOME TEAM JOURNAL

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 21

Fig 3: Strategic Technology Planning website

page 22 HOME TEAM JOURNAL

Fig 5: Sample Business Analytics dashboard to show trend and forecasts

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 23

page 24 HOME TEAM JOURNAL

CONCLUSION PXOWLSOLHUV IRU WKH +RPH 7HDP ,W

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 25

MR. TEONG HOW HWA

page 26 HOME TEAM JOURNAL

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 27

Traditional Fire Red Rhino Red Rhino

Main • Full range of rescue • [YHKLFXODUFDSDELOLW\ • [YHKLFXODUFDSDELOLW\

page 28 HOME TEAM JOURNAL

 5235   2508  

A positive spin-off arose when

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 29

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project team to re-visit and challenge

page 30 HOME TEAM JOURNAL

MR. DAVID LEE TAI WEE

INCREASE IN DEMAND challenges, the idea of developing the

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 31

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5235 2508

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