YOU suspect your wife is having an affair with a politician. So
you hire a private investigator (PI) to find out more.
In the past, that may not have been a problem.
But under the Private Security Industry Bill, PIs will need to
watch where they snoop, and think about who they are snooping
on.
Under the Bill, which was passed in Parliament yesterday, the PI
will first need approval from the Government if he wants to spy on
a politician.
The bill requires all security guards and PIs to be licensed.
And anyone who wants to investigate politicians or their family
members have to first apply for approval from a government
licensing officer.
Those who don't, face a fine of up to $50,000, which has been
jacked up from the current $10,000 maximum, or a two-year jail
term, or both.
The move aims to ensure PIs do not gather information or conduct
surveillance which may threaten public interest or national
security, Minister for Home Affairs Wong Kan Seng explained.
But, Non-Constituency MP SylviaLim asked, what if the politician is
suspected to be involved in an affair?
'That has nothing to do with national security,' she said.
'Are we erecting a firewall around politicians?'
The Workers' Party chairman also raised the possibility of 'leaks'
to the politician in question, when PIs apply for approval.
Mr Wong, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, replied: 'Singaporean
ministers are all open - they go to the constituencies and they
attend functions and of course, people do observe.
LEGITIMATE REASON
'But if you have a specific assignment to go and case a minister,
then there must be reason why you want to do that and if the reason
is legitimate, there's no reason why the approval will not be
given.'
Mr Wong added that the clause is to ensure 'key government people'
who are 'targets of terrorists are not easily under
surveillance'.
How do PIs see the new legislation? Will it make their work more
difficult?
PI and former police officer Lionel de Souza said: 'I guess there's
no problem when it comes to matrimonial or business matters.
'Still, in the course of investigations, the PI may enter into
unchartered territory. For example, if you follow the politician to
a meet-the-people session and you take photos of him and his
constituents, you may be acting against public interest.'
Under the bill, approval is also needed to investigate foreign
government representatives and diplomats, or if information is to
be gathered or surveillance is to be done in protected areas.
Such areas include foreign diplomatic missions or consulates,
government buildings, immigration checkpoints and private schools
with mostly foreign students.
Mr Wong said that in the post-9/11 security environment, it is
crucial to not just enhance national security, but also upgrade the
professional standards in the private security industry.
'In both the Marriott and Australian Embassy bombings in Jakarta,
security personnel had approached the vehicles loaded with
explosives before they were driven up to the buildings,' he
said.
'As a result, the suicide bombers detonated their bombs earlier
than planned - before they could position their vehicles near the
buildings, where the explosion would have caused many more
casualties.'
Taken from Electric New Paper
http://tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,140194,00.html?
I mean, really... what's next? And what are the chances of someone
actually getting a permit?
