Stricter controls for pre-paid phone cards will kick in from
November as part of increasing moves to tighten the security
landscape against possible terror attacks.
Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng made this announcement on
Tuesday as he declared September to be Homefront Security
Month.
Pre-paid phone cards have become a big concern of security agencies
world-wide.
In Singapore, the issue was first brought up in Parliament earlier
this year by Mr Wong who is also the Home Affairs Minister.
What worries the authorities, when it comes to terrorism, is the
ease and anonymity these pre-paid cards offer.
Mr Wong said: "In the region, we have seen elements of the Jemaah
Islamiyah using pre-paid cards extensively to avoid detection and
sometimes to rig improvised explosive devices. The Homefront
Security Division in MHA has been working closely with the IDA and
commercial service providers to work out a practical regulatory
regime."
The new controls are expected to kick in two months' time.
But security is not just limited to specific concerns like
this.
Opening Singapore's first civil defence headquarters-cum-fire
station-cum-neighbourhood police centre, Mr Wong said all of
September would be dedicated to homefront security issues.
The activities will involve not just the civil defence but others,
like the police and other security partners.
Mr Wong said: "As terrorism analysts have observed, ultimately
terrorism is not defeated by Governments but by communities."
And so, the plan is for a month-long series of activities in
September from now on - such as emergency preparedness exercises
and fire drills. - CNA /ch