INFO:

In his Parliamentary Reply in Parliament on 6 May 2019, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung shared the number of sexual misconduct cases across autonomous universities. He also noted the number of cases where police action was taken, and where the universities carried out their own disciplinary processes. These range from an official reprimand, to suspensions and expulsions. Minister Ong was of the view that the universities will need to review their disciplinary frameworks, to strengthen penalties. First, there is a need to better balance the objectives of deterrence and redress of the victims, against the rehabilitation of the offender. Second, we must recognise that voyeurism is a growing concern in Singapore. This may be because the young are exposed to the Internet from an early age, and technological advancements have made video recording easier and more undetectable. As such, sexual misconduct has to be tackled in a holistic way. This includes tougher penalties for offenders, better physical security on campus, and better support and greater sensitivity for the needs of victims.