SDP CALLS ON MDDI TO RELEASE CIRCULAR THAT CAUSED NRIC DEBACLE

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The sorry episode surrounding the unmasking of NRIC numbers by ACRA has caused much confusion and anger among the public.

Blame for the debacle has been laid on ACRA; the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), led by Minister Josephine Teo, stated that it had sent a circular to ACRA in July 2024 and added that the agency had "misunderstood" and "run ahead" of implementation plans supposedly laid out in the circular.

However, ACRA's chief executive Ms Chia-Tern Huey Min seemed to push back, saying: "ACRA sought to clarify with MDDI what were the scope and implementation timeline of this new requirement. But communications between the two agencies were not sufficiently clear, leading to ACRA's mistaken thinking."

During the press conference held on 19 December 2024, Minister Indranee Rajah said that the MDDI and ACRA are "reviewing the incident" and will look into "improving the communication and coordination between agencies."

Such a review cannot remain an internal affair between the Ministry and ACRA. The public must be informed of what went on and who is to be ultimately held accountable. This is because the matter has serious security and legal implications.

For example, as the Public Data Protection Commission clearly states on their website, "NRIC numbers are a permanent and irreplaceable identifier...to facilitate transactions with the Government."

Indeed, legal action has been taken against private sector organisations in the past for revealing NRIC numbers. In this regard, it is wholly inadequate and unacceptable that Ministers Teo and Indranee simply issue an apology and then promise to do better in future.

The danger of the information used by criminals cannot be overemphasised. Already, Singapore is widely considered one of the world's most fraud and scam-ridden hotspots with the number of cases increasing by 16.3 percent, and victims losing a record $385.6 million in the first half of 2024. The current fiasco is certain to add to that vulnerability.

Despite the seriousness of the matter, Ministers did not immediately address the situation in person, choosing, rather, to let their subordinates face public anger. This is not the kind of leadership Singaporeans deserve.

Given the circumstances, the SDP calls on Minister Josephine Teo to release the circular that her Ministry said it issued in July, as well as all communications between MDDI and ACRA that Ms Chia-Tern referenced during the press conference.

The present saga is the latest in a long list of major lapses and blunders which occurred under the leadership of PAP Ministers.

In 2018, hackers stole the personal particulars of 1.5 million patients from SingHealth's data system, including the records of dispensed medication belonging to 160,000 patients.

In 2021, Singtel had its cybersecurity system breached where the personal information of nearly 130,000 customers were stolen.

In the same year, Minister Vivian Balakrishnan revealed that the police had access to information gathered by the Trace Together system when he had categorically promised Singaporeans six months earlier that the information would be used exclusively for Covid-related contact tracing matters only.

Also in 2021, it was reported that the Kranji forest was cleared "by mistake".

In 2023, former PM Lee Hsien Loong revealed that he had known that ex-Speaker Tan Chuan-jin had been having an affair with fellow PAP MP Cheng Li Hui since 2020. Mr Lee did not inform the public of this indiscretion for three years, choosing to keep Mr Tan on as Speaker until July 2023 despite the latter submitting his resignation in February 2023.

The list is, of course, not exhaustive. These are just some examples of how incompetent leadership demonstrated by PAP Ministers has affected Singaporeans and eroded their trust in the government. Yet, they insist on paying themselves astronomical salaries that are completely out-of-sync with their abilities and, worse, out-of-touch with the reality of ordinary Singaporeans. See less



https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1108428873986716&set=a.252934326202846

[jim889]

just say solly.. continue take celery..  rinse and repeat
 

[Arctic]

Yes, as usual miw no accountability and transparency

[Keeptrucking]

this is what happens when there is no checks and balances.

i hope everyone turns out to vote. esp against them.

they need to lose a few more GRCs to wake up from their complacency.

[Arctic]

GE is looming that's why all eat humble pie and apologise

Better push them hard right now before GE

[BuiBuiForeverAlone]

Vote them out

[jim889]

The sorry episode surrounding the unmasking of NRIC numbers by ACRA has caused much confusion and anger among the public.

Blame for the debacle has been laid on ACRA; the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), led by Minister Josephine Teo, stated that it had sent a circular to ACRA in July 2024 and added that the agency had "misunderstood" and "run ahead" of implementation plans supposedly laid out in the circular.

However, ACRA's chief executive Ms Chia-Tern Huey Min seemed to push back, saying: "ACRA sought to clarify with MDDI what were the scope and implementation timeline of this new requirement. But communications between the two agencies were not sufficiently clear, leading to ACRA's mistaken thinking."

During the press conference held on 19 December 2024, Minister Indranee Rajah said that the MDDI and ACRA are "reviewing the incident" and will look into "improving the communication and coordination between agencies."

Such a review cannot remain an internal affair between the Ministry and ACRA. The public must be informed of what went on and who is to be ultimately held accountable. This is because the matter has serious security and legal implications.

For example, as the Public Data Protection Commission clearly states on their website, "NRIC numbers are a permanent and irreplaceable identifier...to facilitate transactions with the Government."

Indeed, legal action has been taken against private sector organisations in the past for revealing NRIC numbers. In this regard, it is wholly inadequate and unacceptable that Ministers Teo and Indranee simply issue an apology and then promise to do better in future.

The danger of the information used by criminals cannot be overemphasised. Already, Singapore is widely considered one of the world's most fraud and scam-ridden hotspots with the number of cases increasing by 16.3 percent, and victims losing a record $385.6 million in the first half of 2024. The current fiasco is certain to add to that vulnerability.

Despite the seriousness of the matter, Ministers did not immediately address the situation in person, choosing, rather, to let their subordinates face public anger. This is not the kind of leadership Singaporeans deserve.

Given the circumstances, the SDP calls on Minister Josephine Teo to release the circular that her Ministry said it issued in July, as well as all communications between MDDI and ACRA that Ms Chia-Tern referenced during the press conference.

The present saga is the latest in a long list of major lapses and blunders which occurred under the leadership of PAP Ministers.

In 2018, hackers stole the personal particulars of 1.5 million patients from SingHealth's data system, including the records of dispensed medication belonging to 160,000 patients.

In 2021, Singtel had its cybersecurity system breached where the personal information of nearly 130,000 customers were stolen.

In the same year, Minister Vivian Balakrishnan revealed that the police had access to information gathered by the Trace Together system when he had categorically promised Singaporeans six months earlier that the information would be used exclusively for Covid-related contact tracing matters only.

Also in 2021, it was reported that the Kranji forest was cleared "by mistake".

In 2023, former PM Lee Hsien Loong revealed that he had known that ex-Speaker Tan Chuan-jin had been having an affair with fellow PAP MP Cheng Li Hui since 2020. Mr Lee did not inform the public of this indiscretion for three years, choosing to keep Mr Tan on as Speaker until July 2023 despite the latter submitting his resignation in February 2023.

The list is, of course, not exhaustive. These are just some examples of how incompetent leadership demonstrated by PAP Ministers has affected Singaporeans and eroded their trust in the government. Yet, they insist on paying themselves astronomical salaries that are completely out-of-sync with their abilities and, worse, out-of-touch with the reality of ordinary Singaporeans. See less



https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1108428873986716&set=a.252934326202846

later tell chiu nose such circular