Some Singaporeans have already noticed that security in the Orchard Road area has been tightened:

Asean Summit

This is so as Singapore is hosting the 32nd Asean Summit this year.

The four-day event started on April 25 and will be ending on Saturday, April 28.

As the event will be taking place at the Istana on Friday, April 27 and at Shangri-La Hotel on Saturday, April 28, there will be tighter security at both areas.

Special event areas are designated from 12am to 11.59pm around both locations.

People and vehicles within or entering the special event areas will have to go through tighter security checks.

Drones not allowed

According to Channel NewsAsia, a news release dated April 10 from the police said that a list of items are also prohibited in the special event areas.

Items such as drones, loud hailers, aerosol paint containers and explosives are not allowed in the special event area.

Those found in possession of any prohibited item in the special event area may be fined a maximum of S$20,000 and jailed up to 12 months.

The police also said that they have the "powers to refuse entry to, or remove a person from, the Special Zone, if necessary".

Singapore is Asean Summit chair this year

According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, the 32nd ASEAN Summit is the first gathering of Asean leaders hosted by Singapore this year.

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Other than Malaysian PM Najib Razak and Myanmar's state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who will be represented by former Malaysian deputy PM Musa Hitam and President U Win Myint respectively, all other Asean leaders are in Singapore for the event.

They will be discussing Asean's top priorities and challenges, as well as exchange views on regional and international developments.

Top image via Singapore Police Force

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