'Right policy' to be strict with drug use in S'pore: K Shanmugam

On Jun. 24, Thailand's health ministry issued an order prohibiting the sale of cannabis for recreational use.

This comes after the country decriminalised cannabis use in 2022.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a community event in Chong Pang, Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said it is looking at that situation and the "possible outflows" to Singapore.

When Thailand first decriminalised cannabis, he was asked by many people when Singapore was going to change its stance.

"I said the Singapore government decides not based on what other countries do. We take a hard look, we look at the science, we look at the social impact, and the actual impact and we run the government of Singapore and the policies in the best interests of Singaporeans.

And I am absolutely convinced, the Cabinet is absolutely convinced that the right policy is to be strict on drugs, and you can see, the people who asked for liberalisation, are shutting their eyes deliberately to what is happening around the world and the immense harm."

He brought up a recent incident at an airport in Moscow where a man who was drug-intoxicated grabbed an 18-month-old child and violently threw him to the ground.

He said: "You go to the countries which have decriminalised, including Thailand on the ground, and you see the number of shops, you see the young children who are high [on drugs], you look at people being affected. It is obviously a serious position."

"Why would we want it? And 85 per cent of our population supports the tough stand that we take – keep it criminal, no decriminalisation, in fact they support the penalties too," he said.

Shanmugam mentioned that different countries have their policy and the government works in the best interests of Singaporeans.

"We work in the best interests of Singaporeans, and it was the right policy to keep it criminalised, not soften our stance, and that remains the right policy."

Singapore's security amid Iran-Israel conflict

Singapore has increased its security posture, Shanmugam said in response to questions about the Iran-Israel conflict.

He added that while there is a ceasefire, we won't know exactly "what will happen after this".

"Arising from [the situation] there, you can expect that people in this region, or even others, from extremist organisations, might want to make a point against Israeli, American, or other Western assets, and there could also be attacks from the far right on Muslim assets.

Singapore, as I have said many times, if we get attacked, you will get international headlines."

The Singapore government has stepped up security levels and relooked at it "a little bit more" after the Israeli attacks on Iran and the counterattacks.

He also said that Singapore is working off different scenarios because one can "never be absolutely sure".

Security is joint responsibility

Shanmugam added that security is a joint responsibility and everyday Singaporeans will have to be aware.

"Singapore has been so safe that the awareness in effect, a bit low. That’s the reality."

The government is also trying to increase awareness through the SGSecure programme.

Shanmugam said: "We have been trying for years, it goes up and it comes down - because it’s safe, people leave their items around. I have asked the security agencies to try with what I call a ‘cold start’ and leave things in places, see how many people actually pick it up; pick it up meaning they notice it and notify the agencies. I think the results tell us that the awareness is not very high."

Top image from K Shanmugam's Facebook page.