The Ministry of Home Affairs will be given powers to demand that buildings deemed to be potential targets of terrorists put in place enhanced security measures.

A proposed law introduced in Parliament yesterday will give the ministry, among other things, the right to direct selected new buildings to integrate security measures into their designs before they are built, and for designated existing buildings to be retrofitted with security features when they are renovated.

The Infrastructure Protection Bill will also give security personnel of sensitive installations the powers to deal with threats in their vicinity, including questioning suspicious people and inspecting their belongings. It will be debated in a later sitting of Parliament.

SEE TOP OF THE NEWS: Law mooted to boost security at iconic or strategic buildings