Home Team officers receive new MHA scholarship to develop skills in AI, data analytics

SINGAPORE – Two officers from the Home Team received a new scholarship on July 22 for the development of technical skills in areas such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, digitalisation, user experience and user interface.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ng Liang Jie was among the recipients of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) Emerging Skills scholarship, which received applications in 2024 for the first time.

With the scholarship, the 34-year-old will start pursuing a master’s degree in information technology at the Singapore Management University in August.

He is now an operations officer at the Criminal Investigation Department, where he is in charge of enhancing investigation systems with technology.

With no prior experience in technology when he took on this role, he taught himself Python programming.

“I felt that I lacked domain knowledge (for the job)... (but) I thought it was a good opportunity to gain more exposure,” he said.

“Technology is constantly evolving... The common saying is that you either adapt or get left behind. That was another motivating factor for me to take up this course of study and keep myself relevant,” said DSP Ng, who joined the Singapore Police Force as an investigation officer (IO) in 2016.

A total of 128 Home Team officers received undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships and sponsorships from MHA on July 22.

Seven Home Team officers taking the Singapore University of Social Sciences’ Public Safety and Security programme also received the MHA Book Prize, for the top MHA students in each cohort and the top MHA students with the best dissertation papers.

In his speech at the award ceremony, Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong noted the rapidly evolving security challenges due to technological advancements and changing global dynamics.

“They are a timely reminder that the Home Team cannot stand still,” he said.

Mr Tong, who is also the Law Minister, said that in 2024, Singapore was ranked second for law and order in Gallup’s Global Safety Report, and second for order and security by the World Justice Project, a testament that the Home Team has done well thus far.

In a recent survey conducted by MHA, 94 per cent of Singaporeans favourably rated the Home Team’s performance in keeping Singapore safe and secure.

Mr Tong added: “But to continue to do well, year after year, and no matter what new challenges our operating landscape presents to us, the key is to invest heavily in the development and growth of our officers.”

Mr Daniel Chia, one of the recipients of the MHA postgraduate scholarship, has seen much over two decades since joining the Home Team as an IO in 2004.

Before he took on his current role as deputy director of finance and administration at MHA, he earned the nickname of “Death IO” after dealing with 13 cases of unnatural deaths in a day.

He also recalls a case “where a woman decided to take her own life”.

“Her husband and son called me in the middle of the night asking where she jumped,” said Mr Chia, 45, who will be studying for a master’s degree in project management at the National University of Singapore.

Since contracting an illness in 2011, he has had to become a civilian officer as he can no longer do strenuous exercises.

After getting his master’s degree, Mr Chia said, he is open to any available roles within the Home Team.

“At this point I think I can pretty much do anything, nothing surprises me any more,” he said.