Policies In Brief: Wearable tech to help servicemen keep fit

A pilot programme that allows servicemen to use wearable technology and clock their preparatory training sessions for their annual fitness tests started this week at Toa Payoh Safra, and Maju, Khatib, Bedok and Kranji camps.

Speaking during the Defence Ministry's budget debate yesterday, Second Minister for Defence Ong Ye Kung said that under the pilot programme, servicemen will be able to use wearable technology that can track the intensity of their workouts.

They can choose to cycle, run or do weights or interval training, he added.

These preparatory sessions, which can be mandatory, are for servicemen who fail their annual fitness tests, and for those who would like to improve their fitness before taking the test.

---

Expanded protection for vulnerable groups

The Appropriate Adults Scheme, where trained volunteers sit during investigations with those who are vulnerable, will be expanded next month.

Vulnerable people can include those with mental health problems or children below the age of 16.

The scheme will expand to include more police and drug enforcement units, agencies such as the Singapore Customs and Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, said Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam yesterday.

Last year, these volunteers attended about 700 interviews, when their charges were involved in investigations, said Mr Shanmugam.

---

Law Ministry reviewing criteria for legal aid

The Law Ministry is reviewing its criteria to help more needy Singaporeans get access to legal aid, said Senior Minister of State for Law Indranee Rajah yesterday.

She was responding to Dr Tan Wu Meng (Jurong GRC) and Mr Louis Ng (Nee Soon GRC), who asked during yesterday's debate on the ministry's budget if the Legal Aid Bureau will review its means-testing criteria to help needy Singaporeans.

Ms Indranee said the ministry is already doing so. Details will be announced later this year, she added.