WSSS 2022 MYE QP

West Spring Secondary School MID-YEAR EXAMINATION 2022 HUMANITIES 2272/01 2273/01 Paper 1 Social Studies SECONDARY 4 SECONDARY 5 Express Normal (Academic) Name ( ) Date 6 May 2022 Class Duration 1 hr 45 mins Additional Materials: Writing papers READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST Write your index number, class and name on all the work you hand in. Write in dark blue or black pen. You may use a soft pencil for any diagrams or rough working Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid. Answer all parts of the questions. The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question. At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together. FOR EXAMINER’S USE Section A /35 Section B /15 Total /50 This document consists of 6 printed pages including the cover page. Setter(s) Mr. Gabriel Wong and Ms. Lydia Teng [Turn over 2272/01 2273/01 2267/01

2 SECTION A (Source-Based Case Study) Question 1 is compulsory for all candidates. 1 GOVERNANCE Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, and then answer all the questions. You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions, in addition to those sources you are told to use. In answering the questions you should use your knowledge of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources. (1) Study Source A. What do you think the author is trying to say about FICA? Explain your answer, using details from the source. [5] (2) Study Source B. Why do you think the author published this? Explain your answer. [6] (3) (4) (5) Study Source C. How useful is this source in telling you about the impact of FICA? Explain your answer. Study Source D. Are you surprised by what the source says? Explain your answer. ‘FICA will do more good for Singapore than harm.’ Using the sources in this case study, explain how far you would agree with this statement. [7] [7] [10]

3 What is the impact of FICA on Singapore? BACKGROUND INFORMATION Read this carefully. It may help you to answer some of the questions. The Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (also known as FICA) is a controversial law passed by Singapore’s parliament in October 2021. FICA contains measur es to prevent, detect and disrupt foreign interference and influence in domestic policies. This act would allow authorities to make internet service providers and social media platforms provide user information and block content that they deem hostile. Additionally, the law will allow authorities to label individuals involved in local political processes as “Politically Significant Persons” who can be subject to countermeasures to reduce the risk of foreign interference. The government says that the act protects the country against interference from other countries . However, critics have argued that the broad language of FICA opens up the possibility of abuse by future governments, to censor and stamp out legitimate activities and discussions, and target individuals that might be critical of the government or who discuss politics with foreign counterparts. Study the following sources to evaluate how FICA might impact Singapore. Source A An infographic published by the Ministry of Home Affairs on its FICA page. *instigate: to urge and provoke someone to do something, especially something bad *

4 Source B A cartoon responding to the announcement of FICA, published on the website of the Singapore Democratic Party, an opposition party. Source C A proposal by the Workers’ Party, an opposition party, with amendments for the FICA bill before it was passed, September 2021. While the Workers’ Party believes in the need to counter dangerous acts of foreign interference, we disagree that the current form of the bill will achieve this objective. The bill gives the Government too much power to act purely on suspicions about what is likely to happen rather than on evidence, with no obligation to state reasons publicly. We propose that the High Court handles appeals of people who have received directions from the government under FICA. The court can keep an eye and make sure that all is handled fairly. We propose that the minister should act on evidence rather than suspicion, as currently stated in the bill. We propose that those labelled as “politically significant” be listed on a registry that is accessible to the public. These will significantly lower the likelihood of abuse of power. Source D Comments from Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam during the debate of FICA in parliament, October 2021. There are risks in giving any government any power, but there are also risks in not giving power. You have to weigh the risks of a government abusing its power v ersus foreign interference. The latter is a far greater risk. The use of FICA can be looked at by a group headed by a Supreme Court judge. Its decisions will be published, and people can see and assess for themselves. Not giving the power will severely compromise the government's ability to deal with the real risk of foreign interference, which has actually happened. I wish for a world where the government has the power to act, and at the same time, there is a complete check against abuse. If we can find that formula, we will gladly take that. But there is no such formula. So we have to admit that there are trade-offs whichever route we take.

5 Source E A commentary from a local blogger, November 2021. The extended peace we have enjoyed over the decades threatens to lull us into a false sense of security. The fact that foreign influence campaigns actually took place here in the past are sober reminders that every day, foreign agencies work to force us into something that serves them. We need it for the same reason we need our Singapore Armed Forces. If such campaigns work, other countries can control us without firing a single bullet. By the time they sail their warships onto our shores, our population wo uld have been controlled mentally, spiritually and economically. As we enter a new era of global competition, foreign governments will continue to see smaller states like Singapore as things to control in a larger game of global influence – and FICA is our first line of defence. Source F A commentary from a research academic at the Institute of Policy Studies, September 2021. Given the rise of cyber -enabled foreign interference globally, this bill does not come as a surprise. However, while FICA upgrades the government’s ability to counter foreign interference, it should not do so at the expense of people’s trust in the government and diminish Singapore’s position as a global hub. Part of the wonder of cyberspace is the fact that it makes collaborations worldwide possible. For example, the exchange of ideas and resources digitally form the backbone of the global fight against climate change. Thus, FICA’s definition of foreign interference and its measurements would have to be clear and shar p so as not to reduce Singapore’s position as a major player in the global network of collaboration and creation. It needs to make a distinction between foreign interference and foreign collaboration, lest people be scared off from collaborating with Singapore.

6 SECTION B (Structured-Response Question) Question 2 is compulsory for all candidates. 2 BEING PART OF A GLOBALISED WORLD Study the extracts carefully, and then answer the questions. Extract 1 The number of online scams reported in 2020 hit a record high in Singapore. It is estimated that scammers had taken more than $201 million from their victims. The rise of online sca