The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA; ; ; ), sometimes referred to as the Home Team, is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for overseeing the national security, public security, civil defence, border control and immigration of Singapore.
History The Ministry of Home Affairs was created in 1959 when Singapore attained self-governance from the United Kingdom. The ministry was housed at the Empress Place Building until 16 September 1963, when Singapore joined Malaysia and internal affairs became a federal responsibility.
After gaining independence on 9 August 1965 from Malaysia, the ministry returned to the Empress Place Building under the purview of the Ministry of Interior and Defence (MID). MID stayed there for several months before it was relocated to Pearl's Hill (former Lower Barracks of Police).
On 11 August 1970, the Ministry of Interior and Defence was separated into two ministries, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF). MHA remained at Pearl's Hill until August 1977 when it moved to Phoenix Park at Tanglin Road.
MHA, together with Police Headquarters, moved to its new premises at New Phoenix Park on 18 August 2001.
Organisational structure
Apart from Directorates in the ministry headquarters, the ministry is divided into 10 Home Team Departments, and is also responsible for four councils. Home Team Departments LogoDepartmentAbbreviationDate foundedDepartment headSingapore Police ForceSPF24 May 1820How Kwang Hwee (Commissioner of Police)Internal Security DepartmentISD1948Classified (Director)Singapore Civil Defence ForceSCDF6 November 1982Eric Yap Wee Teck (Commissioner)Immigration and Checkpoints AuthorityICA1 April 2003Lian Ghim Hua (Commissioner)Singapore Prison ServiceSPS1946Shie Yong Lee (Commissioner of Prisons)Central Narcotics BureauCNB2 November 1971Sebastian Tay (Director)Home Team AcademyHTA2 September 2006Wilson Lim (Chief Executive)Home Team Science and Technology AgencyHTX1 December 2019Tan Chye Hee (Chairman)Chan Tsan (Chief Executive)Gambling Regulatory AuthorityGRA1 August 2022Tan Tee How (Chairman)Teo Chun Ching (Chief Executive)Yellow Ribbon SingaporeYRSG1 May 2020Phillip Tan (Chairman)Matthew Wee Yik Keong, (Chief Executive)
Committees/Councils
Presidential Council for Religious Harmony National Crime Prevention Council National Council Against Drug Abuse National Fire and Civil Emergency Preparedness Council
Ministers
The Ministry is headed by the Minister for Home Affairs, who is appointed as part of the Cabinet of Singapore.
Minister for Home Affairs (1959–1963) Minister Took office Left office Party Cabinet Ong Pang BoonMP for Telok Ayer(born 1929)3 June195918 October1963PAPLee K. IOthman WokMP for Pasir Panjang(1924–2017)19 October196327 November1963PAPLee K. II
Minister for the Interior and Defence (1965–1970) Minister Took office Left office Party Cabinet Goh Keng SweeMP for Kreta Ayer(1918–2010)9 August196516 August1967PAPLee K. IILim Kim SanMP for Cairnhill(1916–2006)17 August196710 August1970PAPLee K. III
Minister for Home Affairs (1970–present) Minister Took office Left office Party Cabinet Ong Pang BoonMP for Telok Ayer(born 1929)11 August19705 September1970PAPLee K. IIIWong Lin KenMP for Alexandra(1931–1983)6 September197015 September1972PAPE. W. BarkerMP for Tanglin(1920–2001)16 September197231 October1972PAPLee K. IVChua Sian ChinMP for MacPherson(1933–2014)1 November19721 January1985PAPLee K. VLee K. VIS. JayakumarMP for Bedok (until 1988) and Bedok GRC (from 1988)(born 1939)2 January19851 January1994PAPLee K. VIILee K. VIIIGoh IGoh IIWong Kan SengMP for Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC(born 1946)2 January199431 October2010PAPGoh IIIGoh IVLee H. ILee H. IIK. ShanmugamMP for Sembawang GRC(born 1959)1 November201020 May2011PAPTeo Chee HeanMP for Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC(born 1954)21 May201130 September2015PAPLee H. IIIK. ShanmugamMP for Nee Soon GRC(born 1959)1 October2015IncumbentPAPLee H. IVLee H. VWong IWong II
References
External links
Singapore Government Directory Interactive — Ministry of Home Affairs MINDEF - 1965 - History of Ministry of Interior and Defence Home Team News Portal