Ng Eng Hen
Singapore
“I think we try to keep this virtuous state of affairs as long as we can to make sure that we can invest steadily. Year-to-year fluctuations would occur, whether it is economic, not so much in COVID-19, but remember the Global Financial Crisis? Everybody needs to take a haircut. If you have to take a haircut, you have to take a haircut.”
“Mr Chairman, as the World around us becomes more unpredictable and changes, the more we need to keep the strongest commitment to strengthen our own defences and, if needed, we must be willing to do more. Singapore celebrates 60 years of Independence this year.”
“MINDEF will continue to work with partners to encourage Singaporeans to raise their digital literacy, develop and maintain good cybersecurity habits, protect sensitive data and guard against scams, fake news and disinformation so as to make the digital domain a safer and more secure space.”
“The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) conducts regular mobilisation exercises (MOBEX) of our National Service (NS) forces. In a silent mobilisation, NSmen are notified through their personal contact numbers. Open mobilisations include the broadcast of unit code-words through mass media.”
“In 2020, the Ministry of Defence replied to a Parliamentary Question on this matter that the relocation of Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB) would likely occur around 2030 or beyond, after Changi Air Base and Tengah Air Base have been expanded to house the existing assets at PLAB.”
“When incidents or near-misses happen, as it did where one Hunter armoured fighting vehicle rear-ended another during Exercise Wallaby in Australia, thorough investigations are conducted and lessons learnt shared across the units.”
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“[Handouts were distributed to hon Members. Please refer to Annex 1.] To summarise the report, they agreed with the COI's findings on the incident and proposed improvements that could be made to the safety management, emergency response system and combat vehicle safety, and the details are in the report. Much of what the ERPSS commented, I have already outlined in my Ministerial Statement. It will now be up to the AGC to decide if there are grounds to prosecute any person in the criminal Courts for the death of CFC Liu Kai. If no criminal charges are filed, MINDEF will take disciplinary measures for lapses identified in this incident in our Military Court. We will update Members and the public on these disciplinary measures. In the meantime, the servicemen involved in this incident have been redeployed to non-operational roles. Mr Speaker, CFC Liu Kai was a well-liked and respected soldier. He served with pride and was remembered by his peers for his dedication and commitment. We mourn the loss of this precious son. And we hope that the measures SAF has put in place will prevent a similar incident in the future. And these are questions that Members, including Mr Desmond Choo, have asked. In response to the COI's findings and its own internal review, the following measures have or will be put in place by SAF. First, in addition to the existing emergency horn (e-horn) activation button in the front for the vehicle commander, two more e-horn buttons have been installed in the rear of all Bionix vehicles used for training. So, before the incident, there was one in front; now two more have been put in the rear of the Bionix for training vehicles. This is to sound the alarm in the event of an intercom failure.”
“The SAF Emergency Ambulance Service (EAS), unit medical officer and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were activated and arrived on site. Unfortunately, CFC Liu succumbed to his injuries. He was pronounced dead by the unit medical officer on site at around 1035 hours. The cause of death, as determined by post-mortem, was traumatic asphyxia. The COI noted that the rear guide had repeatedly given the order for the driver to stop reversing through the intercom via his helmet. The COI noted that the intercom system was working earlier in the exercise. The COI has asked for an independent technical assessment report on whether the intercom system was working properly all the time. In parallel, Police investigations, too, are also focused on the communications between the Bionix crew and whether this was affected by the equipment. This is, of course, an important point that needs to be resolved. But we will have to await the outcome of the Police investigations. The COI made several findings in their report. First, the COI noted that ensuring the safety distance is the responsibility of the vehicle commander of the Land Rover. In this case, the Land Rover ended up in a position that was less than the required safety distance from the Bionix. Second, the reversing of the Bionix from the simulated enemy encounter brought the Land Rover into the path of the Bionix. The COI found that a safety management plan was included as part of the exercise, and in line with standard practice. The COI also found there was adequate deployment of medics and medical equipment as part of this plan for medical response. I now share the ERPSS' written report on the COI findings, and it will be distributed to Members, with the Speaker's permission, and be made public subsequently.”
“The COI found that the Bionix had "drifted" in reversing and the driver made a slight steer to correct this drift. This steer brought the Land Rover into the path of the Bionix. The COI did not find any mechanical problems with the Bionix's steering equipment. Almost immediately after the Bionix started reversing, the video recordings from the Land Rover's front facing camera show the Third Sergeant rear guide of the Bionix, quote, "gesturing at the Land Rover to move away and then pushing the mic of his helmet closer to his mouth". The COI found that the rear guide issued stop commands into the intercom of his helmet set when the Bionix started reversing and did so repeatedly. The intercom of the helmet is the rear guide’s only means of communication with the other crew members in the Bionix. However, the Bionix continued to reverse. The video recording of the interior of the Land Rover cabin showed the Captain trainer tapping CFC Liu and signalling him to reverse the Land Rover. From the beeping sounds, it also indicated that CFC Liu did engage the reverse gear. Both the trainer and CFC Liu also shouted and gestured with their hands for the Bionix to stop and the trainer also attempted to reach for the handset of the radio set to communicate with the Bionix crew. Approximately eight seconds after it started reversing, the Bionix collided into the Land Rover and mounted the driver's side before coming to a stop. The trainer could extricate himself, but CFC Liu remained trapped. The trainer notified the Conducting Officer of the exercise who immediately ordered the exercise to cease. A medic on board a nearby Bionix immediately tended to CFC Liu.”
“58, the Bionix crew spotted several vehicles passing by at the junction ahead of it and stopped the Bionix, as ordered by the vehicle commander. Responding to this, the Land Rover driven by CFC Liu also stopped. The COI found that the trainer had instructed CFC Liu to move the Land Rover forward to overtake the Bionix. Just as CFC Liu started to move forward slowly, shots were fired as part of the exercise. Upon hearing the gunshots, CFC Liu stopped the Land Rover behind the Bionix and, based on the COI's calculations, this final position of the Land Rover would have been at a distance of "at most 19.8 metres from the Bionix, but short of the safety distance of 30 metres stated in the Training Safety Regulations." Four seconds after the Land Rover had stopped, the Bionix started to reverse as part of the extrication drill ordered by the Bionix vehicle commander, in responding to the shots. Let me explain a little bit about extrication drills. How well and quickly armour combat crews can extricate themselves when fired upon, can make a big difference as to whether they survive an enemy onslaught or are captured or destroyed. The COI acknowledged the need for this type of training, even though it is high risk. The Bionix, as part of the prescribed drill, had to reverse so that its guns could continue to fire forward at the enemy. As the driver of the Bionix is unable to see behind him or behind the vehicle, the rear guide directs the driver in reversing the vehicle. Members would remember the picture I showed the Bionix with the driver in front – he can see forward. It is the rear guide who must guide him in reversing. As the Bionix reversed, the Land Rover was initially not in its path.”
“As with all such exercises, a Regular trainer of Captain rank from the Active Unit Training Centre was assigned to evaluate the exercise troops. The trainer used a Land Rover whose driver was CFC Liu, a Transport Operator. Let me orientate Members to the Bionix's crew. [Slides were shown to hon Members.] This is the Bionix and the crew comprises four persons. For this particular incident, an NSF who was in the position of the vehicle commander (Second Lieutenant), a rear guide when the vehicle reverses, he was the Third Sergeant NSF, the driver and the gunner who were both Corporals. The COI determined that the servicemen involved were qualified to participate in the exercise, having undergone the requisite training for their roles. On 2 November 2018, the trainer met the Bionix vehicle commander to understand their manoeuvre plan for the next day’s exercise. The COI was of the view that the servicemen involved had had their rest in accordance with the Training Safety Regulations, and that their mental and physical states were fit for participation in the activity and did not appear to have an effect on their attention to safety protocols. The COI also found that the Land Rover that CFC Liu was driving was serviceable. The Land Rover has two cameras – one that records events in front of the vehicle, and the second that records events inside the cabin of the Land Rover. The COI was able to piece together a detailed chronology from these camera recordings and statements from multiple witnesses. I will bring Members through the events in detail by showing a series of graphics. The exercise started on the morning of 3 November 2018 at 7.00 o'clock. CFC Liu and the trainer were in the Land Rover following their assigned Bionix. At around 9.”
“Everything asked for by the COI will be released to them. I do not foresee needing to withhold any information for security reasons. The COI will also make specific recommendations to rectify any systemic or human lapses found. In the meantime, the two other Servicemen deployed have been re-deployed from their operational roles. We owe it to CFC(NS) Pang and his family, indeed to all Singaporeans, to get to the bottom of what happened, and make things right, to ensure the safety of the NS training system as a whole. I ask that all of us respect these objective and impartial processes that are underway, to reserve our judgement and wait for the conclusions of the COI, which will be presented in Parliament subsequently. Let me now share the COI's findings on CFC Liu who died on 3 November 2018 after a Bionix reversed into a Land Rover of which he was the driver. As explained earlier in the House, the COI is enabled and governed by the SAF Act. Its mandate is fact finding and not to determine culpability of individuals. To determine culpability, separate and independent from the COI, Police investigations are ongoing. Thereafter, the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) will decide if any persons should be prosecuted. Internally, MINDEF will conduct its own investigations and may charge persons who breach military law in the Military Court, even if the AGC does not file criminal charges. The COI of CFC Liu Kai will take into account findings from these various judicial processes before finalising its report. On 3 November 2018, the 42nd Battalion Singapore Armoured Regiment (42 SAR) was conducting a two-sided company mission exercise at the Jalan Murai training area.”
“During this exercise, both CFC(NS) Pang and the Regular technician had conducted maintenance works on the guns daily. Following the incident, the SAF's immediate task was to ensure that there was no systemic machine malfunction of the SSPH, which would otherwise have put maintenance crews at risk. Inspections of the SSPH have not detected any machine malfunction of the gun lowering mechanism. Third, was there a design flaw of the SSPH? Member Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked this. The SSPH was designed and developed to international military standards for System Safety and Human Factor Engineering. Many other militaries operate tracked 155 millimetre (mm) guns with similar gun lowering mechanisms. This includes the United States (US), South Korea and Germany. The SSPH prototype platform underwent extensive trials and evaluations from year 2000 to 2002 before its introduction in 2003. So, it has been in operation for the last 15 years. Over the last 15 years, more than 1,000 national servicemen and Regulars have been trained to operate the SSPH, and about 12,500 rounds fired. There has not been any reported injury of servicemen due to the gun lowering for maintenance, or operating in or firing of the SSPH. I have stated the facts that MINDEF/SAF are aware of, in reply to Members' questions. They include Mr Christopher de Souza, Mr Pritam Singh and Er Dr Lee Bee Wah. We must now leave it to the independent five-member COI led by the State Court judge to determine the factors which led to the death of CFC(NS) Pang. The COI has full access to material and witnesses to determine the facts for themselves. For avoidance of doubt, let me reiterate that the COI need not take into account anything in my Statement in Parliament today.”
“From his Safe Position 1, indicated in the middle of this slide, the picture of the tank with the gun pointing forward or pointing up, the Gun Commander must first check to ensure that the gun barrel area is free from obstacles and that no persons are in the travel path of the barrel. The other persons in the cabin are to occupy Safe Positions 2 or 3, on the left side and the right side respectively. The Gun Commander then gives the signal "clear away", "clear away" to warn the technicians about the barrel movement. He should visually check to ensure no persons are in the travel path of the barrel and all crew are in Safe Positions. After which, the Gun Commander should shout "standby" before moving the barrel. In the event of any danger, there are also three emergency stop buttons in each of the safe positions inside the SSPH and they are indicated as the red buttons in each of the Safe Positions. There are three of them. In the operators' manual, there is a standard warning, and I quote it, it is boxed in the Safety Manuals, printed in bold, quote, "Failure to observe the above warnings may result in serious injury or death to crew". The warning is repeated for a variety of drills that the SSPH crew must undertake. Next, I will show a video of this safety drill prescribed during the gun lowering – and it will be shown in actual speed, with your permission, Mr Speaker. [A video was shown to hon Members.] It takes about nine seconds for the gun to be lowered to the horizontal position for maintenance. All three persons who were in the cabin in this incident had been trained specifically on the SSPH and had conducted similar maintenance on it in the past.”
“But as he was unable to resolve the fault, CFC(NS) Pang requested and received the help of Regular technicians from the Forward Support Group. CFC(NS) Pang and one Regular technician of ME2 rank were inside the cabin of the SSPH with the Gun Commander, a Third Sergeant NSman, when the incident happened. These are the three persons I referenced in the beginning of my Statement. Second, the adequacy of safety protocols and whether the maintenance crew were familiar with them during this ICT. A number of Members of Parliament have asked for this, Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling, Prof Fatimah Lateef, Mr Darryl David, Miss Cheng Li Hui, Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong and Ms Joan Pereira. Let me show a third slide. I will focus on the relevant safety instructions during maintenance work, because this is the reason for the presence of these three people in the SSPH, and, in particular, when the gun is lowered. There are safety procedures taught to all maintenance and SSPH operating crew. The ME2 regular technician is overall in charge because he comes from the Forward Support Group and he is in charge of more complex repair works, so he is in charge. For the repair work in this case, the maintenance manual indicates that it is the responsibility of the technician in charge to ensure that the gun has been lowered and fixed in place before any maintenance works can begin. Further, the safety instructions specify safe positions within the SSPH cabin for soldiers to occupy during the gun lowering, as well as safety precautions to be taken. In operations or during maintenance, it is the Gun Commander who lowers the gun.”
“In addition, during his previous ICT in February 2018, he had attended a two-day refresher Maintenance Vocation Training on the basic functional checks and troubleshooting for the SSPH. That course also included safety procedures during gun movements. Before participating in Exercise Thunder Warrior this year, CFC(NS) Pang had undergone refresher training on maintenance tasks in New Zealand. For this exercise, CFC(NS) Pang was involved in the preparation of more than 10 SSPHs, which included servicing and maintaining of the guns. The other two servicemen were also similarly qualified. The Gun Commander was in his eighth ICT and had undergone refresher training prior to his deployment in the exercise. The Regular technician has eight years of working experience on the SSPH and it was his sixth time participating as a technician in Exercise Thunder Warrior. Let me explain how maintenance work on the SSPH is conducted when the unit is deployed in the field. There are two levels of maintenance support – basic and higher. Basic support is provided by the SSPH battalion's organic Forward Maintenance Platoon, made up of national servicemen. CFC(NS) Aloysius Pang was part of this Forward Maintenance Platoon. If the repair works exceed the scope of the Forward Maintenance Platoon, more complex maintenance is requested from and performed by technicians in the higher maintenance echelon, and this is called the Forward Support Group, who are made up of Regulars. So, basic support made up of national servicemen, more complex maintenance made up of Regulars in the Forward Support Group. In this particular incident, CFC(NS) Pang was first activated.”
“He was heli-evacuated to Waikato hospital in Hamilton, New Zealand, which is a regional trauma centre, where surgeons decided that he needed an operation to treat his injuries. Prior to his first surgery, CFC(NS) Pang was conscious and speaking. At the first operation, the surgical team found that a number of organs were damaged and treated them accordingly. After the first surgery, CFC(NS) Pang did not require any ventilation and his vital signs were stable. In fact, after the first surgery, he spoke with his mother who had been flown over to New Zealand. A "second-look" surgery had been planned for CFC(NS) Pang on 21 January 2019, two days after the first surgery. According to the surgeons there, this was to detect further injuries, as damage from compression injuries may only show up later. No further damage was discovered at the second-look surgery, but despite this, CFC(NS) Pang's condition subsequently deteriorated. Despite being placed on artificial life support and further treatment, CFC(NS) Pang passed away on 23 January 2019, four days after the primary incident in the SSPH. I propose now to deal with Members' questions which fall in three broad categories: first, what was the experience and state of the maintenance crew? I have the second slide. CFC(NS) Pang had arrived in New Zealand on 6 January 2019 and had begun maintenance work from 10 January 2019. So, on 6 January, he arrived; he began maintenance work on 10 January. This was CFC(NS) Pang’s seventh In-Camp Training (ICT). He had been trained to perform maintenance and repair for the SSPH since he was a full-time national serviceman (NSF).”
“Thank you. Let me orientate Members to, first of all, the cabin of the SSPH. The cabin is 2.3 metres in height, 2.44 metres from front to rear, and 2.64 metres from side to side. That gives Members the dimensions of the cabin within. The gun barrel, which, on the left-hand side of the screen, is now in the inclined position and, therefore, is lowered in the rear, divides the cabin into two. There is space for the three persons within the cabin to occupy positions on either side of the gun as shown in the diagram – 1, 2 and 3, and looking towards the SSPH from the back, about 1.55 metres on the left side, Safe Position 1 and 2; and 0.9 metres in width on the right side, Safe Position 3. These so-called Safe Positions are designed to be occupied by the gun commander, the ammo loader and charge loaders, but for the purpose of the Statement, I will refer to them as "safe positions". The gun barrel is usually tilted upwards for firing, that is, the picture shown on the top, smaller picture on the left; the gun barrel at the inclined position with the gun pointed up. The gun barrel is usually tilted upwards for firing but needs to be lowered for some types of maintenance work. When the gun is lowered, the flick rammer at the rear end of the barrel goes up and ends about 10 centimetres (cm) below the top rim of the cabin. I will have some more pictures to make it clearer later. Because of this, no one should be behind the barrel when the gun is being lowered. Unfortunately, CFC(NS) Pang was caught between the gun barrel and the interior of the SSPH as the gun barrel was lowered and sustained compression injuries to his chest and abdomen. After he sustained these injuries, CFC(NS) Pang was treated onsite by the SAF Medical Officer and evacuated to Waiouru Camp Medical Centre.”
“The three SAF personnel were CFC(NS) Pang, a Regular Armament Technician holding the rank of Military Expert (ME)2 with more than 16 years in service, and third, the Gun Detachment Commander, who is a Third Sergeant NSman. Mr Speaker, I have asked for your permission to display some slides. Can I ask for the first slide to be displayed?”
“When completed, the COI will submit its findings to the AFC and ERPSS. The ERPSS will, in turn, provide its comments on the findings and both their comments and the findings will be made public. However, as CFC(NS) Pang's death occurred in New Zealand, neither the Police Force nor the State Coroner have jurisdiction for deaths outside Singapore. Investigations to determine any culpability in this case will be left to the SAF's Special Investigation Branch (SIB) which has jurisdiction under military law. Based on SIB's investigations, the Chief Military Prosecutor will decide if any servicemen are to be prosecuted for criminal or military offences in a Military Court. The Military Court is presided over by the State Court judges appointed as Presidents of the General Court Martial. In this Statement, I will give as much information as possible without prejudicing the COI and SIB's investigations, whose findings, in due course, will be authoritative and conclusive. To preserve the integrity of the process, I will only state facts in reply to Parliamentary Questions (PQs) and consciously not draw any inferences or conclusions on the incident involving CFC(NS) Pang. I ask Members here to observe the same. We should also be mindful of the need to be sensitive to the family's feelings as we honour the memory of CFC(NS) Pang. With these caveats, let me begin. CFC(NS) Aloysius Pang, aged 28, an Armament Technician, was participating in Exercise Thunder Warrior at Waiouru Training Area in New Zealand this year. On 19 January this year, three SAF personnel were in the cabin of the Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer (SSPH) to carry out repair works on the gun's calibration system for accurate firing.”
“Mr Speaker, before I begin my Statement, allow me on behalf of all Members in this House, to offer our deepest condolences to the family of the late Corporal First Class (CFC)(NS) Aloysius Pang. There was an outpouring of sympathy from Singaporeans all across the island on CFC(NS) Pang's passing as we shared the grief of the family's tragic loss. I pray that the passage of time will bring some comfort to the Pang family as well as to the other families affected by the recent deaths of National Servicemen. Your questions today as Members of Parliament (MPs) are an important part of holding the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) accountable for the safety of our Servicemen and will strengthen our collective resolve to make SAF training as safe as possible and prevent such tragic deaths from occurring again. My Statement today will cover three areas: first, the death of CFC(NS) Aloysius Pang; second, the Committee of Inquiry (COI) findings of CFC Liu Kai; and third, safety enhancements by the SAF following recent National Service (NS) training deaths. Let me, first, address questions from Members on CFC(NS) Pang who died on 23 January this year. A COI has been convened by the Armed Forces Council (AFC) on 25 January 2019. All five members of the COI are from outside MINDEF and SAF. They comprise the chairperson who is a judge nominated by the State Courts, a consultant medical specialist, a member nominated by the External Review Panel on SAF Safety (ERPSS), a member of the Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSHC) and a senior-ranked national serviceman. The COI has started its investigation to determine the circumstances and contributory factors which led to the demise of CFC(NS) Pang.”
“Since 3 December, when intrusions by Malaysian Government Vessels began, our security personnel have repeatedly pressed these vessels to withdraw from STW (Tuas). We will continue to do so as their presence does not strengthen Malaysia’s legal claims in any way and, indeed, as we have said before, can result in mishaps or regrettable incidents. Singapore has welcomed assurances by the Malaysian government that they would take measures to de-escalate the tensions in STW (Tuas). We hope that all Malaysian agencies will abide by this stated policy. Incidents, like the recent incursion by the Johor Menteri Besar, are provocative and escalatory, and contradict the officially stated policy of the Malaysian government. Tensions and real risks increased during this incident. Our security agencies had detected early the movement of the Menteri Besar’s entourage, which sharply increased the number of Malaysian Government Vessels in STW(Tuas) from two to five. Our Police Coast Guard and Republic of Singapore Navy vessels responded promptly to this provocation, as they had to. As a result, the total number of vessels in the area more than doubled. These provocations do nothing to help resolve disputes and, indeed, can precipitate incidents on the ground which will do lasting harm to bilateral ties.”
“Mr Speaker, in his Statement to Parliament yesterday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs comprehensively set out this Government’s position and that of the Malaysian agencies with regard to intrusions by Malaysian Government Vessels into Singapore Territorial Waters (Tuas). For short, I will say STW (Tuas). Despite our disagreements, both sides want to resolve differences through discussions and peaceful means. To this end, the two Foreign Ministers agreed at their meeting on 8 January this year, to set up a working group of their officials that will "discuss the legal and operational matters to de-escalate the situation in the waters off Tuas and will report within two months." Against this context, Members – Mr Dennis Tan and Er Dr Lee Bee Wah, who has now converted her Parliamentary Question to Written Question – have asked how our security personnel will respond to intrusions into STW (Tuas). It is a matter of public record that Singapore has been exercising jurisdiction in STW (Tuas) without any protest from Malaysia until 25 October last year. Our Police Coast Guard, the Republic of Singapore Navy and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore will, therefore, continue to protect and assert our sovereignty over STW (Tuas) and the waters within Singapore Port limits. Our security agencies carry out their operational duties with the utmost professionalism. While our security agencies do have the capability to compel the intruding Malaysian Government Vessels to leave, they have been ordered for now to exercise restraint and avoid escalating tensions with Malaysia, so as not to jeopardise the conditions necessary for constructive discussions and peaceful resolution of the dispute.”
“They can also avail themselves of personalised one-on-one career coaching and job referral services through CTRC's certified career advisors.”
“As a military with physical demands required to fulfil its mission, officers and other ranks of personnel within the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) do not adhere to the retirement age of commercial companies and civilian organisations. Most officers and warrant officers retire around 50 years old as there are only limited vocations for re-employment across SAF. Military experts can work till 60 years of age. However, the shorter career span within SAF is made up for by higher remuneration packages as compared to equivalent civilian jobs. In addition, SAF has specific programmes to prepare personnel for their second careers. Eighty percent secure jobs within six months of retiring from SAF. These programmes include structured training to prepare them for leadership and management roles and other valuable competencies in areas, such as human resource, finance, operations research and training pedagogy. Our training programmes are accredited by external agencies and, in some cases, developed jointly with local educational institutions. Employer surveys show that the skills and certifications obtained by SAF personnel during their careers are well-recognised by private and public sector employers. The Ministry of Defence established the Career Transition Resource Centre (CTRC) in 2009 to further support our retiring personnel, by equipping them with the skills to enhance their employability. Under the Lifelong Employability and Advancement Programme, retiring personnel are provided funds and time off to attend courses and seminars, go for job interviews, and embark on internships that can serve as a springboard into their sector of interest.”
“The Member’s question will be addressed in our reply to a similar oral question in the next Parliament Sitting on 15 January 2019. [Please refer to "Measure to Prevent Malaysian Vessels from Entering Singapore Waters", Official Report, 15 January 2019, Vol 94, Issue 88, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
“Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) medical officers do not revoke medical certificates (MCs) issued by external medical practitioners. Unit medical officers may, however, conduct a clinical review of the SAF personnel's medical condition and propose an amendment to the MC. To effect such an amendment, the medical officer either discusses the case with the medical practitioner who issued the original MC or refers the SAF personnel to a relevant specialist who can advise on the proposed amendment. An amendment could include an adjustment to the duration of the MC or exemption from specific activities. Personnel may at any point see the unit medical officer for a further clinical review. Instances of amendments to MCs are infrequent in the SAF.”
“[Please refer to "Reviews and Changes Made to SAF Training Doctrines Given Recent Deaths", Official Report, 19 November 2018, Vol 94, Issue 85, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“The Ministry of Defence's (MINDEF's) compensation framework tracks the amounts prescribed by the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) but would be generally higher in recognition of the risks borne by our servicemen during military training and operations. For deaths that result from military training or operations, the compensation amount is doubled that of WICA. On top of this, additional compensation may be granted if there are exceptional circumstances or when the serviceman had rendered service beyond the call of duty. Overall, the total compensation amounts disbursed for incidents arising from training and operations are generally two to four times that of amounts provided under the national compensation framework. The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) also provides welfare support through grants disbursed from the SAF Benevolent Fund. These grants are used to meet the immediate needs of the families of servicemen who have passed away as well as provide financial assistance to help the serviceman’s family, depending on the family's circumstances. Over and above the existing compensation and welfare provisions, MINDEF provides our servicemen with $150,000 of Group Term Life (GTL) and $150,000 of Group Personal Accident (GPA) insurance under the MINDEF/SAF Group Insurance Core Scheme. The premiums for these insurance plans are paid by MINDEF, in recognition of our servicemen’s contribution to national defence and security, and to strengthen our care for them. The Member has also asked how SAF intends to prevent further training accidents. This will be addressed in our reply to similar questions raised by Members of Parliament in this Sitting.”
“Since 2002, the National Day Parade (NDP) Executive Committee (EXCO) has worked closely with the National Environment Agency (NEA) to organise a clean and sustainable NDP. In doing so, the EXCO takes into account the varying needs of attendees and participants, including the young and elderly, as well as the need for prudent spending. The general direction is to use reusables when available and cost-effective. For next year's NDP, paper instead of plastic Bento boxes will be used to cater meals for our NDP participants and each fun pack will contain one larger bottled water, instead of the usual two. While it is not feasible to have only reusable items with minimal packaging for the fun pack, NDP EXCO will work with NEA to establish collection points to encourage NDP spectators to return unused items, especially ponchos for wet weather, from the fun pack.”
“The Army is now reviewing the experience level and roles of supervising, conducting and safety officers to further strengthen training and safety outcomes. MINDEF and SAF will also undertake further reviews to curtail human lapses and mitigate risks associated with training. SAF is also convening an External Review Panel on Combat Vehicle Safety. This panel will comprise experts outside of SAF, to have a thorough review of current policies and measures surrounding combat vehicle training safety. SAF will continue to find ways to enhance our safety systems and ensure that the processes in place remain sound and robust. SAF will continue in its efforts to instil a strong safety culture to achieve zero training fatalities, which can only be achieved if every soldier has an ingrained concern for the well-being of himself and his fellow soldiers. This will be emphasised to every commander and soldier. MINDEF and SAF await the conclusion and recommendations of the investigative processes for the death of CFC Liu and will implement the necessary changes thereafter. We will do all we can to help support the late CFC Liu's family through this difficult period.”
“Vehicle operators and crew conducted a series of drills to refresh their training and ensure that they were well-prepared to carry out their assigned tasks. Unit commanders reinforced the importance of safety in training to their soldiers and emphasised the responsibility of every commander and soldier in ensuring not just their own safety, but also of their buddies and those around them. The safety timeout was lifted on 8 November and training has resumed progressively. Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How visited Exercise Trident in Shoalwater Bay, Australia. The troops had been conducting safety rehearsals to refresh their drills before the exercise. During the exercise, the sea was choppy and affected plans for the conduct of ship-to-shore operations, which was a key highlight of this year’s bilateral exercise with the Australian Defence Force. The safety of our soldiers is of utmost importance to the SAF. The unit adjusted their plans and transferred the forces from ship to shore by helicopter. We can train effectively and safely. Member Mr Desmond Choo had asked about the number of serious vehicular incidents in the last three years. Apart from this November's incident, there was one other training-related vehicular incident that resulted in death, in the last three years. That involved the late 3rd Sergeant (3SG) Gavin Chan in September 2017. Apart from these two cases, there were no other combat vehicular incidents which resulted in serious injury. MPs Mr Henry Kwek and Mr Christopher de Souza have also asked how MINDEF and SAF can learn from past incidents to prevent further injuries and deaths. Over the past three years, the Army has been deploying more Regulars to supervise and conduct the training of our full-time National Servicemen.”
“Training was immediately halted and the onsite medic attended to CFC Liu. The SAF Emergency Ambulance Service, unit medical officer, and Singapore Civil Defence Force were activated and arrived soon after to attend to CFC Liu. Unfortunately, CFC Liu succumbed to his injuries and passed away. There are obviously a number of questions that need to be answered in determining the cause of this incident. They include: were safety protocols followed by the crew of the Land Rover and the Bionix vehicle during this phase of the exercise? Were the vehicle commander, driver and crew of the Bionix aware of the Land Rover behind them and did they conduct their reversal safely? What was the physical state of exercise participants and did it have an effect on their attention to safety protocols? Was there any mechanical malfunction of vehicles or platforms? Did Safety Officers and Vehicle Commanders perform their responsibilities? The COI and Police investigations will fully examine these and other related questions into the death of CFC Liu. When all the facts have been gathered, I will give Parliament a full account, as we have done previously in this House. Following CFC Liu's incident, a safety timeout was effected for both local and overseas training by the Army to review our safety systems and ensure that our Servicemen can continue to train safely. This included a review of our training doctrines and safety processes that Members of Parliament (MPs) asked about. Particular attention was paid to the safety management plans for high-risk activities, such as live-firing and training, which require the use of vehicles and military platforms.”
“The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) offer our deepest condolences to the family of the late Corporal First Class (CFC) Liu Kai. CFC Liu was a dedicated soldier who served with honour and was well-respected by his peers. His passing is a loss to the SAF and our nation. Parallel and independent processes to investigate the cause of the training death of CFC Liu are ongoing. They include Police investigations, wherein the Coroner may decide to hold a public Inquiry. The Armed Forces Council has convened a Committee of Inquiry (COI) whose members all work outside MINDEF/SAF. They comprise the chairperson, a civil servant from another Ministry, a consultant medical specialist, a member from the External Review Panel on SAF Safety (ERPSS), a senior-ranked National Serviceman and a member of the Workplace Safety and Health Council. The COI has started work. The COI has full access to material and witnesses to determine the facts and will make specific recommendations to rectify any systemic or human lapses found. The ERPSS will also provide a written report on the COI findings, which will be made public. Without prejudicing these official investigations, I will provide some preliminary findings in response to Members' questions. On the morning of 3 November, CFC Liu was driving the Land Rover carrying a trainer that was involved in an Armour exercise at the Jalan Murai training area. The Land Rover was stationary behind a Bionix Armoured Fighting Vehicle which was part of the exercise. The Bionix responded to a simulated enemy encounter to reverse away from simulated enemy fire. The Bionix reversed into the Land Rover and partially mounted the Land Rover. The trainer was unhurt but CFC Liu sustained injuries.”
“The Enlistment Act is applicable to all Singapore Citizens even if they have chosen to hold foreign citizenship concurrently. It recognises rightly that all male citizens must perform their National Service duties to defend Singapore even as they enjoy privileges and benefits as citizens. Their obligations from other citizenships they have chosen cannot exempt them from the obligations and responsibilities as a Singaporean.”
“National Service-liable males who intend to reside overseas for an extended period – two years or longer for those aged 13 to 16.5 years, and three months or longer for those aged above 16.5 years – will be required to furnish a bond of S$75,000 or 50% of the combined annual gross income of both parents for the preceding year, whichever is higher. On average, about 40 cases each year are granted concessions to reduce the bond amounts or provide other measures in lieu of a bond, on compassionate grounds. About five cases per year had their bonds forfeited when they failed to return.”
“Eighty per cent of all applications for Term Financial Assistance were approved and include applications that were not supported by the commanders.”
“Over the past 10 years, an average of about 350 National Service (NS) defaulters each year have either failed to register or enlist for NS, or failed to return after their Exit Permit has expired. Among these, about one third have been arrested or have come forward to resolve their Enlistment Act offences. Efforts to trace and contact NS defaulters include sending registered mails to their last known place of residence, including their overseas address, house visits to their local addresses, and contact tracing through educational institutions that they have attended. The enforcement and punishment of NS defaulters are governed by the Enlistment Act and judicial processes. The Ministry of Defence works with the Police to arrest these defaulters. Those who are charged have their punishments meted out by the Courts in accordance with the Enlistment Act.”
“Physical exercises in the form of push-ups and sit-ups or foot drills, and non-physical punishments, such as additional duties and weekend confinements, can be meted out by Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) commanders as disciplinary measures to soldiers for their disorderly behaviour and improper attire. These forms of discipline are strictly prescribed in the SAF's Joint Manpower Directive which states the number of repetitions that are allowed for specific exercises, the number and duration of additional duties or confinement and the seniority of the commander who are allowed to mete out such disciplinary measures. SAF personnel who mete out unauthorised punishments or have willfully or negligently infringed training safety regulations in the conduct of punishments, have been dealt with and prosecuted within the SAF or criminal prosecution in the State Courts.”
“Over the past five years, around 4% of each National Service (NS) cohort was downgraded for mental health issues. The majority of these were downgraded after the pre-enlistment check-ups, before commencing their NS and, therefore, the prevalence of mental disorders for National Servicemen reflects that of the male population in Singapore. For those who are enlisted, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) supports these Full-Time National Servicemen (NSFs) with a range of medical treatment and counselling services by our SAF psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors and para-counsellors. Unit commanders undergo basic training to help them better understand mental health conditions and interview all NSFs at regular intervals to find out if they are facing any stresses, including emotional or psychological problems. In addition, NSFs can call a 24-hour SAF Counselling Hotline whenever they need help.”
“JSSL Singapore is a youth football club and academy business run by Mr Harvey Davis and advertises itself as having links to Fulham FC. MINDEF could not find any valid grounds to approve the application for deferment by Mr Harvey Davis for his son. There is no commitment to serve Singapore or our national interests. To grant deferment to Mr Ben Davis to pursue his personal development and professional career would be unfair to the many others who have served their NS dutifully as required, and not at a time of their choosing. It would also erode the basis on which our Courts have upheld the Enlistment Act passed by Parliament and punished those for not fulfilling their NS liabilities to pursue personal pursuits. As a writer, Mr Patrick Tan Siong Kuan, wrote to The Straits Times Forum page: "The defence of our country cannot be a matter of serving when it is most convenient. It is a responsibility that every man must take seriously when called upon, regardless of race, family connections or financial status. It takes personal sacrifice and putting the country before self. Otherwise, there will be no Singapore tomorrow."11”
“Or he could be sent out on loan or sold to another club. There are a lot of variables all dependent on his development and progression.”10 Third, if he was not granted deferment, the father indicated that Mr Ben Davis would still proceed to sign the contract, and he has done so. The reason given by the father was that his son would only return to fulfil his NS commitment if he is unsuccessful in his professional career. In fact, Mr Harvey Davis went further after MINDEF rejected the application – that he would consider the option for his son to renounce his Singapore citizenship in order to pursue his career. The father's responses made clear his intent for his son to pursue a professional football career to the fullest. If Mr Ben Davis will not give up his senior contract, which provides for an allowance of a few hundred pounds a week, to serve his NS, it is even more unlikely that he will return to serve NS if he subsequently gets offered a contract worth many times more. And if he is not given a further contract with Fulham FC, the father has said that he may find other clubs which his son can be loaned to. The application by Mr Harvey Davis for his son's deferment is to further his son’s professional career first and to the longest extent possible. He has been quite open about this. Singapore and her interests, including his son’s NS obligations, are a secondary consideration, if at all. There has been no indication, commitment or plans as to how Mr Ben Davis would help football standards in Singapore, if deferred. Mr Harvey Davis has urged MINDEF to approve deferment for his son so that it would serve as an inspiration, he tells us for the 1,000 students registered with his company Junior Soccer School and League (JSSL) Singapore, 500 or so of whom are local.”
“We disrupt medical students to complete their medical studies because we need them to serve as Medical Officers during their NS to take care of their fellow soldiers. It is not an entitlement and, once the reasons are no longer valid, the disruption will end. For example, we previously allowed overseas medical students to disrupt, but this was stopped in 1992, when we could produce enough doctors locally. Similarly, dental students were not disrupted after 1989, as there was no need for NS Dental Officers. For transparency, MINDEF publishes a full list of all medical students who are disrupted every year. Having stated the general principles, let me explain why the application by Mr Harvey Davis for his son's deferment was rejected even though MINDEF recognised Mr Ben Davis' achievement in obtaining a senior contract with Fulham Football Club (FC). First, Mr Ben Davis is playing for Fulham FC as an English national, not a Singapore Citizen. MINDEF is not privy to the contract signed between them, but we assume this published information is correct and that the father must have his reasons for doing so. Second, Mr Harvey Davis has consistently refused to indicate when his son would return to serve NS, if deferred. The father replied to the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), Sport Singapore (SportSG) and Football Association of Singapore (FAS), stating: "We are unable to commit to a date for his return should he be playing professional football in the UK or Europe. In addition, it is also a possibility that Ben could be offered a new two-year contract in 2019 after the first year of his pro-contract just like he has been offered a new two-year pro contract halfway through his two-year scholarship contract.”
“Deferment, therefore, cannot be for that individual, no matter how talented, to pursue his own interests or career, even if it vicariously brings credit or fame to Singapore. This would be fundamentally wrong and goes against the core principle of equity. Some Singaporeans have voiced the same opinions over Mr Davis' application. Mr Suresh Nair, who wrote, "Let this Davis case be the right and timely reminder of the need for absolute fairness in applying laws regarding NS deferment".8 To preserve equity for all National Servicemen, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) will only defer individuals very selectively if their deferment serves Singapore's interest first and foremost, never their own. This was the only basis to defer three sportsmen, swimmers Joseph Schooling and Quah Zheng Wen, and sailor Maximilian Soh, from NS to train and compete in the Olympics. The sportsmen deferred know this, as clear expectations were laid out when deferment was given, in discussion with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) on the standards required for their training. Neither was deferment open-ended nor unconditional. They will have to return to serve NS, and if they do not meet the standards agreed upon, deferment will be curtailed. These strict conditions are necessary because even for these individuals who can bring glory to Singapore, there are detractors, who think it is unfair for anyone to be deferred. Mr T Ng wrote to MINDEF – "Please be fair to all Singaporean males, who spent years serving NS. Every Singaporean male's career is important from his own point of view."9 Disruption for individuals after they are enlisted for NS follows the same principles and is also given only for national reasons.”
“The judges opined that, "In practical terms, what the three fundamental principles of national security, universality and equity mean is that in order to ensure Singapore's national security, every male Singaporean must serve NS and at the time he is required to under the [Enlistment] Act, without regard to his personal convenience and considerations. When a person refuses to serve NS at the time that he is required to and instead returns to serve at a time of his own choosing, or worse, at an age when he can no longer serve, his actions strike at the very core of the principles of national security, universality and equity."4 Thirteen NS defaulters were prosecuted after the new sentencing framework was established last year. In Court, each gave reasons why he did not enlist as required. Some wanted to complete their university degree first before NS. Others said they had to support their families. In every judgment, the Courts dismiss these personal reasons, convicted and sentenced them to jail terms. Harsh as it is, the Enlistment Act is blind to "personal convenience and considerations"5, no matter how talented the individual or exceptional his circumstances. At the core of the Enlistment Act, the critical national need for a strong defence puts aside personal pursuits and mandates that each liable male performs his NS when required. The written judgment noted that everyone was asked to do his "fair share"6. "This entails every citizen who is required to serve NS making sacrifices or postponing individual goals to serve the nation when the nation needs his service"7. These arguments spell out in unequivocal terms the NS obligations for every Singaporean male.”
“Singapore's founding leaders knew the strict conditions that National Service (NS) would impose on its citizens when they passed the NS (Amendment) Bill 51 years ago and the Enlistment Act in 1970. In 1984, just as he was about to retire, a reflective Dr Goh Keng Swee acknowledged it plain and simple – "National Service imposes (not only) a great sacrifice of time and money on the young men called up."1 But Dr Goh followed with the reason why NS was crucial to our nation’s survival – "deep in his heart the average Singapore Citizen knows the danger he faces are real and not hypothetical, and that there is a need to defend ourselves."2 The Appellate High Court also brought their minds to bear on our NS policy in 2017 during an appeal on the sentencing of NS defaulters. Their written judgment3 spelt out the reasons why more stringent sentencing benchmarks were justified but those same reasons lie at the heart of what Members of Parliament (MPs) have asked today – how strict is this requirement for every male to serve his NS when required? What exceptions or flexibility can be given? It was a landmark decision, presided over by the Chief Justice. The Appellate High Court referred to Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Teo Chee Hean's Ministerial Statement given in 2006 to this House when he was Defence Minister. That Ministerial Statement, coupled with the written judgment, illuminate the fundamentals on which our NS policy is based, that we must not unwittingly weaken lest we undo this nation's foundations. I urge all Members to read them.”
“Mr Speaker, those are good questions. I would have to go back to the detailed COI Report to see whether they had asked the various platoon members why they did not all say they did not have the seven hours of sleep. From what I can recollect, they did not give specific reasons. And as I have said, one surmises that they wanted to do it because they wanted to carry on with their training. Was there a log? As I have said earlier in my Statement, the commanders who conducted the informal punishment neither sought permission nor told their superiors of this. So, I think, this was missed – the seven hours – they did not have the requisite seven hours of sleep.”
“I think the Member's second question was on wearables. We had an expert panel of doctors – the Chair, who is a senior consultant in the A&E Department in SGH – and they concluded that wearables that are on the market do not measure core temperature that well because, for heat injuries or heat strokes, you need to measure core temperature. In this case, as Members have noticed, when they touched CFC Lee's skin, it was actually cold, cooler than norm – it was not warm. So, if you have wearables that measure surface temperature, it does not quite work. You have to measure core temperature, and the technology just is not there yet.”
“Mr Speaker, what the COI did was to investigate in detail, first of all, chronologically, the events leading to the heat stroke. And they started from the day before the fast march. I have related how there were a number of activities, two of which did not comply with Training Safety Regulations – one part of the lesson plan where CFC Lee ran faster than he should have for three laps of 400 metres each. And that night where there was an informal unauthorised punishment which lasted 30-35 minutes which resulted in them not having seven hours of sleep as required – they had about six hours 15 minutes or thereabouts. The COI concluded, based on all these findings – and I would repeat this because I think it is important – that CFC Dave Lee's death was a result of heat stroke. There is no argument there. Other than this, they did not find any physical injury sustained nor any foul play or medical negligence. The COI was unable to ascertain the direct causes which led CFC Lee to suffer from heat stroke. It noted the possible contributory causes were "accumulated fatigue, insufficient rest and less than optimal state of health and his potential use of medication". These are words that they used. But their preliminary assessment was that the likely reasons for him succumbing to the heat stroke were inadequate onsite casualty management and delayed evacuation to the medical centre. Heat stroke is usually a culmination of events – exposure to heat, your own body's mechanisms cannot cope with the heat produced and it shuts down. The COI opined that they could not find any direct cause but it could have been due to a number of accumulated causes. But they felt that his succumbing to the heat stroke was a result of delay between the symptoms and evacuation.”
“The approach that the Army uses is graduation – in other words, graduated activities that train up. So, if you notice from my Ministerial Statement, one of the prerequisites that the conducting officer had asked was: have all of you done the six-km march? And some did not, alerted themselves and fell out of the march. So, there was graduation, and not only in terms of just distance but tolerance for heat. So, that is also built into the programme. I would say at our level that we have not had a heat stroke of this magnitude for the last nine years, as I have said. Unfortunately, the commanders, those who dealt with CFC Lee had never encountered one in their own experience and that may have been part of the problem. How do we simulate this? How do we teach better? I think it is a challenge. But for every activity, as Mr Vikram Nair pointed out, we want to make sure that the trainees are built up to take higher levels of activity, and that is the prevailing principle and practice.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, our training requirements are much more serious than that. It is not discretionary, and Members will remember when I updated this House about what the requirements are for fast marches or any training activities, we use special sensors which measure the wet globe temperature and, depending on what the temperature is based on this instrument, you mandate work-rest cycles – you can only work so much and you need to rest so much. So, yes, indeed, temperature is taken into account. In fact, after this, we looked around other militaries to see whether we were more stringent or less stringent than others. And we have learnt from it. So, different militaries use different work-rest cycles depending on what the temperature or the humidity is. So, we are reviewing that. But it is not a discretion given to commanders. They must follow it. It is part of the TSR.”
“Mr Speaker, the findings are, again, as I have given in the Ministerial Statement. For the first six km, there did not seem to be any witness who noticed anything out of the ordinary. He took his 20-minute rest. During the last two km, he complained of cramps, told his commanders and his commanders advised him to stretch, which he did. And he was the last one to complete the fast march. It was only at the end of the fast march as he was walking towards the company line that they noticed that he was disoriented and then, the medics and others gave him immediate attention. How do we ensure better recognition by commanders and men? That, indeed, is the point. So, as I have said, one of the recommendations is to take the guesswork out of this. In this instance, those attending to him thought he had physical exhaustion, not heat exhaustion. The immediate training safety regulation, effective now, is that we do not really care what the reason is. As soon as anybody is disoriented, we take him out, we send him to the medical centre, where there are facilities, where there is expertise. And we have learnt from this that, you do not guess, you may not be in the best position, err on the side of caution. And we want a simple mechanism where you can determine if someone is disoriented. If he is not oriented to time, place and identity – that is, to either one, not all three – you evacuate him.”
“Mr Speaker, the facts are what I have recounted. The findings were recounted by the COI and that three troopers stood out, declared that they did not fulfil all the conditions of the conducting officer, and they were deployed as marshals and were not put on the eight-km fast march. How do we ensure that, in their zeal, perhaps, soldiers take cognisance and take training safety regulations seriously? I presume that some of them who did not have seven hours uninterrupted sleep, for instance, still said, "I can go on". As I have said, this was the external safety review panel's comment, too, that you have got to make it second nature for the trainees to say, "Look, this is for my own self-protection or my buddy. I am going to tell on you because you did not do it, because I am going to protect you." We thought that one crucial factor was to give more opportunities for make-up training. So, if they know they have time to make up and they would not fail the course, there will be more incentives for them to declare that they did not have it. And if commanders know now that if the conditions are not met, they will ensure that the conditions are met. There is not going to be an easy answer. At this stage of ours where we have the regulations but we are not sure everybody follows these, we need everybody to play their part to achieve zero training fatalities.”
“Zero training deaths must be the norm and any mishap should be vigorously attended to by commanders to achieve this norm. Let me conclude by expressing this House’s deep condolences to the late CFC Lee’s family. The SAF has updated the family of the COI’s findings and the actions that the SAF is taking to prevent recurrences of the lapses found. I assure all Members that MINDEF and the SAF will do all it can to help the family through this difficult period. 4.55 pm”
“Lesson plans on safety will be improved and the annual Training Safety Regulation test will also include mandatory questions on heat injury prevention and management. Fifth, the importance of open reporting will be emphasised. Soldiers will be encouraged to use the Hotline to report any unauthorised activities or violations of rules, especially during Basic Military Training phase and reinforced during In-Camp Training. Sixth, more opportunities for make-up training. The Army will encourage our soldiers not to push themselves beyond safety limits. If a soldier feels that he is unwell during any training activity, or if the buddy notices it, soldiers will be reminded to err on the side of caution, to stop and make up training another day. Seventh, more clinical exposure and patient contacts for medics to upgrade their skills in resuscitation and handling of emergencies. This may include periodic attachments to hospitals, A&E departments or to run in ambulances. Mr Speaker, we need a strong SAF that can defend Singapore, but it must and can be built up without compromising the safety and well-being of Singapore’s precious sons serving their National Service. CFC Lee was an exemplary soldier who served with commitment, and was well-respected by his peers for his positive attitude. The loss of such a good soldier like CFC Lee is deeply grievous to us. It will take collective effort to achieve zero training fatalities. Each serviceman must take care of himself or sound the alert when his buddy is not well, or if regulations are not complied with during training. Commanders must be alert and pull out early those who are not coping and use another occasion to train.”
“Training and safety protocols were reviewed and advised by an External Review Panel on Heat Injury Management (ERPHIM). This was chaired by Assoc Prof Mark Leong, who is a senior consultant at the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). The following changes will be put into place. First, a simplified protocol to lower the bar for immediate evacuation. Under this protocol, all commanders and medics across the SAF will evacuate every trainee that cannot respond to simple questions on time, place and identity. The intent is obvious. This takes the guesswork out of the assessment and what the reason is, as this case showed, and imposes early evacuation as the default, as a strict Training Safety Regulation to be followed. This Training Safety Regulation is effective immediately. Second, additional methods to cool servicemen during training. For example, the Army will implement what is called the Arm Immersion Cooling System – you immerse your arms – and this has been used in the United States (US) and Australian militaries to reduce heat injury for all fast marches and route marches that are 12 km and longer. Portable cooling methods, such as purpose-built cooling pads, will now replace less effective ice packs, to be used on the spot. These will be implemented in phases, starting from this month. Third, there had been suggestions for wearables. The expert opinion of this Expert Review Panel on Heat Injuries is that those currently available in the market are not effective for measuring core temperature. Fourth, the Army will ensure that our commanders and soldiers can better recognise the signs and symptoms of heat injuries.”