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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“We are very conscious and, where we can, we will intensify, relocate, and this includes training for SAF soldiers overseas. But – and it is an important "but" – I will tell Members of this House openly, there is a minimum required to house our defence assets, to train our soldiers in Singapore and to ensure the defence integrity of our defence capabilities. Let me say that again – there is a minimum. It is not just, "You have so much, this is so much land, can you squeeze within a single plot?" Beneath a certain size, we lose the coherence of the defence system. 5.30 pm I welcome the questions by Members on the external environment because, even as we focus on the SAF internally, we have to pay attention to our geopolitical environment and defence ties with other countries. Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Ms Ellen Lee, Mr Pritam Singh and Mr Low Thia Khiang talked about this. Mr Low asked, beyond the Shangri-La Dialogue and Page: 111 ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM), what is Singapore doing and how much more can Singapore do. Sometimes, I wish that we could do more than we want. But we are a small country and we need to build strong partnerships to bring about a more secure regional environment. We never over-stretch our perception of our own size, potency or force. At the end of the day, we say it and say it time and again so that it becomes trite, but it is true – we never forget we are a small country, we are a red dot, a small one; we hope a shining red dot, but it is still a small one. And so, we have to build strong partnerships and, in the 70 years after the end of World War II, the US' presence in Asia has promoted regional stability and prosperity. For this reason, that is why Singapore facilitates the US' presence here.”
“The default for MINDEF and SAF is to upgrade existing platforms rather than Page: 110 buy new ones – that is a default – unless only new equipment provides clearly superior and needed capabilities. Let me give an example. We recently upgraded our Mine Counter-Measure Vessels. We did not buy new ones, we upgraded them, because they are more productive and can integrate with unmanned water systems. As a result, the mines can be cleared up to five times faster. Not only with financial resources, but I take the point from Members, including the point made by Dr Lim Wee Kiak, whether we have been prudent in our land use. We recognise that land in Singapore is precious and, therefore, we use technologies to intensify land use. Some Members may have visited but, if you have not, we would like to arrange a visit to the Multi-Mission Range Complex. For some of the men in this House, you would remember the old SAF Training Institute had a number of ranges. It was flat, but what we did was we put them all together in high-rise and there are seven ranges in one. In the same space that is occupied by one, there are seven ranges. You would remember during your SAF days that you had to wait till night to do night shooting. Now we just switch off the lights and you can do the night shooting. Another example, and this is a big one, is the relocation of Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB) into an expanded Changi Air Base East and Tengah Air Base. MINDEF and SAF proactively and carefully studied this option because we knew that land was precious. As a result, we will free up 800 hectares of land for alternative use and, beyond that, remove the height restrictions on developments around PLAB.”
“They are very observant and they have asked whether we have noticed that defence spending in Southeast Asia has gone up. Indeed, it has. Southeast Asia's defence spending has increased, as a block, by about 150% in nominal terms over the last decade. It translates to an annual growth rate of about 11%. China's defence spending has more than quadrupled over the same period. Defence spending in Asia, as a whole, has continued to rise. We are monitoring this trend closely. We are not responding to it in sharp rises because, as we have often said, we want to avoid sharp increases or dips in our defence spending. Despite this general trend, our approach is still to plan long term, maintain our defence expenditure steadily. As Members have said, over the last decade, our defence expenditure has grown by 4% nominally, on average, and more or less kept pace with inflation. Mr Pritam Singh asked why this year it has jumped by 5.7%. I will respond to that by sharing that when we plan, we plan over a longer-term horizon, not year on year, but over a five- to-10-year period. It allows us to make sure that you do not adjust suddenly, whether it is manpower training or platform acquisition. It is actually also productive. By that, I mean that because you plan over a longer-time horizon, it allows you very smart opportunity buys. We do not buy a platform when it is just new. Even if we buy a new platform, we watch for it, when the price comes down, and before it is too few and production goes down and the price goes up again. It allows us to plan when to acquire. I thank Members for reminding MINDEF that we need to be prudent in the use of our resources. We are aware that we spend the largest proportion as a single Ministry, and we will be prudent.”
“And many Members of this House have said so and I agree with you that our people are, ultimately, what makes the difference – the strong fighting spirit of our soldiers, airmen and the sailors as well as the quality of leadership that will allow the SAF, as Mr Sitoh rightly pointed out, to deter aggression and, when that fails, prevail over potential aggressors. We must continue to sustain this strength into the future. We cannot build an effective force without capable and committed Servicemen, particularly NSmen, who form the bulk of the SAF's fighting force. We are implementing the recommendations by the Committee to Strengthen National Service. Second Minister Chan Chun Sing will elaborate on this but just let me highlight two significant proposals that are progressing well. Page: 109 First, we said that we will reduce the waiting times for NS enlistment to not more than six months after the completion of their post-secondary education, and we are on track. Second, the SAF Volunteer Corps has attracted many responses and we are on track to take in this inaugural batch this year. While NSmen form the backbone of the SAF, we need to ensure that we have adequate SAF regulars to train units and build capabilities. I announced during the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) that we are stepping up recruitment for more trainers and, again, we are on track to double the number of regular trainers at the Basic Military Training Centre from the middle of this year. The SAF is also recruiting more women as regulars, as more opportunities open up in different vocations because we use advanced platforms. A number of Members here have asked questions on defence spending – Mr Seah Kian Peng, Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Mr Pritam Singh.”
“We talked about productivity and defence spending. When it comes to productivity, I will tell you that the SAF feels it the most acutely, not only because we want to, but this is the reality that we face with a shrinking NS pool. It is forced upon us. Our manpower supply is not as elastic as the civilian side of the house. So, each time a new platform is planned, in fact, one of the key questions is: how can I do it with fewer people and, if not as effective, more effective? For example, our unmanned aerial vehicle systems can already stay airborne for more than 24 hours. On land, the army uses robots to defuse explosives in some situations. It is also studying the use of more unmanned ground vehicles to conduct security patrols, for example. Out at sea, unmanned surface vessels may, in the future, patrol our congested waterways. If we can do it without manned ships, why not? These advanced technologies have greater precision, endurance and use less manpower and allow us to remain potent with a leaner force. The SAF will further leverage new technologies to respond to security challenges, whether it is external, internal, whether they come in neat packages or are amorphous. New units for cyber defence are being raised. Better capabilities using infocomm technology, robotics and artificial intelligence are in the pipeline for testing and integration into the existing systems. But even with the most advanced technologies and equipment, we constantly remind ourselves that our people remain our greatest and indispensable asset. It is.”
“The Baltic states are scared stiff that what happened in Crimea and Ukraine could also happen to them. Lithuania is not very big – three million people but much larger than us. Singapore, like the Baltic states, is a small country. I think we do well to heed the cautionary tales from their experience. Never take our peace for granted. It can only be purchased through the collective commitment of our NSmen and all Singaporeans. Never weaken the strong defence that we have built up over the years through neglect or complacency. The time to build up a strong defence is during peace. A strong deterrence is Singapore's best defence. All these you have heard and time and time again. When danger is upon you, as it is precipitously for the Baltic states, it will be too little and too late to build up a defence. And contrary to expectations that peace and stability that one enjoys today will last, things can go wrong very quickly. As I said, in one year, the mood is completely reversed. As long as we have the support of the Government and our people, the SAF will discharge its responsibilities fully to protect our home and its people. The SAF will be very clear-eyed about our potential threats and challenges. We do not assume any neat packages and we are remaking ourselves to be more effective in the future. Some Members mentioned Singapore's demographic trends, Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef, in particular, over Page: 108 the long term. Yes, the SAF will have to operate with a leaner manpower pool without any loss of effectiveness. Whether it is measured by the ability to manoeuvre, fire-power, new capabilities, the restructured SAF, even though it is leaner, will be more potent and versatile. And we have been able to do this because we have used advanced technologies.”
“Alleged rebels attacked and seized key buildings and military bases in key cities in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, and these rebels include "little green men", masked unidentified soldiers armed with Russian equipment. At the same time, Russia assembled a sizeable force at the Ukrainian border, which senior Ukrainian officials estimated to comprise over 80,000 troops Page: 107 and 270 tanks, amassed at the border. Decades-old formale treaties and pledges were broken, basically torn up, not worth the paper they were printed on. Fundamental assumptions about peace in Europe were overturned. And this year's Munich Security Conference, when I read it, there was a phrase that was declared deafeningly "Peace in Europe is broken"; all within the span of one year. The impact on small states in Europe is even more ominous and threatening. A recent Financial Times article last month, on 25 February, was headlined "Russia fears lead Lithuania to reinstate military draft". The small Baltic states, of which Lithuania is one of them, are the closest geographically to Russia. The article continued, "Lithuania is reinstating military conscription in a dramatic move that underscores the anxiety among the Baltic states about Russia's intentions". These states are concerned that what happened to Crimea will occur to them and they are no longer confident about their future. Lithuania had, in fact, just suspended their form of national service only in 2009; that is, six years ago, because it assumed that the neighbourhood was safe. Now, Lithuania is frantically trying to raise a bigger army. Earlier this year, the Lithuanian government issued an instruction manual to schools and the general public on what to do in case of an invasion.”
“So, challenges, as we see them, are not neatly compartmentalised as we say. I understand Mr Pritam Singh's point when he asked, "What is our core mission? When do you know it is mission creep?" It is a difficult question. But at the centre of it, if it threatens Singapore and Singaporeans, even if it comes in uncommon or unconfined labels, we will have to respond to it. 5.15 pm The concept of hybrid warfare is as old as war itself and that is why we launched Total Defence in 1984. What is new is the amplification of disinformation due to social media. No country, including Singapore, is immune to disinformation war and SAF will have to raise capabilities to detect and counteract such threats in the cyber and infomation domains. Beyond hybrid warfare, the unrest in Ukraine and its impact on the rest of Europe hold other salutary lessons for Singapore. Let me describe to you what was last year's mood at the Munich Security Conference. This was in 2014. Last year's conference was centred on peace after War World II, 70 years of peace. There was an air of celebration, and rightly so. The Cold War had ended. Russia was integrated into Europe and the global economy. The European Union (EU) had expanded and more states were joining in, not only to the EU but even asking to join NATO. There were even questions asked about the relevance of NATO. So, there was an air of festivity, actually, last year. Indeed, for the last decade, many countries in Europe had reduced defence spending to "reap the peace dividends". Some had even scrapped or suspended military conscription, their version of national service. Then in March last year, just two months after the Munich Security Conference, the unimaginable occurred – Crimea was annexed.”
“" Non-military means have exceeded the power of force of weapons. He continues, "The focus of applied methods of conflict has altered in the direction of the broad use of political, economic, informational, humanitarian and other non-military measures, applied in coordination with the protest potential of the population." He continues, "All this is supplemented by military means of a concealed character, including carrying out actions of informational conflict and the actions of special operations forces. The open use of forces, often under the guise of peace-keeping and crisis regulation, is resorted to only at a certain stage, primarily for the achievement of final success in the conflict." Clinical but chilling. Why? Because this textbook description of hybrid warfare was played out with orchestral precision in the annexation of Crimea and the recent unrest in Ukraine, where subversion and subterfuge were conducted through flesh and blood provocateurs as well as through disinformation on social media to cause disunity and dissent among the target populations, before military force was applied. There is another example of hybrid warfare. This is the radicalising effect of Al Qaeda and then ISIS. Some Members have asked about ISIS and how we respond to it. But it is Page: 106 another facet of hybrid warfare, if you look at it closely. And this time, by non-state actors. Tens of thousands of foreign fighters have been radicalised by ISIS' false ideology and have headed for Iraq and Syria. They may carry out violent attacks when they return to their home countries. The examples of Ukraine and ISIS have added urgency to many countries in studying their defences against such campaigns of hybrid warfare orchestrated by external adversaries.”
“They need replacements and we will carry this out over the next decade. Beyond upgrading specific platforms, as Mr Pritam Singh mentioned, SAF needs to remake itself in response to a changing landscape from new security threats. This was eloquently put by Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef. Looking ahead, in our Golden Jubilee year for SAF50, what do we expect the SAF to be able to respond to, what is its core mission, how does it shape itself to respond to threats that threaten Singapore and Singaporeans? We Page: 105 may compartmentalise, but threats that threaten Singapore and Singaporeans do not come with necessary clear labels. That is the core question we have to ask. Externally, the SAF has to contend with cyber threats and the growing use of disinformation in warfare. And the landscape is emerging. In the recent UNIX Security Conference, which I attended last month, there were many sessions on "hybrid warfare", which integrates the use of conventional and unconventional tools of warfare by state and non-state actors. What is hybrid warfare? It is a "sexy" term, but what is it? Singaporeans can understand it easily, because it is the exact antagonist of Total Defence which we started some decades ago. Hybrid warfare is an orchestrated campaign to fracture the solidarity of the target nation through undermining its defences in civil, economic, social, psychological and military measures. I want Members to listen to the chilling words of the Chief of General Staff of the Russian Federation General Valery Gerasimov: "The very rules of war have changed. The role of non-military means of achieving political and strategic goals has grown and, in many cases, they have exceeded the power of force of weapons in their effectiveness.”
“Mr Sitoh Yih Pin spoke about this. We had some 15,000 Servicemen who were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan for 10 years, between 2003 and 2013. They were there a long time as part of the multi-national stabilisation reconstruction efforts. We have also deployed Servicemen to the Gulf of Eden to support counter-piracy efforts since 2009 and commanded three times the combined task force. Recently, SAF ships and aircraft were deployed for the AirAsia crash and there the SAF men on board the MV Swift Rescue located the fuselage. The Army was also deployed in Kelantan and, with water purification teams, they supplied potable water for Malaysian flood victims. Whether it was for exercises or real operations, they validate our readiness and professionalism and they provide invaluable experience to our Servicemen and also enhance our ability to operate with our key partners. Through both of these exercises and real operations, the SAF has shown that it can move decisively as one integrated professional force and succeed in the mission and tasks assigned. Members here have asked for an update on what else we are doing for the SAF. Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked about this for the next five years. We will continue upgrading the SAF's capabilities at a steady pace. From next year, the Navy will start replacing its patrol vessels with new littoral mission vessels. Similarly, the Army will use new Protected Response Vehicles. This is in place of the V200. Some older NSmen here would have used it. Others would not know what I am talking about, but the V200s are quite ancient, and so we will use the new Protected Response Vehicles. Our Super Puma helicopters – Members of this house will be more familiar with those – have been in service for almost 30 years.”
“Today, Singaporeans can have the quiet confidence that after many decades of steady investment into our defence capabilities, SAF is a strong and capable military, able to protect our interests and borders. Beyond SAF and our NSmen, the message of Total Defence, that we are as strong as we are united, has also taken root in the community. Many Members – Mr Sitoh, Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Assoc Prof Fatimah and Mr Pritam Singh – have asked how the SAF stands today and what it will be like in the future. First, how does the SAF stand today. I think we can be confident objectively because we have consistently benchmarked the SAF with militaries from other advanced countries. We test our systems through realistic training and real operations. We have conducted four Exercise Forging Sabres in the United States in the last decade. And every year, we go to Australia to conduct Exercise Wallaby since the year 2000. There, we put our soldiers and platforms through rigorous and realistic test scenarios, including our unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and F-15 and F-16 fighters, Apache helicopters, high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) and naval ships. The exercise scenarios are complex. They require high levels of integration in every exercise. I am happy to report that after each exercise, our overall systems are validated and we learn important lessons to bridge the gap. Page: 104 When I say that our overall systems are validated, it tells us that our command and control systems are responsive and coherent. We can close the loop on what we see and how we want to effect a response. Beyond exercises, the SAF has also actively contributed to missions that have strengthened international peace and security as well as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).”
“Mdm Chair, first, let me thank Members for their useful questions and enlightened comments, many of which I share. This is a special year because as many Members have said, 2015 is the Golden Jubilee of our Independence as well as 50 years of SAF since its inception. As many Members of this House have pointed out, it is an appropriate occasion for us to look back, examine our roots and collectively see Page: 103 what we have achieved and, more importantly, also look forward. And if you look at our founding generation and what they went through, they went through three, I would say, bitter periods. First, was the British surrender of Singapore to the Japanese and the subsequent occupation; then, Konfontasi; and then, the fight against the communists. Just one challenge would have been severe but we have Pioneers who went through all three. For this reason, the bitter lessons that they learnt, forged in them an epiphany and the fierce determination that only with a strong defence could Singapore safeguard its sovereignty because, without this strong defence, Singaporeans would never be able to chart our own destiny. As a small country with limited manpower, I believe that most Singaporeans today understand that this strong defence can only be built up and maintained with a strong and heavy commitment of financial resources and, above all, the efforts and sacrifices of our National Servicemen. We have said it time and again, but it bears repeating: if Singaporeans cannot or do not defend Singapore, no one else would. And in this, our Golden Jubilee year, I am sure that I speak on behalf of all the Members in this House to affirm our strong and continued commitment to defend our country.”
“SAF camps are restricted areas, and facilities in these camps are designed to support military training. These camps should only be accessed by authorised personnel, to minimise the risk of sabotage or loss of information and equipment which could compromise the safety and security of our soldiers and citizens. NSmen on In-Camp Training (ICT) may use the facilities in camps, such as the swimming pool and gym, during allocated time slots on weekdays. We recognise the importance of supporting our NSmen to prepare and train for their ICT. Our NSmen enjoy preferential SAFRA membership rates and SAFRA clubhouses are equipped with swimming pools and gyms to support their fitness training. SAFRA EnergyOne Page: 69 gyms also offer preparatory training courses, designed by fitness experts, to help NSmen improve their Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) performance. NSmen who need additional help in the IPPT can attend the IPPT Preparatory Training (IPT), which focuses on progressive fitness training, at the Fitness Conditioning Centres. The IPT is available on weekday evenings and weekends. We will extend the IPT to other venues, such as public parks through the "IPT in the Park" initiative, to provide greater convenience for our NSmen. Through these avenues and initiatives, we will partner our NSmen and motivate them to take personal ownership of their fitness, so that they continue to be physically fit and prepared for ICT.”
“Speaker, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members here to move that the time limit in respect of Standing Order 48(8) be removed in respect of Minister Heng Swee Keat's speech?”
“Mdm Speaker, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move that the proceedings on the next item under Minister Khaw be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order 48(8) to remove the time limit?”
“The Singapore Volunteer Corps, which was renamed the People’s Defence Force in 1965, played an important role in the security and defence of Singapore. These volunteers served actively during both World Wars, the Malayan Emergency, Konfrontasi, and helped to train national servicemen when National Service was introduced in 1967. Many of the units in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) can trace their early beginnings from these volunteers. This year marks 50 years of Singapore's independence and the SAF. As we commemorate these significant milestones, we will be recognising and telling the stories of our servicemen and volunteers, both past and present. The stories will highlight the contributions of our pioneers, including those who joined the Singapore Volunteer Corps and the People’s Defence Force. The stories will be showcased in an SAF50 commemorative book, as well as made available online via the SAF50 website. Beyond SAF50, the roles and contributions of individual pioneers will be showcased in the SG50 Pioneer Spirit Campaign by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Page: 144 Such stories will also be told by our Commitment to Defence (C2D) Ambassadors, when they interact with students and servicemen. These ambassadors are NSmen and members of the SAF Veterans’ League who have volunteered to engage the younger generation by sharing their rich operational experiences.”
“We train them hard so that when they are activated for actual operations such as the search for QZ8501, they can carry out their mission with the highest standards of professionalism. In fact, during the operations, other than the regulars, there was a total of 56 NSFs who were involved. The combined team had to contend with rough seas and poor visibility due to bad weather, which hindered the launching of aircraft and search efforts. On some days, the waves were more than two metres in height – and our sailors on board the Navy’s vessels were out in the open sea for the entire duration of their deployment. On 14 January 2015, our determination and training paid off when MV Swift Rescue spotted and identified the fuselage of the missing aircraft. Third, the importance of having a network of strong bilateral relationships in our region, particularly with our neighbours. Serious disasters and accidents can affect any country, including Singapore, without warning. And when it does, neighbours should assist one another. Singapore offered its help to Indonesia and at the same time also to Malaysia for their flood alleviation efforts. For the missing AirAsia flight, the years of close cooperation between Singapore and Indonesia, particularly at the military level, paid off and enabled the SAF to do its part in the operations. Overall, the SAF performed professionally and credibly. I am proud of them as they represented Singapore well. I would like to thank Members of Parliament and Singaporeans for their encouraging words and good wishes during the search effort. Their strong support sustained our SAF soldiers and motivated them to perform the tasks to the best of their abilities. Page: 143”
“Specialists from MOT's Air Accident Investigation Bureau and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore were also deployed with underwater locator beacon detectors to assist in locating the flight data recorders, while a Disaster Victim Identification team and forensic experts from the Singapore Police Force and the Health Sciences Authority assisted in the identification of victims. By 18 January 2015, all the personnel and assets we deployed had returned to Singapore, as the Indonesian authorities informed the foreign countries involved that Indonesia had sufficient own resources for subsequent search efforts. We are grateful to and proud of all the Singaporeans who contributed to the search operations. Their efforts and commitment were deeply appreciated by the families of the missing passengers and crew, as well as by the Indonesian authorities. There are many lessons we can draw from this tragedy and the search efforts, so I will just highlight a few key ones. First, I hope Members appreciate why the SAF needs to maintain a high level of operational readiness. Even though it was the last weekend of the holiday season, our servicemen responded quickly and gave their full effort. An RSAF C-130 aircraft was airborne within two hours of activation, and our aircraft and ships were the first foreign forces to arrive on scene. Behind the scenes, there were also planners, logistics support and maintenance personnel who worked tirelessly to support the deployment of the five ships, four aircraft, AUV team and more than 400 servicemen and women, over their 22-day mission. Page: 142 Second, the importance of realistic, tough and rigorous training. The SAF goes to considerable lengths to ensure that our servicemen, including NSFs, undergo demanding and rigorous training.”
“First, allow me to extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families and loved ones of the passengers and crew of flight QZ8501, many of whom had close ties with Singapore and Singaporeans. I will provide details of SAF’s involvement in this search effort, as the Member has asked, and of other agencies for completeness. On 28 December 2014, immediately after AirAsia Flight QZ8501 was reported missing, the Singapore Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC), which is the central agency that Page: 141 coordinates search and rescue operations in Singapore, contacted BASARNAS, the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency, to offer Singapore’s assistance and support. Two of our C-130s were placed on standby. I spoke to my counterpart, Defence Minister Ryamizard, over the phone just before noon and offered Singapore’s assistance. Upon acceptance by BASARNAS, our first C-130 was activated by the Singapore RCC at 1500H to assist in the search. Over the next two days, three RSN ships and two helicopters joined the search – a Frigate [RSS Supreme] and a Missile Corvette [RSS Valour] and a Landing Ship Tank [RSS Persistence] with two RSAF Super Pumas. Officers from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore were also attached to BASARNAS to assist in the overall coordination of search operations. Three days later, as the search area narrowed, Singapore offered additional capabilities to locate the missing aircraft’s black boxes and fuselage – two ships with specialised underwater search capabilities, namely, a Mine Countermeasure vessel [RSS Kallang], a submarine support and rescue vessel [MV Swift Rescue]. In addition, the SAF deployed an autonomous underwater vehicle or AUV team.”
“In response to a separate but similar Parliamentary Question on 19 January 2015, an update was provided on Singapore’s deployment to the multinational coalition forces in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). [Please refer to "Singapore’s Participation in Coalition against ISIS", Official Report, 19 January 2015, Vol 93, Issue 1, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
“At the same time, we will ensure that RSAF maintains its deterrent edge and continues to be an effective and formidable force to safeguard Singapore’s peace and security. Page: 106”
“Paya Lebar Airbase (PLAB)’s relocation will be a long-term and complex undertaking that will be realised in about 2030 and beyond as Changi Airbase East (CAB) and Tengah Airbase (TAB) will have to be expanded to accommodate various assets and facilities to replace PLAB. This ensures that the RSAF’s operational readiness to defend our skies is not compromised. Over the past year, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has been working closely with the Ministry of National Development (MND) and other relevant agencies on the planning and implementation details associated with the relocation. The current focus is on expanding CAB and building a new runway at Changi, a complex undertaking that requires highly-skilled engineering as well as close coordination with the ongoing runway and terminal expansion works at Singapore Changi Airport. Construction of facilities at Changi will commence after detailed site surveys and land preparation works are completed. For TAB, the current effort is on the detailed airbase facility design. To ensure the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)’s operational readiness is maintained, RSAF has put in place plans to build up various capabilities which include a state-of-the-art Island Air Defence System, fighters and other key mission capabilities. The ASTER-30 Surface-to-Air Missile System and the recently announced aerostat system are part of this effort. RSAF will also be upgrading and renewing some of our older systems to meet our long-term security needs. MINDEF will continue to work closely with MND and the relevant agencies on the detailed planning and implementation of the relocation.”
“Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) are selected for leadership positions based on the operational and manpower requirements of the Singapore Armed Forces, as well as the suitability of the individual based on his expressed interest, medical fitness, aptitude and performance during BMT. The majority of officers are selected and commissioned from among NSFs with GCE "A" levels or Polytechnic diplomas prior to their University education. Of those with GCE "A" levels and who are combat fit, about 11-13% were commissioned as officers in the last three years. Of those with Polytechnic diplomas, the corresponding figure over the same period is 10-14%.”
“SAF’s existing framework of awards and grants are based on the principles of appropriate recognition and compensation for soldiers who die in service. Awards are given to recognise our servicemen who have distinguished themselves by acts of exceptional courage and sacrifice which go beyond the call of duty. Compensation amounts take reference from the Work Injury Compensation Act. It would not be appropriate to vary the criteria for awards or grants based on special occasions, such as the SG50 celebrations. We should keep to the principles underlying these awards and grants to maintain equity within and across generations. Page: 130 Instead, there are other ways in which to acknowledge those who have died in the service of our country as Singapore celebrates our 50th birthday. Various units will use this occasion to commemorate all those who have contributed to building the SAF. We hope that these commemorative efforts will inspire current and future generations to recognise the sacrifices of our servicemen, especially of those who have died for the service of our nation, and strengthen their own resolve to keep our home safe and secure.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That Parliament do now adjourn." [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Emerging Gaps in Singapore's Sports Participation 5.55 pm”
“Madam, it is an important question but the appropriate agency and the Ministry to do internal assessment for our security would be MHA and I would request the Member to ask the Deputy Prime Minister. But I have this to say. As we said to the religious leaders whom the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Ministers, the Foreign Minister and myself met before all these attacks, firstly, you cannot guarantee Singaporeans that such attacks would not occur in any country, and all of us know that. And the incidents in general have gone up, particularly because you had small groups, even lone wolfs, acting independently, being influenced by what they read, the false ideology they are exposed to. It is well-nigh impossible for any security force in any country to be able to monitor every citizen. Our greatest challenge, indeed, is that if an attack occurs, what happens to the unity which we have forged over many years, now 50 years of our Independence? Will it fracture, will there be suspicion? Will there be reprisals? And this is what we must be focused on. I think we have done a lot to build unity. Whether that unity can withstand such attacks if they occur, we must not let it and we must continue to use this time not only to increase our vigilance and to ask our citizens, each citizen, to also be vigilant, our security forces to be vigilant, but also to ask the community to come together and withstand such false ideology and stand together, if ever such an attack occurs.”
“Let me now report on the progress of the SAF's efforts, which the Member has asked. Following the announcement in November last year, the SAF sent a Needs Assessment and Survey Team to the United States Central Command Headquarters. A liaison officer has also been attached there since December last year, to facilitate planning and coordination for the SAF. Over the next few months, the SAF will further deploy planners to the Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) Headquarters and the Combined Air Operations Centre. We will also be sending a Pre-Deployment Site Survey team to prepare for our subsequent deployment of Page: 25 the KC-135 tanker as co-ordinated with the Task Force Headquarters. At this early stage of our involvement, it is premature to determine if there will be further requests for greater support from Singapore to the coalition.”
“More countries have joined the coalition against ISIS because they recognise that unless the source of this radicalisation is disrupted, their citizens at home cannot be protected. During the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban, you will remember that bombs exploded in Bali and Jakarta. If this can happen in Indonesia, a Muslim-majority country, it can happen anywhere. All countries and their citizens are at risk from extremist terrorists. Our neighbours understand this threat and this is why Malaysia has also increased its vigilance. More than 40 nations in the coalition are contributing military capabilities to operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. These countries include Morocco, Jordan and Qatar, nearby countries that are at higher risk of reprisals from ISIS. But these neighbouring countries all recognise that a greater threat will exist if ISIS grows. The combined efforts of many countries are having an impact in the fight against ISIS. To date, a number of key ISIS leaders have been killed. Iraqi security forces and Kurdish forces have also regained about 700 square kilometres of ISIS-captured territory and halted ISIS' attempts to seize new territory. ISIS is now largely in a defensive fight to hold on to its territory and to protect its lines of communication and resupply. In Iraq, the key coalition gains have been in the positions around Baghdad, which have blocked ISIS' movement southwards, parts near Fallujah, as well as the Mosul Dam. In December, Kurdish forces launched an offensive to retake Mount Sinjar, which is strategically located as it links Mosul, the main ISIS stronghold in Iraq, and ISIS territory in Syria. In Syria, Kurdish forces are in control of the majority of Kobani, a strategic town as it lies just south of the border with Turkey.”
“Mdm Speaker, as informed to this House in November last year, the SAF will support the multinational coalition against the extremist threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. I stated then in November the reasons for Singapore's strong stand against extremist terrorism. If I can quote, "Singapore must resolutely oppose the spread of terrorism in order to safeguard our security here. It is in Singapore's interest to support the multinational efforts against ISIS and its attempts to export terrorism to our region, whether by sending foreign terrorists to carry out terrorist operations or by radicalising regional elements who engage in violence in Iraq, Syria and subsequently their home countries. If this terrorism threat is allowed to grow and spread, innocent civilians here and elsewhere could be endangered and killed." This was in November. Unfortunately, Members would know that in the intervening months, events in other countries have confirmed in stark terms that, regardless of geographical distances, the threat of extremists, if not addressed, can result in terrorist attacks on residents in home countries. What radical elements like ISIS are perpetrating have nothing to do with Islam, which teaches love, compassion and amity. Unfortunately, the false extremist ideology of these Page: 24 groups has attracted fighters from foreign lands and radicalised individuals to carry out atrocious acts in their home countries against innocent civilians of all races and religions, including Muslims. An estimated 1,000 foreign fighters are joining ISIS each month. While airstrikes have degraded ISIS' oil-refining capacity and resulted in a fall in its oil revenue, ISIS reportedly continues to fund its operations from ransom money and human trafficking.”
“Mdm Speaker, I would not speak on behalf of Government. I will speak on behalf of MINDEF. Yes, we do this for foreign officers from other countries as well. In the last staff course graduation dinner that was just last week, I think there were about 15 foreign officers from countries, which is quite good for us. Some of them already have language proficiency, so they do not need it, but some do and we offer it to them. There is a level of reciprocity that other countries provide for our SAF officers going there, but I will tell you that not all countries provide reciprocity. Depending on their resources, some countries do. This is part and parcel of our relationship-building. But the short answer to your question is "MINDEF does". 2.11 pm”
“When our SAF officers go to other countries, they do the same in terms of spending some months to gain language proficiency. As I have said, such as in Bahasa Indonesia. So, for this purpose, a 360-hour course, personalised, one-on-one, conducted by a qualified English language instructor, MINDEF put out a tender on Government's e-procurement portal, Government Electronic Business (GeBiz), for this language course. We had about five or six people, companies who replied. The contract was awarded to the lowest offer that met the requirements and this was the amount of $25,900, which worked out to about $70 an hour. All this was in strict compliance with Government regulations.”
“Mdm Speaker, the Member has asked specific queries about a course which MINDEF had tendered for. Before I answer her specific questions, I think it will be useful for Members to understand a little bit more about why militaries exchange officers. And for obviously good reasons, It is very useful for SAF to send our officers to attend the staff college courses of other militaries and vice versa. It will establish very good relationships with other countries' militaries and you will understand their perspectives. And when incidents occur, they can be very useful resource persons, as it occurred, for example, in the Indian Ocean tsunami, where we had our own officers who had gone to Indonesia and when we were on the ground, we could quickly connect with the officers there. And, so, for these reasons, militaries all over have for many years exchanged officers to each other's courses to establish better ties. But one of the problems in doing this is, of course, language of instruction. For example, if we send our SAF officers to Indonesia, not all of them can speak Bahasa Indonesia. Bahasa Indonesia is actually not that difficult. For example, if we sent them to Thailand, or to Japan, and the language of instruction is in that country's language. For a year, language proficiency is important for them to be able to benefit from the course. Vice versa, for some foreign officers who attend SAF's military courses, we have to help them gain language proficiency so that they can benefit from their Page: 20 time here. And for this particular officer which the Member asked for, we required a personalised 360-hour course. One-on-one, 360-hour course, is standard to get them to the level of proficiency conducted by a qualified English instructor.”
“CMPB began operations in its current location at Depot Road Camp since 1989. Over the years, it was found necessary to include other departments, such as the SAF Career Centre and Defence Psychology Department, to be at CMPB to centralise facilities to better serve pre-enlistees. However, due to space constraints, important departments, such as the SAF Military Medicine Institute, where medical specialists assess pre-enlistees for medical conditions, had to be located elsewhere. The segregation of needed services due to inadequate space at the current CMPB is not ideal for pre-enlistees and NSmen. MINDEF therefore reviewed possible sites for a one-stop centre that meet the needs of pre-enlistees and NSmen. Page: 130 The Gombak Base was assessed to be the best available site to house CMPB and related agencies. The new CMPB site was also chosen as it will provide greater convenience and accessibility due to its proximity to the upcoming Cashew MRT station. Overall, the new CMPB at Gombak will provide more integrated and efficient services relating to National Service, human resource, finance and medical screening for our pre-enlistees and NSmen. MINDEF is planning to call a public tender for the new integrated CMPB by early 2016, where costs will be made known.”
“MINDEF's approach for National Servicemen with special needs does take into account the spectrum of functioning capabilities of each individual. First, their safety, individually and of units in which they are deployed in, is of paramount consideration. Secondly, individuals with special needs are assessed for their ability to be able to fulfil vocational roles based on their hearing, eyesight, mental and physical capacity. Those able Page: 144 to serve are enlisted and deployed to vocations where they are able to perform their duties meaningfully and contribute to the security of the country, without posing a risk to themselves or others. Special attention is also paid to these National Servicemen with special needs to safeguard their well-being. Commanders are informed of servicemen who require additional supervision, so that they can accord them the appropriate level of management and care. Servicemen can approach their Commanders whenever they encounter difficulties. There is also a 24-hour Counselling Hotline which servicemen can call whenever they need help. The SAF will enable all those who can serve their NS meaningfully and safely to do so.”
“Mdm Speaker, I would defer that decision to our ground agencies. I think our ground agencies are competent. You ban travel to Iraq and Syria, but if you look at the map, Iraq and Syria are quite porous, you can go in from anywhere. You can go via the Page: 26 North or you can go in via the South. We aim for effect. Rest assured that ISD is monitoring, as the Deputy Prime Minister had shared. The person I was referring to was Abdul Basheer s/o Abdul Kader, who was a self-radicalised lawyer. He was detained in 2007 under the ISA. He was let out and then he was re-detained in October 2012. Another was Zakaria bin Rosdan. He tried to contact foreign militant groups online in order to join them and engage in violence in Syria. And the third is Khairul Sofri bin Osman who was interested to carry out militant jihad overseas in places like Syria. So, they were also detained. Our security agencies know that this is serious. They have their means with which they can track people who are interested. Honestly, if these people wanted to go, even if you have instituted a travel ban, they will be able to get there. But our laws allow us to show that if you show intent of going, I can detain you. And I think that is the right stance because we do that before you cause damage, rather than let you go there and then come back and monitor and watch what you want to do to Singaporeans here and only act when you have done something.”
“We send a clear signal to our Singaporeans that it is a crime to go to Syria and Iraq to aid the extremists and, as the example by Deputy Prime Minister Teo showed, the person who wanted to go there was detained.”
“I thank Mr Zaqy. Mr Zaqy asked if we have information about Singaporeans going there. Yes, indeed, we do, if you look at the handout. [Please refer to Annex 1.] Deputy Prime Minister Teo actually gave very detailed accounts of some families and people who were arrested before they could go and one of them was, of course, a self-radicalised individual, and I leave Members to read this. Indeed, Singaporeans, like Malaysians and Indonesians, are not immune to this radicalising influence to go there. And, yes, our Malaysian and Indonesian counterparts worry about this. They said it publicly. The Chief of Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) was here and he asked for cooperation. Why is there this worry? Because many people understand that Iraq and Syria offer the opportunity to train as terrorists, to learn how to make bombs, to learn how to let off bombs, to learn how to kill and they have the resources. It is not theoretical because those who came back from Malaysia and Indonesia have coalesced, as I said, to form a network for the Malay Archipelago to establish here, as ISIS has done in Iraq and Syria. As I said, this will also be an additional threat, on top of JI. Not theoretical at all, but threats are forming. Do we collaborate with our neighbours? Yes, we do. If you remember, for Mas Selamat, for other aspects, there is a lot of exchange of information and we recognise that this is a common threat and I think we will share information and will continue to have good working relationships with them. There will be risks to Singaporeans who travel there. But, as I said in my reply, Singapore was a signatory to the UN resolution which calls for it to be a prosecutable crime. We are among some countries which have that; other countries do not.”
“So, I think if there is any good to come out of these combined efforts against religious extremists such as this, it is that a Singapore way has enabled us to harness and garner our collective spirit to say this is against us, this is against all of us, if something happens, people of all faiths will be maimed or even killed, let us deal with it together. So, we will continue that approach. We will continue to deal with small groups because these things are sensitive and sensitive things are better discussed behind closed doors and we will engage various aspects. We will continue to let our security agencies do their professional or threat assessments. For Singaporeans, I would say this: we should go about our daily lives; being alert but yet not allowing them to rob us of our various privileges and our freedom to associate; do what we want, to worship, to come together as one people. And I think that, ultimately, is the test of whether we who believe in the right to act freely, to elect our government, to worship who we want to, will win versus these violent terrorists who will subjugate us through force.”
“Mdm Speaker, the Member, Mr Alex Yam, has asked some questions about deployment and length. I will just, first, preface the answer by saying that, as everyone knows, the fluid situation in Iraq and Syria is extremely dynamic and, so, it is hard to tell. I said that, together with other coalition forces who are not stationed in Iraq and Syria, we will continue that footprint outside Iraq and Syria. On the length of deployment, I think we should review it annually to see how we are contributing, whether our efforts are effective and whether our combined efforts are effective. On the scope and what else we could add, I think the four elements that I have talked about suffice for now – whether they are planning or liaison officers, whether it is Imagery Analysis Team, whether it is air-to-air refuelling, it will aid, as we have done previously in Page: 24 Afghanistan and Iraq, to the coalition efforts. His last question is an important one – national engagement. We have already begun national engagement and this will lift Members' spirit in this House. Just like we had SARS and we think that we are probably more prepared compared to other countries, similarly, the threat from AQ and JI has really built confidence among groups. And we did it behind closed doors and we discussed very candid aspects. I met with Malay/Muslim leaders with Minister Yaacob and Minister of State Maliki and there was instantaneous recognition that this was a threat to all of us. Regardless of faith, regardless of race, they understood it straightaway. It was very quick. The meeting was quite short. There were no "ifs" and "buts". This is a threat, we have to counter it at various levels.”
“We should individually take appropriate actions to be alert and guard ourselves as we go about our daily lives. But we must not allow terrorists to paralyse us with fear to prevent us from doing that which is necessary or let them sow discord and distrust among us. If we relent, cower and look upon each other with suspicion and mistrust in the face of their threats, then the terrorists would have already fractured our resolve. The SAF will work with MHA to remain vigilant and step up security where needed to counter this threat and protect Singaporeans. Most importantly, Singaporeans must continue to be united and cohesive to combat this terrorism threat effectively.”
“Nevertheless, there will be risks to our SAF servicemen as they carry out their missions. To mitigate these risks, we will ensure that our servicemen are well-equipped and receive additional training in weapon handling and against Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and other hostile elements. Whether the terrorism threat is led by ISIS, AQ or other religious extremist groups, we must tackle it resolutely and use a multi-pronged approach, as this Government has been doing, in order to keep our citizens safe. We recognise the key roles that international partnerships play, as in the exchange of information and joint efforts against transnational terrorist elements. But just as importantly, Singaporeans at home must understand that the radical ideology and acts committed by a small misguided extremist group in the name of Islam do not represent the majority of believers, who condemn these extremists as going against the teachings of Islam. Our Muslim religious and community leaders, including Mufti Dr Mohamed Fatris Bin Bakaram, have denounced ISIS unequivocally. The Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) has been actively countering the spread of terrorism. Their efforts have been critical in de-radicalising former JI operatives and helping rehabilitate them back into society. Page: 23 Singapore’s integrated approach against religious extremism is working. One of the most important achievements is that we have maintained the trust and harmony between Singaporeans of different faiths and, indeed, strengthened it over time as we fought this common threat together. I know that some Singaporeans may become fearful because of this terrorism threat and what Singapore must do to counter it.”
“Page: 22 Singapore also co-sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 2178, which went one step further by requiring all nations to make it a serious, prosecutable crime for their nationals to join extremist groups, such as ISIS. Singapore has undertaken counter-terrorism cooperation with international partners to prevent the movement of known foreign terrorist fighters and to stem the flow of financing to ISIS. This is also why the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has participated in multinational coalition efforts against religious extremists who pose a terrorist threat to Singapore and Singaporeans. We did it in Afghanistan against AQ and the Taliban. The SAF will continue to participate in such efforts to stop the radicalising influence of terror groups that can harm our citizens here. Thus, the SAF will contribute assets and personnel to Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led multinational coalition to combat ISIS. We will join 33 other countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Japan, South Korea, Great Britain, France and Canada, that have provided military support or humanitarian aid to the coalition. The SAF will offer contributions within our means that are sustainable and useful to the efforts to combat ISIS. These will include SAF liaison and planning officers to the US Central Command and the Combined Joint Task Force HQ, a KC-135R tanker aircraft for air-to-air refuelling and an Imagery Analysis Team. These assets proved effective in our previous contributions and were appreciated by our international partners there. However, for the efforts against ISIS, there will be no combat troops on the ground in Iraq and Syria. Instead, SAF soldiers will operate from surrounding countries, together with other coalition forces.”
“ISIS has also embarked on an effective recruitment strategy, including the sophisticated use of the Internet and social media, to attract jihadists from around the world to join its efforts and to extend its linkages to other religious militant groups. An estimated 10,000 to 20,000 foreigners have been reported to be in Iraq and Syria. As we did before against AQ and JI, Singapore must resolutely oppose the spread of terrorism in order to safeguard our security here. It is in Singapore’s interest to support the multinational efforts against ISIS. ISIS exports terrorism to our region, whether by sending foreign terrorists to carry out terrorist operations or by radicalising regional elements who engage in violence in Iraq, Syria and, subsequently, their home countries. If this terrorism threat is allowed to grow and spread, innocent civilians here and elsewhere could be endangered and killed. By contributing to the international effort to tackle the threat at source, we are contributing directly to our own security. This is why Singapore took a clear public stand against ISIS at the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting in October this year and at the UN General Assembly in September 2014 respectively. The Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs have said that Singapore strongly condemns ISIS’ terrorist actions and welcomes the formation of a broad multinational coalition to combat the threat from ISIS. Singapore has supported UN Security Council Resolution 2170, which condemns, in the strongest terms, the terrorist acts and violent ideologies of extremist groups and urges UN member states to combat terrorism.”
“Approximately 350 Southeast Asians, including from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, are reportedly in Iraq and Syria – 350 Southeast Asians. Many of them have joined ISIS and may return to threaten our security here, as the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces warned recently. Page: 21 The threats to our region are, indeed, real. Some Malaysians and Indonesians are fighting for ISIS and have formed a militant group called Majmu'ah Al Arkhabily or "Group from the Archipelago" from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, in other words, an archipelagic group here. This group adds to the threat from existing terrorist networks, such as JI. Leaders of organised militant groups in this region, such as Abu Bakar Bashir in Indonesia, have also pledged allegiance to ISIS and declared their similar intent to establish an Islamic State in Southeast Asia. In Malaysia, the authorities arrested militants in April this year and these militants were inspired by ISIS and had planned to attack pubs, a disco and a brewery in Malaysia. ISIS, AQ, JI and their supporters target Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia because they have three goals in common. First, the political aim to overthrow legitimate governments and establish an Islamic caliphate through violence and brutality, including against innocent civilians. Second, using twisted religious beliefs to mislead and radicalise followers to commit atrocities, even suicide attacks, for their political goals. And, lastly, ISIS, like AQ, has ambitions to extend and entrench its terror network beyond its region. For ISIS, two additional factors are of concern. ISIS can potentially sustain its efforts for a protracted period from the rich oil resources in occupied territories.”
“I do not intend to repeat his points but, with the Speaker's permission, will circulate relevant portions of his previous replies for Members' reference.”
“Madam, the threat of jihadist terrorism is transnational. It extends across continents and beyond the confines of territorial borders. Singapore, as an international hub, is particularly exposed to this threat. Members of the public are well aware that in 2001, the Internal Security Department (ISD) disrupted a terrorist plot by Al-Qaeda (AQ) to mount suicide bombings in Singapore. This was with the help of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist network. This clearly showed that terrorist groups that are based in countries far away can pose a direct security threat to Singapore here. In the last decade, Singapore responded to the terrorist threat from AQ and JI by dealing with it squarely, explaining to all Singaporeans what is at stake. We strengthened our social, psychological and physical defences at home and joined other countries to deal with forces in Iraq and Afghanistan which were the sources of radicalisation and terror. As a result, both AQ and JI are weaker today. However, this terrorism threat is a long-term one and new groups like the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) will emerge, even as existing ones falter. When they do, we must not lose focus or heart. In dealing with the threat from ISIS, we must continue with the approach that has served Singapore well and protected us thus far. Like AQ and JI, ISIS is a terrorist organisation that poses a direct security threat to Singapore, our region and the rest of the world. ISIS was, in fact, AQ in Iraq before it splintered to become an independent organisation. Deputy Prime Minister Teo has provided extensive details of the threat from ISIS in his replies to Members' questions in this House in July and October.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, can I ask for consent to adjourn the debate? [(proc text) Resolved, (proc text)] [(proc text) That the debate be now adjourned. (proc text)]”
“They will include these inputs as well as, I am sure, inputs from members of the public, but they are quite cognisant that this is NDP 2015, our Golden Jubilee, and they want to put up a good show and include as many Singaporeans as possible either at Padang or the fringe areas.”
“Mdm Speaker, let me thank the Member for his kind words. Congratulations are due to the participants and the Organising Committee. I will pass on his good remarks. With regard to maximising capacity and that is indeed what we do around the Marina Bay area. I am glad that the Member has brought it up. It shows that the Organising Committee is on the right track. They have looked around the area. There are possible focal points. I am not giving the distinct details or confirming it, but these are possibilities, because obviously, there are logistical problems. It is right in the middle of town, and if we expand the show, we have to see whether it is feasible. There are potential sites. Marina Bay, of course, is a potential satellite site. The Marina Promenade is a potential site, but there are other possible sites. The advent of large LED screens with very good resolution makes it possible. I think that is the advance in technology that we have now. We are exploring this seriously to see whether there could be a better option. Page: 15 To add another NE show is based on the issue of logistics. There can only be so many shows when you are really ready to show to the public, and with the time given and required, we are now putting up all, in all five shows. Three shows are meant for school students, which many of us would agree are useful, and we do not want to rob from them to give it to others. So, we will keep it as three shows. Adding another show means that we may have to add it on Sunday because we have it on Saturday now, and I think that may be very taxing on the participants. We will let the Organising Committee evaluate all these options.”