R Ravindran
Singapore
“Sir, on behalf of all Members who raised various cuts under this amendment, I would like to thank the Minister for Defence, the Second Minister for Defence and the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for their detailed explanations. I would like to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“All this training only comes when the critical time for us to play the game and stay there on the field after the critical 30 minutes. I think it is critical that the SAF provides safe training but, at the same time, realistic training. I would like to ask the Minister how the SAF intends to provide for more safety.”
“Sir, ASEAN, as an organisation, looks like it is back on track. The last ASEAN Leaders Summit showed that the leadership shares a common vision and is committed to meeting the goals set henceforth.”
“Sir, I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr George Yeo, and the Minister of State, Mr Zainul Abidin, for their very comprehensive answers to the queries raised by Members and I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $257,379,160 for Head N ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.”
“If such rivalries continue, there is every risk that the community-building exercise would be fatally compromised. At best, the EAS may just emerge as another talk-shop like APEC or ARF, where leaders meet, declarations are made, but little community-building is achieved.”
“Sir, the big plus over the recent debate on the Melvyn Tan's case was the tremendous understanding of the role of National Service by all Singaporeans and the spirited defence of it by many.”
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Every one of 385 lines we hold for R Ravindran, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 8.
“Sir, on behalf of all Members who raised various cuts under this amendment, I would like to thank the Minister for Defence, the Second Minister for Defence and the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for their detailed explanations. I would like to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $9,691,055,520 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $355,000,000 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY REPORTING PROGRESS”
“All this training only comes when the critical time for us to play the game and stay there on the field after the critical 30 minutes. I think it is critical that the SAF provides safe training but, at the same time, realistic training. I would like to ask the Minister how the SAF intends to provide for more safety.”
“Sir, the SAF has excelled as one of the best organisations in Singapore. Whether it is National Day, SAF Day, or even the State funeral of the late Mr Rajaratnam, or the tsunami relief effort, we can always count on the SAF to deliver with the highest level of efficiency, organisation and propriety. It makes us proud and I am confident that the SAF can deliver when called upon. This, they have been doing well due to their planning, good deployment of resources and trained manpower. But training soldiers is no easy task. Every minute details must be practised, every scenario taken into account. Having our soldiers prepared for all contingencies is no easy task. Every soldier is different. Some are timid and must be pushed to maximise their potential. Some are risk-takers and always want to push their limits. Some set very high standards for themselves to have a sense of achievement. Some, at times, do pure heroics just to have fun during training. To manage and provide training to all such men and yet avoid any injury is asking for the impossible in any serious-minded defence establishment. My biggest worry, whenever serious accidents take place in the SAF, is whether the SAF will go soft due to public backlash or negative comments. Sir, training must be realistic to make sure that our soldiers are well prepared. It is easy for the SAF to go soft and take no risks, but we will all pay dearly when the crucial time comes. Even during football training, I recall, instead of 10 rounds, sometimes, the trainer made us go 20 rounds or 25 rounds and sometimes to train in mid-day, and I wonder why. All because there will come a time when the team has to play that extra 30 minutes or even beyond to win the game.”
“Sir, as we move towards the 3G SAF, I beg to differ with the comments of the Opposition Member, Mr Steve Chia. When somebody calls us "a small red dot" or "a little red dot" and somebody threatens to cut essential supplies to Singapore and one looks at the history of Kuwait, how it was overrun by a huge military in a short space of time, I think it bears lesson to us that we must always invest well and invest adequately so that when the time comes, we can all sleep in peace and rest assured that we have a strong defence force to protect us. Sir, S3G is the way that our armed forces have gone along because that is where the warfare plans are all going. I am proud that we have adopted the right strategy to implement and operationalise the 3G concepts. As I visit our SAF component units, I can see the fruits of our investment. In fact, one clear dividend of the 3G SAF is the ability of our SAF to cut the NS tenure of our NSmen from 2 1/2 to two years. Sir, with the bigger budget this year, I expect the SAF to accelerate the conversion of the SAF to 3G. Can the Minister please provide us with an update on the transformation of SAF into a 3G force?”
“Sir, the SAF has always enjoyed good relations with the military forces of many countries. In fact, even at difficult times in our relations with other countries, the SAF continues to have good working relationship with the respective defence forces in these countries. Sir, the SAF's defence diplomacy has yielded good results in many countries. When I visited Aceh during the tsunami disaster, I was able to recall that many of the Indonesian officers were able to call many of our senior officers by name, and they enjoyed very good relationship. And I think this special relationship enabled us to be a key coordinator with other relief agencies who came to Aceh to help. In fact, at times, I am sure that the defence forces and the key players in the defence forces in other countries do influence their political masters to consider our requests and needs with greater sympathy. Sir, in many instances, our defence forces have also played other important roles by providing local assistance, doing local projects and even working with local people to ensure that the good image of the SAF and Singapore is projected. I would like to take this opportunity to ask the Minister to provide an update on the SAF's defence diplomacy and perhaps to share with us some of the fruits of such diplomacy.”
“It has started to relook at its constitution and has already started deploying its SDF for peaceful and humanitarian purposes overseas. The ongoing North Korea nuclear issue, the hot and cold relationship between Japan and South Korea and between Japan and China, and the rise of a strong China with a big economy and a strong military, will clearly push Japan to define a new role for the SDF in the long run. Russia, with its huge land mass in Asia and energy reserves, intends to stay engaged in Asia and will seek to play a role in the security of the region. It will also provide a balance of power in the region if it seeks to play a part in this region. Sir, within ASEAN, member countries have their own strategic calculations and national interests. Some welcome the presence of all major powers to ensure that the region is engaged with all, with no one superpower or major power dominating the region. But there are some others who are suspicious of some of these powers for historical, strategic or economic reasons. Sir, all these make for interesting times and an unpredictable future for the region. I would like to ask the Minister what is MINDEF's regional security outlook and for the Minister's take on the evolving security architecture. I would also like him to address the developments towards the ASEAN security community and what are the realistic prospects of achieving these goals. Defence Policy”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head J of the Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, South East Asia is increasingly on the horizon of all major powers. The vital maritime routes and the huge market provided by South East Asia make it important for all big countries to take an interest in the evolving security architecture of the region. There are, however, trouble spots in the region that still remain. The Taiwan Strait, North Korea, maritime boundary dispute in the South China Sea and Japan Sea, global terrorism and maritime security in the Straits of Malacca are all of concern. Sir, India and China are actively pursuing diplomacy and strengthening their military capability by increasing their defence spending and expanding their blue water navy capabilities. Their energy needs and a strong economy will inevitably push them to new corners. The enthusiasm shown by these two major powers in ASEAN, ARF and the new East Asia Summit clearly shows that ASEAN and Singapore are high on their economic and strategic considerations. Sir, the US in its February 2006 quarterly Defence Review highlighted that the rise of China, as an emerging global military power, is a matter of concern. The US maintains an active military presence in the region and in North East Asia. It has shown its commitment to the region by entering into the SFA with Singapore last year. It has recently resumed IMET with the TNI in Indonesia. It has various facilities and military arrangements with other countries in the region. The recent decision by the Bush administration to enhance US partnership with ASEAN clearly shows the strategic importance of South East Asia for the US in the coming years. Sir, Japan is also taking an active role in redefining its military role.”
“Sir, I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr George Yeo, and the Minister of State, Mr Zainul Abidin, for their very comprehensive answers to the queries raised by Members and I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $257,379,160 for Head N ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $85,667,000 for Head N ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Column No : 826 COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY REPORTING PROGRESS”
“If such rivalries continue, there is every risk that the community-building exercise would be fatally compromised. At best, the EAS may just emerge as another talk-shop like APEC or ARF, where leaders meet, declarations are made, but little community-building is achieved. I would like to ask the Minister what is the roadmap for EAS and to address some of the concerns about the EAS. Bilateral Relations with Neighbouring Countries”
“Sir, the East Asia Summit (EAS) was held successfully last year in Kuala Lumpur. However, there are mixed feelings about the success of the Summit among many political analysts. Sir, analyst Mohan Malik, in the Yale Global dated 20th December 2005, commented: "Instead of creating a common bond, the first Summit may have intensified old strategic rivalries and forced smaller nations to choose sides." Sir, on the eve of the Summit, China proposed dividing EAS members into core and secondary countries, and Chinese and Korean leaders refused to hold bilateral or trilateral talks with their Japanese counterparts. China's stance provides insights into Beijing's insecurities regarding the momentum for a broader East Asian Community, shifting power alignments within Asia. Sir, at the Summit, it was decided that the ASEAN+3 (APT) group will be the vehicle for realising the dreams of forming the East Asian Community. While I am happy that ASEAN will be the hub of the EAS and the key driver within the APT, I wonder whether the non-APT partners will share the same enthusiasm and support for the EAS in the coming years. Sir, China and many other diplomats have also suggested that anyone with interests in the Pacific, ie, Russia and perhaps the USA, could eventually take part in the EAS. Such a move would make the EAS indistinguishable from the ARF or APEC, and I would like to ask the Minister what is the impact of the EAS on the ARF and APEC. Sir, in the absence of great power cooperation, ie, between the Chinese and the Japanese, the Koreans and Japan, and between China and India, it looks like the EAS will have difficulty taking off. If at all, EAS seems to have intensified old rivalries.”
“Sir, ASEAN, as an organisation, looks like it is back on track. The last ASEAN Leaders Summit showed that the leadership shares a common vision and is committed to meeting the goals set henceforth. Sir, every major power wants to engage ASEAN and be a partner in determining the evolving economic, political and strategic landscape of Asia. FTAs with India and China will certainly enhance ASEAN's economic relations with these two emerging economic powers of the region in future. In fact, President Bush has recently said that he will announce an enhanced strategic partnership with ASEAN during the upcoming APEC Heads of State meeting in Hanoi. Sir, I would like to ask the Minister what are the steps ASEAN intends to take to engage all the regional and global superpowers, and to give us an update on what is the state of affairs within ASEAN.”
“Similarly, Sir, we enjoy good relations with the US and, last year, we signed the strategic framework agreement with the US. I would like to ask the Minister how we can go on to enhance our relationship and continue to engage the US in the region and with us. Sir, the next region I would like to ask the Minister for an assessment is the Middle East. The Middle East has already entered our radar screen as a region of great economic importance and, as a region, we can engage as part of the future architecture of a vibrant and prosperous Asia. The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) process was a good start and I would like to ask the Minister how he intends to take our relations with the Middle Eastern countries, particularly the Gulf countries, to the next level. Sir, the EU continues to be a group of great importance to Singapore and the region. While as a region, relations could be better if not for the Myanmar issue, I would like to ask the Minister for an update on the state of relations between Singapore and the EU, and the same between ASEAN and EU. Lastly, on Russia. Russia is a great power with a long history of presence and engagement in Asia. Recently, our Minister Mentor, Mr Lee, visited Russia and I think relations have now come up to a better level. Russia has a large land mass in Asia and has strategic and political interests in Asia. I would like to ask the Minister on how his Ministry intends to improve on these relations with Russia and what are the additional steps we intend to take to see that these relations grow to greater heights.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head N of the Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, Southeast Asia is on the strategic consideration of every major superpower. Because of vital sea routes, abundant natural resources and the rising political and economic importance of ASEAN, every great power wants to engage the region and Singapore. Sir, the hustling and bustling to bring Southeast Asia into their respective spheres of influence are ongoing and apparent. In the light of this competing interest and long-term ambitions of these big superpowers, I would like to ask the Minister (a) how he intends to position Singapore in the emerging regional geo-political architecture; (b) how the Government intends to engage the major powers to enhance the region as a region of peace, stability and economic prosperity. In addition, I would like to ask the Minister for his assessment of the regional outlook in the short term and medium term, and the potential events that can derail the positive developments taking place in the region. There are also other countries and big powers that would like to engage Singapore. In particular, I would like to highlight the following countries. China and India will emerge as great superpowers in another 20 to 50 years. It will mean that there will be a greater flow of people, investments and greater engagement between these two countries and Singapore. We have already signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with India and we are now in the process of negotiating one with China. I would like to ask the Minister how he intends to engage these two emerging giants of Asia and what steps will be taken to strengthen the already good relations.”
“Sir, the Singapore Police Force has an excellent reputation among the public. They have been at the forefront of crime prevention, crime detection and in the maintenance of internal security. However, Sir, the first generation of Police officers who joined the Force around the period of independence will soon be retiring or many have retired, and a whole new generation of young officers are now joining the Police Force. My concern is whether, with a higher educational requirement for entering into the Police Force, many of the young Police officers who are entering the Police Force will have the many skills and talents which were prevalent amongst the older Police officers, particularly in the area of detection and intelligence at an early stage of a crime before it is committed or even after a crime has been committed. So far, the track record has been good. I am hoping to see whether such a track record can be continued and how do we enable our officers to have this ability to have the network on the ground to detect crime at an early stage. Sir, the second point that I would like to raise is, with many officers being deployed to undertake many more tasks, and maximum work being performed by our officers, whether they have enough time to go for further training to develop their professionalism. And with the move of the Police Academy to its new campus at Chua Chu Kang, can we now enable more resources to be put in to enhance the professionalism of the Police officers who are joining as new officers and also those who are already in the Police Force? How can we enhance their professionalism? Police Academy”
“Terrorism continues to be a serious concern globally, and, regionally, terrorism makes a serious concern for many governments. Sir, I am impressed that the Home Team, together with the Ministry of Defence and the National Security Coordination Centre, has taken various measures to harden Singapore as a target. I would like to compliment the Minister for the efforts taken by the Ministry in having public exercises which prepare Singapore and also non-public exercises to make our agencies more efficient and well-prepared. I would like to ask the Minister, given the fact that there are concerns in the region about terrorist acts, particularly with the report that there is a breakaway faction from the JI which has now emerged, what is the assessment of the Ministry as far as terrorist threat is concerned, both in the region and within Singapore. Secondly, what is the state of cooperation between the Police agencies and the intelligence agencies of Singapore and the neighbouring countries? Thirdly, what are the measures that have been taken within Singapore to prepare Singaporeans to react in a manner that we would like them to react in an event of a terrorist attack? Replacing NRIC”
“Sir, the big plus over the recent debate on the Melvyn Tan's case was the tremendous understanding of the role of National Service by all Singaporeans and the spirited defence of it by many. That it emanated such vigorous debate and feedback clearly shows that many Singaporeans are patriotic, passionate and endorse National Service as important for nation-building and the defence of Singapore. This is something all of us should be proud of. 4.06 pm”
“I understand and accept the rationale and I am quite sure that the Minister's explanation will dispel the public's misunderstanding that Melvyn Tan was given special treatment because of his accomplishments and achievements. Sir, I further agree with the Minister that the discretion must be left with the courts to decide on the appropriate sentence and I will explain why it must be so. Sir, there will always be a sad case where a custodial sentence may not be in order. If there is a only male child who needs to travel overseas to look after his aged parents at the age of 16 and is unable to leave his parents and return to serve National Service until he is 23 or 24 years old, should we imprison him if the evidence shows that indeed his parents are old, destitute and in need of constant medical care? He may have applied for exemption and it may have been turned down. He has no intention to default on NS. He may in fact come back and serve his National Service. There will always be such sad cases and we should leave the sentencing discretion to the courts in such instances and not require the courts to impose a minimum sentence. Sir, I would urge MINDEF to work closely with the Attorney-General's Chambers to ensure that where the circumstances merit, a deterrent sentence is pressed for, for example, in the case of Melvyn Tan. I support MINDEF's policy to press for a custodial sentence if the NS defaulter has defaulted for two years or more. Here again, I would urge some discretion and some leniency in cases where they go on to serve NS as against a person who does not do NS at all. Sir, the unhappiness amongst Singaporeans is not against persons who default and go on and do their NS but against those who default on NS and do not go on to do their NS.”
“And in this instance, if the Minister feels that they should get a full three-year imprisonment sentence, I have no qualms in supporting it, Sir. Sir, the fourth category is a recent category, but it is an important category. Sir, there are first generation Permanent Residents who do not do National Service but their children are required to do National Service when they turn 18 years of age. Some have sent their children out of the country before they turn 16 1/2 years by giving up their PR and then when their children have finished their studies, they attempt to bring their children to work in Singapore, again under the PR scheme or on a Work Pass. Sir, this smacks of an attempt to bypass our National Service policy and we have to be strict in these cases, particularly when the person has enjoyed the benefits of Singapore as a PR before he has turned 16 1/2 years old. We must not grant PR or a Work Pass in Singapore for such individuals. I urge MINDEF to work closely with the Immigration Authority and the Ministry of Manpower to ensure that this loophole is not exploited by Permanent Residents in Singapore. Sir, let me now just highlight the present sentencing regime. I agree with the Minister that the existing sentence of a maximum of three years' imprisonment or $5,000 fine or both is adequate. It is the actual sentence that is being imposed by the courts that the public is dissatisfied with. In the case of Melvyn Tan, the Minister has explained that due to a judicial precedent in 1993, the sentence imposed was within the present sentencing norms.”
“Sir, the present practice of forfeiting the security bond of $75,000 should continue and I endorse the review to subject the parents to further legislative monetary penalty if they choose to send their children away before they are due for NS. Sir, the second group is where they leave the country before they are 16 1/2 years old and return after they turn 40 years of age. They cannot be enlisted due to their age but they want to come back and reside here. They are still loyal citizens and want to remain as Singaporeans and want to enjoy the perks of citizenship. We have no choice but to be hard on them and impose a custodial sentence as they have bypassed 2 1/2 years of National Service. There is a third category in cases like Melvyn Tan where they default on NS and subsequently take up citizenship in another country. They are at times unable to give up their citizenship as under Article 128 of the Constitution, the Singapore Government can withhold the registration of their renunciation of citizenship if they have not served their NS liabilities. They are also above the age of 40 and cannot be enlisted into NS. In such instances, they owe no loyalty to Singapore and it does not make sense to make a foreign national to do NS in our SAF or Home Team. In addition, they may not have taken any benefits as a Singaporean since leaving Singapore nor do they intend to take up residence in Singapore. The only benefit they may have taken is when, as a child, they were living in Singapore. Even this may not be much if, as a child, they have resided outside Singapore throughout their childhood. I would support a custodial sentence on such individuals as they deliberately evaded National Service and continued to do so after reaching 21 years of age.”
“It is because we have such a vigilant and vigorous system in place that the actual number of defaulters remains small when compared to many other countries. MINDEF should be complimented in managing NS as a trusted, equitable and well-regulated set-up. Sir, every male Singaporean is required to enlist and serve his National Service unless exempted. Yet we do have some who default. There are several categories of male Singaporeans who default on National Service and also PRs who try to take advantage of loopholes in the system. Let me first highlight these categories. First, there are some who leave the country before the age of 16 1/2 years for overseas and due to parental choice never return back in time to do their National Service. In such instances, the person may blame his parents for putting them in a difficult situation. They remain Singapore citizens and when they turn 21 years of age, they wish to return and serve their National Service. I urge leniency for them as they are only able to exercise their freedom of choice when they turn 21 years old. So long as they agree to do National Service and do so, MINDEF should not press for a custodial sentence unless there are good reasons. The Minister, in his statement, highlighted that for those who default for a short period, he would ask for a short prison sentence. I would urge the Minister that, in such instances, where such young men come back to do National Service, not to press for custodial sentence but to just ask for a fine instead of pressing for a custodial sentence.”
“Sir, I welcome the Ministerial Statement by the Minister for Defence. It provides clarifications on an important and heated topic among the public recently. I agree with the Minister that NS forms a critical component of our national security and has helped in our nation building programme. Sir, National Service enjoys strong support among Singaporeans because it is a fair and open system. Whether it is the Prime Minister's son or a business magnate's son or a hawker's son, everyone is treated the same. NS is seen as a social equalizer and all enlistees are subject to the same training and operational regime. Everyone knows and has experienced that it is implemented in an open, transparent and fair manner. The public trust in the Government in its NS policy and implementation is impeccable. We know because we have seen it, experienced it and supported it. Hence, when some individuals avoid doing NS for their own reasons, there is a sense of unfairness and inequity. If MINDEF treats the matter with laxity, it will undermine the whole regime of NS. Hence, the Enlistment Act is very hard on every enlistee. It must be so. If one is enlisted into the SAF and runs away during wartime, it is treason and attracts the maximum sentence of death penalty. Under the SAF Act, if one is absent without leave (AWOL), he can be subject to a Military Court martial and given a serious sentence of imprisonment, and there have been several past cases. Considering the strong deterrent that we have in place to prevent desertion, AWOL and other offences against enlistees, it is equally important to have a strong deterrent and punishment regime for anyone who evades National Service at the pre-enlistment and enlistment stage.”
“Similarly, Sir, I am confident that as we move on in this casino issue, just like all other previous matters on which we have put proper safeguards, this Government will put safeguards in place to make sure that the young and the majority of Singaporeans are protected from the effects of gambling. On that note, Sir, I would like to join many Members of this House in supporting the proposal of the Government in setting up the Integrated Resorts. The benefits have been highlighted by the Government and, I am quite sure, if we all get together and work with this Government we can continue to make Singapore an exciting place, not only for Singaporeans, but for the many others who come to visit us and do business in Singapore.”
“I am very confident that over the next four years, we will pay greater attention to many of these problems that we anticipate and will nip many of these problems in the bud. Sir, over the last few months, we had a great debate amongst Singaporeans. Whenever the opportunity arose, I took a straw poll amongst my grassroots leaders and residents to find out what is the support level for the setting up of the casino. I was pleasantly surprised that, on the average, about 70% of Singaporeans whom I have polled in my constituency actually supported the idea of a casino. I asked them why did they support the setting up of a casino and they told me that, "I do not go and gamble. If people want to go and gamble, let them go and gamble." That was their position. So I think the majority of Singaporeans recognise that it is something that we need to set up for the various reasons that the Government has highlighted, and that they do not see themselves going to a casino and gamble. Sir, I just wanted to draw a parallel that whatever we do, there will be consequences, but that this Government always puts measures in place to protect the young and the vulnerable. I want to highlight the case of the censorship issue. If you recall, many years ago, there was a clamour on the part of the younger Singaporeans for a more liberal censorship policy. We started the RA scheme. Initially we started showing these movies in HDB estates and, subsequently, because of feedback, we moved these movies into the city. Now, with the RA category, the complaint has gone off and we feel that we have taken the right protective measures.”
“But looking at the proposals that were put up by the people who submitted the Request for Concept proposals, I was truly impressed that we have these world-class structures and facilities to be set up in Singapore. From what I saw, some of the proposals for Marina Bay and Sentosa truly impressed me. This is something which will make a difference to Singapore. Although I was convinced in the beginning by the arguments that a casino in an integrated resort will help, after looking at the actual concept proposals right in front of me and the visual impact that it has on the skyline and sea view, I was truly impressed and feel that it will make a difference. I think that swayed the case for me in supporting this integrated casino proposal. Sir, there are concerns that with the setting up of the integrated resorts some of the problems that may arise will come to the shores of Singapore. For example, many expect that we will have greater addicted gamblers, suicides, vice, money laundering and many other concerns which have been highlighted. These have been studied by many of the developed countries, where casinos have been set up, in great detail. Fortunately for us, we can take a leaf from many of their experiences and I am very happy that our Ministers, both the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and the Minister for Home Affairs, have come out with detailed measures to see how we can check and help solve many of these problems way before even we set up the casinos. The casino is expected to come up by 2009, but in 2005 we have already highlighted what safeguards we are going to put in place.”
“Many casino operators are, in fact, happy if they have such an environment, because it means they find the place to be secure, the people who come there to spend money to gamble do not have to be worried about criminals, extortions and how to take their money out of Singapore. It means that we have a perfect setting for these people to come and set up an Integrated Resort and also operate a casino here. The environment that they highlighted, a sin city like in the USA or some other environment, I do not think will arise in Singapore. For example, if you look at our neighbouring country, Genting casino, I think there are a lot of similarities - same setting, Asian society. Many of the problems that are highlighted by Mr Chiam and other speakers about the many other problems in the context of the casino debate forget that many of these problems have not arisen in the Genting casino. I am confident that many of these problems will not arise here. Some Singaporeans have also expressed concern that there will be an erosion of Asian values. I am not so sure, Sir. If you look at all Asian societies, gambling has actually existed throughout the centuries. The values are so deeply ingrained in the Asian psyche and it is part of our traditional, religious and cultural values that I do not think it could be eroded just because we set up one or two casinos or even three casinos in future - nobody knows. We should not be overly worried. But, at the same time, I must say that there are concerns. While I was concerned about how this casino will turn out to be, I was invited by the Singapore Tourism Board to have a peek preview of the concepts which were put up for the Members of Parliament. But because of intellectual property concerns, it could not be put up in the public domain.”
“It flopped after a few years because it could not make money. Then somebody came up with the Tang Dynasty. Similarly, it failed. And then, we had various other attractions in Sentosa, all of which also failed, because they could not make money and they did not have the numbers. As we travel around the world, we all want our own Disneyland, Universal Studio and amusement theme parks. But nobody wants to set it up because there is no money in it. So I think the Government's strategy of setting up an Integrated Resort as a way to attract these international investors to put money and meet our ambition of making Singapore a great city is the right approach. Sir, I think it will allow them to make money and, at the same time, enable us to meet our own objective of making Singapore a city attractive for tourists and others to come here. Sir, there is concern which was expressed by the Opposition MP, Mr Chiam See Tong earlier about Las Vegas being a sin city and how gangsters and triad criminals took hold in Las Vegas. The main difference why there was a lot of attraction in setting up a casino in Singapore is that whoever sets up a casino in Singapore knows that they will be well-regulated, the law will be strictly enforced and that we have a system that is not corrupt. This is something very important for these casino operators because when they get the rubber stamp of Singapore as an operator in Singapore, it will open doors for them in many other cities in the world. They know that, unlike Las Vegas or other cities, where laws may be opaquely applied or other advantages they may have, in Singapore, when we say we enforce the law, we will take action against these criminal gangs or syndicates, money-laundering and other forms of criminal activities. We are very serious.”
“Perhaps, with these Integrated Resorts and the new facilities that we are going to create, I can go back and tell my friends and visitors, "This time, spend 3-4 days because we have greater attractions in Singapore." Sir, one of the key things that we have to understand is that we could tell the world and business investors, "Please set up an Integrated Resort without a casino." Some people think that it is very easy to just get any international investor to put $1 billion and hope that they can make money. I am personally acquainted with two large groups which looked at Singapore over the last five years to see whether they could set up a large amusement centre. Their conclusion is that, "You cannot make money in Singapore." If we set up a huge amusement or a theme park, it is very clear that we do not have the traffic. Neither do we have the number of attractions to make it attractive as a business proposition. Hence, we have to come up with a new strategy whereby someone with that amount of money is able to put that money and allow him to make money out of the business. It was a very careful strategy on the part of our Government to come up with a strategy whereby 95%-97% of the resort facilities can be used by the family, businessmen, tourists and visitors for various other uses, but set aside 3%-5% of the Integrated Resort for the businessmen to make money. If businessmen do not make money, they are not going to invest and we can forget about the idea of setting up a great international resort which is going to attract tourists and other visitors to come here. Sir, we have several examples. If you look at Marina Bay, in the past, we had the Marina Village which was set up about 15 years ago by the famous Mr Elyamani Kamis.”
“Sir, as I travel around the world, I see that new cities are getting better in attracting businessmen, tourists and their own people to spend money within their country. Wherever I go, we can see new attractions, whether it is China, India, or Europe. Even in Australia and New Zealand, people are always creating new attractions. To be fair, in my own comments, I must say that we are falling back in new attractions in Singapore for various reasons. We have set up the Esplanade to attract the arts crowd as another form of tourist attraction. But we could have done much better. One of the complaints we have heard from many of the tourist operators is that because of the cost of land in Singapore, it is not viable to set up attractions in Singapore. As I go abroad, sometimes, I wonder why we do not have a casino in Singapore itself so that the money that is being spent by Singaporeans and tourists in other countries can be channelled towards Singapore, so that we are able not only to keep Singaporeans with various attractions, not only a casino as part of the Integrated Resort, but also continue to attract many of these people who go to these Integrated Resorts and spend money there. I am very happy that the Government decided to pay attention to the setting up of an Integrated Resort over the last one year. If we do not make ourselves attractive, it is very clear that many of them will pass Singapore. In fact, in the past, I used to tell my foreign friends, "Please spend three days in Singapore." But over the last 1-2 years, I only tell them, "Please spend two days", and maybe spend three days in Malaysia or in Thailand because there are greater attractions there.”
“Sir, I am a Hindu in my religious beliefs. My religious values and teachings advise on the dangers of gambling. In fact, the great Hindu book, Mahabharatha, explains the downfall of the Pandavas due to a game of dice. Sir, I thought that only amongst the Chinese gambling had a history. Yesterday, I was looking up the great Indian book written by Thiruvalluvar 2,000 years ago and I noticed that 2,000 years ago, he had dedicated 10 couplets on the dangers of gambling. It looks like that the problem not only existed amongst the Chinese, but also amongst the Indians. In fact, Sir, there is a very famous Tamil proverb, "Soothum Vaathum Vethanai Seiyum", which means gambling and quarrelling bring agony to anyone. I think all these ancient and religious values highlight that gambling is dangerous and that one does it at his own peril. Sir, I have personally, over the years, had a partner who actually gambled away and ran away from Singapore due to a bad gambling habit. And I have also seen friends who have got into gambling difficulties and I sympathise with many of them. Sir, one of the positive things that has come out of this casino debate, as I see it, is the greater recognition that we do have a problem of gambling addiction amongst some Singaporeans. I think this greater awareness that has arisen amongst Singaporeans will mean that we can set aside more resources and more programmes to help people who have gambling addiction. I was enlightened and happy to see that the Ministry of Health will be paying greater attention and devoting more resources in this area. Sir, the first question that I ask myself is: do we really need an Integrated Resort?”
“Sir, I would like to thank the Minister for Defence, the Minister of State for Defence and the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for their overview of MINDEF's policies and their succinct answers to Members' questions. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $8,896,000,000 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $363,000,000 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head F - Parliament MPs' Allowances”
“Sir, when the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) was set up, one of the concerns that I highlighted was who would audit the DSTA. The House was given the assurance that the committee that oversees the DSTA will report to a committee headed by the Prime Minister, and I was satisfied with the answer. But what I would like to share with the House today is that DSTA must have done a lot of research and development (R&D) work, and I would like to ask the Minister, firstly, whether he is satisfied with the achievements of the DSTA over the last three years. Secondly, with regard to some of the projects that have been undertaken by the DSTA, have they developed to a stage where some of them can be commercialised, so that we not only develop a technology that is merely kept within the military, but is also shared with the commercial world. And something that can be commercialised will mean that it can also bring some revenue to DSTA. The third question that I would like to ask the Minister is whether there is an exchange of ideas and research with the educational institutions and businesses, not only locally but also with other countries which have similar facilities in research and development in the military field.”
“I would like to also hear from the Minister how does he intend to develop our ability to deter people who have ill will against Singapore and also, most importantly, to ask him, in his view, what are the new threats and challenges that the SAF faces over the next few years. Lastly, Sir, not only talking about external defence, but also looking at internal defence, how does the Minister see, in terms of preparedness, the concept of total defence? Are we still placing sufficient emphasis on total defence to ensure that internal defence is also ever prepared to meet any crisis? Operational Readiness of SAF Sir, we are a citizens army. In any military crisis, the SAF will make no distinction between regulars and National Servicemen. It is crucial that we have the ability to mobilise our soldiers and other resources quickly because it will give us an edge as opposed to many other countries which may take some time to mobilise their forces. Sir, I would like to ask the Minister: how does the SAF ensure that it is always operationally-ready and not become complacent? In particular, I would like to ask the Minister: what is the track record of our mobilisation exercises, in terms of our ability to mobilise our men quickly and also other civilian resources in a crisis? Lastly, Sir, I would like to ask whether the SAF benchmarks itself not only against regional forces, but also on an international level, and what is the standing of the SAF when we do benchmark our forces against the others.”
“In some cases, they have warships that were unable to sail because they did not have spare parts. In some cases, they bought aircraft which have no armaments. So it was no use flying an aircraft when you have no armaments. I am happy that the SAF has done well and has shown not only to Singaporeans, but to the whole world, that we spend our money prudently and we prepare ourselves. So what I would like to see is that this policy of spending our money well be continued, that we continue our procurement, that we continue our preparedness and that we ensure the way we spend and prepare ourselves is continued in future. Sir, I am very happy that our defence policy is based on two key pillars. One is defence diplomacy and the other is deterrence. Sir, I am very happy that defence diplomacy paid off even during the Aceh crisis. I notice that because of the SAF-TNI relationship, we were able to get to know the officers very quickly and assist not only our Indonesian friends, but also assist in relief effort of various other agencies. Sir, I have heard very favourable comments, not only from TNI officers but also from other military officers with whom the SAF has interacted on how Singapore's SAF officers have gone about establishing relationship and creating better understanding, not only between the military forces of the two countries, but also within the various organisations of the two countries. Sir, I would like to see and hear from the Minister how he intends to develop this initiative in the area of defence diplomacy. Sir, in the area of deterrence, I am very happy that we will be continuing to spend large amounts of money in procurement.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head J of the Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, everyone takes the country's defence very seriously. Among Singa poreans, defence is a subject of great concern. I am very happy that this year, the Government has decided to increase the budget allocation for the Ministry of Defence by 7.4%. 5.00 pm Sir, some Singaporeans may wonder why have they increased when all other Ministries have suffered a cut in the budget. Sir, I would like to share with them what I saw recently and tell them why it is critical to be prepared when a crisis occurs. Sir, I was part of the team of MPs who visited Aceh during the tsunami crisis. What was most impressive was our ability to bring humanitarian assistance from here to Medan, Banda Aceh and Meulaboh by air. It was also to deliver aid and other equipment by sea from our LSTs to the land, and on land, being able to travel using our own vehicles, setting up hospitals, fully-equipped, with our medicine. One or two commanders highlighted to me that many other groups came there, but they came without the necessary equipment. They said it was no use coming there with a ship with aid, but being unable to deliver it on shore, or delivering the aid on shore and not being able to deliver it to the people who need it most. Sir, what this highlights is that we have an SAF that has prudently thought through the process on how do we go about acquiring the equipment, how do we go about deploying these resources, and most importantly, being able to deploy it at a time when it is most needed. This can be compared with some of the comments made by some of the regional commanders in some countries. In one country, one commander commented that only 40% of their airforce is operational.”
“I would like to thank the Minister and Minister of State for their overview of the strategic outlook and for answering the specific questions on relations with specific countries. On that note, I would like to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $287,841,660 for Head N ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $46,000,000 for Head N ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head Q - Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts”
“The many commercial deals between the companies in the two countries signal that there is good support for this process from the relevant quarters. The numerous visits by Ministers and civil servants from both ends augur well for even better relations. I would like to ask the Minister for an update on the state of relations on the bilateral talks on unresolved issues and his assessment on new areas of cooperation between the two countries.”
“Sir, our relations with our two closest neighbours are of great significance to us. The feeling among regional observers is that ties are now warm and will only get better. With new leaders at the helm of the three countries, there is a sense that there is good personal chemistry between our Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister Badawi and President Bambang Yudhoyono. We have shown that we are true friends of Indonesia in the overwhelming manner the Government and the people responded to the tsunami victims in Aceh. I was very impressed by the very large Singapore turnout for the business dialogue and the lecture delivered by President Bambang recently. It shows that the business community shares the optimism in the relations between the two countries. The new Indonesian government is focusing on economic growth to generate jobs and ensure stability for the country. I am happy to note that we have concluded the Investment Guarantee Agreement with Indonesia and that we are in discussion with the Indonesian government on some of the bilateral issues, such as the extradition treaty and on delineating the borderlines between the two countries. I would like to ask the Minister to give us an update on the state of relations between the two countries and whether there has been any progress on other outstanding bilateral issues. In particular, I would like to ask the Minister how Singapore is working with Indonesia in helping in the economic priority areas outlined by the new Indonesian government. Sir, our relations with the Badawi government look warm and there is a sense of optimism that many of the bilateral issues with Malaysia will be resolved.”
“If not, how is ASEAN preparing itself to handle the international fallout by allowing Myanmar to become the Chairman of ASEAN in 2006? Relations with Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand”
“Sir, the removal of the Prime Minister of Myanmar, General Khin Nyunt, and a number of his closest associates in October and November last year, is seen as a setback for the process of national reconciliation within the country. There is no timeline for the roadmap to implement the promised changes and the proposed National Convention appears not to include the key partners to ensure a lasting solution. The SPDC seems to be going nowhere and has failed to keep its commitment to its own population and to the international community. Many members of ASEAN have expressed disillusionment over the developments in Myanmar. If I may quote the Foreign Minister of Malaysia, Mr Syed Hamid Albar - he was quoted as saying in 2004: "If Myanmar does not address the problem, then not only Myanmar is going to be affected but the credibility and integrity of ASEAN as a whole is going to be affected." In 2003, the Foreign Minister of Indonesia, Mr Hassan Wirajuda, stated: "Burma is a dilemma for ASEAN, which must be tackled now." Sir, Myanmar, if nothing changes, will become the Chairman of ASEAN in 2006. It will mean hosting of the summit of ASEAN leaders there. As it is, Myanmar has been a thorn in ASEAN's relations with the EU and the US. ASEAN's reputation has been tarnished by Myanmar's continued membership. Sir, I am a member of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Caucus for Democracy on Myanmar which is seeking to bring about democratic change in Myanmar. My colleague, Mr Charles Chong, is also on the caucus. So I would like to ask the Minister for his view on Myanmar becoming the Chairman of ASEAN in 2006 and whether there is any proposal being considered to bypass Myanmar as Chairman.”
“I would like to ask the Minister for an update on the new initiatives we will be embarking to develop closer relations with the Middle Eastern countries. Sir, we are playing a pivotal role in ensuring that South East Asia continues to be a place of peace and prosperity. Our leaders are working very hard to ensure that Singapore's interest is respected, our views are given careful consideration in many capitals, and our geo-political strategic outlook taken into account when policies are drawn up. We are respected as an independent and sovereign country. We are, most importantly, seen as being just and fair in our dealings on international matters and in international organisations. This is due to good leadership in the past and present, and also having a team of good diplomats who understand and defend Singapore's vital interest at all times. I would like to take this opportunity to compliment the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our diplomats for keeping the Singapore flag and our reputation flying high in the international arena at all times. Strategic Review of Key Countries”
“Sir, the triangular relationship between the US, China and Japan will underpin the security and geo-strategic framework in North East Asia. But with relations between Japan and China not being at their best, Japan proposing to amend its constitution to give them the mandate for the self defence forces to be deployed overseas, North Korea blowing hot and cold over its nuclear policy, and the Taiwan issue surfacing intermittently, North East Asia will certainly remain an area for potential big power confrontation. I would like to ask the Minister for his assessment of the state of affairs in North East Asia. Next, on ASEAN. While I am glad to see the group moving ahead with good steam, I would like the Minister to give an update on the state of ASEAN, the progress of the ARF and new initiatives to engage the various regional and global powers in the dialogue. I am happy that Singapore is engaging as part of ASEAN the different regions through APEC, ASEM and, very recently, through the Asia Middle East Dialogue (AMED) and the proposed East Asia Summit (EAS). I would like to ask the Minister for an update on these dialogues and the new initiatives we can expect to bring the regional blocs together. I would like to ask the Minister on what is Singapore's position on the participating countries to be invited for the East Asia Summit. Next, on Middle East. I am glad that Singapore has taken a keen interest in the Middle East and the Arab world, with SM Goh Chok Tong playing a leading role in opening up a new frontier in our relations there. I certainly look forward to Singapore strengthening our relations with many Middle Eastern countries who share similar visions and look forward to closer links.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head N of the Estimates be reduced by $100. Regional Outlook Sir, the Asian region is full of optimism and great hope due to the economic growth being back on track and the regional giants China and India showing good economic growth. China and India. With the rise of China and India in the region, both will flex their muscles and be respected as emerging global powers. China, with its growing economic and military capabilities, will be a big factor in regional calculations. One view is that China will seek to avoid conflict in the region and focus on economic growth and internal stability. The other view is that a strong China will seek to adjust regional power arrangements to its advantage, risk conflict with neighbours and some external powers in the region. On the other hand, India will seek to expand its economic and military might too and seek greater engagement with ASEAN and the region. China and India will seek, in their own way, a greater involvement in regional matters and will want to be acknowledged as emerging powers. Both countries are keen to secure economic and natural resources in the world, and rivalry with each other and other powers to secure these natural resources will pose a challenge in the region. The question arises then: how does Singapore, as a country and as part of ASEAN, go about engaging the two countries in a manner that fits their growing power and desire to be recognised as global powers, if not regional powers? How will it fit in with our overall policy of keeping all big powers engaged in a region to ensure our economic prosperity and a peaceful region? North East Asia.”
“Sir, when all is quiet on the terrorist front, as far as Singapore is concerned, I get worried, because so far the track record of the terrorists has been that when it is too quiet, something is going to come up. So I usually get worried when all is quiet. What I would like to ask the Minister is that, in view of the fact that several elements of the JI are still on the loose in Indonesia, and recently there was an arrest of three suspects with terrorist involvement in the Philippines, and thirdly, the fact that suicide bombers had executed a bomb in Southern Thailand, I think it is a cause for worry. I think it is opportune for us to now ask the Minister for his assessment of the security threat and the challenges posed by JI and other Al-Qaeda associated terrorist groups in Singapore and the region. I would like to ask the Minister whether MHA has received cooperation from the regional governments, in particular, from the Intelligence and Police Forces in our neighbouring countries. I would also ask the Minister to provide an update whether, in the recent past, there has been any arrest in Singapore or in the region over terrorist activities and links. Could the Minister also provide an update as to whether the Ministry has detected some degree of complacency among the people in Singapore, and what are the measures the Ministry has taken to make Singapore a hard target and, secondly, to keep the people alert and prepared for any contingency arising from any terrorist attacks?”
“Yes, Sir. I am just saying that he is the Chairman of FAS. Thank you for the clarification. Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: FAS does not control schools. Neither do we control principals. But I think the point is well made, in that really it is an inter-agency collaboration that is needed. So, whilst SLA can facilitate, other agencies must come on board. But I am happy and glad that this topic has been raised in many forums. Yes, indeed, we all know that there are many pieces of land, not least of which are the ones in schools. And principals may have their reasons for not opening them up. But that I will leave to the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and also the Minister for Education to consider. But certainly from SLA's point of view, we are more than happy to do our part.”
“Sir, I am a football player and, over the last two or three months, I am unable to get a football field because some schools are not being very clear in how they give out the school fields. While the MOS clarified how SLA has come out in the open and opened up school fields for use by the public, I think there are other agencies which could do more. Here, the schools definitely could do more. I am just wondering whether the MOS could help us, especially in his capacity as FAS Chairman also, to open up even the schools and to come up with a comprehensive and transparent scheme whereby members of the public can access public facilities, including school fields.”
“Sir, over the years, I have raised the issue of the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) allowing the public to make use of open public space for recreational and other public use. I am very happy that over the last three years, SLA has opened up a lot of open space for use by the public, in particular, by grassroots organisations. In my own constituency, they have allowed me to put up a big hard court, which is very well used on weekends and in the evenings. I think this is something I would like the SLA to go on and open up more space. I would like to ask the Minister how SLA intends to open up more public space, in particular, even public buildings which are not being used at present, for more use by the public and even by business enterprises at a lower cost. Perhaps the Minister could address this issue.”
“The recent Report of the UN Secretary General's High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change has recommended a change in the composition of the UN Security Council. We must find a greater and also a permanent role for more Asian and African nations in the Security Council in the 21st century. We must work within the parameters of international law and norms to bring peace, security and prosperity to the global community. As a small nation, it is in our interest to strengthen the UN and adhere to international law, conventions and norms, not only by us, but by all in the international community. Sir, we in Asia will be the centre of this century's prosperity. We can look forward to a glorious time ahead. With a strong Government, well educated and supportive Singaporeans, a safe and secure environment, good policies and great diplomacy, we can certainly bring Singapore to greater prosperity and also provide a good life for all. On that note, I support the policies and programme of this Government.”
“I am also encouraged by the Government's steps to boost relations with the Middle East through the Asia Middle East Dialogue (AMED) process. Just like ASEM and APEC, I am confident that this will certainly enhance the regional engagement process of which we are very supportive of. The process of engaging the Middle East is important not only for economic reasons but also to create a greater awareness and understanding between the people of Asia and the Middle East. This is vital at a time when there are sceptics predicting an East-West cultural divide and a clash of civilisations. Last week, the National Intelligence Council, the CIA's think tank, released a report outlining the world for the US in 2020. It recognised that the US will have to share global domination with a rising China and India. It stated that the likely emergence of China and India, as well as others, as new global major powers, eg, as that of a united Germany in the 19th century and a powerful United States in the 21st century, will be part of a new geo-political landscape in 2020. By 2020, China's economy will exceed all others, except the US. India's economy is likely to overtake Europe's. We must strengthen our good ties with these two emerging superpowers in a way to bring about their greater engagement as part of a greater Asian community, and yet within the norms of mutual respect and mutual benefit. We must play a role to help define a new regional security and order which is consistent with our national interest, international law and the UN Charter. We must continue to engage them in all spheres to bring about peace, stability and progress to us and the region. I am also happy to see the Government supporting the reform of the United Nations and its playing a greater role in world affairs.”
“Though small, we are well respected, our views are taken seriously, and we have helped others formulate their Asian and South East Asian policies. I am glad to see Singapore play an important role in the comity of nations. We have played a crystalising role in many international and regional organisations, and also in ad-hoc regional conferences like the one in Jakarta recently. Sir, I am happy that ASEAN will continue to be the focus of this Government. It is vital that ASEAN countries and ASEAN itself continue the rejuvenation and work as a regional bloc to keep the region one of peace and prosperity. I am confident that our good ties with the present Malaysian and Indonesian governments will be enhanced and strengthened to benefit all. Recent developments in our relations with Malaysia point to a sense of optimism and hope that all outstanding issues can be resolved, if there is resolve and an appreciation of the need for mutual benefit and mutual respect. The new government in Indonesia needs the support and encouragement of all its neighbours. Recent visits by our leaders to Indonesia, our fast assistance in Aceh, and our businessmen's presence at the recent Infrastructure Summit in Jakarta are important signals to Indonesia that we want Indonesia to regain its place and importance in Southeast Asia and the world. We must cooperate with the government and the people of Indonesia to help in many areas where we have the expertise, and assist when such requests are made. We must signal to the international community that Singapore and Indonesia, through the various joint economic activities, are an attractive place to invest, tour and work.”
“Our international military diplomacy and regular ties with other forces are valuable and continue to help build trust and understanding among our neighbouring military forces and ours. In Aceh, we had officers who could speak the language, understood local cultures, and build on the friendship with commanders and soldiers of the TNI. I heard kind but honest words of praise from both the TNI and Indonesian politicians for our SAF and Home Team officers. In fact, Sir, at the US Senate hearing yesterday, the possible incoming Secretary of State, Ms Condoleezza Rice, commented that she is going to pay great attention to understanding the cultures of other countries, and to get its officers to speak their language in order to promote this understanding. I am very happy that we have already been doing this for many years, and successfully, and that it is bearing fruit at the right time. Our soldiers have built on their strong reputation and earned themselves deservedly a good pat on the back. To all our men who are deployed overseas, I say, "Thank you and keep up the good work." We in Parliament are always behind our men and care for their safety and safe return. Despite the peace and serenity in the region, our SAF must be vigilant and continue to maintain our readiness and be well equipped for any eventuality. Of this, I am confident. With the people behind and within our SAF, well thought out security policies, good equipment and systems, good commanders and good men, friendly diplomacy and cooperation with all, we can continue with our daily lives with the comfort and knowledge that the SAF and the Home Team are there for any eventuality. The third pillar, Sir, is international diplomacy. Our international diplomacy is a key cornerstone of our success as a nation.”