Teo Chee Hean
Singapore
“The second point first, Mr Speaker. Certainly, it could have been a factor. But to the Panel which reviewed the thing, it was not an acceptable excuse or reason. The agencies still have to be responsible for what they are doing, whatever season of the year it is.”
“On the balance in ACRA, I would not say it is a conflict, but you have to strike the right balance between the functions that ACRA is meant to provide, which is to have a registry which promotes corporate transparency, and you have to balance that against how you protect personal data.”
“That means, if you do find a bug or you do find a way in which you can penetrate a Government system, you let us know, and there is a bounty for it. And this is evergreen. But we also do, from time to time, have a hunting season. So, for certain of our systems, we invite white hatters to attack those systems.”
“Then, he asked when the political office holders got involved in the public communications on the Bizfile portal issue. They got involved, I think, almost as soon as it became apparent that there was public anxiety. Next question about paragraph 40 and the email to senior officers, yes, the July 2024 CM was emailed to officers.”
“In fact, we monitor the dark web for a variety of things, including this, and we have not seen any sale of NRIC numbers as such. On the question of collection and use of NRIC numbers, actually, in the communication with the Government agencies, I think it is important to know who you are communicating with.”
“So, you actually make your email address available to others. But for authentication purposes, it is quite different. You do not tell your password to others. That is something which you keep for yourself and your email service provider knows. So, there is a difference between an identifier and an authentication.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,689 lines we hold for Teo Chee Hean, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 29 of 34.
“Commanders routinely interview their servicemen so that those with disciplinary or psychological problems and those in need of assistance can be identified for follow up by competent authorities. A serviceman who is assessed to be a security risk either because of his disciplinary history or mental state may be temporarily excused from duties which require him to bear arms and, after proper medical or security evaluation, re-deployed to another vocation where he does not do so. Mr Speaker, Sir, let me now turn to the HBOI's findings on the case in question. CPL Dave Teo Ming, a 20-year-old full-time National Serviceman, was serving as an Infantryman in the 1st Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment, or 1 SIR. Prior to enlistment, CPL Teo was assessed to be suitable for service as an infantryman. CPL Teo's service record during full-time NS, from his enlistment till 2nd September 2007, did not indicate behaviour that warranted disqualification from bearing firearms. CPL Teo was observed to have performed well during his unit's overseas proficiency evaluation exercise in April this year. CPL Teo was interviewed by his Platoon Commander in June this year, who noted that he was stressed over relationship problems with his girlfriend. However, in the two interviews following that, the last being in August, he did not raise the issue of his failed relationship again. During the two weeks prior to the incident on 2nd September, neither his Platoon Commander nor his bunk mate noticed any unusual behaviour by CPL Teo. CPL Teo was on Guard Duty and assigned patrol duties at Mandai Hill Camp on the night of 2nd September 2007. In line with procedures, he was properly issued his personal firearm, a SAR 21 rifle, and five rounds of 5.”
“Immediately after training activities, any remaining ammunition is recovered and counted and returned to the ammunition depot. Spent or empty cartridges are also recovered. Servicemen are also required to check if they have inadvertently failed to return any ammunition before they make a declaration that they do not have any live rounds or empty cartridges in their possession. They are then required to empty out their personal equipment for inspection by their commanders. Accounting for rounds must be completed before training is considered to have ended. In addition, in case any serviceman has evaded these checks and secreted any rounds after the firing exercises, commanders also conduct spot checks during barrack inspections and when servicemen leave camp. With such a system in place, the risk of theft, loss or unauthorised possession of any weapon or live round is very limited. Every serviceman knows that the unauthorised possession of any weapon or live round will result in disciplinary proceedings and very serious punishment. The SAF also screens personnel for suitability to carry firearms. Prior to enlistment, pre-enlistees are assessed for suitability for National Service (NS). Pre-enlistees with a history of psychiatric disorder or those who have been convicted of serious offences are considered for non-enlistment for NS, depending on the severity of their condition or the severity of the offence they have committed. Those who are enlisted may be disallowed from bearing arms, or are not assigned to vocations where sensitive training or skills are involved. After enlistment, measures are in place to ensure that servicemen deployed to various vocations are fit to discharge their duties.”
“Dr Lam Pin Min asked about current measures to control the issuance and use of firearms in military service and whether there will be additional measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Let me describe the current procedures. The SAF has very detailed procedures to control the issuance and use of arms and ammunition. Arms and ammunition are separately controlled and strictly accounted for on an individual basis. In all camps, firearms are kept in an armoury while ammunition is stored separately in ammunition dumps. In peacetime, live ammunition is only issued for live firing, guard duties and specific operational needs. Live ammunition and firearms are also kept separate in these activities until the point of use. In all cases, the issue and return of firearms and ammunition are carried out formally with clear procedures by designated persons, at designated locations. In the Guard Rooms, firearms are to be kept chained on a rack when not in use, while ammunition is to be placed in a secured storage container. Servicemen assigned Guard Duties are only issued firearms and ammunition just before the start of their shift. These items are to be returned promptly at the end of the duty personnel's shift to the Guard Commander, who has to account for the quantity, serial number and the condition of the arms and ammunition. For the control and management of ammunition during training and live firing exercises, a serviceman who is at least a Platoon Sergeant is tasked specifically to account for the issuance and return of ammunition. Each serviceman registers for the issue and return of his own ammunition. In ranges and live firing exercises, servicemen are only issued ammunition just prior to the commencement of their firing.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the criminal case against CPL Dave Teo is pending. Investigations by the Police are ongoing. My answer must therefore be circumspect so as not to prejudice the ongoing case and police investigations. My answer will therefore focus on the SAF's control of arms and ammunition and be based primarily on preliminary findings by the SAF and MINDEF only. Mr Speaker, Sir, the SAF's mission is to defend Singapore and in order to do so, it has to train and carry out duties, both in peacetime and in times of conflict and emergencies, and SAF soldiers have to be issued with weapons and ammunition. MINDEF and the SAF are very mindful that the misuse of firearms can lead to very serious consequences. Hence, there are stringent systems and procedures to ensure that arms and ammunition are strictly controlled, and that if there are any lapses in the control of arms and ammunition in the SAF, these are promptly and properly dealt with. Following the incident involving CPL Teo, the SAF immediately convened a Higher Board of Inquiry (HBOI) to determine how this could have taken place and to review whether our current systems and procedures are adequate to prevent a similar incident from occurring. Separately, we also audited and reviewed the security of all SAF camps. The HBOI reviewed current systems and procedures for the screening of personnel for suitability to bear arms, the issuance and use of arms and ammunition, the conduct of guard room duties, camp security, and post-incident reporting. The review concluded that these systems are sound. Together, they allow SAF soldiers to carry out their duties and training, while deterring and detecting those who may seek to steal or make improper use of arms and ammunition, making it very difficult for anyone to do so.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to take Question Nos. 1 and 2 together?”
“MINDEF does not buy insurance for its servicemen because MINDEF itself takes on the liability of paying compensation its servicemen for deaths and injuries arising from service through MINDEF's compensation framework. As explained earlier, this framework applies similar principles and practices used by the civil courts or the Workmen's Compensation Act (WCA) to determine compensation for deaths and injuries due to service. However, servicemen may purchase additional insurance coverage if they wish to. This is similar to employees who would choose to buy additional insurance for personal protection even though they are covered under the WCA or have recourse to civil courts to claim damages. The SAF has the SAF Group Insurance Scheme, which provides coverage for death and permanent disability from $50,000 to a maximum of $400,000. This covers servicemen both during the course of duty and when the serviceman is off duty. The premiums are affordable and MINDEF will continue to look for more competitive premiums for the coverage, and encourage our servicemen to take this up. For example, servicemen can currently insure themselves for $100,000 with a monthly premium of $16. NSmen can also take up this insurance even after their active service. As needs would vary among individuals, we leave it to the servicemen to determine what level of additional insurance coverage they would want to purchase. WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS PERMANENT RESIDENCY IN SINGAPORE (Figures) 1. Mr Siew Kum Hong asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs in 2006, how many Malaysian, Indonesian, People's Republic of China and Indian nationals were granted permanent residency in Singapore.”
“The third component is a monthly disability assistance, which varies from person to person according to his circumstances, to defray expenses. The fourth component is an additional lump sum compensation provided when there may have been negligence on the part of the organisation, or where the serviceman has rendered service beyond the call of duty. In addition, MINDEF also provides fully subsidised medical benefits at all Government/restructured hospitals or clinics, and the medical supplies needed for service injuries, for as long as the serviceman requires it. Because the base component in our compensation framework uses the Workmen's Compensation Act as the reference, compensation amounts for deaths, injuries and disability due to service would provide amounts not less than those prescribed under the Workmen's Compensation Act, and in most cases more than this amount. For the additional lump sum compensation, MINDEF uses the principles applied by civil courts to determine compensation amounts. This is a fair system based on prevailing practices and awards. Today, MINDEF also has an Awards Appeal Tribunal to consider appeals from servicemen or their dependants on compensation. To provide greater assurance to our servicemen and their families that compensation is fair, and applied according to the principles I have described, MINDEF intends to replace the Tribunal with a new Compensation Board that will be chaired by a non-MINDEF officer. The details are being worked out. Mr Siew also asked about insurance in the SAF. Insurance is a question of whether the organisation wants to pass on the potential liability of paying compensation to an insurance company to carry.”
“I thank Mr Siew Kum Hong for his questions on compensation as it allows MINDEF to clarify our compensation framework. MINDEF applies similar principles and practices used by the civil courts or the Workmen's Compensation Act (WCA) to determine compensation for deaths and injuries due to service. Based on these principles, MINDEF's compensation framework for death consists of up to three components. The first and base component is the lump sum compensation equivalent to sums prescribed under the Ministry of Manpower's Workmen's Compensation Act. It ensures that full-time national servicemen (NSFs) and NSmen receive amounts that are no worse off than that claimed under the WCA. Above this, more compensation is payable through two other components. The second component is a lump sum death gratuity. For NSFs and NSmen, MINDEF treats them like regulars and gives a minimum of one year's basic pay for a regular of the same rank. The third component is provided when there may have been negligence on the part of the organisation, or where the serviceman has rendered service beyond the call of duty. This is based again on principles consistent with those used in civil courts. The quantum is generally derived taking into consideration, amongst other factors, what the serviceman would have contributed to his dependants from his potential earnings. For permanent disability arising from service, MINDEF's compensation framework consists of up to four components. Again, the first and base component is a lump sum disability compensation according to the guidelines provided under the WCA. Above this, the second component pays a lump sum constant attention award, if the serviceman requires constant care as a result of his disability.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think in such matters, a certain amount of goodwill and patience is always necessary. We try our best to understand the internal processes that are going on in the Indonesia of today and to accommodate them as much as possible. So for this process, the approach that we will take is to exercise as much goodwill and as much patience as possible, continue to demonstrate our will to want to work closely with Indonesia, and to conclude a good agreement with them. I think this is the only way that we can progress and move forward in our relations with our friends in Indonesia. INCIDENT OF PRISONER GIVEN ADDITIONAL STROKES OF THE CANE (Mistakes in administration of justice) 3. Mr Hri Kumar Nair asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Law in relation to the recent incident where a prisoner was given three strokes of the cane in addition to that provided in his sentence (a) how did the error occur; and (b) what steps have been taken to prevent a recurrence of the same or similar errors. 4. Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Law what is the approach of the Government in taking responsibility for mistakes in the administration of justice, such as clerical or administrative errors which result in unnecessary or excessive punishment.”
“These arrangements will enable us to continue to maintain the operational readiness and training levels of our soldiers, sailors and airmen. Er Lee Bee Wah (Ang Mo Kio): Mr Speaker, Sir, as in any offer, there should be a validity period. Shall we impose this validity period? I know that we are very serious about this whole thing but, on the other hand, when I look at the Indonesian side, I think they are taking their time just balancing to see what is of benefit to them. We have done so many things for them, helping them all this while but yet I think they are dragging their feet. I think that we should impose a validity period.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, these training arrangements with Indonesia have been going on for many years. As I told the House before, I participated in the first-ever exercise with Indonesia in 1974, probably dates me a little. But we had training arrangements with Indonesia to train, for example, in Pekan Baru area since the 1980s. We signed the military training agreement with them in 1995. And we have had very good interactions with Indonesia through these years. We have been able to work together in times of crisis. I recall many of them because I was directly involved in things like the rescue of hostages in Irian Jaya; I was involved during the search and rescue operations in the Musi river when the SilkAir aircraft crashed; and I was also involved in the tsunami relief operations. So I remember all these things very vividly and distinctly. And the thing that struck me about all these events was how closely and fraternally the TNI and SAF were able to work together because we personally knew the people on the other side. I think that has been the great value of the close exchanges and interactions that we have had with Indonesia. And this is the main reason why we feel that we would want to continue with the Defence Cooperation Agreement to strengthen our relations with Indonesia. The relationship is an important one for us from the strategic level and also from the ability to work with each other in a comfortable, friendly and familiar way. In terms of training of the SAF, we have other training alternatives. We have training agreements, DCAs and MOUs of various kinds with more than half a dozen countries. We are able to train there and to train with their forces and we appreciate very much the opportunities these various countries have given us to train the SAF there.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not privy to the internal considerations of the Indonesian government and the people in its various branches of government. I also can only read what has been communicated in the newspapers and some of the statements do seem a little self-contradictory. But we do hope that Indonesia will look at this substantive offer that we have made which we believe would address most of their concerns and come back to us with a substantive response to this proposal. We believe that this is a good way forward. We also believe that the best way forward is to be able to communicate with each other substantively in this manner rather than to make statements in public which, one side or the other, may not know how seriously to take it because some of them are quite clearly polemical and we should not be conducting negotiations in that way.”
“Nevertheless, as mentioned by my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, out of goodwill and in the spirit of cooperation, Singapore made a proposal to Indonesia on 22nd May 2007 suggesting a way forward. This was a significant step and a sincere attempt to resolve this matter finally and conclusively. We are still awaiting a reply from Indonesia on the specific proposals in our offer. We welcome the assurances from Indonesia that it does not wish to change what was agreed, and look forward to being able to conclude and implement the agreements. Singapore values the long-standing relationship that has been built up between the SAF and the TNI. This close relationship strengthens regional security and has served both sides well for many years, especially in times of crisis when we have come to each other's assistance. We are committed to working together with our counterparts in Indonesia to ensure that this relationship remains strong and positive .”
“Since then, however, Indonesia has indicated that it wants to impose substantive changes and new conditions on Republic of Singapore Navy training in Area Bravo. Naval training is not something new. It had been an integral part of the previous MTA which we had with Indonesia. During the many rounds of negotiation since October 2005, training for the Republic of Singapore Navy had always been a subject of discussion. The focus of the discussions was not on the type of training which had previously already been conducted under the old MTA but, rather, the focus was on which area the naval training should take place in. Several possible areas for naval training were considered, and both sides finally agreed on 23rd April after extensive discussions that the area for the naval training would be in what is now called Area Bravo. The training itself was never in contention or a subject of discussion, only where it would take place. The media has also reported comments about the interpretation of Article 6 of the DCA and how this relates to the IAs. During the series of negotiations leading up to the meeting on 23rd April, both sides agreed to have four IAs to the DCA. An IA for Area Bravo was never raised during the course of the negotiations. If there was a need to impose any new conditions on naval training or to conclude a separate IA on naval training, Indonesia had ample opportunity to raise the matter for discussion during the negotiations, before the carefully balanced overall package was finally settled and agreed to on 23rd April. Singapore's view therefore is that the package of agreements that was concluded on 23rd April is complete, and that what is already contained in the DCA and its four associated IAs is sufficient to implement the DCA.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as stated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in his answer to an earlier Question today, the Extradition Treaty, DCA and the four associated Implementing Arrangements (IAs) to the DCA were negotiated and concluded as one package. Let me give the House a sense of how this carefully negotiated package came about, a flavour of the discussions. The negotiations were complex and took many rounds. The meeting on 23rd April discussed and finalised all outstanding matters pertaining to the ET and DCA, and it involved all the key players from Singapore and Indonesia including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Ministers of Defence, the armed forces chiefs and the Chief Negotiators of the ET and DCA. All the key people were there. This was a protracted meeting that started in the morning and lasted well into the night, during which all remaining issues in the ET and DCA were extensively discussed and settled. This was done with goodwill and patience on both sides as we worked towards an agreement, making sure all the matters were covered and settled. Both sides had ample opportunity to raise any issues of concern for discussion. At the end of the meeting on 23rd April, the ET, DCA and its four associated IAs were finalised, completed and agreed upon by both sides as a complete package. In fact, that night, we issued a joint statement with Indonesia which said, "both sides made significant progress and were able to reach agreement on all the remaining issues". The joint statement reflected the spirit of goodwill in which the package had been negotiated and the good faith in which it had been concluded by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ministers of Defence and the armed forces chiefs of both countries.”
“And if I may inform this House, one of the reasons why I wanted to move this Bill is, in fact, to make sure that, as the SAF takes part in support of the Home Team in security operations in Singapore, these are well-defined, so that there is no ambiguity that these limitations on the Minister for Defence and the SAF are specified in the Act, so that there is no doubt that there are no other areas into which the Minister for Defence or the SAF can stray into which they ought not to be straying into. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Teo Chee Hean]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION CONTROL (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 5.55 pm”
“But if you have a S2006 conference, do you declare an emergency in Singapore? I think it is not the kind of situation where we say there is an emergency in Singapore just because we are holding a World Bank Conference or just because we have an ASEAN Summit. It does not warrant the declaration of an emergency. In fact, when an emergency is declared, the emergency powers under section 198 of the SAF Act give the SAF more wide-ranging powers than those envisaged under the proposed amendments. For example, when an emergency is declared, the SAF may enter, inspect, occupy, take possession of, evacuate, use, transfer, confiscate or destroy any private and public property and order any person to do any work and render any service. So, that is quite an extreme situation in Singapore before we would want to request for the President to declare an emergency and for the SAF to invoke such powers. So what we are actually asking for is a much more limited set of powers for the SAF in a very controlled and carefully specified way, and the place, time and duration, so that we are able to carry out operations in a way and still assure the public that their interests are well-protected. Ms Sylvia Lim asked quite an improbable question whether the law will then allow a Minister for Defence to do something which is obviously illegal. I think if the Minister for Defence, whether in this Government or in any future government, had such an intention, he really does not need a law for him to carry this out. In fact, the law here is to try and make sure that the powers that the Minister for Defence has in these circumstances are well-defined and well-conscribed, and what he can do and cannot do are also well-specified.”
“Unlike a police warrant card, which has wider powers, the military security identification card gives SAF personnel limited powers for security operations duty in a defined area and allocated period of time to conduct specific tasks, as authorised by the Minister for Defence. The armband and military security identification card would provide the public assurance that the SAF personnel are conducting authorised security operations. Although it is not specified in this amendment Bill, there are indeed current laws against impersonating an SAF officer. In fact, there have been people prosecuted for personating SAF personnel. There are also currently sufficient legal safeguards in place against the SAF Servicemen who may misconduct themselves in such operations. SAF Servicemen are in the privileged position of being subject to both military law and the laws that you and I are subject to, and it is actually up to the Attorney-General whether he chooses to prosecute SAF personnel under the laws that you and I are subject to or whether he chooses to hand prosecution over to the military prosecutor before a Court Martial. So, in fact, if you like, the rules under which military personnel operate are tighter than the rules under which normal civilians function. Ms Sylvia Lim asked about the constitutional provisions. I think there are no constitutional impediments for such a law to be passed. There is, in fact, a provision for emergency powers under section 198 under the SAF Act, and the powers proposed by these amendments are narrower in scope and for specified threats which may not warrant a declaration of emergency. When you have a declaration of emergency by the President, it is really an extreme circumstance.”
“What are the consequences if an attack were to occur in a place like Jurong Island? I think the consequences would be quite catastrophic, the damage would be quite immense, and it would not affect just Jurong Island because of the types of activities that are carried on Jurong Island, and the impact may be beyond Jurong Island. So, even though in a case like Jurong Island, if you ask, "Is it likely to be attacked today or tomorrow?", I would say I could not honestly answer that is likely to be attacked today or tomorrow. Could it be attacked? I would say it could be attacked. What is the consequence if it is attacked? The consequence could be quite catastrophic. In such a circumstance, I think that it is wise to provide the security that we do indeed provide today for Jurong Island. Mr Michael Palmer wanted to know how a person knows that an event has been gazetted. I think if such an event occurs, if there is no security implication related to it, we will certainly publicise it beyond the Gazette, if necessary. But more importantly, Mr Michael Palmer wants to know how we would identify such a military personnel who is on duty. And I do agree with him that it is necessary to provide such identification. So SAF personnel on security operations will wear an identification, like an armband that says, "Military Security", much like a military policeman wears today. In addition, we will issue a military security identification card to SAF personnel conducting security operations. This card will have a photograph of the serviceman, his name and NRIC number. The card would be issued to the SAF personnel for the duration of the operation.”
“So the situation is quite different and the existing legal framework is inadequate either to provide the SAF the legal powers to do the things that it is needed to do in order to help to assure public security nor are there enough safeguards to give assurance to the public that when the SAF does act, that it will do so within well-defined limits and in a regulated way. So this Act is put in place to achieve both purposes. We should also bear in mind that, unlike in bigger countries where, in a given city, you can draw upon state or federal authorities to come to your assistance, whether it is the police at the state and federal levels or the fire service and other security-type agencies, Singapore is a relatively small country. There is no state or federal authority. We only have one level of authority in the police force. There is no neighbouring police force in a neighbouring county, city or state, or federal police force from which we can draw reinforcements and resources if we face a situation where we need additional resources. So we have to optimise the resources that we have at hand in order to be able to protect our security in the best possible and most efficient way. The Act provides for important safeguards. Let me deal with some of the concerns that Members have raised. Ms Indranee Rajah asked about how the superior officer is empowered and whether I could confirm that the superior officer or the superior specified in 201E(1)(b) is indeed the superior stated in 201E, paragraph 5, and I do confirm that that is indeed the case. Ms Indranee Rajah is concerned about the term "could" rather than "likely". Sir, could a terrorist attack occur, say, in a place like Jurong Island? Is it likely to occur in Jurong Island today or tomorrow?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, first of all, I would like to thank the four Members of this House who have spoken for their support and the need for such a Bill. First of all, let me recap why such a Bill is necessary. The situation has indeed changed from the past. The current regulations and laws provide for a situation, say, of riots or civil disorder, and this is envisaged under the Public Order (Preservation) Act. This is the question that Dr Ong Chit Chung asked. In this Act, the Minister for Home Affairs is required to make a proclamation that there exists in an area in Singapore a state of danger of public order and is intended for a different set of circumstances - civil disorders, riots, imposition of curfews, rather than for the type of security operations that the SAF is now in and will be conducting against terrorism. The other situation is one where the Home Affairs Ministry or the Police calls the SAF in to help protect lives and property in specific ad hoc circumstances, for example, by calling in our Special Operations Force as in a hostage rescue situation. But the issue at hand here is that the current legislation is not well-suited to the circumstances at hand and also does not provide enough safeguards in the event that the SAF is deployed. For example, SAF servicemen who are deployed do not have the Police powers of search, arrest and seizure. The SAF servicemen cannot conduct searches, maintain road blocks, seize objects independently without the presence of a police officer. And also, for security operations in the air and sea, today, there is no specific domestic legislation for the Minister for Home Affairs to call on the SAF to do those operations and acts specified in the SAF (Amendment) Bill.”
“The Bill provides a good legal framework to regulate the conduct of security operations when the SAF is deployed for security operations. It will provide the legal framework and basis for SAF servicemen to carry out these security duties effectively, with confidence, and in a well regulated and defined manner. It will also give the public the assurance that these servicemen are trained and legally empowered to do the job that they are doing. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed.”
“The course topics conducted by the Military Police Command include general legal knowledge, assessment of situation and suspects, search techniques, effecting arrest, incident site management, and seizure of suspect materials during security operations. This training syllabus has been validated with the police. After being trained by the SAF Military Police Command, SAF personnel return to their respective operational units and undergo specialised training that focus on scenario-, location-specific and rules of engagement training contextualised to their unique operational environment, prior to being deployed for security duties. Subsequently, the SAF Military Police Command will conduct refresher courses to ensure that core competencies are regularly maintained and updates in doctrine and legal knowledge are disseminated systematically. Currently, about 400 personnel have already been trained by the SAF Military Police Command. We will continue to train more personnel in the coming months to provide capacity to rotate personnel. As I mentioned earlier, we expect to train about 2,000 servicemen for this purpose. Standard Operating Procedures and Rules of Engagement are being reviewed to govern the way the SAF conducts peacetime security operations under the new legal provisions, and how soldiers act in specific scenarios they might encounter during security operations. The same protocols the police use will be followed by the SAF. These ROEs and SOPs will be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure their relevance. Sir, currently our SAF personnel are already deployed to assist domestic enforcement agencies to address emerging security threats.”
“Implementation To effectively operationalise these provisions, SAF personnel will be appropriately trained to exercise the limited legal powers accorded to them. MINDEF is cooperating closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure that SAF troops deployed in security operations are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills. The SAF Military Police Command is the lead agency in the SAF to ensure a comprehensive and robust training system. It will develop lesson plans and training aids, conduct courses and audit SAF units to ensure standards and compliance at the system level. It also maintains the currency of the training system by organising regular seminars and workshops to disseminate updates and best practices. To ensure quality training, we train our trainers rigorously and benchmark training standards to the Singapore Police Force (SPF). SAF Military Police Command instructors conduct the courses for SAF personnel expected to execute the legal powers of search, arrest and seizure. These instructors are also trained by the Singapore Police Force. In addition, Police Officers are regularly invited by the Military Police Command as subject matter experts to share operational experiences. This ensures that our trainers' expertise is updated and kept relevant. The Military Police Command staff and instructors will also attend overseas international seminars and courses to learn global best practices for security- related organisations. Sir, the SAF Military Police Command has worked closely with their Singapore Police Force counterparts to adapt the relevant training curriculum to meet the SAF's operational requirements.”
“The amendments also put in place checks and safeguards. In fact, that is really one of the motivations why we want to have this amendment in place. Under section 201B, authorisation for the SAF to support civilian authorities in air and sea operations can only be made by the Defence Minister. Section 201C imposes an additional safeguard for land-based security operations. The Minister for Defence has to first consult a committee appointed by the Prime Minister, before he can issue an order for the SAF to assist civilian authorities for land operations. However, if an extraordinary emergency makes it impractical to consult the committee before issuing such an order, he must consult the committee within three days or the order will lapse. Section 201E sets out the chain of command for the exercise of powers. It requires a serviceman to exercise powers only in accordance with the authorisation by the Minister or under an order from a superior, acting in accordance with the Minister's authorisation. The powers provided to the SAF are strictly circumscribed and are limited to those necessary for the serviceman to conduct the operations in aid of the civil authorities. They do not exceed the powers that the police have. The powers will be limited to specific areas, allocated periods of time, and for specific tasks, as approved by the Minister. Under section 201C, any order for the SAF to be deployed for land operations must specify the relevant circumstances, location or infrastructure, the interest to be protected or threat averted, the legal powers that apply and the period the order will be in force. SAF personnel will not have any powers when they are not on duty and hence, cannot interpose in situations like the police.”
“Key provisions of the Bill Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is therefore a need for a proper legal framework to ensure everything in the conduct of security operations is properly specified, and to lay out clearly what servicemen can and cannot do. The proposed amendments to the SAF Act will provide the necessary framework for regulating the SAF when conducting security operations in support of civilian authorities. It will provide a clear legal basis for exercising the necessary powers. Permit me to highlight the key parts of this Amendment Bill. The proposed amendments specify the circumstances under which the SAF may be utilised to conduct security operations in support of civilian authorities. Under section 201B, the Minister for Defence may authorise the SAF to conduct air and sea operations, such as to combat piracy and to detect and prevent any aerial or maritime threat to Singapore. Under section 201C, the Minister may also make an order for the SAF to aid civilian authorities in land operations upon the occurrence or likely occurrence of an event like a terrorist attack or hostage taking. Such security operations would comprise protection of key installations, support during national events and counter-terrorist operations such as hostage rescue. Sections 201B and 201C also set out the selected legal powers that may be lawfully exercised by servicemen involved in the security operations. These include power to stop, detain, search and use reasonable force against suspect vessels, vehicles and persons. The SAF will not be given investigation or prosecution powers against civilians. Under section 201G, any person arrested or things seized, whether in a land, sea or air operation, must be handed over, as soon as practicable, to the police.”
“The Protected Areas and Protected Places Act does not cover situations where SAF personnel are called upon to support the police to provide security during major events or for patrolling Changi Airport. They are not empowered to search suspicious persons and are hence constrained in dealing with terrorist threats like car bombs or suicide bombers. For instance, the servicemen who accompany police officers at Changi Airport are not vested with powers to search or detain suspects or seize suspicious items during joint patrol duties. They assist the police whom they are accompanying. The Public Order (Preservation) Act allows the SAF to be employed to assist the civil authority, but only after the proclamation of a state of emergency by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). This process is not sufficiently responsive in situations where the SAF needs to respond immediately to an imminent threat. The Public Order (Preservation) Act was designed to meet a completely different set of circumstances where you have riots and curfews. Although SAF personnel can exercise force under the general provisions of the Right of Private Defence, these only allow them to act as though they are private citizens. It does not give them powers and protections as officers on duty, acting to protect public security. Furthermore, there is currently no domestic law that regulate SAF operations in international waters and airspace, although under international law, Singapore authorities do have jurisdiction over Singapore registered and stateless vessels and aircraft.”
“In order to fulfil the mission of national defence, militaries around the world are also undertaking homeland, air and maritime security operations in a non-war environment. For example, in Australia, legislation allows the Defence Force to be used to protect against national security threats within the country. They have the powers to detain, search, seize and exercise reasonable force to do so. Current gaps Although SAF personnel are already undertaking homeland, air and maritime security operations, their legal powers and protection under domestic law when they are deployed are not sufficiently well-defined. These security operations often require the SAF to exercise selected and specific legal powers in Singapore territory and international waters and airspace that were not previously envisioned. Such powers include the right to intercept, stop, search and detain, seize, and apply force against hostile aircraft, vessels and persons. Existing legislation that SAF personnel operate under do not define these powers adequately. Under the SAF Act, only military policemen have powers of search and arrest and these are limited to places under possession, control or occupancy of the SAF or situations where SAF operations are obstructed. The Protected Areas and Protected Places Act (PAPPA) provides SAF powers of search and arrest to protect installations like Jurong Island, but only within the gazetted premises. So, SAF guards do not have the authority to stop or search suspicious vessels or persons in the vicinity of, or approaching the gazetted premises. They have to seek assistance from the police and wait for the police to arrive and take action.”
“The navy conducts patrols 24 hours a day, seven days a week within our territorial waters, escorts selected shipping that ply our waters, and inspects sensitive vessels. For land security operations, there are three things that the SAF is currently doing. This is for land security operations. [Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Matthias Yao Chih) in the Chair] 4.55 pm First, SAF personnel are called upon to support civilian authorities in operations requiring specialised capabilities that the SAF has. These include Special Operations and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive (CBRE) operations. Second, SAF troops are deployed on a long-term basis to protect key installations, such as Jurong Island, the Sembawang Wharves, Changi Airport and various SAF camps. Third, SAF personnel are called upon to augment the Singapore Police Force to provide security during major events like the International Olympic Committee Session, the S2006 IMF-World Bank Meeting and National Day parades, and the SAF will be deployed again for the ASEAN Summit later this year. Today, about 1,000 SAF personnel are deployed every day for security operations to protect key installations and for maritime and air operations. In the event of additional security operations like the S2006 IMF-World Bank Conference, a further 1,000 or so personnel are deployed. These current efforts leverage on the SAF's capabilities and resources to supplement civilian enforcement agencies. As a small country with limited resources, this is a sensible approach to enhance domestic security in a more complex and uncertain security environment that we face.”
“Radical extremists and terrorists have no qualms about murdering innocents to inspire fear for political ends. With long-term planning and access to technical know-how and money, they can launch deadly attacks wherever there are crowds of people and against infrastructure, such as aviation, petroleum and tourism-related targets. The equation of national defence and security has changed. States face security threats that operate across jurisdictions for external defence and internal security. Any lack of coordination between security agencies can create vulnerabilities that such elements can exploit. A closely coordinated inter-agency approach to security is therefore required to keep Singapore safe. Existing security operations What are our existing security operations? MINDEF and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) are cooperating closely. The SAF has for some time been supporting the Home Team and other Government agencies in domestic security operations. This is, at their request, to effectively meet the evolving security challenges. Terrorist attacks can come by air, by sea or by land. We know that Al Qaeda was actively targeting Singapore ports, and the JI was planning to crash a hijacked airliner into Singapore. The SAF is currently supporting civilian authorities to counter both air and maritime threats. This makes sense because it would not be efficient for the Home Team to duplicate the SAF's air and sea defence capabilities. Only the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has capabilities to counter aerial threats. In the maritime arena, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) works closely with the police coast guard to combat piracy and protect sea lanes.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time". Introduction Sir, the Bill before this House seeks to amend the Singapore Armed Forces Act. It will give legal powers for the SAF to conduct security operations in support of civilian authorities. The proposed amendments strengthen domestic legislation to address new security challenges. Strategic rationale Since the end of the Cold War, many of the old certainties about conflict have disappeared. In the post 9/11 environment, threats to national security do not just come from armies, air forces and navies of foreign powers. Irregular threats in the form of transnational terrorists and international criminals are growing and generating new challenges to domestic security. Extremists, together with criminal elements, now operate globally, targeting what they consider hostile interests and governments. Many are small terrorist cells and radicalised individuals acting autonomously within their own countries. These home-grown cells, for whom Al Qaeda remains a powerful ideological icon, are capable of striking anywhere in the world and in any part of a country in unexpected and unanticipated ways. Well-defended borders alone do not guarantee security. In this new threat environment, states face an elusive foe. Lead times for warning and response will be far shorter. The enemy hides amongst innocents and organises in small groups. He does not wear a uniform and may not even hold a gun - the 9/11 hijackers were armed only with box-cutters when they took control of several aircraft and used them as weapons against national targets. The 2002 Bali bombers merged into the bustling crowd of locals and tourists. These new adversaries have a destructive impact that far exceeds their numbers.”
“Lifts, tactile guidance systems and accessible toilets were installed. Each station also had at least one entrance upgraded to be barrier-free for wheelchair users. These features are already present in the stations on the North-East Line. LTA is currently reviewing whether some stations require more than one entrance with a lift to make it easier for our less mobile citizens to access our trains more conveniently. Any enhanced standards would also apply to the Downtown Line. Wheelchair-accessible buses have been introduced progressively since June 2006. They have been introduced on five bus routes identified in consultation with the voluntary welfare organisations and more will be rolled out. Bus stops along such routes are also upgraded to ensure accessibility. By 2010, 40% of our public bus fleet will be wheelchair accessible. In December 2006, LTA launched a programme to implement barrier-free routes within a 400-metre radius of all MRT and LRT stations. These measures include having an unobstructed pedestrian walkway wide enough for a wheelchair to pass, ensuring that the pavements are flush with the road surface, introducing ramps where necessary, and providing decision tactiles to guide the visually impaired at crossings and pedestrian overhead bridges. In addition, LTA will also look at providing more traffic light crossings at suitable locations, as such crossings are more convenient for the elderly and less mobile. LTA will continue to enhance our land transport system to meet the varied needs of our population as we move towards a more socially inclusive society.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have said, the details of the DCA and the agreements are still not made public, so I do not want to go into the details and comparing one agreement with another agreement. In any case, agreements made between countries and armed forces do differ depending on the circumstances. So I do not want to go into the details and make comparisons. For the package of agreements which we settled on 23rd April, this included the three arrangements which are yet to be signed. We had discussed whether to sign all the agreements together on 27th April and the Indonesians requested for the three arrangements to be signed on a separate day, ie, 7th May. In the event that had to be postponed because there were some matters which, as I have explained earlier, the Indonesians have requested for some variations, and we have conveyed our views to the Indonesians and we are still in discussion on this matter. TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE HANDICAPPED AND ELDERLY 4. Miss Penny Low asked the Minister for Transport (a) what has been done to further enhance the existing transportation infrastructure for the handicapped and elderly; and (b) how can infrastructure be designed such that it anticipates and meets the growing needs of the elderly, be it in MRT stations, bus terminals or overhead bridges. The Minister of State for Transport (Mrs Lim Hwee Hua) (for the Minister for Transport): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am happy to update Miss Penny Low on the Land Transport Authority (LTA)'s initiatives to enhance the accessibility of our land transport infrastructure to meet the needs of the elderly and the less mobile. The LTA has completed a Station Upgrade Project begun in 2000 to enhance the accessibility of MRT stations along the North-South and East-West lines.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on the Defence Cooperation Agreement. The defence relations between Indonesia and Singapore are excellent. And I would say that over the last three decades, the defence relationship between the TNI and SAF has, in fact, been a cornerstone of the overall relationship between Indonesia and Singapore. And, historically, it has been good. It started with the Navy having exercises with each other in 1974 - I have to think a little bit because I took part in this first exercise that was conducted between the TNI and the SAF and I had good memories of it - and we have strengthened our relationship since then. So I do not want to speculate on issues like the one that Ms Ellen Lee has raised. But it is in order to strengthen this relationship between our two countries and the relationship between our two armed forces that both our countries have entered willingly and freely into this set of agreements that we have before us today.”
“Sir, the DCA is the overall governing document specifying the whole range of cooperative activities envisaged between the SAF and the TNI. And then there are implementing arrangements. The three agreements that have yet to be signed are three implementing arrangements regarding specific areas of cooperation. These were all agreed to as part of the package of agreements settled between the two countries on 23rd April 2007. Indonesia has asked for some variations to the various agreements and we have conveyed to them our views on this matter. We are still in discussion, so I will rather not get into any details on this matter.”
“We will also continue to offer the TNI academic courses, such as scholarships to pursue postgraduate studies in Singapore at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and the Rajaratnam School of International Studies, as well as English language courses at the Regional Language Centre (RELC). To date, 12 TNI officers have graduated from postgraduate studies in Singapore, while 120 have gone through the English language course at RELC. We will also provide the TNI with naval technical assistance and access to training facilities in Singapore. The SAF will benefit from having access to training areas in Indonesia for the conduct of military training and exercises. While the SAF has access to training areas and facilities in many countries, the DCA will allow the SAF to conduct useful training closer to Singapore. But, Sir, most importantly, the DCA will allow us to strengthen the strategic relationship between the SAF and TNI, which goes back more than 30 years. The TNI is an important institution in Indonesia. The DCA will promote closer interaction and interoperability between the two armed forces, enabling them to work effectively together in times of need.”
“Sir, the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) is a strategic framework for mutually beneficial defence cooperation between Singapore and Indonesia. The agreement provides for a balance of benefits to the SAF and TNI, and will promote closer relations, greater cooperation and interoperability between the two armed forces. Under the DCA, we will restart joint projects which the SAF and TNI find professional value in, including the Air Weapons Range and Air Combat Manoeuvring Range in Pekanbaru, and the use of a naval gunfire support scoring system in Pulau Kayu Ara in the South China Sea. There will also be a new area of cooperation between the two armies with the development of facilities and infrastructure at the Baturaja Land Forces Training Area in south Sumatra. The SAF will benefit from having access to these facilities and being able to train alongside their Indonesian counterparts. Such training opportunities will allow the SAF and TNI to develop professionally and enhance their interoperability, which has enabled both armed forces to work closely together in times of need. We have seen them do so in instances such as in the search and recovery operations following the crash of SilkAir Flight MI 185 near Palembang in December 1997 and in the tsunami relief mission to Aceh in December 2004. In addition, we will continue to provide training assistance to the TNI through simulator training for their pilots, including the F-5, G-FET and Super Puma simulator training, and restarting professional courses like the Combined Fighter Weapons Instructor Course. To date, over 250 TNI-AU pilots have undergone simulator training in Singapore, and 10 TNI-AU instructors have graduated from the Combined Fighter Weapons Instructor Course.”
“We need thinkers, planners and doers in the whole public service. The whole public service has to work as a team and it has to work as a team with all Singaporeans. We have a public service that we can be proud of. We have a Government that works. It is a Government that works for Singapore and Singaporeans. [Applause.] [Mdm Deputy Speaker (Ms Indranee Rajah) in the Chair] 5.55 pm”
“He has many other comments to make about Singapore and the cultural differences and why we do things here, like banning chewing gum, which will be unacceptable in Australia, and so forth. All in all, a balanced and thoughtful article - someone who understands Singapore and obviously knows what it takes to build a good public service. And he quite ruefully said that the senior ranks are very well-paid, which of course helps. I think that is a very understated way of making a very important point. Sir, I listened carefully to what Mr Chiam See Tong had to say yesterday. He said that we are just a little dot. When we look at America, it is 15,000 times our size and 60 times the population of Singapore. He said that we are just a dot. America is such a big country, so many people, such a huge country and the American President is paid so little. What is so special about Singapore? But, Sir, that is precisely the point. There are many, many dots in the world. But what makes this dot so special? This little red dot is very special because all of us have taken the trouble to take care of it very well. All Singaporeans have worked hard to make Singapore special. The Government is a special government, carefully constructed, bringing in the best people so that it can move Singapore forward even with all the disadvantages that we have - the lack of resources, the position that we are in the region and the world. And Singapore is helped along by a first-class, excellent, efficient, uncorrupt public service that helps it to achieve Singaporeans' dreams. Sir, we do need a good public service in Singapore. It is a very special country, a very special red dot, Mr Chiam. We do want to make it even better for Singaporeans in the future.”
“Indeed, I must say that Dr Lily Neo is a good example of a Member of Parliament who has, through her ingenuity and active involvement with the older people in her constituency, found these creative and more meaningful ways of helping them because they know that this is not the anonymous hand of Government that is giving that assistance, but it is real people with real hands and warm hearts who are helping them. Sir, I would ask now for this article to be circulated. [Copies of article distributed to hon. Members.] It is an article by Steven Bartos. He is the Director of the Institute of Governance in the University of Canberra. This article appeared in this magazine called the "Public Sector Informant", February 2006. The article looked at Singapore's public service as a possible benchmark for Australia. The Australian public service is held generally in quite high esteem. Bartos acknowledged that "Singapore had overtaken Australia in the efficiency and effectiveness of its public service". He explained the reasons for this. He said that we have revamped our processes, we have very creative and active use of information technology and we have reorganised our institutions. He said that it took 300 people to draw up the Australian budget and 20 in Singapore. I have not actually gone to the Ministry of Finance to count the numbers but that was what he reported in the article approvingly. And very tellingly, this was what he said, and I quote, "The other source of Singapore's public service advantage is the extent to which it has invested in public servants themselves. The senior ranks are very well paid, which of course helps. Just as important is their investment in education.".”
“If we wait too long and we are too far out of line, it makes it even more difficult to move our salaries because each time we do that, there will be consternation with the huge percentage which we are raising salaries by if we have to move once in a very long time to come to market levels. In the long term, I believe that will be to the detriment of Singapore and Singaporeans. There have also been many speeches and views brought up Members of Parliament and also members of public about the income gap and the difficulties of the lower-income group and those with no income. Capping the salaries of Ministers and top civil servants will not solve this problem. The problem can be best addressed - how to help low-wage workers, how to help the lower income and how to help the aged with no families through sound policies and programmes like those which were introduced in the Budget recently - Workfare, increased allocations for ComCare but, most importantly, through growing the economy, creating jobs, creating the resources so that we can help everyone in Singapore to lift themselves up and have a better life. We have paid attention to the needs of the low income through the GST offset package so that over the next five or six years, they will be well taken care of. For those in the lower-income groups, the GST offset is worth some 16 to 19 years of the extra GST that these low-income Singaporeans will have to bear. On public assistance, there was a debate in this House with Dr Lily Neo during the Committee of Supply. Minister Vivian Balakrishnan summed up that we want an approach that is low in entitlement, but high in flexibility, because the needs of these individuals are quite different, and we need to find more holistic and flexible ways of looking after their needs.”
“It is not confined to the top echelon of officers and includes senior officers in our professional and departmental services. Young officers and other services with potential and drive will be provided more opportunities to stretch and grow them. Our system is not designed to keep everyone in the service. So, we do not look for zero resignation and zero attrition, but we do want to make sure that we do not fall into the same position that we were in in the 1990s where, with a galloping economy, we were losing many people from all segments of the public service. What it meant was that the level of service to Singaporeans fell. Those who remained in the service were demoralised because they had to do more work and they saw their colleagues leaving. And because the service level fell, they had more complaints from the public, and I am sure, from Members of Parliament, about the quality of service and we were put under more pressure. So we do not want to find ourselves in that same kind of situation. We want to make sure that we can continue to remain competitive and we can keep, employ and retain our public servants and have a good working climate in our institutions and organisations. Let me now deal with timing and whether or not this is a good time or right time to do this. Sir, I have been asked whether this is a good time to make such salary adjustments. But, actually, the point is that such salary adjustments must be done in good time. Otherwise, we will end up with problems in the public service. We have had no major adjustments since 2001. We have already waited for six years. Economic recovery has been going on for the last three years and we have had good growth for three years, but we have not raised salaries as quickly as we should have.”
“We are very glad that we would be able to work hand-in-hand with the unions on this. Mdm Halimah also mentioned one group of employees in the public sector. These are the daily-rated employees (DREs). Our DREs today are now entirely employed by the statutory boards. Most of them are in the National Environment Agency (NEA). The NEA, which employs the vast majority of our DREs, has training incentives for them to upgrade themselves as part of the new Collective Agreement (CA) that was signed in October 2006. They will receive a training incentive of $200 (per course) for completing and passing courses that lead to a nationally recognised certificate, and they can receive up to two such incentives a year. This encourages them to improve themselves so that they can do better. There is also a Good Conduct Allowance which has been increased from $30 to $40 per month to encourage them to come regularly and to reward those who do not absent themselves from work. This was increased with effect from October 2006. NEA also has plans to conduct a salary review of its DREs. This is intended for implementation in the later part of this year. Sir, I do agree that we do need a more holistic human resource management system in the civil service. Pay is not the cure for everything, and the civil service knows and realises that. There are other deeper issues that we have to deal with. That is why, in conjunction with the pay increases, we are also conducting reviews of a few key services, for example, the Management Executive Scheme and the Management Support Scheme. The civil service will also look into tapping and developing leadership potential across the public sector.”
“I was told by someone - I will not mention which uniformed organisation this is and in which foreign country - that, in his navy, 95% of his officers are performing above average. There is obviously a problem there somewhere. I agree with Mr Siew that we should be more transparent in how Administrative Officers are managed. In fact, we do counsel and out-manage Administrative Officers who are not performing well. May I ask for this other table to be circulated? [Copies of table* distributed to all hon. Members.] *Cols. 361-362. This table shows the performance bonus distribution for Administrative Officers for work done in 2006. So we do have a system where there is a spread of performance. We are not afraid to reward excellent officers with high performance bonuses and, at the same time, we are not afraid to pick out officers who are not doing well to counsel them to improve and, for some of these officers, they get zero performance bonus. Some of these officers have actually been outplaced from the Administrative Service. Mdm Halimah has brought up a number of concerns of our junior officers, and we should not forget these officers in the junior schemes who play an equally important role in the civil service while we are talking about the senior-most officers in the civil service and the Ministers. We will provide our junior officers with opportunities to upgrade and increase their employability through structured training. We are embarking on a study to redesign the jobs of officers in the Corporate Support Scheme and related schemes with the objective of examining and redesigning these jobs so that the officers can do higher value work. We hope that this would result in greater motivation and job satisfaction for these officers.”
“As someone said, perhaps we should change the name "Administrative Officer", because it does not correctly reflect what an Administrative Officer does. Perhaps, we should change the name "Permanent Secretary" too, because the Permanent Secretary is not there permanently. I do freely admit that the civil service can do better in its human resource management and, in particular, its performance management. I think all of us are very Asian. The idea of calling in your subordinate and telling him all of his strong points is not so much of a problem, but telling him all his weak points, that is more of a problem. So everybody thinks he is doing fine and, if he does not get his performance bonus, he wonders why. As we have introduced the performance bonuses and more promotional grades in the various schemes and services, HR managers, in fact all managers in the public service, have to become better managers of people, to learn how to lead, motivate, reward them and tell them how they are doing, so that they can help to develop them. So PSD will certainly examine how to improve the supervisory skills in the service so that they in turn can coach and mentor other officers better. We have a rigorous regular appraisal system. It is not just by the immediate superior. But we have a ranking system where the officer is also considered by superiors of other staff of similar grade so that there is comparison between departments. So it is not just on the whims and fancies of one superior officer that the fate of a civil servant gets decided. There are quotas for performance grading so that you cannot have everybody good or very, very good. You cannot have the entire organisation very good.”
“And we should be fortunate that we have a system in Singapore which is able to bring some of these people into the public service to serve Singapore and Singaporeans, rather than for them to all be attracted out into the private sector and working for the bottomline of some other company, which may well be an MNC or, perhaps, as many might do, go to London, New York, Hong Kong or Silicon Valley to work and be lost to Singapore. Let me now deal with some more mundane matters - mundane perhaps for some Members here but certainly matters I think very close to the heart of Mdm Halimah as well - ie, performance and career management in the civil service. So I hope that Members will bear with me if I take a little bit of time to explain some of these details. We have focused most of our discussion on Ministers and Administrative Officers. There is actually a wider civil service out there whom we all depend upon to service Singaporeans and the public. We must take care of all of them as well, because they serve loyally and faithfully. I would like to thank Mdm Halimah for her compliment on the civil service and that it has come a long way, and I would like to reiterate that we value all civil servants, not just the Administrative Officers. Like Mdm Halimah said, civil servants no longer enjoy secure tenure. We have an exit route for under-performers and organisational renewal schemes. Even our top public sector officers have fixed tenures. Those who are on the Public Service Leadership Scheme have a 10-year tenure if they are at Deputy Secretary level, and then, if they make it to Permanent Secretary, 10 years. After that, they leave. So they are not there all the time, permanently.”
“So the benchmark indeed produces quite a stable result. It gives you the MR4 benchmark level, the revised and current salaries for both MR4 Ministers and the Prime Minister. When you look at the top 1,000 income earners at age 32, you see a very similar pattern. Really, what you see are four points there, three clustered very closely together, the benchmark itself 15P32 for SR9, the current SR9 salary and revised SR9 salary. So here we are almost at the benchmark. And we are about where we want to be on this curve, because we are on the knee of this curve. Probably one or two of the best of our officers get promoted to this grade each year. And we are taking some of the best people into the civil service each year, and we want them, because we want them to contribute to making Singapore better. So these are people who have not just got their four 'A's and two S-papers in JC. That is not enough as a qualification. That gets them through the door perhaps of the interview room. But what the Public Service Commission is looking for when it looks for scholars of this category, this qualification, are people who have commitment to the country, have shown that they have interests beyond just their books and studies, have leadership qualities, done community service, have been active in sports and games, and so forth, ie, outstanding young Singaporeans, some of the most outstanding Singaporeans you can find in their cohort.”
“But the Prime Minister decides on the performance bonus, and I am sure that, when he decides on what performance bonus to give to the Ministers, he will look at how the Minister and his Ministry are performing and take that into consideration. But all said and done, what number does this benchmark produce for us? May I ask for this table to be circulated? [Copies of table distributed to all hon. Members.] Does it make sense? Many people say that, "Well, actually, you are operating on a part of the curve which is very rarefied, where the oxygen is very thin, it fluctuates very rapidly, there are very few people down there." And, if you can think of it mathematically, if you draw a curve from the first, say, to the 1,000th income earner in Singapore, Singaporeans are concerned that this benchmark produces an answer which is on the steep part of the curve. If I can draw Members' attention now to this chart. [Copies of chart distributed to all hon. Members.] This chart shows the income level on the vertical axis and the ordinal number, ie, the rank of the person for the top 1,000 income earners in Singapore. So owners of companies are not there. It is income earners. How we have defined this number is explained in the explanatory notes, ie, what goes into the income elements. But this is the plot. There is indeed a very steep part in the curve, the part where it basically goes exponential. But where are we on the curve of the top 1,000 income earners for the MR4 benchmark as well as the current salary? We are actually on the flat part of the curve, not on the steep part of the curve. So, actually, the benchmark is a relatively stable benchmark. We are not on the top left part of the curve where it shoots up very sharply.”
“We have considered a number of different possibilities. None of the suggestions really is new, whether it is inflation, lower or average wage levels or whatever it is. None of these suggestions really is new. But the Government as a whole has to cater not just to individual groups of Singaporeans but also to all Singaporeans. Therefore, we felt that the GDP is a good indicator of being able to create wealth for all of Singapore and, with that wealth, to be able to make, even those Singaporeans who may not directly benefit from that GDP growth, those Singaporeans even better off as well, as this Government has done consistently over the years through asset enhancements and wealth transfers. I should also note that even the private sector, not just the public sector, also has difficulties defining KPIs to make sure that there is no distortion between short-term and longer-term goals of the organisation. This is because if you have a KPI that is very focused on your quarterly returns, you may run the company into the ground over the five-year period time-frame to produce good quarterly returns for the next two or three quarters. That has happened in companies. And in Government, many of the things we do are very, very long term. Some Members would have read the Straits Times' article where they interviewed Mr Tan Gee Paw, the Chairman of PUB, and he was quoted as saying: "Some of the things we do in Government, we do not see the result within our own career." The results come after we have finished our career. Those are some of the types of things which senior public officers in the civil service have to deal with. So I would be a little careful about defining KPIs which are too specific, too targeted and too short-term.”
“Certainly, those frontline agencies, like EDB, who go out and chase for investments to come to Singapore, EDB incentivises them that way. That is one example. We have different benchmarks for different levels and different types of officers in the service. We also have different ways of rewarding our officers. The senior officers in the service have a larger component of performance bonus, and the performance bonus is both on an individual as well as GDP basis, whereas the junior officers, while they do have performance bonus, their performance bonus is generally a smaller percentage of their total annual remuneration. For very senior civil servants, as I pointed out, the variable component is now 47% of pay. Mr Alvin Yeo, I believe, and Mr Gautam Banerjee also suggest moving it up to 60% to 70%. I am not sure whether we will get there eventually, but we are certainly moving in the right direction. We have moved from one-third to half. Mr Alvin Yeo says we should go to two-thirds. As we restructure the salaries, as we have the opportunity to do so, we will see whether this makes sense for us. One example of restructuring the salaries is also at the junior levels. One of the reasons why we have given out the performance-based payment for our junior officers is because we want to take this opportunity to build up the performance element among our junior officers in the civil service. And if the economy and salary levels permit in the coming year, we will take this performance-based payment and build it into the scheme so that it becomes part of the salary structure of our junior officers with a larger performance element. There have been many suggestions on what we can include into the matrix for deciding on the performance bonuses of Ministers and top civil servants.”