Committee of Supply − Head J (Ministry of Defence)

Head J (cont) –

Resumption of Debate on Question [5 March 2012],

"That the total sum to be allocated for Head J of the Estimates be reduced by $100." – [Dr Lim Wee Kiak].

Question again proposed.

National Service – 45 Years on

Mr Alex Yam (Chua Chu Kang): Mr Chairman, Sir, defence lies at the heart of a nation's security and confidence. National Service has played that similar role, bonding our nation. The reality of the current geo-political landscape is one of constant flux. Economics and defence have through history remained the carrot and stick, at the disposal of governments to ensure that any nation is taken seriously on the international stage. For Singapore, our journey to independence was one fraught with the whims of the political powers of the times. From our time as a little inhabited island to the early days of our independence, our defence laid not in our hands but that of others.

I paid a visit to the Kranji War Memorial on the eve of the 70th Anniversary of the Fall of Singapore. Amidst the stillness of the grounds, the words "they died for all free men" stood in recognition of the 24,000 who gave their lives in Malaya. As I drove past the civilian War Memorial the day after, I was reminded that over 50,000 victims buried there were lost to the scourge of war, all because they were simply present on this island we now call home.

With the withdrawal of the British military in 1971, Singapore took the significant step to take defence into our own hands with the introduction of National Service. The formation of a conscript army is never easy. The late Dr Goh Keng Swee underpinned the challenge by quoting Prof Dennis N Wright that it was more difficult to understand 2 million Singaporeans than 100 million Japanese. The reason was simple: Japanese are homogeneous, Singaporeans are not. To a Minister for Defence in Singapore, this is a sombre matter.

In this delightful little book called "Youth in the Army" by Major Leong Choon Cheong, the then chief psychologist at SAF, written in 1978, the introduction to National Service was written in these words: "Every year in Singapore, thousands trudge to military camps scattered across the island. Most have prepared for this. News has gone out that army life is tough, so it is fun before the ultimate surrender to drill and discipline." Forty-five years on, National Service has evolved considerably. Yet the camaraderie has remained the experience still invaluable.

At this milestone, I urge the Ministry to consider marking the significance of National Service (NS) in our nation's history. This should be both at the institutional level so that younger Singaporeans are re-acquainted with the importance of NS, and at the individual level so that the contributions of generations of NSmen are recognised beyond the National Service Recognition Award. Each NSman has played a crucial role and should be recognised as such. A greater distinction should also be made, especially in contrasting those who have served and to remove the perception that there are newcomers who have benefited from our system but have not taken time to serve.

Page: 1993

In light of the progress that we have made, would the Ministry also relook at considerations for compulsory National Service, and how National Service would be continued to be strengthened as an important institution for binding our nation together?

Yes, National Service is inherently tough, but it has strengthened individuals and our nation. More importantly, it builds bonds with our fellow soldiers who have grown to be " ah kah liao " with us after months of training and " pah baangs " in the fields.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Nee Soon): Mr Chairman, full-time National Service (NS) was introduced in Singapore in March 1967. This month marks the 45th Anniversary of NS. When Singapore attained independence in 1965, we urgently needed to build up our own defence capability. However, we could not afford a large army of professional soldiers. Conscription was seen as the best way to build up a credible defence force without placing a heavy burden on Singapore's manpower and financial resources. Are these considerations for NS 45 years ago and now still the same? Can MINDEF explain the consideration behind maintaining NS? How has MINDEF continued to strengthen NS as an institution?

Singapore used to have one of the longest mandatory military service period for males at 30 months prior to 2005. That was reduced to 24 months due to technological advances and improved training. But at 24 months, we are still having one of the longest compulsory military service in the world. In Finland, it is six to 12 months; in Russia, it is 12 months; in Turkey, it is six to 15 months and in Iran, it is 16 to 20 months. Korea is the closest to us – at 22 months. Like other countries like Turkey, men can choose to defer NS for various reasons, including education. In Korea, they can choose to defer all the way up to age 30. Many are asking if the duration can be shortened further and if disruption can be made more flexible in view of the changing tertiary education landscape locally and as more students choose to pursue their education overseas.

Mrs Lina Chiam (Non-Constituency Member): Sir, the security and defence of Singapore is not to be taken for granted. Citizens should play an active role through National Service. I wish to raise two points in this regard which deserve our due consideration. The first relates to various proposals for National Service to be shortened from the current two years to one year or so. In its place, the professional armed forces can be further built up by boosting the incentives for young men and women to join as regulars. Taiwan has announced that it will cut the length of its military conscription from one year to just four months next year. South Korea has set it to be 21 months. Singapore is the country with the second longest fixed conscription length in the world, just behind Israel. I am sure this House will agree that South Korea and Taiwan are not in any less need of strong armed forces than Singapore. If anything, their armed forces have been called up for actual combat action in the past two decades. My main reason for advocating the shortening of NS is this: since the Government has welcomed such a number of foreigners into our workforce in the past decade, Singapore may urgently need to close the gap as to when they start their working lives.

This relates to my second point which is that some employers prefer to hire foreigners over Singaporeans because Singaporean males are liable for reservist training. Understandably, the employer is left in the lurch when the employee cannot show up for work particularly when the job in question is labour-intensive. If the resentment among Singaporeans affected is left unchecked, the result would be the complete opposite of what the Government had set out to achieve with NS, namely, to inculcate a commitment to Singapore's defence and security. How does the Government plan to address this?

Page: 1994

National Service Deferment for Elite Athletes

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon): Mr Chairman, the National Sports scene in Singapore has come a long way. Back in the 1950s when local athletes started representing us in international and regional games, the numbers were few. Many of them were juggling a full-time job and their sport. Due to the lack of support from the Government, talents like Olympic weightlifter, Mr Tan Howe Liang, had to finance his training. There was no monetary reward for his Olympic feat.

Today, the landscape has changed. Top coaches are hired to nurture Team Singapore with the help of carefully planned training programmes, overseas enrichment stints, amongst others, expenses covered by the various grants and sponsorships. Clearly, the importance and acceptance of professional sport has shifted dramatically.

MCYS has done well with brilliant schemes that helped to unearth new talents and hone the abilities and achievements of Team Singapore. But we can do more to give young male athletes the opportunity when it presents itself. One hurdle they now face is to get deferment from National Service. To many athletes, taking two-year breaks is detrimental to an athlete's career, especially when he is in his teens and at the upward climb of his performance. Two years of National Service is a very long break for just about anyone.

Little wonder that parents of our 16-year-old swimming prodigy Joseph Schooling are worrying about the impact of National Service on their son's Olympic dream. A recent Sunday Times report entitled "Joseph's a bit special, can we help him to be even more?" accurately sums up the problems of the inflexible stance towards National Service deferment. Joseph is so talented that national swim teams like the US, Australia and Malaysia are believed to be interested in poaching him. American colleges are also inviting him to join them. Should he decide to further his swimming career in other countries, Singapore will not only lose an excellent opportunity for an Olympic medal, but also a very talented young athlete. It will be a short-sighted policy on promoting sports. Certainly, the security of our nation transcends any number of Olympic medals, and everyone has a role to play in national defence, but there can be more flexible ways to achieve this.

I now remind the Minister of the proposals I brought up at last year's Committee of Supply. National athletes should be allowed to defer their NS as long as they are below 30 years old, just like in Korea. If they achieve a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games or Asian Games, or a medal of any colour in the Olympics, they can be exempted from NS in gratitude for the honour they have bestowed on the country. Perhaps, just require them to do basic military training. Athletes who did not do so well will serve NS after their prime performance period or major games, thus ensuring that nobody escapes their rightful duty without having their opportunities denied. If they get a deferment, they still do NS but later. This means they will be discharged later also to go to university and to seek jobs.

Page: 1995

Prodigies like Joseph Schooling in a small Singapore are like diamonds; coming along only once in a while, fading and disappearing if we do not treasure them. Let us do the wise thing and bring our National Sports scene to even greater heights. Currently, America has "Linsanity". Singapore will have "Josanity", or even more, if we tweak the National Service policy now for all our deserving elite athletes.

The Chairman: Mr Pritam Singh, please take your two cuts together.

National Service Deferment for Athletes

Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied): Thank you, Mr Chairman. I understand that MINDEF is reviewing the NS leave system for athletes and more specifically the SAF sportsman scheme. It is noteworthy that when the National Football team recently lost 7-1 to Iraq, Harris Harun, Safuwan Baharudin, Shakir Hamzah and winger Yasir Hanapi were all ruled out because of National Service commitments. I understand that MINDEF already grants deferments on a case-by-case basis, with some athletes delaying enlistment to prepare and compete in major competitions. What are the weaknesses of the current system and how different is MINDEF's proposed holistic framework of NS deferment for athletes that is currently underway? In addition, what competitions will come under the purview of the new framework and is the Malaysian Super League included in the proposed list?

National Service and Immigration Policy

There is another pejorative phrase that has become commonplace in Singapore since the Government opened the door to new immigrants. It is short and provocative but very damaging to the institution of National Service and it has the potential to compromise, if it has not already, the commitment generations of Singaporeans have devoted to National Service. It goes like this: "NS for Singaporeans; jobs for foreigners". The phrase is quite commonplace in the subconscious of many NSmen I have spoken with. I am sure Members have come across such remarks, particularly online. In view of the Government's stated need for immigrants to support our elderly population and to make up for our poor Total Fertility Rate, will MINDEF consider introducing some variation of National Service for new immigrants? This could take the form of a shorter NS programme or even island defence or protection of key installation duties, followed by an NS cycle that will ramp up their military skills in other areas. Such a policy may have the potential of not only ensuring new immigrants pull their weight insofar as National Service is concerned, but also serve the dual purpose of ensuring the quicker integration of our new immigrants into Singapore society.

A corollary concern is the deployment of new immigrants who enlist into National Service against the large numbers of long-resident Malay servicemen who appear to be demographically over-represented in the Singapore Civil Defence Force and the Singapore Police Force. Security reasons have long been alluded to as the reason why some MINDEF positions remain too sensitive to be filled up by Malay servicemen.

Can MINDEF please clarify the security status of new immigrants who serve National Service in MINDEF and, specifically, are they deemed to be less of a security risk than Malay soldiers?

11.15 am

Page: 1996

Recognition of National Servicemen

Mr Ong Teng Koon (Sembawang): Mr Chairman, Sir, this year marks the 45th Anniversary of National Service, an important milestone in the history of our nation-building. We will be remiss in our responsibilities if we do not take stock of this historic moment about the sacrifice and contributions of the many generations of young men. The SAF owes much of its success to the conscript of young men from the age of 18 and regular reservists called up throughout their adult lives. However, our modern lifestyle has meant that our servicemen are sacrificing a meaningful part of their early adulthood, often finding themselves two years late to the party when they compete in universities or on the job market globally, and often more sacrifices when they have to take time out from the professional and family commitments during reservist training. In view of the contributions and efforts of our NSmen, how can MINDEF better recognise this publicly?

Malays in the SAF

Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang): ( In Malay ): [Please refer to Pg 2122 for Vernacular Speeches.] Mr Chairman, last month, there was a discussion on the Internet among some of the Malays about the Government's policy on opening the doors for Malays in sensitive posts within the SAF.

I feel that Singaporeans, in general, are rational and look at this issue seriously, and view the issue from a national security perspective and not from a racial discrimination perspective. However, for the Malays, this issue can stir up emotions if it is not handled properly. In fact, misunderstanding and baseless accusations can bring about unhappiness. The fact is that the SAF has an increasingly open door policy for the past few years, and there are more Malays holding important posts, even though there might be some concern following 9/11, the Jemaah Islamiyah issue and the cases of National Servicemen who became radical.

Can the Minister share what are the developments so far regarding the involvement of more Malays within the SAF in sensitive posts, and what are the main developments that we can expect?

Some members of the community have also raised the issue on the perception that Malays are usually posted to the SCDF and the Police Force. What is the Government's assurance that Malays can continue to make a meaningful contribution towards the nation's defence? I hope that the Government will be open in this matter because I believe that Malays in Singapore want to continue to strive and make a meaningful contribution, just like the other communities in Singapore.

The Chairman: Before you begin your cut, Ms Lee, we are going to add on one and a half minutes to your cut because, I believe, yesterday your speech was unfortunately disrupted and you were caused to defer your second point.

Learning and Training in SAF

Ms Ellen Lee (Sembawang): Much obliged, Mr Chairman. Thank you, Minister, too. Mr Chairman, I will deal with the SAF cut first. Mr Chairman, our younger generations today are by and large more highly educated and IT-savvy. They also tend to be regular users of smart phones with various mesmerising applications.

Page: 1997

Someone once poked fun at the SAF by showing our NSmen carrying an iPad, instead of a gun during training. It is very hard to wean our youth from his heavy reliance on a smart device that he has regarded as very essential to him.

When these youths enter the SAF, such devices are not allowed to be carried during training. Has this caused the new NS recruits any hangovers? How has it affected the level and speed with which these NSmen perform their tasks? How much of the training of a soldier can be done through computer teaching and the Internet to turn them into an advanced fighting force? How are they integrated into the fighting system? How realistic can the training be because real wartime situations will be very difficult to simulate and incomprehensible to the younger generations who have only experienced peace, not war?

The world has become increasingly more complex. As we rely on the SAF to defend Singapore and Singaporeans' interests, we need to know if the SAF is up to its mark to know what they may probably face in the real conflict situations, if they have the appropriate strategies to counter their enemies and if they believe that they are competent and skilful on the world stage. This is because we are seeing more visits from high-ranking military officers comprising Defence Ministers and other dignitaries who are interested to know the security situation in the region and internationally as well. Singapore's hosting of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, already into its 11th year this year means that the interaction cannot be confined to just the Ministers for Defence alone but also the Chiefs of Armed Forces, Army, Navy and the Air Force and the Chiefs of Staff. SAF personnel have also regularly participated in bilateral exercises and multinational air, sea and land combat exercises conducted overseas.

Could the Minister give us an idea of the types of professional development that are being taught, the duration and intensity of these courses, and if these are on co-payment basis? If there is no co-payment, is there a period of bonding and, if so, for how long? Could we also know specifically which category of personnel such programmes are offered to, what are the take-up rate and the success rate? Is there a difference between "professional development" and "continuing education schemes"? Can we have a glimpse of the contents in the continuing education schemes that would enhance the competence of our SAF personnel? Are these schemes tailored to only SAF-related environment because, otherwise, they would be of no use when these SAF personnel leave service and join the private sector? Mr Chairman, I will go on to the point where I left off last night.

Regional Security Environment

The security threats that all countries face cannot be solved by any one country alone, especially when the issues, though common, are also complex and often cross-boundary and transnational, such as environmental changes, terrorism and pandemics. It is, therefore, a good idea for countries to form groupings and organise activities to bring their people together to have dialogues and discuss cooperation.

MINDEF has played an active role in the convening of strategic regional and international meetings of Ministers for Defence in ASEAN and outside of ASEAN as well. The most notable of these are the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting and the Five-Power Defence Arrangements to enhance regional security. The Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore is a unique niche that gathers Defence Ministers, officials and academics for open and candid brainstorming. The 10th dialogue took place in June 2011. The Five-Power Defence Arrangement Ministers' Meeting was held in Singapore on 1 November 2011 to coincide with its 40th Anniversary. Could the Minister give us an update of both these milestone events?

Page: 1998

The ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) was convened in 2006 to let ASEAN build a community of cooperation based on a confluence of shared interests through close cooperation with one another. The success of ADMM has led to the establishment of the ADMM Plus, which held its first meeting in Hanoi in 2010. It is a significant milestone for ASEAN as eight countries outside of ASEAN, namely, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the US, were keen to join ADMM Plus to tackle defence and security issues in the region. Arising from this, it was reported that experts' working groups have been set up to look into maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter-terrorism, peace-keeping operations and military medicine.

How much progress is made after the formation of ADMM Plus and has the objective of setting this up been met? What are the obstacles that ADMM Plus faces and how has it contributed to the regional security architecture?

Training Safety in SAF

Mr Ong Teng Koon: Mr Chairman, Sir, we have moved from conducting most of our training here in Singapore to gradually sending more of our troops for overseas training due to land constraints at home. Overseas training has expanded from Brunei and Thailand to further afield such as Australia and Arizona.

Singaporean parents still have come to terms with the need to send their children for overseas military training. Notwithstanding their acceptance, at the top of every parent's mind must be the safety of their children. I am confident that MINDEF would do all that it can to prevent misadventures and accidents. But like the Chinese saying goes, "不怕一万，只怕万一" We may have planned for all contingencies but a single injury or death due to the unexpected is one too many. At the same time, while we must make sure that training conditions do not end up being unrealistic, we must continually train with safety as the priority for our NSmen. Could the Ministry assure the House of how it plans to ensure the safety and well-being of our servicemen during training?

Total Defence

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar (Ang Mo Kio): Mr Chairman, I recently attended the Total Defence Day Celebrations for 2012 at ITE College West. It was an energetic event that was put up not just by officers from MINDEF and the Home Team but also by students of ITE College West. What stood out in particular was the team song, "It's my turn", that was composed, written and performed by the students themselves. Through their performance, I could feel the sense of their pride and commitment to the cause.

I wish for the sense of pride and commitment to be felt by students in schools as well, in particular, through National Education. Based on my interactions with a few older students, who are in the tertiary institutions, I could gather that they are quite indifferent about National Education because some do not see its relevance today while some see it as a propaganda tool. I am concerned about this indifference.

Page: 1999

MINDEF has been quite successful in helping Singaporeans realise the importance of Total Defence. May I suggest that MINDEF work more closely with the Ministry of Education to see how Total Defence can be incorporated with National Education in the school curriculum? In addition, can MINDEF explain how Total Defence continues to be relevant and what is the current focus of MINDEF's Total Defence efforts?

Commitments to Defence

Mr Sitoh Yih Pin (Potong Pasir): Sir, we are no longer a nation of Singaporeans by generations, that is, what I term for simplicity, "old" Singaporeans. Some of us do not know when our forefathers came to this small island of ours. We only know that this is home.

However, more and more, we find that we have amidst us, "new citizens", if I may refer to them as such. There is little doubt that they contribute to our society in a large variety of ways. They add to our cultural strongholds and more than often, they also seek to make Singapore "home". An important aspect of this process of making Singapore home, especially for men, is the involvement with our armed forces. As conscript armed forces, we are well aware of the importance of building commitment to defence and National Service among Singaporeans. All Singaporeans, be they men or women, "old" or "new" citizens, are a part of this.

For our defence efforts to be complete, the SAF must be backed by an equally effective Total Defence capability. Not only must individual Singaporeans demonstrate this commitment, but it also requires the buy-in of their entire support network – from their families to their employers as well.

At the same time, by its very nature, National Service will be more relevant to Singaporean men. Even this year's theme for the NS45 campaign, "From Fathers to Sons", reflects this. But we cannot forget that there is the other half of the population, our women, whom we must engage on both National Service and larger defence issues. As men rub shoulders and discuss their National Service days and speak with pride of their contribution to our nation, our women often feel left out. It is not an experience they share or often that they can relate to.

On the flip side, our domestic and social environment has evolved significantly over the past few years. In this new world where technology rules the day in leaps and bounds and generations become more and more savvy with keyboard buttons and the pen becomes an extinct entity, we must constantly do more to instil in all Singaporeans the continued importance and relevance of the SAF.

Singaporeans are showing a greater desire for engagement and involvement. "New" media has changed the way in which we communicate as well as share and obtain information. Information, observations and opinions are shared and exchanged in a matter of seconds! A few years ago, we would not have thought this possible. There are therefore many ways in which we can get people involved and create a sense of inclusion.

Mr Chairman, Sir, I therefore wish to ask the Minister the following questions: how does MINDEF ensure that it continues to reach out effectively to Singaporeans, especially women, to build commitment to defence and National Service? How is MINDEF using new media to reach out to Singaporeans to do the same?

Page: 2000

11.30 am

The Minister for Defence (Dr Ng Eng Hen): Mr Chairman, let me first thank Members for their questions and comments. Over the years, MINDEF has been grateful to receive very strong support from Singaporeans and Members in this House. We all share this deep conviction that Singapore must be able to defend itself, to keep the right to determine our own future and protect our way of life. I find it also significant that Members of Parliament and Non-Constituency Members of Parliament from all political parties as well as Nominated Members of Parliament support our defence policies. That is important. But MINDEF is also mindful that this trust has been earned over the years through careful spending and the equitable implementation of all our policies. I want to reassure Members of this House that MINDEF will endeavour to maintain and deepen this trust, and it is in that spirit, I welcome the opportunity to respond to queries from hon Members, to forge a strong and collective will. I will have to although add a caveat. The questions are all encompassing and look way into the future. I think it will take many days to respond to all their questions. So, with your indulgence, I will just touch on the main points and then we can carry on with the clarifications.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked for an update on the regional security environment and the US-China relationship. Sir, indeed, the US-China relationship remains central to the continued stability and security of this region.

The United States has been and is a "resident power" – I am using a term that former US Defence Secretary Robert Gates used – it has been a resident power in the Asia-Pacific for over half a century, whose presence has been a vital force for stability and prosperity. It has been long enough here in the Asia-Pacific for us to be able to assess the contributions and role of the US' presence. And I think, on balance, history will be kind to their presence here. To quote former Indonesian Defence Minister Dr Juwono Sudarsono: "America's 'forward presence'€¦ provided vital 'strategic assurance', guaranteeing regional and financial growth. America's dominance over the global commons was the critical pillar enabling all East Asia export-based strategies, augmenting Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China to develop their trade, finance, investment and banking reach." This is a quote from the former Indonesian Defence Minister. Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib Razak, in last year's Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) where he was the keynote speaker, said this: "The United States has long been a modernising and moderating force within our region, supporting democratic institutions, improving governance and fostering respect for human rights."

However, China's recent rise has also presented tremendous economic opportunities for countries within and beyond the region. China is now the top trading partner of ASEAN, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Australia. By virtue of its geography and growing influence, China will play a critical role in regional security and stability.

This interplay of relations between the US, a "resident power", and China, a "rising power", how they accommodate each other's interests and relate with other countries in the region, will inevitably affect relationships with and between ASEAN countries. We recognise that there is bound to be competition between the US and China, but also urge both sides to expand the common grounds to cooperate, to develop a relationship based on mutual trust and common understanding. We were therefore heartened that during Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping's recent visit to the US, it was announced that both sides would hold the fourth round of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue and the second round of the Strategic Security Dialogue in China this May.

Page: 2001

There are also traditional potential flashpoints in Asia such as the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea, as many Members noted, including Dr Lim and Ms Ellen Lee. In the South China Sea, activities by states to assert their claims could cause tensions. As Members rightly pointed out, non-traditional security challenges continue to confront us. You will remember the Mumbai attacks in 2008 that shocked us all, and the Jakarta hotel bombings in 2009 reminded us that terrorism remains a persistent threat to all nations. Our intelligence assessment for terrorism is that Singapore continues to be a target of terrorists. Piracy is another challenge. As a maritime trading nation, we have a vested interest in ensuring that sea routes continue to be safe and open.

I have briefly described the common security challenges that countries within this region must respond to. Dr Lim, Ms Ellen Lee, Mr Ong Teng Koon, Mr Pritam Singh and Mr Alvin Yeo have rightly pointed out that the SAF will now have to deal with a wider theatre of operations that includes such non-traditional threats related to terrorism, maritime security, piracy and humanitarian assistance disaster relief (HADR). They also asked if MINDEF and the SAF were responding adequately to these new scenarios. At the same time, Members have raised questions about our defence spending. In addressing these questions – how much we need to spend, why and what for – I would like all of us to bear in mind what we are up against and what we need to protect. I think that is the first starting point.

For Singapore, the harsh reality is that our defence needs are also determined, or, more accurately, compounded by our geography and limited natural resources. Nothing will change the fact that we are a small island of just over 700 square kilometres. We are also one of the most densely-populated countries in the world with no strategic depth. What does that mean? It means that we lack any hinterland to buffer our people and infrastructure against attacks. The sea is at our backs. With an economy that is highly dependent on global trade to survive, we need to ensure the continuity of our lines of communication and trade through air, sea and land. Many of you here, if not all of you, will remember SARS in 2003. SARS provided a bitter foretaste of what would happen if the flows of people and goods were disrupted, and that was only for a few weeks. Trade came down, confidence was lost, businesses bombed, and there was severe impact. These constraints are immutable and have been recognised since Independence.

Dr Goh Keng Swee, who played a seminal role in building the SAF from scratch, understood clearly the almost insurmountable difficulties and inherent challenges. But he also understood the imperative. We look at our archives often, because it is a treasure trove of information, and Dr Goh had two pieces of sagely advice. First, in 1973, when Singapore was still relatively poor and undeveloped, Dr Goh said, "The curious thing about Singaporeans in general is that they are very optimistic that war will never occur in Singapore. This attitude of the general public is all right for the economic progress of Singapore but it should never be that of the policy makers in the public sector. We have to think of such eventualities and make preparation well in advance." Let me give Members a second quote. This was one in 1984, when our nation was on a much firmer footing. Dr Goh added, "The most dependable guarantee of our Independence is a strong SAF. A strong SAF in turn depends on the political will to make the effort and pay the price." His advice, therefore: prepare for unthinkable eventualities well in advance and maintain the political will for a strong defence. This is why we invest considerable amounts each year on defence. But more than that, as Mrs Lina Chiam, Dr Lim Wee Kiak and Mr Pritam Singh talked about, we require each Singaporean male to commit himself to many years of National Service. Can we keep up that political will? We have many opportunity costs, divergent needs, individual aspirations. Can we keep up that political will, which Dr Goh quite presciently pointed out that we needed to do? We must.

Page: 2002

Because, to paraphrase a famous statesman, we dare not tempt others with our weakness. Who said that? The then US President John F Kennedy. How much more so this reality for a small country like ours. We dare not tempt others with our weakness, because as a "jewel of Asia", we dare not tempt others because we certainly have more to protect today. Sir, this is not a theoretical threat, only relevant in the distant past. In 1990, it took only one day for Iraqi forces to seize control of Kuwait, considered a small rich country but really is about 25 times the size of Singapore. Just last month, Defence Minister of the Philippines Voltaire Gazmin said, "Without a deterrent force, we can be easily pushed around, our territories will be violated."

No one, no country, wants to be violated. Dr Lim rightly pointed out that we remain vulnerable. Both he and Mr Pritam Singh asked the right questions. How does Singapore, a small country with little natural resources, defend itself against traditional and non-traditional threats? What kind of SAF do we need? How will we know when we have achieved it? Sir, these immutable constraints force us to leverage on technology, innovation and unflinching human will to overcome our limitations. Translated to stark military terms, we have to know more, see first, and respond sharply and decisively to disable, if not destroy, would-be aggressors. That kind of capability is hard to come by, even if we are willing to pay for it. But we have made considerable progress over the years. And the questions that you asked today indicate that we have made considerable progress. The questions were: Can we now afford to relax a little? How are we changing our SAF? Can we now reduce NS commitments? The very fact that you are asking it is a reflection that we have succeeded. Today, the SAF is widely acknowledged to be a highly capable and professional military force, able to execute missions across the spectrum of security challenges. We have achieved real-time situational awareness of our airspace and sea lanes. We owe a great debt to the pioneers and successive cohorts of SAF soldiers and commanders who built it up through their blood, sweat and tears.

Sir, the SAF takes its primary mission seriously – to deter, and if deterrence fails, swiftly defeat any potential threats to our sovereignty and security. We could only have achieved and maintained these capabilities by an unwavering commitment to invest considerable resources over a prolonged period.

Dr Lim, Mr Ong and Mr Pritam Singh have asked how MINDEF plans its defence budget. Dr Lim said, how did we get value for money? Let me provide details. We have said previously that the Government is prepared to spend up to 6% of GDP on defence, but MINDEF only asks for what we need each year. Our overall approach is to maintain a stable defence budget that grows gradually in absolute terms and to manage that prudently. Over the last five years, defence expenditure has grown steadily by about 4% annually, on average. It was $10.7 billion in 2008 and, as Members pointed out, $12.3 billion this year. Such steady spending is a critical enabler, because it allows MINDEF to take a long-term view and obtain the best value for our defence investments. It allows the SAF to steadily build up its capabilities, exploit nascent technologies – so in other words, we can actually spot a technology that will come on the market even before it has and exploit it – minimise disruptions and effectively network its various services so that the combined capability is more powerful than its individual parts.

Page: 2003

I want to assure Members that MINDEF is mindful of our responsibility to spend carefully and wisely. We are acutely aware that we have a major share of our Government budget. We buy only what we need, scrutinise available options for the most cost-effective solution. Our first instinct is to upgrade existing platforms to extend their lifespan, instead of purchasing new ones. For example, the Navy's corvettes – some of you may have served on it – are 21 years old, but instead of being replaced immediately, they will be upgraded to add many more years of operations. Our two Archer-class submarines were bought second-hand and upgraded to be stealthier, with longer endurance, and extended reach. Our Leopard tanks were also bought second-hand and upgraded to meet our operational needs.

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We only acquire new platforms when the capabilities they provide are considered critical − for example, F-15SG fighters, High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and S-70B naval helicopters. These new platforms allow the SAF to keep a fighting edge. And when it is more cost-effective to do so, we build our own, as we did for the Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles, which provide our infantry troops more protection, mobility and firepower.

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked for an update on efforts to transform the SAF into a 3rd Generation fighting force, and we have made significant advances. But I thought, instead of me telling you, it would be better to show a video that illustrates the SAF's current capabilities. Military forces all over know that one of the hardest missions to conduct is what we call the "integrated strike". That means close coordination, cross-coordination, between different elements to neutralise a moving target. Because we can easily understand why that is difficult, it requires all your platforms, your units to be able to talk to each other in real-time amidst a fast-flowing and almost-chaotic environment. And the video that Members are about to see, show our "sensors", command post and "shooters" tightly linked, allowing us to strike targets with a swifter and deadlier punch. Let us take a look. [ _Avideo clip was shown to hon Members _ ]. That is our HIMARS and F15s that you just saw, and the Leopard tanks and Apaches.

The SAF today has brought the sense-to-strike cycle down to a matter of minutes, a quantum leap in our capabilities. The Commanding General of US' Fort Sill army base, this was a Major-General, David Halverson, said after witnessing one of these integrated live-firing exercises, "It is apparent that the SAF has tremendous attack and defence capabilities. I witnessed a world-class effort earlier with the complex coordination with the various land and air assets." It is a major achievement. If you talk to the pioneers of the SAF, they know what we were up against, how difficult it was even to have a joint command. For them to see these capabilities today, they know that we made major progress.

But having attained these capabilities, some Members have asked if Singapore can afford to reduce our defence posture and preparations. It is a fair question. I think Mr Pritam Singh and Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked that. It is a fair question but difficult for anyone to know what the right answer is. 9/11 caught many countries off guard. Many European countries planned to enjoy the peace dividend after the Cold War. When I meet Defence Ministers today in Europe, they tell me exactly that. They were planning to downsize after the Cold War, but after 9/11 found themselves stretched and hurried to respond adequately. Canada was also reducing and replacing some of its tanks. It is further away, separated by the Atlantic. And then 9/11 occurred. It then had to hurriedly acquire new tanks for their troops in Afghanistan. Once a particular capability is lost, it will take many years to recover even if spending is ramped up later. Worse still, it can cause the loss of lives later. The UK is an example. In the late 1970s, the Royal Navy failed to replace its airborne early warning capability in its ageing fleet. So in the unanticipated Falklands War in 1982, this led directly to the loss of a number of ships and deaths of many servicemen and civilians. Mr Ong Teng Koon talked about this when he mentioned "unknown unknowns". But even for known threats, any military force will tell you that there are always ways to further strengthen defences if more resources are allocated. I think, on balance, all of us will feel safer if we continue to maintain a potent SAF through steady and prudent investments.

Page: 2004

Ultimately, however, it is our people – our NSFs, NSmen and regulars – who form the SAF fighting force. And I share Mr Pritam Singh's concern. He mentioned that there were perceptions about how Singaporeans feel that they have to contribute more to Singapore, including NS, and that others reap the benefits. I share that concern. We have to show Singaporeans that we value their contributions. And that is what we are trying to do, whether it is through education, pre-school education, special education, health, housing, retirement, even NS itself, even the SAF itself, it is all for Singaporeans. Some of you may have not been struck by the slide that the Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tharman showed in economic terms, how much taxes for the median or the average worker versus how much you get over a lifetime. It was quite an interesting fact that you did not own a car, you actually get more than what you get. But translated to day-to-day experiences, I hope that Singaporeans recognise that all that we are doing to build this Singapore up, the various systems and social support, is for Singaporeans. And we will have to do more, recognising the NS contributions to show that citizens count for more and that foreigners complement and help us build this place.

I am not sure that is enough, but I think we also have to bear in mind that Singaporeans, on the other hand, have also received from others. We have many Singaporeans who go overseas, to the UK, to Canada, to Australia, to the US. And when I was studying in the US – I was doing my fellowship in cancer surgery, at the MD Anderson Cancer Center – it was during the time of the first Iraqi War. And there were lectures, scheduled surgeries that I could attend then and I was there on a Government scholarship. And top surgeons from this top cancer centre were called up, volunteered. A top thoracic surgeon suddenly was called up; lectures were cancelled because he went to serve. I was there, he is protecting his interests. I am continuing to study while he is giving up opportunity cost. So the shoe can be on the other foot. And we have to explain to Singaporeans in the longer term, this is for our country and for your children. And I hope that this will remind them that they are valued.

We want to bring out the best in each NSman because with falling fertility rates, as many of you pointed out, each NSman must shoulder more responsibility and to bring out the best in them. Minister of State Lawrence Wong will elaborate on learning and training initiatives. This principle that we must get the best from each NSman applies to all Singaporeans, of all races. So, I was glad to hear Mr Zaqy Mohamad share, ask and point out that as he has observed, the contributions of Malay servicemen have indeed risen in the SAF and he is right. Because we operate on this principle, as long as a serviceman is committed to Singapore, dedicated to the SAF and capable of doing the job, his appointment and advancement in the SAF will be based on qualifications and merit. Qualifications and merit. And in tandem with the rising educational standards, as Mr Zaqy Mohamad has observed, more Malays have been appointed to higher and more demanding roles across the SAF, including the Commandos, Engineers, Artillery, Signals, Pilots and Sea Soldiers.

Page: 2005

Mr Pritam Singh and Mr Zaqy talked about the SPF and SCDF. As a matter of fact, the SAF has always taken in the bulk of the Malay enlistees. In other words, it takes more NS enlistees than the SPF and SCDF combined. But the SAF is a big organisation, so I can understand the perception that they do not realise that this is so, but the facts show that this is so. And more regular servicemen, more Malay regular servicemen, have also risen to hold senior Command and Staff appointments within the SAF.

Sir, a number of Members − Dr Lim, Mr Alex Yam, Mrs Lina Chiam − raised pertinent questions on NS and they asked, for example, can we shorten it. The primary consideration is our NSmen are not the second line of defence. They do not go behind somebody. When there is a need, they are the first responders, to protect Singapore when our survival is threatened. So, in that eventuality, we have to have sufficient numbers and we need to train them, we need to have adequate time to train and prepare them for their role effectively. In 2004, because of our 3G (3rd Generation) transformation and technological improvements, we shortened it, from 2.5 years to two years. And in 2006, we shortened the Operationally Ready NS (ORNS) from 13 years to 10 years. And that reduction, whether it was in 2004 or 2006, in NS duration corresponded with the surge in NS intake from 2006 to 2015. In other words, we are seeing that surge now. But from 2016, our cohort size will fall. There is a demographic echo there. It occurs a few years when they come on stream to NS. So, from 2016, the cohort size, the absolute numbers, will fall. Therefore, until further review, we should maintain these two years needed for full-time NS, and 10 years for ORNS, because we need this to bring our soldiers and units up to the level of operational readiness.

Even as we call upon each NSman to do his part, we must look for ways to recognise their contributions – I think a point alluded to by Mr Pritam Singh. I am pleased to announce that the rank allowance for all servicemen in the SAF, SPF and SCDF will be increased across all ranks and Minister of State Lawrence Wong will elaborate on this.

Dr Lim and Ms Ellen Lee asked about our bilateral defence relationships, our neighbours, major powers and key countries, and Ms Ellen Lee is correct – no country can do it alone. We have built up an extensive network. Let me start with our neighbours. Our defence ties with Malaysia are broad-based and long-standing. My counterpart, Dato' Seri Zahid Hamidi, and I exchanged introductory visits last year. I am happy to report to this House that since last May, both our Air Forces resumed fighter aircraft stopovers and fuelling at each other's air bases. So we started doing that. We also have a close relationship with Indonesia, with regular professional exchanges and bilateral exercises. Last year, the SAF and TNI co-hosted the first ASEAN military exercise, a table-top HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations) in disaster relief operation.

I think Dr Lim Wee Kiak and Ms Ellen Lee asked about ADMM. We have a long-standing relationship with the US. The US remains one of our strongest and closest defence partners, and the US' presence has brought about stability in this region. We have therefore allowed US military aircraft and vessels the use of our facilities since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 1990. And in 2005, both Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and then President George Bush signed the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) to look for areas where we can facilitate this continued presence of the US in this region. And the deployment to Singapore of the US Navy's Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) is a manifestation of that cooperation. So in line with this 1990 MOU and 2005 SFA, Singapore is working with our US counterparts for one or two Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), to use our facilities after tests and trials on these new ships. We have been informed by the US that this is possible from 2013, when they will start to deploy these Littoral Combat Ships. While there have been some preliminary staff level discussions on increasing this to four by 2016, we will only evaluate it when we receive a formal request from the US.

Page: 2006

Let me give Members some information on the LCS. It is similar in size to our frigates, with about 75 crew members each. And like all other US ships and planes that use our facilities, the LCS are not based in Singapore, and the crew members will live on board the LCS throughout the duration of their deployment. While deployed here, the LCS will make port calls around the region to engage other navies and activities in the region.

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Our long-standing relationship with the US affords us valuable technology and training opportunities. We currently have four Air Force training detachments in the US. End of last year, we held one of our largest integrated live-firing exercises. You saw some of these whether it is here or in Australia. Exercise Forging Sabre in Arizona involves some 450 SAF airmen and soldiers, and the area that was conducted in was 19 times the size of Singapore. It is these realistic conditions that allow us to hone our capabilities and test our doctrines.

With China, we signed an Agreement on Defence Exchanges and Security Cooperation in 2008, and as a result, we have more exchanges and professional visits. And naval ships as well, doing port calls. Our relationship has grown and we encourage China to play a constructive role in this region. They have responded with their Defence Minister participating in the Shangri-La Dialogue for the first time last year as well as the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus.

We also continue to deepen ties with France, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Brunei and Thailand. Australia has been particularly generous to allow us to train in their training areas, Shoalwater Bay and Exercise Wallaby is in its 22nd year. For France, we extended our advanced jet training there and extended the Defence Cooperation and Status of Forces Agreements last year to facilitate this. As Mr Ong Teng Koon rightly pointed out, these allow us to overcome our space constraints.

Dr Lim and Ms Lee asked about our regional security architecture. We promote one that is open and inclusive with ASEAN as a central position, and, as they rightly pointed out, the ADMM-Plus and our Experts' Working Groups are indeed working hard in various areas. Dr Lim mentioned whether one day we could have an ASEAN military force. I do not know, possibly, but let us work hard in forging cooperation and mutual confidence first.

Page: 2007

The Shangri-La Dialogue celebrated its 10th year last year and we had 31 Ministers from 30 countries, including Secretary Gates, Defence Minister Liang Guanglie. Last year also marked the FPDA's 40th Anniversary. Dr Lim gave a very concise history update and asked whether the FPDA was still relevant and effective. The Ministers agree with you, and therefore we did a stock-take for our anniversary and re-affirmed our commitment to this and to improve interoperability and people-to-people exercises. It is growing quite tremendously. The FPDA exercise last year – Bersama Lim – involved some 4,000 personnel from the five countries, 67 aircraft, 18 ships and two submarines.

Mr Alvin Yeo asked about the SAF's contributions to homeland security, including maritime security. I will just provide a brief update. Our Island Defence Task Force and Maritime Security Task Force work with other agencies. For maritime security, this is an inter-agency effort, we have the National Maritime Security System which has become operational and was tested during the large-scale security and civil emergency exercise, Northstar, in November last year.

Singapore continues to partner Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand to conduct our combined patrols, air and sea, in the Straits of Malacca. And we have the Navy's Information Fusion Centre, which is an information-sharing hub for maritime agencies.

Mr Alvin Yeo asked about the Gulf of Aden. The SAF took command of the CTF151 for the second time, and deployed an LST with a Super Puma. We also deployed for the first time a Fokker-50. Our contributions have been well-received and therefore we are deploying a fourth Task Group this year, comprising a frigate and a naval helicopter, in the Gulf of Aden.

Mr Yeo also asked about the SAF deployments in Afghanistan. I visited our servicemen in Afghanistan last October. I saw the challenges they face up close. They are subjected to risk. But we continue to help, together with other militaries, to prevent terrorists from again using Afghanistan to export terrorism. I spoke to commanders from the partner militaries there – the US and Australians. And they tell me that our operations there have made a difference and they value our contributions.

At the end of the year, the SAF would have completed five years of deployments to Afghanistan. We started in 2007 in Bamiyan, with a five-man dental team and a five-man construction engineering team. I remember the dental team coming back to report and said it was a welcome relief, literally and metaphorically. Queues of up to one to two hours of people, long-suffering, with their decayed teeth; so we did a lot of extractions down there, of the right kind. Our deployments peaked in 2010 with about 100 SAF personnel deployed, as part of our Weapon Locating Radar, UAV Task Group, and our medical, surgical, institutional trainers, and imagery analysis teams. At present, the SAF is deployed in Kabul and Oruzgan, two teams of a total of 15 trainers and a team of six imagery analysts.

We will continue to support the International Security Assistance Force's (ISAF's) strategy to strengthen the capacity of the Afghan National Security Forces, to assume responsibility for the security of Afghanistan by 2014. While we continue with our contributions in 2012, we are closely monitoring this transition effort by ISAF and the SAF will work with our partners towards future completion of our mission in Afghanistan.

Page: 2008

Sir, I have sketched our security challenges and outlined Singapore's inherent limitations to explain what we must do to be able to defend ourselves. I have provided Members an overview of our defence diplomacy and overseas operations. But the most important message is this: the SAF is fully aware of its primary responsibility, to provide a strong defence so that all Singaporeans can enjoy peace and prosperity, today and in the future. We are following Dr Goh's advice. We are preparing for all eventualities well in advance. But as Dr Goh also noted, how strong the SAF is, depends on political will, the support it gets from the Government, Members of Parliament in this House and from all Singaporeans.

Minister of State Lawrence Wong will now respond to Members' queries on ways to engender support from NSmen, including women and employers, as pointed out by Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, the NS45 campaign, the professional development and training of our servicemen, and on the issue of safety. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Dr Maliki will later address Members' questions on the Total Defence campaign, as well as MINDEF's efforts to better engage the different segments of Singapore society.

The Minister of State for Defence (Mr Lawrence Wong): Mr Chairman, let me start by elaborating further on our NS policies. MINDEF earns the trust and support for NS from all Singaporeans, only when we adhere strictly to three fundamental principles. First, NS must be to meet a critical national need for security and survival because it imposes considerable cost both to the individual and to the nation. Second, NS must be universal. All young Singaporean males who are fit to serve are eligible for conscription. The third principle is equity which means that NS policies are applied equitably to everyone regardless of background or status.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked if our disruption policy can be made more flexible in view of the changing tertiary education landscape. MINDEF is very mindful about the changing trends in the education as well as employment of NSmen. We do exercise flexibility in considering disruption requests, but we have to balance this against the impact that disruptions have on the training and operational readiness of the individual and his unit. At the same time, in looking at disruption matters, we continue to uphold the fundamental principles that I outlined earlier. For this reason, disruption for studies is considered only on the basis of equity, so that individuals in the same Singapore school cohort but in different enlistment intakes can still proceed for their degree studies at the same university at the same time.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah and Mr Pritam Singh asked about our deferment policy for athletes and sportsmen. In particular, Er Dr Lee spoke very passionately about this, and I would like to assure her that we understand the concerns that are raised. MINDEF also exercises flexibility to allow deferment from full-time NS for exceptional sportsmen, who have been strongly supported by MCYS and selected to represent Singapore in major competitions like the Olympics. For every such case, MINDEF considers the individual's past achievements, his potential and the need for long deferments. In addition, MINDEF also exercises flexibility to grant deferments of shorter periods to national athletes representing Singapore in major competitions. For example, 13 athletes were deferred for a period of two to six months to participate in the 2011 SEA Games and 2010 Asian Games.

Page: 2009

Sir, the strength of our NS institution is drawn primarily from the commitment of our NSmen past and present. We must continue to preserve this sense of shared commitment and responsibility towards NS.

And as several Members have noted, this year marks the 45th Anniversary of the establishment of National Service. It is a significant milestone. We have chosen the theme of "NS: From Fathers to Sons" for the NS45 celebrations, to highlight that NS is truly a shared legacy across generations. In fact, as we go through the COS debate this week, some 3,000 Singaporean sons will be going through their first week of Basic Military Training, most of them following in their fathers' footsteps into the service of our country. Just as their fathers did years ago, they will train, sweat and persevere together with other Singaporean sons; and, in the process, form friendships, forge bonds and learn the soldiering skills to defend our country.

Mr Alex Yam asked how MINDEF intends to commemorate National Service 45 both at the institutional and the individual levels. Let me highlight two of the key activities: First, we are engaging Singaporeans through an online effort, to ask them to reflect on their NS experiences. Even today, I am sure, many of us continue to reminisce about our time in NS. Because no matter how long ago we did our NS, there is always something special about our NS experience that we all cherish and remember, especially when we get together with our unit mates. So, I invite all Singaporeans to share their stories and engage in conversations on our NS45 website as well as through our online story competition, "My NS Story", which is taking place from now till April. Your reflections will be shared with other Singaporeans during NS45 events throughout the year.

Second, the Army Open House in May will also serve as an anchor event for the commemoration activities. For the first time, the Army will hold its Open House in the heart of the city, at the F1 Pit Building, so as to reach out to more Singaporeans. And to bring the NS45 celebrations even closer to our people, we will also have a mobile NS showcase that will visit various heartland communities after the Army Open House. I encourage all Singaporeans to participate in these activities.

Mr Ong Teng Koon asked how we can better recognise the contributions of our NSmen. Over the years, the Government has been recognising the contributions of NSmen in different ways. We have the National Service Recognition Award (NSRA) to recognise our National Servicemen throughout their NS training cycle. We have various initiatives to help NSmen better balance their NS obligations with their civilian commitments, like the IPPT-In-Your-Community Project, which has rolled out 100 fitness centres with IPPT training facilities in different housing estates. We also provide NSmen and their families with quality recreational facilities, like the SAFRA clubs and NSRCC. SAFRA is presently undertaking a strategic review to see how it can better serve our NSmen, not just by offering attractive clubhouses and facilities, but also by playing a more active role in engaging NSmen and fostering unit cohesion.

As announced by Dr Ng earlier, MINDEF has conducted a review of the NS rank allowance, which was last revised in 2009. From April this year, the rank allowance for all servicemen in the SAF, SPF and SCDF will be increased by $60 per month across all ranks. This latest allowance review goes one step further in signalling our acknowledgement of our servicemen's commitment and service, as we mark 45 years of NS. Going forward, MINDEF will continue to look into ways in which we can better recognise the contributions of our NSmen.

Page: 2010

Sir, let me move on to how we are improving learning and training in the SAF, issues which Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef and Ms Ellen Lee asked about. Our current generation of NSFs is a technology-savvy group, more accustomed to a self-directed learning environment from their days in school. And we have observed that they learn better when they collaborate and exchange knowledge with their peers. In so doing, they become more adaptive, take greater ownership of their training. And these abilities – to sense-make and adapt rapidly, to work together collaboratively – are essential for today's soldiers in the modern battlefield.

Hence, the SAF has started to transform its learning and training systems to take into account these considerations, which also serve to help ease the transition into NS for our enlistees, and make NS a more positive experience for them. First, we are adopting a more learner-centric pedagogy to create a training experience that is consistent with the learning habits and expectations of our soldiers. For example, our trainers today employ more coaching and facilitation methodologies. Trainees have more team-based active learning, with time allocated for them to consolidate and share their knowledge. We also invest in simulators to enhance experiential learning.

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Second, the SAF is introducing modern learning tools, such as videos and interactive "apps", to improve access to training materials and enhance collaborative learning. With these interactive tools, trainees can exchange learning points from their recent training experiences.

Last year, MINDEF updated Members about our pilot roll-out of LEARNet to the Basic Military Training Centre, Officer Cadet School, Specialist Cadet School and Signal Institute, enabling trainees in these units to access learning resources through portable devices. The trainees have provided positive feedback that they were able to learn at their own pace, and gain the confidence to apply these lessons out in the field. Following the success of this pilot, the SAF plans to extend LEARNet progressively over the next five years to some 80 other units.

Sir, even as the SAF employs modern pedagogies, learning tools and simulation technologies, we will continue to uphold rigorous standards of training, to prepare our soldiers to meet the demands of military operations. Our efforts to leverage technologies and platforms such as LEARNet have, in fact, allowed the SAF to reduce the time our soldiers spend in classrooms by 15% to 20%. And we reinvest this time into tough, realistic and rigorous training for our soldiers.

For our NSmen, we also leverage on technology to improve the efficiency of In-Camp Training (ICT), to minimise inconveniences and "standing around" time, and to help our NSmen focus on their training and operational duties. As Members may know, we already have a computerised registration and scoring system for the IPPT. Last year, we introduced electronic equipment at the firing range. Previously, firing ranges were operated on a manual basis. Some of us may recall during our NS time doing butt party duties, counting bullet holes on targets, and covering them with stickers so that the targets can be re-cycled. Now, everything is automated – NSmen can register for their range sessions by scanning their identity cards, they do their firing and their scores at the range are electronically recorded, resulting in significant time saved.

Page: 2011

We have received positive feedback on these initiatives from many NSmen, like 3SG (NS) Murugan s/o Ratnam, from 724 Guards. He said: "This is my sixth ICT, and I see that a lot of feedback has been heard, and changes have been made. I can see progressive improvements each time I come back for ICT." Indeed, with these efficiency gains, our NSmen have more time for field training. So each time they come for their ICT, they can focus on improving their combat proficiency, and thus feel more confident about their skills.

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef and Ms Ellen Lee also asked about professional development and continuing education, which go hand-in-hand in improving the overall professionalism of our Regular servicemen. Under our continuing education efforts, the SAF has established education tie-ups with various Institutes of Higher Learning, such as the Nanyang Polytechnic, UniSIM and NTU, which also cater to the different educational start points of our servicemen. This allows the SAF to have a high-quality Regular corps that is able to lead and train our NSFs and NSmen.

For example, in partnership with Nanyang Polytechnic, the SAF introduced the Certificate in Business Management programme for Warrant Officers, Specialists and Military Experts to pursue their Diploma in this field. For our officers, they can take up modules at the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College in SAFTI Military Institute, and these modules are accredited towards NTU Master's programmes. Since then, 12 graduates have embarked on this programme. And the SAF will continue to collaborate with our polytechnics and universities, to give our servicemen full opportunities for continuing education and lifelong learning. And as Ms Ellen Lee said, these are competencies and skills which we believe will be useful, not just for our servicemen in the SAF but also if they were to choose to pursue second careers in the private sector.

Mr Ong Teng Koon asked how MINDEF ensures the safety and well-being of our servicemen during training. Sir, while we train realistically and rigorously to prepare our servicemen for military operations, we will never compromise on safety. The SAF has put in place many measures – safety briefings, lesson plans, training safety regulations, multi-tier supervision. These all complement one another to ensure the safety of our soldiers. MINDEF is also committed to ensuring that our safety systems are robust and constantly reviewed. We emphasise safety as a key responsibility of our commanders, who are charged with the duty to look out for the men under their care, and mitigate potential risks during operations and training. Our commanders are trained to educate and actively engage our people on the importance of tough but safe training. Units are also encouraged to provide feedback in an open manner on safety issues. And through these efforts, we have built a culture of safety throughout the SAF.

We recognise that a robust system does not guarantee zero incidents in the SAF. From time to time, unfortunately, incidents do happen, resulting in injuries and casualties. In such cases, let me assure Members that we will take all steps to investigate and manage the case well, provide support to the families as well as take immediate corrective action to prevent further similar incidents. I will now hand over to Dr Maliki, who will speak on Total Defence and our efforts to strengthen commitment to defence.

Page: 2012

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman): Sir, Dr Intan asked about our Total Defence efforts, especially with schools, and about the relevance of Total Defence. Sir, we have heard from Dr Ng that the threats to our peace and security have expanded in scope and complexity. Such threats have widespread repercussions and require a multi-sector response.

Total Defence – with its five aspects of military, civil, economic, social and psychological defence – provides this multi-sector response by bringing Singaporeans together in a united and integrated approach to deal with national crises of all kinds. For example, we were able to pull through the recent economic crisis, the worst since our independence, relatively unscathed through strong cooperation between the Government, employers and workers.

For Total Defence to work, everyone has to play a part. This is the message of our annual campaigns since we first launched Total Defence in 1984. The response to our campaigns so far shows that Singaporeans understand this. For instance, Mr Jeremy Lim Hon Lee, an NUS student, said to The New Paper , and I quote, "Every day is Total Defence Day, as we have to continue maintaining our strengths and enhancing our capabilities. It is the responsibility of every Singaporean to do so." Mr Lim, as some of you may know, was born with brittle bone disease. He has risen above adversity to now study at NUS and actively gives back to society – a true inspiration to all of us.

Sir, we now need to go beyond the "head" and "heart" to the "hands". MINDEF will work with other agencies that represent other components of Total Defence to encourage Singaporeans to build up and keep up-to-date skills for Total Defence. For instance, we will continue to work with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Singapore Civil Defence Force and other partners involved in Civil Defence like the People's Association and its grassroots movement to ensure that Singaporeans know what to do in case of any emergencies.

The Total Defence campaign this year also reminds us that Total Defence is an effort that requires all Singaporeans of every generation to play a part. Carrying the theme "Total Defence – It's My Turn", the campaign centres on getting Singaporeans to take action in our own ways to strengthen Total Defence, including doing our part to help fellow Singaporeans by being involved in community work and at the same time strengthening our spirit of volunteerism and active citizenry. We heard from Dr Intan how impressed she was with the students who came up with the theme song for this year's campaign.

Indeed, when Singaporeans reach out and help fellow Singaporeans, we are strengthening our Social Defence. A key component of this year's campaign is thus a series of ground-initiated community projects that see Singaporeans from all walks of life volunteering to do something for the community. For instance, local restaurateur Willin Low organised a three-course Chinese New Year lunch for elderly residents during the festive period, while Ngee Ann Polytechnic Film and Media Studies student Mr Chong Yu Lun organised a music video production workshop for youths, especially those who lack opportunities – to equip them with the skills to express themselves creatively.

For Total Defence Day this year, the SAF also partnered with four schools – ITE College West, Raffles Institution, Singapore Polytechnic and Tampines Junior College – to jointly organise the Total Defence Day event held at these schools. Total Defence Day is one of the four core National Education events commemorated by schools every year. With this collaboration, this year's event, which showcased different aspects of Total Defence, including a CPR training workshop, reached out to more than 15,000 students, sending the message that you are never too young to be involved in Total Defence.

Page: 2013

We agree with Dr Intan, and have plans for more of such school centred events and activities to be rolled out. MINDEF will continue to work with the Ministry of Education (MOE) to explore how Total Defence can be better integrated with National Education in schools.

Sir, Mr Sitoh Yih Pin asked how MINDEF reaches out to Singaporeans, especially women, to build commitment to defence and how we use new media platforms in engaging Singaporeans of all backgrounds.

First of all, MINDEF continues to engage different segments of society to enhance commitment to defence and support for National Service. We engage the grassroots leaders and a wide range of community stakeholders on defence issues through, for example, the Advisory Council for Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD). We also work closely with employers to gain their support for their employees' NS commitments. This is what Mrs Lina Chiam mentioned earlier, seemingly that Singaporeans seem to be disadvantaged because of their National Service obligations. I want to assure Mrs Lina Chiam that many employers do understand and support the need for defence. Over the years, many employers, both local and foreign, MNCs and SMEs, across various industry sectors have been awarded the Total Defence Award for their commitment and support to MINDEF which serves to recognise the employers who have demonstrated their strong support for defence.

From our 2011 survey conducted by MINDEF, over 80% of NSmen said that their employers are supportive of their NS commitments.

We also work closely with educators to equip them to be effective interlocutors on defence issues. In collaboration with MOE, MINDEF/SAF rolled out the SAF-School Partnership Programme in 2011 to the Junior Colleges, schools with Integrated Programmes, Polytechnics and ITEs. Twenty-nine out of 30 of these Post-secondary Education Institutions signed up, partnering with SAF units to co-organise meaningful activities to expose students, both boys and girls, to defence issues and also prepare the male pre-enlistees for NS. We also sought new ways for families and friends of our servicemen and members of the public to support our servicemen on overseas deployments. One example is the Navy's Sea of Support microsite, where messages of support can be posted.

Sir, Mr Sitoh is absolutely right that women are very much part of our National Service journey. They are critical in sustaining our national commitment to defence and supporting our servicemen's commitment to NS. Some of you may have seen video clips made by students for our current N.E.mation! competition that make this very point. If you have not, I encourage you to have a look, at www.nemation.sg . Additionally, since 2007, MINDEF has been regularly conducting dialogue sessions with representatives from various women's groups to seek their views, concerns, suggestions and support for NS and our commitment to defence.

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MINDEF has recently also embarked on various initiatives to reach out to the wider population of Singaporeans, including women. For example, we produced a 12-part web mini-series called " Basic Military Talk ". This mini-series aims to inform viewers from all walks of life, particularly women, on different facets of military life in an entertaining manner. In January, our PIONEER magazine also hit the newsstands bundled with entertainment weekly 8 Days , so as to allow us to reach out to more Singaporeans, beyond our traditional NSman audience. We are looking to extend this initiative to other magazines in the months ahead, so keep a lookout.

Secondly, MINDEF's engagement approach has shifted towards a more "participative" form of engagement, using new media platforms. For example, through the annual N.E.mation! competition, we encourage young Singaporeans to reflect on the importance of Total Defence and the Singaporean identity through the creative medium of animation. More recently, the inaugural ciNE65 short-film competition last year asked aspiring film-makers to share what Singapore means to them through the medium of film.

Thirdly, MINDEF has established a vibrant and expanding online presence and is reaching out via new social media platforms to engage Singaporeans. People have been regularly "liking" and sharing our content on our cyberpioneer Facebook page, while our cyberpioneerTV YouTube channel now has over 300 videos and about 6.4 million views. The TV-adaptation of the reality-style web-series "Every Singaporean Son" (ESS) started screening on the National Geographic Channel in March 2011. Based on its ratings then, "ESS" was the No. 1 programme on Singapore Cable TV over the last two years, across what the media industry calls "factual entertainment channels". Entertainment aside, these efforts help to deepen the public's understanding of and support for NS and enhance their commitment to defence.

Sir, we are heartened that Singaporeans' commitment to NS and defence remains high. Our survey conducted in 2011 showed that more than 90% of our respondents – comprising NSFs, NSmen and members of the public – agree that NS is necessary, Singapore is where they belong and they would defend Singapore should it come under threat. But what is just as heartening as the survey results are the many examples of NSmen who time and again have proven their strong commitment to serve. For example, MAJ (NS) Tan Tze Hian of 434 SAR has been coming back for ICT every year since 1998 and has now completed 13 ICT cycles in total. In another example, CPT(NS) Edzra Bin Iskandar, the Battalion 2IC of 806 SIR, who graduated from the 12th NS Command and Staff Course last October, is currently serving another high-key ICT within the same work year. Both MAJ (NS) Tan and CPT (NS) Edzra are examples of NSmen with unwavering commitment to our NS system and will go the extra mile for their ICT.

I will conclude my response by showing Members all the winning entry of this year's N.E.mation! competition where students were asked to produce a video based on the theme "NS: From Fathers to Sons". It is titled "More than Words", and I think when you see it, you will realise it is more than words; produced by the team who calls themselves the "Hungry Monsters" of Dunman High School. Please enjoy [ A video clip Vernacular Speeches* was shown to hon Members ].

The Chairman: Members, we have some time for clarification. Dr Lim Wee Kiak.

Page: 2015

Dr Lim Wee Kiak: Sir, while the Government is pushing for productivity in the private sector and asking the private sector to review the way it does things, I hope MINDEF and SAF also can do likewise. I am heartened to hear from the Minister of State just now that NSmen are using the LEARNet now to improve learning so that it can cut down learning time by 10% to 15%. They are using electronic range now so that the time taken is shortened as well.

I would like to ask the Minister now to clarify whether the considerations to reduce the NS duration from 30 months to 24 months in 2004-2005 period, does it stand still or are we continuing to improve? Does he foresee that we will be able to reduce the NS duration further because of the productivity gains we are gaining?

The Minister also mentioned that there is a political will, but there is also an opportunity cost. Yes, I understand that. I am talking about this now because I am not gunning for political gains because I am from the same party. I am here speaking on behalf of Singapore because there is really an opportunity cost for our young Singapore males who are serving NS now, but they are competing with an international workforce, they are competing with males from other countries at the international realm. That is one clarification.

The second clarification is for the Minister of State regarding the issue on equity. He mentioned that the principle of NS has to be on equity. I would like to ask the Minister of State, when we were asking for flexibility in terms of disruptions and deferment, it does not mean that the NSman or the NSF does not want to serve. They want to serve but they are hoping that they can fulfil their personal aspiration of completing part of their tertiary education before they come back to serve. Many countries such as Turkey, Korea and even Taiwan have introduced flexibility in their system whereby they allow the males to serve as long as they serve before a certain age. So, perhaps the Minister of State can elaborate on that.

Dr Ng Eng Hen: Mr Chairman, I gave the considerations in terms of ascribing the NS duration. The first consideration is that our NSmen are not second line response. They are the force that has to be stood up. And you need an adequate duration to train them to play that role effectively. I think a greater sin is to call up people for NS and not train them effectively for that role. So, I think all of us will agree that the political will means that you call them up and you train them effectively to play that role. That is a primary consideration.

We did reduce NS from two and a half to two years in 2004, and, in 2006, the ORNS from 13 years to 10 years. But as I said, that was in line with our 3G transformation and technological improvements. More importantly, it also corresponded with a surge of NS intakes that occurred from 2006 to 2015. But from 2016, each cohort size will fall. So, I think we want to be very careful about this transition, study it carefully to see what it entails in terms of capabilities and operational aspects. So, until further review, we should keep at least the two-year and 10-year cycles.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Mr Chairman, I thank the Member for that clarification. As I mentioned earlier, our considerations for disruption are based on the fundamental principle of equity. In doing so, we want to maintain the integrity of our National Service system. This is of importance because, as the Minister explained, National Servicemen form the backbone of the SAF. When we look at considerations for deferment, we already do that for up to the first education bar, which means for NS-liable males to do their A-levels, polytechnics, or equivalent educational qualifications. And then beyond that, I think if we allow a system where anyone can choose to do NS at his own time, it would be very difficult to have an NS system that works. So, we allow for deferment for up to the first education bar. Thereafter, the NS-liable males come in, they do their NS together and beyond that, we have a system that ensures that students of the same cohort can be disrupted to go to university at the same time. This is a system that we have maintained and we should continue to preserve this system so that the integrity of our National Service system is maintained.

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The Chairman: In the interest of equity, I would appreciate it if the Members could keep their clarifications short.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah: Sir, I have two clarifications for Minister of State Lawrence Wong. First question is, how long NS deferment is MINDEF prepared to consider for Joseph Schooling? For male swimmers, I understand that they will peak at around 23, 24 years old, that is, by the 2020 Olympics. Second clarification: is MINDEF ready to recognise sports achievement in lieu of National Service, that means, exempt them if they obtain Olympic medals?

Mr Lawrence Wong: I thank the Member for the clarifications. I would rather not get into the details of individual cases, but I will just say for Joseph Schooling, as I understand, he is already deferred from his National Service up to 2014. This is on the premise of the deferment for the first education bar which I talked about. So, he will have time to train for the Olympics this year and I am sure we will cheer for him and wish him well. Beyond that, I think it is premature to talk about whether or not we can defer any further. If he wishes to apply for deferment later on, we will look at the particular case and application, and as I mentioned earlier, we will review each case on its own merit, on the basis of the individual's potential, performance and also with input from MCYS. I am sure, if that application is made by Joseph Schooling, we will look at it appropriately.

On the second query on allowing for exemption of National Service on the basis of sports achievement, I think this is a very fundamental issue because we have National Service obligations and duties for every Singaporean male. This is something we preserve. If we were to allow for exemptions, it would be very difficult, as I mentioned earlier, to preserve that integrity of our National Service system, and that must be the core basis upon which we make our considerations. I would not want to have a broad-based policy to say that anyone who makes certain achievements can be exempted, but rather, I think, we should preserve the integrity of our NS system so that it remains a core of SAF. But from time to time, for individual cases, for exceptional sportsmen, as I mentioned earlier, we can and we have given flexibility for them to pursue their aspirations to train and also to compete in international competitions.

Mr Pritam Singh: I have three points to make. I struggle to say whether they are clarifications or not – just some reflections on what the Minister has said. I will be as brief as I can. The first point I would like to make is with reference to the Minister's comments. I completely acknowledge the strategic considerations that necessitate a strong SAF; and, I think, many Singaporeans probably feel the same way. My only concern is this: I remember a few days ago, the Minister of Finance Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam spoke about looking for new ways to raise taxes in future to look after the next generation of Singaporeans. My concern is defence will always come in the gun sights of many, many Singaporeans as the Ministry which has to reduce spending. It is almost like a contradiction; on the one hand, we appreciate that we need a strong SAF, but on the other hand, there is a danger that it will always be in the spotlight for that reason. And people will always come up with counter arguments about how we are not in an environment where this is Kuwait or Iraq, and so forth.

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The Chairman: Please, I think we got the point.

Mr Pritam Singh: It is just a concern I have and something that perhaps MINDEF may need to do more to convince Singaporeans with.

Second point, I thank the Minister for the remarks on Malay soldiers, and I think it is incredibly important that National Service be seen as a leveller in society. And so those remarks are very welcome.

The third clarification is with regard to NS deferment. Can I just clarify with the Minister of State, when can we expect this new framework for NS deferment for athletes to be announced in public? I understand that there was a press conference held in the middle of February about this issue. Are there going to be more details to be announced?

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Dr Ng Eng Hen: All of us know that this is an investment and we have a lot to protect. And I would appreciate Mr Pritam Singh's partnership in this; convince young Singaporeans that Singapore is worth defending.

Mr Lawrence Wong: The announcement that was made earlier was by MCYS. I do not think they were referring to any specific review per se . But, in fact, MINDEF regularly reviews our policies on National Service, including the policies with regard to sportsmen. As we continue to review these schemes, we will make announcements, when ready or when appropriate, if we think that there are changes to be made.

Dr Ng Eng Hen: Mr Chairman, a clarification. I was of the assumption that Mr Pritam Singh agrees with me that a strong defence is necessary for Singaporeans. So, I just take it for a fact that he agrees that the amount we commit to defence is indeed required and indeed called for.

Mr Pritam Singh: I cannot disagree with that. I recognise that it is important. My only concern is it may in future become a cause for consideration. Every few years, someone will raise the issue and MINDEF has to go through this process again. My whole point was it may be a case of reminding Singaporeans that this is important.

Dr Ng Eng Hen: Mr Chairman, I am grateful that Mr Pritam Singh has pointed out and he agrees with our defence expenditure and what we are doing to build a strong SAF. And I look forward to the partnership where we continue to convince young Singaporeans that this is necessary.

Asst Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene (Nominated Member): Thank you, Mr Chairman. I am pleased that the Minister has reaffirmed National Service as a key nation-building institution. I am glad that the process of the integration of Malays in the SAF is progressing well. I would like to ask the Minister whether it is possible for the SAF to lead the pace of integration rather than for the society to lead the pace of integration.

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Dr Ng Eng Hen: Sir, the SAF is a microcosm of the entire society. Rather than go into debate as to who leads what, it is an evolving aspect. As I have answered in my reply, our principle is that we will maximise from each NSman regardless of race. If the serviceman is committed to the SAF and has the educational qualifications, we will deploy him and advance him based on that merit qualifications.

And as I have given some details, indeed, in tandem with rising educational qualifications, both the number and the roles that Malays have played in SAF have increased, whether it is commandos, artillery, sea soldiers, or pilots. And we will continue to work with the rest of the society for this.

I also wish to add to Mr Pritam Singh's earlier point that Singaporeans are feeling that they are contributing to NS while others do not. Members will realise that second generation PRs are required to do NS, as we have previously answered in this House.

The Chairman: Dr Lim Wee Kiak, you have a clarification?

Dr Lim Wee Kiak: Thank you, Mr Chairman. I would like to clarify with the Minister of State with regard to his statement about cohort integrity – how important is cohort integrity in the whole question of equity. As we know, every single unit in SAF now, men and women who are in the unit are of different ages and from different cohorts. Why is this cohort integrity important rather than flexibility?

Mr Lawrence Wong: I thank the Member for the opportunity to clarify this point again. I do not think it is the case that every single unit has men of different ages. They largely come in after school in the same cohorts and therefore we do not want to have people comparing with one another when they can start their university studies. Our approach is to make sure that students coming into NS are of the same cohort. When they complete their NS, they will have the chance, if they want to go on to university studies, to pursue their studies at the university at the same time. That is why we have given flexibility for disruption for students to make sure that this is possible. Before they come into National Service, we also give them flexibility to defer up to the first education bar, as I mentioned earlier. So, these are considerations both before enlistment and towards the tail end of their National Service period where we also offer flexibility for disruption to ensure that students of the same cohort get into university at the same time.

The Chairman: Er Dr Lee Bee Wah, last clarification.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah: Thank you, Sir. I would like to ask the Minister of State: why is the deferment for Joseph Schooling until 2014? If we were to help him to prepare for the Olympics, it should be based on the Olympic cycle. Why not until 2016 then?

Mr Lawrence Wong: I thank the Member for the clarification again. I know we all feel very strongly about the potential for a sports person like him. But, as I mentioned earlier, he is now deferred on the premise of his education bar. He is pursuing his studies.

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Dr Ng Eng Hen: Mr Chairman, I would encourage Members to observe the Standing Orders and not bring up individual cases in this House. I think it sets a very bad precedent.

Mr Lawrence Wong: I think we should not get too much into the case. As I mentioned earlier, I have already explained the flexibility that has been offered to him – like with any other NS-liable male, in terms of first education bar. And that is up to 2014. If he were to pursue and apply for deferment thereafter, MINDEF will look at the case, based on the merits of that particular case.

The Chairman: Dr Lim Wee Kiak, can I invite you to withdraw your amendment?

Dr Lim Wee Kiak: Sir, it gives me great pleasure on behalf of the GPC as well as the Members of this House to thank the Minister, the Minister of State as well as the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for their replies to all our cuts. More importantly, it gives me great pleasure to thank the men and women of MINDEF as well as the armed forces who have worked very hard so that we can continue to enjoy peace, prosperity and happiness. Sir, may I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $11,789,000,000 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.

The sum of $490,000,000 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.