ENSURING SAF IS SECURE FROM RADICAL ACTIVITIES

ENSURING SAF IS SECURE FROM RADICAL ACTIVITIES: 3.

Mr Michael Palmer asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence whether the radical activities of NSF Muhammad Fadil Abdul Hamid have in any way undermined the security and integrity of the SAF and what steps are being taken to ensure that the SAF is secure from similar self-radicalised activists.

4.

Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence how has the Ministry been working with the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure the early detection of self-radicalised individuals.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence (Mr Teo Chee Hean): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to take Question Nos. 3 and 4 together?

Mr Speaker: Yes.

Mr Teo Chee Hean: Mr Speaker, Sir, investigations have shown that Muhammad Fadil was a solitary individual who took the wrong path.

This specific case, therefore, has not affected the security and integrity of the SAF or MINDEF’s view of other Malay or Muslim servicemen, who continue to serve dutifully and with commitment in their units. MINDEF has briefed SAF

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commanders on this case, and they have briefed their own servicemen so as to ensure that the whole organisation understands this position clearly.

The security agencies in MINDEF and the Ministry of Home Affairs worked closely together on this case. They acted as soon as there was sufficient indication that Muhammad Fadil was a security risk. At the national level, we have instituted security systems and processes to detect, monitor and neutralise potential security threats. MINDEF and the SAF is part of this national system, and will continue to maintain a high level of vigilance against any potential threats that may surface.

Mdm Halimah Yacob (Jurong): Sir, I would like to ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether this recent incident will have any effect on the deployment of Malay/Muslim servicemen in the SAF.

Mr Teo Chee Hean: Mr Speaker, Sir, as I stated earlier, investigations have shown that Muhammad Fadil was a solitary individual who took the wrong path. This specific case, therefore, will not affect the way MINDEF deploys Malay or Muslim servicemen in the SAF. The role of Malays in the defence of our nation and in the SAF and the associated challenges and dilemmas we face, are difficult and sensitive issues for our multi-racial, multi-religious society. They have confronted Singapore since our early days of nation-building. The Government has on several occasions discussed them in this House as well as with Malay community leaders. Over the years, we have been able to all work together in an honest, realistic and practical manner to make progress together as fellow Singaporeans.

The SAF is a microcosm of Singapore society, and race relations within the SAF reflect those in our broader society. Thus as Singapore has made steady progress

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towards racial and religious integration, so has the SAF. Malays serve today in many more places and roles in the SAF than before – in the Commandos, Engineers, Artillery, and as Pilots and Sea Soldiers. As Malay educational standards have improved, a higher proportion of Malay enlistees are fulfilling the educational prerequisites to be selected for commanders’ training. Indeed, more Malays are now serving their full-time national service as commanders. And among our regular Malay servicemen, some have risen to hold senior and sensitive Command and Staff appointments. In each case, it is because the individual serviceman has the required qualifications and merit, and is the most suitable person for the job.

Nevertheless, in an age of jihadist terrorism, race and religion remain salient issues. Events around the world as well as continuing incidents in our immediate neighbourhood remind us that it will be a long time before the threat from jihadist terrorism subsides. Singapore – including the SAF – will need to watch this international context, and continue to manage our own racial and religious issues sensitively and pragmatically so as to safeguard our racial and religious harmony.

The SAF will not let individual incidents, in particular those which impinge on sensitive racial and religious areas, cause distrust or suspicions among us, and negate the progress we have so painstakingly made. When we acknowledge the real problems that we face and tackle them together sincerely and practically, we can strengthen understanding, trust and confidence among our communities in Singapore, and thus make further progress together.

Our best approach is for the SAF to decide on appointments and advancements based on qualifications and merits of the servicemen so long as they are committed to Singapore, dedicated to the SAF, and capable of doing the job. By

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assessing each person according to these criteria, we can recognise the commitment, contributions and abilities of our servicemen, who come together to serve in the defence of our nation.