ADDENDA, NATIONAL SECURITY COORDINATION SECRETARIAT

NATIONAL SECURITY COORDINATION SECRETARIAT: PROF. S. JAYAKUMAR

Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security

It is during times when no terror has struck that the danger of fatigue and complacency increases. Recent terror attacks in India and Pakistan, and arrests in the UK,

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remind us that the threat from trans-national terrorism persists. Continued vigilance and resilience are essential if we are to achieve safety and security for Singapore and Singaporeans. In Singapore, our security agencies have remained vigilant. Although we have made good progress, we cannot afford to be complacent. A well co-ordinated Government structure to deal with the threat of trans-national terrorism can only be effective with the participation of all Singaporeans. Our national security must be a collective effort of the Government, the people of Singapore and the business community. The National Security Coordination Secretariat (NSCS) will therefore continue to organise and coordinate national security awareness programmes, such as education and outreach activities to engage all stakeholders. While aiming for the best outcomes, we must be prepared for the worst.

Whole-of-Government coordination

Trans-national terrorism is a complex and constantly evolving threat. To deal with it effectively demands a whole-of-Government approach that emphasises coordination and collaboration. This approach leverages on the resources and capabilities of individual Ministries and Government agencies, creating synergies without placing an undue burden on budget and manpower.

Leveraging on technology

Terrorists are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods. We will correspondingly have to harness advanced technologies to deter, detect, protect and respond. Given Singapore's limited resources, technology is an effective force multiplier. Therefore, a National Security Engineering Centre (NSEC) has been created within the Defence Science Technology Agency to support the national security effort. A national security technology roadmap has also been developed to guide the exploitation and development of technology.

Horizon scanning and risk management

NSCS has developed a prototype Risk Assessment and Horizon Scanning (RAHS) capability. This is being deployed across various domains and has raised Singapore's strategic anticipation capability. The RAHS system will also facilitate inter-agency collaboration and horizontal communication among the various security agencies, reflecting the whole-of-Government approach that underpins that national security effort in Singapore.