PEOPLE'S DEFENCE FORCE BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

2.52 p.m.

The Minister of Defence (Dr Goh Keng Swee): Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

On 23rd December this year I introduced the Army Bill which provides for the establishment of a full-time armed force for the State of Singapore. I then mentioned the additional need to have a part-time fighting force which would be an essential part of our Armed Forces. This Bill provides for the establishment and maintenance of a volunteer force to be known as the "People's Defence Force".

Sir, we are a small nation and our financial resources are limited. We therefore cannot afford to raise and maintain large defence forces on a permanent basis. The regular army will have to be complemented by a volunteer force.

The People's Defence Force will call upon our young men and women to serve their country and undergo military training without seriously interfering with their normal lives. The training they receive will not only prepare them for the part that they will take beside our regular Army but also provide them with the necessary disciplines and skills required in the task of nation-building.

Sir, to come now to the specific provisions of the Bill. Part II provides for the raising and maintenance of the People's Defence Force. The Force will be divided into corps, regiments, services and departments. Provision is also made for the disbandment or amalgamation of one or more such units. The enlistment into the Force is open to Singapore citizens of 18 years of age and above who are medically fit. Boys between the ages of 14 and 17 years may be enlisted as drummer boys and band boys in the Force. With regard to discipline, the provisions of Parts IV, VII and VIII of the Army Act will apply to members of the People's Defence Force. Provision is also made in Part II of this Bill for the President to commission officers of the Force.

Part III deals with Colour Training Service of members of the Force. No member of the Force shall be required to attend at weekly parades for a total of more than 20 hours in one month or at continuous training for more than 16 days in any one year. Every member of the Force shall be required to perform Colour Training for a period of three years. The Bill also includes provision for members of the Force performing Colour Training and their dependants to be entitled to receive pensions and gratuities in respect of injury or death resulting from such Colour Training Service. A member of the Force performing Colour Training Service may be released from the Force on his giving three months' notice of his desire to do so. Certain offences are provided for in clause 25 to which a member of the Force is subject when he is not attached to any unit of the Singapore Armed Forces.

Part IV of the Bill provides for a Reserve composed of Volunteers and National Servicemen. The President is empowered to recall by Proclamation all or any part of the Reserve to Colour Training Service at any time. Members of the Reserve may also be called up for mobilised service. Service in the Reserve shall be limited to a minimum period of seven years after which a person can resign on giving three months' notice.

Under Part V, the President is empowered to call out all or any part of the Force for mobilised service. Members of the Force who are called up for mobilised service and their dependants are eligible for pensions and gratuities for injury or death resulting from such service. Members of the Force, when mobilised, will be subject to the provisions of the Army Act with regard to discipline. During a state of war, the President may direct that members of the Force may be attached to the Singapore Armed Forces or the armed forces of any Commonwealth country.

Part VI of the Bill provides for a University Training Corps and a Cadet Corps, and any such Corps may, with the concurrence of the President, be attached to the Singapore Armed Forces. The President is empowered to commission members of the University Training Corps and of the Cadet Corps. Clause 60 provides for the establishment of the "People's Defence Force Benevolent Fund" which, as the name implies, will be administered for the benefit of members of the Force by a person appointed by the Minister.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Dr Goh Keng Swee].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.