COLONIAL EMBLEM ON UNIFORMS OF POLICE AND ARMED FORCES

Madam Chan Choy Siong asked the Minister of Defence whether he is aware that the present uniforms of both the Police Force and the Armed Forces still carry the emblem of the British Crown, a symbol of the colonial era, and whether he has any plans to cease the use of the emblem.

Mr Wee Toon Boon (for the Minister of Defence): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Interior and Defence commenced in June 1966 a full-scale review of all the existing uniforms of the Singapore Armed Forces. This has resulted in a new set of uniforms having been devised for the army and new patterns for the police are now being finalised. Arrangements are almost complete to introduce the new army uniform in the middle of 1967.

With regard to the new badges of ranks, these have already been introduced for the army, and the British Crown is now no longer used by any officer. The crest of the Republic of Singapore has replaced this.

New badges of ranks for the police have also been re-designed and, as soon as tenders have been called and accepted. It will be possible to introduce the new badges for the entire police force.