VIGILANTE CORPS (Particulars)

Mr P. Govindaswamy asked the Minister for Health and Home Affairs (a) if he will give facts and figures of the progress and work of the Vigilante Corps; (b) what is the ratio of members of the Corps to instructors; (c) what measures have been taken to counsel members of the Corps who are frequently absent from parades; and (d) if he is aware that due to the poor quality of uniforms supplied to members of the Corps many of them prefer to stitch their own uniform, and what steps are being taken in this matter.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Lim Guan Hoo) (for the Minister for Health and Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been asked by my Minister to reply.

The Vigilante Corps (VC) was reorganised into a National Service organisation for part-time National Servicemen in 1967. Since then it has a constant inflow of about 5,000 National Servicemen annually. With the intake of more members, the Corps was able to extend its service in 1971 to include Civil Defence training for its part-time National Servicemen. Early this year its service was further extended with the establishment of the Community Security Force (CSF).

Today, the Vigilante Corps has emerged as a large and expanding disciplined force. Out of a total of 31,089 National Servicemen in the Corps as at 30th September, 1974: -

(i) 11,208 are in the Vigilante Service;

(ii) 13,318 are in the Civil Defence Service;

(iii) 5,892 are in the Community Security Service; and

(iv) 671 are in the Auxiliary Fire Service.

The Vigilante Service is a mass youth organisation which seeks to inculcate in the men a sense of social consciousness, responsibility and discipline through civics and organised youth activities. Specific cultural groups have been formed to enrich the cultural life of our young citizens. In addition, a Lifeguard Unit was set up in February this year. Within a brief span of eight months since its inception, members of the Lifeguard Unit have saved the lives of 13 persons.

In the Civil Defence Service, the National Servicemen are trained in rescue operations, first-aid and fire-fighting, so as to meet any national emergency. Included in this field of service recently is the introduction of Lift Rescue Training. It is hoped that the availability of a group of well-trained VC National Servicemen for such rescue work will help to minimise the inconvenience that can be caused to HDB flat-dwellers in the event of power failure.

Since the Community Security Force became operational in January this year, there has been a significant reduction in crime between 7 p.m, and 11 p.m, in the crime-prone areas selected for CSF policing service. During the first six months of this year, there were on the average 21 days per month during which such areas were free of crime because of the presence of the CSF members.

The ratio of instructors to members of the Corps is 1 : 125. However, as there are some vacancies in the instructorate, the actual ratio is 1 : 172. Steps are being taken to fill the vacancies.

The Vigilante Corps has set up a counselling service for VC National Servicemen. It is part of the job of this counselling unit to go into individual cases of those who are habitually absent from duty or training. They also visit homes of habitual absentees to find out their problems and advise them to return for training or duty. Absentees working in shifts or at night are allowed to do their training during the day. Alternatively, they can attend make-up training subsequently, provided they are granted leave of absence from the usual training in advance. It should, however, be pointed out that the counselling service is not the decisive factor in reducing the absentee rate in the Vigilante Corps. With suitable punitive measures and an improved training programme, the Corps has now been able to cut down drastically the rate of absenteeism. As at 1st April, 1974, there were a total of 2,494 bad absentees and gazetted deserters in the Vigilante Corps. This number was reduced to 909 as at 30th September this year. Taking into account that the total strength of the Vigilante Corps today is 30,984 (excluding 105 deserters), the overall absentee rate has now dropped to an all-time low of 2.9 per cent.

In a mass uniformed organisation like the Vigilante Corps, it is not possible for all members of the Corps to be provided with made-to-measure uniforms. However, every effort has been made to improve upon the style and comfort of the uniforms provided for members of the Corps. Prior to 1967, the national servicemen in the Vigilante Corps were provided with uniforms made of drill. This has since been changed to cotton for the shirts and teteron for the trousers. Junior officers in the Corps are issued with uniforms made to standard sizes owing to the large numbers involved. Slight alterations to the uniforms may have to be made by individuals. The senior officers are provided with made-to-measure uniforms in view of their smaller numbers.