FIRST OPEN MOBILIZATION EXERCISE (Report)

Mr Deputy Speaker: Questions 1 and 2, addressed to the Prime Minister, will be taken at 2.30 pm, pursuant to the resolution of the House of 4th March, 1985. Mr Ng Kah Ting.

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence (a) whether the first Open Mobilization exercise was a success; (b) what were the shortcomings encountered and how does his Ministry propose to overcome them; (c) whether reservists will be allowed to keep a set of uniforms with them all the time; and (d) what steps his Ministry plans to take to improve on such exercises in regard to reducing the time taken to report to camp.

The Minister of State for Defence and Trade and Industry (BG Lee Hsien Loong) (for the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, assessed against the objectives, the Open Mobilization exercise was a success.

Its first objective was to test the use of codewords. The second was to evaluate the system of activating units through radio, television, Rediffusion and cinema announcements. The third was to assess how well the mobilization centres could receive and manage reservists reporting at a fast pace, and how accurately and speedily they could report the progress to higher levels. The last objective was to have reservists and members of the public understand the Open Mobilization system, and know the part each has to play.

All systems functioned smoothly. The reservists were highly motivated and supportive. Many reported early, even though they were working the night shift or attending night classes. More than 90% had reported within four hours, and 97% responded by the six-hour deadline. It testifies to the fine spirit of the reservists, their families, their employers and the public.

No significant shortcomings were encountered, but some details have to be improved. For example, the announcements of the Open Mobilization over television and radio should be made more frequently. Also some mobilization centres, such as schools, did not have enough telephone lines and other facilities. Mindef will remedy these problems before the next exercise.

The main drawback of the exercise on the 8th July was that, with the pre-warning and the publicity, some realism had to be sacrificed. This was recognized even at the planning stage. But for the first exercise, it could not be helped. Some future exercises will be conducted without advance notice to test this aspect of the system.

As for allowing reservists to keep a set of uniforms with them all the time, it has been the SAF's practice for many years to issue each reservist two sets of combat uniforms.

Concerning the time allowed for the reservists to report to camp, Mindef does not presently intend to change the six-hour limit. Within this limit, it is up to each reservist to report back to his unit as quickly as possible. However, the exercises will progressively become more demanding, Besides being conducted without advance notice, some exercises will go beyond reservists simply reporting back to camp. The reservists will also have to load up their stores and equipment and deploy their units in the field, as if for real operations. The aim, of course, is to field a fully ready fighting force in the shortest possible time.

Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, while it is very heartening to receive the report from the Hon. Minister of State for Defence and Trade and Industry on the success of the first Open Mobilization scheme, will future exercises be conducted in such a way as to test the full preparedness of our reservists?

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the answer is yes. For the first exercise, it was necessary for us to give pre-warning and publicity because the public had to be made aware of the nature of the exercise and what was expected of them. Otherwise, there would have been alarm and confusion which would have been highly undesirable. However, it is important that reservists should know that mobilization, whether open or silent, can take place at any time, on any day or weekend. Therefore, for future exercises, we do intend to activate the system without giving advance notice, so that the reservists will not know beforehand that this is the evening when they must watch their television sets for the mobilization symbol.

Also, beyond coming back without notice, we will expect them to go not only to report but to equip themselves, to shake-out, to fall into battle order and to move out, and perhaps conduct a realistic exercise to verify that the whole system works. We will not do this with our entire order of battle, but we will do it with components, and we will do it regularly.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, will this be continually done so that it becomes a pan of the way of life of Singapore?

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, yes, it will be done regularly so that it becomes a part of our way of life. Silent mobilization has become a part of our way of life - we do it regularly and nobody takes any notice. In time, Open Mobilization will attain the same status.