RSAF PLANES LOST/DAMAGED IN FLIGHT

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence if he will say how many Republic of Singapore Air Force planes were lost or damaged in flight in the week of the 21st to the 27th of July, 1985.

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, two RSAF Skyhawk aircraft were lost in flight during this period. The details have been reported in the press.

The first incident occurred in the afternoon of 24th July 1985 over the Straits of Malacca. The pilot ejected safely.

The second incident occurred in the morning of 25th July 1985 near Pulau Sarimbun in the Straits of Johor. The pilot was seen ejecting, but did not survive. His body was recovered three days later, after an intensive air and sea search.

Since then, a third Skyhawk crash has occurred in the Philippines on 26th August 1985. The pilot ejected safely.

As far as can be determined at present, the causes of the three crashes are unrelated. However, as a precaution, after the third accident, the RSAF has temporarily grounded all its Skyhawk aircraft for thorough technical inspections. The Skyhawks will resume flying once these checks are completed and they are certified safe.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have a few supplementary questions for the Minister of State. First of all, I see that there are Boards of Inquiry that had been appointed. May I ask again whether the findings of these Boards of Inquiry will be made public or, if not, at least released to the Members of this House?

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as has been explained in this House before, the findings of Boards of Inquiry are privileged documents and will not be made public.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I know on what grounds are they privileged?

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Board of Inquiry proceedings are privileged, following British practice, for two reasons. Firstly, legal difficulties, because witnesses appearing before a Board of Inquiry are not protected by the same rules of evidence which, apply in the Courts. Secondly, because there could, in some cases, be security objections. It is not parliamentary practice to release Board of Inquiry's findings and reports.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, does the Minister of State not realize that he has not answered my question? May I ask him why is it necessary to follow the British practice? Secondly, may I ask him: does he not realize that all the answers that he has given are completely irrelevant and evasive?

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Member for Anson may yet regret his supplementary question. We follow British parliamentary practice when it makes good sense to do so.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Minister of State has said that these three crashes were unrelated, but that the planes have been grounded. May I ask for an assurance from the Minister of State that if it is found that these crashes were due to mechanical defects in these planes, or they had not been airworthy at the time that they were taken to the air, that finding will be made public?

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Such findings shall be made public as it is in the public interest to make public.

Dr Arthur Beng Kian Lam (Fengshan): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, is the Minister of State satisfied that the track record of the RSAF is satisfactory as compared to other air forces?

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Deputy Speaker,Sir,l think the RSAF has a reasonable, indeed good track record, Over the last five to ten years, the RSAF has expanded rapidly and dramatically. The numbers of pilots, numbers of aircraft, amount of flying, all have practically doubled. During this period, we have seen also a corresponding improvement in the accident rate of RSAF aircraft. To ask what has happened within one week or one month, and to conclude that something must be wrong for five years or ten years, is a typical example of searching for the irrelevant fact and coming out with the wrong answer.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Does the Minister of State not realize that there were two crashes about a year ago? Also, the same planes, I believe, Now, my next question for the Minister of State is this: if these planes were found to be defective - that there were some mechanical defects in them - would the family of the pilot who lost his life be paid adequate compensation as is provided for under the law where an employee in a private employment loses his life as a result of any negligence in the equipment or in the care taken over his safety?

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in all cases, SAF personnel are paid adequate compensation.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Does the Minister of State not realize that under the SAF (Pensions) Regulations, all that his family will get, besides pension for the widow, is a year's salary? But if he is in the private sector, the dependants, the family of the person in these circumstances, will get much more, far more than is provided for under the SAF (Pensions) Regulations.

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, if the Member for Anson feels that the Pensions Regulations are inadequate, then we should have a debate on the Pensions Regulations. I believe today's question is on the accidents.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, does the Minister not realize that the answer lies in repealing Section 14 of the Government Proceedings Act which would then enable a serviceman, who loses his life as a result of any negligence, either in the equipment or in the inadequate care taken for his safety, to bring an action in our courts and claim the full measure of damages?

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I think this has been debated before, and the then Minister for Defence, now also the First Deputy Prime Minister, has explained why it is not practical for the Armed Forces to be in a position where it can be sued by individuals. In war, there are a myriad circumstances in which a person may be injured or lose his life, and it would be impossible for the Government to deal with the millions of claims afterwards. It is against standard practice and it is nothing new.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Is the Minister of State seriously suggesting that we are in a situation of war at the moment?

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am not suggesting that.