RECENT DEATHS OF THREE SAF SERVICEMEN

Column No : 3161

RECENT DEATHS OF THREE SAF SERVICEMEN:

(Statement by the Minister for Defence) RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Mr Speaker, Sir, one regular SAF serviceman and two Full-time National Servicemen died during training in unrelated incidents over the period of 21st August to 23rd September this year. MINDEF is very sorry for the anguish and distress that has been caused to their families and loved ones. I deeply regret the loss of these three young men. I extend my heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones.

MINDEF treats every training death with the utmost seriousness. In every case we convene a thorough investigation to determine the cause of death and also to enable us to take all the necessary measures so that what can be prevented will not happen again.

It is important to remember that the SAF has to train our soldiers as they will fight. The harder and more realistically we train them, the more likely they are to fight well and survive when called upon to defend the nation. The training also has to be conducted professionally and safely. MINDEF therefore constantly aims to strike the right balance between training realism and safety. We take all the safety precautions and measures feasible to minimise risks. But in the nature of military training, there will always remain some risks which cannot be completely eliminated.

Let me now explain the circumstances of the three cases and the measures that are in place to ensure the safety of our servicemen as they undergo military training, as well as the actions that MINDEF has taken. I shall take the most recent case first, which occurred on 23rd September 2003.

Recruit Chew Heng Huat, Andrew

- IPPT Categorisation Test, 23rd September 2003

Summary of Incident

The serviceman who died was Recruit Chew Heng Huat, Andrew. On enlistment, Recruit Chew had been classified as being medically fit except for being moderately obese. He was in the fourth week of the four-month Basic Military Training Programme for obese recruits. On 23rd September 2003 at the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) School 1 in Pulau Tekong, Recruit Chew was undergoing an Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) categorisation exercise to gauge his fitness level. At about 1745 hours, during the 2.4 km run of the IPPT, Recruit Chew collapsed 30 metres short of the end point. He was immediately evacuated to the Pulau Tekong Medical Centre for medical attention and thereafter, evacuated by helicopter to the Singapore General Hospital, arriving at 1842 hours. He was pronounced dead at 1905 hours. The cause of death is pending final determination by the forensic pathologist from the Health Sciences Authority.

IPPT Categorisation Exercise

The IPPT categorisation exercise for obese recruits takes place during the fourth week of their 4-month Basic Military Training programme, after they have completed three weeks of physical conditioning. In the normal 3-month BMT for non-obese recruits, this categorisation exercise is done in the second week. The purpose of the categorisation exercise is to group the recruits according to their physical fitness level. This allows us to design the subsequent training in a more focused, customised and progressive way, taking into account the health and fitness condition of each serviceman.

Actions Taken

Our preliminary investigations showed that there were no lapses in the conduct of the IPPT categorisation exercise which contributed to the death. Proper lesson plans and safety measures were in place. The measures included making sure that the recruits had adequate sleep the night before, that they were well hydrated, and were not feeling unwell when the IPPT started. The medical evacuation of Recruit Chew by land and air was also executed swiftly and according to the established plan for such contingencies.

MINDEF has convened a Committee of Inquiry into the incident. The Inquiry is still in progress. Meanwhile the Commander of the Basic Military Training Centre has briefed all the instructors on the incident and re-emphasised the need for safety understanding and awareness.

2SG Rajagopal Thirukumaran

- Ranger Selection Test, 3rd September 2003

Summary of Incident

The second death was that of 2SG Rajagopal Thirukumaran, a regular serviceman, on 3rd September 2003 when he was taking the Ranger Course selection test at Hendon Camp. This test is to ensure that candidates for the Ranger course meet the physical fitness standards required for the course. 2SG Rajagopal collapsed at 1627 hours, after completing the 5-km road run in good time. He received immediate medical attention before he was evacuated to Changi General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1725 hours. The cause of death is pending final determination by the forensic pathologist from the Health Sciences Authority.

Actions Taken

Our preliminary investigations showed that the lesson plans and safety measures for the selection test were in order and properly executed. A warming-up exercise was carried out in accordance with the lesson plan. The safety briefing for the road run was conducted, and water points and safety marshals were deployed.

MINDEF has convened a Higher Board of Inquiry to investigate the incident, which is still in progress.

2SG Hu Enhuai

- Combat Survival Training (CST), 21st August 2003

Summary of Incident

The third incident, on 21st August 2003, occurred at Pulau Tekong during a Combat Survival Training (CST) course. This course trains reconnaissance troopers, scouts and snipers who have to conduct operations deep in hostile territory, to survive, evade capture, and resist and escape if captured by the enemy. The course has both theory and practical elements, and psychological preparation is a key feature. It culminates in a summary field exercise where the skills taught in the classroom are applied and put to the test. The 80th CST course began on 13th August 2003 and was scheduled to end on 22nd August 2003.

On 21st August 2003, 2SG Hu Enhuai, a sniper, was participating in the final summary exercise when he collapsed at around 1645 hours. He was given medical treatment at the scene and evacuated to the Pulau Tekong Medical Centre at 1710 hours. Subsequently, he was evacuated by helicopter to the Singapore General Hospital and arrived there at 1752 hours. He was pronounced dead at 1817 hours. The cause of death as certified by the forensic pathologist of the Health Sciences Authority was asphyxia and near drowning.

Actions Taken

The SAF suspended Combat Survival Training immediately after the incident. Four Officers and a senior Specialist who conducted the training were also immediately suspended from service.

MINDEF convened an independent Committee of Inquiry, chaired by a senior civil servant from outside MINDEF, to investigate and determine the full facts of the incident. The Committee of Inquiry submitted its report on 3rd October 2003. MINDEF is now studying the report in detail. I will now brief Members of the House of the facts established by the Committee. 2SG Hu's family has also been kept informed.

The Committee of Inquiry found that the trainers had not followed the approved lesson plan for this training exercise. According to the lesson plan, the trainees were only to be doused with water with the intent of showering them. The lesson plan specifically prohibits physical contact and manhandling of trainees during this phase, and states categorically that instructors should never force water treatment into the body. Submerging the head of a trainee into water was not authorised.

However, instead of being doused with water, 2SG Hu had his head submerged in water four times. As a result he aspirated water, had breathing difficulties and collapsed. He was treated promptly by a medical orderly at the scene and evacuated to the Singapore General Hospital, but despite the medical treatment he died.

Besides 2SG Hu, other trainees also had their heads submerged in water. As a result, six aspirated water and required medical treatment. The Combat Survival Training had been conducted in an unauthorised way.

Sir, this is an extremely serious lapse in the conduct of the training. It should never have happened. MINDEF takes the gravest possible view of this matter. I am determined to establish the full facts of how such an unauthorised act occurred and to identify the persons responsible for it. I have convened a Higher Board of Inquiry to do so. Investigations are also being conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police, and there will be a coroner's inquiry. The results of these investigations will be made public. Any SAF personnel who have been negligent or culpable will be held to account and punished according to the law.

After the incident, MINDEF suspended five instructors who conducted the training. In addition, MINDEF has relieved from their duties two other instructors who were responsible for supervising the training. MINDEF has also relieved the Commanding Officer of the School of Commando Training from his command and has also appointed a new Chief Commando Officer to take charge of the Commando formation.

The SAF will conduct a thorough and careful review of how the Combat Survival Training course is conducted and the safety measures for this course before we resume such training. For this purpose, the SAF will benchmark our training practices against practices in other established armies, and audit how our training is actually carried out in the field, to ensure that training of this nature is conducted professionally and safely.

Conclusion

Sir, MINDEF deeply regrets the loss of the lives of our three soldiers. Investigations as well as independent inquiries have been convened for all three cases. We will probe for deficiencies in systems and procedures; lapses in execution or compliance; whether any persons by their acts or omissions were responsible; and what remedial measures will prevent such incidents in the future.

Where we discover deficiencies, we will put them right immediately. Where persons have failed in their duties, MINDEF will take action against them. We expect the highest level of professionalism from our officers and men, and will not tolerate any laxity or indiscipline that endangers the lives of our soldiers. When something goes wrong, we will account to Parliament, the families of servicemen, and the public. We will explain fully and honestly what went wrong, and what we will do to put things right and prevent it from happening again. This is the way to maintain the confidence and trust of the public in the SAF.

What happened to 2SG Hu on the Combat Survival Training course should never have happened. I will get to the bottom of how such an unauthorised and unsafe training practice could have crept into the School of Commando Training. This incident has been a heavy blow to the Commandos, who are one of the finest formations in the SAF. Over the years, the Commandos have served Singapore well. In 1974, in the Laju incident, they escorted the hijackers to the Middle East. In 1991, they rescued 127 passengers from SQ117. In their quiet and unseen ways, the Commandos have performed

many other operations to safeguard Singapore from the new and deadly threats of terrorism. The Commandos will set things right and rebuild themselves because, as professionals, I know that this is what they will do. They will succeed as they have the professionalism and the determination to do so, and because they will have the support of the Members of this House and all Singaporeans.

Sir, parents entrust their sons to MINDEF and the SAF to prepare and train them to perform a national duty in the defence of Singapore. This is a heavy responsibility that MINDEF and the SAF do not take lightly. We should not let up on hard and realistic training. But we will never compromise on safety nor risk the lives of our servicemen. It is MINDEF and the SAF's solemn commitment to take in our young men, train them well and return them safely at the end of two or two and a half years to their families as operationally-ready soldiers.

Mdm Halimah Yacob: Sir, first, I would like to thank the Minister for a very comprehensive, detailed and very open reply on his part. It is of course shocking for us to hear that there has been a gross violation resulting in the death of Sergeant Hu. And I think no matter what we say in this House, it will not erase the pain that the parents of these young men feel over the deaths of three people, particularly in the case of Sergeant Hu. But having heard the Minister, both the parents as well as the public would at least appreciate and rest assured that a thorough and open investigation will be done, the gaps will be identified and steps will be taken to rectify them. And I am also assured by the Minister's personal assurance that he will personally look into this - that the investigation will be done and those responsible will be punished - and that parents can feel safe in entrusting their sons to the SAF for training purposes and to defend the country.

Sir, having said that, I would like to ask the Minister a number of questions. I would like to ask, firstly, when will the inquiry be completed, the one involving Sergeant Hu, and when will it be made public. I do not think an inquiry of this nature should take too long a time because of the public interest involved.

Secondly, as the Minister has described, there is a system of checks and balances. But, in spite of that, some serious lapses had occurred. So after the review, what assurance will there be for parents that there will not be any future lapses?

Thirdly, I would like to ask whether there is a channel of communication for NSmen, who have any grievances or who are not happy with the way they are treated, to air them and get redressed.

Fourthly, Sir, were there any incidents of breaches of this nature involving the training of NSmen in the past, were these investigated and how were they dealt with?

Finally, with regard to the two other NSmen - Rajagopal Thirukumaran and Andrew Chew - were they suffering from any illnesses before the training, or did they show any signs of distress throughout the training? I would appreciate the Minister's response, Sir.

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, the investigations into the death of Sergeant Hu are being undertaken by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police and the coroner. So they will have to take their course according to the law and the coroner's inquiry will be conducted in the open. The possibility is that there will be criminal proceedings in court and that will also be conducted in the open, and that will take the due course of the law.

Sir, on safety in the SAF, the SAF has evolved a comprehensive system of evaluating risks in all training and the likelihood of occurrence. Safety measures are prescribed which are commensurate with the risks and the likelihood profile of occurrence. For example, there is a mandatory hydration requirement for troops prior and during the conduct of strenuous training activities. There is also a rest management plan which stipulates the minimum sleep requirement for every window of 24 hours when troops are not staying overnight on field training. And this is complemented with a system of training supervision, audits and checks to ensure that the lesson plan are complied with in training. These are stated in the SAF's Training Safety Regulations. Within the unit that is conducting the training, the supervising officer supervises the training and ensures the conduct and safety of the training. In the event of any contradiction on the conduct of the training and training safety on the ground, he has the authority to overrule the conducting officer. The conducting officer conducts the training activity according to lesson plan and ensures that the training is conducted in accordance with the approved lesson plan. He also ensures that all safety requirements pertaining to the training are complied with by the participants, visitors and observers. Safety officers are appointed to ensure compliance of safety requirements by the participants during the training.

Over and above this, ad hoc training safety audits and checks are also conducted in the army by the General Staff Inspectorate (GSI). GSI conducts such spot checks on units conducting training to validate the safety awareness and procedures. The checks also serve to ensure that the training is conducted in accordance with the approved lesson plan and that the necessary training safety regulations are complied with. These training audits and checks are being stepped up. In this case, these systems and checks failed to pick up this gross violation of training safety and conduct of the training. In any such system, we depend on people to carry out their duties responsibly. And when people do not carry out their duties responsibly, no matter how many levels of checks, it will not solve the problem. The key here is that people must carry out their duties responsibly and they must be held to account for these responsibilities, and I intend to ensure that that is done.

Sir, on channels of communication, every recruit, and indeed every parent, upon enlistment is given a booklet. The recruit gets a Recruit's Handbook and the parents get a parent handbook, called My Son, The NS Man . And in these two handbooks, the method by which a soldier can seek redress, or if he has concerns, the methods for raising them are described. I will read from the booklet and I quote:

"The SAF provides for any serviceman who thinks that he has been unfairly treated to raise his problem to his Commander. When seeking redress, you [the serviceman] should give the relevant details of the facts in writing so that necessary investigations can be carried out. If the serviceman is unable to write, his complaint will be taken down in writing. The SAF also ensures that any case of complaint that is reported will be investigated and if it is valid, appropriate action would be taken against the guilty party. [And from time to time, it does happen and we do take action.]

If a serviceman is not satisfied in the way the complaint is being dealt with, he can bring this up to the Armed Forces Council in writing. The Armed Forces Council will examine the complaint and take appropriate follow-up actions. Such complaints should be addressed to the Secretary of the Armed Forces Council, Ministry of Defence.

The SAF Provost Unit also monitors and investigates any breach of military discipline including misconduct and ill-treatment. Where such complaints are found to be true, the SAF will take action against the offending serviceman."

Sir, there are also provisions for counselling for servicemen so that servicemen may call the SAF Counselling Hotline at 1800-2780022 at any time if they need to talk about personal problems which they may have. So, Sir, there are avenues for servicemen to seek redress and the same information is also contained in this book, My Son, The NS Man , which is distributed to all parents of newly-enlisted recruits.

On whether there were any previous breaches and how they were investigated, for the Combat Survival Training Course, this was the 80th course. 6,000 trainees have completed this course. There have been no previous similar cases which have been reported, although we are investigating to look into whether the practice may have started before the 80th course. But there were no reported cases which required medical treatment prior to the 80th course. The HBOI is looking into this matter.

Sir, whether the two NSmen were ill, first of all, they were not two NSmen. One was a NSman, Recruit Chew, and the other, 2SG Rajagopal, was a regular serviceman. 2SG Rajagopal was a very fit man and that is why he volunteered to go for the Ranger course, and the Ranger course is a physically very demanding course which challenges the servicemen considerably. So 2SG Rajagopal was a very fit man.

In the case of Recruit Chew, he did have a medical problem several weeks before the incident. But he had not reported ill on the day and each of the servicemen also had the opportunity to declare if they were not feeling well before such an IPPT test, as any other physically strenuous activity.

Dr Ong Chit Chung (Jurong): Mr Speaker, Sir, what has happened is tragic and we grieve with the families over the deaths of our servicemen. I also welcome the frank and sincere statement of the Minister. As a follow up, I want to ask some questions. From hindsight, we know that such things happen. I want to ask whether, based on this experience, the Minister considers the safety measures we have adequate and, if not, what new measures will MINDEF consider instituting in our training programme. Secondly, I know that in many armies overseas, those conducting combat survival training course, particularly prisoner of war training, would be very mature officers with many years of experience. I therefore want to ask the Minister whether he will consider appointing officers of certain breadth of experience to conduct such courses, officers who will know when to stop and when to let go if it is a very difficult judgement, but it is something required of officers in such strenuous training.

Secondly, the Minister admitted that there are lapses in our training programme which resulted in such a tragic event. I understand of course that the General Staff Inspectorate is supposed to do inspection of training to prevent such tragic incidents. I want to ask the Minister whether our General Staff Inspectorate is making regular visits to the camps, whether it has adequate staff to do such regular visits and whether he will consider beefing up the General Staff Inspectorate to make more regular and thorough visits to camps to ferret out any lapses or unwelcomed practices.

Lastly, the Minister has announced that there will be a Committee of Inquiry and a Higher Board of Inquiry. I understand from some parents that they have doubts over the composition of such a Committee and a Higher Board of Inquiry because they are mainly staffed by MINDEF or SAF officers. The Minister said that it is chaired by a civil servant from another Ministry.

But would it not be better, for transparency and public confidence, if members of the public outside MINDEF and outside the civil service were represented on such committees, so that they can participate and really assure the public that all is above board and is transparent?

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, the SAF, and particularly the Army, are reviewing all their activities and safety measures after this incident to ensure that things are in order. They have a risk categorisation system, and they are starting with the high-risk activities and moderate-risk activities before moving on to the other activities.

Sir, as I said earlier, systems are operated by people. People have to take responsibility for what they do. If we have two checks, and both are responsibly carrying out their duties, things will be all right. If we have three checks, and three people are not responsibly carrying out their duties, things will still go wrong. The key issue here in this case is that the officers who were charged with carrying out their duties did not do so in a responsible way and, hence, the tragic incident occurred. This has to be put right.

Sir, the persons conducting training in this case were experienced people. The conducting officer is 44 years old and has 10 years of experience in the School of Commando Training. The supervising officer is 33 years old, has been a Company Commander, Company 2IC and is the OC of the Commando Training Wing. These are experienced officers and Warrant Officers, and they should know what they are doing.

As for GSI, the Army is looking at the General Staff Inspectorate to see how it can strengthen the function of the General Staff Inspectorate in conducting independent audit checks on the units.

Dr Ong has suggested outside members to take part in committees of inquiry. Today we have members who are outside of MINDEF, such as civil servants who chair committees of inquiry, and we also have a doctor who is outside of MINDEF and the SAF to sit on the committee, so that there is an independence of views. But I think Dr Ong has raised a useful suggestion. Allow me to look at it and see whether we can put that into effect.

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong: Sir, the commandos are an elite force, and it is a badge of honour to be tough and mean. I wonder whether the problem goes beyond the systems and into the culture of the commando unit, where perhaps an unwritten code has evolved that even overrules the written ones. Perhaps the Minister would want to see whether there is a deeper problem beneath the surface.

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, I expect my commandos to be tough and mean, but I expect them also to be professional and to carry out their duties properly. The two are not inconsistent, and that is why I have posted in a new Chief Commando Officer to draw a line under this incident and for the commandos to rebuild themselves.

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua: Sir, I have two questions for the Minister for Defence. Given that the concept and image of National Service has evolved somewhat positively over the past few decades, where I think many now serve with real pride, how would the Minister assure the public that they can continue to put their trust in the SAF and that there will always be: firstly, honesty and complete disclosure about any mishap; secondly, utmost sincerity in tracking down the causes of death and taking the necessary corrective action as appropriate?

The second question is specific to the internal audit that the Minister was talking about, whether, as a preventive measure, there is merit in setting up an audit body comprising ex- or non-SAF personnel to audit training programmes so as to ensure that only authorised methods are allowed and that safety standards are adhered to.

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, I will look into the suggestion raised by Mrs Lim Hwee Hua on whether we can strengthen our audit in this way. I will look at it, together with the suggestion of Dr Ong Chit Chung on the GSI, to see whether that is one way in which we can bring a lot more experience into the GSI and to have more people to do more audits.

Sir, I know that the words I say in this House will never be sufficient to alleviate the grief of the families of those who had died, nor fully answer the points and concerns that have been raised today and which surely must be in the minds of the public. They have to be answered, they must be answered. But not only with words, but by the actions of the SAF - what the Commando formation does to put right what has gone wrong and what the SAF does to look after its soldiers.

Sir, this morning, I summoned all the unit commanders and senior commanders in the SAF from all the three services together with the service Chiefs - more than 400 of them - to impress upon them the seriousness of this incident and to reinforce the importance of looking after their men. I told them that this incident is a stain on the reputation of the SAF and that they have to erase that stain by their actions. Every instructor, section leader, unit commander, senior commander, is responsible for looking after his men. And they are personally responsible for this.

I explained to them what I mean by looking after their men. Several years ago, I visited a country where, due to the security situation, units of the armed forces had to be ready for battle at any time. I spoke to a young commanding officer in an elite unit with young national servicemen and asked him what weighed most heavily on his mind, what kept him up at night. He told me:

"Sir, what is foremost in my mind every day and what I think about all the time is that if my unit is called to battle tomorrow, that I have trained my men well enough so that they will do their duty for their country and be able to carry out their mission; that I can bring my men home again because I have trained them and prepared them properly; and that I can face the families of those who did not return, knowing that I did all I could to train them well and to lead them well in action."

Sir, that is what our commanders must do to look after their men. I have two priorities now.

First, to complete the inquiries and investigations, to find out who is responsible for carrying out these unauthorised acts and allowing them to take place. Investigations by MINDEF and the police will be thorough and complete and, where there had been shortcomings, failures or wrongdoings, those responsible will be held to account and face the full force of the law.

Second, to put right what has gone wrong in this unit and for the whole SAF to learn from this and tighten up, so that this does not ever happen again. To put the commandos on the path to setting right what has gone wrong and to rebuild themselves, MINDEF has posted in a new Chief Commando Officer to lead that process.

Sir, I said just now in conclusion - and I think it is important that I say it again - that parents entrust their sons to MINDEF and the SAF to prepare and train them to perform a national duty in the defence of Singapore, and MINDEF and the SAF do not take this responsibility lightly. We will not let up on hard and realistic training, but we will never compromise on safety or risk the lives of our servicemen. It is MINDEF and the SAF's solemn commitment to take in our young men, train them well, and return them safely at the end of two or two and a half years to their families as operationally-ready soldiers.

Dr Lily Neo (Jalan Besar): May I ask the Minister on the number of deaths of our National Servicemen in the last three years? Does he have a breakdown on the causes of such deaths? How many of them were due to irregularities, mishaps and sickness?

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, in the last three years, ie, from 2001 until September 2003, the Army has had a total of six training-related deaths, including the three that occurred this year: three this year, two in 2002, and one in 2001. There are various reasons for these. In the last 10 years since 1993, there were a total of 24 training-related deaths in the Army. There were a number of reasons. Some of the men were struck by lightning during exercises in the open; some died because of premature explosions of ordnance in the barrel; others had died during physical training, either during exercising or in field training exercises; and none, until this particular incident, had died for this kind of reason.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: Sir, at the end of the day, to be able to discharge one's duties, it has got to do with one's character - that of the incumbents. In putting the instructors and trainers in these jobs, other than their competencies at their jobs, would the selection criteria of putting these men in these jobs, in order to balance their job competencies of having to be tough and mean as commandos, include a test and evaluation of their character traits?

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, instructors have to be competent, as in this case. The conducting officer is 44 years old and has had 10 years of experience in the School of Commando Training. He is an experienced commando and an experienced Warrant Officer. Others have had experience as Company Commanders and so on.

We select our officers carefully through a process by which they go through BMT. If they are selected, some of them go through as Specialists and Warrant Officers before they become Officers. They go through a 9-month OCS where their strengths and weaknesses can be seen, where their character can be seen where they are tested, and they have to pass. And before they become instructors, they have had to hold other sorts of appointments to prepare them, particularly instructors in a place like the School of Commando Training. So, they are tested and evaluated in a number of different ways before they become senior instructors, as in this case, in the School of Commando Training.

Mr Inderjit Singh (Ang Mo Kio): Sir, it is unfortunate that we lost three servicemen. But having gone through National Service myself, we know that accidents do happen and, in this case, there were two soldiers who collapsed due to physical activity and one due to negligence. The question I have for the Minister is: in training, accidents do happen, but in the cases that the Minister mentioned, did we react fast enough and appropriately? Did they get proper medical attention and is MINDEF in all its training procedures prepared to handle such unforeseen circumstances?

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, medical cover requirements for training activities are one of the most important things which have to be provided for and are one of the things on the checklist which every conducting officer must plan for. And the requirements are clearly prescribed in the Training Safety Regulations. The Training Safety Regulations outline when a medical officer, eg, a doctor, is required to be present, and when a medic is adequate. It depends on the type of activity that is being conducted. Ambulance, safety vehicle and what particular types of medical equipment required are also stipulated. The requirements are based on the nature of the activity,

in-camp or out-of-camp, and the number of soldiers involved. For example, a doctor would be present for all battalion size and above training.

Examples of different categories of exercises which require different kinds of medical preparations are live firing, field training, water-based training, heli-borne training, strenuous physical activities and sports. Examples of medical coverage requirements include the requirement for a medical officer to be physically present at the medical centre when physical proficiency and obstacle tests are carried out where soldiers are expected to exert maximally. Another example is the requirement for an automated oxygen resuscitator for water-based activities when there is possibility of drowning.

The training safety regulations were extensively reviewed in 1999 and further updated in January this year with inputs from all the Army formations. In the light of the recent incidents, the Army would conduct a further thorough review of medical coverage requirements for all moderate and high-risk activities. The plan is to widen the requirements for some of the equipment and look at perhaps new kinds of equipment that might be provided, for example, portable defibrillators.

Sir, the investigations of these three cases show that the medical attention and coverage on the ground - what the medics did to try to help the servicemen in distress - were correct and appropriate. In the case of Sergeant Hu, the medic did all he could with the equipment that he had. But because training was carried out in an unauthorised way, if he had other kinds of equipment, he might have done better. But that was not planned for because that type of training would not have called for that kind of equipment.

The medics do well, they get realistic training. In the three cases, so far as we know, the inquiries have not shown up any lapses in the medical treatment given by the medics on the spot.

Mr Sin Boon Ann: Sir, I accept that it is very difficult to control human feelings which may lead to lapses in safety standards. In the case of Sergeant Hu's tragic and untimely death, I was wondering whether or not it could have been avoided if we had an independent officer accompanying the training troop at the time when they were going through a training session. For example, if we had a sadistic instructor, meting out all these punishments to the trainees, at least we would have an independent officer accompanying the training troop to act as an independent check against abuses and lapses in observing those training safety requirements.

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, I will ask the Army to consider this proposal from Mr Sin Boon Ann. The case here is that individuals who are charged with the responsibilities must carry out their responsibilities properly. Whether the person comes from the unit or outside the unit, he has to carry out his responsibilities properly. That is the key in making sure that the system works. You can put in certain levels of checks, but beyond a certain level, many more checks become counter-productive because everyone presumes that everyone else has checked, and therefore, he does not check. But if you know that you are the one and the only one responsible for checking, and if you did not, and something went wrong because you did not check properly, there is no doubt about who is responsible. I think, in this case, it is a question of discharging your duties properly and with responsibility.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: Sir, as a mum, like many others who have sons who would go to the Army in the future, in the light of the unfortunate incident of Sergeant Hu, I would like the Minister to comment on the effectiveness of the current system of reporting of feedback by NSmen for possible breaches in training exercises that may endanger the lives of the NSmen and whether he would look into ways to improve this feedback system.

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Dr Khor has raised a very useful comment here. The more open the organisation is and the more receptive the organisation is towards reporting of safety breaches, the better the organisation would be in terms of planning for safety requirements and eliminating safety breaches. Yes, Dr Khor has a point there. I will ask the Army to have a look to see how we can develop a more open system of reporting potential safety breaches because we have to report not just actual safety breaches, but potential safety breaches in order to reduce and eliminate the possibility of some violation of safety regulations resulting in accidents.

Mr Arthur Fong (West Coast): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister has said rightly that no amount of words can alleviate the grief of the three families. They have lost their sons serving the country. Can the Minister assure the House that the aggrieved families will receive adequate compensation? Secondly, in the light that accidents and deaths do happen during training, is it time to review relevant sections of the SAF Act pertaining to compensation for accidents and deaths?

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, when a serviceman dies in the course of duty, his next-of-kin or dependants will be compensated in accordance with the provisions in the Workmen's Compensation Act. The Workmen's Compensation Act is revised from time to time and, therefore, the compensation is also revised from time to time.

Besides the compensation according to the guidelines in the Workmen's Compensation Act, MINDEF has a group insurance scheme which we encourage our servicemen to take part in. Besides that, the SAF also has a benevolent fund to assist members of the family, for example, surviving children, with their education and other needs. So there is a variety of provisions available for compensation as well as to assist the families of deceased servicemen.

Mr Zainudin Nordin (Bishan-Toa Payoh): I have a question for the Minister. With regard to the report of the investigations, is there any indicator in the findings of the investigations of what may have caused or compelled the trainers or officers to grossly divert from the lesson plan and break rules?

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, I have no information on that. I would not like to speculate on what the motives or the reasons why these officers behaved in the way that they did.

Mr Gan Kim Yong (Holland-Bukit Panjang): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have two questions for the Minister. The first question is with regard to the access of NSmen to complain about ill-treatment and safety breaches. At the moment, I am glad that the Minister has explained that they can approach their Commanders and, ultimately, they can also approach the Armed Forces Council. But my fear is that this is still within the MINDEF organisation. Would the Minister consider setting up an independent Committee, comprising maybe external civil servants or even civilians where National Servicemen have access to, so that they can express their concerns? This is the first point.

The second question is with regard to the affected families. As a follow-up to Mr Arthur Fong's question, I would like to ask the Minister, other than the financial assistance that is given to these families, whether there would be other assistance, such as emotional and counselling support for these families to help them cope with the tragedy.

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, I would be hesitant to set up an independent complaints bureau for the SAF. It is a disciplined organisation. It has to operate in a disciplined system, in a system and structure where there is authority and responsibility between subordinates and superiors, and this should be respected. Without that, the discipline and authority structure in the SAF could be undermined. I would be hesitant to introduce an independent complaints bureau outside, a separate system.

Nevertheless, I should add that in the Recruit's Handbook , it does say that, "If a serviceman believes that he has been ill-treated or victimised by his colleagues or superiors and that his complaint has not been dealt with satisfactorily, he may approach the MP of his constituency for assistance. For any such complaint through the MP, the serviceman must give a detailed account of his complaint in writing. The serviceman would be required to sign his statement giving his NRIC No, name, rank and unit." This is to allow the matter to be taken up seriously because without such information, it would not be possible to investigate the matter. So there are avenues open.

With regard to other assistance provided to the families, yes, we do provide other assistance to the families in a way which is sensitive to the needs and requirements of the families.

Mr S Iswaran (West Coast): Mr Speaker, I welcome the Minister's assurance and commitment to a thorough inquiry into all three incidents in a transparent manner. But, Sir, my concern is a different one, especially if it is sparked by the tenor of the discussion in Parliament so far, which appears to suggest that we have now got all these very deep concerns about the state of the SAF foremost and the kinds of suggestions that are emerging.

I would like to just find out what measures are going to be put in place so that this does not get taken out of context. We should not let the actions of individuals or isolated incidents tarnish the hard-earned reputation of the SAF. We do take pride in the SAF. My concern is that if this becomes a witch-hunt, then we have a different kind of problem. I am also concerned about the impact that it would have on the morale of our SAF men who are going to be called to put their lives on the line, if necessary.

I would like to ask the Minister what is the state of the SAF's morale in the wake of these incidents and also what steps will be taken in public communications, both externally and internally within the SAF, to ensure morale remains strong.

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, this incident is a setback and it is a blow for the SAF. And, obviously, it would affect the morale of the SAF, in particular that of the Commandos. But I am confident that the Commandos will rise to the occasion. They are determined to set right what has gone wrong, tighten up their systems, achieve the target of excellence that they set for themselves,