SECTION_NAME:MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

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NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:

(Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Security and Defence) Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam: Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to make this Ministerial Statement.

Sir, on 20th July last year, I announced to Members of Parliament the Strategic Framework for Singapore's

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National Security. Some 10 months have passed. It is timely for me to report to Parliament the progress that we have made in implementing the Strategic Framework and what further tasks need to be undertaken to keep Singapore safe from terrorism.

_Organisation
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Sir, the most important recommendation of the Strategic Framework was to set up a new Coordinating Structure in the centre of Government. This has been achieved. The National Security Coordination Secretariat (NSCS) has been established in the Prime Minister's Office.

The Secretariat's two component arms, the National Security Coordination Centre and the Joint Counter Terrorism Centre, have also been established. The staffing of key posts in the Secretariat and these two Centres has been completed.

Sir, Mr Peter Ho has been appointed Permanent Secretary for National Security and Intelligence Coordination to oversee the National Security Coordination Secretariat. Colonel Soh Poh Theen is the Director for the National Security Coordination Centre and Mr Yeong Gah Hou is the Director for the Joint Counter Terrorism Centre.

To ensure effective strategic planning, policy development and intelligence coordination across Government, Mr Peter Ho chairs the National Security Coordinating Committee and the Intelligence Coordinating Committee.

As Coordinating Minister for Security and Defence, I chair the Ministerial level Security Policy Review Committee, which sets the strategic policy direction for national security issues in Singapore. All three committees - the two PS-level

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committees and the Ministerial Committee - have met on a regular basis.

Key pillars of the Strategic Framework

Sir, the Strategic Framework for Singapore's National Security is built on two pillars.

First, Strength through Coordination. We have adopted a "Whole of Government" approach in the fight against terror aimed at achieving greater coordination among our Government agencies and Ministries. Since the threat of transnational terrorism cuts across departmental divides, no single agency alone can tackle this problem.

We have forged tighter linkages among the various Government agencies to achieve greater effectiveness. Coordination gives us the strength to deal with the threat of transnational terrorism in a way that no single agency can tackle alone.

The second pillar is Reach through Cooperation. Since transnational terrorism respects no territorial boundaries, we have worked with our overseas partners to extend our security network to better pre-empt any threats and to protect Singapore.

Let me explain a little bit about how these two pillars have been implemented. First, Strength through Coordination. Sir, stronger collaboration across Ministries and agencies in Singapore is key, and a system that links the critical nodes and coordinates their efforts has proven to be effective.

Already, there are some visible results. A number of task forces have conducted comprehensive reviews and helped plug capability gaps in areas as diverse as maritime security, aviation security, land transport security, critical infrastructure protection and building up defences

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against Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosives (CBRE) threats.

Let me briefly summarise some of the work that has been done in these areas.

In the area of maritime security, for example, a licensing scheme for regional ferry operators has been put in place since 1st January 2005 to regulate the movement and enhance security on board these regional ferries.

We have also started deploying Sea Marshals on board selected vessels since March 2005.

For aviation security, an in-line baggage screening system has been set up at Changi Airport to systematically examine every piece of luggage that is checked in.

In the area of public transport security, security guards have been deployed, CCTV systems are being upgraded and police patrols have been initiated to keep our MRT system secure.

In the area of critical infrastructure protection, among other things, we have reviewed the security of our energy grid and info-communications infrastructure. We have identified key energy facilities that should be further hardened and we have launched an Info-Comm Security Masterplan that will comprehensively raise Singapore's cyber security standards over the next three years. And in building up our defences against CBRE threats, vehicles transporting hazardous material have been fitted with transponders to monitor and control their movement.

The key message of achieving Strength through Coordination has been reinforced in a number of concrete ways. To help build bridges across our various Ministries and agencies, NSCS organised an inaugural National Security Course in

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February this year. The course was well attended by senior officers from across the different Ministries and agencies involved in the work of national security. The course helped to forge a common vision of Singapore's national security, enhanced understanding of each other's professional expertise and established a bond amongst senior security practitioners.

Sir, in all our efforts, we have kept a close watch on the prevailing threat situation and taken a risk mitigation approach (ie, balancing the necessary security measures against the economic costs incurred) to ensure that resources are prudently used. We have also been careful not to over-regulate or be too restrictive in the implementation of security measures, as we understand the impact this would have on business efficiency and on the lives of Singaporeans.

_Reach through cooperation
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Sir, transnational terrorism respects no national borders, and Singapore must therefore look beyond coordination amongst Government agencies to achieve greater reach through cooperation with like-minded states and with international organisations.

In pushing the agenda for greater security, Singapore has been a strong advocate of regional and international cooperation. We realise that the centre of gravity to the threat of terrorism lies outside Singapore. Cooperation in the war on terror must therefore extend beyond the borders of Singapore, principally in the sharing of intelligence and pooling of resources. Given the interconnectedness of countries today, cooperation is a fundamental pre-requisite in areas such as maritime security, aviation security, cyber security and border control, and in building up defences against CBRE threats.

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Significant progress has been achieved in several areas. I would mention just one area, maritime security, to illustrate what has been achieved. In maritime security, Singapore has been working closely with Indonesia, Malaysia and other key stakeholders as well as with the International Maritime Organisation to safeguard the Malacca and the Singapore Straits, which are critical international waterways. All three littoral states commenced coordinated patrols of the Straits in July 2004.

Closer home, the Maritime and Port Authority worked closely with the shipping community and with owners of port facilities to successfully implement the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, which seeks to enhance the general security of merchant vessels and port facilities. Singapore vessels and ports were fully compliant with the code before the July 2004 deadline.

At the regional level, Singapore has been chosen to host an Information Sharing Centre under a regional agreement to combat piracy. This will help reinforce Singapore's position as an important node in regional cooperative efforts to enhance maritime security.

Singapore has also worked closely with the US to implement several maritime security programmes such as the Container Security Initiative, the Radiation Detection Initiative and the Proliferation Security Initiative.

Collectively, these programmes seek to prevent the illegal transfer and movement of dangerous material, and the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Singapore also encourages academic discussions and forums to enable think-

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tanks, academic institutions and key stakeholders to exchange views and take a more pro-active approach to a range of national security issues including maritime policies. For instance, our Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies has hosted and organised seminars with many terrorism experts from various international and renowned centres of excellence on national security. All these enable us to be connected and relevant to the leading edge thinking on security issues in the international community.

_Further tasks
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Sir, although we have raised the baseline for security in all areas, more remains to be done. In addition to coping with existing known threats, we should pay attention to potential events that could cause great disruption to Singapore, events such as a biological terrorist attack, a radiological incident or a cyber attack.

Our recent experience with SARS and the tsunami disaster has demonstrated forcefully that strategic surprises or wild cards can have a devastating impact. We are therefore developing a Risk Assessment and Horizon Scanning capability to help us anticipate and deal with shocks to our system. Over the past year, we have embarked on detailed studies to draw up a conceptual model and an operational framework to implement this capability.

On this note, Sir, I should stress that we would need to be inventive, as ready solutions do not exist for many of the problems linked to transnational terrorism. We would need to spend some resources on research and development work to discover imaginative solutions to intractable problems.

Singapore has the potential to take the lead in several areas. For example, our maritime security agencies will be

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introducing a scheme shortly that would require all small craft operating within Singapore's territorial waters to carry a transponder. This low-cost device would help the security agencies keep track of the maritime traffic in our waters and be better able to discern threats.

Singapore is also interested in initiating a pilot project that would look into securing the entire supply chain involving Government agencies, port authorities, shipping lines and major suppliers from different countries. This will not be an easy task but like the other research and development projects we are

undertaking, we must put in the necessary effort and resources. If we are successful, we will be breaking new ground and we would be in a unique position to share new capabilities with other countries. In any case, our determination and resourcefulness will serve as yet another strong deterrent to terrorists.

_Need for continued vigilance
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Sir, I have highlighted the key security initiatives we have implemented since the Strategic Framework came into force in July 2004 and some of the projects we will undertake over the next year or two. I am confident we are taking the right steps and moving in the right direction in the fight against terrorism. But we need to be vigilant and sensitive to changes in the external environment and to their impact on the internal dynamics in Singapore.

Singapore remains a prime target for terrorists. Singapore strongly supports the US-led campaign against terror. We have taken robust steps to stamp out the Jemaah Islamiyah in Singapore. And we are a secular state that has successfully enabled different religious groups to co-exist and prosper.

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The reality of the threat to Singapore is driven home by the continued persistence of the Al Qaeda movement worldwide and of the Jemaah Islamiyah network in the region. Dangerously, the Jemaah Islamiyah has continued to evolve and forge alliances with other groups in Indonesia and the Philippines. The secessionist problem in southern Thailand could also draw in terrorist organisations. Importantly, the resources and facilities available to recruit and train successive generations of terrorists have not been eliminated or destroyed.

The reality of the threat is also manifested in the arrests that we continue to make in Singapore. Just last month, Jahpar Osman, a Singaporean and a Jemaah Islamiyah member trained in bomb making and weapons handling, was detained under the Internal Security Act. Osman had been a member of the Jemaah Islamiyah since the mid-1990s and had undergone military training in Mindanao in the southern Philippines. He was also involved in plans to carry out terrorist attacks against Singapore.

Sir, I have used these illustrations to make the point that the terrorist threat will be with us for some time to come. Singaporeans should not feel that the threat no longer exists. The terrorist threat is real and terrorists always seek the right opportunity, especially when our guard is lowered, to strike.

_Importance of national resilience
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In addition to spending considerable effort in implementing a total approach that emphasises coordination, cooperation and physical security measures, we should not lose our focus on strengthening national resilience. The key target of transnational terrorism is our social fabric which binds our society together. Terrorists aim to attack the hearts and minds of our citizens to split our society apart. We must counter this threat.

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Over the past year, I have therefore been engaged in a series of programmes to reach out to various sectors of Singapore society to stress to them the importance of their role in helping to keep Singapore safe. I met with Government officials in August 2004, with grassroots leaders in October 2004, with young Singaporeans in November 2004, and with the business community in January this year.

The Muslim community in Singapore have, in particular, provided critical support to the Government's overall efforts. The arrests of Jemaah Islamiyah members in Singapore initially put the Muslim community in the spotlight. Fears over a racial or religious backlash did not materialise. Instead, the Muslim community came together to deal with the issue resolutely and participated actively in the Inter-Racial Confidence Circles to reach out to the other communities and help them understand the situation.

I have been very encouraged by the response of the Muslim community in Singapore. As part of the series of dialogue sessions I have had with the various sectors of society, I met with the Muslim community last month. At that session, MUIS (the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore) presented a broad outline of its vision for the Singapore Muslim community and MUIS' plans to develop a unique Singapore Muslim Identity characterised by a progressive, adaptive and inclusive practice of Islamic religious life. This reinforces our vision for all religious groups to co-exist and prosper within a secular Singapore.

Sir, the key message I want to stress today is that since September 11, 2001, transnational terrorism has changed the world around us. The world has become more volatile and dangerous. It is

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reassuring that a recent survey by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts reported that most Singaporeans are confident that the Government is able to manage the terrorist threat. However, only about half of those surveyed know what to do if, in spite of all the measures we have taken, terrorists succeed in launching a strike against Singapore. This is worrying. In today's uncertain world, Singaporeans must make "security consciousness" a part of our way of life. If "security consciousness" does not become second nature to Singaporeans, we will, as a people, react badly, possibly disastrously, when terrorists succeed in launching a strike in Singapore despite all the preparations and precautions the Government has put in place.

To safeguard Singapore, Singaporeans have to be joint partners with the Government to defend our country and protect our way of life. The Government has implemented many systems and measures under the Strategic Framework to safeguard Singapore. But we cannot ensure our security if Singaporeans do not share in the task of protecting our society. Everyone - Members of Parliament, Government officials, the business sector, the media, the general public - has a role to play in being more proactive to look out for potential threats and work with the Government to react quickly and effectively in the aftermath of a terrorist incident if such an incident should take place in Singapore.

Conclusion

Sir, let me conclude my statement by commending the efforts and thanking the officers of our security and intelligence agencies including the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Singapore Police Force, the Internal Security Department, the Singapore Civil Defence Force, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, the Ministry of Defence, the Singapore Armed Forces,

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and the Security and Intelligence Division for performing their duties admirably, maintaining high standards of operational readiness, and being vigilant to developments and potential threats in the region and within our society.

I would also like to convey my appreciation to the Members of this House. Through the difficult times we have experienced in recent years, Members have helped convey the messages and explain the Government's position on issues such as terrorism to the people. Members have also provided valuable feedback and have helped the Government make adjustments to policies. You understand the fine balance the Government needs to achieve between projecting deterrence and raising alarm among Singaporeans.

Finally, Sir, I urge all Singaporeans to continue to be vigilant. The danger posed by terrorism is a long-term threat that we have to learn to live with for many years to come. With the cooperation and support of Singaporeans, we will succeed in containing this threat and keep Singapore and Singaporeans safe and secure for many years to come.

I will be happy to take Members' questions. Much obliged, Mr Speaker, Sir.

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong: Sir, I would like to thank the Minister for a very detailed reply which contained very farsighted ideas. It will help make Singaporeans feel that much more secure.

Sir, I would like to ask the Minister two questions. The key words I heard from his speech are "coordination and cooperation". Can I ask the Minister to tell us whether we have been successful in also engaging Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in our efforts to contain transnational terrorism, as we will not be

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safe no matter how much we try to insulate ourselves or detain the JI dissidents or no matter how we patrol our maritime waters? Can I also ask the Minister to please give us a sense of whether he is satisfied with the cooperation so far?

My second question relates to the survey. Can I ask the Minister whether the survey has also taken into account differences in terms of the perceptions and attitudes of men and women, along gender lines, and in terms of, for instance, whether men are more aware of the practical steps to take in the event of a terrorist attack compared to women, and on the various questions asked? Because if the women, not having gone through National Service, might not share the same kind of security consciousness, perhaps more should be done in terms of courses or programmes to inculcate a more rugged mentality among our women.

Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam: Sir, I thank Ms Irene Ng for her questions. First, regarding cooperation with Indonesia and Thailand, this is progressing. Indonesia particularly, of course, is a country nearest to us. We also know that although we have dismantled the Jemaah Islamiyah network in Singapore, several of its operatives have fled from Singapore and are probably hiding in the region, possibly in Indonesia. Members will also know or hear about the bomb blasts which had taken place in Indonesia, in Bali, at the Marriott Hotel and outside the Australian Embassy. So the threat is there. The Indonesian authorities, as expressed by President Yudhoyono, are determined to stamp out terrorism. We work with them. We exchange intelligence. We cooperate together. On occasions, this cooperation has enabled us to arrest members of the Jemaah Islamiyah in Indonesia and bring them back. Cooperation could be improved, and this is an on-going area.

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On maritime security, Indonesia and Malaysia are now working with Singapore to have coordinated patrols to secure the Straits of Malacca. The Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister has also said that we should look into the possibility of joint patrols. This is an area which we should look into.

Cooperation is never easy. We will have to work at it, always taking into account that, for example, in securing the Straits of Malacca, we have to be conscious that any measures or patrols which we are undertaking do not infringe on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the littoral states. So we have to work out all of these rules and regulations and continue to keep a high alert to fight against terror which threatens everyone, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.

With regard to Thailand, we exchange intelligence, and we work together. The secessionist problem in southern Thailand worries us. Where, for example, we need to work with them on having air marshals on planes between Singapore and Thailand, we have done so. But we could work better. We continue to press this issue. I think the Thai government is now much more conscious about the possibility of terrorism.

The danger is that the incidents arising from the secession in southern Thailand could lead beyond the three southern Thai provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani into other population centres, including holiday resorts like Phuket, and the capital, Bangkok. Then it would be a very serious situation. But it is an area which we will work with them.

On the survey results and whether there is a difference in attitude or consciousness between men and women on the need for security, Sir, the answer is "yes". In general, men are much more

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conscious about the need for security, and the reason is a very simple one. All our young men have gone through National Service. In these two years of National Service, they are brought upfront directly face to face with the issue on how to defend Singapore and protect our society. The two or 2 1/2 years of National Service imprints an indelible mark on all our men in Singapore. They know that Singapore is vulnerable. They know that no one can protect Singapore except ourselves. If we do not rise up to the occasion and take on the responsibility, make the necessary preparations, provide the necessary resources to protect and defend Singapore, no one else will do it.

For the women, yes, we have courses in schools, universities, polytechnics and ITE; we have community functions where we try and impress on them the need for National Security. I do not think they are indifferent. But it is one thing to have gone through National Service and to have actually served under fire and it is another thing to be told about the dangers that face Singapore. So I think this is an area which we need to have further work because we need to impress on all Singaporeans - men and women, adults, children - of the need to defend our country. This is something which, in the last analysis, is our choice. We either defend and protect our country or we would be attacked. It is up to us. I am confident that Singaporeans would rise to the occasion and would do what is necessary to keep Singapore safe and secure, not only for the next few years, but for many generations to come.

Dr Ong Chit Chung (Jurong): Mr Sepaker, Sir, I am sure we all want to thank DPM for doing a good job of coordinating National Security. In this regard, I wish to ask DPM, in view of the recent survey, what more could be done to increase individual Singaporean's preparedness and ability to respond and react to any terrorist attack.

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Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam: I thank the hon. Member for his very kind words regarding my service as Coordinating Minister for Security and Defence.

I think we can do a lot in order to increase Singapore's awareness of the need for National Security and of the threats which face Singapore. This can be done at our schools, for example. That is why I met with the teachers and students from junior colleges last year to impress on them that this is not a problem for their parents. This is a problem which they will face when they grow up, to be prepared. It is not going to go away, and it is a threat which all of us, adults and children, would have to be prepared to live with for many years. We can also do so at community functions, and it is where Members of Parliament can play a major role in organising their grassroots leaders, participating in events which bring home to Singaporeans the need to be aware of the threats and how they can help in order to mitigate these threats and, very important, that one day, when there is a terrorist attack in Singapore, that would be the real test. Can we respond as a people quickly, efficiently, effectively and get over it? Then we will succeed.

Sir, a terrorist attack in Singapore does not mean the end of the world. That is something which we have to bear in mind. If there is an attack, we will get over it, Singapore will go on. Life does not end. So long as we have that confidence, no threat can destroy Singapore. But we must make preparations. That is what NSCS, together with all our security agencies, has been doing all of these years. Also, organisations, like SCDF and the Police, will be organising events in constituencies in order to bring home to Singaporeans the need for them to take part in ensuring our National Security and what they can do. The Ministry of Home Affairs has, for example, started this campaign to have

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"Be Ready" bags which contain a radio, torchlight and some basic medical aids. I think this is a very good move. We should make those "Be Ready" bags available to every household in Singapore. It is a visible sign of the need to protect ourselves, not by the Government, but by every Singaporean family. I hope that when the Ministry of Home Affairs, SCDF, Police and SAF launch these campaigns, Members will participate fully and, in that way, we will always be sure that Singaporeans will remain vigilant and that, as I said, if something does happen, we will not panic. But we will be able to handle the incident in a way which does credit to Singapore as we have done with SARS. The test of our people comes not in good times when everything is going on well. The test of our people comes in difficult times when you are faced with a challenge. Do you fold up and give up? Do you rise up to the occasion, face the challenge squarely, overcome it and then move on? And we must move on. Otherwise, there is no Singapore.

Mr Low Thia Khiang (Hougang): Sir, two clarifications. I would like to ask DPM what is the assessment of the current security situation in the region and Singapore and what is the assessment in the next two or three years down the road. Second clarification: with the rising awareness of terrorism in the region and also the security measures taken by various governments, including Singapore as well as Indonesia and Thailand, how real is the threat to Singaporeans, in terms of terrorism?

Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam: Sir, my answer to Mr Low's question is a very simple one. The threat is real. Singapore is a prime target for terrorists. I do not think that we should be complacent or we should hide the fact. If we do not keep up our guard, if we let our guard down, the terrorists will strike, maybe not tomorrow, maybe not this year or next

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year, but they will strike one of these days. And I do not see this situation improving over the next two or three years. This is a long-term threat. You are faced with an enemy which is fighting you on illogical grounds, who are prepared to go on, use extreme tactics and methods which cause catastrophic damage, kill many people in order to get the outcome which they want. They will not be deterred by a few arrests. A new generation of terrorists is being nurtured, groomed and indoctrinated all the time. And the threat will be with us for many years. So whether it is this year or two or three years down the road, the threat will be there. With the cooperation of the countries around us, I think we can manage to contain this threat. But we must work at it.

Fortunately, I think that with all the incidents that had happened, more countries, both in the region and around the world, are now conscious of the need to contain the threat of transnational terrorism. Singapore is playing its part. We work with the region to manage this threat. But for the time being, I cannot say that there is a point, whether this year, next year or a few years after that, when we can say that the threat is over. That is the reality.

Mr Low Thia Khiang: I read some assessments in the US and some other commentators who said that, with the arrest of the No. 3 in the Al Qaeda organisation, and with the US engagement in the global security situation, there were some assessments that the security threat has somewhat lessened. What is DPM's view on that and how does that relate to Singapore? I am not saying that the threat is not real. But my question is: if it is real, how real is it and to what degree should we be ready for it?

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Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam: Sir, with the arrests that had taken place, both in the US and around the world in various countries, including Singapore and Malaysia, there is no doubt that a considerable part of the leadership of the Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah has been disrupted. So the chain of command is not as tight as it was before. But that does not mean that the threat has lessened. But what has happened now, in fact, is that it could have evolved into an even more dangerous version. Without the tight control from the top now, the Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah are splintering into a number of groups, each of which has its own agenda and each of which may carry out bombings and killings on an indiscriminate basis because there is no one to control them. Is this more dangerous than before? That is a matter of debate. Both are dangerous. But the threat is as real today as it was previously.

As to whether the threat is real or not, as I said, and I cannot say it more often, if you let down your guard and assume that the worst is over, you do so at your own peril. I do not think that is a wise thing to do. You must be on your guard all the time. A country, like Singapore, which is an international hub, financial hub, tourism hub, air hub, shipping hub, runs on confidence - confidence of international investors, businessmen, travellers and confidence of our own people that Singapore is a secure place, that parents can send their children to school, knowing that their children will come back safely in the afternoon. If we cannot provide that security, then there is no Singapore. If you look at Iraq, there is no security. And the fundamental responsibility of every government is to make sure that its people are safe and can live their lives safely. This is what the Government is going to do. Whether you are in the ruling party or in the Opposition,

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this is your responsibility to Singapore. You have a choice. You can either say that it is all over, you do not need any of these difficult measures unless an incident happens. Or better do everything that you can to prevent an incident happening in Singapore and prepare ourselves so that if one should happen, there is no panic. But we will be able to take it in our stride. That is the way for Singapore, not only to survive, but to progress and prosper.

Mr Low Thia Khiang: I wish to clarify that I am not saying that the Government should not be responsible for security. I am not questioning whether there is a need to safeguard ourselves, in terms of having security measures. My question is: to what extent we should have them and whether or not we should over-emphasise and dwell over that issue of security and to what extent would it also make us less confident and affect the confidence of the investors in the future?

Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam: Sir, we cannot over-emphasise the threat which faces Singapore and all countries in the world today. Transnational terrorism is a most immediate and significant threat to all civilised societies today.

Yes, we know all the measures which we have taken are difficult. But they are necessary. And, in fact, rather than panicking Singaporeans and foreigners, they are a key asset of Singapore. Many companies now base their operations in Singapore because their executives feel that Singapore is safe, that their operations and their plants will not be bombed, that their managers and expatriates can live in Singapore safely, send their children to schools in Singapore and not worry about having a bomb.

So, I do not think that you can over-exaggerate the importance of having these security issues. It is not a burden

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on Singapore. It is an asset for Singapore today.

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