Committee of Supply – Head J (Ministry of Defence)

Defence Spending and Rising Tensions

Mr Vikram Nair (Sembawang): Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head J of the Estimates be reduced by $100".

Singapore's need to develop its own defence capabilities came almost as suddenly as our Independence. Shortly after our Independence, the British forces who had been stationed here announced they would be pulling out ahead of schedule and Singapore would be responsible for its own defence thereafter.

This precipitated the start of National Service in 1967 and the focused development of Singapore’s armed forces. As a small country, security is always a challenge. If it comes to a war, it is generally assumed that a big, well-resourced country will prevail over a small one.

Unlike our neighbours who had larger populations, larger land mass and natural resources, when Singapore gained Independence, we were poor, had many pressing needs and competing challenges. But the Government of the day knew that from the day we started, we needed a strong defence force and that there would be no economic future, no security without one. Thus, they invested in defence even though it was difficult.

The building of a strong defence force was also coupled with the building of strong defence ties and the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) with Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom (UK) in 1971 was one of the earliest defence arrangements we entered into. This has been built on later with further important defence and training arrangements, including with other regional countries and big powers.

These alliances have been built in the mutual best interest of all involved and Singapore needs to be a strong and valued partner in order for other countries to want to form alliances with us.

Although our defence force remains strong and credible and our defence alliances strong, the security environment remains fraught with risks and uncertainties. As we had discussed in the earlier debate on foreign affairs, these threats are wide ranging and serious.

The threat of terrorism continues to spread with growing incidents of radicalised individuals and fighters returning from the Middle East to the region. Attacks have taken place in major European cities but, closer to home, in Indonesia as well.

The Korean Peninsula saw aggressive nuclear testing by North Korea barely a few months ago, and while ties remain warmer now, the nuclear risk remains. Matters in the South China Sea have also calmed down a little, but there is no clear resolution in sight for the differences here, though, hopefully, parties can agree upon a code of conduct.

And today, security threats are increasingly taking on new forms, including self-radicalised terrorism and cybersecurity. These are complex and unpredictable, and take place below the threshold of war, and we may have to invest adequately to deal with such emergent threats. While these threats linger, they take place against a backdrop of a risk that the US may reduce its role in the region. So, it is clear that we must continue to invest in defence.

Our Pioneer Generation had the foresight to invest in defence, and the "peace dividend" we have enjoyed over the last 50 years is the backdrop which has allowed Singapore to grow and thrive. Today, we are one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

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Given our small size and the existential need for defence, defence spending has been a significant part of our Budget. Defence expenditure has also been rising in the region in the face of growing security concerns, meaning all our regional neighbours are also building up their armed forces.

As forecasted in the Budget Debate earlier, we will be moving into a period when our population will be ageing and our needs for social spending will be rising at the same time. Some have suggested, happily, not inside this House, cutting the defence Budget, a move that I would find worrying, given that security and defence are existential for us. What are Singapore's security plans in the face of the threats we face, and is our defence spending going to be adequate and sustainable in the face of these threats?

Peacekeeping

Mr Teo Ser Luck (Pasir Ris-Punggol): Mr Chairman, as a responsible member of the international community, Singapore has long contributed to the international peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance missions around the world. And just last year, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) deployed Chinooks and personnel to aid in the Hurricane Harvey relief operations in the US, sent an additional medical team to the defeat-the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) coalition in the Middle East, and sent humanitarian aid to the Philippines and Bangladesh. Will SAF continue to support such global security and international peacekeeping efforts?

WOG Counter-terrorism Efforts

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (Nee Soon): Mr Chairman, terrorism has continued to pose a major threat to the peace and stability of our region. The scale of terror threats in our region has grown. Last year, about 900 ISIS-linked militants took over the southern Philippine city of Marawi and displaced over 400,000 Marawi residents. It took a concerted effort between the Philippine Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police to recapture Marawi following five months of fierce fighting involving airstrikes and artillery fire.

Terror groups today have also operated with increasing coordination and sophistication, with operational linkages spanning across national borders. The Maute group militants behind the Marawi siege had links with pro-ISIS cells and individuals in the region, and leveraged existing smuggling routes to move funds, people and arms through ungoverned spaces in the region.

The Marawi siege in the Philippines showed us how militants can effectively organise themselves and pose a credible threat to homeland security forces. This underscores the importance of improving synergies across the whole-of-Government to ensure that there is a coordinated response to terrorist threats.

As such, how is the SAF coordinating with other Government agencies to prevent and respond to the threat of regional terrorism today?

Counter-terrorism Efforts

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade): The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has stated that some 18,000 National Servicemen (NSmen) will be put through counterterrorism training annually. There will also be other initiatives to help Singapore negotiate the current climate that we live in, which includes the Special Ops taskforce; the Army Deployment Force and, of course, the setup of the Island Defence Training Institute.

They are, indeed, major changes and they come with strategic investments and commitment as well. What kind of scale of hardware and technological acquisition are we looking at? How are our plans able to cover our land and sea borders as well as our air space in terms of attacks and threats?

We need to be ever ready to handle these extremely volatile situations, and how do we ensure that our men are all psychologically ready, knowing that they can be called upon anytime to protect Singapore?

MINDEF also has broad goals for the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) chairmanship. Can the Minister also share with us some of these, which include collaboration with ASEAN counterparts, including SAF and other Armed Forces that have got experience in dealing with a siege like the one in Marawi?

Cyberattacks

Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Sembawang): Sir, with the world so interconnected and our lives completely changed with the Internet and digitalisation, almost all electronic items can be remotely accessed and controlled, such as our transport, financial and security systems, our power plants and many more.

It is a perfect cyber storm brewing. Imagine all our traffic light controls go haywire, with multiple accidents on the roads, our roads will become a logjam. Airplanes above our heads can become weapons of mass destruction, like the 9-11 scenario. Our stock market and financial systems can be brought to a complete halt and all electronic financial transactions going astray. Our communication devices could be hacked and paralysing the entire country, making any rescue and recovery services impossible. This is a doomsday scenario that we frequently see in a Hollywood movie. Can this reality be real one day?

We read about many incidents of cyberattacks and breaches of security and cyber espionage around the world. How prevalent are such attacks against Singapore, and how vulnerable are we? What are we doing to protect Singapore from cyberattacks?

In recent years, cyberattacks have grown to be a major security concern. In 2015, it was reported that the hackers had successfully compromised the information system of energy companies, leading to the temporary crippling of Ukraine's power grid. Ukraine was again targeted in June 2017 with ransomware disrupting Ukraine's financial, energy and government sectors.

At home, our Government education institutions are known to be hit by cyberattacks. Last year, our businesses, including several shopping malls, were affected by the "WannaCry" worm. Fortunately, Singapore was less affected by the "WannaCry" worm, compared to some other countries.

From these examples, it is clear that cyber-related threats can severely affect and disrupt Singaporeans' way of life. My question to the Minister is how prevalent are such attacks, how vulnerable are we and what is MINDEF doing to protect Singapore from cyberattacks?

Bug Bounty Programme

Mr Zainal Sapari (Pasir Ris-Punggol): Sir, the changing security environment has birthed a more diverse range of dangerous and non-conventional threats to Singapore, especially within the cyber domain. For example, the growing availability of sophisticated tools on the Dark Web, designed to thwart secure systems, has greatly heightened the impetus to test and strengthen the security of our existing digital systems. At the same time, in our current fiscal climate of prudence, there is also a strong motivation to exercise good fiscal judgement.

Last year, MINDEF started its Bug Bounty Programme where they invited a select group of white-hat hackers with the required skills and tools to attack their systems. This, I agree, is a sensible move to test its systems as it will be far cheaper than hiring a dedicated commercial cybersecurity vulnerability assessment team and potentially reveal weaknesses that may not be surfaced, given the very individual nature of white-hat hacking. Furthermore, efforts into strengthening our cybersecurity are always welcome if it means a greater defence of our borders within the space of cyber technology.

These hackers were allowed to test eight MINDEF Internet-facing systems to identify any code bugs and vulnerabilities. Could the Minister of Defence provide an update on the Bug Bounty Programme? Is the Bug Bounty Programme a one-off exercise or an ongoing engagement? How does MINDEF's efforts fit into our national cybersecurity ecosystem?

Prudence

Mr Teo Ser Luck: The Finance Minister has announced the Budget growth cap cut to 0.3 times GDP growth in this year's Budget, following on from the 2% downward adjustment to the budget caps of Ministries and Organs of State. This highlights the current fiscal climate prudence as we face the "new normal" of slower growth rates.

At the same time, we have witnessed an increase in the variety and danger of non-conventional threats to Singapore's security, in particular, in the cyber domain and by terrorists.

MINDEF and SAF have invested resources to build our capabilities in these fields in the last few years. Given the increasingly tight fiscal climate and the widening spectrum of threats that MINDEF and SAF now has to defend against, some worry that we may spread our defence dollars too thin. To fund the development of capabilities in emerging fields, MINDEF would likely have to exercise more prudence and possibly undertake some cost-cutting measures.

Could MINDEF elaborate on the specific prudence and cost-cutting measures that it is undertaking?

Future of SAF

Dr Teo Ho Pin (Bukit Panjang): Sir, the main mission of SAF is to defend Singapore. Today, Singapore faces new threats, such as terrorism and cyberattacks, in addition to the conventional threats. Therefore, it is crucial that we transform and build new capabilities in our defence force to deter any potential aggressors and overcome any aggressors with a swift and potent defence force.

Sir, technology and intelligence play an important part in strengthening our defence and enhancing our SAF's capabilities. In 2017, MINDEF announced that it will set up a Cyber Defence Organisation and train 18,000 soldiers per year in land, sea and air operations to counter terrorism. These are good initiatives but do we have the manpower to do so in the future, especially when we are faced with a low birth rate?

Sir, furthermore, with an ageing population, many of our Operationally Ready NSmen (ORNS) will be over 60 years old in 10 years' time. This will significantly grey the profile of our defence force. Many of these older ORNS may not be so tech savvy and will face difficulty in catching up with new technologies adopted by SAF. Thus, upgrading of these older ORNS to integrate into the defence force will be challenging.

Sir, last year, the Minister for Defence spoke about the "Next Generation (Gen) SAF" that will be positioned for the future, and able to deal with threats in the 21st Century. In this regard, I wish to seek clarifications from the Minister on the following: first, how SAF has leveraged technology to better equip our defence force; and second, update on the operational readiness of SAF for future threats.

The Chairman: Mr Lee Yi Shyan. Not here. Ms Jessica Tan.

ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Chairmanship

Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo (East Coast): Mr Chairman, with Singapore's geographic location and size, we face several undisputable strategic realities, including our lack of strategic depth and weight, lack of natural resources and small population. We are critically dependent on the free flow of external trade, even as the open nature of our economy leaves us vulnerable to shifts and turbulence in the external environment.

Given our vulnerabilities, we need to rely on both a strong SAF, as well as astute diplomacy, to protect our interests. In particular, our involvement in regional security architecture is critical to fostering trust and cooperation and is essential to shaping a benign security environment within the region where Singapore can continue to grow and prosper.

The ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) is the highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN aimed at promoting regional peace and stability through dialogue and cooperation in defence and security within ASEAN and between ASEAN and dialogue partners.

Amidst the growing threats from extremists and the volatile geopolitical environment in the region, Singapore, as Chair of ADMM this year, is well-placed to advance the security interests of the region and Singapore. In this regard, what are some of the initiatives that MINDEF is undertaking as ADMM Chair to achieve this?

ADMM and ADMM-Plus

Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied): Chairman, Sir, good progress is being made through the ADMM and ADMM-Plus frameworks to increase confidence among member countries and which lower but not eliminate the possibility and prospect of outright hostilities in the region, particularly over flashpoints, such as the South China Sea.

The upcoming ASEAN-China maritime exercise is a good example of the work that goes on to build confidence amongst each of the partner nations. In particular, the adoption of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) has raised hopes of its implementation even if an agreement amongst all the ADMM-Plus partners may prove to be harder to secure than the agreement of the ASEAN nations.

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Is there any realistic prospect for a CUES framework for unplanned encounters in the air, as intimated by the Defence Minister last month, in view of fatal incidents in the past?

As ADMM Chair, it was reported that Singapore plans to strengthen cooperation and build resilience among the ASEAN member states and eight ADMM-Plus countries. These include plans to increase counterterrorism collaboration and raising capabilities to combat chemical, biological and radiological threats.

Separately, under the "Our Eyes" initiative, senior officials from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Brunei will meet every two weeks to swap information on militant groups and develop a common database of violent extremists. Can the Minister clarify if there is any scope for such cooperation to create economies of scale for SAF and achieve some savings for MINDEF?

Finally, Minister, in view of the importance of the ADMM-Plus frameworks and the reality of a more multipolar world, is there any prospect for making the ADMM-Plus a yearly meeting instead of once every two years, as it is currently? What has been the reception to this proposal by the ADMM and ADMM-Plus partners?

ADMM-Plus

Mr Low Thia Khiang (Aljunied): Chairman, Sir, the Minister for Finance mentioned that tensions in the South China Sea could affect investor confidence and, therefore, stability and growth in the region. It is, therefore, strategic for Singapore to minimise the tensions and prevent incidents and accidents from escalating into a serious event in the South China Sea.

Singapore is the ASEAN Chair this year and thus leading ADMM and ADMM-Plus, which involves another eight other powers, including China and the United States (US). We have a timely opportunity here to establish the framework to minimise the tensions. It is timely because Singapore is a non-claimant stakeholder in the settlement of the South China Sea disputes and has strong bilateral ties with many of the other stakeholders, including ASEAN countries, China and the US.

It is also timely because the South China Sea disputes seem to be entering into a more rational phase of negotiation and balance of power, after the initial emotive phase occasioned by the jostling for territory.

In 2013, China and the US took part in a joint training exercise off Hawaii. In 2014, both countries, along with other South China Sea stakeholders, signed the agreement on CUES. CUES is an excellent platform to work with to avoid the escalation of any incident and to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. On 6 February this year, MINDEF issued a press release outlining the ADMM's three areas of focus for 2018 after the ADMM retreat in Singapore. One area is to affirm the importance of CUES on the sea and in the air. This is a worthy goal but, unfortunately, the press release was short on details about this area. Would the Minister elaborate on how the ADMM-Plus would be used to reaffirm the importance of CUES?

It was also announced that ASEAN will be conducting an inaugural maritime exercise with China at the end of the year. This is excellent, as the US-China maritime exercise in 2013 fostered trust that led to the CUES agreement in 2014. I would like to ask the Minister whether the ASEAN-China maritime exercise will involve the testing and practice of CUES in the South China Sea and whether a similar exercise can be conducted under the aegis of ADMM-Plus. I am asking the latter question because 2018 is the beginning of the third ADMM-Plus three-year cycle and there were already four live exercises held in the last cycle which were useful for deepening regional security cooperation.

The Chairman: Minister for Defence.

The Minister for Defence (Dr Ng Eng Hen): Mr Chairman, let me thank the Members for their continued support to build up a strong defence for Singapore by voting for the financial policy of the Government yesterday.

This debate and the next on the Presidential Address after Parliament reopens are crucial. For this debate, as expected, any proposed tax increase will attract attention. If it did not, we would be in a different world, a surreal one. But astute Members of Parliament (MPs) have pointed out that the financial Budget is but a means to an end.

Indeed, apart from the financial scrutiny of Government spending and revenue, the debates will set strategic directions for Singapore over the next 10, 20 years and beyond. And these core issues are addressed at a crucial juncture, as we transit to a 4th Generation (4G) leadership that must forge support from a generation of Singaporeans with perspectives and memories significantly different from the Pioneer Generation, and even that of their parents, because they were born when Singapore was First-World and they did not experience the Third-World Singapore. As we deliberate on these key issues, we have to decide what we must never let go, lest we weaken the foundations of our growth, and what we must change to keep relevant with the times. Those decisions from these two debates will affect every Singaporean, young or old, right or wrong.

Every Ministry, therefore, including and, especially defence, which takes up a large share of Government spending, must deal with these core issues. That is the core debate. Mr Vikram Nair captured the essence when he asked of my Ministry what are our security plans in the face of wide-ranging threats and risks, and if our defence spending is adequate and sustainable. He used the word “existential” twice. And he is correct.

Should we continue to put defence spending as a priority? Because, after all, we have had peace for 50 years and more now. Our relations with our neighbours are good on all sides. We have formed strong partnerships, as Members have pointed out, with major powers. How much should we invest in building a strong SAF and how much can we afford?

The answer to these questions by previous generations was plain, as it was unwavering – defence was a top priority and they would invest heavily into building a strong defence, a strong SAF, no ifs or buts.

But let me make one fact clear. Past generations did so even when there were many competing needs. We talked about our rising needs but, past generations, as a Third-World country, in Singapore, our needs then were dire and everywhere – houses, schools, hospitals, roads, public facilities, jobs – all in short supply. Because our military capabilities at Independence were next to nothing, the Government of the day had to make hard decisions – every dollar spent on building up the military was a dollar taken from other needs. And yet, they paid the price to build up a strong SAF.

Why? Mr Lee Kuan Yew and the Pioneer Generation, who lived through Singapore as a British colony, under Japanese occupation and as part of Malaysia, held a deep conviction on self-determination through a strong defence.

At the National Day Parade (NDP) which Members here attend, we replay a particular clip of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. It is a very stern admonition and, in this coming NDP, I invite you to listen to it again. It was uttered in 1967 when NS was introduced, "If you, who are growing up, do not understand that you have got to defend this, then I say, in the end, we will lose. Other people will come, smack you down, take it over." I cannot say it as harshly as Mr Lee because that generation lived through difficult times. It is just unnatural for us, but when he says it, and when the Pioneer Generation says it, it is so authentic. Harsh words for harsh times, but ever so necessary. Not only for that generation, but I think for every generation. So, listen to that clip again this year.

With that deep conviction and sacrificial commitment, we, today, have a modern and professional SAF. From two infantry battalions – which, if you read Mr Lee's memoirs, were still under Malaysian command even after we separated – we now have an Army, combined arms divisions, fully manned and able to move at short notice.

Earlier this year, you may or may not have noticed, we activated a mass mobilisation exercise (MOBEX). There was not much fanfare. In fact, it may have gone unnoticed. But in a few hours, we were able to rapidly assemble and equip 8,000 men, moved munitions to them, we used new ways of doing it. Many Members here are NSmen and had gone through MOBEX. As they went to the counters, these were automated counters, where a camera takes a picture of you, recognises you, issues you a slip to say which company and platoon you go to, and what your role is, and what weapons you need to draw. But you actually do not have to draw the weapons because, at the same time, when it is activated, we did not cheat, we activated both sides, from our ammunition storage facilities, they are activated. And they pushed weapons, platforms, to meet up with the men. Within a few hours, 8,000 men. No mean feat anywhere. That should give a lot of confidence to Members in this House and Singaporeans outside.

The Republic of Singapore (RSAF) commemorates its Golden Jubilee this year. But when it started, we had two Cessnas. We did not really own them. We leased them from the Singapore Flying Club. Today, we have a comprehensive fleet of fighter, transport, surveillance aircraft and ground-based air defence systems that protect our skies 24/7. And when I say that, it means that we have pilots on standby. Because after 9-11, we took that threat seriously. If there are planes that come to us unplanned, our fighter planes are mobilised. It takes a while to get mobilised, so our chaps are there. From time to time, we gently guide errant, sometimes, lost pilots, down to the field. But you never know when there might be a real attack, just like 9-11.

Our Navy started with two wooden hull boats, probably sinkable if attacked. We now have a modern Navy of Littoral Mission Vessels (LMVs), frigates and submarines that protect our waters and maritime hub.

The commitment of previous generations to build up a strong SAF was not merely through words or aspirations. It required substantial financial resources from the Government and the people. But that was not the only and, in fact, not the most precious resource they had to give. They gave of themselves, as every Singaporean male, as every male MP in this House who has done NS, has done so, through NS, with the full support from family and employers.

The results of that unequivocal commitment are plain for everyone to see – to Singaporeans, to our neighbours and, indeed, globally – an SAF today that is able to defend Singapore, but beyond that, an SAF that has contributed to global security. As Mr Vikram Nair said, how do we show that we are a valued partner?

It went beyond our wildest imagination that SAF troops and assets, as Mr Teo Ser Luck pointed out, were helping in Hurricane Harvey in Texas and, before that, Hurricane Katrina; or could be deployed as peacekeepers in Timor-Leste or against terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq; against pirates in the Gulf of Aden; and in humanitarian efforts in Aceh and Nepal. Who would have thought of it when SAF was started more than 50 years ago?

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Yes, we will continue to do this because the partnerships forged from playing our role internationally are important in dealing with transnational threats that affect our own security. We are not playing "good guy", to be honest. It raises our stakes, our value to others who want then to help us as we deal with transnational security threats.

It has been the steady investments in defence spending that enabled these achievements by a strong SAF, both locally and internationally. This is a Committee of Supply (COS) debate. So, I think some details of actual financing are appropriate. We have handed out, with your permission, Mr Chairman, charts and these are also shown on the screens.

The first figure shows our defence spending for the last 30 years. First off, in blue, is the percentage of Government expenditure – how much MINDEF spends as a part of Government expenditure. At our height, you will notice that we spent almost a third of every dollar the Government spends. But with the SAF modernised and doing more with people and technology, defence spending, as a proportion, dropped substantially, starting around a decade ago. It is now about 19% of Government spending.

So much for Singapore's spending, but defence must always be seen in perspective. What you spend is never as important as what everyone else spends. So, let us see the next slide – what is the defence spending by countries around us? I have chosen just to focus on ASEAN but I think probably the same can be said of Asia, ex ASEAN and Singapore, and even more.

Figure 2 shows that we had kept pace with ASEAN spending until about 2006. In the last decade, our ASEAN neighbours have been spending more. These are nominal absolute spending. In the last decade, our ASEAN neighbours have been spending more to modernise their defence capabilities even as their economies grew. The gap between Singapore's spending compared to the rest of ASEAN has increased, but Singapore need not increase its defence spending radically now to play catch-up. Do not worry. We do not have to do it.

As I have said in this House previously, we can maintain the SAF's capabilities with a defence spending that roughly keeps pace with inflation of around 3%-4% increase each year. And even for the next decade, MINDEF does not foresee any spike in defence spending. Obviously, this will not apply if there are exigencies or unexpected scenarios. For instance, if there is a terrorist attack or if the security environment deteriorates, our agencies will have to spend more to protect Singaporeans.

And after the next decade, I think it would be prudent for the Government of that day and this House to reassess the security threats and the military spending, and the capabilities of other countries and plan ahead. So, if Members can remember and are still in this House 10 years hence in 2028 and beyond, please remember this gentle admonition, sound out warnings if you think necessary, for those of you privileged to be in this House.

Two crucial lessons learnt from our experiences as well as that from negative examples from other countries who went the other way, and they are: first, the best time to prepare for trouble is during peace; second, in the long run, steady investments into military capabilities maintain peace through deterrence and result in more effective outcomes. It is actually the most efficient yield for defence investments. In other words, even if you spent the same dollar amount over a defined period and one was gentle and smooth, and the other went up and down, the most effective yield is continuous steady investments, and I will tell Members why, by examples, which many European countries have learnt in bitter ways.

I recently spoke of how Lithuania did away with NS after the Cold War, but has now to reintroduce it following the annexation of Crimea. But it may not be possible. Just think – one Defence Minister decides, "alright, National Service is no longer necessary". The same one, or a few years later, another one decides, "let us reintroduce it". Is it possible? Certainly not in time to deal with an imminent crisis.

Denmark announced in October last year that it would now increase defence spending by 20% over the next five years. You can quickly appreciate the pain it will cause their population that the Finance Minister of Denmark would say, "I have to raise Goods and Services Tax (GST) by 2% just to pay for my defence." Painful.

France, even a bigger problem. It unveiled a bill last month that would increase its spending on its armed forces by more than 40% by 2025 because Europe has now got threats. People are asking France and Germany, who are the two largest powers, to do more. They are going to up it. President Macron, to his credit, believes it should be done, but they have to up their defence spending by 40%. I have not calculated how much it affects their defence spending. I think France now spends €34 billion. It would have to go up to €50 billion, an increase of €16 billion in seven years. Not only a 2% increase in GST would help; probably a 3%, 4% or 5% hike in GST just to pay for the increase in defence spending.

Germany, even with its troubled past, is now asked by the European Union (EU) states to do more militarily. That debate is over. I have attended the Munich Security Dialogue, as Defence Ministers in Singapore have, for the past decade or more. And, at that time, there was almost a schizophrenia. "We think we want Germany to do more but with your troubled past, maybe you should not do more." That debate is done. Germany, you must do more. But after 25 years of cuts to the German defence budget, the German military – the Bundeswehr – is underfunded, with entire weapons systems unusable, because they either lack spare parts or have been poorly maintained. By the German government's own assessment, less than half of Germany's submarines and planes are operationally ready. The platforms are there but only half can be activated.

When the Aceh tsunami occurred, we activated three of our four Landing Ship Tanks (LSTs). It happened on Boxing Day – no way you could have had prior warning. On activation, all moved – 75% of the assets of that particular platform. The fourth was in the Gulf, as Deputy Prime Minister Teo has reminded me. So, all four were out. If we had to send another one, we would have to borrow it.

The Bundeswehr will need many years to modernise its platforms and make up for lost time.

When I share these lessons, I say these are salutary lessons that we must voraciously imbibe, because someone else has paid to learn them. That is the cheapest cost to any country.

We intend to keep our defence spending steady despite countries around us spending more and against wide-ranging security threats. But we have to prioritise and focus and optimise our resources.

Some Members have asked about counterterrorism – Assoc Prof Dr Muhd Faishal, Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef. SAF takes terrorism very seriously, so much so that we have to reorganise, train and equip differently. Members have pointed out, including Dr Teo Ho Pin, how we now train. We have the capacity to train 18,000 SAF NSmen for homeland security.

We learned very valuable lessons from Marawi, another painful lesson that someone else learnt. So, we went there. We absorbed the lessons. I made a trip, Deputy Prime Minister Teo made a trip recently, where they found out and they admitted that they underestimated the problem, both the number of fighters and how well they were equipped.

The terrorist fighters there were equipped. Snipers had good weapons, heavy machine guns, and they even had anti-tank weapons. The terrorists conducted urban warfare against soldiers and policemen of the Philippine authorities who were not trained for that kind of fight. That is why it took five months for the Philippine armed forces and homeland security to dislodge the militants from that city. And this, after many lives lost and the city devastated. I think the bill they have recently estimated will cost about US$2 billion. This is just one small city. The experiences there confirm that SAF is on the right track in building up our counterterrorism capabilities. In the span of a year, we have trained some 18,000 servicemen for homeland security and we started the new institute called the Island Defence Training Institute. I have talked about Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI) City last year. When completed, it will allow our soldiers to train more realistically for homeland security and counterterrorism because it will be a different Pasir Laba that you and I were used to. Buildings, I do not know how high you can build it, but at least higher than what we have now, and to teach them how to fight in that kind of scenario.

Members rightly pointed out that we have to do more with other Government agencies to respond to these terror threats. We are working together with the Police's Frontline Policing Training Centre. We will conduct joint training and equip NSmen with the skills to perform these homeland security operations. At sea, various agencies are coordinated, whether it is the Navy, Police Coast Guard, Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) or Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), so that we keep our waters safe.

But as much as we prepare at home, Singapore needs to be part of the international effort to deal with terrorism at its source. That is a sound strategy because, if you do not do that, you are just dealing with the problem too late and you allow the problem to mushroom.

We did that against Al-Qaeda, from 2007, in Afghanistan, after which the threat has dissipated for now. Our SAF troops have been deployed in Iraq since 2014 against ISIS and with considerable progress. The coalition effort, led by the US, has taken Iraq back from ISIS control. US Secretary of Defense James Mattis wrote to me recently to ask Singapore to commit more resources for the next phase of consolidation after our hard-won victories. Cabinet has approved for Singapore to maintain our commitment to counterterrorism globally, for our own interests. I am announcing today that the SAF will further deploy troops to Iraq later this year. We will send SAF troops to help train Iraqi Security Forces to counter improvised explosive devices, as well as in tactical weapons and combat tactics.

As Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef suggested, we need to work with ASEAN on counterterrorism, and some others have pointed that out too, including Mr Pritam Singh and Mr Low Thia Khiang, especially because the risk of foreign fighters leaving Iraq and Syria has gone up. So, paradoxically, as the problem there diminishes, they run away; and they come back, whether it is Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines or even Singapore.

The Philippine Special Operations Command came to Singapore last December for a two-week professional exchange and our offer to the Philippines Armed Force to use our unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance remains open. Deputy Prime Minister Teo, when he visited Philippine leaders, reiterated that offer, too, recently. SAF stands ready to join the Sulu Seas patrol when invited. As ADMM Chair, we recently proposed a counterterrorism framework – there were many programmes but we felt we needed a comprehensive framework and we devised the 3Rs – the equivalent to reading, writing, arithmetic. Rather, it is "Resilience, Response, Recovery", to coordinate our responses to prevent, deal with and recover from attacks.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked about the growing cyber threat, indeed, a transnational threat with effects that could be devastating as physical attacks, whether it is power grids, whether it is financial grids, whether it is hospitals, and so on and so forth.

At the whole-of-Government level, Deputy Prime Minister Teo chairs our Coordinating Inter-Ministerial Committee, the Security Policy Committee. But at the Ministry level, we are responsible for our own Ministries as well as the ecosystem in which that Ministry is in charge of.

Members have asked who the attacks come from, how often and whom they are targeted at. I think Members can guess at the answer. The attacks are conducted by freelancers, as well as organised state and non-state actors. Senior MINDEF and SAF leaders, as well as departments handling sensitive information have been deliberately targeted, for example, by "spear-phishing". Those of you in information technology (IT) will know what this is.

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In other words, you get innocent-looking emails addressed to you, but it contains malicious software. If you click on the attachment, or sometimes even when you click on the email – I do not think they have reached a stage where you look at it and the malicious software might come. They have not succeeded, but they will keep trying.

As we do in the physical arena, MINDEF adopts a multi-layered approach to cyber defence, including the ultimate step of physically separating sensitive systems from the Internet. Internally, there is a system – we do not want to talk to you, please do not come in. Sensors monitor internal networks 24/7. We have "red teams” which are testing for vulnerabilities.

Mr Zainal Sapari asked about our Bug Bounty programme. Thank you for affirming it. I thought it was a good idea. It attracted 260 white-hat hackers, all bona fide, and improved our systems at relatively low cost. We have shared lessons with other agencies, like the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) and the Cyber Security Agency (CSA), and the results are encouraging. I do not think it is a one-off. It may not be an exact mould, but we will think of these ways to crowdsource. For the Internet, we can do it; we can crowdsource and actually leverage off that connectivity.

As Members have pointed out, we will build up a cyber force with more SAF regulars and full-time staff. We will also use NSmen. This year, we will take in the pilot batch of full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) under the Cyber NSF Scheme. For those of you who have friends, children or children of friends who are interested and suitable, tell them about this. For those interested and suitable, we will offer them regular contracts of varying durations. If they accept, we will also invest more on training them. We will also set up a cyber defence training and exercise infrastructure to train them. So, this is long term, needs a long-term plan, and we have begun.

Mr Teo Ser Luck asked how we can be prudent in spending, and he is spot on. We know our resources are limited. We have to be prudent, but we will not compromise. SAF will not compromise our defence capabilities but we have found ways to optimise resources. We want to stretch every dollar, where we can.

We have used innovation and better work processes. SAF saved $200 million last year, the highest in the last four years. I think we can do more. For instance, our new LMVs will cost around $65 million less for the whole fleet to maintain across their lifetime. They replaced the Patrol Vessels. LMVs are much more capable than the Petrol Vessels but will cost less. Why? Because they have less crew, they are more efficient to maintain.

The RSAF’s aerostat, our big balloon – yesterday, there were some discussions about floating balloons – let me just say that when SAF floats balloons, it is there to stay, and it is meant to be up. Our aerostat achieves continuous aerial surveillance, just like a plane with radar, but saves about $29 million a year. It is a jolly good idea.

SAF upgrades existing equipment, where possible, to avoid buying new platforms. Our first instinct is not to buy, but to upgrade. And that is what we did for our whole fleet of Leopard Tanks and Chinooks.

We must harness new technologies, as Dr Teo Ho Pin pointed out. Because even if you chose to give us more money in exchange for manpower, we cannot do it. We just do not have the manpower. We recognise that as an inherent constraint, and we started to deal with it, I think, probably one or even two decades ago, in terms of redesigning our systems, in terms of maintaining our systems. Let me give Members some examples.

Dr Teo Ho Pin mentioned that the older ORNS, those in their 60s, would not be so adept. We are not planning to induct them into our Armed Forces, because their liability ends at 40 to 50. Thank you for the idea, Dr Teo. We will consider it.

Of those who are in our Order of Battle (ORBAT), there are some examples. Instead of soldiers conducting surveillance from observation towers, the Army will build unmanned towers to watch over Jurong Island and the surrounding waters. Those towers will watch 24/7 in all-weather conditions, and it will reduce the total number of soldiers required by a third – a significant number.

RSAF is moving towards a Smart Airbase. What is a Smart Airbase? For example, it will use drones to perform runway damage assessment. Members will notice, for instance, at the recent Air Show, it is beautiful to watch, and people clap in glee, but after the fighter planes take off or land, we have to do visual checks to make sure that the commercial planes can come in, too. Same thing for each take-off; you have to do visual checks because even small debris make a difference.

We can use drones to perform runway damage assessment and respond to other intruding drones. We want to make it more efficient by leveraging automation for aircraft maintenance and using sensors for pre- and post-flight aircraft checks. I think it is achievable and we are doing trials to achieve that kind of Smart Airbase.

The Navy is integrating data from all agencies. The maritime environment is a different environment from the air. There are lots of moving parts and different agencies. We want to gather data from all sources, construct better algorithms to detect anomalies and then pre-empt, say, possible terrorist threats from the sea.

For surveillance, we want to use cameras with smart sensors with automated surveillance. We do not need a man in the loop, or a man in every loop, to say, “this vessel is behaving in a different way from other vessels”. So, just alert you, so that when the man in the loop makes a decision, you respond. We do not need manned vessels for some scenarios. Unmanned vessels will soon be used for patrols and underwater surveys. All these give us hope that we are moving towards an SAF that is just as, or even more effective, but can use less manpower.

We agree wholeheartedly with Members here who pointed out that we cannot do this alone. We have to join other partners or other countries. Mr Jessica Tan, Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Pritam Singh, thank you for affirming that what we decided as ADMM Chair this year is important. We said that there will be three areas: first, counterterrorism; second, confidence-building measures and code for unplanned encounters at sea and in the air; and third, chemical, biological and radiological threats. That was really precipitated because of the Korean Peninsula instability, and most countries are not prepared for those kinds of threats.

As Members pointed out rightly, CUES has been accepted. What is the possibility of a CUES for air being accepted, is a tough one, I agree. But if we can do it across 18 nations, I think that will send a very strong signal. So, we will try. We will at least start the ball rolling and see whether we can get consensus from the 10 ASEAN countries and the Plus-eight. I think we can achieve that. I think among some of them, they will be more willing. And if we can talk to them and say, "This works for you", I think we would have done a significant contribution.

Some asked about the exercise, Mr Low and Mr Pritam Singh as well, whether we are practising CUES. Indeed, we are. We do not even have to wait for the China-ASEAN Maritime Exercise. We are going to do it with all 18 ADMM-Plus countries – practise CUES, because they have agreed collectively to adopt CUES and practise it in our exercise in 2019. And in 2018, I suspect, this year, with China, it may be in undisputed waters, so there would not be a chance to practise it. The Member asked whether the meetings of the ADMM-Plus will be yearly. Indeed, it will, from this year onwards. They have agreed and Singapore will be the first to host these annual meetings.

With the US, we have achieved new milestones. Both the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and RSAF conducted bilateral exercises in Guam for the first time last year, flying with US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) and exercising across the full spectrum of anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air warfare with the US Navy.

With China, we will build on the positive momentum from the visit of Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan early this year and we have deepened ties with the People's Liberation Army (PLA). With India, we concluded a Navy Bilateral Agreement and we will increase maritime security cooperation between our countries, especially around the Andaman Seas. For Australia, we will construct SAF training facilities in Queensland, due to begin in 2019.

We will build strong partnerships, but all of us here know that, ultimately, we, Singaporeans, must be accountable for our own defence. When we are dependent on others, we have failed. Our NSmen will be better trained through new facilities in the SAFTI City and in Australia. With continued investments steady, year after year, which Members of this House approve, SAF will continue its transformation onwards.

The next-Gen SAF will use game-changing technologies and new fighting concepts. On the ground, they will operate unmanned, autonomous systems, to multiply their forces. Our skies will be better protected with advanced weapons systems. We recently added our Aérospatiale Terminale (ASTER)-30, which are here. Our territorial waters and sea lines of communications will be better secured with manned and unmanned vessels alike. That is the vision. That is what we are investing in, and we will be equipped to deal with ever-evolving cyber threats.

Mr Chairman, let me conclude. That Members of this House voted for Budget 2018 yesterday, sends a strong signal to our own people and to the world. In doing so, we have kept faith with what we were entrusted with by previous generations – a strong SAF able to ensure our independence and protect Singaporeans. But that a strong SAF was not built or maintained by happenstance or even good intentions. For each generation, it will require a conscious, deliberate decision. It will require sacrifices to commit resources and of themselves.

Previous generations took that hard decision. As Mr Lee Kuan Yew said to SAF officers at a Temasek Society dinner in 2012, “From the day we started, I knew that we needed a strong SAF and I believe that still remains today. Without a strong SAF, there is no economic future, there is no security.”

The Members of this House who voted for the Budget yesterday united themselves with this belief and the resolve of the Pioneer Generation. If each generation reaffirms and renews its commitment, then a strong SAF will continue to keep Singapore safe and sovereign with a secure future for another generation. [Applause.]

Role of NS

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Mr Chairman, since its introduction in 1967, NS had served as the backbone of the SAF and has been instrumental in deterring potential adversaries and establishing the bedrock of peace for Singapore over the last 50 years. Potential adversaries know that when they want to attack Singapore, it is a fight against all of us.

The political atmospherics in the region have waxed and waned over the years. As we now enjoy warm and friendly relations with all our ASEAN partners, some segments of our society have questioned if NS remains relevant in this context. After all, the probability of conventional conflict is perceived to be remote.

Recognising that NS is premised on the need for national defence, can MINDEF elaborate on the role that NS plays in Singapore today and its importance, given prevailing geopolitical conditions?

SAF Manpower

Mr Zainal Sapari: Sir, across the years, SAF has drawn heavily on Singapore’s human capital in its pursuit of a strong military force capable of protecting Singapore. However, several trends in recent years have threatened the size of the SAF's enlistment pool, chief among them, the trend of our falling birth rate and the ageing population.

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As Members of this House will recall, the Minister for Defence noted last year that SAF will see a one-third reduction in manpower supply by 2030. In view of these impending manpower constraints, what are the manpower challenges faced by SAF? What measures are being taken to ensure that these manpower challenges will not compromise our overall military capability?

NS Cohesion

Mr Teo Ser Luck: Like many of my male colleagues in this House, we have fond memories of NS, and NS is the rite of passage for all Singaporean males, regardless of background, and only in NS we get to mix around with peers of different backgrounds, different status and come together and work together. So, besides preparing our young people, our young men, for operations, it also has an important role in enhancing social cohesion. NS, in that sense, is an integral part of our society. And what is SAF doing to build more common experiences and improve cohesion between NSFs from different walks of life during their service?

NS Effectiveness

Mr Ong Teng Koon (Marsiling-Yew Tee): Mr Chairman, despite our best efforts, our attempts to increase the birth rate have a limited impact so far. This has serious implications for our economy and also our security. As we look to the future, manpower challenges will mean that each individual that serves NS becomes increasingly precious, both during service and after. During service, each individual will now have a bigger role to play as the total number of servicemen and women decline due to smaller cohorts.

After service, we need to ensure that all Singaporeans are equipped to thrive in the new world of work. We will struggle as a nation if all our males are two years behind their counterparts in the acquisition of skills they need in order to survive in the workplace of the future. I would like to ask the Minister how is MINDEF embracing new technologies to maximise the potential of each NSman, both during and after service.

Vocational Interest

Mr Baey Yam Keng (Tampines): The Vocational Interest Initiative allows enlistees’ interests to be taken into consideration when determining the NS vocation that they are suitable to be deployed to. This aims to offer a more positive, fulfilling and meaningful NS experience for our servicemen. At the same time, it encourages our NSmen to take greater ownership of their roles, responsibilities and contributions in ensuring Singapore's safety and security.

I checked out the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) website and found that the videos and handbook on the 33 NS vocations in SAF, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) very useful. This will provide greater insights for our young pre-enlistees to make more informed choices. I note that the final posting results will look at factors, such as physical fitness, suitability to perform tasks and operational requirements, besides the interests of the new enlistees. This is rightfully so.

I would like to ask MINDEF to elaborate on the rationale for this initiative, and if there are other changes to how SAF deploys its NSmen.

Since the launch of the initiative last November, I believe there have been two or three cohorts being enlisted, and one having completed their Basic Military Training (BMT). Can MINDEF share any early findings of this initiative? How have the interests been matched, and the response of the enlistees?

Cyber NSF Scheme

Ms Low Yen Ling (Chua Chu Kang): Mr Chairman, according to CSA, there had been a spate of cyberattacks in Singapore over the past year. Investigations revealed that some attackers employed sophisticated anti-detection and infection techniques to access information through cyber backdoors. Some of these advanced persistent threats (APTs) had malware signatures that are unknown, even to the anti-malware databases.

We have all heard from Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen just earlier. He spoke about the threats that are posed by malware emails. So, these developments demonstrate that cyber threats to Singapore are becoming more sophisticated, making detection and forensic investigation more difficult. Notably, some of these sophisticated cyberattacks appeared to be targeted at public organisations in an effort to gain access to critical information and data. Not surprisingly, MINDEF was targeted by deliberate hacking attempts on its Internet-facing system early last year.

Given our small population and geographical size, SAF relies heavily on digitisation and networking in our capabilities to achieve a military edge against our potential adversaries. However, these military networks and systems and the sensitive information they contain make them an attractive target of cyberattacks. As part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen its cyber defence capabilities, MINDEF recently announced the launch of a Cyber NSF Scheme to tap on cyber talent with the requisite aptitude and skills of the NSF pool. Can MINDEF provide and update on the recently announced Cyber NSF Scheme? How sustainable will the scheme be, given the much talked about reduction in the population size, thus a smaller number of NSFs available?

NS Experience

Mr Ong Teng Koon: Mr Chairman, technology is evolving at an accelerating pace and has the potential to make our lives better in ways that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. We can now effortlessly try how much physical activities we do, where we go and whom we interact with. The data that we capture can be mined to provide insights into almost every aspect of human life.

This technology can be used to improve the effectiveness and safety of NS training or, at the same time, helping individual serviceman to develop useful skills. For example, advances in virtual reality and related fields enable us to create new types of training. Individual troops can practise critical skills in a safe environment and commanders can try out different strategies to see which one will work best. The potential to apply technology to NS is limited only by our imagination and our willingness to take the lead. We can improve training outcomes whilst reducing risks to our servicemen.

I would like to ask the Minister how SAF is leveraging technology to enhance the NS experience.

Community is Key in Total Defence

Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar): Mr Chairman, since its introduction in 1967, NS has remained the cornerstone of Singapore's defence, providing the security and stability which underpin our shared prosperity. To date, more than a million have served NS and NS has become deeply entrenched as a national institution.

Going forward, it is important that this institution continues to enjoy the strong support of every Singaporean in every household and in every community. Over the past four years, the family and community council within the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) had developed initiatives to strengthen community support for total defence and NS. Some of these initiatives include (a) the engagement of new citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs) to understand the need for defence and support the NS institution; and (b) the partnership with the Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association (SAFRA) and the People's Association (PA) to encourage retailers to offer discounts to NSmen in recognition of their service to the nation. We can do more.

Military service is tough and the sacrifices are real for our NSmen who spent time away from their careers and loved ones in defence of our nation. What else can MINDEF and ACCORD do to educate the public on the sacrifices of our NSmen and galvanise community support for these men serving our country?

Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD)

Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng (Pioneer): Mr Chairman, my cut is on MINDEF’s efforts to recognise the contributions of our NSmen and the initiatives undertaken by ACCORD to increase the public’s awareness of NS.

SAF underwrites Singapore’s sovereignty upon which all Singaporeans can live in peace, and secure in the knowledge that Singapore is well-protected. NS is a duty for all male Singaporeans and second-generation PRs. It is the cornerstone of Singapore’s defence and security. For many Singaporean males, NS is a rite of passage at about 18 years of age, where he leaves the comforts of home and takes on the commitment of defending his country, his family and friends. After the initial two years of full-time commitment in NS, the NSF transitions to ORNS duties as NSmen, and this is about 10 years in length. During this time, our NSmen will have to juggle career and family commitments as well as their national defence duties. Therefore, it would be right and necessary for us to recognise the contributions of our NSmen.

Just last year, we celebrated NS50, where the whole nation came together to thank successive generations of NSmen for their contributions to our nation’s defence over the years. Singaporeans from all walks of life took the opportunity to recommit themselves to play their part to protect our Independence, values and way of life. I am sure that many of our NSmen, past and present, benefited from the various NS50 promotions and offers, generously supported by the private sector as well, who understood the importance of national defence.

Yet, this widespread show of support across the public and private spheres should not be a one-off or should not be limited to milestone years alone. Our NSmen must continue to know that their sacrifices to serve NS are appreciated and not taken for granted. Hence, I would like to ask the Minister how has MINDEF continued in its efforts to recognise the contributions of our NSmen.

ACCORD was established by MINDEF in 1984 as a channel for the community to provide feedback on issues concerning Singapore’s defence. In 2014, it was restructured to comprise the ACCORD main council and three sub-councils covering Employer and Business Council, Family and Community, and Educational Institutions. I would like to ask the Minister to provide an update on the initiatives implemented by ACCORD.

SkillsFuture for NS men

Dr Teo Ho Pin: Sir, NSFs undergo various types of military and skills training while serving their NS. Many of these knowledge and skills, such as leadership, planning, command and control or safety measures, are applicable when the NSmen join the workforce.

Sir, can I ask the Minister to provide an update as to what is MINDEF doing to enable skills and knowledge acquired by our NSmen during NS to be recognised beyond NS?

Productivity Performance of NSFs

Assoc Prof Randolph Tan (Nominated Member): Sir, the importance of defence in Singapore has become more critical rather than less over the years. Defence spending must keep up with Singapore's partnerships and match the growing sophisticated needs of our advanced economy. Like all areas of Government, defence spending will be put under pressure in years to come. In anticipation of this, defence spending must keep up with the state of the economy. This includes the area of manpower use and productivity.

Sir, in our defence, one of the five pillars of total defence calls for having a strong and resilient economy. Strength and resilience of an economy are based on, among other things, a workforce which embraces productive and efficient work practices and habits. The natural starting point for promoting and understanding how individual contribution to workforce performance is part of economic defence, is full-time NS.

Full-time NS is a major milestone in our young people's lives, often the most significant initial encounter with a regulated work environment. Even for those who deferred entry into the labour force after NS because of studies or other pursuits, the concentrated immersion in full-time NS work cultures so early in their adulthood exerts a major influence over the attitudes of young people. Intensity and pervasiveness of the experience present a valuable opportunity for inculcating a productivity-driven work ethic in NSFs.

In addition to ensuring that the skills picked up in NS are relevant to the needs of the economy, what can be done to take advantage of opportunities to assess and improve the individual productivity performance of NSFs? It will help to ensure the sacrifice of time and effort made by young people in full-time NS have a continuing relevance to their working lives.

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I have three questions for the Minister: what is the role of full-time NS in shaping the work ethic of young Singaporeans? What does NS contribute to promoting an awareness of the importance of productivity performance and efficiency at both the individual and organisational levels? And, finally, what are the possibilities for coordinating regimentation in the Armed Forces with productivity and efficiency?

Total Defence

Ms Low Yen Ling: Chairman, Total Defence was launched in 1984 to galvanise every Singaporean to play our part in building a strong, secure and cohesive nation that is resilient against any crises. Singaporeans are familiar with the five pillars as we commemorate Total Defence Day on 15 February every year.

Today, we are confronted with emerging threats, such as disinformation campaigns, that can be more insidious because they target the hearts and minds of our people over the long run and are harder to detect. These are aimed at breaking societies from within by exploiting our social fault lines to weaken national unity, erode trust in Government and diminish confidence in the nation's future.

At the same time, Singapore society is also evolving. Over the years, we have seen more inter-ethnic and transnational marriages. This growing diversity may give rise to new potential fault lines and make it more difficult for us to maintain social harmony.

Compounding the challenge, our population is also increasingly reliant on social media to get news and information on current affairs, making them more susceptible to misinformation online. Against this backdrop, Singapore's approach of Total Defence has proven to be a remarkable presence and also provided a bulwark against such insidious threats.

Can MINDEF provide an update on its 2018 Total Defence campaign and how we intend to address these threats, going forward?

Social and Psychological Defence

Mr Ong Teng Koon: Chairman, on most objective measures, we are living in the best of times in history. With declining poverty and hunger and falling rates of death due to disease and war, yet countries are also faced with growing threats to their economies and their ways of life. These threats can take many forms. The most obvious and high profile are, of course, terrorist attacks, such as 9-11 or the London bombings. But just as dangerous to the long-term health of the nation are most subtle forms of threats, such as the ramping up of social and societal tensions through propaganda and fake news.

We have seen that even mature western democracies are not immune to this form of cyber-psycho terrorism with foreign activists leveraging social media to provoke both sides on issues that divide society, such as racism, inequality or gun rights. These threats are not easy to define or detect and even more difficult to fight.

I would like to ask the Minister: how is MINDEF working with all the relevant agencies to ensure that we continue to enhance our social cohesion and psychological resilience?

Social Defence

Mr Amrin Amin (Sembawang): We are proud of our multiracial, multi-religious global society here in Singapore. We may worship different gods and practise different cultures and traditions, but we live in peace and harmony in this compact Little Red Dot.

Our status as a global hub has helped grow our economy and added to the vibrancy of our nation. However, we are also aware that we cannot take all these for granted.

If we look overseas, we can see how race, religion and immigration issues can affect not only society and politics but also result in terrorism and violence. In Southeast Asia, the return of ISIS foreign fighters to their homeland has resulted in the persistent threat of radicalisation in our region. These terrorists will use race and religion as a “socio-weapon” to tear people apart.

In Singapore, we are not immune to the threat of terrorism, and we know that there are people in recent years that have been self-radicalised. In Europe and the US, we have witnessed the manifestations of globalisation backlash in US politics, Brexit and the rise of anti-immigration parties in Europe.

As these threats exploit the fault lines in our increasingly diverse society to divide our people, what can we, as Singaporeans, do as part of Total Defence to strengthen social cohesiveness and affirm multiculturalism to fortify our defences against the scourge of terrorism and in the face of other external pressures?

Fake News

Mr Vikram Nair: Chairman, the world today is increasingly interconnected. The Business Times reported that 70% of Singaporeans are active social media users on the go, more than double the global average. This means that Singaporeans are also more easily exposed to false news and pressures found online, which could tear our social fabric.

The threat of fake news is pervasive and insidious. On social media, articles and stories usually go viral and get circulated because they are sensational or they corroborate one's own beliefs and views. However, it is not always possible to verify the truth of stories being circulated. This makes it fertile grounds for the spreading of fake news.

To make matters worse, fake news is also usually profitable. Revenues generated online are usually correlated to eyeballs and circulation, not the truth or quality of the stories involved. One just needs to share sensational stories without having to pay journalists to actually investigate and report the truth. Thus, in an environment where purveyors can make profits by keeping costs low and getting wide circulation, traditional media companies that do real investigation and report real news, which is usually less sensational, are suffering, with readerships dropping for traditional news providers.

This is a double whammy because it means that fake news ends up circulating, while real news requires paid subscriptions, is suffering and struggles to counteract the fake news.

An even more worrying development is the allegation that state actors may also be involved in using fake news to influence the politics of other countries. Our Foreign Minister had very kindly confirmed that this was the case in Singapore as well, but he was probably too diplomatic to name the state actors involved.

The most shocking of the recent allegations, in fact, occurred in the greatest power, the US, where allegations are being made in some quarters in the US that there was Russian interference in their elections. It is already common ground that there was a great deal of fake news being circulated in the last US elections, with candidates on both sides being victims of fake news stories.

Is MINDEF concerned about this threat of fake news for our defence, particularly where it comes from state actors? If so, what steps does MINDEF intend to take to combat threats from fake news?

SAF Volunteer Corps

Dr Teo Ho Pin: Sir, the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) allows Singaporeans from diverse backgrounds who are not eligible for NS to also make contributions to Singapore's defence. Its main mission is to serve in assigned roles alongside SAF NSFs, NSmen and regulars to enhance the security of Singapore. SAFVC is also a great opportunity for citizens from diverse backgrounds to meet, train and bond together. This contributes to a more resilient Singapore.

Sir, can MINDEF provide an update on the SAFVC recruitment status and also share with us the types of voluntary work assigned to SAFVC members?

Youth Engagement

Mr Baey Yam Keng: Mr Chairman, the world today is characterised by the rise of the Internet and globalisation. Our youths will grow up and mature in an environment that will grant them access to an immense variety of views and experiences.

While this opens up many opportunities for education and a deeper appreciation for diversity, it will also likely reshape their sense of identity in new ways. In particular, their understanding of what it means to be “Singaporean” will no longer be strongly defined only by an understanding of Singapore’s history, culture and our vulnerabilities.

However, Singaporeans’ commitment towards defending our country rests on whether we possess a good understanding of our vulnerabilities and an ingrained conviction of the importance of what we are defending. While it is important to instill this understanding in our youths from a young age, growing global interconnectivity and the ensuing potential dilution of the “Singapore Identity” will continue to pose a strong challenge to our efforts.

I note that MINDEF has used many innovative and interesting ways to engage the public of different age groups on Total Defence, for example, N.E.mation! video competition, "Guardians of the City" strategy card game, Total Defence (TD) Badge Programme, TD Puzzle, colouring activity and documentary-drama series "It Will Never Happen Here".

How has MINDEF’s experience been these years and how could MINDEF reach out better to youths today to deepen their understanding of Total Defence and encourage them to play their part?

The Future SAF

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef: Sir, our SAF has come a long way. It has moved on from just being a defence imperative to being a cultural institution, which is a part of Singapore's national identity.

Moving ahead, our falling birth rate will pose a significant challenge. Our NS enrolment will decrease by 30% by 2030. This may mark a timing for decision to utilise more technology, unmanned systems and so on.

The future of warfare may be in the cyber domain. The technological disruption will not spare the area of defence. Data analytics will become extremely crucial. Do we have personnel who are highly trained in these areas and can they train others? How are we preparing our young recruits for this? What about psychological preparedness and resilience development? These are also important.

Finally, can the Minister also share with us on the Centre of Excellence for Soldier Performance (CESP) – what it does and how the curriculum is adapted to meet our needs?

Family Engagement and Resilience

Ms Joan Pereira: Chairman, besides the community at large, families also play a very important role in supporting our NSmen. At the individual level, families are the primary source of moral, emotional and social support for our NSmen. Strong families will be able to pick up signs of emotional or psychological stress in our NSmen and seek assistance before such pressure escalates.

At the national level, families sustain NS as a national institution as they continue to encourage successive generations of Singaporean sons to undergo the rite of passage that is NS. Thus, families are an important group of people that we can engage to ensure the well-being of our NSmen and NS as an institution.

Thus far, ACCORD has partnered the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations (SCWO), the Women's Integration Network of the People's Association and the Young Women's Leadership connection to engage the mothers, wives and girlfriends of our NSmen through information sharing sessions. ACCORD has also collaborated with the Families for Life Council to engage NSmen and their families, and Families for Life events, such as the Families for Life NS 50 Picnic, held at the Singapore Discovery Centre in August 2017.

Looking ahead, how can the Ministry step up its engagement of families so that they are better able to support our NSmen in their NS journey?

The Chairman: Minister Ong Ye Kung.

The Second Minister for Defence (Mr Ong Ye Kung): Mr Chairman, Sir, I thank the members for all their questions. Dr Maliki Osman and I will try to answer all of them.

Last year, we commemorated 50 years of NS in Singapore. Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim asked about the continued importance of NS. It remains the bedrock of the strong and credible SAF that we have today.

Since 1967, more than one million Singaporeans have invested their time and their blood, sweat and tears in faithfully performing their NS duties. Their and their families’ sacrifices keep our country safe and secure and, as Singaporeans, we can decide our future.

One of our greatest defence assets is that Singaporeans are strongly behind NS. Mr Cedric Foo asked about this, and that this cannot be one-off, just a one-time good feeling during NS50, but sustained support for NS for the long term.

Some countries, in fact, struggle to maintain public support for their conscription systems. Minister Ng Eng Hen mentioned Lithuania; another example is Sweden, which got rid of NS a decade ago, only to have to reinstate it as they re-evaluate their security environment.

Our key challenge today is twofold. The first challenge, which is a question by Mr Zainal Sapari, is demographic, leading to falling cohort sizes and a shrinking enlistment pool. I think Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked about that, too. The second challenge is the evolving new unconventional security threats, such as terrorism, cyberattacks and also disinformation campaigns or fake news. I think Mr Amrin Amin asked about this.

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So, the imperative is to do more with less, to work with fewer but more capable servicemen. The future capability and effectiveness of SAF will not be based on the number and quantity of people we have. Instead, it will be based on their quality and ability. We will achieve this by enhancing three things. One, individual ability; two, strengthening system efficiency; and three, leveraging technology. Let me explain.

First, enhancing individual ability. The foundation for operational readiness is, first and foremost, physical fitness. Fitness is also very personal, unique to the individual, with its impact on the individual’s health extending well beyond their time with SAF.

We will leverage technology to deliver targeted and effective training for every serviceman. The new CESP ‒ Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked about it ‒ is adopting a scientific, data-driven approach to optimise the performance of every soldier. That is the key purpose of the Centre. It uses wearables and data to better understand each individual soldier’s physiological condition, and then prescribe more effective and progressive training, while minimising the risk of acute injury. The training can, in fact, be customised to what the soldier is supposed to do and what their vocation and task are. So, it is the granularity that we can now administer training to fit a soldier's physiological condition as well as his responsibility.

We will also provide servicemen with better tools to keep fit and increase the choices and accessibility of fitness training. We are partnering SportSG and the Health Promotion Board (HPB) to introduce the Quick High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Programme. NSmen will be able to attend the Quick HIIT programme at community spaces and sports facilities.

Starting this week, we are also piloting the use of wearable technology at SAF Fitness Conditioning Centres and SAFRA gyms. So, rather than adhering strictly to the SAF-conducted Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) Preparatory Training (IPT) regime, NSmen will now be able to choose the type of exercise they prefer or need. They can cycle, run, do weights or interval training and then clock in their fitness progress via wearable devices. And as long as they achieve the required calories and intensity ‒ we measure only the output but we do not measure the input ‒ we will consider it a valid IPT session. This is a significant shift, giving NSmen choice, convenience and empowerment in improving their fitness. After all, fitness is an individual, not an SAF, responsibility.

Individuals can only be effective if units are cohesive and servicemen have a strong sense of camaraderie forged through common experiences, which Mr Teo Ser Luck asked about. BMT is a large part of this shared NS experience. Since the establishment of the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) in 1987, it has become ‒ as Mr Teo Ser Luck put it ‒ a rite of passage for many male Singaporeans to complete basic training "overseas" – on Pulau Tekong.

However, many NSFs do not go through BMTC. They are enlisted directly into combat units, in what is commonly known as mono-intake units. From this year, we will fully implement the One BMT programme, where practically all combat-fit NSFs will undergo the Pulau Tekong experience.

Hence, mono-intake units will now be enlisted to BMTC on Pulau Tekong for a common nine-week BMT and stay together as a unit from the start of their NS journey. These NSFs will benefit from BMTC’s dedicated training experience, infrastructure and use of technology. Most importantly, they will share a common experience, within the unit, as well as within the larger SAF tribe.

A second major thrust is to strengthen system efficiency. This means improving the way the system deploys the right serviceman to the right job, to maximise his contribution and potential. The most important initiative under this thrust is the review of vocation requirements. Mr Ong Teng Koon asked about using technology to maximise the potential of servicemen. Indeed, it is because of technology that we are now in a position to review vocation requirements.

With technology, you can no longer draw a firm line between combat-fit and non-combat fit. Take, for example, the personnel operating autonomous systems in the control room. They are in combat, even though they are not physically exerting. So, many more servicemen can now perform what could have only been done by servicemen who used to have to meet the most stringent physical requirements. For example, physical requirements and demands for vocations, such as combat engineers and security troopers, are now much less as we leverage technology.

This has opened up opportunities for us to more meaningfully deploy NSmen according to their fitness and abilities. Since last year, SAF has deployed more than 600 servicemen to vocations that they were previously ineligible for. And the number will rise.

Mr Baey Yam Keng asked about the Vocation Interest initiative, where pre-enlistees will indicate their interest in 33 NS vocations across the SAF, SCDF and SPF. There is no guarantee that servicemen will get the vocations they indicated interest in, because the primary consideration is still our defence operational requirements. But we will take their interests into consideration during the deployment process and try our best to match them.

Mr Baey Yam Keng mentioned that one group has passed their BMT and asked for an update. Actually they have not. They have been enlisted. They have indicated their interest. Next week, they will have their Passing Out Parade, out of BMT.

Servicemen have found the initiative helpful. More than 80% of those surveyed felt that the initiative encouraged them to take greater ownership of their NS roles and responsibilities. Many asked for tough vocations, like Infantry and Guards. The inaugural intake of about 4,000 NSFs who indicated their vocation interest will be deployed to their respective vocations later this month. We will continue to refine and improve the system as we go along.

We are also leveraging NSFs' talent in niche areas, such as cybersecurity, through the Cyber NSF Scheme, which Ms Low Yen Ling asked for an update. This was announced two weeks ago. There has been an overwhelmingly positive response since I announced the scheme, with numerous pre-enlistees writing in to express interest. So, we will be putting the applicants through a rigorous selection test on their skills and aptitudes. We will not look at their academic grades so much. The scheme has been launched as a pilot trial for those enlisting in the latter half of this year.

Finally, throughout SAF, we will deploy technologies that can reduce the demand on manpower and yet maintain or enhance operational effectiveness. In recent years, we have taken many leaps forward. Minister Ng Eng Hen has given a few examples. Another example will be our Smart naval bases. It uses a next generation screening system, using technologies, such as biometric authentication, facial recognition and automated threat analysis systems. These improvements will reduce the number of security personnel required in the naval bases by 70%, while maintaining the same or an even better level of security.

Mr Ong Teng Koon asked about leveraging technology to enhance the NS experience. Indeed, besides enabling manpower savings, such technologies can also create wonders on the ground, make NS a better experience, and raise morale.

Last year, we introduced an e-fitting system at CMPB. Pre-enlistees no longer have to go through the tedious process of measuring all their body dimensions manually. This will now be done by infrared body and foot scanners to quickly and accurately fit pre-enlistees to their uniforms and sports shoes. The e-fitting system has also successfully reduced kit exchanges at BMTC from 20% to 6%.

We are embarking on a trial to further enhance the experience at CMPB during pre-enlistment screening. By using facial recognition and real-time queue management technology, we will optimise visitor flow and shorten waiting times.

Another innovation, which is quite cute, is an AI-enabled chatbot called "NS Buddy". I never had this when I was an NSman. At any time of the day, the serviceman could pose a question to the NS Buddy. For example, he can ask "What is BTP?" The Buddy will then explain that it stands for Basic Train-fire Package. Then it will present the facts, and then also give advice to say “aim properly. Don’t be a bobo shooter. Safety First!” We will be enhancing the NS Buddy in the next phase of the trial, expanding its content base, and adding more SAF lexicons.

Mr Chairman, Sir, for NS to continue to be the cornerstone of Singapore's defence, we need Singaporeans' support. Ms Joan Pereira and Mr Cedric Foo asked about the community's support for NS and recognition for NSmen. Many of us must be heartened to witness the high level of public participation in NS50. Members of the public, retailers, employers, Government agencies, the arts community and more, poured forward to contribute to the NS50 commemorations.

I recently took over the chairmanship of ACCORD from Dr Mohamad Maliki and was so inspired by the enthusiasm and passion of its members. It is one of those Government committees where members, after serving many years, still say, "Can I please continue serving?", and they do not want to step down!

We will continue to ride on the NS50 momentum to rally the community to support NS and recognise our servicemen. We have launched the “We Support YOU in NS” initiative to do so. Switzer Alliance is one of the participating merchants of this initiative. The owners felt that they had greatly benefited from their NS experience and wanted to pay it forward – by offering special discounts to NSmen on SAF Day and organising free seminars on topics of interest to NSmen.

We will continue to encourage employers like them to do so and also encourage employers to have NS-friendly human resource (HR) policies. We have made good progress since the launch of the NS Mark Accreditation Scheme in 2016. About 2,000 companies and organisations came on board to pledge their support for NS. More than 35% of these companies have also attained NS Mark (Gold).

Dr Teo Ho Pin and Assoc Prof Randolph Tan asked about preparing our NSFs for life after NS. Earlier, I talked about improving individuals’ performance in terms of fitness and operational skills. These are already very basic, useful life skills.

But further, in the process of developing these skills, our NSFs also learn valuable competencies, such as leadership, discipline, resilience and teamwork. And these are useful qualities that will help our NSFs perform well in their careers after full-time NS. In fact, I always advise male students, of all the leadership programmes that are out there in the market, the best one is the one SAF conducts and that you acquire during NS.

In January this year, we enhanced the Certificate of Service to recognise these qualities, as well as skills, through a statement of attainment for our Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) accreditation.

Today, about 96% of our NSFs will go through NS training that will be WSQ-accredited, especially those in areas, such as Signals, Supply, Logistics, Maintenance, and even Commanders' training as well.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

ACCORD will continue to drive this, will continue to work with the industry partners to expand accreditation of NS skills and help employers recognise the value of NS.

But having said that, we should be mindful not to lose sight of the fact that, ultimately, NS is about ensuring the operational effectiveness of SAF, it is a service to the nation, and it cannot become transactional.

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Mr Chairman, Sir, in conclusion, we must cherish our current level of support for NS and do whatever we can to maintain or raise it even further. This is psychological defence at its finest, where the entire population lines up behind a national cause. When our enemies see our resolve and unity, they will think twice.

The Chairman: Senior Minister of State Mohamad Maliki.

The Senior Minister of State for Defence (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman): Mr Chairman, as Minister Ng Eng Hen has explained, Singapore is faced with changing geopolitical and threat environments. With it, the role of SAF is also expanding to respond to these threats. But what do these developments mean for the average Singaporean, for them to appreciate their role in Singapore’s defence?

In today’s open world of porous boundaries and the Internet of Things, aggressors can put pressure on a target nation in many ways, and they have increasingly sought to direct this pressure at ordinary citizens, misleading them into resenting their fellow citizens of a different background, or unsettling their confidence in the Government. Essentially, a crisis of trust ensues and a society works towards its own unravelling. As such tactics become more commonplace, our people must be willing and ready to resist and respond and build up personal and social resilience to overcome these threats.

Singapore’s Total Defence strategy encapsulates what everyone playing their part to safeguard Singapore looks like. It was introduced in 1984 against the backdrop of the prevailing threat of armed military conflict that can affect many different aspects of our society. Beyond Military Defence, our leaders recognised that our ability to face and overcome any eventual conflict also depends on our people and their resolve. Indeed, with emerging concerns that target our people’s hearts and minds, individuals play an increasingly critical role as our first defenders.

Recognising this, MINDEF has both expanded and enriched our outreach over the years. In the past, our efforts were centred on the annual commemoration of Total Defence Day. Today, we have, in addition to that, a wide array of activities year-round, aimed at helping Singaporeans appreciate our threats and challenges and what they can do in response. This would not have been possible without our growing pool of partners from the public, private and people sectors that have come on board to work with us.

To cite a recent example, MINDEF and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) worked with Mediacorp to develop a national security documentary-drama, "It Will Never Happen Here", which aired on Channel 5 in January. One of the viewers, 58-year-old housewife Mrs Vemala Gurunathan was struck by the episode on cyberattacks. She shared, and I quote, "I was quite surprised that attacks on cyberspace can actually cause chaos in our society and everyday life… I like how the programme even showed us how we can overcome this by being more careful online and not blindly believing everything we read".

I am heartened that, today, Total Defence resonates with Singaporeans, and many are stepping up to contribute. A public survey conducted by MINDEF in 2017 showed that a majority of respondents appreciated the value of Total Defence in dealing with threats, both conventional and unconventional.

We have also seen how some participants of MINDEF's various engagement programmes have gone on to encourage others to play their part in Total Defence. One of them is 26-year-old Chong Yu Lun. Yu Lun has participated in every run of MINDEF’s short film competition "ciNE65", creating multiple winning, but more importantly, inspiring entries. These range from those that encourage NSmen to defend our home, to those that portray the resilience of Singaporeans.

Yu Lun went on to set up his own video production company and YouTube channel "Butterworks" – the people behind films like "The First Book Out from Tekong" and "With Pride, We Lead", that have a combined reach of over 700,000 views. When asked recently about what drives him to make these videos, he said, "I'm very motivated to create films that hopefully Singaporeans would be proud to call their own...we challenge ourselves to create inspiring stories that blend in a subtle element of that little patriotism in us".

Ms Low Yen Ling asked for an update on the 2018 Total Defence Campaign and how it will address new threats. As we move forward, just as we are building up the Next-Gen SAF, we will gear Total Defence towards the new security environment, according greater attention to social and psychological defence.

Mr Ong Teng Koon highlighted the need to do so in the face of terrorism. Other threats like fake news and cyberattacks compound this need. While the military and civil domains are most intuitively associated with defence, it is increasingly important today that we broaden our definition of what it means to safeguard Singapore.

For one, our social cohesion could be compromised if Singaporeans allow themselves to be swayed by divisive falsehoods or stigmatise particular social groups in the wake of a violent attack. Religion today has been misused by terror groups like ISIS and misrepresented by preachers who espouse extreme views. Religion has also begun to enter the realm of politics as seen in the region, resulting in built up tensions in community relations.

As a society, we can and will continue to be tested. With your permission, Mr Chairman, may I display a visual on the screen?

The Chairman: Yes. [A visual was shown to hon Members.]

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman: Just last year, two propaganda videos featuring a Singaporean ISIS fighter in Syria surfaced – the first video was of him rallying others to join him, while the other video was more graphic, showing him shooting three men at close range.

Upon hearing the news and watching such clips, how would or should Singaporeans react? The immediate reaction could include worry, disbelief, fear, anger and possibly distrust. However, these reactions could be mitigated, depending on how strong we are psychologically as individuals, and socially as a community.

With strong social cohesion and psychological resilience, the Muslims amongst us would reject attempts to sway them to adopt extremist ideas, denouncing those images and assuring their non-Muslim friends and neighbours that the images they saw neither reflect Islam nor Muslims in Singapore.

Again, with strong social cohesion and psychological resilience, we would also see our non-Muslims who have confidence in their Muslim friends expressing support and giving assurances that what they saw neither represent Islam nor Muslims in Singapore.

At the same time, those who might be affected by the images would feel comfortable enough to clarify their doubts and reservations with their Muslim friends. With deepened trust, all Singaporeans would stand united to safeguard the harmony we hold dear. This is the essence of our Social and Psychological Defence. Mr Chairman, may I say a few words in Malay, please.

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Just as we move forward to build up the Next-Gen SAF, we will gear Total Defence towards the new security environment, according greater attention to Social and Psychological Defence. While the military and civil domains are most intuitively associated with defence, it is increasingly important today that we broaden our definition of what it means to safeguard Singapore.

Our social cohesion could be compromised or affected if Singaporeans allow themselves to be swayed by divisive falsehoods, or stigmatise particular social groups in the wake of a violent attack.

Religion today has been misused by terror groups like ISIS and misrepresented by preachers who espouse extreme views. Religion has also begun to enter the realm of politics, as seen in the region, resulting in built-up tensions in community relations.

We need only turn to our own history to remind ourselves that trust and goodwill among communities are not a given and must be worked at unceasingly to sustain. As a society, we can and will continue to be tested. Just last year, two propaganda videos featuring an ISIS fighter from Singapore in Syria surfaced – the first was of him rallying others to join him, while the other was more graphic ‒ showing him shooting three men at close range.

Upon hearing such news and watching such clips, how would or should Singaporeans react? The immediate reaction could include worry, disbelief, fear, anger and, possibly, suspicion and distrust. This is a grave concern.

However, these reactions could be mitigated, depending on how strong we are psychologically as individuals and socially as a community. With strong social cohesion and psychological resilience, the Muslims amongst us would reject attempts to sway them to adopt extremist ideas, denouncing those images and assuring their non-Muslim friends and neighbours that the images they saw neither reflect Islam nor Muslims in Singapore. If we possess strong social cohesion and psychological resilience, we would also see our non-Muslims, who have a lot of confidence in their Muslim friends, expressing support and giving assurances that what they saw neither represent Islam nor Muslims in Singapore.

At the same time, those who might be affected by the images would feel comfortable enough to clarify their doubts and reservations with their Muslim friends. With deepened trust, all Singaporeans would stand united to safeguard the harmony we hold dear. As the Malay saying goes – "United we stand, divided we fall". This is the essence of our Social and Psychological Defence.

(In English): As Mr Amrin Amin noted, there are also new potential fault lines in our social fabric beyond race and religion which could be used against us if we are not careful. With globalisation and significant mobility amongst Singaporeans, we cannot assume that all Singaporean children will continue to experience the culture of our local schools and neighbourhoods as they grow up.

There are also others who come from transnational families. These are not concerns in and of themselves, but they do signal that the experiences and perspectives of our people are more varied than before. If we do not continue to forge common understanding, our differences could be played up to divide us, making it difficult for us to band together in a crisis.

We need strong Social Defence. This means growing our common space by interacting with people of different backgrounds, speaking up against attempts to sow discord and helping those in need. One important element of this is to fortify trust and understanding among people of different religious backgrounds to guard against radical ideas that may divide us.

Just last month, the five Community Development Councils (CDCs) launched the "Common Senses for Common Spaces" interfaith dialogue programme nationwide. This provides members of the community with a safe space to ask questions and learn more about the different faiths in Singapore, thus deepening their understanding and appreciation.

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It is also heartening to see that our youths understand the importance of Social Defence, and are initiating ground-up projects to expand our common space, too. The Interfaith Youth Circle, for example, was started by a group of youths who wanted to bridge gaps in understanding about the different religions in Singapore, especially given the negative sentiment and online chatter following terror attacks around the world. They organise activities, such as scriptural reasoning sessions, where people come together to read and reflect on scriptures from different faiths. Such efforts foster deeper trust and a stronger will to stand firm against attempts to turn us against one another.

Mr Vikram Nair asked about the impact of fake news on security, and how MINDEF is combating this threat. In an interconnected world, Singaporeans are more easily exposed to pressures that could unsettle their willingness to uphold our national interests, including racial and religious harmony. These influences could come in the form of falsehoods deliberately spread online.

In 2007, for example, an insensitive prank photo of pork sold at National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Fairprice with a halal sticker on the packaging was circulated via e-mail. NTUC Fairprice had called it out as false back then. Still, it resurfaced again in 2014. Social media had become a lot more prevalent in the span of just seven years, and the photo made its rounds on Facebook, where posts are easily shared with a wider audience. While the incident was resolved, similar cases could tear at our interfaith unity.

Likewise, falsehoods could be spread to weaken our trust in public institutions and confidence in a shared future or incite fear. Some Members may recall a video that was shared on social media early last year, purportedly showing an explosion in Tuas. While a fire did break out, this said footage of the incident was fake. The video had, in fact, been uploaded on YouTube multiple times from 2015 onwards and have on separate occasions been labelled as blasts in China, India and France – that same footage. If it had not been debunked, the video could have sparked panic and anxiety amongst Singaporeans. Fake news has the potential to undermine us from within and is a key challenge that has led MINDEF to focus more on Psychological Defence.

Moreover, the growing number of Singaporeans who pursue work and educational opportunities abroad may have to wrestle with dissenting views more squarely. Foreign business partners, schoolmates or friends may at times express fundamental disagreements with Singapore's decisions, policies or actions. They could even persuade you to adopt their viewpoint at the expense of supporting our national interests. Psychological resilience on the part of each individual is being decisive in withstanding such pressures.

I read an opinion piece on Total Defence earlier this year, where Channel NewsAsia editor Jaime Ho rightly pointed out how defence today entails Singaporeans "thinking for ourselves" and "standing up for ourselves". This is Psychological Defence – appreciating our vulnerabilities and challenges, advancing our values and interests; being able to spot mistruths; and standing up for Singapore.

Just as our threats extend beyond the military realm, so must our deterrence. In addition to a credible military force, we need a psychologically resilient people, able to withstand crises or viral attacks, and not be rattled. If someone comments negatively about Singapore and our immediate response is not to verify the facts but to instead condemn Singapore and, worse, spread the untruths, we are creating for ourselves a hole in our defence that our adversaries would not hesitate to jump at and widen the divide. I am glad to see that Singaporeans, such as those behind the online site "Confirm?" which runs quizzes on issues relating to Singapore, have taken the initiative to try and help those around them understand our principles, positions and policies better, preventing them from falling prey to fake news and untruths.

I have elaborated on Social and Psychological Defence because threats in these domains are very real, but often unapparent. They have a creeping yet significant impact on our ability to defend Singapore. In the other pillars of our Total Defence, Singaporeans are our first defenders, too. Take Military Defence, for example. Enlisting in SAFVC is one way many women, new citizens and first-generation Permanent Residents have stepped up to serve. To address Dr Teo Ho Pin's query, since SAFVC was launched in 2014, we have trained over 600 volunteers and deployed them to various roles. In 2018, volunteers will be able to serve in 15 additional roles across SAF.

Many are also contributing to Civil Defence. To prevent a terror attack, for example, Mr Charnjit Singh, Chairman of the Community Emergency and Engagement Committee (C2E) in Telok Blangah, worked with other volunteers to conduct regular patrols on our trains. In MINDEF and SAF, we are equipping our personnel to respond to crises in their personal capacity, too. Most of our servicemen who undergo BMT learn some first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)-automated external defibrillator (AED) skills, as do our SAFVC.

Mr Rajendran Mathan Prasath is a commendable example of someone who has not only stepped up to do more for Military Defence by joining SAFVC, but used the skills acquired during his training to contribute to Civil Defence while off duty. In April last year, he performed CPR on an elderly lady suffering a cardiac arrest. In the face of terrorism, we have developed a Community Response Module to supplement the skills that our personnel like Mr Rajendran possess. It has been rolled out in the BMT curriculum, and in the next two years, all MINDEF and SAF personnel will be required to go through the module. It complements the SG Secure effort and better prepares our servicemen to be active community responders.

MINDEF, alongside our partners, will continue to encourage different groups of Singaporeans to contribute in concrete ways to Total Defence.

We are constantly exploring innovative ways to engage our youths. Mr Baey Yam Keng asked how we are doing so. The "Guardians of the City" (GOTC) card game launched in 2017 is one way through which we are helping our youths understand the terror threat facing Singapore, and how they can respond. This year, we have given out over 38,000 decks of the game to all Secondary 2 students, and schools have organised GOTC cohort experiences. Mr Mohamed Shahmir Anwar, a secondary school teacher who facilitated the game and conducted reflection sessions for his students, shared that the students both enjoyed it and learnt valuable lessons on Total Defence. To quote him, "This game is something different, something exciting...the students want to try it because it is interactive…Because the games are so relatable to them, it is a good platform to teach them about Total Defence".

Other interactive tools to bring Total Defence to life for our youths include a Total Defence puzzle that was developed in collaboration with agencies across the Government and creatives at Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) THINK. It has been distributed to schools, SAF camps and community centres (CCs). Various organisations, especially schools, have found the puzzle to be a useful learning resource.

MINDEF also has more specific programmes for our young recruits. I fully agree with Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef that besides physical training, it is important to prepare our recruits psychologically in a changing security environment.

Beyond engaging future recruits as part of our outreach to students, there is a comprehensive plan to strengthen their physical and psychological resilience when they enlist. This is infused in various aspects of the full-time NS experience. One part of this is National Education activities and milestone events that help them understand what our security challenges are, what we are defending and why and what we must do to continue keeping Singapore safe and secure.

These include experiential visits to defence-related heritage sites, the weapon presentation ceremony and the 24-kilometre route march from Changi to Marina Bay. As they march past iconic landmarks in Singapore, they are reminded of what they are training to protect. The route march also symbolically reverses the Prisoners-of-War route of defeat from the city to Changi after Singapore fell to our invaders during World War Two. The soldiers march to their graduation parade at Marina Bay today. It represents their resolve to never again let Singapore fall.

Besides these events and activities, it is the overall full-time NS experience – building strong bonds with their mates and commanders and experiencing values in action demonstrated by their commanders – that strengthens our recruits psychologically. With understanding and conviction come the resilience to protect our home even in the face of new threats and challenges.

Families are key pillars of support for our NSmen. Ms Joan Pereira had asked what MINDEF is doing to engage families. SAF has been engaging families of NSmen through events, such as milestone parades, unit family days and open houses, and also provides them with information on NS. Through ACCORD, we also partner organisations, such as Families for Life and the Centre for Fathering, to engage families on NS and Total Defence.

Mr Chairman, may I have your indulgence to continue a little bit longer?

The Chairman: As we do still have some time before the guillotine time for MINDEF, please wrap up in the next few minutes.

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman: Thank you. Activities we have had include the "Celebrating NS50" picnic and Dads for Life Camp last year. ACCORD has also conducted focus group discussions with women to gather feedback on how we can better support our servicemen and their families. In this way, families can not only support NSmen in their NS journey but appreciate the role they themselves play in Total Defence, too.

In conclusion, Mr Chairman, Sir, if each one of us understands what Singapore stands for and is committed to protecting our way of life, we will be able to deter and overcome sinister attempts to shake our unity and confidence. Besides the individuals that I have highlighted today, there are many others who are putting Total Defence into action in their everyday lives, by giving their best during NS training, securing their personal devices, learning first aid, donating blood, and taking up new skills. MINDEF will continually work towards strengthening this whole-of-society effort. With a strong Total Defence, we have every reason to be hopeful and confident in Singapore's future.

The Chairman: Mr Pritam Singh.

Mr Pritam Singh: My question is directed to the Minister for Defence. I understand, Sir, there was an announcement made of the deployment of SAF troops to Iraq. I have four questions in that regard.

Firstly, what is MINDEF's assessment of the threat to our troops there? Secondly, in view of the inherent instability in Iraq and of particular concern being sectarian conflict between Sunnis and Shiites, in addition to the presence of ISIS and its other various incarnations, what is being done to prepare our servicemen and their families for the deployment? Thirdly, how long does the Ministry envisage the deployment to last and what is the SAF's mission and objectives with respect to this deployment, and is MINDEF concerned about the prospect of mission creep?

Fourthly, and this is the final question, Singapore deployed about 470 servicemen to Afghanistan from 2007 to 2013. They assisted the Afghan National Army Artillery training, improvised explosive device (IED) detection, construction and imagery analysis. Can the Minister share more details on the size and nature of our deployment to Iraq, what tasks our troops would undertake, and what and whose resources they can call upon to assure their security there?

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Dr Ng Eng Hen: Mr Chairman, those were good questions and very relevant ones. What is our threat assessment when we send SAF troops to missions? We must never prepare to send people if you think there are no risks, because there are always risks. We only send them when the risks are necessary to protect Singaporeans and Singapore. So, whether we send them to Afghanistan, whether we send them to Iraq, whether we send them to the Gulf of Aden, even when we send them to Timor-Leste − peacekeeping operations − we have casualties in peacekeeping operations.

We do this because, at the core, you are protecting Singapore's interests. So, for Afghanistan, we understood that if we did not deal with terrorism at its source where Al Qaeda influence was the greatest, you would basically just be responding to waves and waves of terrorists that are being radicalised – they are being trained, they are being exported from ground zero as it were. And it worked. We were in Afghanistan for 10 years, Mr Pritam Singh recollected accurately. Whether it is imagery analysts, or weapons locating radar, we made a contribution. We identified even hotspots for the coalition and the terrorist threat disappeared for now. I say "for now" because we are keeping a watch on Al Qaeda cells and there is every possibility that there can be a resurgence.

Against ISIS, we made significant progress. I think just two or even three years ago, if you just look at the geographical map, the areas in which ISIS strongholds controlled, were a majority of Iraq and Syria. But now, it has shrunk. So, there are a few last strongholds, if any. But the numbers are much smaller. So, we have made progress.

How do we prepare servicemen for these threats? Our SAF personnel who go there recognise that these are threats but we, systemically, identify the threats. So, for each mission, we would have a needs-and-threats assessment team that goes down to the ground, that speaks to the commanders, that maps the terrain, that maps the risks and the team will come up with an assessment. Then, not only the elements that are required to fulfil the operations – we will talk about that because the Member asked about it – but the protection is necessary. You can minimise it but you will never completely eliminate it.

How long will it last? For Afghanistan, our deployment lasted 10 years. Against ISIS, it has been relatively shorter, I think since 2014. But for us to not continue to contribute when the more significant gains have been actually taking back Iraq, I think it is not within our character and not within our mission imperative. There is no mission creep. The central mission is so that ground zero for the export of terrorists must be eliminated as we did in Afghanistan. Just imagine if we said, "Well, the rest of the world can go about it but we don't worry about Afghanistan." If the problems there gain momentum, we will suffer.

For Iraq, for ISIS, we have a much more vested interest because there were foreign fighters from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore who were there. So, there is no mission creep. It is very clear. It is to help now. It shifted to another phase. The first phase was actually the most difficult − to recover territory, to rid ISIS of their resources, of their ability to increase their resources to export terrorism. While our chaps were there, we were very useful. Our imagery analyst teams − the Member asked what they were deployed there for – to identify financial strongholds that ISIS troops had been using and help the coalition eliminate these, if you like, financial warehouses.

We are now deployed with other troops, the Australians and some other troops, for which there is joint protection and we can call on them. But there is camp security. I visited our troops last year and was satisfied that, to the extent possible, there is perimeter protection. In the event of an incident, there will be measures to respond to that. In fact, when I was there, it just so happened that they were responding in a simulated scenario to an attack. The Americans were there, the Australians were there, our chaps were there, and they mobilised the hospitals and then, for how to guard the vicinity. I think that is about as much as I can say for all the questions but let me just summarise.

We understand what this mission is about. We have to keep terrorism at bay. We have to keep at it. This is a long battle. We dealt with the threat after 9-11, Bali bomb blast and joined other forces in Afghanistan. With ISIS, we are now in Iraq. When will it end? When can we pull back? I do not know. Somebody said "Communism without divine intervention, without God, took 50 years."

The Chairman: Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef.

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef: I would like to ask the Minister on civil-military cooperation and this is not pertaining to the community involvement or the lay persons who are trained to respond to crisis like under C2E and all that. This is more about Singaporeans who form part of international humanitarian teams or respond to international humanitarian activities around the world, whether it is war-related or natural disaster-related. These are people who are disaster, medically and also tactically trained; they can actually value add to the response of a crisis that we have. How is MINDEF engaging and working together with them?

Dr Ng Eng Hen: That is the kernel of the idea behind the Changi Regional Humanitarian Centre. It came about because we recognised that after Cyclone Nargis, after Nepal, the first two to three days after an incident occurs are where you have the least coordinated response, even if all the resources are there. So, for instance, if you remember the typhoon in the Philippines, we sent a C-130. The reason they were under-utilised was that there were no air command and control facilities. Only the Americans could because I think they had their aircraft carrier and they were able to control the airspace. So, even though our C-130s were sent there, they could not be deployed optimally.

We set up this to coordinate military responses. But as Prof Fatimah Lateef rightly points out, humanitarian agencies include the whole ecosystem of civil groups, of UN groups. So, we have expanded it and linked up with the UN. We have linked up with other humanitarian organisations and I think we had one or two equivalents of table-top exercises to, say, if something happens, whom do I contact? We offered for these civil groups, these volunteer groups, to be physically based in Changi, if they can spare. This is an ongoing effort. We just have to keep increasing our contacts, increasing our efficiency and when the next crisis strikes, I think Singapore can play a more definitive role and contribute more.

The Chairman: Mr Vikram Nair.

Mr Vikram Nair: This clarification is in relation to the unconventional threats. I think Senior Minister of State Mohamad Maliki painted quite a graphic picture of the threats these provide. My concern was whether we should be doing more. First of all, in relation to the video on terrorism, for 99% of people, they will be disgusted by that video. But there might be a very tiny percentage, 0.001%, and perhaps a lone wolf who would be inspired by it to commit acts of violence.

Notwithstanding how strong our psychological defence is, all it takes is one person to get influenced by it to carry out the terror attack. The countervailing risk, of course, is that other people may generalise and say, "This is what Muslims do" which, I think in Singapore, that is not a big issue. But it could be, if our psychological defence is not strong. There is actually very strong reason to identify and take steps to weed out such videos either by, first of all, finding out the source; and secondly, potentially, to take legal action against the people who put up and circulate this.

Secondly, in relation to fake news, I think the example of halal pork was also again very compelling. It surfaced in 2007. Obviously, it is divisive because it suggests NTUC trying to sell pork to Muslims. It was untrue. NTUC clarified. But then it surfaced again six or seven years later. But this shows the power of fake news. Fake news is sensational, therefore, it gets circulated. The truth is rather boring. It does not get circulated. So, the truth is almost always triumphed by fake news. Could we take further steps to identify the creators of these fake news and take other actions against them?

Psychological defence is resistance. But if we can eliminate the virus, that is even better.

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman: I thank Mr Vikram Nair for those remarks. We totally agree with what we need to do to ensure that there is a comprehensive response to all these unconventional threats, whether it is images or otherwise. I just wanted to highlight one example. Just one image may create reactions in different groups of people and it is important for us to be aware of the reaction that different groups of Singaporeans may have and, therefore, what we need to do to strengthen our resolve first.

So, the different groups of people and different players of stakeholders that are relevant in this context: one, at an individual level, we need to be consistent, we need to be aware of our own reactions and how much do we take forward steps to learn more about such issues as well as build trust and relationship with all the other communities so that if something like that happens, we are not easily rattled. We ask questions, we ask and look for the facts rather than react negatively.

Secondly, it is the whole-of-Government effort and whole-of-society effort that is needed. If you see various legislation, various discussions in this House, you can see many things are happening. The development of the cyber defence agencies is one effort that looks at some of the areas that we need to do in the cyber domain. We also need to start looking at how Singaporeans respond to such fake news on social media. And this is one of the biggest challenges − the skillsets required by individuals to respond to such social media platforms. Once you see something on your Facebook feed or once you get something from your WhatsApp group, what do you do? Do you verify the facts? Where do you verify the facts? That is where we need to help Singaporeans to understand the different ecosystems that exist, the environment that exists. It is a very complex environment. It is an environment that is evolving, as we speak.

So, today, it is critical for us to educate Singaporeans in every age group, not just adults, but young children. Because they are the ones who are very comfortable with social media. They are the ones who get feeds from social media. If we do not educate them early enough, equip them with the skillsets required to determine what is right, what is wrong, and how these would impact on themselves and their relationship with others if they were to forward these unverified facts, as well as the concerns that they may have.

We also need to look at support systems available for communities who may have difficulties reacting or responding to such unconventional threats. The fundamental understanding today is that these are evolving unconventional threats and we need to find new creative ways to respond to them. Different agencies in Government are looking at that and various domains, and we continue to work with them.

The Chairman: Would the Member wish to withdraw the amendment?

Mr Vikram Nair: I would like to thank Minister Ng Eng Hen for sharing a compelling view on our defence and the importance of it remaining sustainable, and comforting us that it will be sustainable for the upcoming years, Minister Ong for sharing with us on NS and the important evolutions taking place, and Senior Minister of State Mohamad Maliki for sharing with us on psychological defence. And, of course, to all the people in MINDEF, SAF and all our servicemen. Thank you very much. I seek leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $14,238,100,500 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.

The sum of $761,000,000 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.