Committee of Supply – Head J (Ministry of Defence)

Head J (cont) –

Resumption of Debate on Question [28 February 2019],

"That the total sum to be allocated for Head J of the Estimates to be reduced by $100." − [Mr Vikram Nair].

Question again proposed.

The Chairman: Minister Ng Eng Hen.

The Minister for Defence (Dr Ng Eng Hen): Thank you, Mr Chairman. Let me thank Members for their continued commitment to a strong defence for Singapore.

I note the speeches that many Members in this House have given during the Budget debate. It is particularly gratifying and reassuring for our future, for Singapore's future, that despite Defence, Security, Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs accounting for one-third of our expenditure, that we have got support across the aisle, across parties. I think that is a strong signal that the future for Singapore bodes well.

Last year was a busy year for Singapore. We staged a number of key events on international efforts on the world stage, and in response to Mr Vikram Nair and Ms Sylvia Lim, Singapore's image and standing, because we played host, were enhanced, but it also called for extra and stringent security measures here. In June, Members would remember that the SAF deployed at short notice – it was yes, on-off, on-off – and in two weeks, we were asked to host the US-DPRK Summit. Because such high-profile events can be attractive targets for terrorists, the SAF mounted a large-scale deployment involving 2,000 personnel, with dozens of aircraft, ships and vehicles, to provide air, land and sea security domes that covered Sentosa and parts of Orchard Road. Our efforts, together with those of the Home Team, proved a deterrent to would-be provocateurs. The SAF mounted a similar operation when Singapore hosted the ASEAN Summit in November where all the ASEAN Heads of Government and many other foreign dignitaries gathered.

In October last year, MINDEF chaired the 12^th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the 5^th 18-member ADMM-Plus, which collectively represents four billion people and accounts for 90% of the world’s military. That meeting, we galvanised the ADMM and Plus countries to address common security concerns, including counter-terrorism and Chemical, Biological and Radiological Defence threats, and we facilitated ASEAN’s adoption of Indonesia’s “Our Eyes” Initiative. It is an initiative which can enhance regional counter-terrorism information-sharing. And Singapore will assist Indonesia to set up and operate this facility. This is an important initiative as we prepare to deal with the wave of returning fighters coming back from Iraq and Syria, even as ISIS loses ground there.

I am also glad to report that under our Chairmanship, the ADMM adopted the ASEAN Guidelines for Air Military Encounters (GAME), the first such set of multilateral guidelines in the world, with the support of the Plus countries. GAME can prevent disastrous consequences that can result from unplanned encounters between military aircraft in the air. We have also worked on putting the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) – some Members asked about this, it has been put into practice across all ADMM-Plus navies, including during the inaugural ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise in October last year. Later this year, we will use CUES for the ADMM-Plus Maritime Security Exercise, which will include both the US and China. All in all, Singapore did its fair share to enhance regional security and stability. I think on that score, it was a productive and fruitful year.

In the last few months though, we have had our challenges with Malaysia. Mr Seah Kian Peng had asked about this. Since last November, Malaysian government vessels have repeatedly entered Singapore’s territorial waters off Tuas, over which MPA, PCG and RSN vessels have exercised jurisdiction and enforcement without any protest or intrusions from Malaysia for more than two decades. Even now, two Malaysian government vessels continue to be anchored in our territorial waters off Tuas. Singaporeans and Members are familiar with these developments and I need not elaborate. Suffice to say, we have strongly cautioned Malaysia to withdraw their vessels. In fact, MFA’s press statement in December last year pointed out that, I will quote “Malaysia’s deployments in this area will not strengthen its legal claim and can only heighten tensions. Malaysia will be responsible for any untoward situations on the ground that arise from continued deployment of its vessels into this area.” And indeed, just as we warned could happen, last month, the Greek bulk carrier Pireas collided with the Malaysian government vessel Polaris. Mercifully, no bodily harm ensued, but it could have been much worse.

Singaporeans will remember the collision between the USS McCain and the oil tanker Alnic off Pedra Branca in August 2017, where 10 crewmen perished. Even so, some in Malaysia have accused Singapore of orchestrating the collision with the Polaris. These false accusations would have been much louder and strident to push for retaliation against Singapore and Singaporeans, if lives had been lost in the recent collision.

Our MFA and MOT officials are meeting for discussions and negotiations and the presence of these Malaysian government vessels does not help in any way, and in fact exposes them to danger and obstruct productive talks. The MPA, the PCG and the RSN are closely monitoring activities in Singapore’s territorial waters off Tuas 24/7, and will remain ever vigilant to guard our sovereignty and rights under international law.

MINDEF will continue its efforts in defence diplomacy. Members have asked that, including Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Vikram Nair. We want to promote regional peace and stability. We make friends with those who are willing, and partner those countries whose interests are aligned with ours and who share our desire for inclusiveness, peaceful resolution of disputes and respect for the law.

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But at the same time, we must ensure that the SAF is strong and adequate to defend our rights when diplomacy fails and when others choose to do us harm or ignore our rights. As Prof Fatimah Lateef said, "A strong SAF protects Singapore and Singaporeans." And it has been our persistent investments and efforts to build the Next-Generation SAF that can better respond to the security threats for another generation. These developments are progressing well and I would like to elaborate on that, because many Members of Parliament has asked, how do we respond to different scenarios of threats that will come upon us in this generation? And we have to prepare for the future because it takes that period of time to build up that kind of SAF.

First, homeland security. The Mumbai attack in 2008 showed us the devastating destruction that can come from the sea, and we are surrounded by seas. To deter and mitigate external attacks against Singapore, we will beef up security for our entire coastline. The SAF will add more optical sensors and coastal radars to deter and detect potential threats. We will build more unmanned watch towers for better coverage of the busy traffic across the Singapore Strait. We will also add unmanned surface vessels to patrol our waters, beginning next year.

Members have asked for more details on our modernisation of the Next-Generation SAF – Mr Vikram Nair, Mr Pritam Singh, Prof Fatimah Lateef, Mr Chong Kee Hiong and Mr Charles Chong – so let me elaborate. Our plans to build the Next-Generation SAF to better respond to security threats are progressing well for all three services. With your permission, Mr Chairman, I would like to display some slides on the LED screens and also ask for the handout to be distributed.

The Chairman: Please do. [A handout was distributed to Members.]

Dr Ng Eng Hen: Let me begin with the air. Mr Henry Kwek has asked about the F-35s. We have announced our plans to replace the F-16s, which will face obsolescence post-2030, with the F-35s. This will mean that the RSAF fighter fleet will consist of F-35s and F-15SGs, if plans come to fruition a decade or so from now.

As stated previously, MINDEF will issue a Letter of Request (LOR) to the US to acquire F-35s. As required by US law for foreign military sales, the US Congress must approve the sale of F-35s. Our LOR will request an initial acquisition of four F-35s, with the option of a subsequent eight if we decide to proceed. Singapore has the endorsement of both the US Administration and the Department of Defense for our proposed purchase of F-35s. But the Congress must still approve it. In fact, President Trump wrote to Prime Minister Lee last month welcoming Singapore's plans to acquire the F-35. During my meeting with Acting Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan at the Munich Security Conference two weeks ago, he also said that the US was greatly appreciative of Singapore's decision and his department supported it.

A word on price. The price of F-35s has been steadily falling due to healthy orders from the US and 10 other countries, including the UK, Italy, Australia, Japan and South Korea. DSTA's assessment is that now is an opportune time to put in Singapore's request. The current unit price of the F-35 ranges from US$90 million to US$115 million per aircraft, comparable to what we have paid for our F-15SGs. The Total Cost of Ownership of a fleet of F-35s, including maintenance across its lifespan, will also be similar to our F-15SGs. Nonetheless, MINDEF will continue to work with the US Department of Defense to optimise operating and maintenance costs.

The RSAF will also take delivery of new helicopters from 2020 onwards. The H225M medium-lift and our Chinook heavy-lift helicopters will replace our existing Super Puma and CH-47D fleets. These new helicopters will add capacity and be more effective in Search and Rescue or Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations.

That is for the Air Force. Let me move on to the Navy.

For the RSN, our submarines in operation are over two decades old. We will replace them with four new Invincible-class submarines. The first was launched recently in Germany, with the other three being built. The Invincible-class submarines will have longer endurance, and also the latest locally-developed sensors and automated systems designed for optimal use in our surrounding waters. We have launched our submarines lately in Kiel facing the North Sea. We launched our previous class of submarines in the Baltic Sea. Those waters there are much colder. So, we have to optimise them for our warm waters here. We aim to have a full fleet of four Invincible-class submarines by 2025.

For surface ships, our ageing missile corvettes, have served with distinction since 1989. They are also "Pioneer Generation" that will have to be retired soon, and they will be replaced by the new Multi-Role Combat Vessels (MRCVs). The first of these will be delivered around 2025, with full delivery expected by 2030. More than just improving capabilities, the new Multi-Role Combat Vessels will incorporate many new ideas. First of all, they will use less manpower. I think many Members of Parliament have pointed out, how we will deal with the one-third reduction in manpower? The MRCVs will use less manpower, about half the size of that found in modern frigates. This is quite an achievement. This is possible because we designed it from the onset, custom-built for lean manning, using technologies which automate many functions, including maintenance.

As a result, there is also a cost saving of up to 10% in operating them, compared to other similar-sized frigates. The Multi-Role Combat Vessels will also have more unmanned air and sea drones, so it would not be just a manned ship, it will have air and sea drones and modular packages to extend their reach and flexibility against threats. Many Members are familiar with our LSTs or Landing Ship Tanks. I think many of you have sailed on them and they proved their worth time and again. Each time we deploy them in exercises, we say we are so grateful that we have this platform. So versatile and able to meet mission objectives. It has been the workhorse in our HADR efforts and othe other missions. The LSTs are ageing too, and will need to be replaced in the next decade by larger and more flexible Joint Multi-Mission Ships.

Let me move on to the Army.

For the Army, the Next-Generation Armoured Fighting Vehicle will replace our M113 Ultras as the mainstay of the SAF's mechanised forces from this year onward. Singaporeans will see them soon on our roads at this year's National Day Parade. These Armoured Fighting Vehicles have better armour protection and mobility through urban environments. Another addition to the Army will be the Next-Generation Howitzers with extended range and greater precision strikes compared to our current platforms.

I have talked about air, land and sea manned platforms, but the signature change, for the SAF 2030 and beyond, is that the SAF will become more of a hybrid force. We will use many more unmanned platforms. Some of the RSAF's unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been operating for more than a decade. They will be replaced by newer UAVs with better capabilities over the next few years. I mentioned the MRCVs and unmanned surface vessels too. But in the Army, soldiers within the Army will soon use micro-UAVs, your own UAV or the UAV for your unit, for the first time, which will be particularly useful in built-up and urban environments. These unmanned platforms will complement traditional manned equipment, to enhance responses across a full range of operational scenarios.

In all, the Next-Generation SAF of 2030 and beyond, with this full complement of assets in air, land and sea, will be able to defend Singapore for another generation. This is the SAF that will take us into and guard our future. This is the SAF that our investments have bought or will buy. This is the SAF on air, land and sea with which the next generation of Singaporeans will celebrate for SG75.

By then, we will have a state-of-the-art coastal surveillance network and air defence systems to form a shield around Singapore against incoming threats. The RSAF will fly F-35s and F-15SGs over our skies, supported by A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft, G550 Airborne Early Warning Aircraft, new helicopters and a host of new UAVs. The RSN will have Multi-Role Combat Vessels, Invincible-class submarines, new unmanned surface vessels and larger Joint Multi-Mission Ships, in addition to existing frigates and Littoral Mission Vessels. The Army will be more protected and mobile, with soldiers mounted in Next-Generation Armoured Fighting Vehicles and Terrex Motorised Vehicles. Leopard tanks, HIMARS and Next-Generation Howitzers will support them, complemented by a full suite of combat engineers, signals, logistics and maintenance platforms.

But hardware alone, would not build you a strong army and a strong military. We will have to have new training facilities both here and overseas which will ensure that our NSmen and Regulars can build a modern and capable SAF that can defend Singapore and our interests. I know Members here have asked that, Mr Zainal Sapari, amongst others.

The SAF of 2030 and beyond has been designed to be operated with a leaner manpower pool. Mr Baey Yam Keng, Mr Chong Kee Hiong, Mr Zainal Sapari and Mr Pritam Singh asked about this. In other words, we design the SAF of 2030 and beyond to work with a reduction of manpower supply by a third after 2030. I have already mentioned the MRCVs for the Navy which need a smaller crew.

The Next-Generation Howitzer which I mentioned earlier, will only need three men to operate, compared to nine now; so it is a significant reduction, and yet the Next-Generation Howitzer will fire more rounds accurately per minute. Autonomous and automated systems will reduce labour-intensive tasks, for example, runway damage assessment of our air bases and air strips. The modern systems and platforms of the SAF can also be operated by NSmen who are not PES A or B, and therefore effectively increase our utilisation of manpower pool. Pari passu with the acquisition of hardware, we will also invest more into training facilities for SAF soldiers.

I last spoke to this House about SAFTI City in 2017. The Pioneer and Merdeka Generation are all too familiar with the old SAFTI – you would remember FOFO Hill, Pengkang Hill, the Pasir Laba Boat Shed and Elephant Hill. We charged up them and sometimes charged down them. SAFTI City will complement these traditional terrains with urban settings to better prepare our soldiers for a wide variety of operations in the 21^st century. SAFTI City will be a wired city. We talked about our SMART City, we are hoping that SAFTI City will be a smart training ground.

We will use more simulation and detailed monitoring to help our soldiers to learn better. It will be a far cry from the days that we did our NS and charged uphills or against enemy battalions shouting, "Bang, bang, bang, bang!" And they shouted, "Bang, bang, bang, bang!" back.

This method is not new. For instance, our fighter pilots have been using this for decades to train for high-speed manouvers. After every manoeuvre, they sit down and say, "Alright, you say what you did, he says what he did." This is the objective. They showed the tracks, they showed where your weaknesses are. And they have been able to do that because planes are expensive and pilots even more so. But it is only now that modern technology allows us to scale this up for the same processes for individual soldiers within the Army.

So, we have been doing this over the years where you can no longer assume that you have hit the target, and you actually have electric sensors on soldiers, on platforms, and the attrition rate is real. And I am glad to report that SAFTI City is taking shape and on schedule. We will build more roads and bridges so that motorised and mechanised troops in the Army vehicles can start training this year. SAFTI City will be progressively built and will have more than 200 buildings of varying heights and types when completed, all wired up.

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But with this kind of SAF for 2030 and beyond which can move great distances. Our Terrexes can move 70 km/h, and our Leopards close to that – slower perhaps across more difficult terrain. But if we only had space to train in Singapore, you could reach one end to the other within less than an hour. So, we will need larger training spaces. In particular, the training areas at Shoalwater Bay will be expanded. There will be new developments in Townsville Region in Northeast Australia. Under the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, new facilities, such as Instrumented Combined Arms Air Land Ranges and Urban Operations Live-Firing Facilities, are on track to being built. I said that very quickly, but an air-land range is priceless. We can only do this in very few places now – some in the US because they have the land. It allows for coordinated strikes between land and air platforms. So, when these facilities are completed over the coming years, we will be able to train large groups of troops for up to 18 weeks annually, a significant increase from the current six to seven weeks, about a three-fold increase.

Many Members have talked about digital defence. I completely agree. It is a battle front that we cannot choose to ignore or we ignore it at our peril. I think Mr Charles Chong, Mr Desmond Choo, Prof Fatimah Lateef and Mr Tan Wu Meng have spoken about this. I spoke to this House about the threat of hybrid warfare and its effect on the real world previously. We have seen this played out against the Baltic States and Ukraine, to name some. And as a culturally and ethnically diverse nation, we, too, are vulnerable to such hybrid attacks, including targeting of our IT networks to disrupt services and capabilities.

Members have asked what is our progress of protecting this front and building up a force to protect this front. Two years ago, I announced the set-up of the Defence Cyber Organisation (DCO). DCO has stood up the Defence Cyber Security Centre. In other words, we have this defence cybersecurity centre within MINDEF and the SAF for daily operations against cyber threats against MINDEF and SAF IT systems, especially our command and control computer networks. In place are incident response teams which can also be deployed to support other national agencies during cyberattacks on critical systems.

To meet these needs, the SAF has to expand the pool of regulars for the cyber domain, and they will be Military Domain Experts Scheme (MDES) personnel, as well as the non-uniformed Defence Cyber Experts. We have recently announced that more than 300 will be hired in the first phase.

But NSFs, too, can play an important part in digital defence, just as they do for kinetic operations. I think that was the point by Mr Zainal Sapari and Mr Vikram Nair. The 59-strong pioneer batch of the Cyber NSF Scheme enlisted in late 2018 after passing two rounds of rigorous tests. They are now undergoing an eight-month-long Cyber Specialist Cadet Course, in partnership with the Singapore Institute of Technology, and will graduate this August. We expect to take in another 80 to 90 Cyber Specialists this year to beef up our cyber units.

Just as we have done for kinetic operations – many of you are familiar with our SAF firing ranges, many of you have fired there. Well, we have a cyber range as well – the Cyber Defence Test and Evaluation Centre. In this cyber range, our cyber soldiers are exposed to realistic training. We have created a mock-up, a simulation of the SAF’s networks and online traffic, and we use actual malware and attacks against these nodes. Like in live firing ranges – you are supposed to shoot straight – the SAF aims to train soldiers that can respond to these attacks in a realistic and challenging environment.

The SAF will also tap on NSmen with IT expertise as a result of their civilian jobs or training. One example is the existing NS Expertise Conversion Scheme. It allows non-officer NSmen with industry expertise to become MDES officers for cyber vocations. MINDEF and the SAF are exploring better matching of NSmen with their civilian IT vocations.

All of us have a part to play in Digital Defence for Total Defence. In Singapore’s digital fortress, we are only as strong as the weakest link, and Senior Minister of State Dr Maliki will share more.

These acquisitions in hardware and facilities, together with the will and skills of our NSmen and NSFs that make up the bulk of the SAF, will put us in a good position to deal with security challenges for another generation. If all these plans come to pass – and I will add that it will take us 10 to 15 years – the SAF will be one of the more capable militaries in the region.

Our NSFs and NSmen will be able to train well and, most importantly, must train safely. The Inspector-General for Safety has been recently appointed, and the office expanded with more safety officers. A number of Members talked about safety – Mr Charles Chong, Mr Chong Kee Hiong, Mr Zainal Sapari. The Commanding Officers of individual units have also been charged with the responsibility and accountability of safety standards and outcomes. As a routine, the Commanding Officer will identify activities each day that pose higher safety risks to his servicemen and women, and satisfy himself that the safety response plan and mitigating measures for such activities are adequate. Safety is, more than ever, a command responsibility, but each soldier must play his role, too. And we are doing this so that we can have realistic training because, if you cannot train safely, you will be set back. Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How will address in greater detail the measures the SAF will take to achieve zero training fatalities.

MINDEF has also decided to build a central facility to better respond to the needs of the NS community. A new National Service (NS) Hub will be built. It will bring together different services which are now scattered across Singapore. For example, today, pre-enlistees take their IPPT at, say, Toa Payoh Stadium, then go to Depot Road Central Manpower Base, and then attend medical reviews at the Military Medicine Institute (MMI) in Kent Ridge. The new NS Hub will take all these services scattered across the island and put them into a central location. Where is this magical central location? It will be opposite Cashew MRT Station, with easy access. The NS Hub will be built as a smart complex using modern technology for a seamless, user-friendly experience. Opposite Cashew MRT Station in MINDEF land. Do not worry, we will not take it from anybody. Construction will begin this year, and our national servicemen can look forward to their NS Hub by 2023.

Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How will elaborate on the other measures to enhance the NS experience.

Mr Chairman, let me conclude. To develop such a capable SAF that I have just described, which can protect Singapore’s interests and keep Singaporeans safe for another generation, will require significant and steady investments. I make no bones about it. It will require resources and our commitment. I am grateful to Members of this House and Singaporeans for their steadfast and unwavering support towards a strong SAF.

As I have previously committed to this House, we expect our nominal defence spending over the next decade to grow at 3%-4% each year, to at least keep pace with inflation. This year's Budget represented a 4.8% increase over last year. The commitment that I have put over the next decade of 3% to 4% holds despite this year's increase. There were just certain projects or acquisitions that have matured and, therefore, we have to spend more. However, the overall Defence expenditure will even out in subsequent years.

Defence, especially for a small island like Singapore is crucial, if we are to safeguard our interests and deter aggression. Singapore is on track to build a modernised tri-service SAF – and perhaps even a quadri-service SAF, including the cyber force – that can meet security challenges both in the real and virtual worlds in the 21st century. If we continue our steady investments into defence and our NSmen maintain their commitment and resolve to defend Singapore, then our future will be secure for another generation. We can look forward to celebrate SG75 with the assurance that we have strong defences. Thank you.

The Chairman: Senior of State Heng Chee How.

The Senior Minister of State for Defence (Mr Heng Chee How): Mr Chairman, Minister for Defence Dr Ng has just spoken about the need for national servicemen to train well and to train safely. Indeed, the strength of National Service (NS) is contingent upon the fighting spirit of our national servicemen. Our servicemen must undergo tough and realistic military training for the SAF to be an effective fighting force capable of safeguarding Singapore’s sovereignty. At the same time, a strong SAF that can defend Singapore must be built without compromising the safety of those serving.

Mr Charles Chong asked about balancing operational readiness and safety. We understand the anxiety of our soldiers and their families arising from the recent training-related incidents. MINDEF and the SAF take the trust, confidence and expectations that Singaporeans have in our NS system seriously.

The SAF’s safety protocols are audited and assessed by independent professionals from outside the SAF. This is done consistently. Allow me to share two examples. The External Review Panel on SAF Safety (ERPSS) is a standing panel commissioned to assess the SAF’s safety management systems and help ensure that the SAF’s standards and processes are sound and aligned with industry best practices. More recently, the External Review Panels for Heat Injury Management (ERPHIM) and the External Review Panel for Combat Vehicle Safety (ERPCVS) were convened in 2018. They assessed the safety procedures to prevent heat injuries and to ensure the operational safety of vehicles. Where shortcomings are discovered, the SAF has and will sharpen safety measures to further reduce the risks and to prevent recurrences.

Just as a further point, the Army will strengthen training supervision and enhance safety equipment to improve combat vehicle safety. These and other specific measures that we shared in this House, we will implement them as soon as possible, and some have already been implemented. This demonstrates our unwavering commitment to safety.

We will not only address individual incidents but will seek to enhance training safety at every level of responsibility. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim asked about how the SAF is strengthening safety culture at all levels of the SAF. As the Minister for Defence has highlighted earlier, an Inspector-General Office has been set up to inspect and audit the safety practices across the SAF. This Office, led by the Chief of Staff – Joint Staff, reports to the Chief of Defence Force and the Permanent Secretary of Defence to enforce safety procedures and to reinforce safety consciousness and culture from the highest level so as to ensure that command emphasis on safety is consistently applied.

On the ground, the SAF has renewed the focus of commanders on safety. Commanders have comprehensively reviewed safety management plans and the overall training tempo. They know that they must lead by example in driving safety as a topmost priority. The Army will also ensure 100% inspection of all high-risk and field training. We want, through concrete action, to reassure Singaporeans that training safety is a top priority for MINDEF and the SAF.

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Ultimately, safety involves this, everything that I have mentioned, but it also involves more than sound systems and top-down measures. Safety must be part of our organisational culture, one that every soldier at every level has a role to own, to build and to foster.

The SAF encourages open reporting. Mr Charles Chong asked about this. What does it mean by open reporting? Open reporting means that any servicemen can, at any time, report risky behaviour or near-misses and safety breaches. And the servicemen know that they can do so without any fear of penalty. They can call the 24-hour safety hotlines for the Army, Navy and the Air Force, and caller identities are kept anonymous. There are other measures by which they can also surface the feedback. So, the open reporting is about wanting to engender and to ensure openness in the culture; that you are encourage indeed, to bring this up.

On enlistment day, recruits are briefed by commanders on how they can report safety breaches. Prior to training, soldiers can identify safety risks using risk assessment checklists and raise concerns to their superiors in a small group setting. This encourages them to look out for their own and their buddies’ safety.

Since last year, the SAF has been developing an application called "SafeGuardian", which will allow SAF servicemen to use their mobile phones to report workplace hazards and instantly share them with other servicemen. So, when servicemen are in camp, they notice, for example, some sharp wire fittings that could potentially cause injury, then that serviceman can take a photo of that using the "SafeGuardian" app and inform the relevant SAF safety officers, so that immediate action can be taken to remove that hazard and to remove that risk. Their buddies nearby will also be informed via safety alerts to their mobile phones.

"SafeGuardian" can also provide access to safety checklists on-the-go, compared to the moment where these forms are only available in physical terminals within the camps.

So, this app will begin its trial in our Naval Bases starting from March this year. It will be implemented in phases to the rest of the SAF as soon as possible.

This effort will help enhance a safety consciousness and reinforce the point that safety is "By All, For All".

Miss Cheng Li Hui asked if we could recognise fallen servicemen, including erecting a memorial. The SAF honours our servicemen and women who die in service. Every year, the SAF observes a minute of silence at the SAF Day Parade to remember our fallen soldiers in the presence of our President or the Prime Minister as the Reviewing Officer. Individual units or formations also hold remembrance events to honour those among their ranks who perish during operations or training. We will never forget their sacrifice to keep Singapore free from those who want to do us harm.

On this note, we also want to thank all our national servicemen for their commitment and dedication. Allow me now to speak on how we will enhance the experience for our national servicemen.

Mr Zainal Sapari asked about the importance of NS to Singapore. Securing Singapore’s freedom is a sacred duty shouldered by our national servicemen. It is only right that we continually think of ways to support them.

Our national servicemen have to balance personal and NS commitments, and we must strive to increase convenience for them by reducing administrative burdens wherever possible. This will help them focus on the training. We will also maximise the potential and tap into the abilities of our increasingly better-educated pool of servicemen, so that they can contribute even more meaningfully. Mr Baey Yam Keng had asked for updates on our efforts.

Our Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) are required to notify the MINDEF Notification Centre (MNC) and Home Team Overseas Notification Centre (ONC) of their overseas travel of less than six months' duration, which can currently be done via the NS Portal or by text. From 1 March today, we will remove this notification requirement. Servicemen just have to keep their contact details, including temporary contact information, updated on the NS Portal.

Removing this requirement will not compromise operational readiness, because other exit control measures, such as the requirement to apply for an Exit Permit before traveling overseas for periods of six months or longer, will continue to apply. Control measures could be tightened if the need arises.

Mr Pritam Singh and Mr Chong Kee Hiong asked how we intend to maximise our manpower resource with falling cohort sizes. How can we do more with fewer?

Besides better technology, equipment, process and job redesign and training of the NSmen, many NSmen also have very relevant and important niche civilian expertise in fields that are relevant both to the civilian side as well as to the military. For example, nursing or info-communications. NSmen with such expertise can now contribute to defence with their civilian expertise earlier in their Operationally-Ready NS training cycle. Previously, they had to complete the full 10-year training cycle before conversion to a role that allows them to utilise their civilian expertise. Now, if they are found suitable, they can be deployed to roles such as nursing officers and network communications officers after completing two High-Key In-Camp Training stints and have served five ORNS years.

Another example: pre-enlistees are screened at the SAF Medical Classification Centre prior to enlistment. They will then be assigned an appropriate Physical Employment Standard (PES) grade, so that each person can serve the nation based on his capacity and capabilities, and this would include NSFs with disabilities. For instance, soldiers with hearing impairment or musculoskeletal disabilities, where found suitable, are assigned to support or administrative vocations, where they are deployed safely and are able to also contribute very meaningfully during their NS stints.

We certainly also value the contributions from women to national defence. Since 2014, women have served in the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC), in areas that support the SAF’s operational and training requirements. Our pool of SAF volunteers comprises a good mix of males and females, with about half being women.

Mr Arasu Duraisamy asked about our partnerships to support skills upgrading. Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) from the SAF and the Home Team dedicate two years to focus on full-time training. Today, certain soldiering, fire-fighting and rescue competencies are accredited under the Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) standard.

To keep pace with the national focus on skills mastery, we seek to support the NSFs’ transition to higher education or into the workplace. A suite of initiatives called "SkillsFuture@NS" will be launched this year with public and private sector partners.

What can our NSFs, therefore, look forward to under these partnerships?

First, more resources for skills upgrading after full-time NS. Today, NSFs are granted $350 worth of e-credits for them to subscribe to about 200 online courses – that is the course list – and these courses are offered by our local universities and polytechnics. These e-credits are valid up to one year after they complete full-time NS.

We will extend the use of these credits to about 3,000 selected courses – up from the 200 – and amongst these courses will be a good number of SkillsFuture Series courses that focus on emerging domains such as data analytics and cybersecurity. We are also working with Institutes of Higher Learning to offer customised courses. NSFs may take these courses to obtain credit exemptions from relevant diploma or degree programmes after they complete their full-time NS. E-credits can also be used for these courses.

For example, NSFs can use their e-credits to take a course on "Introduction to Cloud Architecture" that is offered by the Temasek Polytechnic (TP). Upon admission to TP’s part-time Specialist Diploma in Cloud Data Centre Technology and Management, participants who complete these online courses will be granted partial exemption from one module. This will go some way toward supporting our NSFs’ learning journey.

Second, career discovery and exposure. This month, MINDEF/SAF will co-deliver a career orientation experience with SkillsFuture Singapore. This initiative is supported by our five Community Development Councils and the NTUC Employment and Employability Institute (e2i). SkillsFuture Advice workshops will be customised at the quarterly Career and Education Fair held for NSFs.

We conducted a pilot of this career orientation workshop at Jurong Camp. One of our combat engineers, 21-year-old Corporal Ritesh Kumar, said the workshop helped him understand the various pathways available after he completes his full-time NS. He felt that this gave him and his buddies more useful guidance about their next stage in life. We will take in our servicemen’s feedback and suggestions to refine and improve the SkillsFuture@NS effort in the years ahead.

Next, strengthening support for NS. Mr Henry Kwek asked about our plans to engage the community on NS issues. First, I want to express our thanks to ACCORD members for their valuable contributions toward the mission of working with educational institutions, businesses and community groups to strengthen community and total support for our defence and National Service.

One of the highlights through the good work of ACCORD in 2018 was the inaugural Women’s Boot Camp. One hundred and three women out of 1,000 were selected for the camp. So, 1,000 applied for 100 places. So, in the end, 103 were accommodated for this two-day one night camp, so, it is an overnight camp. That camp gave the women participants whom I understand have ages that range from 13 to 64, so it is a wide range. Therefore, in there, there are daughters, mothers, sisters, wives, girlfriends, friends of servicemen, and what they got was a glimpse of military life. They came out seeing NS as tough, but necessary.

One of them is 50-year-old Ms Koh Wee Min; she is a mother of one of our NSFs. When asked about her experience, Ms Koh said that it gave her a taste of some aspects of military life through participation in iconic NS activities such as clearing the Standard Obstacle Course. She said, "I can now support my son emotionally and psychologically. It will also allay some concerns I have about training safety as I could see that safety is paramount to their training. It is reassuring to know that servicemen will get progressive training before they tackle more challenging tasks."

This year, we will run another camp, so as to continue to engage our community and also this very important constituency, namely the other half of our population – the women – so that together, we can strengthen this support for NS and for the defence of our country.

Our servicemen have told us that sharing photographs of their NS experiences in camp would also help them build a stronger sense of community. MINDEF and SAF have been exploring ways to allow servicemen to share their personal NS memories and experiences online, while safeguarding security of sensitive information.

We are now working on a digital repository called "NS Memories" that will give NSmen access to official photographs of themselves and their buddies. Over time, the repository will catalogue the experiences throughout the NS journey. It will allow servicemen to share these photographs on their social media. We will conduct a trial with an active infantry unit for "NS Memories" this year. If proven successful, we will expand the initiative.

Mr Chairman, the success of NS is measured by the peace safeguarded and maintained – day in, day out, year after year. Every day of peace that Singapore enjoys is testament to the effectiveness of our deterrence, diplomacy and defence. With a strong and resilient NS system that enjoys wide and deep public support, we can continue to be confident about Singapore’s future. Thank you.

The Senior Minister of State for Defence (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman): Mr Chairman, Minister for Defence Dr Ng has spoken about the uncertain and volatile geopolitical environment that confronts us, and how a strong SAF is vital to help us navigate this landscape for Singapore.

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History has shown us that having a strong defence makes all the difference. This is why our long-term and sustained investment in the SAF and Total Defence is vital for Singapore’s continued security and prosperity.

When Total Defence was first introduced in 1984, it was in response to a threat landscape where warfare was very much conventional. However, even then, there was recognition that potential aggressors would target not just the military, but the entire population.

As threats evolve, Total Defence becomes even more critical. Take terrorism for example. The face of terrorism has changed, from kinetic attacks spearheaded by Al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah (JI) in the early 2000s, to ISIS’ more insidious attempts to radicalise and recruit followers through the use of technology and social media, to deepen distrust between communities and sow discontent with the establishment. They even fund and instruct their members and sympathisers to launch terror attacks like suicide bombings in their own countries. ISIS may have lost ground in the Middle East, but links to our region remain alive. The return of foreign fighters exacerbates this threat.

In this age of the internet and social media, the resilience of Singaporeans will be tested through attacks from the digital front. This will be the new battlefront because of how connected we are, and how reliant we are on digital technology to communicate and to consume information. Singapore has one of the highest levels of internet penetration in the world, and according to a study done by media company “We Are Social” in 2018, people in Singapore spent an average of two hours daily on social media, with WhatsApp, YouTube and Facebook being the top three most used platforms. Sir, our connectivity opens us to threats from the digital domain, which will confront and define this generation. Many examples in Singapore and overseas illustrate the devastating impact that these threats can wreak.

The Digital Dangers and the Need for Strong Digital Defence. Sir, for example, Estonia was one of the first countries in the world to experience this in April 2007 when a cyberattack caused online services of their banks, media outlets and government to be shut down. Citizens could not access cash machines and online banking services; news could not be printed nor broadcasted. More than 10 years on, cyberattacks in various forms remain a tool for those who would do harm to us.

Another example, in July 2018, more recently, the Alaskan borough of Matanuska-Susitna or Mat-su, was, as a BBC article describes, sent “back in time” by a malware attack which forced them offline, resulting in some borough staff having to bring out old typewriters just to keep services going.

Another challenge is how quickly information – and disinformation – can spread over the digital domain. The recent riots that broke out at a Hindu temple in Subang Jaya, Malaysia showed how the spread of rumours and fake news via social media just overnight could fan the flames of racial tensions, and incite social unrest. As Ms Joan Pereira noted, it is important for us to keep our Social Defence strong, so we stay united against any attempts to divide us. All communities and faiths have worked hard to build our multicultural and multi-religious society today. We must not let falsehoods pit different social groups against one another.

Many of these digital dangers show that complacency, ignorance or negligence on the part of individuals could pave the way for an attack with disastrous consequences. A January 2019 report by NATO’s Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence outlined how their researchers managed to track and trick NATO troops using open source data primarily from social media. It was concerning how it was so easy for the researchers to identify troops, locate their battalions, persuade them to abandon their posts and reveal sensitive details about military manoeuvres. This example shows how much people take their online lives for granted, and are unaware about how the seemingly innocuous information they post about their lives can be used for harm – not just for themselves, but for the wider society.

And Singapore is not spared. We know how hackers stole the information of 1.5 million SingHealth patients. We have also seen the spread of fake news on a wide range of matters, for example, plastic rice or Halal pork, to more insidiously, false accounts of incidents that could inflame xenophobia, communalism, and puncture social harmony.

This is why we have strengthened Total Defence with a new Digital Defence pillar. Ms Joan Pereira and Dr Teo Ho Pin asked about our Digital Defence efforts. We want to bring across the message that every individual is at the forefront of Digital Defence, and this is not a cliché. It is of great significance, and as articulated in an editorial in The Straits Times, and I quote, “every citizen is a soldier in the digital war”. Unquote. Only if everyone plays a part – the Government, businesses, communities and individuals – can we make Digital Defence a part of Singapore’s DNA, and keep our defence total.

As a whole-of-nation effort, MINDEF has been working with various Government agencies to fortify Singapore and Singaporeans against digital threats. MCI and its agencies, the Cyber Security Agency (CSA), the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the National Library Board (NLB) have in place various programmes to empower individuals, businesses and the wider community, so they can play a part by being secure, alert and responsible online. In MHA, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) has developed further its capabilities to deal with cybercrime, and educates the public on staying safe in cyberspace. As Dr Ng spoke about earlier, we have strengthened our defence sector networks through setting up the Defence Cyber Organisation (DCO), and ensuring that we have a strong core and pipeline of people with the right skills and expertise to do this work.

We will also ensure that our Servicemen are prepared for threats from the digital domain. We are working with NLB to have all recruits going through Basic Military Training (BMT) attend an information literacy workshop to equip them to better recognise and deal with fake news and deliberate online falsehoods. For the rest of our personnel, MINDEF and SAF will inoculate them against hostile information campaigns and fake news, as well as strengthen cybersecurity awareness through enhancing our existing curriculum and learning journeys. We hope that collectively, these efforts will help our Servicemen better understand the role of fake news in modern warfare, the steps that they can take in response, and strengthen cyber hygiene as a whole.

For students, issues related to Digital Defence are already in MOE’s curriculum, and will be reinforced through digital literacy and Cyber Wellness programmes. Ms Joan Pereira asked about how we are reaching out to our youths. We refreshed the “Guardians of the City” (GOTC) game card this year to include threats from the digital domain. Students who have played the refreshed game felt it helped them better understand these threats and how they can play a part. For example, ITE College East student Deshaun Lau shared with us, and I quote, “Playing the game helped me realise that when we face digital threats, we must stay together as a community, and remind each other to take steps to prevent these attacks”. Unquote.

Businesses too, are putting Digital Defence in action. A workplace design company, Space Matrix, has not only invested in cybersecurity systems, but also trained their staff to keep these threats at bay. Digital threats hit close to home when someone impersonated their CEO via email and asked staff for a funds transfer. They did not fall victim thanks to the vigilance of their staff who recognised the false email identification. The company subsequently fine-tuned their systems to better protect themselves for the future.

Keeping Singapore Strong Together. While we step up efforts in Digital Defence, the multi-faceted threats of today mean that to keep Singapore strong, we need a collective effort where everyone plays a part and takes action across all six pillars of Total Defence. Mr Chairman, may I say a few words in Malay please?

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Chairman, the recent maritime and airspace disputes between Singapore and Malaysia have reinforced the importance of Total Defence for us. Our security agencies stand ready and vigilant to safeguard our sovereignty. Singaporeans also need to remain united and stand firm on our principles to protect our national interest. Therefore, it has been heartening to see how many Singaporeans have taken to social media to counter false claims and show support for Singapore’s position. One example is a post by Mr John Lam, who encouraged fellow Singaporeans to remain calm and civil when the maritime dispute between Singapore and Malaysia became tense. He used examples from Singapore’s past to show how we, as one people, have overcome our constraints, and came out stronger. For instance, when we were faced with the threats to cut our water supplies, we invested in water filtration and desalination technologies, and developed our own NEWater treatment plants. When faced with a sand import ban, we developed innovative and environmentally friendly ways of using less sand for reclamation.

What Mr Lam and many others have done embody what Psychological Defence is about – our people staying united and resolving to stand up for Singapore. Members of this house like Ms Cheng Li Hui have acknowledged the importance of this as well. The recent bilateral tensions between Singapore and Malaysia have helped Singaporeans better understand what we stand for, and why it is so important for us to take these positions – on upholding our territorial sovereignty and operating within a rules-based international order. Our small size and the volatility in our region show how crucial it is for Singaporeans to remain committed to our own defence, and having a strong Singapore Armed Forces.

(In English): I spoke earlier about how the terrorism threat is here to stay. Security agencies will do all we can to prevent an attack, but even if one takes place, it is important that every Singaporean knows what to do so that we can hold together, and bounce back quickly as a society.

We commend ground-up initiatives that put Total Defence in action in this way, such as the example of the young Singaporeans who came together to develop the Bukit Panjang Emergency Preparedness Guide, with the support of Bukit Panjang Community Emergency and Engagement Committee (C2E), as Dr Teo Ho Pin had shared.

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To build emergency preparedness, we have put in place the Community Response Module that equips MINDEF and SAF personnel to be active community responders by teaching them skills to better protect themselves and help those around them in the event of a terror attack. This complements MHA's SGSecure effort, which continues to build vigilance, cohesion and resilience in the community to deal with a terror attack. MINDEF's Total Defence partnerships with organisations, such as the Singapore Red Cross and Temasek Foundation Cares, also equip people with the knowledge and skills that they can apply in a crisis. For example, the Business Psychological Resilience Programme or B-PREP, part of Temasek Foundation Cares' "Stay Prepared" initiative, trains employees of companies in skills like psychological first aid.

MINDEF has also been actively reaching out to our youths and the wider community on Total Defence, and it is heartening to see how they have rallied around Total Defence. One example is our five students from Temasek Polytechnic – Benedict, Gabriel, Jed, Martin and Shing Hao. They developed a prototype Total Defence mobile application game, named "The Lion City". The game highlights how simple, everyday actions contribute towards building a strong and cohesive nation. The game's developers hope that by doing so, they can inspire their fellow youths to play their part and put Total Defence into action.

Sir, in conclusion, Singapore has enjoyed peace and prosperity as we have a strong SAF, a strong National Service system, and strong public support for defence and security. Thirty-five years on and after the launch of Total Defence, we must continue to involve all communities and faiths to play their part. As we commemorate the Singapore Bicentennial this year, let us strengthen our resolve to safeguard our future of Singapore and Singaporeans. Thank you, Sir.

The Chairman: Any clarifications? Mr Pritam Singh.

Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied): Thank you, Chairman. Sir, my question is to the Minister of Defence. Is MINDEF at liberty to share whether the variant of the Joint Strike Fighter that is going to be procured, is the conventional take-off and landing version or the short take-off and the vertical landing version?

Dr Ng Eng Hen: Mr Singh would be aware that there is a aircraft carrier version and I can confirm with you that we are not buying that one.

The Chairman: Any other further clarifications? Mr Vikram Nair.

Mr Vikram Nair (Sembawang): I thank the Minister for the update on complete renewal taking place for many of our equipment. I am interested to know how much and to what extent these modifications will be developed in Singapore through our local defence industries.

Dr Ng Eng Hen: Mr Chairman, there is no change in that sense in our procurement policies where we get the best of class for our needs. Price is a significant consideration. But also, when I say for our needs, obviously, a key restriction is manpower. And if you look at, for example, our ships, the reason why we went to local production, first of all, in our frigates, which we did with French DCN and then we built our own. Even with that, we designed it from conception to operation. Because few other nations are able to have the SAF that we have, that is able to defend a small island and have to do so with fewer people. So, for the ships, we went in that way. I think that has paid dividends.

For Air Force, less so. From a maintenance point of view, we dealt with the issue by contracting it to some of our strategic partners, private companies. For the Army, some we have been able to do on our own to develop indigenous capability for local needs. So, I would say that our procurement is still price-sensitive, best of class but platforms that meet our needs. And where we can, we also recognise and that we must develop a local industry to be able to respond because even developing that capability for private practice requires time and effort. And we do not leave it, for example, to the marketplace. You cannot. And that is why, I think, over the years, a number of companies have been able to work with MINDEF and the SAF to meet our defence needs.

The Chairman: Mr Vikram Nair, would you like to withdraw your amendment?

Mr Vikram Nair: I would like to thank Minister Ng Eng Hen, Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How and Senior Minister of State Maliki Osman for their responses in a wide range of areas including giving us the assurance we will be safe for the next 25 years. National Service safety remains a priority and we are investing to deal with cyber threats and terrorism. I think these are all important considerations. And I thank the Ministry for being on top of it. Chairman, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $14,981,206,800 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.

The sum of $761,800,000 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.