MINDEF's Follow-up Actions and Plans in Aftermath of Latest Training Incident in New Zealand

The following question stood in the name of Mr Alex Yam –

1 To ask the Minister for Defence (a) whether a safety time-out was called for all SAF training following the incident involving the late Corporal First Class (National Service) Aloysius Pang; (b) if not, why it was not called for; and (c) how the Ministry intends to reassure Singaporeans that safety in the SAF is paramount and is taken seriously following four training deaths in the last 16 months.

2 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Defence (a) how often are all safety manuals for training revised and updated across the Ministry; (b) how thorough is the safety orientation programme before the start of any field exercise; and (c) whether near-miss incidents due to safety lapses are reportable to superiors to plug any loopholes in the safety manuals.

3 Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling asked the Minister for Defence (a) whether reservist NSmen are provided adequate refresher training before being deployed on missions or assigned tasks; (b) whether the SAF's safety manuals and programmes undergo review by external experts or industry panels to assess their adequacy; and (c) what has the Ministry done since the incidents over last two years to ensure the processes put in place have effectively address safety concerns and fulfil safety protocols.

4 Prof Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Defence in respect of the incident involving Corporal First Class (National Service) Aloysius Pang in New Zealand (a) whether there are stringent checklists for high risk operations and tasks, especially like the one the NSman was involved in; (b) whether there is practice and simulation training done to achieve competency before actual execution of these tasks; (c) whether these have been complied with in the aforementioned incident; and (d) how adequate is the level of supervision during such training and exercise.

5 Mr Darryl David asked the Minister for Defence how much training and preparation National Service reservists are put through to ensure that they are operationally ready before being deployed on assignments and missions.

6 Mr Darryl David asked the Minister for Defence (a) how often are the safety protocols and procedures of the SAF audited and assessed; and (b) whether these protocols and procedures are audited and assessed by any external or independent agencies.

7 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Defence regarding the death of a national serviceman during training on 23 January 2019 (a) what is the cause of his death; (b) what is the status of the investigations; (c) how can processes be improved to reduce the probability of something similar happening in the future; and (d) how is safety in training balanced with the need to create realistic operational circumstances.

8 Mr Chong Kee Hiong asked the Minister for Defence (a) whether there will be a review to examine the deeper reasons for the increase in the number of SAF training deaths in recent years; (b) whether the number of training incidents resulting in minor and major injuries has also increased in the last three years; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider enrolling other members of a family who have had an immediate family member die or become disabled as a result of National Service in a non-combat vocation.

9 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Defence (a) how many military training deaths have occurred in the past three years; (b) what is the Ministry doing to address any effect on the confidence and morale of our NSmen and their families; and (c) how many officers and men were disciplined in the past three years on safety lapses during training.

10 Ms Irene Quay Siew Ching asked the Minister for Defence (a) whether the Ministry will conduct annual anonymised safety culture surveys on SAF soldiers to understand safety concerns experienced by soldiers of all ranks; (b) with the army safety hotline set up since 2011, what are the initiatives to promote reporting and whether the current number of 50 calls a year is benchmarked with countries of similar military and operational standards; (c) whether there is formal training given to SAF soldiers on the technique of speaking up and formal training to given commanders on creating a safe culture for speaking up; and (d) whether a clear distinction between speaking up or refusing to obey an unsafe command and insubordination can be laid out.

11 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Defence whether NSmen go through adequate training and safety refresher courses immediately before participating in exercises and whether these courses need improvement.

12 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Defence whether the design of the Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer will be reviewed to determine possible flaws contributing to the accident and death of Corporal First Class (National Service) Aloysius Pang.

13 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Defence (a) what is the cause of the accident resulting in the death of a national serviceman on 23 January 2019; (b) whether there are systemic similarities with the other NS training incidents over the last 18 months; and (c) what are the measures being put in place to prevent future occurrences.

14 Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for Defence what is the scope of the safety review announced by the Ministry in the aftermath of the accident involving the late Corporal First Class (National Service) Aloysius Pang and how does it differ from previous safety reviews announced after major incidents involving SAF personnel.

15 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Defence (a) whether any common causative factors can be discerned in the deaths of NSFs and NSmen over the past 18 months, by way of root cause analysis; and (b) whether any systemic changes in policy, guidelines or approaches to training will be undertaken to address the root causes of these training deaths.

16 Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Minister for Defence (a) whether the safety protocols and procedures are the same and apply as stringently for both NSFs and NSmen; (b) whether additional safety considerations and measures are in place for NSmen due to their time away from active training; and (c) when was the last time SAF conducted a comprehensive review of its safety culture, and whether a new review is necessary.

17 Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Minister for Defence whether the Ministry will consider building a small memorial to recognise all our national servicemen who lost their lives during service since the introduction of National Service more than five decades ago.

18 Mr Mohamed Irshad asked the Minister for Defence (a) how many cases of ragging have been reported in the SAF in the past five years; (b) whether the Ministry has taken measures to strengthen training on risk management and workplace safety in the SAF; and (c) whether there are any reward schemes to recognise positive behaviours demonstrated by officers who show care for fellow colleagues.

19 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Defence when the Primus Self Propelled Howitzer gun barrel is being lowered either while operated by its crew or when the repair/maintenance crew are on board, whether the existing training, operation and safety manuals, including standard operating procedures, do expressly provide for (i) specific and safe deployment positions for personnel in the cabin and (ii) specific instructions for personnel to stay clear of the gun barrel.

20 Ms Anthea Ong asked the Minister for Defence (a) what are the psychosocial support systems in place for NSmen and NSFs to augment SAF's safety culture; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider mental health first-aid training for all military supervisors so they can better support their men in times of distress and crisis.

Mr Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten): Question No 1.

The Senior Minister of State for Defence (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) (for the Minister for Defence): Mr Speaker, may I seek your permission for Question Nos 1 to 20 to be answered in the Ministerial Statement by the Minister for Defence later.

Mr Speaker: Please proceed.