Threats against National Security Sites and Resources Expended on Investigations
Ministry of DefenceSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Member of Parliament Mr Yip Hon Weng’s inquiry into the frequency of security threats against national sites, investigation resources, and strategies to manage hoaxes. Minister Chan Chun Sing responded that the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) employs multi-layered security, including surveillance, patrols, and intrusion detection systems, to protect all bases and personnel. The SAF adopts a zero-tolerance stance and robustly assesses all threats, employing countermeasures like evacuations and bomb sweeps when deemed necessary to ensure safety. Minister Chan Chun Sing noted that the SAF collaborates with the Singapore Police Force to apprehend perpetrators, citing the prompt response to a recent bomb hoax at Paya Lebar Air Base. Perpetrators face stiff punishments like imprisonment, while the SAF maintains ready responses to ensure all unconfirmed threats are handled with the required seriousness to deter future occurrences.
Transcript
7 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence (a) how many security threats against national security sites occurred in the past year and how much resources were expended on investigations; (b) of these, how many were hoaxes and what are the primary motives for such false threats; and (c) what measures are being taken to minimise such occurrences while ensuring all unconfirmed threats continue to be treated with necessary seriousness.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) treats the security of our camps and bases seriously and takes the necessary measures to ensure safety of our personnel and assets. The SAF has multi-layered security processes and systems in place to deter, detect, deny and respond against security threats to our camps and bases. To deter potential perpetrators, SAF camps and bases conduct frequent security patrols and operations. Perpetrators can expect stiff punishments including imprisonment. To detect and deny potential threats, SAF camps and bases are equipped with security infrastructure, such as fencelines, surveillance and intrusion detection systems, and vehicular scanning capabilities. Security personnel are also on watch round-the-clock at the camps and bases.
While our efforts should deter would-be perpetrators, potential security threats of varying levels of credibility and risks may still arise. The SAF assesses all potential threats robustly, and we adopt a zero-tolerance stance because the consequences are serious. When deemed credible, the SAF will take the required precautions and countermeasures to deal with the threat to keep our people, equipment and infrastructure safe. The SAF's responses include evacuations, bomb sweeps and personnel checks. It has ready responses to deal with perpetrators and other threats. The SAF would work with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and other Government agencies to pursue perpetrators.
During the recent bomb hoax at Paya Lebar Air Base and thereafter, the SAF responded as planned. The SAF worked with the SPF to identify and apprehend the perpetrator promptly. The case is currently under investigation.