Committee of Supply – Head J (Ministry of Defence)

Mdm Chairman, at the Committee of Supply in 2013, the Minister for Defence made mention on the creation of additional posts for full-time safety officers in the SAF to ensure better compliance with training safety regulations. A Directorate for Safety and Systems Review (DSSR) has also been formed. The House was informed that the DSSR would also set up external review panels which will submit recommendations to the Minister for Defence.

The SAF is the port of call and a rite of passage for a vast majority of Singaporean men. Families send their sons and, now, also some of their daughters, to serve and defend this land we call home. It is, therefore, imperative that, in doing so, the utmost is done to ensure that they have a safe and secure training environment.

While there have not been major incidents in 2013, I hope that the Minister will be able to provide and update as to the number of near-misses and serious injuries that occurred during the last year and whether this has seen a downward trend with the introduction of more safety measures.

The external review panel for SAF safety, one of the review panels of the DSSR, was set up in September last year. While the visits have commenced, they will only conclude their report in 2016. Could this be accelerated? What other systems have been put in place to address safety lapses?

All of us owe it to our men and women in the SAF that they train with one of the best-equipped and best-trained forces in the region. It is therefore important that they have peace of mind, knowing that we do all we can to ensure their safety.

Thank you, Mdm Chair. The commonly held notion of "chance favouring the prepared" cannot be underestimated. Effective training of our NSmen is, therefore, vital if we are to

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have a strong defence force.

Changes to our demography are posing new challenges to the way we train our soldiers. The influx of new immigrants, falling birth rate and a shorter NS stint mean that we have to update our training methodology to be more responsive to changing circumstances. Of particular concern is whether the operational readiness of our NSmen is affected by falling birth rates. Does this mean SAF would have to intensify its efforts to capitalise on technology to make up for less physical bodies?

We need to keep NS going and to keep NS strong. Training enhances the fighting competence and capability of our NSmen. Singaporean youths are a highly sophisticated and educated bunch. They are technologically savvy. This is a good thing. How can we tailor our training to better take advantage of their abilities?

Training safety is equally important. I am happy to note that we have had no training deaths in 2013. I look forward to hearing from the Minister for Defence on MINDEF's continuing enhancement to the training efforts of our NSmen to effectively harness their talent and to hear what the Minister has to say about MINDEF's efforts to augment training safety.

Next cut, Madam. A related topic is Singaporean's commitment to defence. The defence of Singapore is dependent on the will of Singaporeans to support the policy of having a strong SAF, and crucially, to take personal responsibility and to get involved in our defence.

Our defence philosophy is predicated on being a strong deterrent force that is technologically advanced. Enemies know that they will have to suffer significant losses if they ever decide to take up arms against us. At the same time, they know that Singaporeans will hold nothing back in the defence of our homeland. This psychological edge is as important as having the latest and most advanced machines. To this end, how does MINDEF ensure that Singaporeans continue to remain committed to defence?

On Total Defence, the concept of defence should really be seen at the level of Total Defence. Besides Military and Civil Defence, Economic, Social and

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Psychological Defence are as important. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of Total Defence. How has Total Defence remained relevant, and how is MINDEF educating the public about the continued importance of Total Defence?

Madam, in my Budget speech, I asked if we could all remember what we were doing when we were 16. Being 16 in 1942 at the fall of Singapore was perhaps the worst of times. In the decades after, being 16 has gotten easier and much less fraught with danger and uncertainty. But perhaps for some, we have become soft, unaware of the dangers of unstable geopolitical winds. But, at the same time, NS, as a key institution, continues to play a key role in rooting our people to the defence of our nation. Yet, defence can be a vague concept. And as we mark 30 years of Total Defence, how do we plan to further strengthen this message that all of us, in and out of uniform, play a crucial role? With recent incidents in the region, including the naming of an Indonesian navy vessel, it is perhaps no better time than this to do so.

Being 16 in the decades to come should still be filled with carefree joy and security. Yet, we must remain cognisant of the constant need to be united. The theme for this year's Total Defence is "Because You Played a Part". Let us not revisit anytime that being 16 could be the last year of life amidst conflict and suffering.

Madam, many Members have spoken on the changing and evolving challenges that face Singapore and other small countries in this region, in terms of security concerns and relations with other powers.

The increasing tensions between China and Japan seem to draw in even superpowers like the United States and there are implications for smaller states within ASEAN in their relations between these two superpowers. The maritime territorial disputes in the South China Seas though not directly affecting Singapore itself as a non-claimant state, also threaten to draw in some of our partner nations within the ASEAN grouping as well, and there are pressures for ASEAN as a whole and for small countries like Singapore to take a stand potentially to align itself on one side or the other, which goes contrary to the nature of ASEAN and to Singapore's position of being a friend to all sides.

The implications for Singapore, in terms of defence, are far reaching, in terms of the changing, evolving international concerns. I believe the Defence

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Minister has mentioned the potential of Singapore being part of the multinational force under the auspices of ASEAN. I think the evolving nature of the SAF should take into consideration what this will actually mean for the development of the force as we go forward.

Other challenges that face our country, Singapore, of course, involve issues like terrorism, which is a continually evolving challenge, and the current Third Generation SAF and, hopefully, the Fourth Generation SAF, will also take into consideration some of the future needs to deal with such challenges as times evolve.

A core issue, despite all these challenges from abroad and within, comes down to the idea of communicating what it means to have a strong defence in Singapore.

Through my work as a member of the Working Group of the CSNS committee, we have heard many stories of the commitment by NSmen, both full-time and those who have moved out of their full-time service, is very, very great. My own experiences as an NSman show that many of my compatriots and my colleagues within the unit are willing to extend the service voluntarily to ensure that they play a role and continue to play a role in the defence of the country.

As other hon Members have mentioned so far, a key question now is how do we ensure that the future generations take on the significance of everyone doing their part for Total Defence. The relevance of Usman Harun, the recent incident, the historical anecdotes of what happened during Konfrontasi, I think much of this is actually lost on the younger generation. I hope that the Ministry, as it continues to plan its budget going forward – considering the hardware that we need to acquire and to renew to ensure that we remain relevant as an international force – will also consider devoting sufficient resources to communicating the message of the need for defence.

I think it is very easy for the younger generation these days to be a little bit cynical and to point out the fact that given that we are friends with so many nations, there is no real need for a defence force that is strong or stronger, in terms of relative capabilities to our neighbours, given that we are friends with everyone.

Members in the House spoke yesterday of the need to speak from a position of strength before we can exhibit work from the heart. I think that before we can

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talk about the conviction and the ability to use some of the hardware that we will acquire, we have to ensure that we receive broad-based support from the younger generation and generations to come who commit to NS as an important part of nation-building, as an important part of Singapore's growth story going forward.

This becomes even more critical with the diminishing population, given the population trends that we are facing, that everyone carries out their duties, not just in the sense of fulfilling the time required to ticking the box and saying that I have completed it, but to do it wholeheartedly and with the conviction that this is something that it is really relevant and really important for the future and security of Singapore.

Each generation comes forward and says that we are willing to do our part. But how do we communicate to them that the relevance and the importance of having a strong defence force is something that is integral to the question and survivability of Singapore going forward? And I believe ensuring that the communication and the awareness of the evolving framework that we are facing will continue to be an important part going forward.

Madam, first, let me thank Members of the House for their continued support for MINDEF and the SAF and the strong defence of Singapore. I feel very heartened because this support came from Members regardless of party affiliation, Nominated Members included. I take to heart Mr Nicholas Fang's affirmation for a strong defence and for individual effort, and for us to communicate a need for a strong defence.

The Pioneers of Singapore take centrestage of this Budget and COS. But the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Finance is a bit upset with MINDEF for putting up the PIONEER bag. Well, you know the PIONEER magazine came before his package, so that gives us some latitude.

For them to take centrestage is the right thing. Singaporeans owe a debt of gratitude to our founding generation – for their vision, tenacity, sacrifice and hard work. Because without these pioneers, today's modern, successful and stable Singapore could not have been built. Our pioneers were deeply convicted that a strong military was necessary to defend Singapore as an independent nation.

The convictions of this founding generation were visceral, emotionally riveted, as many of them personally lived through Singapore as a British Colony,

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through the Japanese Occupation, Konfrontasi, the communal riots and the Communist insurgency. You would have met some of them. Some of them were your relatives, as you have described. When you speak to them about these events, you can see in their faces a face shift as they are relating an incident, mental images seared in their minds, and they speak to you with a different depth of conviction.

Subjugation and terror; fearful even when unjustly treated; defenceless and too weak to respond – these raw lessons that they learnt first-hand on power and dominion shaped their belief, sank deep their conviction that a strong security force was critical to ensure peace and stability for Singapore and to protect our sovereignty.

Even so, when we gained Independence in 1965, this founding generation saw clearly the insurmountable odds to build a credible defence. The reason: Singapore was a poor country with very few resources and our people lived in an island with what military experts say we have no strategic depth geographically.

For the Army, National Service started with significant teething problems in equipment and training. Conscription was newly introduced, and had yet to find general acceptance and commitment. To train our first pilots, the RSAF – it was not called the RSAF then, it was called the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC) – had to borrow a Cessna from the Singapore Flying Club! The Singapore Flying Club was built before the SADC. Our Navy's illustrious beginnings were two wooden hull boats that could not go very far from our shores and so they confined themselves to constabulary duties within the Singapore Strait.

And what of our magnificent "communications network" that we speak of today? Well, in our beginnings, we had six high frequency radio sets that we took over from the 4th Malaysian Signals Squadron.

From these humble beginnings, we have today a modern, professional and credible SAF – the Army, Navy and Air Force linked as one fighting machine – able to stand up to the wide range of security threats, able to protect Singaporeans and defend our airspace and surrounding waters.

The SAF has had to undertake missions thousands of kilometres away from home, whether it was in unfamiliar seas off Somalia, the air space over Iraq or the mountains of Afghanistan. We have done well and this transformation of

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the SAF speaks volumes of past efforts and of the sterling and defining contributions of our pioneers. We salute the pioneers who laid the foundations of the strong SAF today.

But as with the building of Singapore, the work of building up the SAF is not done. This generation must continue the pioneering efforts to maintain and build up a strong SAF. Present challenges exist and new ones are on the horizon, as many Members in this House have spoken about – Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Ms Irene Ng, Mr Alex Yam, Mr Ong Teng Koon, Mr Nicholas Fang, Mr Pritam Singh, Mr Gerald Giam.

A new generation with different experiences, memories and motivation now form the SAF as protectors of this nation. And, indeed, our immediate part of the world is changing dramatically, as Dr Lim Wee Kiak and Ms Irene Ng pointed out.

In the latter half of the 20th century, US dominance in both security and economic spheres was unchallenged, and it provided the security umbrella for this region. In the 21st century, China's rise as an economic and military power is redefining the power dynamics in the Asia Pacific. Japan and Korea are responding to these dramatic shifts as are India and ASEAN.

Already, Asia's defence spending has surpassed that of Europe's and it is projected to surpass that of the US within the next decade – Asia will spend more than the US. A militarisation of many countries within Asia of this magnitude has no historical precedent. This is the larger strategic backdrop against which territorial disputes and incidents amid rising nationalism should be viewed.

I recently attended the 50th Munich Security Conference – its 50th gathering – and there was one distinguished panel which stood out. It consisted of, among others, former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, and former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger – octogenarians, maybe even nonagenarians, in their 80s and 90s, all World War II and Cold War veterans.

This distinguished panel made the trenchant observation that Europe had not seen a major war in the last 50 years. That was a signal of achievement to them because after two World Wars and the Cold War, there was political will

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by European leaders to make war between one European country and another irrelevant. But barely a month after that meeting, a crisis has precipitated in Ukraine, taking it to the brink of war with concerns that another Cold War might emerge.

Beyond Europe, I was struck by a comment Secretary Kissinger made of Asia. Often, we look at Asia from within but, often times, it is useful to hear the views from outside, from others looking towards Asia. Kissinger said that Europe, in the post-modern period, was reluctant to engage in military conflict, very eager to maintain its standard of living and quite different from the Europe that organised the world 100 years ago. A hundred years ago, because this is 100 years since the First World War. However, he continued, Asia, at present, was more like 19th century Europe, where military conflicts among each other – he mentioned between China and Japan, or other neighbours – could not be excluded. Military conflict in Asia could not be excluded. Kissinger added that the risk exists that "some relatively peripheral issues are escalated step by step, into a conflagration."

These were sobering words, indeed, on the risks that exist in Asia from wise men who have studied or witnessed the making of wars.

How do we prepare and build our defences for this kind of future? I think many Members here in their speeches are grappling with this issue. How do you prepare for this future? It is not possible to predict the future precisely or tailor-make an SAF that meets only specific security challenges. All of us know that because if you look within the last decade – just within the last 10 years – all the major security challenges globally, whether it was 9/11, the terrorist threat, SARS, piracy – all came as surprises.

No one foresaw us operating a Weapon Locating Radar and UAVs and running hospitals 6,000 km away in Oruzgan in Afghanistan, or deploying frigates and naval helicopters more than 7,000 km away in the Gulf of Aden. This is not a surprise because military history is replete with unknown unknowns. And because we are unable to forecast specific security threats, we, therefore, must adopt a more robust and resilient approach by building an SAF that can deter would-be aggressors and meet a wide range of security threats so that we would not be caught off-guard or flat-footed.

A robust approach in building our defence capability to achieve strategic deterrence is why MINDEF maintains a steady defence spending which has delivered, over time, a strong SAF respected by even advanced Western

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militaries. Our planning horizons are intentionally long term and we spend prudently and steadily. This steady defence spending allows us many "opportunity buys", for example, the refurbished Leopard Tanks from Germany. It was a good buy because this was what they termed the "post-Cold World War dividends" – the Berlin Wall came down, people said tanks were no longer required, so there was a huge surplus of tanks that went on the market and we picked them up at a relatively good price and refurbished them.

After this came Iraq/Afghanistan where the Canadians, who had sold their Leopard Tanks realised that Leopard Tanks were, indeed, very much needed even in desert warfare, had to re-buy them at an escalated price. So, we were smiling and said, "Good buy".

This steady defence spending allows us a long lead time to train our men adequately and to develop platforms that meet our specific requirements when we cannot buy from the open market. For example, some of you may have heard of our Pegasus lightweight howitzer that was locally developed, it can be lifted by helicopters and self-propelled; it is the first and still the only one of its kind in the world.

MINDEF will continue this approach of steady defence spending that has reaped significant benefits for our defence capabilities. In other words, we will avoid sharp spikes unless the security risks require increased spending. We will also avoid sharp dips that will undermine our defence capabilities over the medium term. So, if you look at our defence spending over the last 10 years, and I think Members have asked for it – what is our thinking, what is our trend – if you look at our defence spending over the last 10 years, it reflects this steady investment in capability building where our defence budget has roughly kept pace with inflation. Let me give you the figures.

In 2004, it was S$8.6 billion and, last year, it was S$12.2 billion. In other words, it has kept pace more or less with inflation and I expect going forward that our defence spending will continue on this trajectory that more or less keeps pace with inflation over the long term. It is sustainable and it is a prudent way of investing in our defence capabilities.

In buying equipment, we prefer to upgrade existing platforms instead of buying new ones. For example, we upgraded our Navy's missile corvettes which were first commissioned in the early 1990s. These "ladies" are not particularly young but they are still very seaworthy and we have upgraded them. The Army's Leopard tanks were also bought second-hand and upgraded to

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meet our needs.

Through this prudent, steady, long-term view of defence spending, the SAF today that has been built up is a deterrent force, and it sends a strong signal to all that Singaporeans value our independence and we will fight to protect it. This signal, this unequivocal signal of deterrence is priceless.

The SAF has also responded well to security challenges, even unexpected ones, as we have done in Afghanistan and the Gulf of Aden. Another "test" that validated whether our SAF is ready was our response to the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004. Members would remember that this happened on Boxing Day, so there was no prior warning, but we were able to quickly dispatch the Charlie-130 aircraft with supplies and helicopters to assist in the efforts, as well as a Landing Ship Tank (LST). The RSS Endurance carried over 400 people, more than 50 vehicles, and a large amount of relief supplies. This was, of course, to Aceh and this was before we realised also that other parts were also hit. Remember the epicentre, it also affected Krabi and across in Thailand.

So, within days, we had to send our second LST, it was deployed, and then a third. At this time, our fourth and remaining LST was deployed in the Northern Arabian Gulf. For your information, we only have four LSTs – all deployed, 100% operational efficiency, button pushed, all out – deployed, ready, men and machine working well.

It is because we have invested steadily, trained our men, made sure that our systems are optimised that we are able to do this. And when called to do more, the SAF will step up. Ms Ellen Lee asked about our National Maritime Security System (NMSS), and the SAF have stepped up to coordinate and control this maritime security system.

We have done well thus far, but MINDEF and the SAF must again be strongly positioned for the future. Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, Mr Nicholas Fang and Mr Pritam Singh asked about this.

The question is: what are we building for the future? So, I thought instead of telling you, I will try to show you, I think it is much easier. Let me illustrate with a schematic of what the SAF might look like in the SAF in 2030. You will find this in your goodie bag, this particular picture [A slide was shown to hon Members]. Basically, it says current, planned and future.

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The SAF in 2030 will be one with all parts highly connected. Which means that whether it is the fighter pilot in the air, the sailor out on the oceans or the soldier on land, each will be able to see the big picture and, beyond that, speak to one another to jointly target threats and orchestrate responses. Let me repeat that. Whether you are a fighter pilot, sailor in the ocean, soldier on land, you will be able to see the big picture, speak to one another, jointly target threats and orchestrate responses. It sounds simple but very, very difficult to do. This concept of a networked force is now a reality and the SAF is a frontrunner, in global terms, in realising the full potential of a networked military.

In 2030, our F-16s would have been upgraded with what we call the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars which are more precise, which can see further and can see with greater precision and will have more precise air-to-ground munitions. The F-16s upgraded, with our F-15s, would be able to defend our airspace ably. In addition, we would have acquired our next generation fighter aircraft, which I think Mr Pritam Singh asked about, but we are not quite ready to decide yet. We will take our time because our F-16s and F-15s serve us for the near term and medium term.

We will also have in place multi-layered air defence capabilities with the deployment of the SPYDER and ASTER-30 Surface-to-Air Missile Systems. In other words, layers of air defence. Our current KC-135 aerial tankers will have been replaced by the Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), which we have decided to acquire. The MRTT or the A330 can hold 20% more fuel than our current KC-135 and we will extend the range of our fighters through Air-to-Air Refuelling. The Airbus 330 can also double up as a cargo and troop air-lift to deploy troops and equipment to overseas sites further away as we have done in HADR operations. You will be familiar with the A330 because you fly in some of these commercial planes.

For our Navy, the two Type-218SG submarines will be in operation, together with our two Archer-class submarines. Our Frigates, operating with their Sikorsky S-70B Naval Helicopters, and our new Littoral Mission Vessels, will form the mainstay of our surface fleet. The Naval helicopters have proved to be effective and versatile for a wide range of missions. When we deployed them in the Gulf of Aden, we validated their usefulness in counter-piracy missions, and therefore the SAF has decided to acquire two more Naval helicopters. The SAF has also found the multi-role Landing Ship Tank (LST) to be an effective workhorse in our relief efforts. So, whether it was the Indian Ocean Tsunami, the Northern Arabian Gulf, whether it was to relief efforts elsewhere, they were found to be effective. But if there was one limitation, it was in the carrying capacity. We are therefore studying carefully the need for

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larger LSTs that can carry more helicopters as well as more cargo.

The Army in 2030 will certainly be more mobile. In the next 10 years, the number of units that will operate on wheel or track platforms will almost double. So, whatever we have now, in 10 years they will double in numbers and this will create more mobile units. This includes more Terrex Infantry Fighting Vehicles to deal with threats in urban environments. The Terrexes will be linked to UAVs to see better, further and act more decisively. The Bionixes will also be upgraded and this will be operationalised by 2030.

By 2030, the SAF also expects that future systems that are currently prototyped or thought about will probably be part of our day-to-day use. Possibilities include multiple micro-UAVs for individual soldiers. Some of you may have seen them on YouTube – these gyrocopters that are swarming. It is very likely that individual soldiers will be able to use them, or robotic mules that can carry very heavy loads and follow soldiers autonomously. I know this will be every soldier's dream where a robot mule carries your rifle, but do not get ahead of yourself, this is for serious stuff. We will continue to test these capabilities in realistic terrain and scenarios. For example, we did it in Exercise Forging Sabre 2013 where we deployed the widest range of platforms and precision munitions to date, including F-15, F-16, Apache and Chinook helicopters, and our High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).

I am painting you a snapshot of the SAF 2030 so that you can see what our defence spending is moving towards in visual terms. These capabilities of the SAF, if achieved by 2030, should provide Singaporeans the confidence that Singapore can be protected. I say "confidence", not "certainty". The future is as always unpredictable. I would also remind Members of this House and Singaporeans, who have asked whether we are too far ahead or we are too well protected, that as a small country of only 700 square kilometres and about four million residents, our vulnerabilities will always exist. We cannot erase these vulnerabilities. We can mitigate them, and prepare the best we can for our defences with the resources available. But we must be resilient enough to withstand the unforeseen. But, most importantly, whether we can deter would-be aggressors for another 50 years and achieve peace depends not on advance systems or weaponry, no matter how sophisticated, but our people and their resolve to defend our island home.

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Therefore, I agree completely with Members who have said that we have to raise and inculcate values in the next generation and in this generation. We must therefore continually strengthen the training and commitment of our solders, which is why we started the Committee to Strengthen National Services which I chair, and the Second Minister and Minister of State chair the workgroups. Our National Servicemen are a critical part of our fighting force and, together with the regulars, are crucial to our defence. This is why we have to ensure that Singaporeans give full commitment to their duties during NS.

I think Singaporeans should be heartened that NS continues to enjoy widespread support. Many of you would have read the independent survey conducted by Institute of Policy Studies. It was randomised, rigorous in statistical terms. We outsourced it so that it would not be connected with MINDEF. They surveyed 1,200 people last July – 98% of respondents acknowledged that NS is crucial for national defence and for securing Singapore's peace and prosperity. When they presented these results to me, I tried very hard to poke holes in the methodology. I said these were the people that you knew would say that defence is important. The researcher was somewhat taken aback. He said "no", and he defended it very well. I kept probing him. And he was satisfied that his methodology was rigorous. I know of no issue in Singapore when 98% of your respondents give support. The Committee also engaged nearly 40,000 people from all walks of life to draw ideas as well as to find ways that we think we can improve.

I would say while the majority of Singaporeans support NS, many also said that the time committed to the SAF during full-time national service and in-camp training could be better utilised. I think that is fair comment. The SAF takes this criticism to heart because those who gave feedback were not asking for lighter loads or less involvement. They, in fact, wanted NS to better strengthen our national identity, social cohesion and instill discipline and values, which many Members of this House have echoed. They said that there should be less time wasted and more effective training systems. I agree that these are good outcomes, even if people are committed to NS, and that we should find ways to improve the system – seriously look at the system to see if we can improve. So, I asked the SAF to take a serious look, and let me share with Members some preliminary responses from the SAF.

We need and we can improve training, but we will need to employ more professional trainers, especially for the Army. Let me explain why. The current system has second year full-time NSmen train and lead new recruits and servicemen. You would have gone through it yourselves or you may have children and relatives who have gone through it. In other words, the older batch,

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second year NSF train and command the first year NS batch. I think there are merits in this. You really build commanders, you need leadership skills and build a sense of stakeholdership, ownership.

But there are limitations, compared to having professional trainers which will have greater impact on training outcomes, inculcating discipline, and more important, transmitting values. There is a limit to which what a 22-year-old NSF second year can transmit to a 21-year-old. Some of them do it very well and I am very proud of them. But we have to accept that there are limits. In fact, using only full-time regular trainers is how the commandos train their recruits in basic training. They have done that for years. All their trainers are professional trainers. So, for the basic military training centre, which I think your relatives and children go to, only one in six trainers are professional regulars. Of all the trainers, five are NS full-time, and one of them is a professional regular.

So, arising from the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS), the SAF has decided to employ more regulars as full-time trainers, as a career path. We are studying the details about how many we need, but we could employ as many as 1,100 more regulars to fill this vital role. This will increase the proportion of professional regular trainers in Basic Military Training Centre from one in six, to one in three, which is a significant improvement and which I think will strengthen the training of our NSmen.

Full-time Army trainers will make the training of NSmen more effective and efficient, possibly even shorten training duration. As quickly as I said that, let me quickly dispel unrealistic expectations. The number of in-camp training that NSmen have to perform will not be reduced. Let me say that, again – will not be reduced. The reason is this: we reduced it from 13 in-camp training to 10 in-camp training cycles in 2006. As many of you have pointed out, including Mr Ong Teng Koon, demographic challenges are there, and we need these 10 in-camp training cycles and those in MINDEF reserves to maintain the strength in our standing force. This will meet our defence needs, even with falling birth rates, until 2040.

The largest impact of employing more regular trainers will be on the training of our full-time NSmen. There can be some time savings because in the present system, some time is required for the second year NSF trainers to adapt themselves to the training environment in their units and training schools. Having regular trainers will smoothen this transition. But here, again, let me quell unrealistic expectations. The time savings will be a few weeks at most, if any. I am not making any promises here, because the Army has to study many details to ensure that we can continue to generate operationally ready units. If

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there are some time savings in terms of weeks, we will pass it on and we will operationalise it, but Army is under no pressure to deliver on that score.

However, there is an area which we can improve in, arising from the feedback, and that is to reduce the waiting time before enlistment. Many of you know this problem. The reason is because Singaporeans before enlistment have different education pathways. Some go to Junior Colleges, some go to Polytechnic and some go to ITE. They have different waiting times – some are longer than others. I asked the SAF to respond to this feedback, to develop a system where we can commit to all enlistees, except for some exceptions, that all of them can start their BMT and NS within a fixed timeframe, say, within four to five months. I think this is possible. But please remember that we are dealing with nearly 20,000 enlistees every year, so the logistics are very challenging. The Army is studying this seriously and expects to complete its detailed studies on the issues raised by the CSNS in the second half of this year.

The Committee also noted that many Singaporeans supported the idea of more women, first-generation PRs and new citizens volunteering for roles in national defence. The idea of an SAF Volunteer Corps for women, PRs and new citizens has gained wide acceptability. Mr Pritam Singh talked about his own session that he was involved in and we think that this is a very good idea that we will adopt. Second Minister Chan Chun Sing will speak more on this idea. Minister of State Maliki will also share ideas from the CSNS how we can enhance recognition and benefits for our NSmen.

Some of the Members have asked how we are good stewards of another precious resource, apart from dollars – land – and I agree with them. MINDEF is mindful to use land efficiently, given competing needs, which Dr Lim Wee Kiak and Ms Sylvia Lim asked about. This is why MINDEF and the SAF, on its own, undertook studies to relocate Paya Lebar Airbase. I want to remind everybody here that this will free up 800 hectares in Paya Lebar for redevelopment, as announced by the Prime Minister last year.

Where we can, we also train overseas. But we do need local land for training, which we optimise. The Multi Mission Range Complex (MMRC) is an example. We encourage Members to visit it. We will arrange for you to visit this Complex. The Multi Mission Range Complex houses seven ranges which can simulate both day and night conditions. It occupies the site of what used to be one single 100-m range. Seven ranges on one site.

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We consolidated our training into two main training areas – the live firing and manoeuvring areas in the West and the offshore training area in Pulau Tekong. We have intensified the use of our camps and equipped centres to fulfil operational, security and safety requirements.

Our security is also strengthened when we build up defence ties with other countries, as Ms Ellen Lee mentioned. With Malaysia, our Armed Forces cooperate regularly through bilateral exercises and joint activities, including the Malacca Strait Patrols and the Five Power Defence Arrangements. Last month, our two navies – the Malaysian and Singapore navies – commemorated the 30th anniversary of Exercise Malapura. My counterpart Dato' Seri Hishammuddin Hussein visited Singapore recently and we agreed to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation. With Indonesia, the warship naming episode has impacted bilateral relations and set back many years of relationship-building in defence ties. Yet, Singapore and Indonesia continue to share many common interests in maintaining regional peace and security. We want good defence ties with Indonesia. I hope that we can rebuild this important relationship, based on mutual trust and respect.

With the US, the rotational deployment of the US Navy's Littoral Combat Ships in Singapore began last year. Our close relations with the US have provided us with many benefits, such as access to high-end defence systems, which contribute to our capability as well as access to training space. I mentioned to Members that the training space in Arizona is many multiples of the whole of Singapore. Without these areas, we will be unable to hone or test our capabilities. We also welcome the US Secretary of Defence Hagel's reassurance that the US remains committed to this region.

With China, the SAF and the People's Liberation Army have regular professional exchanges. We attend each other's courses and port calls. Last year, when the PLA Navy called at Singapore, we took the opportunity to conduct a bilateral passage exercise. I look forward to working with the new Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan and the new PLA leadership. Our ties with partners, such as Brunei, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, India, France and Germany, also remain strong.

Mr Alvin Yeo asked for an update on the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus. The ADMM-Plus has made good progress. One example is the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise in Brunei last year where

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over 3,000 personnel from all 18 ADMM-Plus countries exercised in June last year.

Mr Alvin Yeo also asked about our international security efforts in the Gulf of Aden. We will deploy a fifth Task Group, comprising a frigate and a naval helicopter, to the Gulf of Aden, from March to June this year.

Madam, we build the SAF for an uncertain future with unknown risks and new challenges. But MINDEF is confident that as long as we have the strong support of Members of this House and Singaporeans, who are resolved to defend ourselves and willing to invest in building these capabilities, the SAF will be able to preserve our peace and protect our sovereignty. Second Minister Chan and Dr Maliki will address your remaining questions, as well as elaborate on the deliberations of their various CSNS Working Groups.

Mdm Chair, beyond military hardware, the strength of our defence and the SAF is founded on the support of our society and the fighting spirit of each and every Singaporean.

I chair the CSNS "Support for NS" Working Group. We take it as our starting point that societal support for NS, while very high now, should never be taken for granted. As Mr Sitoh Yih Pin said, support for NS has to be reinforced and continuously strengthened, especially in times of peace. For what we do today will determine what we can achieve tomorrow. The commitment of the previous generation defined the SAF of today. The commitment of this generation will define the SAF of the future.

To strengthen community support for NS, we will look into restructuring the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence, or ACCORD, as we call it. MINDEF intends to strengthen ACCORD's outreach with various groups, especially with employers or businesses, schools, families and the community at large.

For partnership with employers and businesses, we desire to work closely with trade associations and business chambers in the different sectors to find specific ideas to better support NSmen in balancing their work commitments and their duties to our nation.

We will also review the Total Defence Awards to recognise organisations which have gone the extra mile to demonstrate their support for NS. These will

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include employers, businesses, schools and community organisations.

During the CSNS discussions, it was heartening to hear much feedback and many ideas on how MINDEF can provide more avenues for more Singaporeans to come forth and serve our defence needs. MINDEF is seriously working on the proposal for a new SAF Volunteer Corps. This will allow the broader community – in particular, women, new citizens and first generation PRs – to better understand and contribute to our defence.

The proposed SAF Volunteer Corps should harness the different skills of the volunteers to complement our defence capabilities. Volunteers with expertise in specific areas, like healthcare, communications and psychology, could be given opportunities to serve in their respective specialist areas. Others who wish to serve in other military functions, like Protection of Installations or Access Control as part of our Island Defence, could be trained as necessary for these operations.

MINDEF will also look into developing basic modules to impart relevant basic military skills and values to all volunteers. Specific training will then be conducted according to operational needs. In order for meaningful contributions to be made, volunteers could commit to performing various operational duties for a certain period of time.

Madam, when I speak to NSmen, they often tell me that they are not afraid of hard work or more work. They want, more than anything else, meaningful work. In fact, many of them would want their potential to be fully realised. We can take pride that we have come a long way since the early days of NS, where one might be advised by concerned parents to do the minimum necessary and never to volunteer for more.

MINDEF will look into this feedback to see how we can increase the leadership opportunities for our people to do more, in more meaningful ways, and to do justice to the potential of our people. Indeed, the operational demands of the SAF have evolved. Increasingly, operations are now much more decentralised, necessitating stronger small unit leadership. More advance technology also requires better trained operators and leaders.

These are opportunities for us to better match each serviceman's background potential and interests with the operational needs of the SAF. A system that allows us to build on the potential of our soldiers will certainly be

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stronger than a system that deconstruct and then reconstruct them.

MINDEF will also want to strengthen our qualification system for employers to better appreciate the skills and leadership qualities of our NSmen. This will not only help NSmen in their job market, but also provide meaningful recognition for their efforts during NS.

Mdm Chair, Mr Gerald Giam asked about the prudent use of our NSmen resources.

MINDEF appreciates that we are stewards of our nation's most important resource and, that is, our NSmen. We have spoken about optimising the talent and contribution of our NSmen above. Let me now touch on optimisation of training time, which we recognise is a premium for all of us.

Take, for example, call-ups and in-processing for In-Camp Training (ICT). MINDEF has, over the years, refined the call-up system according to operational needs. Only NSmen needed for a specific set of duties are called up for that specific timeframe that they are needed, and no more. For example, for planning of ICTs and Mobilisation Exercises, only relevant Commanders are called up prior to ensure the smooth planning and execution before the main body comes in for training. For Mr Giam's information, this system has been in place for many years.

On the day of the in-processing, what used to take half a day or more, will now require less than an hour to complete. Many NSmen have given feedback that, in the past, they would come in and have about half a day just to adjust to the new environment before training commenced. Nowadays, they would have in-processed, completed their unit route march with full battle order before lunch time. I am not sure if this is a compliment or complaint.

Last year, at the Committee of Supply 2013, I shared with Members of the House how we used to conduct mobilisation and equipping over the entire day or night. Now we take the same time to do everything that was done previously, plus many more things like refresher training – all within the same time budget. MINDEF will continue to refine our processes and leverage on IT to optimise the use of our NSmen's time, without compromising safety and operational effectiveness.

The Multi-Mission Range Complex (MMRC) that the Minister talked about is another investment that MINDEF has made to maximise our NSmen's

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training time and also to optimise our land use, as suggested by Dr Lim Wee Kiak. We combined seven ranges into one single complex. What used to take almost two days and two nights for a 500-men unit, can now be done in slightly just under a day. In addition, new training proficiencies, like shooting under different environment conditions – day or night, urban or jungle terrain, or different operational scenarios – can now all be done faster and with better and more immediate feedback.

MINDEF will soon launch the Murai Urban Live Fire Facility to strengthen our units' live fire competencies in an urban environment. Previously, we could only allow up to a section of seven men to conduct urban live fire training. In the future, we will be able to train a company size force of more than 100 men in an urban live fire environment, operating in an integrated manner with support fires from tanks and armoured personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles and all these done with facilities to provide immediate feedback to help our soldiers and units improve their performance.

Ms Sylvia Lim asked about the benefits of outsourcing and security controls. MINDEF outsources certain non-operational roles selectively to free up manpower for critical operational roles. For example, basic driver training is outsourced because we can tap on the civilian learner-driver market. However, vocational and combat driving is maintained under the core competencies of the SAF.

All sub-contractors are subject to the necessary security and safety requirements. For example, the contractors working at the MMRC, where weapons and live ammunition are involved, would be subject to an even higher level of security clearance. All contracts have their respective series of performance indicators that contractors must meet.

Mdm Chair, let me now update Members of the House on the SAF's training safety system.

Last year, Dr Ng announced the formation of the Safety and Systems Review Directorate to conduct safety and systemic reviews on MINDEF and SAF. This Directorate has been established since June last year with a mix of ex-military and civilian officers.

The Directorate has also convened an External Review Panel for SAF Safety since October 2013, comprising experts from outside the SAF. The panel has since reviewed the safety practices at the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC),

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Officer Cadet School (OCS) and Specialist Cadet School (SCS). They have found the SAF safety system to be robust. They have also made useful recommendations to help check our blind spots. For example, they have recommended that as much attention be paid to the psychological well-being of our soldiers as to their physical safety. They will continue to review the safety systems and practices of more units in the coming year. We will constantly and continually ensure that we stay vigilant and make sure that we continue to check our blind spots.

We have also commenced the deployment of Unit Safety Officers in every unit. As ex-Regulars with experience, they will help strengthen our system by imparting their knowledge and experiences to new and junior commanders. They will also complement the "external pair of eyes" from the inspectors beyond the unit.

Madam, safety depends as much on robust system as our people's constant vigilance. There are inherent risks in all military operations and training. We can never eliminate all risks but we must certainly reduce everything to a minimum possible. We have to get it right, first time, every time and all the time. A momentary slip of concentration or ill-discipline can have fatal consequences on one's life and one's buddy's life.

There were no training-related fatalities in 2013. This is not a sign that we have arrived. But this is a sign of how much we need to do and how intensely we need to focus our efforts to get things right and stay that way.

In response to Mr Alex Yam's question, the number of training incidents is about the same between 2012 and 2013. The number of near misses reported has increased by about 60%.

May I now invite Dr Maliki to speak on the CSNS efforts and initiatives arising from the "Recognition and Benefits for NS" Work Group, and the Total Defence Campaign.

Madam, I thank Mr Ong Teng Koon, Mr Gerald Giam and Mr Pritam Singh for asking what more can MINDEF/SAF do to recognise the contributions of our NSmen. Over the years, we have shown our appreciation to NSmen in different ways, such as the National Service Bonus, the NSman Tax Relief and the National Service Recognition Award (NSRA). Many NSmen have benefited from these schemes. For example, the NSRA has already benefited 210,000 NSmen

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to date.

As part of the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS), I chair the "Recognition and Benefits for National Service (NS)" Working Group to address how MINDEF and SAF can better recognise the contributions of our NSmen. We have spoken to many NSmen as well as Singaporeans from all walks of life, and are at our final stages of evaluating the feedback and suggestions, including enhancing our existing recognition schemes like the NSRA, for example, to better recognise our NSmen in the area of healthcare.

When we commemorated the 45th anniversary of NS in 2012, MINDEF also offered SAFRA benefits in the form of vouchers and club memberships. I am pleased to report that more than 80% of NSmen have redeemed some $43 million worth of the SAFRA vouchers, and about 400,000 NSmen have taken up the free membership offered.

With increased membership and as part of our continuing efforts to recognise our NSmen, I am pleased to announce that the construction of a new SAFRA clubhouse in Punggol will commence in the middle of this year. This will add close to 20,000 square metres of additional recreational spaces for our NSmen and their families to enjoy and bond. When completed, NSmen and their families will have convenient access to quality lifestyle facilities at six SAFRA clubs located island-wide. We will also be redeveloping SAFRA Tampines to include new sports and other exciting facilities, and also studying the feasibility of a new SAFRA clubhouse in the northwestern part of Singapore, to expand further the variety of offerings to more than 540,000 NSmen and their families who are SAFRA members today.

Mr Giam has suggested that NSmen who take on extra responsibilities be specially appreciated. We are heartened that Mr Giam shares our sentiments. In recognition of their efforts, these NSmen have been given an additional allowance since 1983. This is reviewed periodically and MINDEF will continue to look into other ways to recognise the contributions of these NSmen.

However, as we explore how MINDEF and SAF can continue to offer more recognition to our NSmen, it is also important for other stakeholders to do their part in showing recognition to our NSmen. Employers, families, communities – there is much that each can do to send a clear message that NS is a critical institution and its success, including showing recognition, is everyone's

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responsibility.

This shared responsibility and the commitment of all Singaporeans to defence were highlighted by Ms Irene Ng and Mr Ong Teng Koon. MINDEF continues to engage all Singaporeans to strengthen their support for defence. The CSNS is only the latest in our series of engagement efforts over the years. We have been engaging ACCORD members, grassroots leaders, employers, trade union leaders, overseas Singaporeans, new citizens and others through various activities, to keep them updated on NS and defence-related issues. For example, we arranged for more than 260 different stakeholders and their family members, and more than 10,000 students, to visit the Singapore Airshow in February 2014. In November 2013, the Navy@Vivo also attracted around 31,000 visitors. Such outreach efforts aim to enable Singaporeans to experience first-hand the capabilities of the SAF, particularly also the competence of our NSFs and NSmen. In collaboration with MOE under the SAF-Schools Partnership Programme, we have also reached out to almost 70,000 students from 30 schools through various activities since 2010. Hopefully, these activities do give the boys a good preview of the SAF before their enlistment, thereby increasing their level of commitment when they get enlisted and, for the girls, we hope to give them a better understanding of what their friends and family members go through during NS.

MINDEF has continuously sought new communication and engagement initiatives to bring the SAF closer to the hearts and minds of Singaporeans. On the social media front, our cyberpioneerTV YouTube channel, and the Army, Navy and Air Force Facebook pages have attracted strong followings. It is heart-warming to read some of the personal reflections on these Facebook pages. Let me share with the House one such post made by LTA(NS) Davis Koh Han Rong, who is currently a University student, on the Army Facebook last year: "I am grateful for the Army that has transformed me to who I am today... Ever a day the button is pressed, I will be ready to stand forth and protect this place I call home."

Many Members will be familiar with PIONEER magazine, which was started in 1969. PIONEER continues to reach out to 180,000 subscribers each month. Over the years, we have refreshed the magazine to make it more relevant and informative. We have also shared its content on our social media channels to extend its reach and help us engage our audience. Members will also be familiar with the BMT web reality series "Every Singaporean Son", and may be pleased to know that MediaCorp will be telecasting the series on Channel 5 later this year. Entertainment aside, these efforts create a strong emotive resonance that allows all members of the public to understand the need for defence, the SAF

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and NS.

We are extremely heartened that Singaporeans' commitment to NS and defence remains high. According to the October 2013 survey conducted by NUS' Institute of Policy Studies, more than 98% of respondents agreed that NS is necessary for Singapore's defence. Surveys aside, we have also witnessed different members of the community expressing their support for our NSmen in their own ways, ranging from the 21 retailers who offered exclusive promotions to all SAF servicemen during SAF Day last year, to bloggers, such as Darryl Kang, who saluted online those who have contributed to national defence, and an unnamed female student who gave PTE Yang Hui a thank-you note for his service to the nation whilst on a bus earlier this month. MINDEF will not take this support for granted and we will continue to expand our engagement efforts to further strengthen Singaporeans' commitment to defence.

Madam, we agree with Ms Irene Ng and Mr Ong Teng Koon that Singapore's defence depends on Singaporeans taking personal responsibility and getting involved in our defence. Mr Ong and Mr Alex Yam asked how Total Defence remains relevant and how MINDEF engages the public on Total Defence. This year marks our 30th anniversary of Total Defence. Over the last 30 years, we have seen and have been confronted with a variety of challenges, including the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-2008, the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the potential terrorist threats post-9/11. In all these instances, we witnessed Total Defence in action. Total Defence has stayed relevant because it has adapted to changing circumstances. Because everyone played a part, we were able to overcome all these adversities.

But as we move forward, a new generation of Singaporeans will need to take ownership of Total Defence. For the younger generation, their memories do not stretch to World War II and Konfrontasi, events that many could read about only in textbooks and the Internet. While these events remain vivid in the minds of our Pioneer Generation, it may not be so for our younger generation. Of course, we must not allow these memories to fizzle away. But we must also recognise that our younger generation will have their experiences and memories that will be etched in their own minds. We must ensure that these experiences continue to have relevance to Total Defence, given that the younger generation now exists in an increasingly unpredictable world and that the next crisis could be just around the corner.

How Singaporeans responded to the haze crisis last year gives us clues of how our younger generation views and is capable of managing Total Defence.

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We witnessed how many young Singaporeans stepped forward to help fellow Singaporeans. Some groups set up Facebook pages to encourage Singaporeans to share resources, such as masks and air purifiers, while others distributed masks and herbal tea to the less fortunate.

Similarly, when asked to share their takes on Total Defence via an animation clip for our annual N.E.mation! competition for students, I was impressed by how many of the teams went the extra mile for their projects and also how thoughtful their messages were. Many of the students' stories revolved around helping people in need and initiating actions to strengthen our society. This sense of community is integral to Total Defence today.

The path of reflection and self-discovery taken by these students must be integral to Total Defence as we move forward, as every generation of Singaporeans must also discover for themselves what Total Defence means for them. On MINDEF's part, to strengthen support for Total Defence, we will continue to reach out to the younger generation and other sectors of society through more "experiential" and "reflective" forms of engagement. Indeed, Total Defence must be a daily experience of every Singaporean.

In this year's Total Defence campaign, which is themed "30 Years of Total Defence: Because You Played a Part", we featured stories of everyday Singaporeans who have contributed to Total Defence in their own way. For instance, Mr Lin Chin Heng, who was once a troubled youth, is today a mentor to other troubled teenagers. Or the senior SMRT bus captain, Mr Suppiramaniam, who unfailingly greets all his passengers and remembers the names of his regulars.

These are everyday Singaporeans doing what they consider to be ordinary things, but the outcome for the community is anything but ordinary. Their stories were featured at an interactive Total Defence exhibition at the National Museum last month and were also published in a commemorative book. These stories will also be showcased at some of our public libraries over the next few months. We hope that these ordinary Singaporeans with extraordinary hearts will be inspirations for others to do their part, daily, for Total Defence. Some of these materials are in the bags that you have received.

Let me conclude by sharing a quote from a young Singaporean taken from the reflection wall we put up at the National Museum during the Total Defence exhibition this year, which I found very encouraging. Ms Lee Li Wen, a 21-year-old student wrote, "Singapore is home to me and I love her dearly. I am glad

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that my parents and the public are taking the time to make meaning of Total Defence Day. Indeed, we protect what we love."

This tells us that the younger generation shares the conviction that Total Defence continues to be relevant and important to Singapore. It also gives us confidence to, together, build an even stronger Singapore. Total Defence has evolved and it will continue to evolve. It is up to each generation of Singaporeans to take ownership of Total Defence and infuse it with fresh purpose. But what will not change is Total Defence as a personal and collective commitment to defend our home and our way of life.

Chairman, I have two questions for the Defence Minister. Before that, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Minister of State, Dr Maliki Osman, on the passing of his father two days ago. I thank him for being here to answer our questions during this difficult time for him.

Questions for the Minister: China's increased defence spending of 12.2% this year comes at a time when it is taking a more assertive stance in territorial disputes in this region. It also comes at a time when the US is cutting back on its defence spending.

Can I ask the Minister for his assessment, first, on the impact of these trends on regional security, given the rising tensions over territorial disputes in this region; and, second, the impact on our defence planning and strategies, especially defence diplomacy on how to build more confidence and trust among emerging powers and established powers during this historic juncture?

Madam, that is an excellent question because that is exactly how we have to approach our defence plan over one decade and beyond. There is a level of certainty in which we decide based on security requirements that we can plan. But always at the back of your mind, there is a significant degree of uncertainty that you have to be able to adapt your forces to respond.

I mentioned that within the last decade, whether it was 9-11 which no one predicted; whether Afghanistan or piracy or the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts after the Indian Ocean tsunami, Typhoon Haiyan,

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so on and so forth, despite the uncertainties, we are able to configure our units to respond.

Ms Irene Ng asked an important question: how does the trajectory of others impact Singapore's defence planning. We are fairly well positioned because we have had this steady investment in our planning so that we do not have to make any sudden jumps, even if, for example, defence spending increases in our region. That is a significant benefit of having a longer-term horizon. We take the trajectory which I mentioned: keeping up more or less with inflation at this level is the right level for the foreseeable decades.

Obviously, if something happens, another incident like 9-11 where you have increased risk, we have to increase spending, then we have to. Barring those unforeseen and precipitous events, I think we will keep our current defence trajectory.

Madam, I have one clarification for the Second Minister concerning the outsourcing of functions that he responded to earlier. He mentioned that each contractor is given a performance indicator to meet. I note that in the Auditor-General's Report for FY2012, they did note, under MINDEF, one case of lapse when it came to managing this logistics contractor. They stated that the basis for measuring the contractor's performance was not actually agreed while the contract was in force. In other words, there was some disagreement between MINDEF and the contractor about what needed to be done and how it was to be measured. I would like to ask the Minister whether the Ministry has actually done any review on whether there are any other such cases and whether they are tightening up on this aspect.

Mdm Chair, let me respond to Ms Sylvia Lim's question. Yes, we have taken account of the Auditor-General's comment. The larger point that the Member made is an important one, which is, that whatever that can be written in the letter of the law must also be interpreted according to the spirit that we want it to be. Given the many contracts, there will be cases like this but we want to keep it to the minimum, if not to eliminate this altogether.

Where there are contestations about interpretation of what it is, we will work through with the contractors, first and foremost, to make sure that they understand what exactly we need them to achieve in terms of performance indicators. Only as a last resort will we go for the legal recourse because we want to develop a long-term relationship with the respective contractors. MINDEF regularly and routinely scrutinises all our contracts with the existing

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contractors and this will give us important lessons to plan for future contracts whenever we have new contracts with other contractors.

Mdm Chair, again, our condolences to Minister of State Dr Maliki in this time of bereavement. Two questions for the Second Minister. One is in response to my question on the safety regime. The Minister stated that there was a 60% increase in near misses. Just to clarify whether this was because we now have a stricter regime and not because there are more incidences of being careless during training.

The second is with regard to the SAF Volunteer Corps and other CSNS proposals. Would the Second Minister be able to share with us when more specific details will be made available?

Mdm Chairman, let me respond to the first question. Let me clarify that the increase is due to the increased command emphasis to have more incidents reported. So, there is a 60% increase in the reporting in the first half of last year, compared to the year before. But the number of training incidents, non-fatal training incidents, has remained the same between 2012 and 2013, which is between 67 and 68 respectively.

We were fortunate not to have any training fatality last year, but, as I mentioned in my speech, this requires tremendous effort. This requires us to be constantly on our guard and we hope to keep it that way. Having said that, we recognise that all military operations will have inherent risks. Our job, and the job of all commanders, is to make sure that we minimise the risk to the lowest possible, even though we cannot eliminate them altogether.

On the second question about the SAF Volunteer Corps, we will be providing more details on this in the next two months when the CSNS report is submitted to MINDEF.