Defence & foreign affairs — Topics

7 Oct 2019

Measures to Cope with Haze and Air Pollution

Singapore employs a multi-pronged approach combining diplomatic efforts with ASEAN countries, regional cooperation through the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre, and enforcement via the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) to hold companies accountable for haze, though no prosecutions have occurred to date due to evidentiary challenges.
The government provides public health protection measures, including daily air quality advisories, distribution of N95 masks to vulnerable groups when the Pollutant Standards Index is very unhealthy, and equipping schools with air purifiers, while noting that cloud-seeding is not considered reliable for Singapore.
Singapore encourages sustainable practices through consumer and financial sector initiatives, such as green labelling schemes and responsible financing guidelines, to disincentivise slash-and-burn methods and reduce haze recurrence, alongside assessing the economic impact of haze episodes on health, education, and business.

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7 Oct 2019

Plans for Bilateral Military Co-operation with China

Singapore and China have active and growing defence ties, with recent joint Army and Navy exercises including the flagship Exercise Cooperation and an ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise using Singapore’s IRIS system.
High-level engagement is frequent, with visits by military commanders and defence officials from both sides, including China’s Defence Minister attending the Shangri-La Dialogue and Singapore’s Minister attending the Beijing Xiangshan Forum.
Both countries have agreed to deepen defence cooperation, with plans to enhance the Agreement on Defence Exchanges and Security Cooperation to formalize dialogues and expand joint exercises.
The two defence establishments are exploring ways to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Singapore-China diplomatic relations in 2020 through bilateral exercises like Exercise Maritime Cooperation and Exercise Cooperation.
The overall goal is to build trust and maintain regional stability through continued military cooperation, reflecting mutual confidence and shared interests.

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7 Oct 2019

Review of Screening Procedures for Foreign Domestic Workers Arriving in Singapore

Rahayu Mahzam questioned the need to review screening procedures for foreign domestic workers following recent Internal Security Act detentions and asked about enhancing employer awareness of radicalisation signs.
K Shanmugam stated that existing screening measures exist but cannot detect post-arrival radicalisation, emphasising the need for vigilance and cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies.
He highlighted the community's role, including employers, in identifying behavioral changes and extremist ideologies, and mentioned MHA-MOM collaboration on employer advisories and counter-terrorism training for workers.

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7 Oct 2019

Lessons from Drone Attack on Oil Facilities in Saudi Arabia

The Minister outlined a wide spectrum of drone threats, from sophisticated long-range weaponized drones to simple retail drones that can disrupt air traffic, and emphasized the need for layered, cost-effective responses across multiple agencies.
Singapore’s air defences have been enhanced with early-warning systems like the G550 AEW aircraft and upgraded ground-based systems such as the SPYDER and ASTER-30 to counter military-grade drone threats.
For mid-level threats, the SAF deploys additional sensors and counter-measures during high-risk events, while agencies like MHA, MOT, and CAAS handle specific domains like airport security and major events.
The government is implementing regulations, deterrent penalties, and working with the drone industry to embed geofencing technology, while encouraging cooperation from hobbyist communities to reduce unauthorized flights.
The response stresses a sustainable, proportionate approach that matches counter-measures to the threat level, continuously learning from global incidents to plug gaps in Singapore’s defence.

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2 Sep 2019

Measures Taken to Minimise Impact of Recent Indonesian Forest Fires

The National Environment Agency (NEA) is monitoring air quality and issuing daily advisories, while an inter-agency Haze Task Force coordinates action plans to mitigate haze effects in Singapore.
Singapore collaborates with ASEAN countries through the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre to share forecasts, has set aside $5 million for regional support, and notes Indonesia's efforts have reduced haze in recent years.
Despite drier conditions increasing haze risk, Singapore and other ASEAN members reaffirmed commitment to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and will meet in October 2019 to assess progress toward a haze-free ASEAN by 2020.

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2 Sep 2019

Update on Training Accident Death of Corporal First Class Liu Kai

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked whether any persons should be held responsible for the training accident death of Corporal First Class Liu Kai and if disciplinary or legal proceedings would be taken.
Ng Eng Hen stated that MINDEF cannot provide a reply because police investigations into the death have not yet been concluded.

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2 Sep 2019

Provisions for Singapore Government Vessels, Aircraft and Resources to Assist Malaysian Authorities in Search and Rescue Operations in Malaysian Territorial Waters Near Singapore

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira questioned the Minister for Foreign Affairs about existing provisions for Singapore Government vessels, aircraft, and resources to assist Malaysian authorities in search and rescue (SAR) operations in Malaysian territorial waters near Singapore, the extent of such provisions, and whether they would be reviewed following the recent case of two Singaporean kayakers lost near Mersing, Malaysia.
Minister Vivian Balakrishnan expressed condolences to the families of the two Singaporean kayakers who went missing on 8 August 2019, detailing the Malaysian-led SAR operation that lasted 10 days and involved significant resources, and noted that Singapore offered assistance through the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) but it was not taken up.
The Minister confirmed that long-standing arrangements exist for Singapore to assist Malaysian authorities in SAR operations, subject to permission from the responsible country, and highlighted that Singapore coordinated consular support, alerted regional counterparts, and issued maritime safety broadcasts during the incident.
He expressed gratitude to Malaysian authorities and citizens for their intensive efforts and emphasized the strong bilateral ties between Singapore and Malaysia in such emergencies, while reminding Singaporeans to e-register with MFA and prepare safety plans when engaging in overseas outdoor activities.
The debate underscored the commitment to maintaining close cooperation with foreign counterparts for SAR operations and the importance of personal responsibility when participating in high-risk activities abroad.

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6 Aug 2019

Advice to Singaporeans Working in Hong Kong Given Recent Street Protests There

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised Singaporeans in Hong Kong to avoid protest areas, stay vigilant, monitor local media and consular updates, and ensure comprehensive travel insurance, noting that peaceful protests could turn violent unexpectedly.
There are approximately 15,000 Singaporeans residing in Hong Kong, with about 3,000 registered with the Ministry, and no reports of Singaporeans being directly affected or injured by the protests so far.
The Ministry confirmed that registered Singaporeans include students on scholarships and those in educational institutions, but it does not track their activities, using registration only for outreach and consular assistance.

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5 Aug 2019

Objectives and Significance of Framework for Co-operation across Indo-Pacific Region Endorsed at ASEAN Summit

The framework, known as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, was adopted to ensure ASEAN maintains its strategic autonomy and Centrality amid complex geopolitical dynamics, avoiding being drawn into great power rivalry.
It is a living document designed to reinforce the existing ASEAN-led regional architecture, such as the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum, by providing a cohesive ASEAN response to external Indo-Pacific proposals.
The Outlook is underpinned by three key principles: ASEAN Centrality and unity, regional economic development and connectivity, and upholding a rules-based order anchored in international law, all vital for Singapore's survival and prosperity.

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5 Aug 2019

Singapore’s Abstention from Vote on International Labour Organization's Convention on Workplace Violence and Harassment

Singapore abstained from voting on the ILO Convention 190 due to concerns over provisions like including domestic violence in workplace risk assessments, which it views as overreach, while supporting the non-binding accompanying Recommendation.
The government emphasized that Singapore only ratifies treaties aligned with its interests and laws, citing improvements already in place such as Tripartite Guidelines and TAFEP for handling workplace harassment, without needing the Convention.
Within Singapore's tripartite delegation, employers voted against the Convention, unions supported it in solidarity, and the government abstained, reflecting differing views while maintaining coordinated positions.

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8 Jul 2019

Discussion on Rohingya Issue at ASEAN Summit

At the ASEAN Summit, Singapore’s Foreign Minister provided an update on the Preliminary Needs Assessment for Rakhine State, focusing on the readiness of reception centres and the need for ASEAN to support Myanmar’s repatriation efforts in a safe, voluntary, and dignified manner.
The security situation in Rakhine State has deteriorated due to clashes between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, and ASEAN urged all parties to avoid further violence to allow humanitarian assistance to reach those in need.
Regarding the Rohingya children in Bangladesh, the Minister noted that while temporary education and welfare support exists, their future remains uncertain without a permanent political solution, and ASEAN stresses the need for Myanmar to address the root causes of the conflict.

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8 Jul 2019

Take-up Rate by Employers for MINDEF's Direct Reimbursement Claims System

The Direct Reimbursement Scheme, which allows employers to be reimbursed by MINDEF for salaries paid during NS training, currently has a 45% take-up rate among employers, having increased by 7 percentage points over the past three years.
MINDEF is enhancing the scheme to address challenges and improve the take-up rate, such as integrating the Make-up Pay e-Service with CorpPass to simplify the claims process for employers.
Employers are encouraged to register for the scheme via the NS Portal to streamline their make-up pay processes for national servicemen employees.

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8 May 2019

Impact to Singapore from Development of Ship-to-Ship Transfer Hub at Johor's Tanjung Pelepas Port

Singapore has requested and is awaiting detailed information from Malaysia on the ship-to-ship transfer hub project in the Straits of Johor to ensure it does not encroach on Singapore’s territorial waters.
The project appears focused on petroleum product storage and trading, not container operations, but Singapore is concerned about its implications for navigation safety and trans-boundary environmental impact.
A full assessment of the project’s impact on Singapore port operations can only be conducted once Malaysia provides the necessary details.

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8 May 2019

State of Bilateral Relations with Malaysia following 9th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders' Retreat

Following the 9th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders' Retreat, both countries agreed to de-escalate tensions by mutually suspending overlapping port limits and will soon begin negotiations on maritime boundaries through a joint committee.
Both sides reaffirmed the 1962 Water Agreement, with Singapore stating Malaysia has no right to review water pricing, while also highlighting concerns over river pollution in Johor that could threaten water supply sustainability.
Malaysia and Singapore agreed to suspend the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link and the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail projects for review, and will work to implement GPS-based procedures for Seletar Airport approaches.

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7 May 2019

Quality of Raw Water for Singapore’s Water Treatment Plants in Johor

Since 2017, seven pollution incidents on the Johor River have temporarily shut down Singapore’s Johor River Waterworks, with the most recent in April 2019 due to high ammonia levels, typically lasting hours to days.
Singapore has raised concerns with Malaysia at federal and state levels about the recurring pollution, which disrupts water supply for both countries and may affect Singapore’s obligation to supply treated water to Johor.
During disruptions, Singapore coordinates with Johor authorities to flush the river and resumes operations only after stringent water quality tests, while boosting local water production to meet demand.
Singapore and Johor authorities collaborate closely for early alerts on contamination, though Singapore has no direct control over land use or factory waste in Johor’s catchment area.
The mitigation plan involves continued diplomatic engagement with Malaysia to prevent future pollution incidents and ensure the river’s water quality for both nations.

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6 May 2019

Human Trafficking Syndicate within ASEAN Targeting Rohingya People

The Minister for Foreign Affairs stated there is no specific information on human trafficking syndicates operating within ASEAN targeting displaced people from Rakhine State, though aware of trafficking reports among refugees in Cox's Bazar.
ASEAN supports efforts to create conducive conditions for the repatriation of refugees and has sent a needs assessment team to Rakhine State through the AHA Centre.
The situation is complicated by armed conflict in northern Rakhine State, and ASEAN emphasizes the responsibility of the Myanmar government and stakeholders to find a durable political solution.

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6 May 2019

Role of Government in Export Sales of Weapons and Ammunition by Singapore Technologies Land Systems

Sylvia Lim questioned the government's role in advising or restricting Singapore Technologies Land Systems on arms exports, particularly regarding risks of war crimes or violations of international law.
Minister Ng Eng Hen stated that all weapon exports require an exit permit from Singapore Customs under the Strategic Goods (Control) Act.
Export permits are issued only if shipments comply with Singapore's international obligations, including UN Security Council Resolutions and ratified agreements.
This includes measures to prevent illicit arms trade and prohibit exports to specific countries under sanctions.

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6 May 2019

Singaporeans or PRs Involved in Easter Sunday Bombings in Sri Lanka

Minister K Shanmugam confirmed there were no Singaporeans or Permanent Residents among the casualties in the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, though a Singapore-based British lawyer and her children were killed.
The minister outlined key lessons, including the need for international intelligence cooperation, swift security responses, and enhanced security measures for public and religious venues.
He emphasised the importance of community preparedness through SGSecure, strict action against radicalisation and hate speech, and safeguarding Singapore’s racial and religious harmony.

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6 May 2019

Processing Time for Make-up Pay for In-camp Training

Dennis Tan questioned the 10-day processing time for NSmen make-up pay during in-camp training and asked if it could be reduced.
Ng Eng Hen explained that the 10-day period is used to verify training attendance to ensure accountability, though payments are often processed faster—within five days for Low Key ICTs and seven for High Key ICTs.
The Ministry regularly reviews systems to improve efficiency and encourages employers to use the DIRECT scheme for quicker reimbursement.

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6 May 2019

Impact on Singapore of Prolonged Stoppage of Water Treatment at Johor Plant

In the event of a prolonged stoppage at the Johor River Waterworks, Singapore would step up production at desalination plants and local waterworks to meet domestic demand, while Johor's water supply would also be impacted due to shared reliance on the river.
Singapore has no obligation to supply treated water to Johor during such disruptions, as the 1962 Water Agreement only requires Singapore to sell treated water up to 2% of its daily imports from Johor, a limit already exceeded on goodwill.
Frequent pollution incidents, traced to illegal discharges in Johor, have caused temporary shutdowns of the Johor River Waterworks, prompting Singapore to raise concerns with Malaysian authorities and collaborate on flushing polluted water.
Singapore continues to engage Malaysia to address the root causes of pollution and prevent future incidents, emphasizing the shared impact on both countries' water security.

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