Defence & foreign affairs — Topics

20 Jan 2014

Singapore and ASEAN's Response to Help Victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan

Singapore deployed two RSAF C-130 aircrafts and an SCDF team to deliver relief supplies and support UN-coordinated efforts in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan.
The Singapore government donated S$200,000 to kick-start the Singapore Red Cross’ fundraising, which raised S$9.4 million, while NGOs and local groups also organized humanitarian efforts.
Singapore directly provided potable water and medical supplies to the Philippines based on its urgent needs, complementing the initial relief flights.
ASEAN, through the AHA Centre, sent an emergency team to assess the situation and coordinate relief efforts before the typhoon made landfall.
ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh visited affected areas to discuss further contributions, and Singapore pledged continued bilateral and regional support for the Philippines’ reconstruction.

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20 Jan 2014

Impact of China's Declaration of Air Defence Identification Zone on Singapore

Pritam Singh sought clarification on whether Singapore's interests were affected by China's Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) and the prospects of a similar ADIZ over the Spratly Islands, correcting a typo that the zone was in the East China Sea rather than the South China Sea.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs requested that the question be re-filed due to the typo, as the government had prepared its answer based on the original wording regarding the South China Sea.
The Speaker noted the amendment and allowed the question to be re-filed, moving the debate forward to the next speaker.

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12 Nov 2013

Stating Preferred Vocations for National Service

Mary Liew proposed allowing National Servicemen to state preferred vocations, prioritizing maritime graduates for navy shipboard roles, and recognizing shipboard service as part of National Service for seafaring graduates.
The Minister responded that the SAF considers aptitude and preference in deployments, with the Committee to Strengthen National Service exploring expanded vocation options while maintaining defense capabilities, but rejected recognizing civilian shipboard service as NS as inequitable.
The Minister noted that maritime qualifications are already considered for Republic of Singapore Navy deployments, and the RSN collaborates with the Maritime and Port Authority to recognize sea time for professional certifications.
Mary Liew followed up by asking if sea time on navy ships could count toward seafaring graduates' Certificate of Competency, to which the Minister confirmed the RSN already does this and works with the MPA.
The Minister emphasized that recognizing sea time aligns with the RSN's interest in deploying qualified National Servicemen who are likely to pursue maritime careers, with some already serving in roles requiring professional qualifications.

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12 Nov 2013

Disruption in National Service for Tertiary Education

Mr Baey Yam Keng questioned why National Servicemen enrolling in SUTD, SIT, UniSIM, LASALLE, and NAFA cannot disrupt National Service and asked for a policy review.
The Minister for Defence explained that disruption is granted on an equity basis to align with peers and applies to institutions funded by MOE or that confer their own degrees, including SUTD, SIT, LASALLE, NAFA, and UniSIM once it confers degrees.
Mr Baey sought clarification on whether the eligibility criterion is "and/or" for MOE funding and self-conferred degrees, and if specific courses at these institutions are excluded from disruption.
The Minister confirmed the "and/or" basis and said disruption is granted for full-time degrees at these institutions, with no known course exclusions, and offered to address specific cases if raised.

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11 Nov 2013

Recent Bombing Incidents in Myanmar

Nicholas Fang questioned if recent bombings in Myanmar threaten its upcoming ASEAN chairmanship, highlighting concerns over security and regional stability.
Minister K Shanmugam described the bombings as deplorable but affirmed Myanmar's awareness of its responsibilities and ongoing preparations for the chairmanship.
Singapore expressed full confidence in Myanmar's ability to ensure security and pledged continued support and cooperation with other ASEAN members for a successful chairmanship.

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11 Nov 2013

Implications of Recent Phone Spying Scandals on Singapore

Ms Tan Su Shan inquired about the implications of recent US-EU phone spying incidents on Singapore’s national security.
Minister K Shanmugam acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and confirmed close monitoring of developments.
The government declined to comment on unverified or speculative media reports.
Security agencies have informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that they are vigilantly tracking any potential security implications for Singapore.
Appropriate actions will be taken if necessary to safeguard national interests.

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21 Oct 2013

International Child Abduction Act since Its Enactment

Ms Ellen Lee inquired about the International Child Abduction Act’s implementation, including which contracting states Singapore’s central authority has contacted for child returns, difficulties faced, and countries that have not reciprocally recognized Singapore as a contracting state.
She also asked for statistics on cases since the Act’s enactment in March 2011, detailing applicant demographics, success and failure rates, reasons for outcomes, and average waiting times for child returns.
Minister Chan Chun Sing responded that 30 out of 90 contracting states have accepted Singapore’s accession, and the Singapore Central Authority has handled five cases involving France, Germany, Hong Kong, and the U.S., with an average resolution time of 2.5 months.
The central authority also assists requests from non-contracting states by providing legal information and support, while Singapore continues to engage with other jurisdictions to improve practices under the Convention.

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21 Oct 2013

Measures to Prevent Terrorist Attacks on Shopping Malls

The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted that Singapore faces a persistent terrorism threat, particularly against soft targets like shopping malls, and emphasized a multi-layered security approach involving border checks, community engagement, and public vigilance.
Measures include collaboration with building owners through Safety and Security Watch Groups, Guidelines for Enhancing Building Security, and training private security personnel under Project Guardian to handle crises effectively.
The government stresses the importance of combined efforts from the police, private sector, and the public to deter attacks, with ongoing efforts to strengthen security capabilities and maintain vigilance against potential threats.

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21 Oct 2013

Safety and Remedial Measures for Reactor Accident or Radioactivity Leak Affecting Singapore

Strict measures prohibit fuel handling or reactor repairs on nuclear-powered vessels at Changi Naval Base, and foreign governments must submit annual safety audit reports.
An Integrated Environment Monitoring System provides continuous tracking of air, water, and seabed radiation levels, with all readings to date within international safety limits.
A whole-of-government emergency response plan involving multiple agencies is in place to address and contain any incident.

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21 Oct 2013

Women in SAF

Mr Alex Yam raised questions about the number of women in the SAF since 1997, the challenges they face in their careers, and whether the Ministry would broaden recruitment across combat and support roles.
Minister Ng Eng Hen stated that about 1,500 regular servicewomen make up 7% of the corps, are deployed in diverse roles including combat positions, and that career progression is merit-based.
The Minister highlighted that women have held senior command roles and participated in international missions such as tsunami relief and peace operations, and that the SAF provides flexibility for life events like marriage and parenthood.
He added that the SAF awards scholarships to women to attract talent, citing examples like LTA Sharon Tan, and emphasized the profession as fulfilling and vital to the SAF’s effectiveness.

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21 Oct 2013

Incentives for Employers to Support Employees' NS Commitments

The Enlistment Act already requires employers to grant leave and prohibits dismissal for NS duties, with penalties for violations, and MINDEF investigates complaints of discrimination against NSmen.
MINDEF proactively engages employers to build understanding of NS commitments, recognising outstanding companies annually through the Total Defence Awards for supporting flexibility and project planning around IPPT and ICTs.
The government plans further measures to encourage companies to adopt practices that enable NSmen to fully perform their duties without workplace penalties.

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21 Oct 2013

National Service Enlistment for Top Male Athletes

David Ong asked the Ministry of Defence to consider a more flexible National Service enlistment approach for top male athletes to allow them to excel at sports during their prime.
The Minister for Defence explained that deferment from full-time NS may be granted in exceptional cases to athletes assessed as potential international medal winners, citing the approval of Joseph Schooling's deferment until 2016 to train for the Olympics.
David Ong sought clearer criteria and a formal deferment scheme for elite athletes to plan their sporting careers confidently, with the Minister reiterating that deferments require athletes to demonstrate necessity for full-time training and compete at high levels, assessed case-by-case with MCCY.
Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked if deferments could consider events beyond the Olympics, such as the Asian Games, to which the Minister confirmed other high-level competitions are considered if deemed exceptional.

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21 Oct 2013

US President Barack Obama's Absence from APEC Summit in Bali

Senior Minister of State Masagos Zulkifli explained that President Obama's absence from the APEC summit was understandable due to domestic fiscal issues, which were a more pressing concern than the cancellation of a presidential visit, and that Secretary of State John Kerry represented the US at the meetings with productive outcomes.
He noted that the US political gridlock sent worrying signals about US global leadership but emphasized the US remains a resilient and key player in the region, with ongoing engagement and progress on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Nominated Member Nicholas Fang asked about the long-term impact of Obama's absence and whether it posed challenges to the US strategic pivot to Asia, raising concerns about the temporary nature of US fiscal compromises.
Masagos Zulkifli responded that Singapore will continue balanced engagement with the US and China, hoping both manage their domestic priorities well as their decisions impact the global community.

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16 Sep 2013

Conversion of Military Driving Licence to Civilian Licence

Pritam Singh asked about the criteria for NSmen to convert their military driving licences into civilian ones.
Teo Chee Hean stated that conversion requires at least 22 months of military service, 7,000 km of driving, and a clean record with no more than seven demerit points or a one-year suspension.
Those who do not meet the criteria must undergo the Traffic Police's standard driving tests to qualify for a civilian licence.
The criteria account for the differing demands of military versus civilian driving environments.
Further assessments are mandated for servicemen who fail to satisfy the conversion requirements.

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16 Sep 2013

Relocation of Paya Lebar Airbase

Dr. Lim Wee Kiak questioned how Singapore’s airbase relocation would maintain RSAF operational readiness and security, with Minister Dr. Ng Eng Hen affirming that defence capabilities like the ASTER-30 missile system and F-35 fighter evaluation will ensure no compromise to security.
The relocation of Paya Lebar Airbase to expanded Changi and Tengah bases is a long-term project until around 2030, aimed at freeing land for national development while enhancing base resilience through advanced designs.
Costs for the relocation are high due to complex engineering, but the net benefit from released land and airspace is assessed to be many billions of dollars positive for Singapore.
The RSAF’s order of battle will not be affected by the move, and future consolidation of airbases is not being studied, as the current plan with expanded Changi and Tengah bases meets operational needs.
Personnel transitioning from the older HAWK system to new systems like ASTER-30 will be smoothly retrained and redeployed, building on past experience with upgrades like the SPYDER system.

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12 Aug 2013

Investigations into Death of Dr Shane Todd

The Singapore Police Force cooperated with the FBI during the investigation into Dr Shane Todd's death, with the FBI providing assistance on matters within its jurisdiction, but the investigation remained under Singapore's sole purview; a public Coroner's Inquiry concluded death by suicide with no foul play.
The Singapore Government assured that investigations were conducted independently without external influence, rejecting unsubstantiated media allegations and inviting a US audit of IME, which was completed without further US queries.
Minister Shanmugam confirmed that US Senator Max Baucus did not mention any intention to block funding to IME during their meeting; IME received about S$875,000 from US sources over five years, mostly for joint research projects.
The government emphasized that Singapore does not bow to external pressure, citing the US Administration's appreciation of Singapore's transparency and the strong bilateral relationship, as evidenced by recent high-level exchanges between leaders of both countries.

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12 Aug 2013

Facilitating NSmen's Pursuit of Undergraduate Studies

Mr Zainal Sapari asked about the average time gap between Junior College/Polytechnic graduation and NS enlistment, measures to shorten the interval between NS completion and undergraduate enrolment, and the number of NSmen denied disruption for undergraduate studies over the past three years and the reasons.
Minister Ng Eng Hen explained that JC students typically enlist a few weeks to three months after studies, while Polytechnic students wait three to six months, with about 55% enlisted in earlier intakes, and some delayed due to medical investigations.
Disruption is granted to about 600 NSFs annually for local or overseas studies to maintain cohort equity, but it is denied if criteria are not met, and MINDEF does not track the number of such cases.
MINDEF reviews measures to reduce the time interval but cannot fully control factors like university start dates, which vary globally, and must balance NSmen’s needs with operational readiness.

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12 Aug 2013

Indonesia's Agreement to Share Concession Maps to Tackle Occurrence of Haze

Gerald Giam asked how Indonesia’s limited sharing of concession maps on a case-by-case, government-to-government basis would help identify companies responsible for slash-and-burn, what specific situations allow or block map sharing, and whether a launch date for the ASEAN Haze Monitoring System (HMS) was set.
Vivian Balakrishnan explained that haze stems from cheap forest burning and that ministers agreed to share concession maps and use satellite tech to monitor hotspots, with Singapore developing the HMS platform to overlay maps and pinpoint errant companies.
However, the July 2013 ministerial agreement fell short of Singapore’s push for a public, fully functional system due to Indonesia’s claimed legal impediments, resulting only in government-to-government data sharing pending ASEAN Leaders’ approval in October 2013.
Balakrishnan stressed that even limited map sharing would still enable governments to identify and act against offending companies, and urged ASEAN to launch the HMS with Indonesia’s maps promptly and for Indonesia to ratify the ASEAN Haze Pollution Agreement.

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12 Aug 2013

US' Requests for Singapore's Assistance on Counter-Terrorism Intelligence

The US has made multiple requests for counter-terrorism intelligence and law enforcement cooperation with Singapore over the past two years, but the exact number cannot be disclosed for operational security reasons.
Singapore’s security agencies have provided full assistance and acted expeditiously on these requests, communicating findings promptly, but some requests could not be fully met due to insufficient information or legal constraints.
There have been instances where the US was unable to assist Singapore due to its own constraints, and no specific concerns have been raised by the US over any particular cases.

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8 Jul 2013

Impact of Recent Malaysia General Elections on Singapore's Investments

Dr. Lim Wee Kiak questioned the implications of the Malaysian General Election on Singapore, including the impact on Singaporean investments in Iskandar and Malaysia, and the future of the high-speed rail link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, K Shanmugam, noted that the election results return Barisan Nasional to power, expected to advance transformation plans, and highlighted strengthened bilateral ties and progress in joint projects like Iskandar Malaysia.
Singapore has seen growing foreign direct investments in Malaysia, with significant commitments in Iskandar Malaysia, and both countries are committed to enhancing connectivity through projects like the High-Speed Rail and Rapid Transit System links.

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