预算辩论 · 2019-03-01 · 第 13 届国会
国防预算与区域安全合作
Committee of Supply – Head J (Ministry of Defence)
议员质询国防预算及安全部署，政府回应强调新加坡在国际重大活动中加强安保，部署大量军力保障安全，并推动区域反恐合作。核心争议点在于国防开支的合理性及应对新兴安全威胁的能力。
关键要点
- • 国防预算获跨党派支持
- • 重大国际活动强化安保
- • 推动区域反恐信息共享
支持加强国防与区域安全合作
建议适度调整国防预算
强化国防与区域反恐合作
"It is particularly gratifying and reassuring for our future, for Singapore's future, that despite Defence, Security, Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs accounting for one-third of our expenditure, that we have got support across the aisle."
参与人员（8）
- Heng Chee How
- Minister for Defence
- Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman
- Ng Eng Hen
- Pritam Singh
- Senior Minister of State for Defence
- Tan Chuan-Jin
- Vikram Nair
完整译文（中文）
Hansard 英文原文译文 · 翻译日期：2026-05-02
J项（续）–
【（程序文本）恢复对问题的辩论【2019年2月28日】，（程序文本）】
【（程序文本）“将预算中J项的总拨款减少100元。”−【维克拉姆·奈尔议员】。（程序文本）】
【（程序文本）再次提出问题。（程序文本）】
主席：国防部长黄永宏。
国防部长（黄永宏博士）：主席先生，首先感谢各位议员持续致力于新加坡的强大防务。
我注意到许多议员在预算辩论期间发表的讲话。令人特别欣慰和放心的是，尽管国防、安全、内政和外交事务占我们开支的三分之一，但我们获得了跨党派的支持。我认为这是一个强烈信号，预示着新加坡的未来前景良好。
去年对新加坡来说是忙碌的一年。我们在国际舞台上举办了多项重要活动。回应维克拉姆·奈尔议员和林秀霞议员的提问，新加坡的形象和地位因我们担任东道主而得到提升，但这也要求我们采取额外且严格的安全措施。六月，议员们还记得，新加坡武装部队（SAF）在短时间内部署——是的，反复部署——在两周内，我们被要求主办美朝峰会。由于此类高调活动可能成为恐怖分子的目标，武装部队进行了大规模部署，动员了2000名人员，数十架飞机、舰船和车辆，提供覆盖圣淘沙和乌节路部分区域的空中、陆地和海上安全防护。我们的努力连同内务部队的配合，有效威慑了潜在的挑衅者。新加坡武装部队在11月主办东盟峰会时也进行了类似的行动，届时所有东盟政府首脑及众多外国贵宾齐聚一堂。
去年十月，国防部主持了第12届东盟国防部长会议（ADMM）及第5届18成员的ADMM-Plus会议，这些国家总人口达40亿，占全球军力的90%。在会议中，我们推动ADMM及ADMM-Plus国家共同应对包括反恐和化学、生物及放射防御威胁等安全关切，并促成东盟采纳印度尼西亚的“我们的眼睛”倡议。该倡议旨在加强区域反恐信息共享，新加坡将协助印度尼西亚建立和运营该设施。此举对于应对从伊拉克和叙利亚返回的战斗人员浪潮尤为重要，尽管伊斯兰国（ISIS）在该地区势力正在减弱。
我也很高兴报告，在我们的主持下，ADMM通过了东盟空军军事遭遇准则（GAME），这是全球首套此类多边准则，并获得ADMM-Plus国家支持。GAME可防止军事飞机在空中非计划遭遇导致的灾难性后果。我们还推动了海上非计划遭遇行为准则（CUES）的实施——有议员提及此事——该准则已在所有ADMM-Plus海军中实践，包括去年十月首次举行的东盟-中国海上联合演习。今年晚些时候，我们将使用CUES进行ADMM-Plus海上安全演习，届时将包括美国和中国。总体而言，新加坡为提升区域安全与稳定做出了应有贡献。这是富有成效且成果丰硕的一年。
然而，过去几个月我们与马来西亚遇到了一些挑战。谢健鹏议员对此有所询问。自去年十一月以来，马来西亚政府船只多次进入新加坡在大士附近的领海，该区域由新加坡海事及港务局（MPA）、警察海岸警卫队（PCG）及新加坡共和国海军（RSN）行使管辖权和执法权，过去二十多年马来西亚未曾抗议或侵入。即便现在，仍有两艘马来西亚政府船只停泊在大士附近的新加坡领海。新加坡民众和议员们对这些事态发展已十分熟悉，我无需赘述。我们已严正警告马来西亚撤回其船只。事实上，外交部（MFA）去年十二月的新闻声明指出，我引用：“马来西亚在该区域的部署不会加强其法律主张，只会加剧紧张局势。马来西亚将对其船只持续部署在该区域所引发的任何不良事件负责。”正如我们所警告的，上个月希腊散货船“比雷埃夫斯”号与马来西亚政府船“北极星”号发生碰撞。幸运的是无人受伤，但后果本可更严重。
新加坡人还记得2017年8月美国“麦凯恩”号驱逐舰与油轮“阿尔尼克”号在白礁附近相撞，造成10名船员丧生。尽管如此，马来西亚部分人士仍指责新加坡策划了与“北极星”号的碰撞。如果最近的碰撞中有人丧生，这些虚假指控势必更加激烈，甚至可能推动对新加坡及新加坡人的报复。
外交部和交通部官员正在进行会谈和谈判，而马来西亚政府船只的存在不仅无助于谈判，反而使其自身处于危险之中并阻碍了建设性对话。海事及港务局、警察海岸警卫队和新加坡共和国海军全天候密切监控大士附近的新加坡领海活动，始终保持高度警惕，捍卫我们的主权和国际法下的权利。
国防部将继续推动防务外交。议员们，包括林秀霞和维克拉姆·奈尔，都提出了相关建议。我们希望促进区域和平与稳定。我们与愿意合作的国家交朋友，与利益一致、共享包容、和平解决争端及尊重法治理念的国家建立伙伴关系。
上午11时30分
但同时，我们必须确保武装部队强大且足以在外交失败、他人选择伤害我们或无视我们权利时捍卫我们的权益。正如法蒂玛·拉蒂夫教授所言，“强大的武装部队保护新加坡和新加坡人。”我们持续投资和努力建设下一代武装部队，以更好应对未来一代的安全威胁。这些发展进展顺利，我愿详细说明，因为许多议员询问我们如何应对本代将面临的不同威胁场景。我们必须为未来做好准备，因为建设这样的武装部队需要时间。
首先是国土安全。2008年孟买袭击事件向我们展示了来自海上的毁灭性破坏，而我们四面环海。为威慑和减轻针对新加坡的外部攻击，我们将加强整个海岸线的安全。武装部队将增设更多光学传感器和海岸雷达，以威慑和侦测潜在威胁。我们将建造更多无人值守的瞭望塔，以更好覆盖新加坡海峡繁忙的交通。明年起，我们还将增加无人水面舰艇巡逻我们的水域。
议员们询问了关于下一代武装部队现代化的更多细节——维克拉姆·奈尔议员、普里坦·辛格议员、法蒂玛·拉蒂夫教授、庄基雄议员和张志贤议员——让我详细说明。我们建设下一代武装部队以更好应对安全威胁的计划在三军中均进展顺利。主席先生，若获允许，我想在LED屏幕上展示一些幻灯片，并请求分发讲义。
主席：请便。[向尊敬的议员们分发了讲义。]
黄永宏博士：让我先从空军说起。郭振辉议员询问了F-35战机。我们已宣布计划用F-35替换2030年后将面临淘汰的F-16战机。届时，新加坡共和国空军（RSAF）的战斗机机队将由F-35和F-15SG组成，如果计划十年后得以实现。
如前所述，国防部将向美国提交采购F-35的请求函（LOR）。根据美国对外军售法律，美国国会必须批准F-35的销售。我们的请求函将初步申请采购四架F-35，并保留后续采购八架的选项。新加坡已获得美国政府和国防部对采购F-35的支持，但仍需国会批准。事实上，特朗普总统上月致信李总理，欢迎新加坡采购F-35的计划。两周前我在慕尼黑安全会议上会见代理国防部长帕特里克·沙纳汉时，他也表示美国非常赞赏新加坡的决定，其部门支持此举。
关于价格，F-35价格因美国及包括英国、意大利、澳大利亚、日本和韩国在内的10个国家的稳定订单而持续下降。国防科技局（DSTA）评估认为，现在是提交采购请求的良机。F-35当前单价约为9000万至1.15亿美元，接近我们为F-15SG支付的价格。F-35机队的全生命周期总拥有成本（含维护）也将与F-15SG相当。尽管如此，国防部将继续与美国国防部合作，优化运营和维护成本。
RSAF还将从2020年起接收新直升机。H225M中型运输机和我们的CH-47重型运输机将替换现有的超级美洲狮和CH-47D机队。这些新直升机将提升容量，更有效执行搜救及人道援助和灾难救援任务。
以上是空军部分。接下来谈谈海军。
对于新加坡共和国海军（RSN），现役潜艇已服役逾二十年。我们将以四艘新型“无敌”级潜艇替换它们。首艇最近在德国下水，另外三艘正在建造中。“无敌”级潜艇续航能力更强，配备最新本地研发的传感器和自动化系统，专为我们周边水域优化。我们最近在基尔北海下水潜艇，之前的潜艇是在波罗的海下水，那里的水温更低，因此我们必须针对温暖水域进行优化。我们计划于2025年前完成四艘“无敌”级潜艇的全舰队建设。
对于水面舰艇，我们服役自1989年的导弹护卫舰已服役多年，属于“先锋一代”，即将退役，将由新型多用途作战舰（MRCV）替代。首舰预计于2025年左右交付，2030年前完成全部交付。新舰不仅提升能力，还融入多项新理念。首先，人员需求更少。多位议员指出我们如何应对三分之一的人力减少。MRCV设计之初即为精简人力，采用自动化技术，包括维护自动化，船员人数约为现代护卫舰的一半，成就显著。
因此，运营成本也可节省约10%，相较于其他同级护卫舰。MRCV还将配备更多无人空中和水面无人机，不仅是有人舰艇，还将搭载无人机和模块化装备，提升对威胁的覆盖范围和灵活性。许多议员熟悉我们的登陆舰（LST），相信不少议员曾乘坐过，它们在多次演习中表现出色，是我们人道援助和灾难救援（HADR）任务的主力。LST也已老化，未来十年内将由更大更灵活的联合多任务舰替代。
接下来谈陆军。
陆军方面，下一代装甲战斗车辆将从今年起替换M113超型装甲车，成为武装部队机械化部队的主力。新加坡人将在今年国庆阅兵中见到它们。这些装甲战斗车辆具备更好的装甲防护和城市环境机动能力。陆军还将引进下一代榴弹炮，射程更远，打击精度更高，优于现有装备。
我已谈及空中、陆地和海上有人平台，但2030年及以后武装部队的标志性变化是转向混合力量。我们将使用更多无人平台。RSAF的部分无人机已服役逾十年，未来几年将被更先进的无人机替代。我提到过MRCV和无人水面舰艇。陆军士兵也将首次配备微型无人机，特别适用于城市和建筑密集环境。这些无人平台将补充传统有人装备，提升应对各种作战场景的能力。
总体而言，2030年及以后下一代武装部队，凭借空、陆、海全方位装备，将能守护新加坡一代又一代。这支武装部队将护卫我们的未来，是我们投资所购得的装备。下一代新加坡人将在新加坡75周年庆典上为这支空陆海武装部队喝彩。
届时，我们将拥有先进的海岸监视网络和防空系统，形成保护新加坡免受威胁的盾牌。RSAF将驾驶F-35和F-15SG战机巡航天空，配备A330多用途加油运输机、G550预警机、新型直升机及多种无人机。RSN将拥有MRCV、“无敌”级潜艇、新型无人水面舰艇和更大型联合多任务舰，辅以现有护卫舰和近岸任务舰。陆军将更具防护性和机动性，士兵乘坐下一代装甲战斗车辆和Terrex轮式装甲车。豹式坦克、高机动火箭炮系统（HIMARS）和下一代榴弹炮将为其提供火力支援，配合全套工兵、通信、后勤和维护平台。
但仅有硬件不足以打造强大军队。我们还需在本地和海外建设新训练设施，确保国民服役者和现役军人能打造现代化且具备能力的武装部队，捍卫新加坡及其利益。我知道议员们对此有所关切，包括赛纳尔·萨帕里议员。
2030年及以后武装部队设计为以更精简的人力运营。贝业炎庆议员、庄基雄议员、赛纳尔·萨帕里议员和普里坦·辛格议员对此提出了问题。换言之，我们设计2030年及以后武装部队时，考虑到2030年后人力供应将减少三分之一。我已提及海军的MRCV需要更少船员。
我之前提到的下一代榴弹炮操作人员仅需三人，而现有榴弹炮需九人，显著减少人力需求，且射速和精度更高。自主和自动化系统将减少劳动密集型任务，例如对空军基地和跑道的损伤评估。现代化装备和平台也可由非体能等级A或B的国民服役者操作，从而有效提升人力资源利用率。与装备采购同步，我们还将加大对武装部队士兵训练设施的投资。
我上次在2017年向本院介绍武装部队训练学院（SAFTI）城。先锋和独立一代对旧SAFTI非常熟悉——你们会记得FOFO山、彭康山、巴西立巴艇棚和大象山。我们曾在这些地方冲锋，有时也冲下山坡。SAFTI城将补充这些传统地形，增设城市环境，以更好地准备士兵应对21世纪多样化作战。SAFTI城将是一个智能化城市。我们谈论过智慧城市，希望SAFTI城成为智能训练场。
我们将更多使用模拟和详细监控，帮助士兵更好学习。这将与我们服役时冲山、对抗敌军营时喊“砰，砰，砰，砰！”而敌人回应“砰，砰，砰，砰！”的日子大不相同。
这种方法并不新鲜。例如，我们的战斗机飞行员几十年来一直使用这种方法训练高速机动。每次机动后，他们都会坐下来互相说：“好，你说说你做了什么，他说说他做了什么。”这就是目标。他们展示了轨迹，指出了你的弱点。他们之所以能做到这一点，是因为飞机昂贵，飞行员更是如此。但直到现在，现代技术才允许我们将同样的流程推广到陆军的个别士兵身上。
所以，多年来我们一直在这样做，你不能再假设你击中了目标，实际上士兵和平台上都有电子传感器，消耗率是真实存在的。我很高兴地报告，SAFTI城正在成形，进度正常。我们将建设更多道路和桥梁，以便陆军的机动和机械化部队今年开始训练。SAFTI城将逐步建设，完工时将拥有200多座不同高度和类型的建筑，全部接入网络。
上午11时45分
但有了这种面向2030年及以后的新型武装部队，我们可以长距离机动。我们的Terrex装甲车时速可达70公里，豹式坦克接近这个速度，可能在更复杂地形上速度较慢。但如果我们只能在新加坡训练，你可以在不到一小时内从一端到另一端。因此，我们需要更大的训练场地。特别是Shoalwater Bay的训练区将被扩展。澳大利亚东北部Townsville地区也将有新发展。根据新加坡-澳大利亚全面战略伙伴关系，诸如仪器化联合兵种陆空射击场和城市作战实弹射击设施等新设施正在按计划建设。我说得很快，但陆空射击场价值无价。我们现在只能在极少数地方做到——美国有些地方因为有土地。它允许陆空平台协调打击。因此，当这些设施在未来几年完工后，我们将能够每年训练大规模部队长达18周，较目前的六至七周大幅增加，约为三倍。
许多议员谈到了数字防御。我完全同意。这是一个我们不能选择忽视的战线，忽视它将自食其果。Charles Chong先生、Desmond Choo先生、Fatimah Lateef教授和Tan Wu Meng博士都谈到了这一点。我之前在议会中谈过混合战争的威胁及其对现实世界的影响。我们已经看到这种情况在波罗的海国家和乌克兰等地上演。作为一个文化和种族多元的国家，我们也容易受到此类混合攻击，包括针对我们的信息技术（IT）网络以破坏服务和能力。
议员们问我们在保护这一战线和建设防护力量方面的进展。两年前，我宣布成立国防网络组织（DCO）。DCO已成立国防网络安全中心。换句话说，我们在国防部和武装部队内部设立了国防网络安全中心，负责日常应对针对国防部和武装部队IT系统的网络威胁，尤其是我们的指挥控制计算机网络。现有事件响应团队也可部署支持其他国家机构应对关键系统的网络攻击。
为满足这些需求，武装部队必须扩大网络领域的现役军人队伍，他们将是军事领域专家计划（MDES）人员，以及非制服的国防网络专家。我们最近宣布，第一阶段将招聘300多人。
但全职国民服役兵（NSF）同样可以在数字防御中发挥重要作用，就像他们在动能作战中所做的那样。我认为这是Zainal Sapari先生和Vikram Nair先生的观点。首批59名网络NSF于2018年底入伍，经过两轮严格测试。他们正在与新加坡理工学院合作，接受为期八个月的网络专家学员课程，将于今年八月毕业。今年我们预计再招收80至90名网络专家，以加强我们的网络部队。
正如我们为动能作战所做的——许多人熟悉我们的武装部队射击场，许多人在那里射击过——我们也有网络射击场——网络防御测试与评估中心。在这个网络射击场，我们的网络士兵接受逼真的训练。我们创建了一个模拟武装部队网络和在线流量的模型，使用真实的恶意软件和攻击针对这些节点。就像实弹射击场要求射击准确一样，武装部队旨在训练士兵能够在真实且具有挑战性的环境中应对这些攻击。
武装部队还将利用因其平民职业或培训而具备IT专长的国民服役兵。例如现有的国民服役专业转换计划，允许具有行业专长的非军官国民服役兵成为网络职业的MDES军官。国防部和武装部队正在探索更好地匹配国民服役兵与其平民IT职业的方法。
我们每个人都在全民防卫的数字防御中扮演角色。在新加坡的数字堡垒中，我们的强度取决于最薄弱的环节，高级国务部长Mohamed Maliki将分享更多内容。
这些硬件和设施的采购，加上构成武装部队主体的国民服役兵和国民服役兵的意志和技能，将使我们在未来一代应对安全挑战时处于有利位置。如果所有这些计划得以实现——我补充说这将花费我们10至15年时间——武装部队将成为该地区较有能力的军队之一。
我们的国民服役兵和国民服役兵将能够良好训练，最重要的是必须安全训练。安全监察长最近已任命，办公室扩充了更多安全官员。多位议员谈到了安全——Charles Chong先生、Chong Kee Hiong先生、Zainal Sapari先生。各单位指挥官也被赋予安全标准和结果的责任和问责。作为常规，指挥官每天会识别对其官兵构成较高安全风险的活动，并确保安全应对计划和缓解措施充分。安全比以往任何时候都更是指挥责任，但每个士兵也必须发挥作用。我们这样做是为了实现现实训练，因为如果不能安全训练，将会受到挫折。高级国务部长Heng Chee How将更详细介绍武装部队为实现零训练死亡所采取的措施。
国防部还决定建设一个中央设施，更好地响应国民服役社区的需求。将建设新的国民服役中心。它将整合目前分散在新加坡各地的不同服务。例如，今天，预备役人员在大巴窑体育场参加个人体能测试（IPPT），然后去Depot Road中央人力基地，再到Kent Ridge的军事医学研究所（MMI）进行体检。新的国民服役中心将把这些分散在岛上的服务集中到一个中心位置。这个神奇的中心位置在哪里？它将位于Cashew地铁站对面，交通便利。国民服役中心将建成一个智能综合体，采用现代技术，提供无缝、用户友好的体验。位于Cashew地铁站对面，属于国防部土地。别担心，我们不会占用任何人的土地。建设将于今年开始，国民服役兵可望于2023年使用国民服役中心。
高级国务部长Heng Chee How将详细说明其他提升国民服役体验的措施。
主席先生，请允许我总结。要发展我刚才描述的这样一支有能力的武装部队，能够保护新加坡利益并保障新加坡人安全一代人，将需要大量且稳定的投资。我毫不掩饰。这需要资源和我们的承诺。我感谢本院议员和新加坡人对强大武装部队的坚定支持。
正如我之前向本院承诺的，我们预计未来十年名义国防开支每年增长3%至4%，至少跟上通胀。今年的预算比去年增长了4.8%。我提出的未来十年3%至4%的承诺不受今年增长的影响。只是某些项目或采购已成熟，因此必须增加支出。然而，整体国防开支将在后续年份趋于平稳。
国防，尤其对于像新加坡这样的小岛国家，至关重要，如果我们要维护利益和威慑侵略。新加坡正按计划建设现代化的三军武装部队——甚至可能是包括网络部队的四军——能够应对21世纪现实和虚拟世界的安全挑战。如果我们继续稳定投资国防，国民服役兵保持捍卫新加坡的承诺和决心，那么我们的未来将再安全一代人。我们可以期待庆祝新加坡75周年，确信我们拥有强大的防御力量。
主席：高级国务部长Heng Chee How。
国防高级国务部长（Heng Chee How先生）：主席先生，国防部长Ng Eng Hen博士刚才谈到了国民服役兵需要良好且安全训练。确实，国民服役的力量取决于国民服役兵的战斗精神。我们的官兵必须接受艰苦且现实的军事训练，武装部队才能成为有效的战斗力量，保障新加坡主权。同时，能够保卫新加坡的强大武装部队必须在不牺牲服役人员安全的前提下建设。
Charles Chong先生问及如何平衡作战准备和安全。我们理解士兵及其家属因近期训练相关事件产生的焦虑。国防部和武装部队非常重视新加坡人对国民服役体系的信任、信心和期望。
武装部队的安全协议由武装部队外部的独立专业人士审计和评估。这是持续进行的。请允许我分享两个例子。武装部队安全外部审查小组是一个常设小组，负责评估武装部队的安全管理体系，确保武装部队的标准和流程健全且符合行业最佳实践。最近，2018年成立了防止热伤害的外部审查小组和战斗车辆安全外部审查小组，评估防止热伤害的安全程序和车辆的操作安全。发现不足之处时，武装部队已并将继续加强安全措施，进一步降低风险，防止类似事件再次发生。
此外，陆军将加强训练监督，提升安全装备，以改善战斗车辆安全。我们在本院分享的这些及其他具体措施将尽快实施，有些已开始实施。这体现了我们对安全的坚定承诺。
我们不仅会处理个别事件，还将寻求在武装部队各级提升训练安全文化。国会高级秘书Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim问及武装部队如何在各级加强安全文化。正如国防部长早前强调的，已成立安全监察长办公室，负责检查和审计武装部队的安全实践。该办公室由联合参谋长办公室主任领导，向国防军总长和国防常秘汇报，执行安全程序，强化从最高层面起的安全意识和文化，确保安全指挥重点得到持续贯彻。
在基层，武装部队重新聚焦指挥官对安全的重视。指挥官全面审查安全管理计划和整体训练节奏。他们知道必须以身作则，将安全作为首要任务。陆军还将确保对所有高风险和野外训练进行100%检查。我们希望通过具体行动，向新加坡人保证训练安全是国防部和武装部队的首要任务。
中午12时
归根结底，安全涉及我提到的一切，但也不仅限于健全的体系和自上而下的措施。安全必须成为我们的组织文化，每个士兵在每个层级都应承担、建设和培养这一文化。
武装部队鼓励开放报告。Charles Chong先生问及这是什么意思。开放报告意味着任何官兵随时可以报告风险行为、险情和安全违规，且他们知道可以无惧处罚地这样做。他们可以拨打陆军、海军和空军的24小时安全热线，来电者身份保密。还有其他渠道可反馈意见。开放报告旨在培养和确保文化的开放性，鼓励大家提出问题。
入伍当天，新兵由指挥官简报如何报告安全违规。训练前，士兵可使用风险评估清单识别安全风险，并在小组中向上级提出关切。这鼓励他们关注自身及战友安全。
自去年起，武装部队开发了一款名为“SafeGuardian”的应用，允许官兵用手机报告工作场所危险，并即时与其他官兵共享。例如，官兵在营区发现可能导致伤害的锋利铁丝配件，可用“SafeGuardian”拍照并通知相关安全官员，立即采取措施消除危险。附近战友也会通过手机安全警报获悉。
“SafeGuardian”还可随时提供安全检查清单，相较于过去只能在营区内的实体终端使用表格更为便捷。
该应用将于今年3月起在海军基地试行，并将分阶段推广至全武装部队。
此举将提升安全意识，强化“人人为安全，安全为人人”的理念。
Cheng Li Hui小姐问是否能纪念阵亡官兵，包括建立纪念碑。武装部队尊重为国捐躯的官兵。每年武装部队日阅兵时，都会在总统或总理作为检阅官的见证下默哀一分钟，缅怀阵亡官兵。各单位或部队也会举行纪念活动，纪念在行动或训练中牺牲的官兵。我们永远不会忘记他们为保卫新加坡免受伤害所作的牺牲。
在此，我们也感谢所有国民服役兵的承诺和奉献。现在请允许我谈谈如何提升国民服役兵的体验。
Zainal Sapari先生问国民服役对新加坡的重要性。保障新加坡自由是国民服役兵肩负的神圣职责。我们理应不断思考支持他们的方法。
我们的国民服役兵必须平衡个人和国民服役的承诺，我们必须努力通过减少行政负担来提高便利性，帮助他们专注训练。我们还将最大化潜力，挖掘越来越多受过良好教育的官兵的能力，使他们能更有意义地贡献。Baey Yam Keng先生曾询问相关进展。
我们的作战准备国民服役兵（ORNS）需通知国防部通知中心和内政部海外通知中心其少于六个月的海外旅行，目前可通过国民服役门户或短信完成。从3月1日起，我们将取消此通知要求。官兵只需在国民服役门户更新联系方式，包括临时联系方式。
取消此要求不会影响作战准备，因为其他出境管控措施仍然适用，例如出境六个月或更长时间需申请出境许可证。如有需要，管控措施可收紧。
Pritam Singh先生和Chong Kee Hiong先生问如何在出生人数下降的情况下最大化人力资源。我们如何以更少做更多？
除了更好的技术、装备、流程和岗位重设计及国民服役兵培训外，许多国民服役兵还拥有与民用和军用领域相关的重要专业技能，例如护理或信息通信。具备此类专长的国民服役兵现在可以在其ORNS训练周期更早阶段利用其民用专长为国防做贡献。此前，他们必须完成完整的10年训练周期后才能转换到利用民用专长的岗位。现在，如果适合，他们可在完成两次高强度营内训练并服役五年ORNS后，部署到护理军官和网络通信军官等岗位。
另一个例子是：预征兵人员在入伍前会在新加坡武装部队医疗分类中心接受筛查。随后，他们会被分配适当的体能评估等级（PES），以便每个人都能根据自身的能力和条件为国家服务，这也包括有残疾的国民服役兵（NSF）。例如，听力障碍或肌肉骨骼残疾的士兵，在被评估为适合服役后，会被分配到支援或行政岗位，在那里他们能够安全地服役，并在服役期间做出有意义的贡献。
我们当然也非常重视女性对国家防务的贡献。自2014年以来，女性已在新加坡武装部队志愿军团（SAF Volunteer Corps）服役，支持武装部队的作战和训练需求。我们的志愿军团成员男女比例良好，约有一半是女性。
阿拉苏·杜赖萨米先生询问了我们支持技能提升的合作伙伴关系。来自武装部队和内务部队的国民服役兵（NSF）会专注于为期两年的全职训练。如今，某些士兵技能、消防和救援能力已获得劳动力技能资格（WSQ）标准认证。
为了跟上国家对技能精通的关注，我们致力于支持国民服役兵向高等教育或职场的过渡。今年将与公共和私营部门合作伙伴推出一系列名为“SkillsFuture@NS”的举措。
那么，我们的国民服役兵在这些合作中可以期待什么？
首先是全职国民服役后更多的技能提升资源。目前，国民服役兵可获得价值350新元的电子积分，用于订阅约200门在线课程，这些课程由本地大学和理工学院提供。这些电子积分在完成全职国民服役后的一年内有效。
我们将把这些电子积分的使用范围扩大到约3,000门精选课程，远超目前的200门。其中将包括大量聚焦新兴领域的SkillsFuture系列课程，如数据分析和网络安全。我们也正与高等院校合作，提供定制课程。国民服役兵完成全职服役后，可通过这些课程获得相关文凭或学位课程的学分豁免。电子积分也可用于支付这些课程费用。
例如，国民服役兵可以使用电子积分参加由淡马锡理工学院（Temasek Polytechnic，简称TP）提供的“云架构导论”课程。被录取参加TP的兼职云数据中心技术与管理专科文凭课程的学员，完成这些在线课程后，将获得部分模块的豁免。这将有助于支持国民服役兵的学习旅程。
第二是职业探索和体验。本月，国防部/武装部队将与SkillsFuture Singapore联合举办职业导向体验活动。该活动得到五个社区发展理事会和全国工会联合会就业与就业能力研究所（e2i）的支持。SkillsFuture咨询工作坊将在为国民服役兵举办的季度职业与教育博览会上定制开展。
我们在裕廊营区进行了职业导向工作坊的试点。一位21岁的战斗工程兵下士Ritesh Kumar表示，该工作坊帮助他了解完成全职国民服役后的多种发展路径。他认为这为他和战友们提供了更有用的指导，帮助他们规划人生下一阶段。我们将采纳服役人员的反馈和建议，持续完善SkillsFuture@NS计划。
接下来，加强对国民服役的支持。郭振辉先生询问我们如何与社区就国民服役问题展开互动。首先，我要感谢国防社区关系咨询委员会（ACCORD）成员为与教育机构、企业和社区团体合作，加强社区和全民对国防及国民服役的支持所做的宝贵贡献。
2018年ACCORD的亮点之一是首届女性训练营。共有1,000名女性申请，最终选出103名参加为期两天一夜的训练营。参加者年龄范围广泛，从13岁到64岁不等，包括服役人员的女儿、母亲、姐妹、妻子、女友和朋友。她们通过训练营体验了军旅生活，认识到国民服役虽艰苦但必要。
其中一位是50岁的许薇敏女士，她是国民服役兵的母亲。谈及体验时，许女士表示，通过参与标准障碍课程等标志性国民服役活动，她对军旅生活有了初步了解。她说：“我现在能在情感和心理上支持我的儿子。看到训练安全被高度重视，也缓解了我对训练安全的担忧。知道服役人员在面对更具挑战性的任务前会接受渐进式训练，这让我感到安心。”
今年，我们将举办另一期训练营，继续与社区及这一重要群体——女性——互动，共同加强对国民服役和国家防务的支持。
我们的服役人员告诉我们，分享他们在营区的国民服役照片，有助于增强归属感。国防部和武装部队一直在探索允许服役人员在线分享个人国民服役记忆和经历的方式，同时保障敏感信息的安全。
我们正在开发一个名为“NS Memories”的数字资料库，供国民服役人员访问官方拍摄的自己和战友的照片。随着时间推移，该资料库将记录整个国民服役旅程的经历。服役人员可将这些照片分享到社交媒体。今年，我们将与一个现役步兵单位试行“NS Memories”。若试点成功，将推广该计划。
主席先生，国民服役的成功体现在每天、年复一年的和平得以维护。新加坡享有的每一天和平，都是我们威慑力、外交和防务有效性的证明。拥有一个强大且具韧性的国民服役体系，并获得广泛而深厚的公众支持，我们可以继续对新加坡的未来充满信心。
国防高级国务部长（莫哈末·马利基·奥斯曼博士）：主席先生，国防部长黄永宏博士已谈及我们面临的不确定且动荡的地缘政治环境，以及强大武装部队对新加坡应对这一局势的重要性。
12时15分
历史告诉我们，拥有强大防御力量至关重要。这就是为何我们对武装部队和全民防卫的长期持续投资，对新加坡的安全与繁荣至关重要。
全民防卫于1984年首次提出，当时的威胁环境主要是传统战争。然而，即使在那时，也认识到潜在侵略者不仅会针对军队，还会针对整个民众。
随着威胁演变，全民防卫变得更加关键。以恐怖主义为例。恐怖主义的面貌已发生变化，从2000年代初基地组织和伊斯兰祈祷团（Jemaah Islamiah）主导的动能攻击，到伊拉克和叙利亚伊斯兰国（ISIS）通过技术和社交媒体进行更隐蔽的激进化和招募，深化社区间的不信任，煽动对当局的不满。他们甚至资助并指示成员和同情者在本国发动自杀式爆炸等恐怖袭击。尽管ISIS在中东失地，但与我们地区的联系依然存在。外国战斗人员的回归加剧了这一威胁。
在互联网和社交媒体时代，新加坡人的韧性将面临数字领域的攻击考验。这将成为新的战场，因为我们高度互联，且依赖数字技术进行沟通和信息消费。新加坡的互联网普及率居世界前列。根据2018年媒体公司“We Are Social”的研究，新加坡人平均每天在社交媒体上花费两小时，WhatsApp、YouTube和Facebook是使用最多的三大平台。主席先生，我们的互联性使我们暴露于数字领域的威胁，这将影响并定义这一代人。新加坡及海外的许多案例都显示了这些威胁可能造成的毁灭性影响。
数字威胁与强大数字防御的必要性。主席先生，例如，爱沙尼亚是全球最早经历此类事件的国家之一。2007年4月，一次网络攻击导致其银行、媒体和政府的在线服务瘫痪。公民无法使用自动取款机和网上银行服务，新闻无法印刷或播出。十多年后，各种形式的网络攻击仍是危害我们的工具。
另一个例子是2018年7月，阿拉斯加的马塔努斯卡-苏西特纳区（Mat-Su）遭遇恶意软件攻击，导致其网络瘫痪。英国广播公司报道，该区被“送回过去”，部分工作人员不得不使用老式打字机维持服务。
另一个挑战是信息和虚假信息在数字领域传播的速度。最近马来西亚梳邦再也一座印度教寺庙爆发骚乱，显示谣言和假新闻通过社交媒体一夜之间传播，激化种族紧张，煽动社会动荡。正如Joan Pereira女士所指出，我们必须保持社会防卫的强大，团结一致抵御任何分裂企图。所有社区和信仰都努力建设了我们今天的多元文化和多宗教社会。我们绝不能让虚假信息挑拨不同社会群体。
许多数字威胁表明，个人的自满、无知或疏忽可能为灾难性攻击铺平道路。北大西洋公约组织（NATO）战略传播卓越中心2019年1月发布报告，指出研究人员利用主要来自社交媒体的开源数据，追踪并欺骗北约部队。研究人员轻易识别士兵、定位营区，诱使他们离岗并泄露军事行动敏感信息。这显示人们对线上生活的轻视，以及对自己发布的看似无害信息可能被用于危害自身及社会的无知。
新加坡也未能幸免。我们知道黑客窃取了150万名SingHealth患者的信息。我们也见证了关于塑料米、清真猪肉等多种假新闻的传播，更隐蔽的是关于事件的虚假报道，可能激发仇外、宗派主义，破坏社会和谐。
这就是为何我们加强了全民防卫，新增数字防卫支柱。Joan Pereira女士和张浩斌博士询问了我们的数字防卫工作。我们希望传达的信息是，每个人都是数字防卫的前线战士，这绝非陈词滥调。正如《海峡时报》社论所言，“每个公民都是数字战争中的战士”。只有政府、企业、社区和个人共同参与，才能使数字防卫成为新加坡DNA的一部分，确保我们的防卫全面。
作为全民努力的一部分，国防部与多政府机构合作，加强新加坡及新加坡人抵御数字威胁的能力。通讯及资讯部及其机构——网络安全局、资讯通信媒体发展局和国家图书馆局（NLB）——实施多项计划，赋能个人、企业和社区，使其在网络空间保持安全、警觉和负责任。内政部下属的新加坡警察部队进一步提升打击网络犯罪的能力，并教育公众网络安全知识。正如黄永宏部长早前所述，我们通过设立国防网络组织，确保拥有具备相关技能和专业知识的核心及后备人才，强化防务领域网络安全。
我们还将确保服役人员为数字领域威胁做好准备。我们正与国家图书馆局合作，要求所有接受基础军事训练的新兵参加信息素养工作坊，提升识别和应对假新闻及网络谣言的能力。对于其他人员，国防部和武装部队将通过加强现有课程和学习路径，增强他们对敌对信息战和假新闻的免疫力及网络安全意识。我们希望这些努力能帮助服役人员更好理解假新闻在现代战争中的作用、应对措施，并整体提升网络卫生水平。
对于学生，数字防卫相关内容已纳入教育部课程，并通过数字素养和网络健康项目加以强化。Joan Pereira女士询问我们如何接触青年群体。今年我们更新了“城市守护者”游戏卡，纳入数字领域威胁。参与游戏的学生表示，这帮助他们更好理解这些威胁及自身角色。例如，东工艺学院（ITE College East）学生Deshaun Lau分享说：“玩这个游戏让我意识到面对数字威胁时，我们必须作为社区团结一致，互相提醒采取防范措施。”
企业也在践行数字防卫。一家办公设计公司Space Matrix不仅投资网络安全系统，还培训员工防范威胁。曾有人冒充其首席执行官通过电子邮件要求转账，幸亏员工警觉识别了假邮件，避免了损失。公司随后优化系统，更好保护未来安全。
携手共筑坚强新加坡。我们在加强数字防卫的同时，面对当今多元威胁，要保持新加坡强大，需要全民共同努力，在全民防卫六大支柱上各尽其责。主席先生，请允许我用马来语说几句话。
（马来语）：[请参阅方言发言。] 主席先生，新加坡与马来西亚近期的海域和空域争议，强化了全民防卫的重要性。我们的安全机构时刻准备并保持警惕，维护主权。新加坡人也需团结一致，坚定原则，保护国家利益。因此，看到许多新加坡人在社交媒体上反驳虚假说法，支持新加坡立场，令人欣慰。举例来说，John Lam先生在新加坡与马来西亚海域争议紧张时，鼓励同胞保持冷静和文明。他引用新加坡过去的例子，展示我们作为一个民族如何克服限制，变得更强。例如，当面临断水威胁时，我们投资水过滤和海水淡化技术，开发了自己的新生水（NEWater）处理厂。面对砂石进口禁令，我们开发了创新且环保的少砂填海方法。
Lam先生和许多人的行动体现了心理防卫的核心——人民团结一致，决心为新加坡挺身而出。议员们，如郑丽慧女士，也认可这一点。新加坡与马来西亚近期的双边紧张局势，帮助新加坡人更好理解我们的立场，以及为何维护领土主权和基于规则的国际秩序如此重要。我们的国土面积小，地区局势动荡，显示新加坡人必须坚定致力于自身防卫，拥有强大的新加坡武装部队。
（英语）：我早前提到恐怖主义威胁将长期存在。安全机构将尽全力防止袭击，但即使发生袭击，每个新加坡人都应知道如何应对，以便社会团结一致，迅速恢复。
我们赞赏自发的全民防卫行动，例如年轻新加坡人联合开发的武吉班让应急准备指南，得到了武吉班让社区应急与参与委员会的支持，正如张浩斌博士所分享。
12时30分
为了建立紧急应变能力，我们设立了社区响应模块，培训国防部和武装部队人员成为积极的社区响应者，教授他们技能，以便在恐怖袭击发生时更好地保护自己并帮助周围的人。这项措施补充了内政部的“新加坡安全”计划，该计划持续增强社区的警觉性、凝聚力和韧性，以应对恐怖袭击。国防部与新加坡红十字会和淡马锡基金会关怀等组织的全面防卫合作，也为民众提供了可在危机中应用的知识和技能。例如，淡马锡基金会关怀“保持准备”计划中的企业心理韧性项目，培训企业员工掌握心理急救等技能。
国防部也积极向青年和更广泛的社区推广全面防卫，令人欣慰的是他们积极响应全面防卫。一个例子是来自淡马锡理工学院的五名学生——Benedict、Gabriel、Jed、Martin 和 Shing Hao。他们开发了一个名为“狮城”的全面防卫手机应用游戏原型。该游戏强调日常简单行动如何有助于建设一个强大且团结的国家。游戏开发者希望通过此举激励同龄青年发挥作用，将全面防卫付诸行动。
主席先生，最后，新加坡因拥有强大的武装部队、强健的国民服役体系以及公众对国防和安全的坚定支持而享有和平与繁荣。全面防卫推行三十五年后，我们必须继续让所有社区和信仰群体发挥作用。今年我们纪念新加坡建国两百年，让我们加强决心，守护新加坡和新加坡人的未来。
主席：有需要澄清的问题吗？Pritam Singh 先生。
Pritam Singh 先生（阿裕尼）：主席先生，我的问题是问国防部长。国防部是否可以透露将采购的联合攻击战斗机的型号，是常规起降版本还是短距起飞垂直降落版本？
黄永宏博士：Pritam Singh 先生应该知道有航母版本，我可以向议员确认，我们不会购买那个版本。
主席：还有其他澄清问题吗？Vikram Nair 先生。
Vikram Nair 先生（森巴旺）：感谢部长更新我们关于许多装备全面更新的情况。我想了解这些改装有多少以及在多大程度上会通过我们本地的国防工业在新加坡开发。
黄永宏博士：主席先生，我们的采购政策没有改变，我们依然采购最适合需求的顶级产品。价格是重要考虑因素。但当我说“适合需求”，显然一个关键限制是人力。例如我们的舰艇，最初我们与法国DCN合作建造护卫舰，后来我们自行建造。即使如此，我们从设计到运营都自主完成。因为很少有国家能拥有像我们武装部队那样，能够以较少人员防卫一个小岛的能力。舰艇方面我们采取了这种方式，我认为这很有成效。
空军方面则较少。维护方面，我们通过将任务外包给一些战略合作伙伴的私营公司来解决。陆军方面，我们在某些领域已能自主开发本地能力以满足需求。因此，我认为我们的采购依然注重价格，选择最优产品，但必须符合我们的需求。我们也认识到必须发展本地工业以应对需求，因为即使是私营企业发展能力也需要时间和努力。我们不会完全依赖市场，这不现实。这也是多年来许多公司能够与国防部和武装部队合作满足国防需求的原因。
主席：Vikram Nair 先生，您是否愿意撤回您的修正案？
Vikram Nair 先生：我要感谢黄永宏部长、高志豪资政和莫哈末马利基资政在多个领域的回应，包括给予我们未来25年安全的保证。国民服役安全仍是重点，我们也在投资应对网络威胁和恐怖主义。这些都是重要考量，感谢国防部的努力。主席，我请求撤回修正案。
[(程序文本) 修正案，经许可，撤回。 (程序文本)]
[(程序文本) 头J项下的149亿8120万6800元被批准列入主要预算。 (程序文本)]
[(程序文本) 头J项下的7亿6180万元被批准列入发展预算。 (程序文本)]
英文原文
SPRS Hansard 原始记录 · 抓取日期：2026-05-02
Head J (cont) –
[(proc text) Resumption of Debate on Question [28 February 2019], (proc text)]
[(proc text) "That the total sum to be allocated for Head J of the Estimates to be reduced by $100." − [Mr Vikram Nair]. (proc text)]
[(proc text) Question again proposed. (proc text)]
The Chairman : Minister Ng Eng Hen.
The Minister for Defence (Dr Ng Eng Hen) : Mr Chairman, let me thank Members for their continued commitment to a strong defence for Singapore.
I note the speeches that many Members in this House have given during the Budget Debate. It is particularly gratifying and reassuring for our future, for Singapore's future, that despite Defence, Security, Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs accounting for one-third of our expenditure, that we have got support across the aisle, across parties. I think that is a strong signal that the future for Singapore bodes well.
Last year was a busy year for Singapore. We staged a number of key events on international efforts on the world stage, and in response to Mr Vikram Nair and Ms Sylvia Lim, Singapore's image and standing, because we played host, were enhanced, but it also called for extra and stringent security measures here. In June, Members would remember that the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) deployed at short notice – it was yes, on-off, on-off – and in two weeks, we were asked to host the United States (US)-Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Summit. Because such high-profile events can be attractive targets for terrorists, the SAF mounted a large-scale deployment involving 2,000 personnel, with dozens of aircraft, ships and vehicles, to provide air, land and sea security domes that covered Sentosa and parts of Orchard Road. Our efforts, together with those of the Home Team, proved a deterrent to would-be provocateurs. The SAF mounted a similar operation when Singapore hosted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in November where all the ASEAN Heads of Government and many other foreign dignitaries gathered.
In October last year, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) chaired the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the 5th 18-member ADMM-Plus, which collectively represents four billion people and accounts for 90% of the world’s military. That meeting, we galvanised the ADMM and ADMM-Plus countries to address common security concerns, including counterterrorism and Chemical, Biological and Radiological Defence threats, and we facilitated ASEAN’s adoption of Indonesia’s “Our Eyes” Initiative. It is an initiative which can enhance regional counterterrorism information-sharing. And Singapore will assist Indonesia to set up and operate this facility. This is an important initiative as we prepare to deal with the wave of returning fighters coming back from Iraq and Syria, even as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) loses ground there.
I am also glad to report that under our Chairmanship, ADMM adopted the ASEAN Guidelines for Air Military Encounters (GAME), the first such set of multilateral guidelines in the world, with the support of the ADMM-Plus countries. GAME can prevent disastrous consequences that can result from unplanned encounters between military aircraft in the air. We have also worked on putting the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) – some Members asked about this – it has been put into practice across all ADMM-Plus navies, including during the inaugural ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise in October last year. Later this year, we will use CUES for the ADMM-Plus Maritime Security Exercise, which will include both the US and China. All in all, Singapore did its fair share to enhance regional security and stability. On that score, it was a productive and fruitful year.
In the last few months though, we have had our challenges with Malaysia. Mr Seah Kian Peng had asked about this. Since last November, Malaysian government vessels have repeatedly entered Singapore’s territorial waters off Tuas, over which the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Police Coast Guard (PCG) and Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) vessels have exercised jurisdiction and enforcement without any protest or intrusions from Malaysia for more than two decades. Even now, two Malaysian government vessels continue to be anchored in our territorial waters off Tuas. Singaporeans and Members are familiar with these developments and I need not elaborate. Suffice to say, we have strongly cautioned Malaysia to withdraw their vessels. In fact, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MFA’s) press statement in December last year pointed out that, I quote, “Malaysia’s deployments in this area will not strengthen its legal claim and can only heighten tensions. Malaysia will be responsible for any untoward situations on the ground that arise from continued deployment of its vessels into this area.” And indeed, just as we warned could happen, last month, the Greek bulk carrier Pireas collided with the Malaysian government vessel Polaris. Mercifully, no bodily harm ensued, but it could have been much worse.
Singaporeans will remember the collision between the USS McCain and the oil tanker Alnic off Pedra Branca in August 2017, where 10 crewmen perished. Even so, some in Malaysia have accused Singapore of orchestrating the collision with the Polaris. These false accusations would have been much louder and strident to push for retaliation against Singapore and Singaporeans, if lives had been lost in the recent collision.
Our MFA and the Ministry of Transport (MOT) officials are meeting for discussions and negotiations and the presence of these Malaysian government vessels does not help in any way and, in fact, exposes them to danger and obstructs productive talks. MPA, PCG and RSN are closely monitoring activities in Singapore’s territorial waters off Tuas 24/7 and will remain ever vigilant to guard our sovereignty and rights under international law.
MINDEF will continue its efforts in defence diplomacy. Members have asked that, including Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Vikram Nair. We want to promote regional peace and stability. We make friends with those who are willing, and partner those countries whose interests are aligned with ours and who share our desire for inclusiveness, peaceful resolution of disputes and respect for the law.
11.30 am
But at the same time, we must ensure that the SAF is strong and adequate to defend our rights when diplomacy fails and when others choose to do us harm or ignore our rights. As Prof Fatimah Lateef said, "A strong SAF protects Singapore and Singaporeans." And it has been our persistent investments and efforts to build the Next-Generation SAF that can better respond to the security threats for another generation. These developments are progressing well and I would like to elaborate on that because many Members of Parliament have asked how do we respond to different scenarios of threats that will come upon us in this generation. And we have to prepare for the future because it takes that period of time to build up that kind of SAF.
First, homeland security. The Mumbai attack in 2008 showed us the devastating destruction that can come from the sea, and we are surrounded by seas. To deter and mitigate external attacks against Singapore, we will beef up security for our entire coastline. SAF will add more optical sensors and coastal radars to deter and detect potential threats. We will build more unmanned watch towers for better coverage of the busy traffic across the Singapore Strait. We will also add unmanned surface vessels to patrol our waters, beginning next year.
Members have asked for more details on our modernisation of the Next-Generation SAF – Mr Vikram Nair, Mr Pritam Singh, Prof Fatimah Lateef, Mr Chong Kee Hiong and Mr Charles Chong – so, let me elaborate. Our plans to build the Next-Generation SAF to better respond to security threats are progressing well for all three services. With your permission, Mr Chairman, I would like to display some slides on the LED screens and also ask for the handout to be distributed.
The Chairman : Please do. [ A handout was distributed to hon Members. ]
Dr Ng Eng Hen : Let me begin with the air. Mr Henry Kwek has asked about the F-35s. We have announced our plans to replace the F-16s, which will face obsolescence post-2030, with the F-35s. This will mean that the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) fighter fleet will consist of F-35s and F-15SGs, if plans come to fruition a decade or so from now.
As stated previously, MINDEF will issue a Letter of Request (LOR) to the US to acquire F-35s. As required by US law for foreign military sales, the US Congress must approve the sale of F-35s. Our LOR will request an initial acquisition of four F-35s, with the option of a subsequent eight if we decide to proceed. Singapore has the endorsement of both the US Administration and the Department of Defense for our proposed purchase of F-35s. But the Congress must still approve it. In fact, President Trump wrote to Prime Minister Lee last month welcoming Singapore's plans to acquire the F-35s. During my meeting with Acting Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan at the Munich Security Conference two weeks ago, he also said that the US was greatly appreciative of Singapore's decision and his department supported it.
A word on price. The price of F-35s has been steadily falling due to healthy orders from the US and 10 other countries, including the United Kingdom (UK), Italy, Australia, Japan and South Korea. The Defence Science and Technology Agency's (DSTA's) assessment is that now is an opportune time to put in Singapore's request. The current unit price of the F-35 ranges from US$90 million to US$115 million per aircraft, comparable to what we have paid for our F-15SGs. The Total Cost of Ownership of a fleet of F-35s, including maintenance across its lifespan, will also be similar to our F-15SGs. Nonetheless, MINDEF will continue to work with the US Department of Defense to optimise operating and maintenance costs.
RSAF will also take delivery of new helicopters from 2020 onwards. The H225M medium-lift and our Chinook heavy-lift helicopters will replace our existing Super Puma and CH-47D fleets. These new helicopters will add capacity and be more effective in Search and Rescue or Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations.
That is for the Air Force. Let me move on to the Navy.
For RSN, our submarines in operation are over two decades old. We will replace them with four new Invincible-class submarines. The first was launched recently in Germany, with the other three being built. The Invincible-class submarines will have longer endurance, and also the latest locally-developed sensors and automated systems designed for optimal use in our surrounding waters. We have launched our submarines lately in Kiel, facing the North Sea. We launched our previous class of submarines in the Baltic Sea. Those waters there are much colder. So, we have to optimise them for our warm waters here. We aim to have a full fleet of four Invincible-class submarines by 2025.
For surface ships, our ageing missile corvettes have served with distinction since 1989. They are also "Pioneer Generation" that will have to be retired soon, and they will be replaced by the new Multi-Role Combat Vessels (MRCVs). The first of these will be delivered around 2025, with full delivery expected by 2030. More than just improving capabilities, the new MRCVs will incorporate many new ideas. First of all, they will use less manpower. Many Members of Parliament have pointed out how we will deal with the one-third reduction in manpower. The MRCVs will use less manpower, about half the size of that found in modern frigates. This is quite an achievement. This is possible because we designed it from the onset, custom-built for lean manning, using technologies which automate many functions, including maintenance.
As a result, there is also a cost saving of up to 10% in operating them, compared to other similar-sized frigates. The MRCVs will also have more unmanned air and sea drones. So, it would not be just a manned ship, it will have air and sea drones and modular packages to extend their reach and flexibility against threats. Many Members are familiar with our Landing Ship Tanks (LSTs). I think many Members have sailed on them and they proved their worth time and again. Each time we deploy them in exercises, we say we are so grateful that we have this platform. So versatile and able to meet mission objectives. It has been the workhorse in our humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) efforts and other missions. The LSTs are ageing, too, and will need to be replaced in the next decade by larger and more flexible Joint Multi-Mission Ships.
Let me move on to the Army.
For the Army, the Next-Generation Armoured Fighting Vehicle will replace our M113 Ultras as the mainstay of the SAF's mechanised forces from this year onwards. Singaporeans will see them soon on our roads at this year's National Day Parade. These Armoured Fighting Vehicles have better armour protection and mobility through urban environments. Another addition to the Army will be the Next-Generation Howitzers with extended range and greater precision strikes compared to our current platforms.
I have talked about air, land and sea manned platforms, but the signature change for the SAF 2030 and beyond is that the SAF will become more of a hybrid force. We will use many more unmanned platforms. Some of the RSAF's unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been operating for more than a decade. They will be replaced by newer UAVs with better capabilities over the next few years. I mentioned the MRCVs and unmanned surface vessels, too. But in the Army, soldiers within the Army will soon use micro-UAVs, your own UAV or the UAV for your unit, for the first time, which will be particularly useful in built-up and urban environments. These unmanned platforms will complement traditional manned equipment, to enhance responses across a full range of operational scenarios.
In all, the Next-Generation SAF of 2030 and beyond, with this full complement of assets in air, land and sea, will be able to defend Singapore for another generation. This is the SAF that will take us into and guard our future. This is the SAF that our investments have bought or will buy. This is the SAF on air, land and sea with which the next generation of Singaporeans will celebrate for SG75.
By then, we will have a state-of-the-art coastal surveillance network and air defence systems to form a shield around Singapore against incoming threats. RSAF will fly F-35s and F-15SGs over our skies, supported by A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft, G550 Airborne Early Warning Aircraft, new helicopters and a host of new UAVs. RSN will have MRCVs, Invincible-class submarines, new unmanned surface vessels and larger Joint Multi-Mission Ships, in addition to existing frigates and Littoral Mission Vessels. The Army will be more protected and mobile, with soldiers mounted in Next-Generation Armoured Fighting Vehicles and Terrex Motorised Vehicles. Leopard tanks, HIMARS and Next-Generation Howitzers will support them, complemented by a full suite of combat engineers, signals, logistics and maintenance platforms.
But hardware alone would not build you a strong army and a strong military. We will have to have new training facilities both here and overseas which will ensure that our National Servicemen (NSmen) and Regulars can build a modern and capable SAF that can defend Singapore and our interests. I know Members here have asked that, Mr Zainal Sapari, amongst others.
The SAF of 2030 and beyond has been designed to be operated with a leaner manpower pool. Mr Baey Yam Keng, Mr Chong Kee Hiong, Mr Zainal Sapari and Mr Pritam Singh asked about this. In other words, we design the SAF of 2030 and beyond to work with a reduction of manpower supply by a third after 2030. I have already mentioned the MRCVs for the Navy which need a smaller crew.
The Next-Generation Howitzer which I mentioned earlier will only need three men to operate, compared to nine now. So, it is a significant reduction, and yet the Next-Generation Howitzer will fire more rounds accurately per minute. Autonomous and automated systems will reduce labour-intensive tasks, for example, runway damage assessment of our air bases and air strips. The modern systems and platforms of the SAF can also be operated by NSmen who are not Physical Employment Standard (PES) A or B and, therefore, effectively increase our utilisation of manpower pool. Pari passu with the acquisition of hardware, we will also invest more into training facilities for SAF soldiers.
I last spoke to this House about the SAF Training Institute (SAFTI) City in 2017. The Pioneer and Merdeka Generations are all too familiar with the old SAFTI – you would remember FOFO Hill, Peng Kang Hill, the Pasir Laba Boat Shed and Elephant Hill. We charged up them and sometimes charged down them. SAFTI City will complement these traditional terrains with urban settings to better prepare our soldiers for a wide variety of operations in the 21st century. SAFTI City will be a wired city. We talked about our SMART City; we are hoping that SAFTI City will be a smart training ground.
We will use more simulation and detailed monitoring to help our soldiers to learn better. It will be a far cry from the days that we did our NS and charged up hills or against enemy battalions shouting, "Bang, bang, bang, bang!", and they shouted, "Bang, bang, bang, bang!" back.
This method is not new. For instance, our fighter pilots have been using this for decades to train for high-speed manoeuvres. After every manoeuvre, they sit down and say, "All right, you say what you did, he says what he did." This is the objective. They showed the tracks, they showed where your weaknesses are. And they have been able to do that because planes are expensive and pilots even more so. But it is only now that modern technology allows us to scale this up for the same processes for individual soldiers within the Army.
So, we have been doing this over the years where you can no longer assume that you have hit the target, and you actually have electric sensors on soldiers, on platforms, and the attrition rate is real. And I am glad to report that SAFTI City is taking shape and is on schedule. We will build more roads and bridges so that motorised and mechanised troops in the Army vehicles can start training this year. SAFTI City will be progressively built and will have more than 200 buildings of varying heights and types when completed, all wired up.
11.45 am
But with this kind of SAF for 2030 and beyond we can move great distances. Our Terrexes can move 70 kilometres per hour (km/h), and our Leopards close to that, slower perhaps across more difficult terrain. But if we only had space to train in Singapore, you could reach one end to the other within less than an hour. So, we will need larger training spaces. In particular, the training areas at Shoalwater Bay will be expanded. There will be new developments in the Townsville Region in Northeast Australia. Under the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, new facilities, such as Instrumented Combined Arms Air Land Ranges and Urban Operations Live-Firing Facilities, are on track to being built. I said that very quickly, but an air-land range is priceless. We can only do this in very few places now – some in the US because they have the land. It allows for coordinated strikes between land and air platforms. So, when these facilities are completed over the coming years, we will be able to train large groups of troops for up to 18 weeks annually, a significant increase from the current six to seven weeks, or about a three-fold increase.
Many Members have talked about digital defence. I completely agree. It is a battlefront that we cannot choose to ignore or we ignore it at our peril. Mr Charles Chong, Mr Desmond Choo, Prof Fatimah Lateef and Dr Tan Wu Meng have spoken about this. I spoke to this House about the threat of hybrid warfare and its effect on the real world previously. We have seen this played out against the Baltic States and Ukraine, to name some. And as a culturally and ethnically diverse nation, we, too, are vulnerable to such hybrid attacks, including targeting of our information technology (IT) networks to disrupt services and capabilities.
Members have asked what is our progress of protecting this front and building up a force to protect this front. Two years ago, I announced the set-up of the Defence Cyber Organisation (DCO). DCO has stood up the Defence Cyber Security Centre. In other words, we have this Defence Cybersecurity Centre within MINDEF and SAF for daily operations against cyber threats against MINDEF and SAF IT systems, especially our command-and-control computer networks. In place are incident response teams which can also be deployed to support other national agencies during cyberattacks on critical systems.
To meet these needs, SAF has to expand the pool of regulars for the cyber domain, and they will be Military Domain Experts Scheme (MDES) personnel, as well as the non-uniformed Defence Cyber Experts. We have recently announced that more than 300 will be hired in the first phase.
But full-time NSmen (NSFs), too, can play an important part in digital defence, just as they do for kinetic operations. I think that was the point by Mr Zainal Sapari and Mr Vikram Nair. The 59-strong pioneer batch of the Cyber NSF Scheme enlisted in late 2018 after passing two rounds of rigorous tests. They are now undergoing an eight-month-long Cyber Specialist Cadet Course, in partnership with the Singapore Institute of Technology, and will graduate this August. We expect to take in another 80 to 90 Cyber Specialists this year to beef up our cyber units.
Just as we have done for kinetic operations – many of you are familiar with our SAF firing ranges, many of you have fired there – well, we have a cyber range as well – the Cyber Defence Test and Evaluation Centre. In this cyber range, our cyber soldiers are exposed to realistic training. We have created a mock-up, a simulation of the SAF’s networks and online traffic, and we use actual malware and attacks against these nodes. Like in live firing ranges, you are supposed to shoot straight, the SAF aims to train soldiers that can respond to these attacks in a realistic and challenging environment.
SAF will also tap on NSmen with IT expertise as a result of their civilian jobs or training. One example is the existing NS Expertise Conversion Scheme. It allows non-officer NSmen with industry expertise to become MDES officers for cyber vocations. MINDEF and SAF are exploring better matching of NSmen with their civilian IT vocations.
All of us have a part to play in Digital Defence for Total Defence. In Singapore’s digital fortress, we are only as strong as the weakest link, and Senior Minister of State Mohamed Maliki will share more.
These acquisitions in hardware and facilities, together with the will and skills of our NSmen and NSFs that make up the bulk of the SAF, will put us in a good position to deal with security challenges for another generation. If all these plans come to pass – and I will add that it will take us 10 to 15 years – SAF will be one of the more capable militaries in the region.
Our NSFs and NSmen will be able to train well and, most importantly, must train safely. The Inspector-General for Safety has been recently appointed and the office expanded with more safety officers. A number of Members talked about safety – Mr Charles Chong, Mr Chong Kee Hiong, Mr Zainal Sapari. The Commanding Officers of individual units have also been charged with the responsibility and accountability of safety standards and outcomes. As a routine, the Commanding Officer will identify activities each day that pose higher safety risks to his servicemen and women, and satisfy himself that the safety response plan and mitigating measures for such activities are adequate. Safety is, more than ever, a command responsibility, but each soldier must play his role, too. And we are doing this so that we can have realistic training because, if you cannot train safely, you will be set back. Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How will address in greater detail the measures the SAF will take to achieve zero training fatalities.
MINDEF has also decided to build a central facility to better respond to the needs of the NS community. A new NS Hub will be built. It will bring together different services which are now scattered across Singapore. For example, today, pre-enlistees take their Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) at, say, Toa Payoh Stadium, then go to Depot Road Central Manpower Base, and then attend medical reviews at the Military Medicine Institute (MMI) in Kent Ridge. The new NS Hub will take all these services scattered across the island and put them into a central location. Where is this magical central location? It will be opposite Cashew Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station, with easy access. The NS Hub will be built as a smart complex using modern technology for a seamless, user-friendly experience. Opposite Cashew MRT station in MINDEF land. Do not worry, we will not take it from anybody. Construction will begin this year, and our NSmen can look forward to their NS Hub by 2023.
Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How will elaborate on the other measures to enhance the NS experience.
Mr Chairman, let me conclude. To develop such a capable SAF that I have just described, which can protect Singapore’s interests and keep Singaporeans safe for another generation, will require significant and steady investments. I make no bones about it. It will require resources and our commitment. I am grateful to Members of this House and Singaporeans for their steadfast and unwavering support towards a strong SAF.
As I have previously committed to this House, we expect our nominal defence spending over the next decade to grow at 3% to 4% each year, to at least keep pace with inflation. This year's Budget represented a 4.8% increase over last year. The commitment that I have put over the next decade of 3% to 4% holds despite this year's increase. There were just certain projects or acquisitions that have matured and, therefore, we have to spend more. However, the overall defence expenditure will even out in subsequent years.
Defence, especially for a small island like Singapore, is crucial if we are to safeguard our interests and deter aggression. Singapore is on track to build a modernised tri-service SAF – and perhaps even a quadri-service SAF, including the cyber force – that can meet security challenges both in the real and virtual worlds in the 21st century. If we continue our steady investments into defence and our NSmen maintain their commitment and resolve to defend Singapore, then our future will be secure for another generation. We can look forward to celebrate SG75 with the assurance that we have strong defences.
The Chairman : Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How.
The Senior Minister of State for Defence (Mr Heng Chee How) : Mr Chairman, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen has just spoken about the need for NSmen to train well and to train safely. Indeed, the strength of NS is contingent upon the fighting spirit of our NSmen. Our servicemen must undergo tough and realistic military training for the SAF to be an effective fighting force capable of safeguarding Singapore’s sovereignty. At the same time, a strong SAF that can defend Singapore must be built without compromising the safety of those serving.
Mr Charles Chong asked about balancing operational readiness and safety. We understand the anxiety of our soldiers and their families arising from the recent training-related incidents. MINDEF and SAF take the trust, confidence and expectations that Singaporeans have in our NS system seriously.
The SAF’s safety protocols are audited and assessed by independent professionals from outside SAF. This is done consistently. Allow me to share two examples. The External Review Panel on SAF Safety is a standing panel commissioned to assess the SAF’s safety management systems and help ensure that the SAF’s standards and processes are sound and aligned with industry best practices. More recently, the External Review Panels for Heat Injury Management and the External Review Panel for Combat Vehicle Safety were convened in 2018. They assessed the safety procedures to prevent heat injuries and to ensure the operational safety of vehicles. Where shortcomings are discovered, SAF has and will sharpen safety measures to further reduce the risks and to prevent recurrences.
Just as a further point, the Army will strengthen training supervision and enhance safety equipment to improve combat vehicle safety. These and other specific measures that we shared in this House, we will implement them as soon as possible, and some have already been implemented. This demonstrates our unwavering commitment to safety.
We will not only address individual incidents but will seek to enhance training safety at every level of responsibility. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim asked about how the SAF is strengthening safety culture at all levels of the SAF. As the Minister for Defence has highlighted earlier, an Inspector-General's Office has been set up to inspect and audit the safety practices across SAF. This Office, led by the Chief of Staff – Joint Staff, reports to the Chief of Defence Force and the Permanent Secretary of Defence to enforce safety procedures and to reinforce safety consciousness and culture from the highest level so as to ensure that command emphasis on safety is consistently applied.
On the ground, SAF has renewed the focus of commanders on safety. Commanders have comprehensively reviewed safety management plans and the overall training tempo. They know that they must lead by example in driving safety as a topmost priority. The Army will also ensure 100% inspection of all high-risk and field training. We want, through concrete action, to reassure Singaporeans that training safety is a top priority for MINDEF and SAF.
12.00 pm
Ultimately, safety involves everything that I have mentioned, but it also involves more than sound systems and top-down measures. Safety must be part of our organisational culture, one that every soldier at every level has a role to own, to build and to foster.
SAF encourages open reporting. Mr Charles Chong asked about this. What does it mean by open reporting? Open reporting means that any servicemen can, at any time, report risky behaviour or near-misses and safety breaches. And the servicemen know that they can do so without any fear of penalty. They can call the 24-hour safety hotlines for the Army, Navy and the Air Force, and caller identities are kept anonymous. There are other measures by which they can also surface the feedback. So, the open reporting is about wanting to engender and to ensure openness in the culture, that you are encouraged, indeed, to bring this up.
On enlistment day, recruits are briefed by commanders on how they can report safety breaches. Prior to training, soldiers can identify safety risks using risk assessment checklists and raise concerns to their superiors in a small group setting. This encourages them to look out for their own and their buddies’ safety.
Since last year, SAF has been developing an application called "SafeGuardian", which will allow SAF servicemen to use their mobile phones to report workplace hazards and instantly share them with other servicemen. So, when servicemen are in camp, if they notice, for example, some sharp wire fittings that could potentially cause injury, then that serviceman can take a photo of that using the "SafeGuardian" app and inform the relevant SAF safety officers, so that immediate action can be taken to remove that hazard and to remove that risk. Their buddies nearby will also be informed via safety alerts to their mobile phones.
"SafeGuardian" can also provide access to safety checklists on-the-go, compared to the moment where these forms are only available in physical terminals within the camps.
So, this app will begin its trial in our Naval Bases starting from March this year. It will be implemented in phases to the rest of the SAF as soon as possible.
This effort will help enhance safety consciousness and reinforce the point that safety is "By All, For All".
Miss Cheng Li Hui asked if we could recognise fallen servicemen, including erecting a memorial. SAF honours our servicemen and women who die in service. Every year, SAF observes a minute of silence at the SAF Day Parade to remember our fallen soldiers in the presence of our President or the Prime Minister as the Reviewing Officer. Individual units or formations also hold remembrance events to honour those among their ranks who perish during operations or training. We will never forget their sacrifice to keep Singapore free from those who want to do us harm.
On this note, we also want to thank all our NSmen for their commitment and dedication. Allow me now to speak on how we will enhance the experience for our NSmen.
Mr Zainal Sapari asked about the importance of NS to Singapore. Securing Singapore’s freedom is a sacred duty shouldered by our NSmen. It is only right that we continually think of ways to support them.
Our NSmen have to balance personal and NS commitments, and we must strive to increase convenience for them by reducing administrative burdens wherever possible. This will help them focus on the training. We will also maximise the potential and tap into the abilities of our increasingly better-educated pool of servicemen, so that they can contribute even more meaningfully. Mr Baey Yam Keng had asked for updates on our efforts.
Our operationally-ready NSmen (ORNS) are required to notify the MINDEF Notification Centre and Home Team Overseas Notification Centre of their overseas travel of less than six months' duration, which can currently be done via the NS Portal or by text. From 1 March today, we will remove this notification requirement. Servicemen just have to keep their contact details, including temporary contact information, updated on the NS Portal.
Removing this requirement will not compromise operational readiness, because other exit control measures, such as the requirement to apply for an Exit Permit before traveling overseas for periods of six months or longer, will continue to apply. Control measures could be tightened if the need arises.
Mr Pritam Singh and Mr Chong Kee Hiong asked how we intend to maximise our manpower resource with falling cohort sizes. How can we do more with fewer?
Besides better technology, equipment, process and job redesign and training of the NSmen, many NSmen also have very relevant and important niche civilian expertise in fields that are relevant both to the civilian side as well as to the military, for example, in nursing or infocommunications. NSmen with such expertise can now contribute to defence with their civilian expertise earlier in their ORNS training cycle. Previously, they had to complete the full 10-year training cycle before conversion to a role that allows them to utilise their civilian expertise. Now, if they are found suitable, they can be deployed to roles, such as nursing officers and network communications officers, after completing two High-Key In-Camp Training stints and have served five ORNS years.
Another example: pre-enlistees are screened at the SAF Medical Classification Centre prior to enlistment. They will then be assigned an appropriate PES grade, so that each person can serve the nation based on his capacity and capabilities, and this would include NSFs with disabilities. For instance, soldiers with hearing impairment or musculoskeletal disabilities, where found suitable, are assigned to support or administrative vocations, where they are deployed safely and are able to also contribute very meaningfully during their NS stints.
We certainly also value the contributions from women to national defence. Since 2014, women have served in the SAF Volunteer Corps in areas that support the SAF’s operational and training requirements. Our pool of SAF volunteers comprises a good mix of males and females, with about half being women.
Mr Arasu Duraisamy asked about our partnerships to support skills upgrading. NSFs from SAF and the Home Team dedicate two years to focus on full-time training. Today, certain soldiering, firefighting and rescue competencies are accredited under the Workforce Skills Qualification standard.
To keep pace with the national focus on skills mastery, we seek to support the NSFs’ transition to higher education or into the workplace. A suite of initiatives called "SkillsFuture@NS" will be launched this year with public and private sector partners.
What can our NSFs, therefore, look forward to under these partnerships?
First, more resources for skills upgrading after full-time NS. Today, NSFs are granted $350 worth of e-credits for them to subscribe to about 200 online courses, that is, the course list, and these courses are offered by our local universities and polytechnics. These e-credits are valid up to one year after they complete full-time NS.
We will extend the use of these credits to about 3,000 selected courses, up from the 200, and amongst these courses will be a good number of SkillsFuture Series courses that focus on emerging domains, such as data analytics and cybersecurity. We are also working with Institutes of Higher Learning to offer customised courses. NSFs may take these courses to obtain credit exemptions from relevant diploma or degree programmes after they complete their full-time NS. E-credits can also be used for these courses.
For example, NSFs can use their e-credits to take a course on "Introduction to Cloud Architecture" that is offered by the Temasek Polytechnic (TP). Upon admission to TP’s part-time Specialist Diploma in Cloud Data Centre Technology and Management, participants who complete these online courses will be granted partial exemption from one module. This will go some way towards supporting our NSFs’ learning journey.
Second, career discovery and exposure. This month, MINDEF/SAF will co-deliver a career orientation experience with SkillsFuture Singapore. This initiative is supported by our five Community Development Councils and the National Trades Union Congress Employment and Employability Institute (e2i). SkillsFuture Advice workshops will be customised at the quarterly Career and Education Fair held for NSFs.
We conducted a pilot of this career orientation workshop at Jurong Camp. One of our combat engineers, 21-year-old Corporal Ritesh Kumar, said the workshop helped him understand the various pathways available after he completes his full-time NS. He felt that this gave him and his buddies more useful guidance about their next stage in life. We will take in our servicemen’s feedback and suggestions to refine and improve the SkillsFuture@NS effort in the years ahead.
Next, strengthening support for NS. Mr Henry Kwek asked about our plans to engage the community on NS issues. First, I want to express our thanks to the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) members for their valuable contributions towards the mission of working with educational institutions, businesses and community groups to strengthen community and total support for our defence and NS.
One of the highlights through the good work of ACCORD in 2018 was the inaugural Women’s Boot Camp. One hundred and three women out of 1,000 were selected for the camp. So, 1,000 applied for 100 places. So, in the end, 103 were accommodated for this two-day one-night camp. So, it was an overnight camp. That camp gave the women participants, whom I understand have ages that range from 13 to 64. So, it was a wide range. Therefore, in there, there are daughters, mothers, sisters, wives, girlfriends, friends of servicemen, and what they got was a glimpse of military life. They came out seeing NS as tough, but necessary.
One of them is 50-year-old Ms Koh Wee Min. She is a mother of one of our NSFs. When asked about her experience, Ms Koh said that it gave her a taste of some aspects of military life through participation in iconic NS activities, such as clearing the Standard Obstacle Course. She said, "I can now support my son emotionally and psychologically. It will also allay some concerns I have about training safety as I could see that safety is paramount to their training. It is reassuring to know that servicemen will get progressive training before they tackle more challenging tasks."
This year, we will run another camp so as to continue to engage our community and also this very important constituency, namely, the other half of our population, the women, so that, together, we can strengthen this support for NS and for the defence of our country.
Our servicemen have told us that sharing photographs of their NS experiences in camp would also help them build a stronger sense of community. MINDEF and SAF have been exploring ways to allow servicemen to share their personal NS memories and experiences online, while safeguarding security of sensitive information.
We are now working on a digital repository called "NS Memories" that will give NSmen access to official photographs of themselves and their buddies. Over time, the repository will catalogue the experiences throughout the NS journey. It will allow servicemen to share these photographs on their social media. We will conduct a trial with an active infantry unit for "NS Memories" this year. If proven successful, we will expand the initiative.
Mr Chairman, the success of NS is measured by the peace safeguarded and maintained, day in, day out, year after year. Every day of peace that Singapore enjoys is testament to the effectiveness of our deterrence, diplomacy and defence. With a strong and resilient NS system that enjoys wide and deep public support, we can continue to be confident about Singapore’s future.
The Senior Minister of State for Defence (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) : Mr Chairman, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen has spoken about the uncertain and volatile geopolitical environment that confronts us, and how a strong SAF is vital to help us navigate this landscape for Singapore.
12.15 pm
History has shown us that having a strong defence makes all the difference. This is why our long-term and sustained investment in the SAF and Total Defence is vital for Singapore’s continued security and prosperity.
When Total Defence was first introduced in 1984, it was in response to a threat landscape where warfare was very much conventional. However, even then, there was a recognition that potential aggressors would target not just the military, but the entire population.
As threats evolve, Total Defence becomes even more critical. Take terrorism, for example. The face of terrorism has changed, from kinetic attacks spearheaded by Al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah in the early 2000s, to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria's (ISIS’) more insidious attempts to radicalise and recruit followers through the use of technology and social media, to deepen distrust among the communities and sow discontent with the establishment. They even fund and instruct their members and sympathisers to launch terror attacks like suicide bombings in their own countries. ISIS may have lost ground in the Middle East, but links to our region remain alive. The return of foreign fighters exacerbates this threat.
In this age of the Internet and social media, the resilience of Singaporeans will be tested through attacks from the digital front. This will be the new battlefront because of how connected we are, and how reliant we are on digital technology to communicate and to consume information. Singapore has one of the highest levels of Internet penetration in the world, and according to a study done by media company “We Are Social” in 2018, people in Singapore spent an average of two hours daily on social media, with WhatsApp, YouTube and Facebook being the top three most used platforms. Sir, our connectivity opens us to threats from the digital domain, which will confront and define this generation. Many examples in Singapore and overseas illustrate the devastating impact that these threats can wreak.
The Digital Dangers and the Need for Strong Digital Defence. Sir, for example, Estonia was one of the first countries in the world to experience this in April 2007 when a cyberattack caused online services of their banks, media outlets and government to be shut down. Citizens could not access cash machines and online banking services; news could not be printed nor broadcasted. More than 10 years on, cyberattacks in various forms remain a tool for those who would do harm to us.
Another example, in July 2018, more recently, the Alaskan borough of Matanuska-Susitna or Mat-su, was, as a British Broadcasting Corporation article describes, sent “back in time” by a malware attack which forced them offline, resulting in some borough staff having to bring out old typewriters just to keep services going.
Another challenge is how quickly information – and disinformation – can spread over the digital domain. The recent riots that broke out at a Hindu temple in Subang Jaya, Malaysia, showed how the spread of rumours and fake news via social media just overnight could fan the flames of racial tensions, and incite social unrest. As Ms Joan Pereira noted, it is important for us to keep our Social Defence strong, so that we stay united against any attempts to divide us. All communities and faiths have worked hard to build our multicultural and multi-religious society today. We must not let falsehoods pit different social groups against one another.
Many of these digital dangers show that complacency, ignorance or negligence on the part of individuals could pave the way for an attack with disastrous consequences. A January 2019 report by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's (NATO’s) Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence outlined how their researchers managed to track and trick NATO troops using open-source data primarily from social media. It was concerning how it was so easy for the researchers to identify troops, locate their battalions, persuade them to abandon their posts and reveal sensitive details about military manoeuvres. This example shows how much people take their online lives for granted and are unaware about how the seemingly innocuous information they post about their lives can be used for harm not just for themselves, but for the wider society.
And Singapore is not spared. We know how hackers stole the information of 1.5 million SingHealth patients. We have also seen the spread of fake news on a wide range of matters, for example, plastic rice or Halal pork, to, more insidiously, false accounts of incidents that could inflame xenophobia, communalism and puncture social harmony.
This is why we have strengthened Total Defence with a new Digital Defence pillar. Ms Joan Pereira and Dr Teo Ho Pin asked about our Digital Defence efforts. We want to bring across the message that every individual is at the forefront of Digital Defence, and this is not a cliché. It is of great significance and, as articulated in an editorial in The Straits Times, and I quote, “every citizen is a soldier in the digital war”, unquote. Only if everyone plays a part – the Government, businesses, communities and individuals – can we make Digital Defence a part of Singapore’s DNA and keep our defence total.
As a whole-of-nation effort, MINDEF has been working with various Government agencies to fortify Singapore and Singaporeans against digital threats. The Ministry of Communications and Information and its agencies, the Cyber Security Agency, the Infocomm Media Development Authority and the National Library Board (NLB) have in place various programmes to empower individuals, businesses and the wider community, so that they can play a part by being secure, alert and responsible online. In the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Singapore Police Force has developed further its capabilities to deal with cybercrime and educates the public on staying safe in cyberspace. As Minister Ng Eng Hen spoke about earlier, we have strengthened our defence sector networks through setting up the Defence Cyber Organisation and ensuring that we have a strong core and pipeline of people with the right skills and expertise to do this work.
We will also ensure that our Servicemen are prepared for threats from the digital domain. We are working with NLB to have all recruits going through Basic Military Training (BMT) attend an information literacy workshop to equip them to better recognise and deal with fake news and deliberate online falsehoods. For the rest of our personnel, MINDEF and SAF will inoculate them against hostile information campaigns and fake news, as well as strengthen cybersecurity awareness through enhancing our existing curriculum and learning journeys. We hope that, collectively, these efforts will help our Servicemen better understand the role of fake news in modern warfare, the steps that they can take in response, and strengthen cyber hygiene as a whole.
For students, issues related to Digital Defence are already in the Ministry of Education's curriculum and will be reinforced through digital literacy and Cyber Wellness programmes. Ms Joan Pereira asked about how we are reaching out to our youths. We refreshed the “Guardians of the City” game card this year to include threats from the digital domain. Students who have played the refreshed game felt it helped them better understand these threats and how they can play a part. For example, the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College East student Deshaun Lau shared with us, and I quote, “Playing the game helped me realise that when we face digital threats, we must stay together as a community, and remind one another to take steps to prevent these attacks”, unquote.
Businesses, too, are putting Digital Defence in action. A workplace design company, Space Matrix, has not only invested in cybersecurity systems, but also trained their staff to keep these threats at bay. Digital threats hit close to home when someone impersonated their chief executive officer via email and asked the staff for a funds transfer. They did not fall victim, thanks to the vigilance of their staff, who recognised the false email identification. The company subsequently finetuned their systems to better protect themselves for the future.
Keeping Singapore Strong Together. While we step up efforts in Digital Defence, the multifaceted threats of today mean that to keep Singapore strong, we need a collective effort where everyone plays a part and takes action across all six pillars of Total Defence. Mr Chairman, may I say a few words in Malay, please?
( In Malay ) : [ Please refer to Vernacular Speech .] Mr Chairman, the recent maritime and airspace disputes between Singapore and Malaysia have reinforced the importance of Total Defence for us. Our security agencies stand ready and vigilant to safeguard our sovereignty. Singaporeans also need to remain united and stand firm on our principles to protect our national interests. Therefore, it has been heartening to see how many Singaporeans have taken to social media to counter false claims and show support for Singapore’s position. One example is a post by Mr John Lam, who encouraged fellow Singaporeans to remain calm and civil when the maritime dispute between Singapore and Malaysia became tense. He used examples from Singapore’s past to show how we, as one people, have overcome our constraints, and came out stronger. For instance, when we were faced with the threats to cut our water supplies, we invested in water filtration and desalination technologies and developed our own NEWater treatment plants. When faced with a sand import ban, we developed innovative and environmentally-friendly ways of using less sand for reclamation.
What Mr Lam and many others have done embody what Psychological Defence is about – our people staying united and resolving to stand up for Singapore. Members of this House, like Ms Cheng Li Hui, have acknowledged the importance of this as well. The recent bilateral tensions between Singapore and Malaysia have helped Singaporeans better understand what we stand for, and why it is so important for us to take these positions on upholding our territorial sovereignty and operating within a rules-based international order. Our small size and the volatility in our region show how crucial it is for Singaporeans to remain committed to our own defence, and having a strong Singapore Armed Forces.
( In English ): I spoke earlier about how the terrorism threat is here to stay. Security agencies will do all we can to prevent an attack, but, even if one takes place, it is important that every Singaporean knows what to do so that we can hold together, and bounce back quickly as a society.
We commend ground-up initiatives that put Total Defence in action in this way, such as the example of the young Singaporeans who came together to develop the Bukit Panjang Emergency Preparedness Guide, with the support of Bukit Panjang Community Emergency and Engagement Committee, as Dr Teo Ho Pin had shared.
12.30 pm
To build emergency preparedness, we have put in place the Community Response Module that equips MINDEF and SAF personnel to be active community responders by teaching them skills to better protect themselves and help those around them in the event of a terror attack. This complements MHA's SGSecure effort, which continues to build vigilance, cohesion and resilience in the community to deal with a terror attack. MINDEF's Total Defence partnerships with organisations, such as the Singapore Red Cross and Temasek Foundation Cares, also equip people with the knowledge and skills that they can apply in a crisis. For example, the Business Psychological Resilience Programme, part of Temasek Foundation Cares' "Stay Prepared" initiative, trains employees of companies in skills like psychological first aid.
MINDEF has also been actively reaching out to our youths and the wider community on Total Defence, and it is heartening to see how they have rallied around Total Defence. One example is our five students from Temasek Polytechnic – Benedict, Gabriel, Jed, Martin and Shing Hao. They developed a prototype Total Defence mobile application game, named "The Lion City". The game highlights how simple everyday actions can contribute towards building a strong and cohesive nation. The game's developers hope that by doing so, they can inspire their fellow youths to play their part and put Total Defence into action.
Sir, in conclusion, Singapore has enjoyed peace and prosperity as we have a strong SAF, a strong NS system, and strong public support for defence and security. Thirty-five years on and after the launch of Total Defence, we must continue to involve all communities and faiths to play their part. As we commemorate the Singapore Bicentennial this year, let us strengthen our resolve to safeguard our future of Singapore and Singaporeans.
The Chairman : Any clarifications? Mr Pritam Singh.
Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied) : Chairman, Sir, my question is to the Minister of Defence. Is MINDEF at liberty to share whether the variant of the Joint Strike Fighter that is going to be procured, is it the conventional take-off and landing version or the short take-off and the vertical landing version?
Dr Ng Eng Hen : Mr Pritam Singh would be aware that there is an aircraft carrier version, and I can confirm with the Member that we are not buying that one.
The Chairman : Any other further clarifications? Mr Vikram Nair.
Mr Vikram Nair (Sembawang) : I thank the Minister for the update on the complete renewal taking place for many of our equipment. I am interested to know how much and to what extent these modifications will be developed in Singapore through our local defence industries.
Dr Ng Eng Hen : Mr Chairman, there is no change in that sense in our procurement policies where we get the best of class for our needs. Price is a significant consideration. But also, when I say for our needs, obviously, a key restriction is manpower. And if we look at, for example, our ships, the reason why we went to local production, first of all in our frigates, which we did with French DCN, and then we built our own. Even with that, we designed it from conception to operation. Because few other nations are able to have the SAF that we have that is able to defend a small island and have to do so with fewer people. So, for the ships, we went in that way. I think that has paid dividends.
For Air Force, less so. From a maintenance point of view, we dealt with the issue by contracting it to some of our strategic partners, private companies. For the Army, some, we have been able to do on our own to develop indigenous capability for local needs. So, I would say that our procurement is still price-sensitive, best of class, but platforms that meet our needs. And where we can, we also recognise that we must develop a local industry to be able to respond because even developing that capability for private practice requires time and effort. And we do not leave it, for example, to the marketplace. You cannot. And that is why, over the years, a number of companies have been able to work with MINDEF and SAF to meet our defence needs.
The Chairman : Mr Vikram Nair, would you like to withdraw your amendment?
Mr Vikram Nair : I would like to thank Minister Ng Eng Hen, Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How and Senior Minister of State Mohamad Maliki for their responses in a wide range of areas, including giving us the assurance we will be safe for the next 25 years. NS safety remains a priority and we are investing to deal with cyber threats and terrorism. These are all important considerations and I thank the Ministry for being on top of it. Chairman, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.
[(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)]
[(proc text) The sum of $14,981,206,800 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)]
[(proc text) The sum of $761,800,000 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]