预算辩论 · 2022-03-03 · 第 14 届国会
国防部医疗分类系统优化
Committee of Supply – Head J (Ministry of Defence)
议员质询国防部关于更新医疗分类系统的进展，关注如何实现更全面的服役能力评估及岗位匹配。政府回应该系统旨在提升人力资源运用效率，结合服役者技能与职业背景。核心争议在于如何确保评估的全面性及实际部署中技能的合理匹配。
关键要点
- • 医疗分类系统更新
- • 服役能力全面评估
- • 技能与岗位匹配
优化国防人力资源配置，提升服役效率
关注评估全面性及技能匹配合理性
推动服役人员能力精准匹配
"The review will focus on the operational effectiveness of each individual instead of a binary classification."
参与人员（14）
- Chong Kee Hiong
- Denise Phua Lay Peng
- Don Wee
- Kwek Hian Chuan Henry
- Lim Biow Chuan
- Minister for Defence
- Rachel Ong
- Mohd Fahmi Aliman
- Seah Kian Peng
- Senior Minister of State for Defence
- Vikram Nair
- Wan Rizal
- Yeo Wan Ling
- Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim
完整译文（中文）
Hansard 英文原文译文 · 翻译日期：2026-05-02
[(程序文本) J项（续）–（程序文本)]
[(程序文本) 继续辩论问题[2022年3月2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：亚历克斯·严议员。不在。莫哈末·法米·宾·阿里曼议员。
医疗分类系统
莫哈末·法米·宾·阿里曼议员（海军阵地）：主席，去年供应委员会辩论中，国防部长提到新加坡武装部队（SAF）将使用、更新和刷新医疗分类系统，以更好地匹配国民服役者的职业和部署。根据2020年3月1日发布的事实说明，国防部声称此次审查将侧重于每个人的作战效能，而非简单地将其归类为战斗适合或非战斗适合。
此外，国防部长提到新系统还将考虑平民的工作和技能组合。医疗分类系统的审查是朝着正确方向迈出的一步，因为国防部旨在在人口出生率下降的背景下优化人力资源。这项审查将有助于武装部队全面评估个人能力，以匹配合适的职业。
国防部能否提供关于这一新医疗分类系统的最新情况？具体来说，国防部能否详细说明如何评估个人，以及如何确保评估保持全面以匹配职业？最后，国防部能否概述在实施更新刷新后的医疗分类系统过程中遇到的主要挑战及采取的相应措施？
部署功能评估
林标泉议员（蒙巴顿）：先生，我服役时受训为步兵军官，后来被派往维修营，转为军械军官。这是个奇怪的调动，因为我当时是文科预科生，主修历史、地理和经济学，没有技术背景。但在服役期间，我必须学习液压如何驱动坦克炮塔，如何维护坦克上的75毫米炮，如何大修汽车发动机以及更换离合器片。
另一方面，我的一些机械工程理工学院毕业的朋友被派去做仓库管理员。这些职业本身没错，先生，但似乎技能不匹配。我和理工学院朋友的技能在服役期间未被充分利用。因此，我很高兴听到国防部计划优化国民服役者的部署。在上次供应委员会会议上，高级国务部长恒志豪分享了审查使用功能评估来确定服役人员在特定职业中的部署能力。我认为这是朝正确方向迈进。
科技改变了士兵的部署方式。恒志豪部长提到试点功能评估以指导运输操作员的选拔。请问这次试点的结果如何？是否有计划将功能评估扩展到其他职业，以便更好地部署国民服役者，让他们觉得服役时间有意义且有用？
工作学习计划（WLS）
庄基雄议员（碧山-大巴窑）：主席，疫情扰乱了我们的经济和生活方式，尤其严重影响了青年的教育、培训和学习机会。过去两年，许多课程和项目不得不转为线上。虽然这是必要的安排，但我们的青年错失了宝贵的面对面交流和实践经验。
在这些扰动中，经济发展不均，劳动力市场充满不确定性。我们的首要责任是训练和培养国民服役兵完成任务，但同样重要的是帮助他们尽可能做好进入职场的准备。
两年前，国防部宣布并启动了与工艺教育学院合作的工作学习文凭课程。去年宣布首批陆军和空军的国民服役技术员正在该计划下接受培训和认证。
请问国防部能否提供工作学习计划的最新情况？自启动以来，有多少服役人员受益？未来是否有扩展计划？
专家部署
谢健鹏议员（海军阵地）：主席，议会中许多人曾穿上制服，持枪服役。我的服役期是两年全职，当时是两年半，之后多年继续为国家武装部队服务。
我们都有朋友拥有不同的专业技能和专长，但在多周的预备役召集期间，他们会离开本职工作和专业知识去服役。
2019年3月，国防部宣布将利用专业的平民专长部署到新岗位，并设立专门的部署中心监督专家部署的扩展。网络安全、法律、医学、工程和心理学等专业人士已被部署。
在一个小国面对复杂威胁和风险的情况下，这种部署方式有助于最大化服务国家的男女力量。
部长能否告诉我们国防部/武装部队如何探索更好地利用国民服役者的平民专长以满足武装部队的作战需求？
总体而言，部长能否介绍专家部署计划？有多少专家报名，涉及哪些领域？他们的部署与常规部署有何不同？他们是否产生了影响？
鉴于该计划较新，我们学到了哪些经验？与其他国家的公民武装力量相比如何？
主席：颜添宝议员。不在。庄基雄议员。
利用科技提升国服服务
庄基雄议员：主席，数字科技在过去十年呈指数级发展，改变了人们和组织的互动、信息交换和交易方式。疫情加速了这一趋势，人们和组织寻求减少实体接触的方式。
数字支付在新加坡已被广泛采用。从小商店到大型企业及个人间交易，数字支付已成常态，且趋势将继续加快。
国防部和武装部队应更多利用科技和数字化，改善服役人员的交易和互动方式。数字服务可简化许多行政流程，减少服役人员和预备役人员的等待时间。大部分服役人员是数字原住民，习惯在线完成任务。
去年，国防部宣布已制定国服数字转型计划，包括将国服旅程的数字服务整合到单一平台。请国防部提供该计划的最新情况，并说明如何改善或提升服役人员的国服体验？
国服认可
王瑞秋小姐（西海岸）：主席，国民服役是国家防卫不可替代的组成部分。新加坡所有男性都承诺用两年青春作为全职国服兵或国服兵卫，守护国家。他们在服役期间放下工作和家庭责任，有时甚至牺牲人生重要时刻。确保国服兵及其家庭获得支持并被认可其牺牲非常重要。
以2020年国服倡导奖得主努尔·卡米拉·宾特·阿卜杜勒·拉赫曼女士为例，我们看到一位妻子和母亲的牺牲，她选择寻找替代方案照顾病重的孩子，同时照顾另一个孩子，尽管丈夫坚持提前回家，她仍坚持照顾家庭。她的故事只是国服兵及其家庭所做牺牲的缩影。
我们也认可并感激多年来为表彰国服兵所做的努力。随着社会环境变化，适时审视国服兵的认可方式，不仅是国防部，也包括整个社会及雇主如何更好支持国服兵，十分必要。
国防部在2020年宣布成立国服审查委员会时，重点之一是“国服认可与参与”。我很欣慰这被列为优先领域，想请问政府如何更好地认可和支持不仅是国服兵卫，还包括已完成全职国服的武装部队和内务部队国服兵？我们如何鼓励雇主更好地支持国服兵？
国服体系审查
郭显川亨利议员（格文巴鲁）：主席，过去55年，国服兵一直是新加坡防卫的支柱，甚至是关键支柱。我们不能理所当然地看待国服兵对国家安全的贡献，而应努力认可他们的贡献，不断完善国服体系，使每位国服兵都拥有充实且有意义的服役经历。
前面议员欢迎2020年成立的国服审查委员会，旨在探讨丰富国服体验和最大化每位国服兵潜力的方法。我也支持，并期待听到国防部关于正在进行的变革的最新情况。除此之外，国防部能否更新委员会关于未来国服体系审查领域的建议？
国服训练安全
林标泉议员：先生，我坚信士兵必须在真实条件下训练。只有士兵具备能力，才能有效作战，实现威慑敌军的使命。
乌克兰战争提醒我们真实训练和国服的重要性。但即使在艰苦条件下训练，安全训练也至关重要。对训练安全的坚定承诺能让士兵专注于技能提升，也让家属安心。没有这些，公众对国防和国服的支持将难以维系。
尽管训练安全持续被强调，军事活动本质上总有受伤风险。我们如何确保服役人员在执行国服任务时得到充分保护？最近有哪些加强武装部队安全管理的举措？如何确保指挥官重视训练安全，优先保障其指挥下的国服兵不受重伤？
武装部队安全外部审查小组
温立扎尔博士（惹兰勿刹）：主席，安全不应仅在事故发生时才被重视。我们必须始终将安全放在首位。武装部队必须确保服役男女安全归家，身体和心理健康均应得到保障。
去年供应委员会辩论中，高级国务部长恒志豪表示已委托第三个武装部队安全外部审查小组。该小组成员多元，具备为武装部队提供新视角的能力。
国防部能否提供该小组迄今的调查结果更新？这些努力如何转化为积极成果，强化武装部队的安全文化？
总监察长审计结果
黄东议员（蔡厝港）：先生，我今天的服装颜色强调武装部队真实训练及其安全记录的重要性。对送子女服国服的家庭来说，必须确保训练安全。武装部队的安全记录也反映了部队和资源管理的水平。
武装部队总监察长办公室（IGO）在强化安全和安全文化方面发挥重要作用。我了解到IGO在武装部队内部进行独立安全审计和检查。我支持对武装部队各服务部门和编制单位执行安全政策及安全文化强度和普及程度的严格审查。
国防部能否更新武装部队IGO的审计结果及根据审计结果采取的训练安全措施？
科技与训练安全
温立扎尔博士：先生，在数字时代，我们见证了各行业技术驱动解决方案的激增。国防行业亦不例外。全球军队利用科技实现转型，可能性涵盖系统效率提升到基于增强现实的沉浸式训练体验。
我今天关注的是更贴近我们心的——服役人员的安全。利用数据的工具激增，有助于开发更有效、更高效且最重要的是更安全的训练方案。
国防部能否更新利用数据和科技加强武装部队训练安全的努力？
主席：郑丽慧小姐。不在。潘淑仪女士。
全民防卫与未来挑战
潘淑仪女士（惹兰勿刹）：全民防卫自1984年在新加坡首次提出以来，概念已发生变化。那时，全民防卫是一个国家防卫理念，号召所有新加坡人支持武装部队应对军事威胁。
多年来，全民防卫已发展，涵盖非军事挑战，如疫情、经济衰退和自然灾害。
新冠疫情严峻考验了新加坡的韧性和团结。新加坡人不仅要建立强大的心理防线，应对心理健康和安全管理的变化，经济上供应链中断影响了许多人的基本物资获取和负担能力。民防方面也发挥作用，如引入接触者追踪和安全管理措施。
同时，全民防卫的其他方面也发挥作用，如数字防卫，随着新加坡高度联网，网络安全风险增加。军事防卫的重要性也需持续强调，尤其是在俄乌战争等近期事态背景下。
虽然许多新加坡人对全民防卫的六大支柱——军事、民防、经济、社会、数字和心理——较为熟悉，但不太了解每个支柱的重要性和相关性，以及它们如何体现在新加坡人的生活中。
国防部将如何进一步明确全民防卫，使其更被新加坡人民接受和支持？结合2022年预算，相关资源将如何有所不同地应用？
主席：王瑞秋小姐。请一并发言。
吸引青年
王瑞秋小姐：谢谢主席，国防和安全议题的一个关键受众是我们年轻一代新加坡人。与先驱和独立世代不同，今天的青年甚至他们的父母，未曾直接经历过新加坡曾经面临的安全威胁和外部胁迫的日常现实。
作为新加坡未来的领导者，年轻人需要被吸引并理解国防和安全问题，以认识潜在威胁及其对他们和家庭生活的影响。威胁现今更为模糊、不易捉摸，难以理解。
这可能使国防议题与年轻人的日常关切脱节，尤其他们在繁荣的新加坡成长。我们的青年比早期世代更具社会意识，这是值得庆贺的。但同时，这也意味着他们接触到的世界观可能加剧社会分裂，因这些世界观可能未深入理解社会历史背景及其对新加坡社会的深远影响。
国防部如何与青年人就国防和安全事务互动？有哪些举措确保下一代持续关心新加坡的国防？
了解国防议题
新加坡的国防不仅需要国防部和武装部队的努力，也需要每位新加坡男女的支持和参与。对一些人来说，国防和安全议题可能显得抽象，但现实是，如果新加坡的主权和安全受到破坏，我们所有人的生活都会受到影响。乌克兰战争也提醒我们必须时刻准备捍卫主权，不能掉以轻心。
因此，至关重要的是，新加坡各年龄层都能认识国防议题的重要性，理解每个人在国家防卫中的角色。
鉴于此，我认为国防部和新加坡武装部队必须有意识地努力与各个年龄层、各行各业的新加坡人互动，鼓励他们学习并关心国防问题，尤其是在和平时期。
去年，国防部高级国务部长扎基·穆罕默德谈到了国防部开发创新方式与新加坡人互动国防事务的努力。一个例子是重新改造的新加坡发现中心。他还分享说，国防部将采纳公众建议，赋能更多新加坡人了解国防问题。
这些举措有哪些？这些外展工作进展如何？我们如何鼓励各行各业的新加坡人学习并关心国防问题，同时使这些问题更易于理解，更贴近普通民众？
新加坡发现中心
钟基雄先生：主席，新加坡发现中心（SDC）是政府建设的场所之一，旨在以有趣且引人入胜的方式呈现国民教育。在这里，访客以有趣且沉浸式的方式学习和体验新加坡的历史，并展望其未来。
该中心的主要目标之一是帮助新加坡访客建立强烈的归属感和身份认同。作为一个年轻的国家，新加坡人理解我们的历史、是什么将我们凝聚在一起以及我们作为一个民族的身份至关重要。在这方面，我们的国民教育使新加坡人能够吸收、理解并连接成为新加坡人的意义。
上午11时30分
作为新加坡人的重要部分，是我们捍卫土地和生活方式的承诺与能力。新加坡人，无论老少，都必须理解国民服役和全面防卫的重要性。国民服役和全面防卫要求所有新加坡人挺身而出，保卫和保护我们的家园，团结支持我们的士兵。
去年，国防部高级国务部长扎基·穆罕默德宣布将重新改造新加坡发现中心，使其成为了解新加坡过去和想象未来的一站式目的地。国防部能否向议会更新如何加强国民教育，以及新加坡发现中心将如何通过其项目和计划继续支持这一目标？
主席：卡莉·陈女士。不在场。姚婉玲女士。
ACCORD倡议
姚婉玲女士（巴西立-榜鹅）：国防的核心是新加坡家庭与军队之间的和谐社区关系。在疫情最严重时期，军队单位继续为即将退伍的服役人员举行里程碑式的阅兵仪式，并确保安排远程观看渠道，使新加坡家庭能够共享自豪与喜悦。此外，国防部和武装部队在我们最严峻的考验时期展现了全面承诺，动员服役人员协助进行接触者追踪措施，这对我们作为一个国家应对新冠疫情至关重要。
在享有这种关系的同时，国防部持续定期咨询并与基层组织及机构合作，了解新加坡人对国防问题的看法，并促进对各项倡议的支持。自1984年成立以来，国防社区关系咨询委员会（ACCORD）在搭建与社区的桥梁、提供关于新加坡国防的反馈方面发挥了重要作用。
鉴于新加坡国防是全民所有的努力，ACCORD继续接触社会关键群体和个人——包括商业界、教育机构和家庭相关团体——以动员支持并促进对国防问题（包括国民服役）的更好理解。这些渠道对国防部来说非常宝贵，有助于更好地倾听社区的需求和兴趣，从而塑造信息并定制项目，以吸引社区内不同部门和群体。
ACCORD于2021年迎来了新成员，他们凭借丰富多样的背景，无疑将为国防和社区关系问题带来新视角。国防部能否向议会更新ACCORD的新举措和未来计划，以加强与社区的互动？ACCORD能否提供更多关于与基层就新加坡国防问题进行咨询的细节，以及新加坡人希望如何参与？
ACCORD与支持国民服役
朱卡奈因·阿卜杜勒·拉希姆先生（蔡厝港）：主席，我是ACCORD成员。能与其他成员一起促进家庭和雇主对国民服役的支持，我感到荣幸。我们的角色非常重要，因为国民服役是全面防卫概念的关键，不仅涵盖军事防御准备，还促进国民服役年轻男性之间更强的身份认同和社会凝聚力，他们来自各个种族、宗教和背景。
最近乌克兰冲突凸显了像新加坡这样的国家永远不能失去自我防卫和自我照顾能力的重要性。坚决的防御包括两方面：第一，可信且强大的新加坡武装部队；第二，是人民坚定不移的决心。国民服役为新加坡人提供了锻造深厚归属感和保卫我们拥有的事物及生活方式决心的机会。强大的武装部队，辅以国民服役，构成强有力的威慑力，这与外交工作相辅相成。
到3月17日，国民服役在新加坡已实施55年。国民服役为我们服务良好，愿其长存。国防部能否提供ACCORD加强支持国民服役的最新进展？我们如何做得更多，让所有新加坡人参与国防，包括雇主、新公民的父母或那些希望从事体育或继续教育、因此寻求推迟国民服役的人？
主席：王志豪先生。
国防部高级国务部长（王志豪先生）：主席，国防部长黄永宏博士昨天谈到了武装部队必须应对的复杂环境。我们的国民服役人员构成了国防和安全力量的主体，国民服役是我们国家防御的基石，为新加坡的生存、安全和成功提供坚实基础。
过去55年，几代新加坡男性通过国民服役为国家服务，履行职责。今年我们纪念国民服役55周年，正是重申我们承诺，确保国民服役体系符合武装部队保护国家的需求，并对我们的国民服役人员保持相关性的好时机。
黄永宏部长概述了国民服役审查委员会（NSRC）工作的主要变革。现在请允许我提供更多细节。NSRC的工作及其提出的变革可分为三大重点：第一，最大化国民服役人员的贡献；第二，改善国民服役体验；第三，加强支持和认可。
让我先谈第一重点——最大化贡献。众所周知，我们的出生率低，这意味着18年后国民服役队伍规模将缩小。在这种情况下，武装部队必须寻找不同方式，继续优化每一资源和每一国民服役人员的部署，以保持国防的强健。
莫哈末·法米·宾·阿里曼先生和林标泉先生询问了医疗分类系统审查和功能评估的最新情况。黄永宏部长昨天已给出总体看法，我将在此详细说明。
武装部队已为全职国民服役人员（NSF）实施功能评估，以补充现有的医疗筛查流程。功能评估使我们能够评估NSF执行工作所需体力任务的能力，从而更精准地匹配其职业，使其能够良好且安全地履行职责。这些评估是在与外部物理治疗专家及武装部队士兵表现卓越中心的物理治疗师协商后开发的。
这些评估在实施前也进行了试验，以确保结果能有效完成职责，达到武装部队从保护角度所期望的效果，同时保障服役人员的安全。2021年针对运输操作员职业的功能评估试验改善了部署流程，使更多NSF能够安全地被部署为运输操作员。
借助这一成功，我们已为有骨科疾病的预征兵者实施功能评估。这些测试由经过培训的武装部队物理治疗师在预征兵者进行医疗筛查时，根据既定协议进行。随后，这些预征兵者将根据其能力被部署到相关职业。
同时，为进一步扩大部署机会，武装部队持续重新设计现有NSF岗位。例如，医疗兵角色的重新设计。利用医疗技术进步和对每个具体角色所需体力要求的定义，具备不同体能的服役人员现在都能被部署为医疗兵。这种方法使武装部队最大化服役人员对作战需求的贡献潜力。
主席，我刚才谈的是从体能和岗位要求角度优化部署。但还有另一个同样重要的角度，即服役人员的技能、知识和专长。我们人口虽小，但受教育程度和技能水平日益提高。未来冲突不仅仅由兵力数量决定，虽然这仍然重要，但技术和专业知识的影响将日益加深。武装部队应不断发展并利用国民服役人员的专业知识。
钟基雄先生询问国防部关于工作学习计划的计划。我们已为若干关键技能型武装部队职业建立了工作学习计划。符合条件的NSF可加入这些计划，在履行国民服役职责的同时，接受高等院校的认证培训和教育。服役人员从这些资格和工作经验中受益，武装部队也能持续利用这些服役人员的专业知识。
首个工作学习计划于2018年推出。四年后，每年约有130名服役人员报名参加工作学习计划，担任网络专家以及空军和陆军技术员。未来几年，我们预计将根据武装部队的作战需求，扩大工作学习计划涵盖更多角色和职业。到2025年稳定状态时，预计每年将有500名服役人员报名参加工作学习计划。今年，武装部队将推出另外两个工作学习计划：一个是数字工作学习计划，供符合条件的服役人员攻读计算机工程和数据科学等本科专业；另一个是供应主管的工作学习文凭。
我们优化基于专业知识的部署的努力也涵盖了预备役国民服役人员（ORNS）。许多国民服役人员通过其平民职业获得相关专业知识。武装部队的重点是识别这些预备役人员，并将他们重新部署到能最大限度发挥其专长的岗位。
去年，我谈到了武装部队内设立的专业知识部署中心。该中心专门负责识别和重新部署具备相关专长的国民服役人员，专业知识部署数量显著增加。我们的重新部署人员之一是ME4A叶杰瑞。叶杰瑞是一名专注于争议解决的律师，他希望利用律师的技能和经验进一步贡献。叶杰瑞曾任空军工程师，2021年被重新部署，现在为指挥官提供专业法律建议，支持武装部队作战。
谢健平先生询问如何扩大基于专业知识的重新部署。我想强调NSRC建议带来的关键变化。2014年推出专业知识转换计划（ECS）时，专家角色多为军官级别。八年后，我们已将专业知识部署扩展到所有级别，包括准尉、专职军士和列兵担任的岗位。因此，我们将把ECS更名为增强专业知识部署计划。
虽然我们投入大量努力优化部署，但强大武装部队依赖于战斗部队的承诺和士气。这引出NSRC工作的第二重点，即改善国民服役体验。
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多位议员对此提出了询问。国民服役体验的核心是国民服役人员，因此我们围绕他们设计流程，使服役人员能够专注训练，知道组织在背后支持他们，关心他们，竭尽全力确保他们的贡献最大化以保护国家，并照顾他们的安全和福祉。
昨天，黄永宏部长提到我们计划自动化补发工资申领系统。目前，国民服役人员及其雇主需手动提交申领。国防部今年晚些时候将推出自动化系统，利用中央公积金局和税务局的收入相关信息计算补发工资金额。国民服役人员及其雇主将有机会审核计算金额，如无异议，金额将自动支付。对大多数国民服役人员及其雇主而言，这大大简化流程，节省时间。若认为计算金额不准确，可提交额外信息重新计算，确保支付正确金额。
目前，一些国民服役人员，主要是低收入群体，可能从非正式工作、零工经济或其他补贴和奖励中获得收入，这些收入可能未被中央公积金局或税务局数据库捕捉。正如黄永宏部长所述，除了自动化补发工资计算，我们还将实施基础国民服役津贴。今年晚些时候起，所有国民服役人员每月参加营内训练将至少获得1600新元津贴。短期营内训练津贴将按比例发放。
除了自动化补发工资申领和基础国民服役津贴外，我还想谈谈另外两项将改善服役人员国民服役体验的举措。
钟基雄先生询问国防部如何利用科技改善国民服役流程。我高兴地宣布，OneNS平台第一阶段将于今年晚些时候推出，取代现有的国民服役门户网站，为服役人员提供更流畅的体验。国民服役人员在服役过程中需与国防部/武装部队进行多项事务处理。我们的目标是将这些事务和核心国民服役服务集中到OneNS平台，并通过单一移动应用或改版的网页门户更便捷访问。初期，服役人员可期待增强的召集和推迟电子服务，方便准备营内训练。其他电子服务将陆续推出。
国防部还与智慧国数字政府集团合作，数字化向国民服役人员发放国民服役认可福利。自去年11月起，国防部以电子积分形式通过LifeSG发放国民服役卓越奖和庆祝礼品。过去，受益者获得实体代金券。此举使他们能通过移动设备方便地接收和兑换积分。积分可用于接受PayNow二维码支付的线上和实体店铺。调查显示，97%的用户对此改进表示满意。今年4月起，服役人员还可在接受NETS二维码的商户使用积分。此举将惠及更多商户，包括社区店铺和小贩摊位，极大丰富服役人员的选择。
国防部将把其他现金和代金券认可计划，如国民服役家庭奖励金（NS HOME）现金支付，也迁移至LifeSG。到2022年中，国防部和内政部将每年通过LifeSG向10万名国民服役人员发放认可福利。除了便利服役人员外，这也大力推动国家推广电子支付和绿色无纸化。
通过LifeSG移动应用获得国民服役认可福利的国民服役人员将收到短信通知积分已入账。我们非常注意确保这些短信不会被误认为诈骗短信，短信中不会包含可点击链接。
这让我谈到国家服役评审委员会（NSRC）工作的第三个重点，即加强对我们的国民服役人员的认可和支持。我们的国民服役人员在两年的国民服役期间以及每次后续的营内训练中为国防作出贡献。这其中有牺牲，不仅是他们本人，还有我们从议员们那里听到的他们家庭的支持。我们对此深表感谢。Rachel Ong小姐询问了我们对国民服役人员的认可举措。
正如国防部长所提，我们将加强“国服之家”（NS HOME）奖项，以更好地表达我们对国民服役人员及其亲人的感激之情。我们将在现有的三个NS HOME里程碑阶段累计向每位国民服役人员额外发放2,000新元现金，其中第一阶段发放1,000新元现金，第二和第三阶段各发放500新元现金。我们的国民服役人员在完成全职国民服役时将至少获得6,000新元，在服役中点和完成后备役国民服役时将至少获得5,500新元。
这额外的2,000新元现金将以积分形式存入国民服役人员的LifeSG手机应用中。这是对现有NS HOME支付的补充，现有支付的大部分资金是存入国民服役人员的公积金账户，用于长期财务需求。如我之前所述，这些积分可用于从电子商务平台到实体店铺的各种商户。
这一变动每年将惠及54,000名武装部队和内务部队服役人员。
除了认可之外，我们还希望为服役人员及其家庭在参与国民服役活动时提供安心保障。自2016年以来，国防部和内务部一直为所有国防部和内务部服役人员购买团体定期寿险和团体意外险核心保险，保额为每人150,000新元。我们已对此进行审查，2023年起将把保额提高到每人300,000新元。这将有助于确保我们给予国民服役人员的财务支持和保障保持相关性和充足性。
主席先生，NSRC已完成其审查工作，这些审查在加强国民服役体系和武装部队作战效能方面意义重大。我们感谢委员会的联合主席和成员们的辛勤工作。除了国防部长和我所述的变动外，NSRC还提出了另外三项广泛建议，我们将继续跟进。Henry Kwek议员对此有所询问。
我们将继续努力，首先是加强国民服役人员的训练和领导力发展计划；其次，更好地装备我们的国民服役兵，使其具备可转移技能，并为其向学业或工作过渡做好准备；第三，更好地支持预备役入伍者在平衡国民服役相关义务与个人追求方面的需求。
我现在转向另一个关键话题——训练安全。随着我们不断完善国民服役体系，地面上的安全实践也必须持续稳健。因此，武装部队非常重视通过定期审计和检查、利用技术手段，并不断提醒指挥官和士兵内化安全文化——照顾好自己，照顾好彼此，来加强我们的安全文化。
Wan Rizal博士询问了国防部/武装部队去年启动的第三次武装部队安全外部评审小组（ERPSS）。该小组成立的目的是审查武装部队的安全管理体系，并提出改进安全的建议。小组积极评价了我们基础军事训练中心（BMTC）安全管理体系的持续改进，该中心实施了一系列安全和心理健康支持措施，以更好地帮助新兵从平民生活过渡到军旅生活。
小组还注意到在各级领导学校中搭建安全训练框架的努力，确保我们的指挥官理解并能安全地进行训练。ERPSS将继续在持续访问我们的基层单位时，突出行业的最佳实践。
除了ERPSS，我们内部还有武装部队监察长办公室。武装部队监察长办公室已开始对所有武装部队编制单位进行第二个为期两年的审计周期。Don Wee议员对此有所询问。与第一次审计周期相比，观察到指挥官和服役人员在维护安全实践方面表现出更强的责任感，并对潜在安全隐患有更高的意识。
未来，武装部队将继续保持对安全政策和流程的重视，确保安全经验得以传承，即使服役人员更替，因为国民服役体系的性质决定了有一批批人员进来训练后可能离开。但我们必须确保安全文化根深蒂固，并得到实践和改进，我们将继续这样做。
Wan Rizal博士还询问国防部如何利用技术和数字化进一步加强训练安全。我们正在开发一个企业安全信息系统，供指挥官传播安全趋势和经验教训信息，覆盖整个武装部队。这将提高对安全状况的认识，使安全推广更具针对性，从而减少类似事故在武装部队其他地方再次发生的风险和可能性。
然而，正如我所说，安全不仅是指挥官的责任，每个士兵也必须发挥作用。我在2020年供应委员会（COS）上提到的SafeGuardian手机应用，在使我们的服役人员及时报告安全隐患和险情方面发挥了重要作用。自去年6月向现役服役人员推广以来，公开报告的数量增加了20%。
SafeGuardian应用使我们的服役人员更积极地承担自身及周围人的安全责任。除了公开报告，我们还欣喜地看到迄今已有超过37,000名用户浏览了SafeGuardian应用内的安全信息。
Lim Biow Chuan议员询问了其他近期加强训练安全的努力。国防部/武装部队将与DSO和新加坡国立大学合作，于今年年中成立耐热与表现中心。我们认识到，由于气候变化导致的环境温度上升，将越来越影响服役人员的健康和训练及作战的效能。
因此，我们着眼未来，研究如何持续安全有效地训练并保持作战准备。该中心将开展前瞻性研究，探索热量缓解策略，开发更根本的方法以预防武装部队中的热伤害。
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主席先生，值此国民服役55周年之际，我们都认识到国民服役仍是国家防卫和安全的基石。我们必须继续建立在前辈们为保护国家和加强国民服役体系所付出的努力和奉献之上。这是一项永无止境的工作，NSRC的建议将为此贡献力量，并为我们继续这段确保新加坡永远安全自由的旅程奠定良好基础。
主席：高级国务部长Zaqy Mohamad。
国防部高级国务部长（Zaqy Mohamad先生）：主席先生，国防部长Ng博士谈到了全球地缘政治变化、跨国威胁及其对新加坡的影响。越来越多地，考验我们的安全挑战将超出传统战场——有人称之为“灰色地带”竞争。现在，比以往任何时候，我们对武装部队和全面防卫的投资仍然是新加坡抵御危机、挑战和潜在侵略的坚固防线。
1984年，我们在传统威胁背景下推出了全面防卫。无论当时还是现在，我们的全面防卫支柱都强化了我们的信念：强大的防卫基础不仅限于军事领域，还需要全社会的响应。
多年来，我们面对了诸多挑战，从疫情到经济衰退，再到恐怖主义。六大防卫支柱——军事、经济、社会、民事、数字和心理——协同工作，使我们能够应对威胁新加坡未来的挑战。
过去两年，我们与新冠疫情抗争，它颠覆了我们的生活，考验了我们的国家。它给医疗系统带来压力，供应链紧张。许多人失业，不得不转向新的行业或岗位。就在我们以为疫苗带来转机时，出现了Delta和Omicron等新变种。
虽然这不是传统战争，但它是一场影响我们所有人的危机。我们面对的是未知威胁——新冠病毒，即使到今天，仍然难以捉摸且不断演变。
为了应对这一威胁并保护彼此免受病毒侵害，我们需要通过全面防卫实现全社会响应。我们了解到议员Cheng Li Hui对这一话题感兴趣。
以我们的疫苗接种计划为例。如今，我们总人口中91%已完成全程接种，68%已接种加强针。我很欣慰许多人积极支持国家疫苗工作。例如，国民服役军官、家庭疫苗接种队医疗官Shane Abucewicz-Tan上尉，支持新冠疫情行动。他参与家庭疫苗接种计划，走访行动不便和免疫力低下的新加坡人，确保他们能接种疫苗。另一个例子是新加坡中华总会馆联合会，制作了客家话、粤语和潮州话等方言视频，鼓励长者接种疫苗。
确实，我们彼此关照和支持。2020年，当疫情开始在宿舍传播时，外籍劳工群体受到不成比例的影响。国防部与其他相关机构及20多个合作伙伴，于当年5月在克兰芝设立社区设施——一个临时外籍劳工宿舍，同时也是疫苗接种护理中心和社区关怀设施。20个月内服务了超过70,000名外籍劳工。
我感谢所有合作伙伴的支持。学术机构如新加坡太阳能研究院也帮助提升该场所的可持续性。例如，他们测试了轻质太阳能电池板并试点能源储存解决方案，这些技术可推广到其他类似临时场所，并为我们的长期可持续发展贡献力量。
除了这些，还有许多贡献者和英雄，今天无法一一列举。感谢大家的努力，因为你们展示了全面防卫的生命力，它存在于我们每个人之中。
我们生活方式的威胁——我们的稳定感和安全感——以多种形式出现。Check Point Research的一项研究发现，2020年至2021年间，新加坡网络攻击增长了145%。医疗行业是最主要的攻击目标。在疫情期间，散布关于变种病毒和疫苗副作用的谣言者威胁了公共健康，甚至削弱了信任。由于新加坡90%的食品依赖进口，我们高度依赖持续获得优质食品供应。供应链威胁、自然灾害和气候变化影响了我们的供应和食品价格。
Ng部长昨天在讲话中提及乌克兰局势。我们目睹事件发展，这对新加坡人来说是实时教训，显示一个国家的稳定如何在多个方面受到威胁，包括网络攻击、信息战和边境威胁，这些都发生在军事侵略之前。
乌克兰事件的发展令人悲痛和遗憾。对我而言，也希望对许多新加坡人而言，明确的是我们必须时刻准备好，并且只能依靠自己保卫国家。全面防卫——能够在经济、社会甚至心理上自我防卫——必须成为每个新加坡人的责任。
随着威胁变得更复杂、多维和多面，我们如何确保随时准备应对？Denise Phua议员对此有所询问。全面防卫如何继续激励每个新加坡人为我们的生存、安全和成功而努力？带着这些问题，我们启动了全面防卫的审查。
过去16个月，我们听取了来自各行各业的2,000多名新加坡人的意见。我们询问他们如何让全面防卫在危机时刻更好地团结新加坡人，这甚至发生在乌克兰局势之前。通过这些对话，我们了解到全面防卫还有提升空间，使其更具共鸣和相关性，尽管六大支柱内的行动仍然重要。一些人觉得它过于抽象、规定性强，关注当前威胁而忽视新兴挑战；另一些人不想被告知全面防卫是什么，而是希望主动参与，拥有空间贡献想法和努力，共同塑造他们期望的新加坡。
我感谢这些反馈，它们将指导我们持续的审查工作。我们已开始采纳部分建议。例如，我们将努力使全面防卫更少规定性、更具包容性，鼓励更多自下而上和社区主导的努力。我说“更多”，因为许多新加坡人已经积极支持他们关心的事业。例如，越来越多的人选择购买本地农产品，参与社区园艺，以加强食品安全。
Rachel Ong议员询问国防部如何与青年互动。今年，我们启动了一项为期两年的活动，首先是全面防卫沙盒计划。沙盒是一个安全环境，供测试想法和项目。我们希望它成为一个将想法与资源连接起来的空间，将想法转化为原型，再将原型转化为解决方案。
我们期待支持针对当今最突出挑战的项目，例如网络威胁、食品安全等。迄今听到的一些想法包括提高网络安全意识的工作坊和推广环保习惯的活动。可能性广泛，我们期待议员们的贡献。
我们还将继续与新加坡人对话，拓展和重新构想我们为全面防卫可采取的行动——无论是在当前安全环境下，还是面对未来即将到来的挑战。
随着安全环境持续演变，新加坡人必须意识到对我们主权和稳定的威胁及脆弱性。只有这样，我们才能理解自己可能扮演的角色，以及这些角色如何影响我们的行动。
现在让我谈谈国防部将如何与合作伙伴携手，将这些挑战和新加坡人可采取的行动付诸实践，Rachel Ong议员也对此有所询问。
例如，新加坡发现中心（SDC）将进行改造，更好地讲述新加坡的故事。Chong Kee Hiong议员对此有所询问。SDC在增强现实（AR）、虚拟现实（VR）和环境可持续性方面取得了进展，最近几个月更新了展馆。在上层展馆，一款AR第一人称射击游戏带领访客回到1942年2月14日的武吉占杜战役。那一天，尽管Adnan Saidi中尉和马来团士兵人数处于劣势，最终弹药耗尽，他们仍英勇抵抗日军，拒绝投降。玩家躲在沙袋后，将体验该团如何抵御一波波敌人，并理解Adnan中尉及其部下在逆境中展现的坚韧和决心。
SDC的下层展馆“沙盒”于去年11月开放。在这个互动空间中，模拟数字环境让访客体验新加坡的历史及我们面临的威胁。初创企业和学生，包括AR/VR领域的，可以利用新的孵化空间合作项目、试验技术并实现创意。
SDC还投资于创新能源解决方案和可再生能源，实施多项节能措施以减少能源需求和排放。目前，其能源使用中超过60%来自可再生能源，SDC正努力成为净碳中和设施。如果您近期未曾访问SDC，我鼓励您前往，也许我可以邀请并组织本院议员参观。
未来几年，新加坡人将在我们的博物馆中有更多期待。我们正在发展能力并投资技术，使我们的三座军事博物馆、SDC及即将开幕的滨海湾国民服役展馆的访客体验更加有趣和互动。博物馆和展馆是了解国防的绝佳渠道，因为历史提供重要教训，同时帮助我们展望不确定且充满变数的未来。我们希望访客能理解作为一个国家，我们所做的各种需求、目标和权衡，以及未来可能做出的选择。
主席先生，每一位新加坡人都必须了解新加坡的安全环境、独特的脆弱性以及我们可以发挥的作用。只有这样，我们才能认识到贡献的机会，并在需要时挺身而出。
我感谢我们的ACCORD合作伙伴，他们在这项工作中发挥了重要作用，并在本届任期内接触了更多的青年和女性。他们举办了国民服役（NS）参与讲座、针对大学本科生的国民服役和国防问题网络研讨会系列，以及与女性的基层对话。通过这些努力，我们为需要服国民服役的人做好准备，并帮助他们的家人和朋友采取措施支持他们。
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每个人都有一份责任，无论多小，都能为我们的全面防卫贡献力量。
议员Carrie Tan表达了兴趣，并询问国防部是否会考虑将国民服役扩展到包括社区关怀角色，并招募男女双方。
国民服役基于国家安全和防卫的关键需求。目前，我们的国民服役人口足以满足国家安全和防卫的需要。国防部长黄永宏和高级国务部长王瑞杰都谈到了国防部和新加坡武装部队（SAF）持续努力提升人力资源效率。
然而，为新加坡防卫做贡献不应仅限于服国民服役的人。新加坡人通过全面防卫有许多不同的积极贡献机会，我鼓励大家积极参与。
其中一个例子是掌握实用的民防应急响应技能。我想鼓励女性、第一代永久居民以及没有国民服役义务的新公民，如果他们热衷于为全面防卫做更多贡献，可以志愿加入新加坡武装部队志愿军团（SAF Volunteer Corps）。
国防部也已启动志愿者计划的更新，新加坡人很快将能以不同身份贡献力量，包括作为博物馆的教育者、研究员和导览员。
今年，我们纪念国民服役55周年，正如国防部长黄永宏和高级国务部长王瑞杰所提。
国民服役一直是我们防卫的基石。一代又一代人先后作为国民服役兵（NSF），然后作为国民服役民兵（NSmen），保护和捍卫新加坡的利益。这就是为什么我们要珍视国民服役人员的奉献、服务和牺牲，并感谢他们的努力。
ACCORD将加大力度，在社区内认可、支持和感谢国民服役人员。议员Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim和Yeo Wan Ling对此提出了询问。
去年，ACCORD成员提出了多项新加坡人如何支持国民服役的建议，我们今年将扩展其中一些。
我们将加强“我们支持国民服役运动”，例如鼓励企业为国民服役人员提供折扣和优惠。我们还将扩大新加坡人反思国民服役意义的空间，无论是通过与青年密切互动，还是为家庭和公众举办体验营。有关这些举措的更多细节将在今年晚些时候公布。
三军也将继续与社区互动，例如通过开放日和慈善活动。
最后，主席先生，我想重申，世界依然充满不确定性。我们认识到面临的安全挑战巨大且不断演变。国防部将继续建设全面防卫，作为应对可能出现的威胁和挑战的最佳方案。
我感到欣慰的是，新加坡人愿意通过理解和行动为全面防卫尽一份力，我们将与大家携手，共同保障我们的集体未来。通过合作，我们有充分理由相信，我们将确保新加坡今天及未来世代的强大。
主席：现在进入澄清时间。维克拉姆·奈尔议员。
维克拉姆·奈尔议员（实龙岗）：有两个澄清问题。首先是关于第四代陆军的发展，我觉得这些变化很有趣。我想了解将采取哪些措施来训练预备役人员并提升他们的技能。我自己也是预备役人员，期待使用新装备，如果有的话。
第二个问题是想确认在新冠疫情期间训练是否顺利进行。我想我之前也问过这个问题。
国防部长（黄永宏博士）：感谢维克拉姆·奈尔议员的提问。大多数军队在现代化过程中都会面临这个问题——如何保持服役人员的技能更新。我坦率地说，我们重点关注核心人员，即国民服役兵，确保他们能够随时操作系统。随着范围扩大，我们确保有流程和结果来衡量各单位是否保持最新状态。
对于一个大型军队来说——我们虽然是小型军队，但组织庞大——不可能所有单位同时装备最新设备。因此，并非所有单位都使用同一水平的先进装备，有些可能落后一代。
简而言之，这始终是个挑战，但我认为新加坡武装部队总体上在各单位中表现良好。
我们也有年轻的军队，平均来说，入营训练（ICT）覆盖10年周期。大多数国民服役民兵都知道，他们会在进入国防部预备役（MR）或完成10年周期前进行战术评估（ATEC）。这有助于保持训练水平。
关于训练问题，我们已经谈过。预计今年晚些时候，国民服役民兵的训练将恢复到疫情前水平。
主席：维克拉姆·奈尔议员，您是否愿意撤回您的修正案？
维克拉姆·奈尔议员：我要感谢国防部长黄永宏、高级国务部长王瑞杰和高级国务部长扎基·穆罕默德与我们分享国防部的最新发展，也感谢国防部和新加坡武装部队团队，即使在新冠疫情期间也保障我们的安全。基于此，主席先生，我请求撤回我的修正案。
[(程序文本) 修正案，经许可，撤回。 (程序文本)]
[(程序文本) 主估算中J项下的15,775,728,900元获批准。 (程序文本)]
[(程序文本) 发展估算中J项下的1,090,745,000元获批准。 (程序文本)]
英文原文
SPRS Hansard 原始记录 · 抓取日期：2026-05-02
[(proc text) Head J (cont) – (proc text)]
[(proc text) Resumption of Debate on Question [2 March 2022], (proc text)]
[(proc text) "That the total sum to be allocated for Head J of the Estimates be reduced by $100." – [Mr Vikram Nair]. (proc text)]
[(proc text) Question again proposed. (proc text)]
The Chairman : Mr Alex Yam. Not here. Mr Mohd Fahmi Bin Aliman.
Medical Classification System
Mr Mohd Fahmi Bin Aliman (Marine Parade) : Chairman, at the COS debate last year, the Minister for Defence mentioned that the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) would use, update and refresh the medical classification system to better match vocations and deployment of National Servicemen. According to the factsheet published on 1 March 2020, MINDEF claimed that the review will focus on the operational effectiveness of each individual instead of a binary classification of whether one is combat-fit or non-combat-fit.
Moreover, the Minister for Defence mentioned that the new system will also take into account the civilians' jobs and skill sets. The review of the medical classification system is a step in the right direction, as MINDEF aims to optimise its human resources amidst dwindling birth rates in Singapore. The review would be helpful in enabling the SAF to assess individual abilities for suitable vocations holistically.
Could MINDEF provide an update on this new medical classification system? Specifically, can MINDEF elaborate on how have individuals been assessed and how MINDEF has ensured that the assessment remains holistic for vocation matching? Finally, can MINDEF outline some key challenges that it has faced in implementing the refreshed and updated medical classification system and the necessary steps taken to address the respective challenges?
Functional Assessment of Deployment
Mr Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten) : Sir, during my National Service, I was trained as an Infantry Officer. I was subsequently posted to a maintenance battalion, to be converted to an ordnance officer. It was an odd move because I was a Junior College (JC) Arts student majoring in history, geography and economics, with no technical background. But during my National Service, I had to learn about how hydraulics can move a tank turret, how to maintain a 75-millimetre gun in the tank, how to overhaul a car engine and how to replace a clutch disk.
On the other hand, some of my friends who are Polytechnic graduates in mechanical engineering, were posted to be storemen. Nothing wrong with these vocations, Sir, but it seems just a mismatch of skills. The skillsets which some of my JC and Polytechnic friends had were not optimised during their National Service. Thus, I was pleased to hear about MINDEF's plans to optimise the deployment of its NSmen. At the last Committee of Supply (COS), Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How shared about reviewing the use of functional assessments to determine our servicemen's deployability in specific vocations. I thought it was a move in the right direction.
Technology has changed the way soldiers can be deployed. Mr Heng Chee How mentioned about the trial functional assessments to guide the selection of transport operators. May I ask, what is the outcome of this trial? Are there plans to expand functional assessments to other vocations, so that our NSmen can be better deployed and they will feel that their time spent during NS has been meaningful and useful?
Work-Learn Scheme (WLS)
Mr Chong Kee Hiong (Bishan-Toa Payoh) : Chairman, the pandemic has disrupted our economy and our way of life and in particular, greatly affected the education, training and learning opportunities for our youths. Over the last two years, many of these programmes and lessons had to be shifted online. While this arrangement has been necessary, our youths have missed out on valuable in-person interactions and hands-on experiences.
Through these disruptions, the economy has developed unevenly and the job market is full of uncertainties. Our primary responsibility is to train and develop our NSFs to undertake their missions. However, it is also important that we help to prepare and equip them to enter the workforce as best as we can.
Two years ago, MINDEF announced and launched the Work-Study Diploma with the Institute of Technical Education. Last year, it was announced that the first batch of NSF technicians from the Army and Air Force were being trained and certified under this programme.
Would the Ministry provide an update on the Work-Learn Scheme? How many servicemen have benefited from the scheme since it was launched? Are there any future plans to expand this scheme?
Deployment of Experts
Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade) : Mr Chairman, there are many of us in this House who have once upon a time donned uniforms and held guns. Two years' fulltime, during my time, it was two and a half years, and many years after that, serving our country in the Armed Forces.
We have all had friends who have different specialist skills and expertise, but for weeks on end, they will leave their professions and their expert knowledge behind to go to serve during our reservist call-ups as Operationally-Ready NSmen.
In March 2019, MINDEF announced that specialised civilian expertise will be harnessed and deployed into new roles. It also has a dedicated deployment centre to oversee the expansion of expertise deployment. Professionals, such as those working in cybersecurity, law, medicine, engineering and psychology, have been deployed.
In a small country, facing many complex threats and risks, such deployment offers us a good way to maximise the men and women who are serving our country.
Can the Minister tell us how MINDEF/SAF is exploring ways to better leverage the civilian expertise of our National Servicemen to meet the operational needs of the SAF?
Overall, can the Minister give us an idea of the expertise-based deployment scheme? How many experts have signed up and in what areas? How do their deployments differ from the usual deployments and have they been able to make an impact?
Given the fact that the scheme is fairly new, what lessons have we learnt and how do we compare against citizen armed forces in other countries?
Mr Chairman : Mr Gan Thiam Poh. Not here. Mr Chong Kee Hiong.
Leverage Technology for NS Services
Mr Chong Kee Hiong : Chairman, digital technology has evolved exponentially in the last decade. It has changed the way people and organisations interact and exchange information and transact. The pandemic has accelerated this trend as people and organisations seek ways to minimise physical contact.
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Digital payment has been well and widely adopted in Singapore. From small shops to large businesses and person-to-person transactions, digital payment is now the norm and this trend will continue to pick up pace.
MINDEF and SAF should leverage more on technology and digitalisation to improve the way servicemen transact and interact. Digital services can help to streamline many administrative processes and reduce waiting time for our servicemen and pre-enlistees. A large proportion of our servicemen are young NSFs who are digital natives and comfortable with performing tasks online.
Last year, MINDEF announced that it had established an NS digital transformation plan, including plans to consolidate digital services for the NS journey into a single platform. Would MINDEF please provide an update on this plan and elaborate on how it would improve or enhance the NS experience of our servicemen?
NS Recognition
Miss Rachel Ong (West Coast) : Chairman, National Service is an irreplaceable component for our nation's defence. All men in Singapore commit two years of their youth to safeguard our country as full-time NSmen or NSFs. They set aside work and family obligations, at times, life milestones during their years as reservists. It is important that we ensure that NSmen and their families receive support and are recognised for their sacrifices.
In the case of 2020 NS Advocate Award Winner, Mdm Nur Kamilah binte Abdul Rahman, we saw the sacrifice of a wife and mother who chose to find alternatives to nurse a sick child and still care for another while her husband was on reservist, despite his insistence on returning home earlier. Her story is just one of the many sacrifices NSmen and their families have made.
We also recognise and are grateful that much has been done over the years to honour our NSmen. With a changing societal landscape, it is timely for us to review the recognition for our NSmen, not only by MINDEF, but also how the whole of society, including our employers, can better support our NSmen.
When MINDEF announced the creation of the NS Review Committee in 2020, one of the focus areas announced was "NS Recognition and Engagement". I am encouraged that this was identified as a priority area and would like to ask how can the Government better recognise and support not only our NSFs, but also the NSmen in the SAF and Home Team who have completed their full-time National Service. How can we encourage our employers to better support our NSmen?
Review of NS System
Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry (Kebun Baru) : Mr Chairman, for the past 55 years, NSmen have been a pillar of Singapore's defence – in fact, a key pillar. It is important for us not to take our NSmen's contributions to our nation's security for granted. Instead, we should seek to recognise their contributions, and work continually to improve the NS system so that every National Serviceman has a fulfilling and meaningful NS experience.
Members before me have welcomed the formation of the NS Review Committee (NSRC) in 2020 which seeks to examine ways to enrich the NS experience and maximise the potential of every National Serviceman. I echo these words of support and look forward to hearing MINDEF's updates on what changes are being made. Beyond this, could MINDEF please provide an update on the Committee's recommendations on future areas for review within the NS system?
Training Safety in NS
Mr Lim Biow Chuan : Sir, I am a firm believer that our soldiers must train to fight under realistic conditions. Only when our soldiers are competent, can they fight effectively and achieve their mission to be a strong deterrent to unfriendly forces.
The war in Ukraine is a stark reminder on the need for realistic training and the importance of National Service. But even as soldiers train under tough conditions, it is vital that they train safely. A strong commitment to training safety will give our soldiers the confidence to focus on honing their skills. It will give parents and family members of our servicemen peace of mind. Without these, there would not be strong public support for defence and National Service.
As much as training safety continues to be an area of emphasis, the nature of military activities will always entail some risk of injury. How do we ensure that our servicemen are adequately protected when they perform their NS duties and what are some of the recent efforts to enhance safety management in the SAF? How do we ensure that our commanders take training safety seriously and put it as their priority that no NSmen under their command will suffer any serious injury?
External Review Panel on SAF Safety
Dr Wan Rizal (Jalan Besar) : Chairman, safety is not something that should gain salience only when incidents occur. We must always keep safety at the forefront of our minds. The SAF must ensure that our servicemen and women return home to their families safe and sound. They should be kept safe not only in terms of their physical but mental health, too.
At the COS debate last year, Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How said that a third External Review Panel on SAF Safety had been commissioned. This panel, like the panels before them, comprises a diverse range of experts who are well-positioned to provide fresh perspectives to the SAF.
Could MINDEF provide an update on the panel's findings so far? How are these efforts being translated into positive outcomes to strengthen SAF's safety culture?
Inspector-General's Audit Findings
Mr Don Wee (Chua Chu Kang) : Sir, the colours of my outfit today emphasise the importance of SAF's realistic training and its safety record. For families who have sent their children to serve National Service, they must be assured of safe training. For SAF, its safety record reflects well on how our troops and resources are managed.
The SAF Inspector-General’s Office, or IGO in short, plays an important role in strengthening safety and the safety culture in the SAF. I understand that the IGO conducts independent safety audits and inspections within the SAF. I support efforts to critically review how the SAF's Services and Formations implement safety policies and assess the strength and prevalence of the safety culture.
Would MINDEF provide an update on the SAF IGO's audit findings and the training safety measures that have been introduced in response to its findings?
Technology and Training Safety
Dr Wan Rizal : Sir, in this digital age, we are witnessing a proliferation of technology driven solutions across various industries. Of course, the defence industry or ecosystem is no exception. Militaries around the world have been leveraging on technology to transform themselves. The possibilities range from enhancements in systems efficiency to augmented reality-based immersive training experiences.
My focus today, however, is something closer to our hearts – the safety of our servicemen and women. The proliferation of tools to harness data could aid the development of training regimes that are more effective, more efficient and most importantly, safe.
Could MINDEF provide an update on efforts to leverage data and technology to strengthen training safety in the SAF?
The Chairman : Miss Cheng Li Hui. Not here. Ms Denise Phua.
Total Defence and Future Challenges
Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng (Jalan Besar) : The concept of Total Defence has taken on a different complexion since it was first introduced in 1984 in Singapore. Back then, Total Defence was a national defence concept that rallies all Singaporeans behind the Singapore Armed Forces should there be a military threat.
Over the years, Total Defence has evolved and included non-military challenges, such as pandemics, economic recessions and natural disasters.
The COVID-19 pandemic has tested Singapore's resilience and unity heavily. Singaporeans now not only have to put up a strong psychological defence in overcoming mental wellness and safety management changes in their daily lives. Economically, supply chain disruptions have affected the access and affordability of essential goods for many. Civil defence was at play too in the introduction of contact tracing and safety management measures.
At the same time, other aspects of Total Defence have come into play, such as digital defence, as Singapore becomes more exposed to cybersecurity risks in a highly-wired society. There is also the continued need to emphasise the importance of military defence, especially in the wake of developments as recent as the Russian-Ukraine war.
Whilst many Singaporeans are fairly familiar with six pillars of Total Defence – namely, Military, Civil, Economic, Social, Digital and Psychological – not many are aware of exactly how important and relevant each of the pillars is and how each pillar of defence is manifested in the lives of Singaporeans.
How will MINDEF further provide clarity so that Total Defence will be better embraced and supported by all the people of Singapore? In the light of Budget 2022, how would resources be differently applied in this regard?
The Chairman : Miss Rachel Ong. Please take your two cuts together.
Engaging Youth
Miss Rachel Ong : Thank you. Chairman, one key demographic for outreach efforts on defence and security issues is our younger generation of Singaporeans here. Unlike our Pioneer and Merdeka Generations, our youth today and perhaps even their parents, have not had direct experiences of the Singapore in which insecurity and physical intimidation by external threats were a daily reality.
As the future leaders of Singapore, it is important that young people are engaged and understand defence and security issues to gain an appreciation of the potential threats we face, as well as how these issues affect their lives and the lives of their families. Threats are also different now. Many security threats are now more ambiguous, less tangible and more difficult to understand.
This may further disconnect defence issues from the day-to-day concerns of young people, especially having grown up in the context of a prospering Singapore. Our youths have also grown up more socially aware than those of earlier generations, and that is something to celebrate. At the same time, this also means there is an exposure to worldviews that may potentially fuel divides in civil society where worldviews may be applied without an in-depth understanding of the socio-historical background and its larger impact on Singapore society.
How has MINDEF engaged our young people on defence and security matters? What are some of the initiatives that MINDEF has embarked on to ensure that our next generation remains concerned about Singapore's defence?
Learning about Defence Issues
Singapore's defence requires not only the effort and the work of MINDEF and the SAF, but the support and involvement of every man and woman in Singapore. For some, defence and security matters may seem abstract, but the reality is that all of our lives would be impacted if Singapore's sovereignty and security were undermined. The war in Ukraine is also a stark reminder of the ongoing need to be ready to defend our sovereignty and not to take it for granted.
It is thus critical that Singaporeans of all ages see the importance of defence issues and understand the role that each and every person plays in national defence.
In light of this, I believe that it is important for MINDEF and the SAF to make a conscious effort to engage Singaporeans in every demographic, from all walks of life and encourage them to learn and care about defence issues, especially during peace time.
Last year, Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad spoke about MINDEF's efforts to develop creative ways to engage Singaporeans on defence. An example is the revamped Singapore Discovery Centre. He also shared that MINDEF will take on public suggestions to empower more Singaporeans to learn about defence issues.
What are some of these initiatives and how have these outreach efforts progressed? How can we encourage Singaporeans from all walks of life to learn and care about defence issues, and also make these issues more accessible and relatable to the man on the street?
Singapore Discovery Centre
Mr Chong Kee Hiong : Chairman, the Singapore Discovery Centre (SDC) is one of the venues built by the Government to present National Education in an interesting and engaging way. Here, visitors learn and experience Singapore's history and visualise its future in a fun and immersive way.
One of the main objectives of the centre is to help build a strong sense of belonging and identity among Singaporean visitors. As a young nation, it is critical that Singaporeans understand our history, what brought us together and who we are as one people. In this regard, our National Education is what enables Singaporeans to imbibe, understand and connect with what it means to be a Singaporean.
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An important part of being Singaporean is our commitment and ability to defend our land and our way of life. It is important that Singaporeans, young and old, understand the importance of National Service and Total Defence. NS and Total Defence require all Singaporeans to step up to defend and protect our home and rally behind our soldiers.
Last year, Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad announced that the SDC would be revamped to be a one-stop destination for learning about Singapore’s past and imagining its future. Would MINDEF update the House on how it plans to strengthen National Education and how the SDC would continue to support this objective through its programmes and plans?
The Chairman : Ms Carrie Tan. Not here. Ms Yeo Wan Ling.
ACCORD Initiatives
Ms Yeo Wan Ling (Pasir Ris-Punggol) : At the heart of national defence is the amicable community relations Singaporean families have with our military. In the thick of the pandemic, military units continued to honour their departing Servicemen in milestone parades, making sure to arrange for remote viewing avenues such that Singaporean families could share in the pride and joy. Further, MINDEF and the Armed Forces’ have signalled their holistic commitment to the defence of Singapore in our greatest times of testing, mobilising our Servicemen to aid in contact tracing measures which are pivotal as we deal with COVID-19 as a nation.
As we enjoy such relations, MINDEF has and continues to regularly consult and partner grassroots and agencies to take pulse checks on Singaporeans’ outlook on defence issues, as well as to foster support for their various initiatives. The Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD), since its inception in 1984, has been instrumental in building this bridge to the community to provide feedback on Singapore’s defence.
Given that Singapore’s defence is a nationally-owned effort, it is important for ACCORD to continue to reach out to groups and individuals in key segments of society – the business sector, educational institutions and family-related bodies – to mobilise support for and foster better understanding of our defence issues, including NS. These channels are valuable for MINDEF to better listen to the community’s needs and interests and, therefore, shape messages and tailor programmes to engage different sectors and profiles within the community.
ACCORD has welcomed new members in 2021 who will, undoubtedly, bring fresh perspectives to issues on defence and community relations, given their rich and diverse backgrounds. Could MINDEF please update the House on ACCORD’s new initiatives and future plans to engage the community? Can ACCORD furnish us with more details about consultation efforts with the grassroots on Singapore’s defence issues and how Singaporeans wish to get engaged?
ACCORD and Support for NS
Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (Chua Chu Kang) : Chairman, I am a Member of ACCORD. It is an honour to serve alongside other Members to promote the support for NS amongst families and employers. Ours is an important role because NS is key to our concept of Total Defence, which covers not just military defence preparedness but also fosters greater identity and social cohesion amongst our young men in NS, who come from all races, religions and backgrounds.
The recent conflict in Ukraine has underscored how important it is for countries like Singapore to never lose our ability to defend and look after ourselves. A resolute defence comprises two things: first, a credible and strong SAF and, second, the unshakeable resolve of our people. NS provides the opportunity for Singaporeans to forge a deep sense of rootedness and resolve to defend what is ours and our way of life. A strong SAF, augmented by NS, serves as a strong deterrent, which goes hand-in-hand with diplomacy.
Come 17 March, NS would have been implemented in Singapore for 55 years already. NS has served us well, and long may it continue. Could MINDEF please provide an update on ACCORD's efforts to better shore up support for NS? How can we do more to involve all Singaporeans in our defence, including employers, parents of new citizens or those who wish to pursue sports or further education and, thus, seeking deferment of NS?
The Chairman : Mr Heng Chee How.
The Senior Minister of State for Defence (Mr Heng Chee How) : Mr Chairman, Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen spoke yesterday about the challenging landscape in which the SAF would have to operate. Our National Servicemen form the bulk of our defence and security force, and NS is the bedrock of our national defence, giving us that firm foundation for Singapore’s survival, security and success.
For the past 55 years, generations of Singaporean males have served their country through NS and had done their duty. As we commemorate 55 years of NS this year, it is timely for us to reaffirm our commitment towards ensuring that our NS system remains relevant to the needs of the SAF in protecting our country and is relevant to our National Servicemen.
Minister Ng Eng Hen outlined the key changes arising from the NS Review Committee, or NSRC’s work. Allow me now to provide more details. The NSRC’s work and the changes it proposed can be grouped into three broad thrusts. First, how to maximise the contributions of National Servicemen; second, improving the NS experience; and third, enhancing support and recognition.
Let me start with the first thrust – maximising contributions. As all Members of the House know, our birth rates are low and what this then translates into would be smaller NS cohorts 18 years hence. In this context, the SAF has to find different ways to continue to optimise the deployment of every resource and every National Serviceman, in order for our defence to remain robust.
Mr Mohd Fahmi Bin Aliman and Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked for updates on the medical classification system review and functional assessments. Minister Ng Eng Hen had given the overall view yesterday and I will elaborate on that.
The SAF has implemented functional assessments for our full-time National Servicemen, or NSFs, to complement our existing medical screening processes. Functional assessment allows us to assess the NSFs’ abilities to perform physical tasks required for the job in order to better match them to vocations with greater precision and to enable them to discharge their duties well and safely. These assessments have been developed in consultation with external physiotherapy specialists, alongside SAF physiotherapists from our Centre of Excellence for Soldier Performance.
They have also been trialled prior to implementation to ensure that the outcomes would be effective discharge of duties, effectiveness in the outcomes that the SAF seeks from the protection angle and, at the same time, safety of our Servicemen. Our trial on functional assessments for the Transport Operator vocation in 2021 has improved our deployment process and enabled more NSFs to be safely deployed as Transport Operators.
Riding on this success, we have implemented functional assessments for pre-enlistees with orthopaedic conditions. These tests will be administered by trained SAF physiotherapists when the pre-enlistees report for medical screening, according to established protocols. These pre-enlistees will then be deployed to the relevant vocations according to their abilities.
At the same time, to further expand deployment opportunities, the SAF has continued to redesign existing jobs for our NSFs. For instance, take the example of the redesign of the medic role. Leveraging advances in medical technology and efforts to define the physical demands required for each specific role, Servicemen of varying physical capabilities can now be deployed as medics. This approach has enabled the SAF to maximise our Servicemen’s potential to contribute to the SAF’s operational requirements.
Mr Chairman, I have been speaking of optimising deployments from the angle of physical fitness and job requirements. But there is also another important angle which is equally important and this concerns the skills, knowledge and expertise of our Servicemen. Our population may be small, but it is increasingly well-educated and well-skilled. Future conflicts will not be solely decided by force numbers and sizes, though these are obviously relevant, but it would also be influenced – to an increasing extent – by technology and know-how. The SAF should increasingly grow and tap on the expertise of our National Servicemen.
Mr Chong Kee Hiong asked about MINDEF’s plans for Work-Learn schemes. We have established Work-Learn schemes for several critical skills-based SAF vocations. Eligible NSFs can join these schemes to receive accredited training and education from Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), whilst performing their NS roles. The Servicemen benefit from these qualifications and the work experience gained. The SAF is also able to tap on these Servicemen’s expertise for a sustained period of time.
The first Work-Learn scheme was introduced in 2018. Four years on, there are now 130 Servicemen enrolling in Work-Learn schemes every year, serving as cyber specialists, as well as Air Force and Army Technicians. In the years ahead, we expect to expand the Work-Learn schemes to cover more roles and vocations, based on the SAF’s operational requirements. At steady state in 2025, we expect 500 Servicemen to enrol in Work-Learn schemes every year. This year, the SAF will introduce another two Work-Learn schemes. One is the Digital Work-Learn scheme for eligible Servicemen to pursue undergraduate degrees in areas, such as Computer Engineering and Data Science. The other is the Work-Study Diploma for Supply Supervisors.
Our efforts to optimise expertise-based deployment also cover Operationally-Ready NS, or ORNS. A good number of our NSmen acquire expertise through their civilian careers and these are relevant to the SAF. A key priority for the SAF is to identify these NSmen during ORNS and redeploy them where their expertise can be put to best use.
Last year, I spoke about the establishment of the Expertise Deployment Centre within the SAF. With dedicated resources devoted to identifying and redeploying NSmen with relevant expertise, the number of expertise-based redeployments has gone up considerably. One of our redeployed NSmen is ME4A Jeremy Yeap. Jeremy Yeap is a lawyer specialising in dispute resolution and he wanted to contribute further with the skills and experience that he has in his role as a lawyer. ME4A Jeremy, who had served as an Air Force Engineer, was redeployed in 2021 and now provides specialist legal advice to commanders as part of SAF operations.
Mr Seah Kian Peng asked how expertise-based redeployment would be expanded. I would like to highlight a key change arising from the NSRC’s recommendations. When we launched the Expertise Conversion Scheme, or ECS, in 2014, the landscape was one where expert roles tended to be at the officer level. Eight years on, we have expanded beyond that and we have expanded expertise deployment across all levels, including roles that are assumed by Warrant Officers, Specialists and Enlistees. And for this reason, we will also rename the ECS into the Enhanced Expertise Deployment Scheme.
While we invest significant efforts to optimise deployment, we must not forget that a strong SAF is contingent upon the commitment and morale of its fighting force. This brings me to the second thrust of NSRC’s work, which is that of improving the NS experience.
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A number of Members have asked about this. At the core of that experience are the NSmen and we have, therefore, designed our processes around that so that the NSman can be very well-focused for his training, knowing that the organisation is there behind him, cares about him, does everything to make sure that his contributions are maximised for the protection of this country, and takes care of his safety and well-being.
Yesterday, Minister Ng Eng Hen touched on our plans to automate the Make-Up Pay claims system. At present, the filing of such claims is done manually by NSmen and their employers. Later this year, MINDEF will introduce an automated system which draws on income-related information from CPF Board and IRAS to compute the Make-Up Pay amounts. NSmen and their employers will be provided the opportunity to review the computed amounts to see if they agree. If no objections are raised, the amount will then be paid out to them automatically. For the bulk of NSmen and their employers, this greatly simplifies the process and saves time. Those who believe that the computed amounts are not up-to-date can certainly submit additional information for recalculation, so that the right amounts are paid out.
Today, some NSmen, mostly from lower-income segments, may receive income from informal job roles, gig economy employment or other payments, such as allowances and incentives, which may not be captured in CPF Board's or IRAS' databases. As mentioned by Minister Ng Eng Hen, along with automating Make-Up Pay computation, we will be implementing a base NS pay. Starting later this year, all NSmen will receive at least $1,600 for every month of In-Camp Training that they are required to attend. For In-Camp Training of shorter durations, the allowance will be pro-rated.
Aside from automating Make-Up Pay claims and base NS pay, allow me now to also talk about two other initiatives which will improve our servicemen’s NS experience.
Mr Chong Kee Hiong asked about how MINDEF would leverage technology to improve NS processes. I am pleased to announce that the first phase of the OneNS platform will be rolled out later this year. This will replace the existing NS Portal and will provide a more seamless experience for our servicemen. Our National Servicemen perform several transactions with MINDEF/SAF throughout their NS journey. The idea is to centralise these transactions and essential NS services onto the OneNS platform and render it more accessible via a single mobile application or a revamped web portal. For a start, NSmen can look forward to enhanced Call-Up and Deferment eServices, to facilitate preparation for ICT. Other eServices will be rolled out subsequently and progressively.
MINDEF has also collaborated with the Smart Nation Digital Government Group to digitally deliver NS recognition benefits to our National Servicemen. Since November last year, MINDEF has been disbursing the NS Excellence Awards and Celebratory Gifts in the form of e-credits that can be accessed via LifeSG. In the past, recipients received their benefits in the form of physical vouchers. With this change, they are now able to receive and redeem these credits conveniently via the use of their mobile devices. The credits can be used at both online and brick-and-mortar shops that accept payment by PayNow QR. Thus far, through surveys, we found that 97% of surveyed users had reported satisfaction with this improvement. Come April this year, servicemen will also be able to use their credits with merchants that accept NETS QR. With this change, an even broader range of merchants will be able to benefit, including those who operate in heartland shops and hawkers. Obviously, with this greater array of merchants and merchandise, it will also be a value-add to our NSmen.
MINDEF will move our other cash and voucher-based recognition schemes, such as the cash payments for NS HOME, onto LifeSG. By mid-2022, MINDEF and MHA will disburse NS recognition benefits to 100,000 National Servicemen via LifeSG every year. Quite apart from the convenience that this will bring to our NSmen, this will also greatly contribute to our national drive to foster e-payments adoption and to go green and paperless.
Our National Servicemen who have received NS recognition benefits via the LifeSG mobile application will receive SMS notifications that these credits have gone into their account. We are very conscious that, in sending out these SMS notifications, these should not be mistaken as scams, and we will ensure that our SMSes will have no clickable links.
This brings me to the third thrust of the NSRC’s work, which is that of enhancing recognition and support for our National Servicemen. Our National Servicemen contribute to defence during their two years of National Service and at every subsequent In-Camp Training. There is sacrifice, from both them, as well as, we hear from Members, through the support of their families as well. We appreciate this greatly. Miss Rachel Ong asked about our recognition initiatives for our National Servicemen.
As mentioned by the Minister for Defence, we will enhance the NS HOME awards to better express our appreciation to our National Servicemen and their loved ones. We will disburse an additional $2,000 in cash to each National Servicemen cumulatively across the three existing NS HOME milestones, comprising $1,000 in cash at the first milestone and $500 in cash each, at the second and third milestones. Our National Servicemen will now receive at least $6,000 at the end of their full-time National Service and at least $5,500 at the mid-point and at the completion of their ORNS journey.
The additional $2,000 cash will be paid out as credits into our National Servicemen’s LifeSG mobile application. This complements the current NS HOME payment, of which the bulk is disbursed into the National Servicemen’s CPF accounts for long-term financial needs. As I have explained earlier, these credits can be used at merchants ranging from those that operate on e-commerce platforms to brick-and-mortar shops as well.
The change will benefit 54,000 SAF and Home Team servicemen every year.
Beyond recognition, we also want to provide our servicemen and their families with peace of mind when they participate in NS activities. Since 2016, MINDEF and MHA have been purchasing Group Term Life and Group Personal Accident core insurance coverage for all MINDEF and MHA servicemen, for a sum assured of $150,000 each. We have reviewed this and, come 2023, we will increase the coverage to $300,000 each. This will help ensure that the financial support and protection we accord our National Servicemen remain relevant and adequate.
Mr Chairman, the NSRC has completed its reviews, which have been significant in strengthening the NS system and the SAF’s operational effectiveness. And we want to thank the co-chairs and members of the Committee for the good work. Aside from the changes the Minister for Defence and I have outlined, the NSRC has made three other broad recommendations, which we will continue to follow up on. Mr Henry Kwek asked about this.
We will continue to work on, first, enhancing our training and leadership development programmes for National Servicemen. Second, better equipping our NSFs with transferable skills and preparing them for their transition to studies or work. And, third, better supporting pre-enlistees as they balance their NS-related obligations with personal pursuits.
I shall now move on to speak about another topic which is critical – training safety. As we continue to enhance the NS system, our safety practices on the ground must also continue to be robust. The SAF, therefore, places a very strong emphasis on strengthening our safety culture through regular audits and inspections, by leveraging technology and constantly reminding both commanders and men of the importance to internalise the safety culture itself – look after yourself, look after one another.
Dr Wan Rizal asked about the third External Review Panel on SAF Safety, or ERPSS, which MINDEF/SAF started last year. The Panel was established to review the SAF’s safety management systems and to make recommendations to improve safety in the SAF. A positive observation made by the Panel was the continual enhancements to the Safety Management System at our Basic Military Training Centre, or BMTC, where a slew of safety and mental health support measures has been implemented to better help recruits transit from civilian life into military life.
The Panel also noted the efforts to scaffold safety training across the leadership schools to ensure that our commanders understand and will conduct training safely. The ERPSS will continue to highlight best practices from industry during their continued visits to our ground units.
Aside from the ERPSS, we have, internally, the SAF Inspector-General’s Office. The SAF Inspector-General’s Office has commenced its second two-year audit cycle of all SAF formations. Mr Don Wee asked about this. Compared to the first audit cycle, commanders and servicemen were observed to have taken even more ownership in upholding safety practices and displayed more awareness towards potential safety hazards.
Going forward, the SAF will continue to sustain our emphasis on safety policies and processes and to ensure that safety lessons will be passed on, even as we see the turnover of servicemen, because it is in the nature of our NS system that you have cohorts who come in and train and they may leave. But we must ensure that the safety culture is entrenched and it is practised and improved upon, and we will do so.
Dr Wan Rizal also asked how MINDEF harnesses technology and digitalisation to further strengthen training safety. We are developing an enterprise Safety Information System for commanders to disseminate information on safety trends and lessons across the SAF. This would provide better awareness of safety situations and make safety promotion more targeted and, therefore, reduce the risk and likelihood of incidents recurring elsewhere within the SAF that are similar to the original occurrence.
However, as I have said, safety is not just the responsibility of commanders. Every soldier must play his role, too. The SafeGuardian mobile application, which I spoke about at Committee of Supply (COS) 2020, has played a significant role in enabling our servicemen to report safety hazards and near misses in a timely manner. Since its roll-out to our active Servicemen in June last year, we have seen a 20% increase in open reports being filed.
The SafeGuardian mobile application has empowered our servicemen to take greater ownership of their own safety and the safety of those around them. Besides open reporting, we are also encouraged that over 37,000 users have viewed the SafeGuardian’s in-application safety information thus far.
Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked about other recent efforts to enhance training safety. MINDEF/SAF will be collaborating with DSO and the National University of Singapore to establish the Heat Resilience and Performance Centre in the middle of this year. We recognise that rising ambient temperatures due to climate change will increasingly impact the well-being of our servicemen and the effectiveness of our training and operations.
Therefore, we look ahead to see what is it that we need to do in order to sustain our ability to train safely but effectively and upkeep our operational readiness. This centre will conduct forward-looking research on heat mitigation strategies and develop more fundamental approaches to prevent heat injury in the SAF.
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Mr Chairman, as we celebrate 55 years of NS this year, we all recognise that NS remains the cornerstone of our national defence and security. We must continue to build on the previous generations’ efforts and dedication to the protection of this country and the strengthening of our NS system. This is a work that will never cease, and the NSRC's recommendations will add to this effort and will put us in good stead as we continue on this journey to ensure that Singapore will forever be secure and free.
The Chairman : Senior Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad.
The Senior Minister of State for Defence (Mr Zaqy Mohamad) : Mr Chairman, Minister for Defence Dr Ng spoke about the global geopolitical shifts, transnational threats and the attendant impact on Singapore. Increasingly, the security challenges that test us will lie outside of traditional battlefields – some call this "grey zone" contestation. Now, more than ever, our investments in both the SAF and Total Defence continue to be crucial as Singapore’s bulwark against crises, challenges and potential aggression.
In 1984, we launched Total Defence in the context of a conventional threat landscape. Both then and now, our Total Defence pillars reinforce our belief that a strong foundation for our defence goes beyond the military domain and requires a whole-of-society response.
Over the years, we have faced numerous challenges, from pandemics to economic recessions, to terrorism. The six pillars of defence – military, economic, social, civil, digital, and psychological – working in concert have allowed us to respond to the threats that jeopardise Singapore's future.
In the last two years, we have grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic as it upended our lives and stress-tested us as a nation. It has pressured our healthcare systems and strained our supply chains. Many amongst us have lost jobs and had to pivot to new sectors or roles. And just when it felt like we had turned a corner with the vaccines, there have been new variants like Delta and Omicron.
While this has not been a conventional war, it has been a crisis that has impacted all of us. We are dealing with an unknown threat – COVID-19 – which, even today, remains elusive and ever-evolving.
In order to meet this threat and protect one another from the virus, we have needed a whole-of-society response through Total Defence. We understand that Member of Parliament Cheng Li Hui is interested in this topic.
Let us take our vaccination programme as an example. Today, 91% of our total population is fully vaccinated and 68% have received their booster shots. I am heartened that many have stepped up in support of our national vaccine effort. One example is National Serviceman Captain Dr Shane Abucewicz-Tan, a medical officer for the Home Vaccination Team, who supported COVID-19 operations. He conducted household visits as part of the Home Vaccination Programme, ensuring that Singaporeans who were immobile and immunocompromised could receive their vaccinations. Another example is the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations. It put together videos in dialects, such as Hakka, Cantonese and Teochew, to encourage seniors to receive their vaccinations.
Indeed, we have looked out for and supported one another. In 2020, the migrant worker community was disproportionately impacted when COVID-19 began spreading in the dormitories. MINDEF, together with other MINDEF-related organisations, and more than 20 partners, set up the Community Facility at Kranji in May that year − a temporary dormitory for migrant workers, which also served as a vaccination care centre and community care facility. It served over 70,000 migrant workers over 20 months.
I am grateful to our partners who have made this possible. Academic institutions, such as the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore, also helped make the site more sustainable. For instance, they tested lightweight solar panels and piloted energy storage solutions, which could be scaled to other temporary sites like these and contribute to our sustainability efforts in the long term.
There are many contributions beyond these and too many heroes to name today. I thank you all for your efforts because you have shown that Total Defence is very much alive and is in every one of us.
The threats to our way of life – our sense of stability and security – come in many forms. A study by Check Point Research found that Singapore saw a 145% increase in cyberattacks from 2020 to 2021. The healthcare sector was the most targeted sector. Throughout the pandemic, fear-mongers have spread falsehoods about variants and the ill-effects of vaccines, which have directly threatened public health and, if not, weakened trust. As Singapore imports 90% of our food, we are highly dependent on continued access to quality food supplies. Threats to our supply chains, natural disasters and climate change have affected our supplies and food prices.
Minister Ng touched on the situation in Ukraine in his speech yesterday. As we watch events unfold, it is a lesson in real-time for Singaporeans on how a country’s stability can be threatened on multiple fronts, including cyberattacks, information campaigns and border threats, and all these ahead of military aggression.
It is tragic and sad how events in Ukraine have unfolded. What is now clear to me, and I hope for many Singaporeans, too, is that we must always be ready and we can only depend on ourselves for our defence. Total Defence – being able to defend ourselves economically, socially and even psychologically – has to be every Singaporean’s responsibility.
As threats become more complex, multidimensional and multifaceted, how can we ensure that we are ever ready to meet them? Member of Parliament Denise Phua asked about this. How can Total Defence continue to galvanise every Singaporean for our survival, security and success? It is with these questions in mind that we embarked on a review of Total Defence.
In the past 16 months, we heard from over 2,000 Singaporeans from all walks of life. We asked them how Total Defence might better rally Singaporeans in times of crisis and this was even before the Ukraine situation happened. From these conversations, we learnt that Total Defence has room to be more resonant and relatable, even as the actions within the six pillars remain relevant. Some found it too abstract, prescriptive and focused on present-day threats at the expense of emerging challenges, while some others did not want to be told what Total Defence was about. Instead, they wanted to be proactive, and wanted space to contribute ideas and efforts towards shaping a Singapore that they aspired to see.
I am grateful for the feedback, which will guide our ongoing review. We have started building on some of these suggestions. For one, we will work to make Total Defence less prescriptive and more inclusive, by encouraging more ground-up and community-led efforts. I say "more", because many Singaporeans have already stepped up to support the causes that they care about. For example, more people are choosing to buy local produce and dabble in community gardening to strengthen food security.
Member of Parliament Rachel Ong asked what MINDEF is doing to engage youths. This year, we have launched a two-year campaign, beginning with the Total Defence Sandbox initiative. A sandbox is a safe environment where you can test ideas and programmes. And that is what we hope this can be: a space that links ideas to resources, to turn ideas into prototypes and prototypes into solutions.
We look forward to supporting projects that target today’s most salient challenges, such as cyber threats, food insecurity, are some examples. Some ideas we have heard so far include workshops to increase awareness of cybersecurity and campaigns to promote environmentally sustainable habits. The possibilities are vast and we look forward to Members' contributions.
We will also continue conversations with Singaporeans to expand and reimagine the actions that we can take for Total Defence – both in the current security environment and for the challenges that we will face in the near future or the future to come.
As the security environment continues to evolve, Singaporeans must be aware of the threats to our sovereignty and stability as well as vulnerabilities. Only then can we understand the roles that we might play and how some of these will impact on our actions.
Let me now touch on how MINDEF will work alongside partners to bring to life some of these challenges and the actions Singaporeans can take, which Member of Parliament Rachel Ong also asked about.
The Singapore Discovery Centre (SDC), for one, will be transformed to better tell Singapore’s stories. Member of Parliament Chong Kee Hiong asked about this. SDC has made strides in Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) and environmental sustainability, and in recent months, refreshed its galleries. In the upper gallery, an AR, first-person shooter game, takes visitors back to the Battle of Bukit Chandu on 14 February 1942. That day, even though Lieutenant Adnan Saidi and the Malay Regiment soldiers were outnumbered and eventually ran out of supplies, they fought valiantly against the Japanese Army and refused to surrender. As players hunker down behind sandbags, they will experience how the regiment defended themselves against waves of opponents and they will also understand the grit and determination that Lieutenant Adnan and his men had shown despite the odds.
SDC’s lower gallery, "Sandbox", opened last November. In that interactive space, a simulated digital environment allows visitors to experience Singapore’s history and the threats that we faced. Startups and students, including those in the AR/VR domain, can also use a new incubator space to collaborate on projects, experiment with technology and bring ideas to life.
SDC has also been investing in innovative energy solutions and renewables, and implementing various energy efficiency measures to reduce energy demand and emissions. Today, more than 60% of its energy use comes from renewable energy and SDC is working on becoming a net carbon-neutral facility. If you have not been to SDC recently, I encourage you to do so and, perhaps, I can invite and organise Members in this House, if you are interested, for a visit.
In the next few years, Singaporeans will have more to look forward to in our museums. We are developing capabilities and investing in technology to make the visitor experience in our three military museums, SDC and the upcoming NS Gallery at Marina Bay more fun and interactive. Museums and galleries are wonderful channels to learn about defence, as history offers important lessons while we look ahead to chart our course in an uncertain, ever-surprising future. We hope that visitors will walk away with an understanding of the competing needs, goals and trade-offs that we have made as a nation and those we might make in the future.
Mr Chairman, every Singaporean must understand Singapore’s security environment, unique vulnerabilities and the roles that we can play. Only then can we recognise the opportunities to contribute and step up where needed.
I am grateful to our ACCORD partners, who are instrumental in this effort, and have been reaching out to more youths and women in their current term. They have conducted NS engagement talks, a webinar series on NS and defence issues for University undergraduates and grassroots dialogues with women. Through these efforts, we prepare those who need to serve NS and help their families and friends take steps to support them.
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There is a part for everyone to play, no matter how small, to make our defence total.
Member Carrie Tan had shown interest and asked if MINDEF would consider expanding NS to include community care roles and enlist both men and women.
NS is based on the critical need of national security and defence. Currently, our NS population adequately meets our national security and defence needs. Both Minister Ng Eng Hen and Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How have spoken about MINDEF and the SAF's continued efforts to enhance manpower resource efficiency.
However, contributing to Singapore's defence should not be limited to just those serving NS. There are many different opportunities for Singaporeans to contribute actively through Total Defence and I encourage everyone to do so.
One example is by equipping oneself with practical emergency response skills for Civil Defence. I would like to encourage women, first-generation Permanent Residents and new citizens without NS commitments who are keen to do more for Total Defence to volunteer with the SAF Volunteer Corps.
MINDEF has also embarked on a refresh for our volunteer programme and Singaporeans will soon be able to contribute in different capacities, including as educators, researchers and guides in our museums.
This year, we commemorate 55 years of National Service (NS), as both Minister Ng Eng Heng and Senior Minister Heng Chee How have mentioned.
NS has been the bedrock of our defence. Generation after generation have served, first as NSFs, then as NSmen, to protect and defend Singapore's interests. That is why it is important to appreciate the dedication, service and sacrifice of our National Servicemen and to thank them for their efforts.
ACCORD, for one, will step up efforts to recognise, support and appreciate NSmen across the community. Members Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim and Yeo Wan Ling asked about this.
Last year, ACCORD members raised several ideas on how Singaporeans can show their support for NS and we will expand on some of them this year.
We will enhance the "We Support NS Campaign" where businesses, for one, can offer discounts and privileges to NSmen. We will also expand the spaces for Singaporeans to reflect on the significance of NS, whether through close engagement with our youths or experiential camps for families and the public. More details on the initiatives will be shared later in the year.
The three SAF Services will also continue to engage the community, such as through their open houses and charity events.
In conclusion, Mr Chairman, I would like to close by reiterating that the world remains uncertain. We recognise that the security challenges we face are immense and constantly evolving. MINDEF will continue to build Total Defence as our best response to the threats and challenges that might come our way.
I am heartened that Singaporeans want to do their part for Total Defence through understanding and action and we will partner you to work towards securing our collective future. By working together, we have every reason to be confident that we will keep Singapore strong today and for generations to come.
The Chairman : Time for clarifications. Mr Vikram Nair.
Mr Vikram Nair (Sembawang) : Just two clarifications. One is in relation to the 4G Army and the development, I think the changes are quite interesting to hear. I just want to check what steps will be taken to train reservists and upskill them. I am one myself. I am looking forward to using the new equipment, if it is available.
The second, of course, is just to seek clarification that training has been going on smoothly with COVID-19. I think I have asked about that.
The Minister for Defence (Dr Ng Eng Hen) : I thank Member Vikram Nair for the questions. Most militaries will face that problem as they modernise – how do they keep their Servicemen current. I think the honest reply is that we focus on the core, which is your NSFs, to make sure that they can, at the push of a button, operate the systems. As you go out on the various rings, ensure that there are both processes as well as outcomes that measure that your units are up to date.
It is not always possible for a large military – for us, we are a small military but a large organisation – that you can equip all the units at the same time. So, it is not as if all units are using the same level of advanced equipment. Some are perhaps one bound behind.
So, in a nutshell, it is always a challenge but I think the SAF, by and large, across all units, do quite well.
It helps that we also have a young military, in a sense that, on average, In-Camp Trainings (ICTs) are across 10 years. Most NSmen will know that you have ATEC, your tactical evaluation, which is done before they go into MINDEF Reserve (MR) or before they finish the 10-year cycle. So, I think that helps.
The question of training – I think we have talked about it. We will expect to be at pre-COVID-19 levels for NSmen later this year.
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 Zaqy Mohamad for sharing with us the latest developments in MINDEF and to the whole team at MINDEF and the SAF for keeping us safe even during times of COVID-19. With that, Mr Chairman, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.
[(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)]
[(proc text) The sum of $15,775,728,900 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)]
[(proc text) The sum of $1,090,745,000 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]