预算辩论 · 2018-03-02 · 第 13 届国会

国防预算与安全挑战

Committee of Supply – Head J (Ministry of Defence)

AI 安全与伦理AI 与国家安全AI 基础设施与研究AI 与公共部门争议度 3 · 实质辩论

议员质询新加坡国防预算，强调国防自主的重要性及面临的多元安全威胁，包括恐怖主义、核武风险及网络安全。政府回应需持续投资国防力量和维护国际防务联盟，以应对复杂且不断演变的安全环境。核心争议在于如何平衡有限资源与不断增长的安全需求。

关键要点

• 国防自主迫切需求
• 多元安全威胁增加
• 维护国际防务联盟

政府立场

持续投资国防与联盟建设

质询立场

支持国防预算但关注资源分配

政策信号

加强国防投入与多边合作

"Singapore needs to be a strong and valued partner in order for other countries to want to form alliances with us."

完整译文（中文）

Hansard 英文原文译文 · 翻译日期：2026-05-02

主席：国防部J项。Vikram Nair先生。

国防开支与紧张局势升级

Vikram Nair先生（实龙岗）：主席，我提议，“将预算中J项的总拨款减少100元”。

新加坡发展自身防御能力的需求几乎与独立同时出现。独立后不久，驻新加坡的英军宣布将提前撤离，新加坡此后需自行负责国防。

这促使1967年国民服役制度的启动和新加坡武装力量的重点发展。作为一个小国，安全始终是挑战。战争爆发时，通常认为资源丰富的大国会战胜小国。

与邻国相比，他们拥有更大的人口、土地和自然资源，新加坡独立时贫穷，面临诸多紧迫需求和挑战。但当时政府明白，从一开始就需要强大的国防力量，没有国防就没有经济未来和安全。因此，尽管困难重重，政府仍投资国防。

建设强大国防力量同时伴随着建立稳固的防务关系，1971年与马来西亚、澳大利亚、新西兰和英国签订的五国防务安排（FPDA）是我们最早参与的防务协议之一。此后又建立了更多重要的防务和训练安排，包括与其他地区国家和大国。

这些联盟基于各方共同利益建立，新加坡必须成为强大且受重视的伙伴，其他国家才愿意与我们结盟。

尽管我们的国防力量依然强大且可信，防务联盟稳固，但安全环境依然充满风险和不确定性。正如我们在早前外交辩论中讨论的，这些威胁范围广泛且严重。

恐怖主义威胁持续蔓延，激进分子和从中东返回的战斗人员事件增多。欧洲主要城市发生袭击，印尼也发生过类似事件。

朝鲜半岛几个月前发生了朝鲜的核试验，尽管目前关系有所缓和，但核风险依然存在。南海局势有所缓和，但分歧尚无明确解决方案，希望各方能达成行为准则。

如今，安全威胁呈现新形式，包括自我激进化的恐怖主义和网络安全。这些威胁复杂且不可预测，发生在战争门槛以下，我们可能需要足够投资应对这些新兴威胁。在这些威胁存在的同时，美国可能减少在本地区的角色，这使得我们必须继续投资国防。

我们的先驱一代有远见地投资国防，过去50年享受的“和平红利”为新加坡的成长和繁荣奠定了基础。如今，我们是世界上最富裕的国家之一。

上午10时15分

鉴于国土面积小且国防关系生死存亡，国防开支一直是预算的重要部分。面对日益增长的安全关切，地区国防开支也在上升，意味着我们的邻国也在加强武装力量。

正如预算辩论中预测，我们将进入人口老龄化和社会开支需求同时上升的时期。有人建议（当然不是在本院内）削减国防预算，我对此感到担忧，因为安全和国防对我们至关重要。面对威胁，新加坡的安全计划是什么？我们的国防开支是否足够且可持续？

[（程序文本）提案提出。（程序文本）]

维和行动

Teo Ser Luck先生（巴西立-榜鹅）：主席，作为国际社会负责任的一员，新加坡长期参与全球维和和人道援助任务。去年，新加坡武装部队（SAF）派遣CH-47直升机和人员协助美国哈维飓风救援，派遣额外医疗队支援中东打击伊斯兰国（ISIS）联盟，并向菲律宾和孟加拉国提供人道援助。SAF会继续支持全球安全和国际维和行动吗？

政府整体反恐努力

穆罕默德·法伊沙尔·易卜拉欣副教授（义顺）：主席，恐怖主义持续对本地区和平与稳定构成重大威胁。地区恐怖威胁规模扩大。去年约900名与ISIS有关的武装分子占领菲律宾南部马拉维市，导致40万居民流离失所。菲律宾武装部队和警察经过五个月激烈战斗，包括空袭和炮击，才夺回马拉维。

恐怖组织如今协调性和复杂性增强，跨国界运作。马拉维围城的Maute武装与地区亲ISIS细胞和个人有关联，利用走私路线通过无管辖区转移资金、人员和武器。

马拉维围城显示武装分子能有效组织，对本土安全构成可信威胁，强调政府整体协同应对恐怖威胁的重要性。

那么，SAF如何与其他政府机构协调，预防和应对地区恐怖主义威胁？

反恐努力

Fatimah Lateef副教授（海军部队）：国防部表示每年约有18,000名国民服役者接受反恐训练。还有其他举措帮助新加坡应对当前环境，包括特种作战部队、陆军部署部队以及岛屿防御训练学院的设立。

这些都是重大变革，伴随战略投资和承诺。我们计划采购何种规模的硬件和技术？如何覆盖陆地、海洋边界及空域的攻击和威胁？

我们必须随时准备应对极端不稳定局势，如何确保官兵心理准备充分，随时保护新加坡？

国防部对东盟防长会议（ADMM）主席任期有广泛目标。部长能否分享其中包括与东盟及其他有围城经验的武装力量合作的内容？

网络攻击

林伟杰博士（实龙岗）：主席，世界高度互联，互联网和数字化彻底改变生活，几乎所有电子设备都可远程访问和控制，如交通、金融和安全系统、电厂等。

这是一场完美的网络风暴。想象所有交通信号灯失控，导致多起交通事故，道路瘫痪。头顶飞机可能变成大规模杀伤性武器，如9·11事件。股市和金融系统可能完全瘫痪，电子金融交易混乱。通信设备被黑客攻击，瘫痪全国，救援和恢复服务无法进行。这是好莱坞电影中的末日场景，这种现实会成真吗？

全球频繁报道网络攻击、安全漏洞和网络间谍事件。针对新加坡的攻击有多普遍？我们有多脆弱？我们如何保护新加坡免受网络攻击？

近年来，网络攻击成为重大安全问题。2015年，黑客成功入侵乌克兰能源公司信息系统，导致电网暂时瘫痪。2017年6月，乌克兰再次遭勒索软件攻击，影响金融、能源和政府部门。

国内，政府教育机构也遭受网络攻击。去年，多家企业和购物中心受“想哭”蠕虫影响。幸运的是，新加坡受影响较轻。

这些例子表明，网络威胁严重影响新加坡人的生活方式。请问部长，这类攻击有多普遍？我们有多脆弱？国防部如何保护新加坡免受网络攻击？

漏洞赏金计划

Zainal Sapari先生（巴西立-榜鹅）：主席，安全环境变化带来更多多样化且非传统的威胁，尤其是网络领域。例如，暗网中日益增多的高级工具旨在破坏安全系统，促使我们测试和强化现有数字系统安全。同时，当前财政审慎环境也促使我们合理理财。

去年，国防部启动漏洞赏金计划，邀请具备技能和工具的白帽黑客攻击其系统。我认为这是明智之举，比雇佣商业网络安全评估团队成本低，且可能发现其他方式难以发现的漏洞。此外，加强网络安全有助于防御网络空间边界。

这些黑客被允许测试国防部八个面向互联网的系统，查找代码漏洞和安全隐患。请国防部长介绍漏洞赏金计划的最新进展？这是一次性活动还是持续项目？国防部的努力如何融入国家网络安全生态系统？

审慎财政

Teo Ser Luck先生：财政部长在今年预算中宣布预算增长上限降至GDP增长的0.3倍，此前各部委和国家机关预算上限已下调2%。这反映我们面对“新常态”低增长率的财政审慎态度。

同时，我们目睹非传统安全威胁种类和危险性增加，尤其是网络领域和恐怖主义。

国防部和武装部队近年来投入资源建设这些领域能力。鉴于财政环境日益紧张和威胁范围扩大，有人担心国防资金可能分散过薄。为发展新兴领域能力，国防部可能需更加审慎，甚至采取部分削减措施。

国防部能否详细说明正在采取的审慎和削减措施？

武装部队未来

Teo Ho Pin博士（武吉班让）：主席，武装部队主要任务是保卫新加坡。如今，新加坡面临恐怖主义和网络攻击等新威胁，除传统威胁外。我们必须转型，建设新能力，以威慑潜在侵略者，并以迅速有力的防御击败他们。

技术和情报在强化国防和提升武装部队能力中发挥重要作用。2017年，国防部宣布成立网络防御组织，每年培训18,000名士兵应对陆、海、空反恐行动。这些举措很好，但未来我们是否有人力资源支持，尤其面对低生育率？

此外，随着人口老龄化，许多预备役国民服役者10年后将超过60岁，国防力量年龄结构将显著老化。许多年长预备役者可能不熟悉技术，难以适应武装部队采用的新技术。因此，升级这些预备役者以融入国防力量将面临挑战。

去年，国防部长谈及“下一代武装部队”，面向未来，能应对21世纪威胁。对此，我想请教部长：一是武装部队如何利用技术提升装备；二是武装部队应对未来威胁的作战准备情况如何？

主席：Lee Yi Shyan先生不在。Jessica Tan女士。

东盟防长会议（ADMM）主席任期

Jessica Tan Soon Neo女士（东海岸）：主席，新加坡地理位置和规模带来几个不可否认的战略现实，包括缺乏战略纵深和分量、缺乏自然资源和人口少。我们高度依赖外贸自由流通，开放经济使我们易受外部环境波动影响。

鉴于脆弱性，我们需依靠强大武装部队和精明外交保护利益。特别是参与地区安全架构对促进信任与合作至关重要，有助塑造良好安全环境，支持新加坡持续发展繁荣。

东盟防长会议（ADMM）是东盟最高防务协商合作机制，旨在通过对话与合作促进地区和平稳定，涵盖东盟内部及与对话伙伴的防务安全合作。

面对极端分子威胁和地区地缘政治动荡，新加坡作为今年ADMM主席，有良好条件推动地区和新加坡安全利益。请问国防部作为ADMM主席采取了哪些举措？

ADMM与ADMM-Plus

Pritam Singh先生（亚逸尼）：主席，ADMM和ADMM-Plus框架取得良好进展，增强成员国信心，降低但未消除地区，尤其是南海热点地区爆发全面敌对的可能性。

即将举行的东盟-中国海上演习是增强伙伴国信心的良好例子。特别是《海上意外相遇行为准则》（CUES）的采纳，提升了实施希望，尽管所有ADMM-Plus伙伴达成协议可能比东盟国家更难。

上午10时30分

鉴于过去发生的致命事件，国防部长上月提及空中非计划相遇行为准则框架，有无现实可能实现？

作为ADMM主席，据报道新加坡计划加强东盟成员国及八个ADMM-Plus国家合作，提升反恐协作和应对化学、生物、放射性威胁能力。

此外，“我们的眼睛”倡议下，印尼、马来西亚、菲律宾、新加坡、泰国和文莱高级官员每两周会面，交换激进分子信息，建立暴力极端分子数据库。部长能否说明此类合作是否有助于SAF实现规模经济，为国防部节省开支？

最后，部长，鉴于ADMM-Plus框架重要性及多极化世界现实，有无可能将ADMM-Plus会议改为每年举行，而非目前的两年一次？ADMM及ADMM-Plus伙伴对此提议反应如何？

ADMM-Plus

Low Thia Khiang先生（亚逸尼）：主席，财政部长提到南海紧张局势可能影响投资者信心，进而影响地区稳定和增长。因此，新加坡战略上应尽力减少紧张局势，防止事件升级为南海严重冲突。

新加坡今年担任东盟主席，因此领导东盟国防部长会议（ADMM）及东盟国防部长会议加八国（ADMM-Plus），后者还包括中国和美国等另外八个大国。我们有一个及时的机会来建立框架，以最大限度地减少紧张局势。这是及时的，因为新加坡在南海争端的解决中是一个非声索方利益相关者，并且与许多其他利益相关者，包括东盟国家、中国和美国，保持着强有力的双边关系。

这也是及时的，因为南海争端似乎正在进入一个更理性的谈判和力量平衡阶段，摆脱了最初因争夺领土而引发的情绪化阶段。

2013年，中国和美国在夏威夷附近参加了联合训练演习。2014年，两国连同其他南海利益相关方签署了《海上军事行为准则》（CUES）协议。CUES是一个极好的平台，用以避免任何事件的升级，维护南海的和平与稳定。今年2月6日，国防部发布新闻稿，概述了2018年东盟国防部长会议的三个重点领域，其中之一是确认CUES在海上和空中的重要性。这是一个值得追求的目标，但遗憾的是，新闻稿对该领域的细节描述较少。部长能否详细说明如何利用ADMM-Plus重申CUES的重要性？

新闻稿还宣布，东盟将在年底与中国举行首次海上联合演习。这非常好，因为2013年美中海上演习促进了信任，进而促成了2014年的CUES协议。我想请教部长，东盟-中国海上演习是否会涉及在南海测试和演练CUES，以及是否可以在ADMM-Plus框架下举办类似演习。我之所以问后一个问题，是因为2018年是第三个ADMM-Plus三年周期的开始，上一个周期已经举行了四次实兵演习，这些演习对深化地区安全合作非常有益。

主席：国防部长。

国防部长（黄永宏博士）：主席先生，感谢各位议员昨天通过政府财政政策，继续支持新加坡建设强大国防。

这场辩论以及议会复会后关于总统致辞的辩论至关重要。正如预期，任何拟议的增税都会引起关注。如果不引起关注，那我们就处于一个不同的、超现实的世界。但精明的议员们指出，财政预算不过是达到目标的手段。

事实上，除了对政府开支和收入的财政审查外，这些辩论还将为新加坡未来10年、20年及更长远的战略方向定调。这些核心问题正值关键时刻提出，因为我们正过渡到第四代（4G）领导层，必须赢得一代新加坡人的支持，这代人的视角和记忆与开国元勋甚至他们父母那代人有显著不同，因为他们出生时新加坡已是第一世界国家，未经历过第三世界新加坡。我们在审议这些关键问题时，必须决定哪些是绝不能放弃的，以免削弱我们的发展基础，哪些必须改变以保持与时俱进。这两场辩论的决定将影响每一个新加坡人，无论老少，无论对错。

因此，每个部委，尤其是占政府开支大头的国防部，都必须处理这些核心问题。这就是核心辩论。维克拉姆·奈尔议员在问我部关于面对广泛威胁和风险的安全计划，以及我们的国防开支是否充足和可持续时，抓住了本质。他用了“生存性”这个词两次，他说得对。

我们是否应继续将国防开支作为优先事项？毕竟，我们已经有50多年和平。我们与邻国关系良好。正如议员们指出的，我们与大国建立了强有力的伙伴关系。我们应投入多少资金建设强大的武装部队，我们能负担多少？

前几代人对此问题的答案明确且坚定——国防是头等大事，他们会毫不犹豫地大量投资建设强大国防和强大武装部队。

但我要澄清一点。过去的几代人即使面临许多竞争性需求，也如此决断。我们谈论需求增长，但过去作为第三世界国家的新加坡，需求极为迫切且无处不在——住房、学校、医院、道路、公共设施、就业——都严重短缺。独立时我们的军事能力几乎为零，当时政府必须做出艰难决定——每一元用于军事建设的钱都是从其他需求中挤出来的。然而，他们付出了代价，建设了强大的武装部队。

为什么？李光耀先生和开国元勋们经历了新加坡作为英国殖民地、日本占领及马来西亚一部分的岁月，他们深信通过强大国防实现自决。

在国庆阅兵式上（各位议员都参加过），我们会重播李光耀先生的一段视频。这是一段非常严厉的告诫，在即将到来的国庆阅兵中，我邀请大家再次聆听。1967年国民服役制度推出时，他说：“如果你们这些正在成长的人不明白必须保卫这片土地，那么最终我们会失败。别人会来，打倒你们，接管这里。”我无法像李光耀先生那样严厉地说，因为那一代人经历了艰难岁月。对我们来说这很不自然，但当他说这话时，当开国元勋们说这话时，极其真诚。严厉的话语对应严峻的时代，但非常必要。不仅对那一代人，对每一代人都是如此。今年请再次聆听那段视频。

怀着这种深刻信念和牺牲精神，我们今天拥有一支现代化、专业的武装部队。从两支步兵营——如果你读李光耀的回忆录，会发现即使分离后它们仍受马来西亚指挥——发展到现在拥有陆军、合成兵种师，人员齐备，能随时机动。

今年早些时候，你们可能注意到，也可能没注意到，我们启动了一次大规模动员演习（MOBEX）。没有大张旗鼓，甚至可能未被察觉。但几小时内，我们迅速集结并装备了8,000名官兵，调运弹药，采用了新方式。许多议员是国民服役者，经历过动员演习。当他们到自动化柜台时，摄像头拍照识别，发放通知单，告知所属连排、角色及需领取的武器。但实际上不必亲自领取武器，因为启动时，我们同时激活了弹药储备设施，武器和装备被推送到官兵处。几小时内集结8,000人，这在任何地方都不简单。这应当给本院议员和新加坡民众极大信心。

新加坡空军（RSAF）今年庆祝金禧纪念。但起初，我们只有两架塞斯纳飞机，实际上是从新加坡飞行俱乐部租赁的。如今，我们拥有全面的战斗机、运输机、侦察机和地面防空系统，全天候保护我们的空域。说到这里，意味着我们有飞行员随时待命。9·11事件后，我们非常重视这一威胁。如果有飞机未经计划接近，我们的战斗机会被动员。动员需要时间，所以飞行员随时待命。偶尔我们会温和引导迷航或失控的飞行员降落。但你永远不知道何时会有真正的袭击，就像9·11一样。

我们的海军起步时只有两艘木质船只，若遭攻击可能沉没。现在拥有现代化的近海任务舰（LMV）、护卫舰和潜艇，保护我们的水域和海洋枢纽。

前几代人建设强大武装部队的承诺不仅仅是口头或愿望，而是需要政府和人民提供大量财政资源。但这并非他们唯一、甚至不是最宝贵的资源。他们奉献了自己，正如本院所有完成国民服役的男性议员一样，通过国民服役，获得家庭和雇主的全力支持。

这种明确承诺的成果显而易见——对新加坡人、邻国乃至全球——今天的武装部队能够保卫新加坡，更在全球安全中发挥作用。正如维克拉姆·奈尔议员所说，我们如何展示自己是值得信赖的伙伴？

正如张世乐议员指出，武装部队和资产曾协助德克萨斯州的哈维飓风救援，以及此前的卡特里娜飓风；或作为东帝汶维和部队，或在阿富汗和伊拉克反恐；在亚丁湾打击海盗；以及在亚齐和尼泊尔的人道主义救援。50多年前武装部队刚成立时，谁会想到这些？

上午10时45分

是的，我们将继续这样做，因为国际合作伙伴关系对应对影响我们自身安全的跨国威胁至关重要。坦率地说，我们并非“好人”，而是提升了我们的利益和价值，使其他国家愿意帮助我们应对跨国安全威胁。

正是持续稳定的国防投资使武装部队在本地和国际上取得这些成就。这是供应委员会辩论，因此我认为适当介绍一些实际财政细节。主席先生，获准后，我们发放了图表，也在屏幕上展示。

第一张图显示过去30年的国防开支。蓝色部分是国防部占政府开支的比例。最高时，我们几乎花费了政府每一元的三分之一。但随着武装部队现代化，利用人力和技术做更多事，国防开支占比大幅下降，约十年前开始，目前约占政府开支的19%。

说完新加坡的开支，国防必须放在大环境中看。你花多少钱永远不如别人花多少钱重要。看下一张幻灯片——周边国家的国防开支。我只聚焦东盟，但亚洲（除东盟和新加坡）情况可能类似甚至更甚。

第二张图显示，我们的国防开支与东盟保持同步直到2006年左右。过去十年，东盟邻国开支增加。这是名义绝对开支。随着经济增长，邻国加大国防现代化投入。新加坡与东盟其他国家的开支差距扩大，但新加坡无需大幅增加国防开支以追赶。别担心，我们不必这么做。

正如我此前在本院所说，我们可以通过每年约3%-4%的通胀率增长，维持武装部队能力。未来十年，国防部预计国防开支不会出现激增。当然，若发生紧急情况或意外，如恐怖袭击或安全环境恶化，我们的机构将不得不增加开支保护新加坡人。

十年后，我认为届时的政府和本院应重新评估安全威胁、军事开支及其他国家能力，提前规划。如果各位议员十年后仍在本院，请记住这温和的告诫，必要时发出警示。

我们从自身经验及其他国家负面例子中学到两条重要教训：第一，准备应对危机的最佳时机是在和平时期；第二，长期稳定投资军事能力通过威慑维护和平，效果更佳。这是国防投资最有效的回报。换言之，即使在一定时期内花费相同金额，持续稳定投资比起波动投资更有效。我将用许多欧洲国家的苦涩教训举例说明。

我最近谈到立陶宛冷战后废除国民服役，但克里米亚被吞并后不得不重新引入。想想看——一位国防部长决定“国民服役不再必要”，几年后另一位决定“重新引入”，这可能吗？显然来不及应对迫在眉睫的危机。

丹麦去年10月宣布未来五年国防开支将增加20%。财政部长不得不说：“我必须将商品及服务税（GST）提高2%来支付国防开支。”这对民众来说是痛苦的。

法国问题更大。上月公布法案，计划到2025年将军费增加40%，因为欧洲面临威胁。法国和德国作为两大国被要求承担更多责任。马克龙总统支持此举，但军费需增加40%。法国目前军费约340亿欧元，需增至500亿欧元，七年内增加160亿欧元。仅靠2%的GST涨幅远远不够，可能需要3%、4%甚至5%的GST涨幅来支付。

德国尽管历史复杂，欧盟国家要求其承担更多军事责任。这个争论已经结束。我过去十多年参加慕尼黑安全会议，国防部长们也参加过。过去有种矛盾心理：“我们希望德国做更多，但鉴于其历史，或许不应如此。”如今争论结束，德国必须做更多。但经过25年削减国防预算，德国联邦国防军资金不足，许多武器系统因缺备件或维护不善而无法使用。根据德国政府评估，不到一半的潜艇和飞机处于可操作状态。装备在，但只有一半能启用。

亚齐海啸时，我们启动了四艘登陆舰中的三艘。那是节礼日，无法提前预警。启动后，75%的该类资产投入行动。第四艘当时在海湾，正如副总理张志贤提醒的。四艘全部出动。若需再派一艘，只能借用。

德国联邦国防军需要多年时间来现代化装备，弥补失去的时间。

分享这些教训，是希望大家吸取他人付出代价学到的宝贵经验，这是任何国家最廉价的代价。

尽管周边国家开支增加，安全威胁广泛，我们仍计划保持国防开支稳定。但必须优先排序、聚焦和优化资源。

有议员问及反恐问题——穆哈德·费沙尔副教授、法蒂玛·拉蒂夫副教授。武装部队非常重视恐怖主义，必须重新组织、训练和装备。议员们指出，包括张豪斌博士，我们现在有能力训练18,000名国民服役者执行国土安全任务。

我们从马拉维事件中吸取了宝贵教训，这是别人付出的惨痛代价。我们前往那里，吸收经验。我和副总理张志贤最近都曾访问，发现并承认他们低估了问题，包括战斗人员数量和装备水平。

那里的恐怖分子装备精良。狙击手拥有良好的武器、重机枪，甚至还有反坦克武器。恐怖分子对菲律宾当局的士兵和警察进行了城市战，而这些士兵和警察并未接受过这类战斗的训练。这就是为什么菲律宾武装部队和国土安全部门花了五个月时间才将激进分子从那座城市驱逐出去。而且是在付出了许多生命代价和城市遭到破坏之后。我认为他们最近估算的账单大约是20亿美元。这只是一个小城市。那里的经验证实，新加坡武装部队（SAF）在建设我们的反恐能力方面走在正确的道路上。在一年时间里，我们已经训练了大约18,000名国防服役人员用于国土安全，并且启动了一个新的机构，称为岛屿防御训练学院。我去年谈过新加坡武装部队训练学院（SAFTI）城。完工后，它将使我们的士兵能够更现实地进行国土安全和反恐训练，因为它将是一个不同于你我所熟悉的巴西拉巴。建筑物，我不知道能建多高，但至少比我们现在的高，以教他们如何在那种场景下作战。

议员们正确指出，我们必须与其他政府机构合作，以应对这些恐怖威胁。我们正在与警方的前线警务训练中心合作。我们将进行联合训练，并装备国防服役人员以具备执行这些国土安全行动的技能。在海上，各个机构协调合作，无论是海军、警察海岸警卫队、海事及港务局（MPA）还是移民与关卡局（ICA），以确保我们的水域安全。

但无论我们在国内做多少准备，新加坡都需要成为国际努力的一部分，从源头上应对恐怖主义。这是一个明智的策略，因为如果不这样做，你只是太晚处理问题，且让问题不断扩大。

我们从2007年开始在阿富汗对抗基地组织，之后威胁暂时减弱。自2014年以来，我们的武装部队已部署在伊拉克对抗ISIS，并取得了相当大的进展。由美国领导的联盟努力已将伊拉克从ISIS控制中夺回。美国国防部长詹姆斯·马蒂斯最近写信给我，要求新加坡为我们来之不易的胜利后的下一阶段巩固工作投入更多资源。内阁已批准新加坡继续在全球反恐方面保持承诺，以维护我们的利益。我今天宣布，武装部队将在今年晚些时候进一步派遣部队前往伊拉克。我们将派遣武装部队士兵帮助训练伊拉克安全部队，针对简易爆炸装置，以及战术武器和战斗战术。

正如副教授法蒂玛·拉蒂夫所建议的，我们需要与东盟合作开展反恐工作，其他人也指出了这一点，包括普里坦·辛格先生和刘谦祥先生，特别是因为来自伊拉克和叙利亚的外国战斗人员风险增加。因此，矛盾的是，随着那里的问题减少，他们逃离；然后他们回来，无论是马来西亚、印度尼西亚、菲律宾甚至新加坡。

菲律宾特种作战司令部去年12月来新加坡进行为期两周的专业交流，我们向菲律宾武装部队提供使用我们的无人机（UAV）进行监视的提议仍然开放。副总理张志贤最近访问菲律宾领导人时也重申了这一提议。武装部队准备在受邀时加入苏禄海巡逻。作为国防部长会议（ADMM）主席，我们最近提出了一个反恐框架——虽然已有许多项目，但我们认为需要一个全面的框架，因此设计了3R原则——相当于读、写、算。实际上是“韧性（Resilience）、响应（Response）、恢复（Recovery）”，以协调我们预防、应对和从攻击中恢复的措施。

林伟杰博士询问了日益增长的网络威胁，确实，这是一种跨国威胁，其影响可能与物理攻击一样毁灭性，无论是电网、金融网络、医院等等。

在整个政府层面，副总理张志贤主持我们的跨部委协调委员会，即安全政策委员会。但在各部委层面，我们负责各自部委以及该部委所管理的生态系统。

议员们询问攻击来自谁、多频繁以及针对谁。我想议员们可以猜到答案。攻击由自由职业者以及有组织的国家和非国家行为者发起。国防部和武装部队高级领导人以及处理敏感信息的部门曾被有针对性地攻击，例如通过“鱼叉式网络钓鱼”。从事信息技术（IT）的人会知道这是什么。

上午11点

换句话说，你会收到看似无害的电子邮件，但其中包含恶意软件。如果你点击附件，或者有时甚至点击邮件本身——我认为他们还没达到你只看邮件恶意软件就会入侵的阶段。他们尚未成功，但会不断尝试。

正如我们在物理领域所做的，国防部采取多层次的网络防御方法，包括最终将敏感系统与互联网物理隔离的措施。内部有一套系统——我们不想与你通信，请勿进入。传感器全天候监控内部网络。我们有“红队”测试漏洞。

赞纳尔·萨帕里先生询问我们的漏洞赏金计划。感谢你肯定这一计划。我认为这是个好主意。它吸引了260名白帽黑客，全部是可信的，并以相对低廉的成本改进了我们的系统。我们已与其他机构分享经验，如政府科技局（GovTech）和网络安全局（CSA），效果令人鼓舞。我认为这不是一次性的。它可能不是完全的模板，但我们会考虑这些众包方式。对于互联网，我们可以这样做；我们可以众包并利用这种连接性。

正如议员们指出的，我们将建立一支由更多武装部队现役人员和全职员工组成的网络部队。我们也将使用国防服役人员。今年，我们将招收首批网络国防服役生（NSF）试点班。对于有兴趣且合适的朋友、子女或朋友的子女，请告诉他们这项计划。对于有兴趣且合适者，我们将提供不同期限的正规合同。如果他们接受，我们也将加大培训投入。我们还将建立网络防御训练和演习基础设施来培训他们。因此，这是一个长期计划，需要长期规划，我们已经开始了。

张世乐先生询问如何在开支上保持谨慎，他说得很对。我们知道资源有限。我们必须谨慎，但不会妥协。武装部队不会妥协我们的防御能力，但我们已找到优化资源的方法。我们希望每一分钱都用得其所。

我们利用创新和更好的工作流程。武装部队去年节省了2亿新元，是过去四年中的最高水平。我认为我们还能做得更多。例如，我们的新型轻型多用途舰艇（LMV）在整个舰队的维护成本上将节省约6500万新元。它们取代了巡逻舰。LMV比巡逻舰更具能力，但成本更低。为什么？因为它们的船员更少，维护更高效。

共和国空军（RSAF）的气球监视系统——我们的大型气球——昨天有些关于漂浮气球的讨论——让我说，当武装部队放飞气球时，它是长期存在的，目的是持续升空。我们的气球实现了持续的空中监视，就像装有雷达的飞机，但每年节省约2900万新元。这是个非常好的主意。

武装部队在可能的情况下升级现有装备，以避免购买新平台。我们的第一反应不是购买，而是升级。这就是我们对整支豹式坦克和CH-47直升机机队所做的。

正如张浩斌博士指出的，我们必须利用新技术。因为即使你选择给我们更多资金换取人力，我们也做不到。我们根本没有足够的人力。我们认识到这是一个固有的限制，并且可能在一二十年前就开始应对，比如重新设计我们的系统，维护我们的系统。让我给议员们举些例子。

张浩斌博士提到年长的预备役军官（ORNS），那些60多岁的人，可能不那么熟练。我们并不打算将他们纳入武装部队，因为他们的服役责任在40至50岁结束。谢谢你的建议，张博士。我们会考虑。

在我们的作战序列（ORBAT）中，有一些例子。陆军将建造无人观察塔来监视裕廊岛及周边水域，而不是由士兵从观察塔进行监视。这些塔将全天候24小时监视，减少所需士兵总数三分之一——这是一个显著数字。

共和国空军正朝着智能空军基地方向发展。什么是智能空军基地？例如，它将使用无人机执行跑道损伤评估。议员们会注意到，比如最近的航空展，观看很美，人们欢呼，但战斗机起降后，我们必须进行目视检查，确保民航飞机也能安全降落。每次起飞都要进行目视检查，因为即使是小碎片也会造成影响。

我们可以用无人机执行跑道损伤评估，并应对其他入侵无人机。我们希望通过自动化实现飞机维护的效率提升，并使用传感器进行飞行前后检查。我认为这是可实现的，我们正在进行试验以实现这种智能空军基地。

海军正在整合所有机构的数据。海上环境与空中不同，有许多动态因素和不同机构。我们希望收集所有来源的数据，构建更好的算法来检测异常，然后预防可能来自海上的恐怖威胁。

在监视方面，我们希望使用带智能传感器的摄像头实现自动监控。我们不需要每个环节都有人监控，来判断“这艘船的行为与其他船不同”。只需提醒你，当人工决策者做出判断时，你就能响应。某些场景下我们不需要有人驾驶的船只。无人船将很快用于巡逻和水下调查。所有这些让我们看到希望，我们正朝着一支同样甚至更有效但用人更少的武装部队迈进。

我们完全同意这里议员们指出的，我们不能单独完成这项工作。我们必须与其他伙伴或国家合作。陈洁仪女士、刘谦祥先生、普里坦·辛格先生，感谢你们肯定我们作为今年国防部长会议主席所决定的事项。我们说将有三个领域：第一，反恐；第二，信心建设措施及海空非计划遭遇行为准则（CUES）；第三，化学、生物和放射性威胁。这主要是因为朝鲜半岛的不稳定，大多数国家尚未准备好应对这些威胁。

正如议员们正确指出，海上非计划遭遇行为准则（CUES）已被接受。空中CUES被接受的可能性很难，我同意。但如果我们能在18个国家间实现，我认为这将发出强烈信号。因此，我们会尝试。我们至少会启动进程，看看是否能获得10个东盟国家和加8国的共识。我认为我们可以实现。在其中一些国家中，他们会更愿意。如果我们能与他们沟通，说“这对你们有用”，我认为我们将做出重大贡献。

有人问及演习，刘谦祥先生和普里坦·辛格先生也问，我们是否在练习CUES。确实如此。我们甚至不必等到中国-东盟海上联合演习。我们将与所有18个国防部长会议加八国成员国一起练习CUES，因为他们已集体同意采用CUES，并将在2019年的演习中实践。今年，我怀疑与中国的演习可能在无争议水域进行，因此没有机会练习。议员问国防部长会议加八国是否每年召开。确实如此，从今年开始。他们已同意，新加坡将首次主办这些年度会议。

与美国方面，我们取得了新里程碑。新加坡共和国海军（RSN）和共和国空军去年首次在关岛与美国太平洋空军（PACAF）进行双边演习，涵盖反潜、反水面和防空作战的全方位演练。

与中国方面，我们将基于今年初中国国防部长常万全访问所带来的积极势头，深化与中国人民解放军的关系。与印度方面，我们签署了海军双边协议，将加强两国间的海上安全合作，特别是在安达曼海周边。与澳大利亚方面，我们将在昆士兰建设武装部队训练设施，预计2019年开始。

我们将建立强有力的伙伴关系，但我们都知道，最终，新加坡人必须对自己的防务负责。当我们依赖他人时，我们就失败了。我们的国防服役人员将通过SAFTI城和澳大利亚的新设施接受更好训练。随着持续稳定的投资，获得本院议员的批准，武装部队将继续转型。

下一代武装部队将采用颠覆性技术和新的作战理念。在地面，他们将操作无人自主系统，以倍增兵力。我们的天空将通过先进武器系统得到更好保护。我们最近增加了Aérospatiale Terminale（ASTER）-30导弹系统。我们的领海和海上交通线将通过有人和无人舰艇得到更好保障。这就是我们的愿景。这就是我们正在投资的方向，我们将装备应对不断演变的网络威胁。

主席先生，请允许我总结。昨日本院议员通过2018年预算案，向我们人民和世界发出了强烈信号。这样做，我们兑现了前辈赋予我们的信任——建设一支强大的武装部队，确保我们的独立并保护新加坡人。但强大的武装部队不是偶然或仅凭良好意愿建立或维持的。每一代人都需要有意识、有意图的决定。需要牺牲，投入资源和自身。

前辈们做出了艰难决定。正如李光耀先生在2012年一次淡马锡学会晚宴上对武装部队军官所说：“从我们开始的那一天起，我就知道我们需要一支强大的武装部队，我相信这今天依然如此。没有强大的武装部队，就没有经济未来，也没有安全。”

昨日投票通过预算案的本院议员与开国元勋的信念和决心团结一致。如果每一代人都重申并更新承诺，那么强大的武装部队将继续保障新加坡的安全和主权，为下一代创造安全的未来。[掌声]

国防服役的角色

副教授穆罕默德·法伊沙尔·易卜拉欣：主席先生，自1967年引入以来，国防服役一直是武装部队的支柱，在过去50年中对威慑潜在敌人和建立新加坡和平基石发挥了重要作用。潜在敌人知道，攻击新加坡就是与我们所有人作战。

该地区的政治氛围多年来时起时伏。如今我们与所有东盟伙伴保持温暖友好的关系，社会某些群体质疑国防服役在这种背景下是否仍然相关。毕竟，传统冲突的可能性被认为很低。

鉴于国防服役基于国家防御的需要，国防部能否详细说明国防服役在当今新加坡的作用及其重要性，考虑到当前的地缘政治状况？

武装部队人力

赞纳尔·萨帕里先生：先生，多年来，武装部队在建设一支强大军事力量以保护新加坡的过程中，依赖了新加坡的人力资源。然而，近年来出现了几种趋势威胁到武装部队的征兵池，首要的是出生率下降和人口老龄化趋势。

上午11点15分

正如本院议员所记得，国防部长去年指出，到2030年，武装部队的人力供应将减少三分之一。鉴于这些即将到来的人力限制，武装部队面临哪些人力挑战？采取了哪些措施以确保这些人力挑战不会影响我们的整体军事能力？

国防服役凝聚力

张世乐先生：像我许多男同事一样，我们对国防服役有美好回忆，国防服役是所有新加坡男性的成年礼，无论背景如何，只有在国防服役中，我们才能与不同背景、不同身份的同龄人交往，共同工作。因此，除了为我们的年轻人、年轻男性准备作战外，它在增强社会凝聚力方面也发挥着重要作用。从这个意义上说，国防服役是我们社会不可或缺的一部分。武装部队正在做些什么，以在服役期间为来自不同背景的国防服役生创造更多共同经历并提升凝聚力？

国防服役效能

王廷坤先生（马西岭-裕廊西）：主席先生，尽管我们尽了最大努力，但迄今为止提高出生率的尝试效果有限。这对我们的经济和安全都有严重影响。展望未来，人力资源的挑战意味着每一个服兵役的个人都将变得越来越珍贵，无论是在服役期间还是服役之后。在服役期间，由于服役人数因出生队列缩小而减少，每个人将承担更大的角色。

服役之后，我们需要确保所有新加坡人都具备在新工作世界中茁壮成长的能力。如果我们的所有男性在获得未来职场生存所需技能方面都落后于同龄人两年，我们作为一个国家将面临困难。我想请教部长，国防部如何利用新技术最大化每位国民服役者在服役期间和服役之后的潜力？

职业兴趣

裴润庆先生（淡滨尼）：职业兴趣计划允许在确定新兵适合部署的国民服役职业时考虑其兴趣。此举旨在为我们的服役人员提供更积极、充实和有意义的国民服役体验。同时，它鼓励我们的国民服役者更积极地承担其角色、责任和为确保新加坡安全所作贡献的责任。

我查看了中央人力基地（CMPB）网站，发现有关新加坡武装部队（SAF）、新加坡警察部队（SPF）和新加坡民防部队（SCDF）33个国民服役职业的视频和手册非常有用。这将为我们的年轻预备役者提供更深入的见解，帮助他们做出更明智的选择。我注意到最终的分配结果会考虑体能、执行任务的适合性和作战需求，除了新兵的兴趣之外。这是合理的。

我想请国防部详细说明该计划的理由，以及新加坡武装部队在部署国民服役者方面是否有其他变化。

自去年11月该计划启动以来，我相信已有两三个批次的新兵入伍，其中一批已完成基础军事训练（BMT）。国防部能否分享该计划的早期发现？兴趣匹配情况如何？新兵的反应如何？

网络国民服役者计划

刘燕玲女士（蔡厝港）：主席先生，据总参谋长称，过去一年新加坡发生了一系列网络攻击。调查显示，一些攻击者采用复杂的反检测和感染技术，通过网络后门访问信息。这些高级持续性威胁（APT）中的一些恶意软件签名甚至未被反恶意软件数据库识别。

我们刚才听国防部长黄永宏谈到恶意邮件带来的威胁。这些发展表明，新加坡面临的网络威胁日益复杂，检测和取证调查更加困难。值得注意的是，一些复杂的网络攻击似乎针对公共机构，试图获取关键信息和数据。不出所料，国防部去年初其面向互联网的系统遭到有意的黑客攻击。

鉴于我们人口和地理面积较小，新加坡武装部队高度依赖数字化和网络化能力，以在潜在对手面前保持军事优势。然而，这些军事网络和系统及其敏感信息使其成为网络攻击的有吸引力目标。作为加强网络防御能力的持续努力的一部分，国防部最近宣布启动网络国民服役者计划，利用具备相应天赋和技能的国民服役者人才。国防部能否提供该计划的最新情况？鉴于人口规模减少、国民服役者数量减少，该计划的可持续性如何？

国民服役体验

王廷坤先生：主席先生，技术正以加速的速度发展，有潜力以几年前难以想象的方式改善我们的生活。我们现在可以轻松地尝试测量我们的身体活动量、去过的地方和互动对象。我们收集的数据几乎可以挖掘出关于人类生活各方面的洞见。

这些技术可以用来提高国民服役训练的效果和安全，同时帮助个人服役者发展有用技能。例如，虚拟现实及相关领域的进步使我们能够创造新型训练。个别部队可以在安全环境中练习关键技能，指挥官可以尝试不同策略，看看哪种效果最好。将技术应用于国民服役的潜力仅受限于我们的想象力和领导意愿。我们可以在提高训练成果的同时降低服役人员的风险。

我想请教部长，新加坡武装部队如何利用技术提升国民服役体验？

全民防卫中的社区关键作用

乔安·佩雷拉女士（丹戎巴葛）：主席先生，自1967年引入以来，国民服役一直是新加坡防卫的基石，提供了保障我们共同繁荣的安全与稳定。迄今已有超过一百万人服役，国民服役已深深扎根为国家制度。

未来，确保这一制度继续获得每个新加坡人、每个家庭和社区的强力支持至关重要。过去四年，国防社区关系咨询委员会（ACCORD）内的家庭与社区理事会制定了加强社区对全民防卫和国民服役支持的举措。其中包括（a）与新公民和永久居民接触，增进他们对防卫需求的理解并支持国民服役制度；（b）与新加坡武装部队预备役协会（SAFRA）和人民协会（PA）合作，鼓励零售商为国民服役者提供折扣，以表彰他们对国家的贡献。我们可以做得更多。

军事服役艰苦，国民服役者为保卫国家而离开事业和亲人所作的牺牲是真实的。国防部和ACCORD还能做些什么来教育公众了解国民服役者的牺牲，并激发社区对这些服役者的支持？

国防社区关系咨询委员会（ACCORD）

傅志庆先生（先锋）：主席先生，我关注的是国防部认可国民服役者贡献的努力，以及ACCORD为提高公众对国民服役认识所采取的举措。

新加坡武装部队保障新加坡主权，使所有新加坡人能够安居乐业，确信国家受到良好保护。国民服役是所有新加坡男性和第二代永久居民的义务，是新加坡防卫和安全的基石。对许多新加坡男性来说，国民服役是18岁左右的成年礼，他们离开舒适的家，承担保卫国家、家人和朋友的责任。完成两年全职国民服役后，国民服役者转为预备役，服役期约十年。在此期间，他们需兼顾事业、家庭和国防义务。因此，认可国民服役者的贡献是正确且必要的。

去年我们庆祝了国民服役50周年，全国上下共同感谢历代国民服役者为国家防卫所作贡献。来自各行各业的新加坡人借此机会重新承诺为保护我们的独立、价值观和生活方式尽一份力。我相信许多现役和退役国民服役者都受益于国民服役50周年的各种优惠和促销活动，私营部门也慷慨支持，体现了他们对国家防卫重要性的理解。

然而，这种在公共和私营领域的广泛支持不应仅限于一次性或里程碑年份。我们的国民服役者必须持续感受到他们的牺牲受到认可，而非被视为理所当然。因此，我想请教部长，国防部如何持续努力认可国民服役者的贡献？

ACCORD由国防部于1984年成立，作为社区对新加坡防卫相关问题提供反馈的渠道。2014年，ACCORD重组，设立主理事会及涵盖雇主与商业理事会、家庭与社区理事会和教育机构理事会的三个分理事会。我想请部长介绍ACCORD已实施的举措最新情况。

国民服役者技能未来计划

张皓斌博士：先生，国民服役者在服役期间接受各种军事和技能培训。许多知识和技能，如领导力、规划、指挥与控制或安全措施，在国民服役者加入职场后同样适用。

先生，我能否请教部长，国防部正在采取哪些措施，使国民服役者在服役期间获得的技能和知识能在服役之外得到认可？

国民服役者生产力表现

陈瑞福副教授（提名议员）：先生，随着时间推移，防卫对新加坡的重要性非但没有减弱，反而更加关键。防卫开支必须跟上新加坡的伙伴关系发展，并满足我们先进经济体日益复杂的需求。像政府所有领域一样，未来几年防卫开支将面临压力。为此，防卫开支必须与经济状况保持同步，其中包括人力使用和生产力方面。

先生，在我们的防卫中，全民防卫的五大支柱之一要求拥有强大且有韧性的经济。经济的强韧性部分基于拥抱高效生产工作习惯的劳动力。促进和理解个人对劳动力表现贡献的自然起点是全职国民服役。

全职国民服役是年轻人生活中的重要里程碑，通常是他们首次接触有规章的工作环境。即使那些因学业或其他原因推迟进入劳动力市场的人，早期全职国民服役的集中浸润也会深刻影响年轻人的态度。体验的强度和广泛性为培养国民服役者的生产力驱动工作伦理提供了宝贵机会。

除了确保国民服役中获得的技能符合经济需求外，还能采取哪些措施利用机会评估和提升国民服役者的个人生产力表现？这将有助于确保年轻人在全职国民服役中付出的时间和努力对其职业生涯持续相关。

上午11时30分

我有三个问题请教部长：全职国民服役在塑造年轻新加坡人工作伦理中扮演什么角色？国民服役如何促进对个人和组织层面生产力表现及效率重要性的认识？最后，军队的纪律性与生产力和效率协调的可能性有哪些？

全民防卫

刘燕玲女士：主席先生，全民防卫于1984年启动，旨在激励每位新加坡人发挥作用，建设一个强大、安全、团结的国家，抵御任何危机。新加坡人熟悉五大支柱，每年2月15日纪念全民防卫日。

如今，我们面临新兴威胁，如信息战，这些威胁更隐蔽，因为它们长期针对人民的心智，且更难察觉。此类威胁旨在利用社会裂痕破坏社会团结，削弱对政府的信任，降低对国家未来的信心。

同时，新加坡社会也在演变。多年来，我们见证了更多跨族群和跨国婚姻。这种日益多元化可能带来新的潜在裂痕，使维护社会和谐更具挑战。

更复杂的是，我们的人口越来越依赖社交媒体获取新闻和时事信息，使其更易受网络虚假信息影响。在此背景下，新加坡的全民防卫策略已被证明是卓越的存在，并为抵御此类隐蔽威胁提供了坚实防线。

国防部能否介绍2018年全民防卫运动的最新进展，以及我们未来如何应对这些威胁？

社会与心理防卫

王廷坤先生：主席先生，从大多数客观指标看，我们正生活在历史上最好的时代。贫困和饥饿减少，因疾病和战争死亡率下降，但各国也面临对经济和生活方式的日益威胁。这些威胁形式多样。最明显和高调的是恐怖袭击，如9·11或伦敦爆炸案。但对国家长期健康同样危险的是更微妙的威胁形式，如通过宣传和假新闻加剧社会紧张。

我们看到即使成熟的西方民主国家也未能免疫于此类网络心理恐怖主义，外国活动家利用社交媒体挑起社会分裂议题，如种族主义、不平等或枪支权利。这些威胁难以定义、检测，更难以应对。

我想请教部长，国防部如何与相关机构合作，确保我们持续增强社会凝聚力和心理韧性？

社会防卫

阿明林先生（森巴旺）：我们为新加坡多种族、多宗教的全球社会感到自豪。我们可能崇拜不同的神灵，遵循不同的文化和传统，但我们在这个小红点上和平共处。

我们的全球枢纽地位促进了经济增长，增强了国家活力。但我们也清楚，这些都不能视为理所当然。

放眼海外，我们看到种族、宗教和移民问题如何影响社会和政治，甚至导致恐怖主义和暴力。在东南亚，ISIS外籍战士回国带来了持续的激进化威胁。这些恐怖分子利用种族和宗教作为“社会武器”分裂人民。

在新加坡，我们也不能免疫于恐怖主义威胁，近年来有人自我激进化。在欧洲和美国，我们见证了全球化反弹在美国政治、英国脱欧和欧洲反移民政党的表现。

鉴于这些威胁利用我们日益多元社会的裂痕分化人民，作为新加坡人，我们如何作为全民防卫的一部分，加强社会凝聚力，肯定多元文化主义，以巩固我们对抗恐怖主义和其他外部压力的防线？

假新闻

维克拉姆·奈尔先生：主席先生，今天的世界日益互联。《商业时报》报道，70%的新加坡人是活跃的移动社交媒体用户，超过全球平均水平两倍多。这意味着新加坡人更容易接触到网络上的虚假新闻和压力，这可能撕裂我们的社会结构。

假新闻的威胁无处不在且隐蔽。在社交媒体上，文章和故事通常因耸人听闻或符合个人信念而广泛传播。然而，验证流传故事的真实性并非总是可能，这为假新闻传播提供了肥沃土壤。

更糟的是，假新闻通常带来利润。网络收入通常与浏览量和传播量相关，而非故事的真实性或质量。只需分享耸人听闻的故事，无需支付记者调查和报道真相。因此，在低成本广泛传播能获利的环境下，进行真实调查和报道的传统媒体公司受损，读者数量下降。

这形成双重打击：假新闻广泛传播，而真实新闻需要付费订阅，难以对抗假新闻。

更令人担忧的是，有指控称国家行为者也参与利用假新闻影响他国政治。我们的外交部长曾确认新加坡也存在此类情况，但他可能出于外交考虑未点名具体国家行为者。

最近最令人震惊的指控发生在美国，有部分人士声称俄罗斯干预了美国选举。普遍共识是，上一届美国大选中大量假新闻流传，双方候选人均成为假新闻受害者。

国防部是否关注假新闻对我们国防构成的威胁，特别是来自国家行为体的假新闻？如果关注，国防部打算采取哪些措施来应对假新闻带来的威胁？

新加坡武装部队志愿军团

张浩斌博士：主席先生，新加坡武装部队志愿军团（SAFVC）允许不符合国民服役资格的不同背景的新加坡人也为新加坡的国防做出贡献。其主要使命是在指定岗位上与武装部队国民服役兵、预备役军人和现役军人并肩作战，以增强新加坡的安全。SAFVC也是不同背景公民相聚、训练和建立纽带的绝佳机会，这有助于建设一个更具韧性的国家。

主席先生，国防部能否提供SAFVC招募的最新情况，并分享志愿军团成员所承担的志愿工作类型？

青年参与

马炎庆先生：主席先生，现今世界的特征是互联网和全球化的兴起。我们的青年将在一个能够让他们接触到丰富多样观点和经历的环境中成长和成熟。

虽然这为教育和对多样性的更深理解打开了许多机会，但也可能以新的方式重塑他们的身份认同。特别是，他们对“新加坡人”身份的理解将不再仅仅基于对新加坡历史、文化和脆弱性的认识。

然而，新加坡人对保卫国家的承诺取决于我们是否对自身的脆弱性有良好的理解，并且内心深植对所保卫事物重要性的坚定信念。虽然从小培养青年对这些的理解很重要，但全球互联互通的增长及随之可能导致的“新加坡身份”稀释，将持续对我们的努力构成强大挑战。

我注意到国防部采用了许多创新且有趣的方式，向不同年龄群体的公众推广全面防卫，例如N.E.mation!视频竞赛、《城市守护者》策略卡牌游戏、全面防卫徽章计划、全面防卫拼图、涂色活动以及纪录片剧集《这里永远不会发生》。

国防部这些年来的经验如何？国防部如何更好地接触当代青年，加深他们对全面防卫的理解，并鼓励他们发挥作用？

未来武装部队

法蒂玛·拉蒂夫副教授：主席先生，我们的武装部队已经走过了漫长的历程。它已从单纯的防卫需求，发展成为新加坡国家认同的一部分文化机构。

展望未来，出生率下降将带来重大挑战。到2030年，我们的国民服役入伍人数将减少30%。这可能是决定更多利用技术、无人系统等的时机。

未来战争可能发生在网络领域。技术变革不会放过国防领域。数据分析将变得极为关键。我们是否拥有在这些领域受过高度训练的人员？他们能否培训他人？我们如何为年轻新兵做准备？心理准备和韧性培养又如何？这些同样重要。

最后，部长能否介绍一下士兵表现卓越中心（CESP）——它的职能以及课程如何调整以满足我们的需求？

家庭参与与韧性

乔安·佩雷拉女士：主席先生，除了广大社区，家庭在支持我们的预备役军人方面也扮演着非常重要的角色。在个人层面，家庭是预备役军人道德、情感和社会支持的主要来源。强大的家庭能够察觉预备役军人情绪或心理压力的迹象，并在压力升级前寻求帮助。

在国家层面，家庭维系国民服役作为国家制度的持续存在，鼓励一代又一代的新加坡儿子完成国民服役这一成年礼。因此，家庭是我们可以接触的重要群体，以确保预备役军人及国民服役制度的福祉。

迄今为止，ACCORD已与新加坡妇女组织理事会（SCWO）、人民协会妇女融合网络及青年女性领导力联络合作，通过信息分享会与预备役军人的母亲、妻子和女友接触。ACCORD还与“家庭为生活”理事会合作，参与预备役军人及其家庭的活动，如2017年8月在新加坡探索中心举办的“家庭为生活国民服役50周年野餐”。

展望未来，国防部如何加强与家庭的互动，使他们更好地支持预备役军人的国民服役旅程？

主席：翁业康部长。

国防部第二部长（翁业康先生）：主席先生，感谢各位议员提出的问题。马立基·奥斯曼博士和我将尽力回答所有问题。

去年，我们纪念了新加坡国民服役50周年。穆罕默德·法伊沙尔·易卜拉欣副教授询问了国民服役持续的重要性。它依然是我们今天拥有的强大且可信赖武装部队的基石。

自1967年以来，超过一百万新加坡人投入时间和汗水，忠实履行国民服役职责。他们及其家庭的牺牲保障了国家的安全，新加坡人因此能够决定自己的未来。

我们最大的国防资产之一是新加坡人对国民服役的坚定支持。傅志诚先生对此提出疑问，强调这不能是一次性的情感，而应是长期持续的支持。

事实上，一些国家难以维持公众对征兵制度的支持。黄永宏部长提到立陶宛；另一个例子是瑞典，十年前废除国民服役，后来因安全环境重新评估而不得不恢复。

我们今天面临的主要挑战有两个。第一个是人口结构问题，导致入伍人数减少，兵源缩小。法蒂玛·拉蒂夫副教授也提到这一点。第二个是不断演变的新型非常规安全威胁，如恐怖主义、网络攻击以及虚假信息或假新闻的传播。阿姆林·阿敏先生对此提出了问题。

上午11时45分

因此，我们必须以更少的人力做更多的事，培养更有能力的军人。未来武装部队的能力和效能将不再基于人数，而是基于质量和能力。我们将通过提升三方面实现这一目标：一是提升个人能力；二是加强系统效率；三是利用技术。请允许我详细说明。

首先，提升个人能力。作战准备的基础首先是身体素质。体能也是非常个人化的，影响个人健康远超其服役期间。

我们将利用技术为每位军人提供针对性和有效的训练。新成立的士兵表现卓越中心（CESP）——法蒂玛·拉蒂夫副教授提问过——采用科学、数据驱动的方法优化每位士兵的表现。中心通过可穿戴设备和数据更好地了解每位士兵的生理状况，进而制定更有效、渐进的训练计划，同时最大限度减少急性伤害风险。训练甚至可以根据士兵的职责和任务定制，做到细致入微。

我们还将为军人提供更好的健身工具，增加健身训练的选择和可及性。我们正与体育理事会（SportSG）和健康促进局（HPB）合作，推出快速高强度间歇训练（Quick HIIT）计划。预备役军人可在社区空间和体育设施参加该计划。

从本周开始，我们还在武装部队健身训练中心和SAFRA健身房试点使用可穿戴技术。预备役军人不必严格遵循武装部队个人体能测试（IPPT）预备训练（IPT）制度，而是可以选择喜欢或需要的锻炼方式，如骑行、跑步、举重或间歇训练，并通过可穿戴设备记录健身进度。只要达到所需的卡路里消耗和强度——我们只测量输出，不测输入——即视为有效的IPT训练。这是一个重大转变，赋予预备役军人选择权、便利性和自主权，毕竟体能是个人责任，而非武装部队的责任。

个人只有在单位凝聚力强、军人通过共同经历建立深厚战友情谊时才能发挥效能，张世乐先生对此提出过问题。基础军事训练（BMT）是这种共同国民服役经历的重要组成部分。自1987年基础军事训练中心（BMTC）成立以来，正如张世乐先生所说，许多新加坡男性完成基础训练“海外”——即在德光岛——已成为成年礼。

然而，许多国民服役兵未经过BMTC，而是直接入伍至作战单位，通常称为单一批次单位。从今年起，我们将全面实施“一体化基础军事训练”计划，几乎所有适合作战的国民服役兵都将经历德光岛的训练体验。

因此，单一批次单位的士兵将被派往德光岛BMTC进行统一的九周基础军事训练，并从国民服役旅程开始即作为一个单位共同生活。他们将受益于BMTC专门的训练经验、基础设施和技术应用。最重要的是，他们将在单位内及更大的武装部队集体中共享共同经历。

第二个重点是加强系统效率。这意味着改进系统以将合适的军人部署到合适岗位，最大化其贡献和潜力。该方向最重要的举措是职业需求审查。翁庭坤先生询问了利用技术最大化军人潜力的问题。确实，正是因为技术，我们现在能够审视职业需求。

有了技术，已无法严格区分适合作战与不适合作战。例如，操作无人系统的人员虽不进行体力劳动，但仍处于作战状态。因此，许多军人现在可以执行过去只有满足最严格体能要求的军人才能完成的任务。例如，随着技术应用，战斗工程师和安全部队的体能要求大幅降低。

这为我们根据军人的体能和能力更有意义地部署他们创造了机会。自去年以来，武装部队已将600多名军人部署到他们之前不符合资格的职业岗位，且这一数字还将增加。

马炎庆先生提到职业兴趣计划，预入伍者将表达对武装部队、民防部队和警察部队33个国民服役职业的兴趣。虽然不能保证军人一定获得所选职业，因首要考虑仍是国防作战需求，但我们会在部署过程中考虑他们的兴趣，尽力匹配。

马炎庆先生提到一批人已通过基础军事训练，询问最新情况。实际上他们尚未通过，只是已入伍并表达了兴趣，下周将举行基础训练结业典礼。

军人们普遍认为该计划有帮助。超过80%的受访者表示该计划鼓励他们更主动承担国民服役的角色和责任。许多人选择了步兵和卫戍部队等艰苦职业。首批约4000名表达职业兴趣的国民服役兵将于本月晚些时候部署到相应岗位。我们将持续完善该系统。

我们还通过网络国民服役兵计划，利用国民服役兵在网络安全等专业领域的才能，罗燕玲女士对此询问了最新情况。该计划两周前宣布，自宣布以来反响热烈，许多预入伍者表达了兴趣。我们将对申请者进行严格的技能和能力测试，不太看重学业成绩。该计划作为试点，针对今年下半年入伍者。

最后，武装部队将部署技术以减少人力需求，同时保持或提升作战效能。近年来，我们取得了多项进展。黄永宏部长举了几个例子。另一个例子是我们的智能海军基地，采用下一代筛查系统，利用生物识别、面部识别和自动威胁分析系统等技术。这些改进将使海军基地所需安保人员减少70%，同时保持甚至提升安全水平。

翁庭坤先生询问如何利用技术提升国民服役体验。确实，除了节省人力，这些技术还能改善基层体验，提高士气。

去年，我们在征兵体检中心引入了电子试衣系统。预入伍者无需再手工测量所有身体尺寸，改由红外身体和足部扫描仪快速准确地为其配制服装和运动鞋。电子试衣系统成功将基础军事训练中心的装备更换率从20%降至6%。

我们正在试点利用面部识别和实时排队管理技术，优化征兵体检中心的访客流量，缩短等待时间。

另一个创新是名为“国服小助手”的人工智能聊天机器人。我当兵时没有这个。军人可以随时向小助手提问，例如“什么是BTP？”小助手会解释这是基础射击训练包，并给出事实和建议，比如“瞄准准确，别当傻瓜射手，安全第一！”我们将在下一阶段试验中扩展小助手的内容库，增加更多武装部队术语。

主席先生，为了让国民服役继续成为新加坡国防的基石，我们需要新加坡人的支持。乔安·佩雷拉女士和傅志诚先生提到社区对国民服役的支持和对军人的认可。许多人一定为国民服役50周年期间公众的高度参与感到欣慰。公众、零售商、雇主、政府机构、艺术界等纷纷贡献力量。

我最近接任ACCORD主席，深受其成员的热情和激情感染。ACCORD是政府委员会中少有的成员服务多年后仍请求继续服务、不愿卸任的组织之一。

我们将继续借助国民服役50周年的势头，动员社区支持国民服役，认可我们的军人。我们已启动“我们支持你服役”计划。Switzer Alliance是参与商户之一。业主们认为国民服役经历对他们帮助很大，愿意回馈社会——在武装部队日为军人提供特别折扣，并举办免费讲座，内容贴近军人兴趣。

我们将继续鼓励类似雇主支持国民服役，并推动雇主制定国民服役友好的人力资源政策。自2016年国民服役标志认证计划启动以来，已有约2000家公司和组织承诺支持国民服役，其中超过35%获得了金标认证。

张浩斌博士和兰道夫·陈副教授询问如何为国民服役兵退役后生活做准备。此前我谈及提升个人体能和作战技能，这些已是非常基础且实用的生活技能。

此外，在培养这些技能的过程中，国民服役兵还学会了宝贵的能力，如领导力、纪律、韧性和团队合作。这些品质有助于他们退役后在职业生涯中表现出色。事实上，我常建议男学生，市场上所有领导力项目中，最好的就是武装部队在国民服役期间提供的。

今年一月，我们提升了服役证书，认可这些品质和技能，并通过工作技能资格（WSQ）认证的成绩单予以体现。

目前，约96%的国民服役兵将接受WSQ认证的国民服役训练，特别是在通信、供应、物流、维护甚至指挥官培训等领域。

[议长主持]

ACCORD将继续推动此项工作，继续与行业合作伙伴合作，扩大国民服役技能认证，帮助雇主认可国民服役的价值。

但话虽如此，我们仍应牢记，归根结底，国民服役（NS）是为了确保新加坡武装部队（SAF）的作战效能，是对国家的服务，不能变成一种交易行为。

中午12点

主席先生，最后，我要说，我们必须珍惜当前对国民服役的支持水平，并尽一切努力维持甚至提升这一支持。这是心理防御的最佳体现，全体国民齐心协力支持国家事业。当我们的敌人看到我们的决心和团结时，他们会三思而后行。

主席：高级国务部长莫哈末·马利基。

国防高级国务部长（莫哈末·马利基·奥斯曼博士）：主席先生，正如黄永宏部长所解释，新加坡面临不断变化的地缘政治和威胁环境。随之而来的是武装部队的角色也在扩大，以应对这些威胁。但这些发展对普通新加坡人意味着什么？他们如何理解自己在新加坡防卫中的角色？

在当今这个边界开放、物联网普及的世界中，侵略者可以通过多种方式向目标国家施压，他们越来越多地将压力指向普通公民，误导他们对不同背景的同胞产生怨恨，或动摇他们对政府的信心。实质上，这导致信任危机，社会走向解体。随着此类策略变得更加普遍，我们的人民必须愿意并准备好抵抗和应对，建立个人和社会的韧性，以克服这些威胁。

新加坡的全面防卫战略体现了每个人为保障新加坡安全所扮演的角色。该战略于1984年推出，当时背景是可能影响社会多个方面的武装军事冲突威胁。除了军事防卫，我们的领导人认识到，面对和克服任何潜在冲突的能力也取决于人民及其决心。事实上，随着针对人民心灵的威胁日益突出，个人作为第一道防线的作用愈发关键。

鉴于此，国防部多年来不断扩大和丰富我们的宣传工作。过去，我们的努力主要集中在每年的全面防卫日纪念活动。如今，除了这项活动外，我们还开展了全年多样化的活动，旨在帮助新加坡人了解我们的威胁和挑战，以及他们可以采取的应对措施。这一切都离不开来自公共、私营和民间部门不断壮大的合作伙伴队伍，他们与我们携手合作。

举一个近期例子，国防部与内政部合作，与新传媒共同制作了国家安全纪录剧《这里永远不会发生》，该剧于一月份在第五频道播出。一位观众，58岁的家庭主妇维玛拉·古鲁纳坦女士，被其中关于网络攻击的集数深深触动。她分享道，我引用她的话：“我很惊讶网络空间的攻击竟然能在我们的社会和日常生活中造成混乱……我喜欢节目还教我们如何通过上网更谨慎，不盲目相信所读内容来克服这些问题。”

我感到欣慰的是，如今全面防卫理念在新加坡人中产生共鸣，许多人积极参与贡献。国防部2017年进行的一项公众调查显示，大多数受访者认可全面防卫在应对传统和非传统威胁中的价值。

我们还看到，国防部各种参与项目的部分参与者进一步鼓励他人参与全面防卫。其中一位是26岁的钟宇伦。宇伦参加了国防部举办的短片比赛“ciNE65”的每一届，创作了多部获奖且更重要的是鼓舞人心的作品。这些作品涵盖鼓励国民服役者保卫家园的主题，也展现了新加坡人的韧性。

宇伦后来创办了自己的视频制作公司和YouTube频道“Butterworks”，制作了《从德康出来的第一本书》和《以骄傲引领》等影片，累计观看次数超过70万次。最近被问及制作这些视频的动力时，他说：“我非常有动力制作新加坡人会自豪称之为自己的影片……我们挑战自己创作融合了我们内心那份小小爱国情怀的励志故事。”

刘燕玲女士询问了2018年全面防卫运动的最新情况及其如何应对新威胁。随着我们前进，就像建设下一代武装部队一样，我们将使全面防卫适应新的安全环境，更加重视社会和心理防御。

王鼎坤先生强调了在恐怖主义面前这样做的必要性。假新闻和网络攻击等其他威胁加剧了这一需求。虽然军事和民事领域最直观地与防卫相关，但如今我们必须拓宽对保障新加坡含义的定义。

首先，如果新加坡人允许自己被分裂性的虚假信息左右，或在暴力袭击后对特定社会群体贴上标签，我们的社会凝聚力可能会受到破坏。如今，恐怖组织如ISIS滥用宗教，极端观点的传教士也曲解宗教。宗教也开始进入政治领域，如本地区所见，导致社区关系紧张。

作为社会，我们会继续接受考验。主席先生，允许我在屏幕上展示一张图片吗？

主席：可以。[向各位议员展示了一张图片。]

莫哈末·马利基·奥斯曼博士：就在去年，出现了两段涉及一名在叙利亚的本地ISIS战士的宣传视频——第一段视频是他号召他人加入他，另一段则更为血腥，显示他近距离射杀三人。

听到这些消息并观看这些片段时，新加坡人会或应该如何反应？最初的反应可能包括担忧、不信、恐惧、愤怒，甚至可能是不信任。然而，这些反应可以被缓解，取决于我们作为个体的心理强度和作为社区的社会凝聚力。

拥有强大的社会凝聚力和心理韧性的穆斯林会拒绝被引导接受极端思想，谴责那些影像，并向非穆斯林朋友和邻居保证，他们所看到的影像既不代表伊斯兰，也不代表新加坡的穆斯林。

同样，拥有强大社会凝聚力和心理韧性的非穆斯林会对他们的穆斯林朋友表达支持，并保证他们所见既不代表伊斯兰，也不代表新加坡的穆斯林。

同时，那些可能受影像影响的人会感到足够舒适，愿意与穆斯林朋友澄清疑虑和顾虑。随着信任加深，所有新加坡人将团结一致，维护我们珍视的和谐。这就是我们社会和心理防御的本质。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。]正如我们推进建设下一代武装部队，我们将使全面防卫适应新的安全环境，更加重视社会和心理防御。虽然军事和民事领域最直观地与防卫相关，但如今我们必须拓宽对保障新加坡含义的定义。

如果新加坡人允许自己被分裂性的虚假信息左右，或在暴力袭击后对特定社会群体贴上标签，我们的社会凝聚力可能会受到破坏。

如今，恐怖组织如ISIS滥用宗教，极端观点的传教士也曲解宗教。宗教也开始进入政治领域，如本地区所见，导致社区关系紧张。

我们只需回顾自己的历史，就会明白社区间的信任和善意不是理所当然的，必须不断努力维系。作为社会，我们会继续接受考验。就在去年，出现了两段涉及一名在叙利亚的本地ISIS战士的宣传视频——第一段视频是他号召他人加入他，另一段则更为血腥，显示他近距离射杀三人。

听到这些消息并观看这些片段时，新加坡人会或应该如何反应？最初的反应可能包括担忧、不信、恐惧、愤怒，甚至可能是怀疑和不信任。这是一个严重的问题。

然而，这些反应可以被缓解，取决于我们作为个体的心理强度和作为社区的社会凝聚力。拥有强大的社会凝聚力和心理韧性的穆斯林会拒绝被引导接受极端思想，谴责那些影像，并向非穆斯林朋友和邻居保证，他们所看到的影像既不代表伊斯兰，也不代表新加坡的穆斯林。如果我们拥有强大的社会凝聚力和心理韧性，我们也会看到那些对穆斯林朋友充满信心的非穆斯林表达支持，并保证他们所见既不代表伊斯兰，也不代表新加坡的穆斯林。

同时，那些可能受影像影响的人会感到足够舒适，愿意与穆斯林朋友澄清疑虑和顾虑。随着信任加深，所有新加坡人将团结一致，维护我们珍视的和谐。正如马来谚语所说——“团结则存，分裂则亡”。这就是我们社会和心理防御的本质。

（英语）：正如阿姆林·阿敏先生指出，除了种族和宗教之外，我们的社会结构中还存在新的潜在裂痕，如果不加以注意，可能被用来对付我们。随着全球化和新加坡人流动性的增加，我们不能假设所有新加坡孩子在成长过程中都会继续体验本地学校和社区的文化。

还有一些人来自跨国家庭。这些本身并非问题，但表明我们人民的经历和视角比以往更加多样。如果我们不继续建立共同理解，我们的差异可能被放大以分裂我们，使我们难以在危机中团结一致。

我们需要强大的社会防御。这意味着通过与不同背景的人互动来扩大我们的共同空间，反对挑拨离间的行为，帮助有需要的人。其中一个重要方面是加强不同宗教背景人群之间的信任和理解，以防范可能分裂我们的激进思想。

就在上个月，五个社区发展理事会（CDC）在全国范围内启动了“共同空间的共同感知”跨信仰对话项目。该项目为社区成员提供了一个安全空间，提出问题并了解新加坡不同信仰，从而加深理解和欣赏。

下午12点15分

令人欣慰的是，我们的青年理解社会防御的重要性，并发起了自下而上的项目来扩大我们的共同空间。例如，跨信仰青年圈由一群青年发起，旨在弥合对新加坡不同宗教的理解差距，尤其是在全球恐怖袭击后出现的负面情绪和网络讨论中。他们组织活动，如经文推理会，聚集人们一起阅读和反思不同信仰的经文。这些努力促进了更深的信任和更强的意志，抵制试图让我们互相对立的企图。

维克拉姆·奈尔先生询问假新闻对安全的影响，以及国防部如何应对这一威胁。在互联互通的世界中，新加坡人更容易受到可能动摇他们维护国家利益意愿的压力，包括种族和宗教和谐。这些影响可能以故意在网上传播的虚假信息形式出现。

例如，2007年，一张带有清真标签的猪肉照片在全国职工总会（NTUC）公平价格超市流传，照片被用作恶作剧。NTUC公平价格当时已澄清该照片为假。但该照片在2014年再次出现。七年间，社交媒体变得更加普及，照片在Facebook上广泛传播，帖子易于分享给更广泛的受众。虽然事件已解决，但类似案例可能破坏我们的跨信仰团结。

同样，虚假信息可能被用来削弱我们对公共机构的信任和对共同未来的信心，或煽动恐惧。一些议员可能还记得去年初在社交媒体上流传的一段视频，声称显示大士发生爆炸。虽然确实发生火灾，但该视频是假的。该视频自2015年以来多次上传至YouTube，并在不同场合被标注为中国、印度和法国的爆炸——同一段视频。如果未被揭穿，该视频可能引发新加坡人的恐慌和焦虑。假新闻有可能从内部破坏我们，是国防部更加关注心理防御的关键挑战。

此外，越来越多的新加坡人出国工作和学习，可能不得不更直接地面对异议观点。外国商业伙伴、同学或朋友有时会对新加坡的决策、政策或行动表达根本分歧，甚至可能说服你采纳他们的观点，而牺牲支持我们的国家利益。每个人的心理韧性在抵御这种压力中起决定性作用。

我今年早些时候读过一篇关于全面防卫的评论文章，频道新闻亚洲编辑贾米·何正确指出，今天的防卫意味着新加坡人“为自己思考”和“为自己站立”。这就是心理防御——认识我们的脆弱和挑战，推进我们的价值观和利益；能够识别谬误；为新加坡挺身而出。

正如我们的威胁超越军事领域，我们的威慑也必须如此。除了可信的军事力量，我们还需要心理韧性强的人民，能够承受危机或病毒式攻击，不被动摇。如果有人对新加坡发表负面评论，而我们的第一反应不是核实事实，而是谴责新加坡，甚至传播谬误，我们就在防御上自掘坟墓，敌人会毫不犹豫地利用这一点，扩大分裂。我很高兴看到新加坡人，例如运营“Confirm?”网站的人，他们通过有关新加坡问题的测验，主动帮助周围人更好地理解我们的原则、立场和政策，防止他们成为假新闻和谬误的受害者。

我详细阐述了社会和心理防御，因为这些领域的威胁非常真实，但往往不易察觉。它们对我们保卫新加坡的能力有潜移默化但重大影响。在全面防卫的其他支柱中，新加坡人同样是第一道防线。以军事防卫为例，加入武装部队志愿部队（SAFVC）是许多女性、新公民和第一代永久居民参与服务的一种方式。回应张浩斌博士的提问，自2014年SAFVC成立以来，我们已培训超过600名志愿者，并部署他们担任各种角色。2018年，志愿者将能在武装部队的15个新增岗位服务。

许多人也为民防贡献力量。例如，为防止恐怖袭击，直落布兰雅社区紧急与参与委员会（C2E）主席查恩吉特·辛格与其他志愿者合作，定期在地铁列车上巡逻。在国防部和武装部队，我们也在装备人员以个人身份应对危机。大多数接受基础军事训练（BMT）的官兵都会学习急救和心肺复苏（CPR）及自动体外除颤器（AED）技能，武装部队志愿部队成员亦是如此。

拉杰德兰·马坦·普拉萨斯是一个值得称赞的例子，他不仅加入SAFVC为军事防卫贡献力量，还利用训练中获得的技能在非值勤时为民防做出贡献。去年四月，他对一名心脏骤停的老妇人进行了心肺复苏。在恐怖主义面前，我们开发了社区响应模块，以补充像拉杰德兰这样人员的技能。该模块已纳入基础军事训练课程，未来两年内，所有国防部和武装部队人员都将接受该模块培训。它配合“新加坡安全”计划，更好地准备我们的官兵成为积极的社区响应者。

国防部将继续与合作伙伴一道，鼓励不同群体的新加坡人以具体方式为全面防卫贡献力量。

我们不断探索创新方式与青年互动。马业庆先生问我们如何做到这一点。2017年推出的“城市守护者”（GOTC）卡牌游戏是帮助青年了解新加坡面临的恐怖威胁及其应对方式的一种途径。今年，我们已向所有中二学生发放了超过38,000副游戏套装，学校也组织了GOTC团队体验。中学教师穆罕默德·沙米尔·安瓦尔先生主持了游戏并为学生开展反思课程，他分享说学生们既喜欢游戏，也学到了关于全面防卫的重要课程。引用他的话：“这个游戏与众不同，令人兴奋……学生们想尝试它，因为它具有互动性……由于游戏内容与他们息息相关，这是一个教授他们全面防卫的好平台。”

其他让全面防卫生动呈现给青年的互动工具还包括一款全面防卫拼图游戏，该游戏由政府多个机构与新加坡报业控股（SPH）THINK的创意团队合作开发，已分发至学校、新加坡武装部队营区和社区中心（CC）。各类组织，尤其是学校，发现这款拼图是有用的学习资源。

国防部还为年轻新兵设有更具体的项目。我完全同意副教授法蒂玛·拉蒂夫的观点，除了体能训练外，在不断变化的安全环境中，心理准备同样重要。

除了作为对学生的外展活动吸引未来新兵外，还有一套全面计划在他们入伍时加强其身体和心理韧性。这贯穿于全职国民服役的各个方面。其中一部分是国家教育活动和里程碑事件，帮助他们了解我们的安全挑战、我们所捍卫的内容及原因，以及我们必须做什么以持续保障新加坡的安全。

这些活动包括体验式参观国防相关的遗址、武器展示仪式以及从樟宜到滨海湾的24公里行军。当他们经过新加坡标志性地标时，会被提醒他们训练的目标是保护这些地方。行军路线象征性地逆转了二战期间新加坡沦陷后战俘从市区到樟宜的失败路线。士兵们今天在滨海湾参加毕业阅兵，象征他们决心永不让新加坡再次沦陷。

除了这些活动和事件外，整体的全职国民服役体验——与战友和指挥官建立牢固的纽带，体验指挥官以身作则的价值观——增强了新兵的心理素质。理解和信念带来的是即使面对新威胁和挑战，也能保护家园的韧性。

家庭是国民服役人员的重要支柱。乔安·佩雷拉女士曾问国防部如何与家庭互动。武装部队通过里程碑阅兵、单位家庭日和开放日等活动与国民服役人员家庭互动，并向他们提供国民服役相关信息。通过ACCORD，我们还与“家庭为生活”和“父亲中心”等组织合作，向家庭宣传国民服役和全面防卫。

主席先生，能否允许我继续讲一会儿？

主席：鉴于国防部的时间尚有余裕，请您在接下来的几分钟内结束发言。

莫哈末·马利基博士：谢谢。我们举办的活动包括去年“庆祝国民服役50周年”野餐和“父亲为生活”营。ACCORD还与女性开展焦点小组讨论，收集如何更好支持服役人员及其家庭的反馈。通过这些方式，家庭不仅能支持国民服役人员的服役旅程，也能理解他们在全面防卫中扮演的角色。

总结来说，主席先生，阁下，如果我们每个人都理解新加坡的立场并致力于保护我们的生活方式，我们就能威慑并克服破坏我们团结和信心的阴险企图。除了我今天提到的个人外，还有许多人在日常生活中践行全面防卫，通过国民服役训练尽力而为，保护个人设备，学习急救，献血，掌握新技能。国防部将持续努力加强全社会的这一努力。拥有强大的全面防卫，我们有充分理由对新加坡的未来充满希望和信心。

主席：普里塔姆·辛格先生。

普里塔姆·辛格先生：我的问题针对国防部长。阁下，我了解到已宣布派遣武装部队部队赴伊拉克。我有四个相关问题。

首先，国防部如何评估我们部队在那里的威胁？其次，鉴于伊拉克固有的不稳定性，尤其是逊尼派与什叶派之间的教派冲突，以及ISIS及其各种变种的存在，国防部如何准备我们的服役人员及其家庭应对这次部署？第三，国防部预计部署将持续多久？武装部队在此次部署中的任务和目标是什么？国防部是否担心任务范围扩大？

第四，也是最后一个问题，新加坡曾于2007年至2013年派遣约470名服役人员赴阿富汗，协助阿富汗国民军炮兵训练、简易爆炸装置（IED）侦测、建设和影像分析。部长能否分享更多关于我们在伊拉克部署的规模和性质、部队将承担的任务，以及他们可调用哪些资源保障安全？

12点30分

黄永宏博士：主席先生，这些问题很好且非常相关。我们派遣武装部队赴任务时如何评估威胁？我们绝不会在认为没有风险时派遣人员，因为风险总是存在。只有当风险是保护新加坡人和新加坡所必需时，我们才派遣部队。无论是阿富汗、伊拉克、亚丁湾，甚至是东帝汶的维和行动，我们都有伤亡。

我们这样做的核心是保护新加坡的利益。以阿富汗为例，我们明白如果不在基地处理恐怖主义，即基地组织影响最大的地方，我们只能不断应对被激进化、训练并从基地出口的恐怖分子浪潮。事实证明，我们在阿富汗驻扎了10年，辛格先生记忆准确。无论是影像分析师还是武器定位雷达，我们都做出了贡献。我们甚至为联军识别了热点地区，恐怖威胁暂时消失。我说“暂时”，因为我们持续监控基地组织细胞，极有可能出现复苏。

针对ISIS，我们取得了显著进展。两三年前，ISIS控制的地理区域覆盖伊拉克和叙利亚大部分地区，但现在已大幅缩小，剩余据点很少，人数也大幅减少。我们取得了进展。

我们如何为服役人员准备这些威胁？赴伊拉克的武装部队人员认识到这些威胁，但我们系统性地识别威胁。每次任务都有需求与威胁评估团队前往实地，与指挥官沟通，绘制地形和风险图，形成评估报告。除了完成任务所需的要素——我会谈及成员关心的内容——保护措施也是必要的。你可以将风险降到最低，但永远无法完全消除。

部署将持续多久？阿富汗部署持续了10年。针对ISIS的部署相对较短，自2014年以来。但当伊拉克取得重大收复成果时，我们不会停止贡献，这不符合我们的性格和任务要求。不存在任务范围扩大。核心任务是消除恐怖分子出口的基地，就像我们在阿富汗所做的那样。试想如果我们说“其他国家去处理，我们不管阿富汗”，问题一旦加剧，我们将受害。

对于伊拉克和ISIS，我们有更直接的利益，因为有来自马来西亚、印度尼西亚和新加坡的外国战斗人员在那里。因此不存在任务范围扩大，目标明确，就是协助当前阶段。第一阶段是最艰难的——收复领土，剥夺ISIS资源及其扩展恐怖主义的能力。我们的影像分析团队——成员问他们的任务——识别ISIS使用的金融据点，协助联军摧毁这些“金融仓库”。

我们现在与澳大利亚及其他部队共同部署，实行联合防护，可调用他们的支援。营区安全有保障。我去年探访部队，满意他们有周边防护措施。若发生事件，有应对措施。探访时正巧遇到模拟攻击演练，美军、澳军和我们的部队都参与，动员医院并守卫周边。以上是我对所有问题的回答，简要总结一下。

我们理解这项任务的意义。必须遏制恐怖主义，这是一场持久战。9·11事件、巴厘岛爆炸后，我们加入阿富汗行动。针对ISIS，我们现在在伊拉克。何时结束？何时撤回？我不知道。有人说“共产主义若无神助，需50年”。

主席：副教授法蒂玛·拉蒂夫。

副教授法蒂玛·拉蒂夫：我想问部长关于军民合作的问题，这不是指社区参与或受训应对危机的普通民众（如C2E计划），而是指组成国际人道主义团队或响应全球人道主义行动的本地新加坡人，无论是战争相关还是自然灾害相关。这些人具备灾难、医疗及战术训练，能为危机响应增值。国防部如何与他们合作？

黄永宏博士：这正是樟宜区域人道主义中心理念的核心。我们认识到，像纳尔吉斯台风、尼泊尔地震等事件发生后头两三天，尽管资源充足，协调响应却最为困难。例如菲律宾台风时，我们派遣C-130运输机，但因缺乏空中指挥控制设施，飞机未能充分利用，只有美军因拥有航母能控制空域。

我们设立该中心协调军事响应。但正如法蒂玛副教授指出，人道主义机构涵盖民间团体和联合国组织。我们已扩大合作，联通联合国及其他人道组织，并开展一两次桌面演练，明确发生事件时的联络对象。我们也邀请这些民间志愿团体若有可能，常驻樟宜。这是持续努力，我们将不断扩大联系、提升效率，下一次危机发生时，新加坡能发挥更明确作用，贡献更多。

主席：维克拉姆·奈尔先生。

维克拉姆·奈尔先生：我想澄清关于非常规威胁的问题。高级国务部长莫哈末·马利基生动描述了这些威胁。我关心的是我们是否应做得更多。首先，关于恐怖主义视频，99%的人会厌恶，但极少数，可能是0.001%，甚至孤狼，可能受其启发实施暴力。

尽管我们的心理防御很强，但只需一人受影响即可发动恐怖袭击。相对风险是其他人可能泛化认为“这就是穆斯林所为”，我认为在新加坡这不是大问题，但若心理防御不强，可能成为问题。我们有充分理由识别并采取措施清除此类视频，首先查明来源，其次对上传和传播者采取法律行动。

其次，关于假新闻，清真猪肉的例子非常有说服力。2007年出现，显然具有分裂性，暗示NTUC向穆斯林出售猪肉，属虚假信息，NTUC已澄清。但六七年后又出现，显示假新闻的传播力。假新闻耸人听闻，易传播，真相乏味，不易传播。真相几乎总被假新闻压倒。我们能否采取更多措施识别假新闻制造者并采取行动？

心理防御是抵抗，但若能消除病毒更好。

莫哈末·马利基博士：感谢奈尔先生的发言。我们完全同意需要全面应对所有非常规威胁，无论是图像还是其他形式。我想强调一个例子。一张图片可能引发不同群体不同反应，我们必须意识到不同新加坡群体的反应，从而加强我们的决心。

相关利益相关者包括：一、个人层面，我们需保持一致，意识到自身反应，采取措施深入了解相关问题，建立信任和社区关系，以免轻易被动摇。我们应提问、寻求事实，而非负面反应。

二、需要政府和全社会共同努力。通过立法和议会讨论，许多工作正在进行。网络防御机构的发展是应对网络领域部分问题的努力。我们还需关注新加坡人如何应对社交媒体上的假新闻。这是最大挑战之一——个人应对社交媒体的技能。当你在Facebook或WhatsApp群组看到信息时，你会怎么做？是否核实事实？在哪里核实？我们需帮助新加坡人理解复杂且不断演变的生态环境。

因此，教育所有年龄段新加坡人至关重要，不仅是成年人，还有儿童，因为他们熟悉社交媒体，接收信息。如果不及早教育他们，赋予辨别真假的技能，了解传播未经证实信息的影响及其对自身和他人关系的影响，后果将难以预料。

我们还需关注社区支持系统，帮助那些难以应对非常规威胁的人群。当前的基本认识是这些威胁不断演变，我们需寻找创新应对方式。政府各部门正从不同领域着手，我们将继续合作。

主席：议员是否愿意撤回修正案？

维克拉姆·奈尔先生：感谢黄永宏部长分享对国防的深刻见解及其可持续性，感谢王乙康部长分享国民服役的重要演变，感谢高级国务部长莫哈末·马利基分享心理防御观点，当然也感谢国防部、武装部队及所有服役人员。谢谢。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) J项下的14238100500美元被批准作为主要预算的一部分。 (程序文本)]

[(程序文本) J项下的761000000美元被批准作为发展预算的一部分。 (程序文本)]

英文原文

SPRS Hansard 原始记录 · 抓取日期：2026-05-02

The Chairman: Head J, Ministry of Defence. Mr Vikram Nair.

Defence Spending and Rising Tensions

Mr Vikram Nair (Sembawang) : Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head J of the Estimates be reduced by $100".

Singapore's need to develop its own defence capabilities came almost as suddenly as our Independence. Shortly after our Independence, the British forces who had been stationed here announced they would be pulling out ahead of schedule and Singapore would be responsible for its own defence thereafter.

This precipitated the start of National Service in 1967 and the focused development of Singapore’s armed forces. As a small country, security is always a challenge. If it comes to a war, it is generally assumed that a big, well-resourced country will prevail over a small one.

Unlike our neighbours who had larger populations, larger land mass and natural resources, when Singapore gained Independence, we were poor, had many pressing needs and competing challenges. But the Government of the day knew that from the day we started, we needed a strong defence force and that there would be no economic future, no security without one. Thus, they invested in defence even though it was difficult.

The building of a strong defence force was also coupled with the building of strong defence ties and the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) with Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom (UK) in 1971 was one of the earliest defence arrangements we entered into. This has been built on later with further important defence and training arrangements, including with other regional countries and big powers.

These alliances have been built in the mutual best interest of all involved and Singapore needs to be a strong and valued partner in order for other countries to want to form alliances with us.

Although our defence force remains strong and credible and our defence alliances strong, the security environment remains fraught with risks and uncertainties. As we had discussed in the earlier debate on foreign affairs, these threats are wide ranging and serious.

The threat of terrorism continues to spread with growing incidents of radicalised individuals and fighters returning from the Middle East to the region. Attacks have taken place in major European cities but, closer to home, in Indonesia as well.

The Korean Peninsula saw aggressive nuclear testing by North Korea barely a few months ago, and while ties remain warmer now, the nuclear risk remains. Matters in the South China Sea have also calmed down a little, but there is no clear resolution in sight for the differences here, though, hopefully, parties can agree upon a code of conduct.

And today, security threats are increasingly taking on new forms, including self-radicalised terrorism and cybersecurity. These are complex and unpredictable, and take place below the threshold of war, and we may have to invest adequately to deal with such emergent threats. While these threats linger, they take place against a backdrop of a risk that the US may reduce its role in the region. So, it is clear that we must continue to invest in defence.

Our Pioneer Generation had the foresight to invest in defence, and the "peace dividend" we have enjoyed over the last 50 years is the backdrop which has allowed Singapore to grow and thrive. Today, we are one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

10.15 am

Given our small size and the existential need for defence, defence spending has been a significant part of our Budget. Defence expenditure has also been rising in the region in the face of growing security concerns, meaning all our regional neighbours are also building up their armed forces.

As forecasted in the Budget Debate earlier, we will be moving into a period when our population will be ageing and our needs for social spending will be rising at the same time. Some have suggested, happily, not inside this House, cutting the defence Budget, a move that I would find worrying, given that security and defence are existential for us. What are Singapore's security plans in the face of the threats we face, and is our defence spending going to be adequate and sustainable in the face of these threats?

[(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]

Peacekeeping

Mr Teo Ser Luck (Pasir Ris-Punggol) : Mr Chairman, as a responsible member of the international community, Singapore has long contributed to the international peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance missions around the world. And just last year, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) deployed Chinooks and personnel to aid in the Hurricane Harvey relief operations in the US, sent an additional medical team to the defeat-the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) coalition in the Middle East, and sent humanitarian aid to the Philippines and Bangladesh. Will SAF continue to support such global security and international peacekeeping efforts?

WOG Counter-terrorism Efforts

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (Nee Soon) : Mr Chairman, terrorism has continued to pose a major threat to the peace and stability of our region. The scale of terror threats in our region has grown. Last year, about 900 ISIS-linked militants took over the southern Philippine city of Marawi and displaced over 400,000 Marawi residents. It took a concerted effort between the Philippine Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police to recapture Marawi following five months of fierce fighting involving airstrikes and artillery fire.

Terror groups today have also operated with increasing coordination and sophistication, with operational linkages spanning across national borders. The Maute group militants behind the Marawi siege had links with pro-ISIS cells and individuals in the region, and leveraged existing smuggling routes to move funds, people and arms through ungoverned spaces in the region.

The Marawi siege in the Philippines showed us how militants can effectively organise themselves and pose a credible threat to homeland security forces. This underscores the importance of improving synergies across the whole-of-Government to ensure that there is a coordinated response to terrorist threats.

As such, how is the SAF coordinating with other Government agencies to prevent and respond to the threat of regional terrorism today?

Counter-terrorism Efforts

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade) : The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has stated that some 18,000 National Servicemen (NSmen) will be put through counterterrorism training annually. There will also be other initiatives to help Singapore negotiate the current climate that we live in, which includes the Special Ops taskforce; the Army Deployment Force and, of course, the setup of the Island Defence Training Institute.

They are, indeed, major changes and they come with strategic investments and commitment as well. What kind of scale of hardware and technological acquisition are we looking at? How are our plans able to cover our land and sea borders as well as our air space in terms of attacks and threats?

We need to be ever ready to handle these extremely volatile situations, and how do we ensure that our men are all psychologically ready, knowing that they can be called upon anytime to protect Singapore?

MINDEF also has broad goals for the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) chairmanship. Can the Minister also share with us some of these, which include collaboration with ASEAN counterparts, including SAF and other Armed Forces that have got experience in dealing with a siege like the one in Marawi?

Cyberattacks

Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Sembawang) : Sir, with the world so interconnected and our lives completely changed with the Internet and digitalisation, almost all electronic items can be remotely accessed and controlled, such as our transport, financial and security systems, our power plants and many more.

It is a perfect cyber storm brewing. Imagine all our traffic light controls go haywire, with multiple accidents on the roads, our roads will become a logjam. Airplanes above our heads can become weapons of mass destruction, like the 9-11 scenario. Our stock market and financial systems can be brought to a complete halt and all electronic financial transactions going astray. Our communication devices could be hacked and paralysing the entire country, making any rescue and recovery services impossible. This is a doomsday scenario that we frequently see in a Hollywood movie. Can this reality be real one day?

We read about many incidents of cyberattacks and breaches of security and cyber espionage around the world. How prevalent are such attacks against Singapore, and how vulnerable are we? What are we doing to protect Singapore from cyberattacks?

In recent years, cyberattacks have grown to be a major security concern. In 2015, it was reported that the hackers had successfully compromised the information system of energy companies, leading to the temporary crippling of Ukraine's power grid. Ukraine was again targeted in June 2017 with ransomware disrupting Ukraine's financial, energy and government sectors.

At home, our Government education institutions are known to be hit by cyberattacks. Last year, our businesses, including several shopping malls, were affected by the "WannaCry" worm. Fortunately, Singapore was less affected by the "WannaCry" worm, compared to some other countries.

From these examples, it is clear that cyber-related threats can severely affect and disrupt Singaporeans' way of life. My question to the Minister is how prevalent are such attacks, how vulnerable are we and what is MINDEF doing to protect Singapore from cyberattacks?

Bug Bounty Programme

Mr Zainal Sapari (Pasir Ris-Punggol) : Sir, the changing security environment has birthed a more diverse range of dangerous and non-conventional threats to Singapore, especially within the cyber domain. For example, the growing availability of sophisticated tools on the Dark Web, designed to thwart secure systems, has greatly heightened the impetus to test and strengthen the security of our existing digital systems. At the same time, in our current fiscal climate of prudence, there is also a strong motivation to exercise good fiscal judgement.

Last year, MINDEF started its Bug Bounty Programme where they invited a select group of white-hat hackers with the required skills and tools to attack their systems. This, I agree, is a sensible move to test its systems as it will be far cheaper than hiring a dedicated commercial cybersecurity vulnerability assessment team and potentially reveal weaknesses that may not be surfaced, given the very individual nature of white-hat hacking. Furthermore, efforts into strengthening our cybersecurity are always welcome if it means a greater defence of our borders within the space of cyber technology.

These hackers were allowed to test eight MINDEF Internet-facing systems to identify any code bugs and vulnerabilities. Could the Minister of Defence provide an update on the Bug Bounty Programme? Is the Bug Bounty Programme a one-off exercise or an ongoing engagement? How does MINDEF's efforts fit into our national cybersecurity ecosystem?

Prudence

Mr Teo Ser Luck : The Finance Minister has announced the Budget growth cap cut to 0.3 times GDP growth in this year's Budget, following on from the 2% downward adjustment to the budget caps of Ministries and Organs of State. This highlights the current fiscal climate prudence as we face the "new normal" of slower growth rates.

At the same time, we have witnessed an increase in the variety and danger of non-conventional threats to Singapore's security, in particular, in the cyber domain and by terrorists.

MINDEF and SAF have invested resources to build our capabilities in these fields in the last few years. Given the increasingly tight fiscal climate and the widening spectrum of threats that MINDEF and SAF now has to defend against, some worry that we may spread our defence dollars too thin. To fund the development of capabilities in emerging fields, MINDEF would likely have to exercise more prudence and possibly undertake some cost-cutting measures.

Could MINDEF elaborate on the specific prudence and cost-cutting measures that it is undertaking?

Future of SAF

Dr Teo Ho Pin (Bukit Panjang) : Sir, the main mission of SAF is to defend Singapore. Today, Singapore faces new threats, such as terrorism and cyberattacks, in addition to the conventional threats. Therefore, it is crucial that we transform and build new capabilities in our defence force to deter any potential aggressors and overcome any aggressors with a swift and potent defence force.

Sir, technology and intelligence play an important part in strengthening our defence and enhancing our SAF's capabilities. In 2017, MINDEF announced that it will set up a Cyber Defence Organisation and train 18,000 soldiers per year in land, sea and air operations to counter terrorism. These are good initiatives but do we have the manpower to do so in the future, especially when we are faced with a low birth rate?

Sir, furthermore, with an ageing population, many of our Operationally Ready NSmen (ORNS) will be over 60 years old in 10 years' time. This will significantly grey the profile of our defence force. Many of these older ORNS may not be so tech savvy and will face difficulty in catching up with new technologies adopted by SAF. Thus, upgrading of these older ORNS to integrate into the defence force will be challenging.

Sir, last year, the Minister for Defence spoke about the "Next Generation (Gen) SAF" that will be positioned for the future, and able to deal with threats in the 21st Century. In this regard, I wish to seek clarifications from the Minister on the following: first, how SAF has leveraged technology to better equip our defence force; and second, update on the operational readiness of SAF for future threats.

The Chairman : Mr Lee Yi Shyan. Not here. Ms Jessica Tan.

ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Chairmanship

Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo (East Coast) : Mr Chairman, with Singapore's geographic location and size, we face several undisputable strategic realities, including our lack of strategic depth and weight, lack of natural resources and small population. We are critically dependent on the free flow of external trade, even as the open nature of our economy leaves us vulnerable to shifts and turbulence in the external environment.

Given our vulnerabilities, we need to rely on both a strong SAF, as well as astute diplomacy, to protect our interests. In particular, our involvement in regional security architecture is critical to fostering trust and cooperation and is essential to shaping a benign security environment within the region where Singapore can continue to grow and prosper.

The ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) is the highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN aimed at promoting regional peace and stability through dialogue and cooperation in defence and security within ASEAN and between ASEAN and dialogue partners.

Amidst the growing threats from extremists and the volatile geopolitical environment in the region, Singapore, as Chair of ADMM this year, is well-placed to advance the security interests of the region and Singapore. In this regard, what are some of the initiatives that MINDEF is undertaking as ADMM Chair to achieve this?

ADMM and ADMM-Plus

Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied) : Chairman, Sir, good progress is being made through the ADMM and ADMM-Plus frameworks to increase confidence among member countries and which lower but not eliminate the possibility and prospect of outright hostilities in the region, particularly over flashpoints, such as the South China Sea.

The upcoming ASEAN-China maritime exercise is a good example of the work that goes on to build confidence amongst each of the partner nations. In particular, the adoption of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) has raised hopes of its implementation even if an agreement amongst all the ADMM-Plus partners may prove to be harder to secure than the agreement of the ASEAN nations.

10.30 am

Is there any realistic prospect for a CUES framework for unplanned encounters in the air, as intimated by the Defence Minister last month, in view of fatal incidents in the past?

As ADMM Chair, it was reported that Singapore plans to strengthen cooperation and build resilience among the ASEAN member states and eight ADMM-Plus countries. These include plans to increase counterterrorism collaboration and raising capabilities to combat chemical, biological and radiological threats.

Separately, under the "Our Eyes" initiative, senior officials from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Brunei will meet every two weeks to swap information on militant groups and develop a common database of violent extremists. Can the Minister clarify if there is any scope for such cooperation to create economies of scale for SAF and achieve some savings for MINDEF?

Finally, Minister, in view of the importance of the ADMM-Plus frameworks and the reality of a more multipolar world, is there any prospect for making the ADMM-Plus a yearly meeting instead of once every two years, as it is currently? What has been the reception to this proposal by the ADMM and ADMM-Plus partners?

ADMM-Plus

Mr Low Thia Khiang (Aljunied) : Chairman, Sir, the Minister for Finance mentioned that tensions in the South China Sea could affect investor confidence and, therefore, stability and growth in the region. It is, therefore, strategic for Singapore to minimise the tensions and prevent incidents and accidents from escalating into a serious event in the South China Sea.

Singapore is the ASEAN Chair this year and thus leading ADMM and ADMM-Plus, which involves another eight other powers, including China and the United States (US). We have a timely opportunity here to establish the framework to minimise the tensions. It is timely because Singapore is a non-claimant stakeholder in the settlement of the South China Sea disputes and has strong bilateral ties with many of the other stakeholders, including ASEAN countries, China and the US.

It is also timely because the South China Sea disputes seem to be entering into a more rational phase of negotiation and balance of power, after the initial emotive phase occasioned by the jostling for territory.

In 2013, China and the US took part in a joint training exercise off Hawaii. In 2014, both countries, along with other South China Sea stakeholders, signed the agreement on CUES. CUES is an excellent platform to work with to avoid the escalation of any incident and to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. On 6 February this year, MINDEF issued a press release outlining the ADMM's three areas of focus for 2018 after the ADMM retreat in Singapore. One area is to affirm the importance of CUES on the sea and in the air. This is a worthy goal but, unfortunately, the press release was short on details about this area. Would the Minister elaborate on how the ADMM-Plus would be used to reaffirm the importance of CUES?

It was also announced that ASEAN will be conducting an inaugural maritime exercise with China at the end of the year. This is excellent, as the US-China maritime exercise in 2013 fostered trust that led to the CUES agreement in 2014. I would like to ask the Minister whether the ASEAN-China maritime exercise will involve the testing and practice of CUES in the South China Sea and whether a similar exercise can be conducted under the aegis of ADMM-Plus. I am asking the latter question because 2018 is the beginning of the third ADMM-Plus three-year cycle and there were already four live exercises held in the last cycle which were useful for deepening regional security cooperation.

The Chairman : Minister for Defence.

The Minister for Defence (Dr Ng Eng Hen) : Mr Chairman, let me thank the Members for their continued support to build up a strong defence for Singapore by voting for the financial policy of the Government yesterday.

This debate and the next on the Presidential Address after Parliament reopens are crucial. For this debate, as expected, any proposed tax increase will attract attention. If it did not, we would be in a different world, a surreal one. But astute Members of Parliament (MPs) have pointed out that the financial Budget is but a means to an end.

Indeed, apart from the financial scrutiny of Government spending and revenue, the debates will set strategic directions for Singapore over the next 10, 20 years and beyond. And these core issues are addressed at a crucial juncture, as we transit to a 4th Generation (4G) leadership that must forge support from a generation of Singaporeans with perspectives and memories significantly different from the Pioneer Generation, and even that of their parents, because they were born when Singapore was First-World and they did not experience the Third-World Singapore. As we deliberate on these key issues, we have to decide what we must never let go, lest we weaken the foundations of our growth, and what we must change to keep relevant with the times. Those decisions from these two debates will affect every Singaporean, young or old, right or wrong.

Every Ministry, therefore, including and, especially defence, which takes up a large share of Government spending, must deal with these core issues. That is the core debate. Mr Vikram Nair captured the essence when he asked of my Ministry what are our security plans in the face of wide-ranging threats and risks, and if our defence spending is adequate and sustainable. He used the word “existential” twice. And he is correct.

Should we continue to put defence spending as a priority? Because, after all, we have had peace for 50 years and more now. Our relations with our neighbours are good on all sides. We have formed strong partnerships, as Members have pointed out, with major powers. How much should we invest in building a strong SAF and how much can we afford?

The answer to these questions by previous generations was plain, as it was unwavering – defence was a top priority and they would invest heavily into building a strong defence, a strong SAF, no ifs or buts.

But let me make one fact clear. Past generations did so even when there were many competing needs. We talked about our rising needs but, past generations, as a Third-World country, in Singapore, our needs then were dire and everywhere – houses, schools, hospitals, roads, public facilities, jobs – all in short supply. Because our military capabilities at Independence were next to nothing, the Government of the day had to make hard decisions – every dollar spent on building up the military was a dollar taken from other needs. And yet, they paid the price to build up a strong SAF.

Why? Mr Lee Kuan Yew and the Pioneer Generation, who lived through Singapore as a British colony, under Japanese occupation and as part of Malaysia, held a deep conviction on self-determination through a strong defence.

At the National Day Parade (NDP) which Members here attend, we replay a particular clip of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. It is a very stern admonition and, in this coming NDP, I invite you to listen to it again. It was uttered in 1967 when NS was introduced, "If you, who are growing up, do not understand that you have got to defend this, then I say, in the end, we will lose. Other people will come, smack you down, take it over." I cannot say it as harshly as Mr Lee because that generation lived through difficult times. It is just unnatural for us, but when he says it, and when the Pioneer Generation says it, it is so authentic. Harsh words for harsh times, but ever so necessary. Not only for that generation, but I think for every generation. So, listen to that clip again this year.

With that deep conviction and sacrificial commitment, we, today, have a modern and professional SAF. From two infantry battalions – which, if you read Mr Lee's memoirs, were still under Malaysian command even after we separated – we now have an Army, combined arms divisions, fully manned and able to move at short notice.

Earlier this year, you may or may not have noticed, we activated a mass mobilisation exercise (MOBEX). There was not much fanfare. In fact, it may have gone unnoticed. But in a few hours, we were able to rapidly assemble and equip 8,000 men, moved munitions to them, we used new ways of doing it. Many Members here are NSmen and had gone through MOBEX. As they went to the counters, these were automated counters, where a camera takes a picture of you, recognises you, issues you a slip to say which company and platoon you go to, and what your role is, and what weapons you need to draw. But you actually do not have to draw the weapons because, at the same time, when it is activated, we did not cheat, we activated both sides, from our ammunition storage facilities, they are activated. And they pushed weapons, platforms, to meet up with the men. Within a few hours, 8,000 men. No mean feat anywhere. That should give a lot of confidence to Members in this House and Singaporeans outside.

The Republic of Singapore (RSAF) commemorates its Golden Jubilee this year. But when it started, we had two Cessnas. We did not really own them. We leased them from the Singapore Flying Club. Today, we have a comprehensive fleet of fighter, transport, surveillance aircraft and ground-based air defence systems that protect our skies 24/7. And when I say that, it means that we have pilots on standby. Because after 9-11, we took that threat seriously. If there are planes that come to us unplanned, our fighter planes are mobilised. It takes a while to get mobilised, so our chaps are there. From time to time, we gently guide errant, sometimes, lost pilots, down to the field. But you never know when there might be a real attack, just like 9-11.

Our Navy started with two wooden hull boats, probably sinkable if attacked. We now have a modern Navy of Littoral Mission Vessels (LMVs), frigates and submarines that protect our waters and maritime hub.

The commitment of previous generations to build up a strong SAF was not merely through words or aspirations. It required substantial financial resources from the Government and the people. But that was not the only and, in fact, not the most precious resource they had to give. They gave of themselves, as every Singaporean male, as every male MP in this House who has done NS, has done so, through NS, with the full support from family and employers.

The results of that unequivocal commitment are plain for everyone to see – to Singaporeans, to our neighbours and, indeed, globally – an SAF today that is able to defend Singapore, but beyond that, an SAF that has contributed to global security. As Mr Vikram Nair said, how do we show that we are a valued partner?

It went beyond our wildest imagination that SAF troops and assets, as Mr Teo Ser Luck pointed out, were helping in Hurricane Harvey in Texas and, before that, Hurricane Katrina; or could be deployed as peacekeepers in Timor-Leste or against terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq; against pirates in the Gulf of Aden; and in humanitarian efforts in Aceh and Nepal. Who would have thought of it when SAF was started more than 50 years ago?

10.45 am

Yes, we will continue to do this because the partnerships forged from playing our role internationally are important in dealing with transnational threats that affect our own security. We are not playing "good guy", to be honest. It raises our stakes, our value to others who want then to help us as we deal with transnational security threats.

It has been the steady investments in defence spending that enabled these achievements by a strong SAF, both locally and internationally. This is a Committee of Supply (COS) debate. So, I think some details of actual financing are appropriate. We have handed out, with your permission, Mr Chairman, charts and these are also shown on the screens.

The first figure shows our defence spending for the last 30 years. First off, in blue, is the percentage of Government expenditure – how much MINDEF spends as a part of Government expenditure. At our height, you will notice that we spent almost a third of every dollar the Government spends. But with the SAF modernised and doing more with people and technology, defence spending, as a proportion, dropped substantially, starting around a decade ago. It is now about 19% of Government spending.

So much for Singapore's spending, but defence must always be seen in perspective. What you spend is never as important as what everyone else spends. So, let us see the next slide – what is the defence spending by countries around us? I have chosen just to focus on ASEAN but I think probably the same can be said of Asia, ex ASEAN and Singapore, and even more.

Figure 2 shows that we had kept pace with ASEAN spending until about 2006. In the last decade, our ASEAN neighbours have been spending more. These are nominal absolute spending. In the last decade, our ASEAN neighbours have been spending more to modernise their defence capabilities even as their economies grew. The gap between Singapore's spending compared to the rest of ASEAN has increased, but Singapore need not increase its defence spending radically now to play catch-up. Do not worry. We do not have to do it.

As I have said in this House previously, we can maintain the SAF's capabilities with a defence spending that roughly keeps pace with inflation of around 3%-4% increase each year. And even for the next decade, MINDEF does not foresee any spike in defence spending. Obviously, this will not apply if there are exigencies or unexpected scenarios. For instance, if there is a terrorist attack or if the security environment deteriorates, our agencies will have to spend more to protect Singaporeans.

And after the next decade, I think it would be prudent for the Government of that day and this House to reassess the security threats and the military spending, and the capabilities of other countries and plan ahead. So, if Members can remember and are still in this House 10 years hence in 2028 and beyond, please remember this gentle admonition, sound out warnings if you think necessary, for those of you privileged to be in this House.

Two crucial lessons learnt from our experiences as well as that from negative examples from other countries who went the other way, and they are: first, the best time to prepare for trouble is during peace; second, in the long run, steady investments into military capabilities maintain peace through deterrence and result in more effective outcomes. It is actually the most efficient yield for defence investments. In other words, even if you spent the same dollar amount over a defined period and one was gentle and smooth, and the other went up and down, the most effective yield is continuous steady investments, and I will tell Members why, by examples, which many European countries have learnt in bitter ways.

I recently spoke of how Lithuania did away with NS after the Cold War, but has now to reintroduce it following the annexation of Crimea. But it may not be possible. Just think – one Defence Minister decides, "alright, National Service is no longer necessary". The same one, or a few years later, another one decides, "let us reintroduce it". Is it possible? Certainly not in time to deal with an imminent crisis.

Denmark announced in October last year that it would now increase defence spending by 20% over the next five years. You can quickly appreciate the pain it will cause their population that the Finance Minister of Denmark would say, "I have to raise Goods and Services Tax (GST) by 2% just to pay for my defence." Painful.

France, even a bigger problem. It unveiled a bill last month that would increase its spending on its armed forces by more than 40% by 2025 because Europe has now got threats. People are asking France and Germany, who are the two largest powers, to do more. They are going to up it. President Macron, to his credit, believes it should be done, but they have to up their defence spending by 40%. I have not calculated how much it affects their defence spending. I think France now spends €34 billion. It would have to go up to €50 billion, an increase of €16 billion in seven years. Not only a 2% increase in GST would help; probably a 3%, 4% or 5% hike in GST just to pay for the increase in defence spending.

Germany, even with its troubled past, is now asked by the European Union (EU) states to do more militarily. That debate is over. I have attended the Munich Security Dialogue, as Defence Ministers in Singapore have, for the past decade or more. And, at that time, there was almost a schizophrenia. "We think we want Germany to do more but with your troubled past, maybe you should not do more." That debate is done. Germany, you must do more. But after 25 years of cuts to the German defence budget, the German military – the Bundeswehr – is underfunded, with entire weapons systems unusable, because they either lack spare parts or have been poorly maintained. By the German government's own assessment, less than half of Germany's submarines and planes are operationally ready. The platforms are there but only half can be activated.

When the Aceh tsunami occurred, we activated three of our four Landing Ship Tanks (LSTs). It happened on Boxing Day – no way you could have had prior warning. On activation, all moved – 75% of the assets of that particular platform. The fourth was in the Gulf, as Deputy Prime Minister Teo has reminded me. So, all four were out. If we had to send another one, we would have to borrow it.

The Bundeswehr will need many years to modernise its platforms and make up for lost time.

When I share these lessons, I say these are salutary lessons that we must voraciously imbibe, because someone else has paid to learn them. That is the cheapest cost to any country.

We intend to keep our defence spending steady despite countries around us spending more and against wide-ranging security threats. But we have to prioritise and focus and optimise our resources.

Some Members have asked about counterterrorism – Assoc Prof Dr Muhd Faishal, Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef. SAF takes terrorism very seriously, so much so that we have to reorganise, train and equip differently. Members have pointed out, including Dr Teo Ho Pin, how we now train. We have the capacity to train 18,000 SAF NSmen for homeland security.

We learned very valuable lessons from Marawi, another painful lesson that someone else learnt. So, we went there. We absorbed the lessons. I made a trip, Deputy Prime Minister Teo made a trip recently, where they found out and they admitted that they underestimated the problem, both the number of fighters and how well they were equipped.

The terrorist fighters there were equipped. Snipers had good weapons, heavy machine guns, and they even had anti-tank weapons. The terrorists conducted urban warfare against soldiers and policemen of the Philippine authorities who were not trained for that kind of fight. That is why it took five months for the Philippine armed forces and homeland security to dislodge the militants from that city. And this, after many lives lost and the city devastated. I think the bill they have recently estimated will cost about US$2 billion. This is just one small city. The experiences there confirm that SAF is on the right track in building up our counterterrorism capabilities. In the span of a year, we have trained some 18,000 servicemen for homeland security and we started the new institute called the Island Defence Training Institute. I have talked about Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI) City last year. When completed, it will allow our soldiers to train more realistically for homeland security and counterterrorism because it will be a different Pasir Laba that you and I were used to. Buildings, I do not know how high you can build it, but at least higher than what we have now, and to teach them how to fight in that kind of scenario.

Members rightly pointed out that we have to do more with other Government agencies to respond to these terror threats. We are working together with the Police's Frontline Policing Training Centre. We will conduct joint training and equip NSmen with the skills to perform these homeland security operations. At sea, various agencies are coordinated, whether it is the Navy, Police Coast Guard, Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) or Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), so that we keep our waters safe.

But as much as we prepare at home, Singapore needs to be part of the international effort to deal with terrorism at its source. That is a sound strategy because, if you do not do that, you are just dealing with the problem too late and you allow the problem to mushroom.

We did that against Al-Qaeda, from 2007, in Afghanistan, after which the threat has dissipated for now. Our SAF troops have been deployed in Iraq since 2014 against ISIS and with considerable progress. The coalition effort, led by the US, has taken Iraq back from ISIS control. US Secretary of Defense James Mattis wrote to me recently to ask Singapore to commit more resources for the next phase of consolidation after our hard-won victories. Cabinet has approved for Singapore to maintain our commitment to counterterrorism globally, for our own interests. I am announcing today that the SAF will further deploy troops to Iraq later this year. We will send SAF troops to help train Iraqi Security Forces to counter improvised explosive devices, as well as in tactical weapons and combat tactics.

As Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef suggested, we need to work with ASEAN on counterterrorism, and some others have pointed that out too, including Mr Pritam Singh and Mr Low Thia Khiang, especially because the risk of foreign fighters leaving Iraq and Syria has gone up. So, paradoxically, as the problem there diminishes, they run away; and they come back, whether it is Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines or even Singapore.

The Philippine Special Operations Command came to Singapore last December for a two-week professional exchange and our offer to the Philippines Armed Force to use our unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance remains open. Deputy Prime Minister Teo, when he visited Philippine leaders, reiterated that offer, too, recently. SAF stands ready to join the Sulu Seas patrol when invited. As ADMM Chair, we recently proposed a counterterrorism framework – there were many programmes but we felt we needed a comprehensive framework and we devised the 3Rs – the equivalent to reading, writing, arithmetic. Rather, it is "Resilience, Response, Recovery", to coordinate our responses to prevent, deal with and recover from attacks.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked about the growing cyber threat, indeed, a transnational threat with effects that could be devastating as physical attacks, whether it is power grids, whether it is financial grids, whether it is hospitals, and so on and so forth.

At the whole-of-Government level, Deputy Prime Minister Teo chairs our Coordinating Inter-Ministerial Committee, the Security Policy Committee. But at the Ministry level, we are responsible for our own Ministries as well as the ecosystem in which that Ministry is in charge of.

Members have asked who the attacks come from, how often and whom they are targeted at. I think Members can guess at the answer. The attacks are conducted by freelancers, as well as organised state and non-state actors. Senior MINDEF and SAF leaders, as well as departments handling sensitive information have been deliberately targeted, for example, by "spear-phishing". Those of you in information technology (IT) will know what this is.

11.00 am

In other words, you get innocent-looking emails addressed to you, but it contains malicious software. If you click on the attachment, or sometimes even when you click on the email – I do not think they have reached a stage where you look at it and the malicious software might come. They have not succeeded, but they will keep trying.

As we do in the physical arena, MINDEF adopts a multi-layered approach to cyber defence, including the ultimate step of physically separating sensitive systems from the Internet. Internally, there is a system – we do not want to talk to you, please do not come in. Sensors monitor internal networks 24/7. We have "red teams” which are testing for vulnerabilities.

Mr Zainal Sapari asked about our Bug Bounty programme. Thank you for affirming it. I thought it was a good idea. It attracted 260 white-hat hackers, all bona fide, and improved our systems at relatively low cost. We have shared lessons with other agencies, like the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) and the Cyber Security Agency (CSA), and the results are encouraging. I do not think it is a one-off. It may not be an exact mould, but we will think of these ways to crowdsource. For the Internet, we can do it; we can crowdsource and actually leverage off that connectivity.

As Members have pointed out, we will build up a cyber force with more SAF regulars and full-time staff. We will also use NSmen. This year, we will take in the pilot batch of full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) under the Cyber NSF Scheme. For those of you who have friends, children or children of friends who are interested and suitable, tell them about this. For those interested and suitable, we will offer them regular contracts of varying durations. If they accept, we will also invest more on training them. We will also set up a cyber defence training and exercise infrastructure to train them. So, this is long term, needs a long-term plan, and we have begun.

Mr Teo Ser Luck asked how we can be prudent in spending, and he is spot on. We know our resources are limited. We have to be prudent, but we will not compromise. SAF will not compromise our defence capabilities but we have found ways to optimise resources. We want to stretch every dollar, where we can.

We have used innovation and better work processes. SAF saved $200 million last year, the highest in the last four years. I think we can do more. For instance, our new LMVs will cost around $65 million less for the whole fleet to maintain across their lifetime. They replaced the Patrol Vessels. LMVs are much more capable than the Petrol Vessels but will cost less. Why? Because they have less crew, they are more efficient to maintain.

The RSAF’s aerostat, our big balloon – yesterday, there were some discussions about floating balloons – let me just say that when SAF floats balloons, it is there to stay, and it is meant to be up. Our aerostat achieves continuous aerial surveillance, just like a plane with radar, but saves about $29 million a year. It is a jolly good idea.

SAF upgrades existing equipment, where possible, to avoid buying new platforms. Our first instinct is not to buy, but to upgrade. And that is what we did for our whole fleet of Leopard Tanks and Chinooks.

We must harness new technologies, as Dr Teo Ho Pin pointed out. Because even if you chose to give us more money in exchange for manpower, we cannot do it. We just do not have the manpower. We recognise that as an inherent constraint, and we started to deal with it, I think, probably one or even two decades ago, in terms of redesigning our systems, in terms of maintaining our systems. Let me give Members some examples.

Dr Teo Ho Pin mentioned that the older ORNS, those in their 60s, would not be so adept. We are not planning to induct them into our Armed Forces, because their liability ends at 40 to 50. Thank you for the idea, Dr Teo. We will consider it.

Of those who are in our Order of Battle (ORBAT), there are some examples. Instead of soldiers conducting surveillance from observation towers, the Army will build unmanned towers to watch over Jurong Island and the surrounding waters. Those towers will watch 24/7 in all-weather conditions, and it will reduce the total number of soldiers required by a third – a significant number.

RSAF is moving towards a Smart Airbase. What is a Smart Airbase? For example, it will use drones to perform runway damage assessment. Members will notice, for instance, at the recent Air Show, it is beautiful to watch, and people clap in glee, but after the fighter planes take off or land, we have to do visual checks to make sure that the commercial planes can come in, too. Same thing for each take-off; you have to do visual checks because even small debris make a difference.

We can use drones to perform runway damage assessment and respond to other intruding drones. We want to make it more efficient by leveraging automation for aircraft maintenance and using sensors for pre- and post-flight aircraft checks. I think it is achievable and we are doing trials to achieve that kind of Smart Airbase.

The Navy is integrating data from all agencies. The maritime environment is a different environment from the air. There are lots of moving parts and different agencies. We want to gather data from all sources, construct better algorithms to detect anomalies and then pre-empt, say, possible terrorist threats from the sea.

For surveillance, we want to use cameras with smart sensors with automated surveillance. We do not need a man in the loop, or a man in every loop, to say, “this vessel is behaving in a different way from other vessels”. So, just alert you, so that when the man in the loop makes a decision, you respond. We do not need manned vessels for some scenarios. Unmanned vessels will soon be used for patrols and underwater surveys. All these give us hope that we are moving towards an SAF that is just as, or even more effective, but can use less manpower.

We agree wholeheartedly with Members here who pointed out that we cannot do this alone. We have to join other partners or other countries. Mr Jessica Tan, Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Pritam Singh, thank you for affirming that what we decided as ADMM Chair this year is important. We said that there will be three areas: first, counterterrorism; second, confidence-building measures and code for unplanned encounters at sea and in the air; and third, chemical, biological and radiological threats. That was really precipitated because of the Korean Peninsula instability, and most countries are not prepared for those kinds of threats.

As Members pointed out rightly, CUES has been accepted. What is the possibility of a CUES for air being accepted, is a tough one, I agree. But if we can do it across 18 nations, I think that will send a very strong signal. So, we will try. We will at least start the ball rolling and see whether we can get consensus from the 10 ASEAN countries and the Plus-eight. I think we can achieve that. I think among some of them, they will be more willing. And if we can talk to them and say, "This works for you", I think we would have done a significant contribution.

Some asked about the exercise, Mr Low and Mr Pritam Singh as well, whether we are practising CUES. Indeed, we are. We do not even have to wait for the China-ASEAN Maritime Exercise. We are going to do it with all 18 ADMM-Plus countries – practise CUES, because they have agreed collectively to adopt CUES and practise it in our exercise in 2019. And in 2018, I suspect, this year, with China, it may be in undisputed waters, so there would not be a chance to practise it. The Member asked whether the meetings of the ADMM-Plus will be yearly. Indeed, it will, from this year onwards. They have agreed and Singapore will be the first to host these annual meetings.

With the US, we have achieved new milestones. Both the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and RSAF conducted bilateral exercises in Guam for the first time last year, flying with US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) and exercising across the full spectrum of anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air warfare with the US Navy.

With China, we will build on the positive momentum from the visit of Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan early this year and we have deepened ties with the People's Liberation Army (PLA). With India, we concluded a Navy Bilateral Agreement and we will increase maritime security cooperation between our countries, especially around the Andaman Seas. For Australia, we will construct SAF training facilities in Queensland, due to begin in 2019.

We will build strong partnerships, but all of us here know that, ultimately, we, Singaporeans, must be accountable for our own defence. When we are dependent on others, we have failed. Our NSmen will be better trained through new facilities in the SAFTI City and in Australia. With continued investments steady, year after year, which Members of this House approve, SAF will continue its transformation onwards.

The next-Gen SAF will use game-changing technologies and new fighting concepts. On the ground, they will operate unmanned, autonomous systems, to multiply their forces. Our skies will be better protected with advanced weapons systems. We recently added our Aérospatiale Terminale (ASTER)-30, which are here. Our territorial waters and sea lines of communications will be better secured with manned and unmanned vessels alike. That is the vision. That is what we are investing in, and we will be equipped to deal with ever-evolving cyber threats.

Mr Chairman, let me conclude. That Members of this House voted for Budget 2018 yesterday, sends a strong signal to our own people and to the world. In doing so, we have kept faith with what we were entrusted with by previous generations – a strong SAF able to ensure our independence and protect Singaporeans. But that a strong SAF was not built or maintained by happenstance or even good intentions. For each generation, it will require a conscious, deliberate decision. It will require sacrifices to commit resources and of themselves.

Previous generations took that hard decision. As Mr Lee Kuan Yew said to SAF officers at a Temasek Society dinner in 2012, “From the day we started, I knew that we needed a strong SAF and I believe that still remains today. Without a strong SAF, there is no economic future, there is no security.”

The Members of this House who voted for the Budget yesterday united themselves with this belief and the resolve of the Pioneer Generation. If each generation reaffirms and renews its commitment, then a strong SAF will continue to keep Singapore safe and sovereign with a secure future for another generation. [ Applause. ]

Role of NS

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim : Mr Chairman, since its introduction in 1967, NS had served as the backbone of the SAF and has been instrumental in deterring potential adversaries and establishing the bedrock of peace for Singapore over the last 50 years. Potential adversaries know that when they want to attack Singapore, it is a fight against all of us.

The political atmospherics in the region have waxed and waned over the years. As we now enjoy warm and friendly relations with all our ASEAN partners, some segments of our society have questioned if NS remains relevant in this context. After all, the probability of conventional conflict is perceived to be remote.

Recognising that NS is premised on the need for national defence, can MINDEF elaborate on the role that NS plays in Singapore today and its importance, given prevailing geopolitical conditions?

SAF Manpower

Mr Zainal Sapari : Sir, across the years, SAF has drawn heavily on Singapore’s human capital in its pursuit of a strong military force capable of protecting Singapore. However, several trends in recent years have threatened the size of the SAF's enlistment pool, chief among them, the trend of our falling birth rate and the ageing population.

11.15 am

As Members of this House will recall, the Minister for Defence noted last year that SAF will see a one-third reduction in manpower supply by 2030. In view of these impending manpower constraints, what are the manpower challenges faced by SAF? What measures are being taken to ensure that these manpower challenges will not compromise our overall military capability?

NS Cohesion

Mr Teo Ser Luck : Like many of my male colleagues in this House, we have fond memories of NS, and NS is the rite of passage for all Singaporean males, regardless of background, and only in NS we get to mix around with peers of different backgrounds, different status and come together and work together. So, besides preparing our young people, our young men, for operations, it also has an important role in enhancing social cohesion. NS, in that sense, is an integral part of our society. And what is SAF doing to build more common experiences and improve cohesion between NSFs from different walks of life during their service?

NS Effectiveness

Mr Ong Teng Koon (Marsiling-Yew Tee) : Mr Chairman, despite our best efforts, our attempts to increase the birth rate have a limited impact so far. This has serious implications for our economy and also our security. As we look to the future, manpower challenges will mean that each individual that serves NS becomes increasingly precious, both during service and after. During service, each individual will now have a bigger role to play as the total number of servicemen and women decline due to smaller cohorts.

After service, we need to ensure that all Singaporeans are equipped to thrive in the new world of work. We will struggle as a nation if all our males are two years behind their counterparts in the acquisition of skills they need in order to survive in the workplace of the future. I would like to ask the Minister how is MINDEF embracing new technologies to maximise the potential of each NSman, both during and after service.

Vocational Interest

Mr Baey Yam Keng (Tampines) : The Vocational Interest Initiative allows enlistees’ interests to be taken into consideration when determining the NS vocation that they are suitable to be deployed to. This aims to offer a more positive, fulfilling and meaningful NS experience for our servicemen. At the same time, it encourages our NSmen to take greater ownership of their roles, responsibilities and contributions in ensuring Singapore's safety and security.

I checked out the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) website and found that the videos and handbook on the 33 NS vocations in SAF, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) very useful. This will provide greater insights for our young pre-enlistees to make more informed choices. I note that the final posting results will look at factors, such as physical fitness, suitability to perform tasks and operational requirements, besides the interests of the new enlistees. This is rightfully so.

I would like to ask MINDEF to elaborate on the rationale for this initiative, and if there are other changes to how SAF deploys its NSmen.

Since the launch of the initiative last November, I believe there have been two or three cohorts being enlisted, and one having completed their Basic Military Training (BMT). Can MINDEF share any early findings of this initiative? How have the interests been matched, and the response of the enlistees?

Cyber NSF Scheme

Ms Low Yen Ling (Chua Chu Kang) : Mr Chairman, according to CSA, there had been a spate of cyberattacks in Singapore over the past year. Investigations revealed that some attackers employed sophisticated anti-detection and infection techniques to access information through cyber backdoors. Some of these advanced persistent threats (APTs) had malware signatures that are unknown, even to the anti-malware databases.

We have all heard from Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen just earlier. He spoke about the threats that are posed by malware emails. So, these developments demonstrate that cyber threats to Singapore are becoming more sophisticated, making detection and forensic investigation more difficult. Notably, some of these sophisticated cyberattacks appeared to be targeted at public organisations in an effort to gain access to critical information and data. Not surprisingly, MINDEF was targeted by deliberate hacking attempts on its Internet-facing system early last year.

Given our small population and geographical size, SAF relies heavily on digitisation and networking in our capabilities to achieve a military edge against our potential adversaries. However, these military networks and systems and the sensitive information they contain make them an attractive target of cyberattacks. As part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen its cyber defence capabilities, MINDEF recently announced the launch of a Cyber NSF Scheme to tap on cyber talent with the requisite aptitude and skills of the NSF pool. Can MINDEF provide and update on the recently announced Cyber NSF Scheme? How sustainable will the scheme be, given the much talked about reduction in the population size, thus a smaller number of NSFs available?

NS Experience

Mr Ong Teng Koon : Mr Chairman, technology is evolving at an accelerating pace and has the potential to make our lives better in ways that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. We can now effortlessly try how much physical activities we do, where we go and whom we interact with. The data that we capture can be mined to provide insights into almost every aspect of human life.

This technology can be used to improve the effectiveness and safety of NS training or, at the same time, helping individual serviceman to develop useful skills. For example, advances in virtual reality and related fields enable us to create new types of training. Individual troops can practise critical skills in a safe environment and commanders can try out different strategies to see which one will work best. The potential to apply technology to NS is limited only by our imagination and our willingness to take the lead. We can improve training outcomes whilst reducing risks to our servicemen.

I would like to ask the Minister how SAF is leveraging technology to enhance the NS experience.

Community is Key in Total Defence

Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar) : Mr Chairman, since its introduction in 1967, NS has remained the cornerstone of Singapore's defence, providing the security and stability which underpin our shared prosperity. To date, more than a million have served NS and NS has become deeply entrenched as a national institution.

Going forward, it is important that this institution continues to enjoy the strong support of every Singaporean in every household and in every community. Over the past four years, the family and community council within the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) had developed initiatives to strengthen community support for total defence and NS. Some of these initiatives include (a) the engagement of new citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs) to understand the need for defence and support the NS institution; and (b) the partnership with the Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association (SAFRA) and the People's Association (PA) to encourage retailers to offer discounts to NSmen in recognition of their service to the nation. We can do more.

Military service is tough and the sacrifices are real for our NSmen who spent time away from their careers and loved ones in defence of our nation. What else can MINDEF and ACCORD do to educate the public on the sacrifices of our NSmen and galvanise community support for these men serving our country?

Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD)

Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng (Pioneer) : Mr Chairman, my cut is on MINDEF’s efforts to recognise the contributions of our NSmen and the initiatives undertaken by ACCORD to increase the public’s awareness of NS.

SAF underwrites Singapore’s sovereignty upon which all Singaporeans can live in peace, and secure in the knowledge that Singapore is well-protected. NS is a duty for all male Singaporeans and second-generation PRs. It is the cornerstone of Singapore’s defence and security. For many Singaporean males, NS is a rite of passage at about 18 years of age, where he leaves the comforts of home and takes on the commitment of defending his country, his family and friends. After the initial two years of full-time commitment in NS, the NSF transitions to ORNS duties as NSmen, and this is about 10 years in length. During this time, our NSmen will have to juggle career and family commitments as well as their national defence duties. Therefore, it would be right and necessary for us to recognise the contributions of our NSmen.

Just last year, we celebrated NS50, where the whole nation came together to thank successive generations of NSmen for their contributions to our nation’s defence over the years. Singaporeans from all walks of life took the opportunity to recommit themselves to play their part to protect our Independence, values and way of life. I am sure that many of our NSmen, past and present, benefited from the various NS50 promotions and offers, generously supported by the private sector as well, who understood the importance of national defence.

Yet, this widespread show of support across the public and private spheres should not be a one-off or should not be limited to milestone years alone. Our NSmen must continue to know that their sacrifices to serve NS are appreciated and not taken for granted. Hence, I would like to ask the Minister how has MINDEF continued in its efforts to recognise the contributions of our NSmen.

ACCORD was established by MINDEF in 1984 as a channel for the community to provide feedback on issues concerning Singapore’s defence. In 2014, it was restructured to comprise the ACCORD main council and three sub-councils covering Employer and Business Council, Family and Community, and Educational Institutions. I would like to ask the Minister to provide an update on the initiatives implemented by ACCORD.

SkillsFuture for NS men

Dr Teo Ho Pin : Sir, NSFs undergo various types of military and skills training while serving their NS. Many of these knowledge and skills, such as leadership, planning, command and control or safety measures, are applicable when the NSmen join the workforce.

Sir, can I ask the Minister to provide an update as to what is MINDEF doing to enable skills and knowledge acquired by our NSmen during NS to be recognised beyond NS?

Productivity Performance of NSFs

Assoc Prof Randolph Tan (Nominated Member) : Sir, the importance of defence in Singapore has become more critical rather than less over the years. Defence spending must keep up with Singapore's partnerships and match the growing sophisticated needs of our advanced economy. Like all areas of Government, defence spending will be put under pressure in years to come. In anticipation of this, defence spending must keep up with the state of the economy. This includes the area of manpower use and productivity.

Sir, in our defence, one of the five pillars of total defence calls for having a strong and resilient economy. Strength and resilience of an economy are based on, among other things, a workforce which embraces productive and efficient work practices and habits. The natural starting point for promoting and understanding how individual contribution to workforce performance is part of economic defence, is full-time NS.

Full-time NS is a major milestone in our young people's lives, often the most significant initial encounter with a regulated work environment. Even for those who deferred entry into the labour force after NS because of studies or other pursuits, the concentrated immersion in full-time NS work cultures so early in their adulthood exerts a major influence over the attitudes of young people. Intensity and pervasiveness of the experience present a valuable opportunity for inculcating a productivity-driven work ethic in NSFs.

In addition to ensuring that the skills picked up in NS are relevant to the needs of the economy, what can be done to take advantage of opportunities to assess and improve the individual productivity performance of NSFs? It will help to ensure the sacrifice of time and effort made by young people in full-time NS have a continuing relevance to their working lives.

11.30 am

I have three questions for the Minister: what is the role of full-time NS in shaping the work ethic of young Singaporeans? What does NS contribute to promoting an awareness of the importance of productivity performance and efficiency at both the individual and organisational levels? And, finally, what are the possibilities for coordinating regimentation in the Armed Forces with productivity and efficiency?

Total Defence

Ms Low Yen Ling : Chairman, Total Defence was launched in 1984 to galvanise every Singaporean to play our part in building a strong, secure and cohesive nation that is resilient against any crises. Singaporeans are familiar with the five pillars as we commemorate Total Defence Day on 15 February every year.

Today, we are confronted with emerging threats, such as disinformation campaigns, that can be more insidious because they target the hearts and minds of our people over the long run and are harder to detect. These are aimed at breaking societies from within by exploiting our social fault lines to weaken national unity, erode trust in Government and diminish confidence in the nation's future.

At the same time, Singapore society is also evolving. Over the years, we have seen more inter-ethnic and transnational marriages. This growing diversity may give rise to new potential fault lines and make it more difficult for us to maintain social harmony.

Compounding the challenge, our population is also increasingly reliant on social media to get news and information on current affairs, making them more susceptible to misinformation online. Against this backdrop, Singapore's approach of Total Defence has proven to be a remarkable presence and also provided a bulwark against such insidious threats.

Can MINDEF provide an update on its 2018 Total Defence campaign and how we intend to address these threats, going forward?

Social and Psychological Defence

Mr Ong Teng Koon : Chairman, on most objective measures, we are living in the best of times in history. With declining poverty and hunger and falling rates of death due to disease and war, yet countries are also faced with growing threats to their economies and their ways of life. These threats can take many forms. The most obvious and high profile are, of course, terrorist attacks, such as 9-11 or the London bombings. But just as dangerous to the long-term health of the nation are most subtle forms of threats, such as the ramping up of social and societal tensions through propaganda and fake news.

We have seen that even mature western democracies are not immune to this form of cyber-psycho terrorism with foreign activists leveraging social media to provoke both sides on issues that divide society, such as racism, inequality or gun rights. These threats are not easy to define or detect and even more difficult to fight.

I would like to ask the Minister: how is MINDEF working with all the relevant agencies to ensure that we continue to enhance our social cohesion and psychological resilience?

Social Defence

Mr Amrin Amin (Sembawang) : We are proud of our multiracial, multi-religious global society here in Singapore. We may worship different gods and practise different cultures and traditions, but we live in peace and harmony in this compact Little Red Dot.

Our status as a global hub has helped grow our economy and added to the vibrancy of our nation. However, we are also aware that we cannot take all these for granted.

If we look overseas, we can see how race, religion and immigration issues can affect not only society and politics but also result in terrorism and violence. In Southeast Asia, the return of ISIS foreign fighters to their homeland has resulted in the persistent threat of radicalisation in our region. These terrorists will use race and religion as a “socio-weapon” to tear people apart.

In Singapore, we are not immune to the threat of terrorism, and we know that there are people in recent years that have been self-radicalised. In Europe and the US, we have witnessed the manifestations of globalisation backlash in US politics, Brexit and the rise of anti-immigration parties in Europe.

As these threats exploit the fault lines in our increasingly diverse society to divide our people, what can we, as Singaporeans, do as part of Total Defence to strengthen social cohesiveness and affirm multiculturalism to fortify our defences against the scourge of terrorism and in the face of other external pressures?

Fake News

Mr Vikram Nair : Chairman, the world today is increasingly interconnected. The Business Times reported that 70% of Singaporeans are active social media users on the go, more than double the global average. This means that Singaporeans are also more easily exposed to false news and pressures found online, which could tear our social fabric.

The threat of fake news is pervasive and insidious. On social media, articles and stories usually go viral and get circulated because they are sensational or they corroborate one's own beliefs and views. However, it is not always possible to verify the truth of stories being circulated. This makes it fertile grounds for the spreading of fake news.

To make matters worse, fake news is also usually profitable. Revenues generated online are usually correlated to eyeballs and circulation, not the truth or quality of the stories involved. One just needs to share sensational stories without having to pay journalists to actually investigate and report the truth. Thus, in an environment where purveyors can make profits by keeping costs low and getting wide circulation, traditional media companies that do real investigation and report real news, which is usually less sensational, are suffering, with readerships dropping for traditional news providers.

This is a double whammy because it means that fake news ends up circulating, while real news requires paid subscriptions, is suffering and struggles to counteract the fake news.

An even more worrying development is the allegation that state actors may also be involved in using fake news to influence the politics of other countries. Our Foreign Minister had very kindly confirmed that this was the case in Singapore as well, but he was probably too diplomatic to name the state actors involved.

The most shocking of the recent allegations, in fact, occurred in the greatest power, the US, where allegations are being made in some quarters in the US that there was Russian interference in their elections. It is already common ground that there was a great deal of fake news being circulated in the last US elections, with candidates on both sides being victims of fake news stories.

Is MINDEF concerned about this threat of fake news for our defence, particularly where it comes from state actors? If so, what steps does MINDEF intend to take to combat threats from fake news?

SAF Volunteer Corps

Dr Teo Ho Pin : Sir, the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) allows Singaporeans from diverse backgrounds who are not eligible for NS to also make contributions to Singapore's defence. Its main mission is to serve in assigned roles alongside SAF NSFs, NSmen and regulars to enhance the security of Singapore. SAFVC is also a great opportunity for citizens from diverse backgrounds to meet, train and bond together. This contributes to a more resilient Singapore.

Sir, can MINDEF provide an update on the SAFVC recruitment status and also share with us the types of voluntary work assigned to SAFVC members?

Youth Engagement

Mr Baey Yam Keng : Mr Chairman, the world today is characterised by the rise of the Internet and globalisation. Our youths will grow up and mature in an environment that will grant them access to an immense variety of views and experiences.

While this opens up many opportunities for education and a deeper appreciation for diversity, it will also likely reshape their sense of identity in new ways. In particular, their understanding of what it means to be “Singaporean” will no longer be strongly defined only by an understanding of Singapore’s history, culture and our vulnerabilities.

However, Singaporeans’ commitment towards defending our country rests on whether we possess a good understanding of our vulnerabilities and an ingrained conviction of the importance of what we are defending. While it is important to instill this understanding in our youths from a young age, growing global interconnectivity and the ensuing potential dilution of the “Singapore Identity” will continue to pose a strong challenge to our efforts.

I note that MINDEF has used many innovative and interesting ways to engage the public of different age groups on Total Defence, for example, N.E.mation! video competition, "Guardians of the City" strategy card game, Total Defence (TD) Badge Programme, TD Puzzle, colouring activity and documentary-drama series "It Will Never Happen Here".

How has MINDEF’s experience been these years and how could MINDEF reach out better to youths today to deepen their understanding of Total Defence and encourage them to play their part?

The Future SAF

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef : Sir, our SAF has come a long way. It has moved on from just being a defence imperative to being a cultural institution, which is a part of Singapore's national identity.

Moving ahead, our falling birth rate will pose a significant challenge. Our NS enrolment will decrease by 30% by 2030. This may mark a timing for decision to utilise more technology, unmanned systems and so on.

The future of warfare may be in the cyber domain. The technological disruption will not spare the area of defence. Data analytics will become extremely crucial. Do we have personnel who are highly trained in these areas and can they train others? How are we preparing our young recruits for this? What about psychological preparedness and resilience development? These are also important.

Finally, can the Minister also share with us on the Centre of Excellence for Soldier Performance (CESP) – what it does and how the curriculum is adapted to meet our needs?

Family Engagement and Resilience

Ms Joan Pereira : Chairman, besides the community at large, families also play a very important role in supporting our NSmen. At the individual level, families are the primary source of moral, emotional and social support for our NSmen. Strong families will be able to pick up signs of emotional or psychological stress in our NSmen and seek assistance before such pressure escalates.

At the national level, families sustain NS as a national institution as they continue to encourage successive generations of Singaporean sons to undergo the rite of passage that is NS. Thus, families are an important group of people that we can engage to ensure the well-being of our NSmen and NS as an institution.

Thus far, ACCORD has partnered the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations (SCWO), the Women's Integration Network of the People's Association and the Young Women's Leadership connection to engage the mothers, wives and girlfriends of our NSmen through information sharing sessions. ACCORD has also collaborated with the Families for Life Council to engage NSmen and their families, and Families for Life events, such as the Families for Life NS 50 Picnic, held at the Singapore Discovery Centre in August 2017.

Looking ahead, how can the Ministry step up its engagement of families so that they are better able to support our NSmen in their NS journey?

The Chairman : Minister Ong Ye Kung.

The Second Minister for Defence (Mr Ong Ye Kung) : Mr Chairman, Sir, I thank the members for all their questions. Dr Maliki Osman and I will try to answer all of them.

Last year, we commemorated 50 years of NS in Singapore. Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim asked about the continued importance of NS. It remains the bedrock of the strong and credible SAF that we have today.

Since 1967, more than one million Singaporeans have invested their time and their blood, sweat and tears in faithfully performing their NS duties. Their and their families’ sacrifices keep our country safe and secure and, as Singaporeans, we can decide our future.

One of our greatest defence assets is that Singaporeans are strongly behind NS. Mr Cedric Foo asked about this, and that this cannot be one-off, just a one-time good feeling during NS50, but sustained support for NS for the long term.

Some countries, in fact, struggle to maintain public support for their conscription systems. Minister Ng Eng Hen mentioned Lithuania; another example is Sweden, which got rid of NS a decade ago, only to have to reinstate it as they re-evaluate their security environment.

Our key challenge today is twofold. The first challenge, which is a question by Mr Zainal Sapari, is demographic, leading to falling cohort sizes and a shrinking enlistment pool. I think Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked about that, too. The second challenge is the evolving new unconventional security threats, such as terrorism, cyberattacks and also disinformation campaigns or fake news. I think Mr Amrin Amin asked about this.

11.45 am

So, the imperative is to do more with less, to work with fewer but more capable servicemen. The future capability and effectiveness of SAF will not be based on the number and quantity of people we have. Instead, it will be based on their quality and ability. We will achieve this by enhancing three things. One, individual ability; two, strengthening system efficiency; and three, leveraging technology. Let me explain.

First, enhancing individual ability. The foundation for operational readiness is, first and foremost, physical fitness. Fitness is also very personal, unique to the individual, with its impact on the individual’s health extending well beyond their time with SAF.

We will leverage technology to deliver targeted and effective training for every serviceman. The new CESP ‒ Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked about it ‒ is adopting a scientific, data-driven approach to optimise the performance of every soldier. That is the key purpose of the Centre. It uses wearables and data to better understand each individual soldier’s physiological condition, and then prescribe more effective and progressive training, while minimising the risk of acute injury. The training can, in fact, be customised to what the soldier is supposed to do and what their vocation and task are. So, it is the granularity that we can now administer training to fit a soldier's physiological condition as well as his responsibility.

We will also provide servicemen with better tools to keep fit and increase the choices and accessibility of fitness training. We are partnering SportSG and the Health Promotion Board (HPB) to introduce the Quick High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Programme. NSmen will be able to attend the Quick HIIT programme at community spaces and sports facilities.

Starting this week, we are also piloting the use of wearable technology at SAF Fitness Conditioning Centres and SAFRA gyms. So, rather than adhering strictly to the SAF-conducted Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) Preparatory Training (IPT) regime, NSmen will now be able to choose the type of exercise they prefer or need. They can cycle, run, do weights or interval training and then clock in their fitness progress via wearable devices. And as long as they achieve the required calories and intensity ‒ we measure only the output but we do not measure the input ‒ we will consider it a valid IPT session. This is a significant shift, giving NSmen choice, convenience and empowerment in improving their fitness. After all, fitness is an individual, not an SAF, responsibility.

Individuals can only be effective if units are cohesive and servicemen have a strong sense of camaraderie forged through common experiences, which Mr Teo Ser Luck asked about. BMT is a large part of this shared NS experience. Since the establishment of the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) in 1987, it has become ‒ as Mr Teo Ser Luck put it ‒ a rite of passage for many male Singaporeans to complete basic training "overseas" – on Pulau Tekong.

However, many NSFs do not go through BMTC. They are enlisted directly into combat units, in what is commonly known as mono-intake units. From this year, we will fully implement the One BMT programme, where practically all combat-fit NSFs will undergo the Pulau Tekong experience.

Hence, mono-intake units will now be enlisted to BMTC on Pulau Tekong for a common nine-week BMT and stay together as a unit from the start of their NS journey. These NSFs will benefit from BMTC’s dedicated training experience, infrastructure and use of technology. Most importantly, they will share a common experience, within the unit, as well as within the larger SAF tribe.

A second major thrust is to strengthen system efficiency. This means improving the way the system deploys the right serviceman to the right job, to maximise his contribution and potential. The most important initiative under this thrust is the review of vocation requirements. Mr Ong Teng Koon asked about using technology to maximise the potential of servicemen. Indeed, it is because of technology that we are now in a position to review vocation requirements.

With technology, you can no longer draw a firm line between combat-fit and non-combat fit. Take, for example, the personnel operating autonomous systems in the control room. They are in combat, even though they are not physically exerting. So, many more servicemen can now perform what could have only been done by servicemen who used to have to meet the most stringent physical requirements. For example, physical requirements and demands for vocations, such as combat engineers and security troopers, are now much less as we leverage technology.

This has opened up opportunities for us to more meaningfully deploy NSmen according to their fitness and abilities. Since last year, SAF has deployed more than 600 servicemen to vocations that they were previously ineligible for. And the number will rise.

Mr Baey Yam Keng asked about the Vocation Interest initiative, where pre-enlistees will indicate their interest in 33 NS vocations across the SAF, SCDF and SPF. There is no guarantee that servicemen will get the vocations they indicated interest in, because the primary consideration is still our defence operational requirements. But we will take their interests into consideration during the deployment process and try our best to match them.

Mr Baey Yam Keng mentioned that one group has passed their BMT and asked for an update. Actually they have not. They have been enlisted. They have indicated their interest. Next week, they will have their Passing Out Parade, out of BMT.

Servicemen have found the initiative helpful. More than 80% of those surveyed felt that the initiative encouraged them to take greater ownership of their NS roles and responsibilities. Many asked for tough vocations, like Infantry and Guards. The inaugural intake of about 4,000 NSFs who indicated their vocation interest will be deployed to their respective vocations later this month. We will continue to refine and improve the system as we go along.

We are also leveraging NSFs' talent in niche areas, such as cybersecurity, through the Cyber NSF Scheme, which Ms Low Yen Ling asked for an update. This was announced two weeks ago. There has been an overwhelmingly positive response since I announced the scheme, with numerous pre-enlistees writing in to express interest. So, we will be putting the applicants through a rigorous selection test on their skills and aptitudes. We will not look at their academic grades so much. The scheme has been launched as a pilot trial for those enlisting in the latter half of this year.

Finally, throughout SAF, we will deploy technologies that can reduce the demand on manpower and yet maintain or enhance operational effectiveness. In recent years, we have taken many leaps forward. Minister Ng Eng Hen has given a few examples. Another example will be our Smart naval bases. It uses a next generation screening system, using technologies, such as biometric authentication, facial recognition and automated threat analysis systems. These improvements will reduce the number of security personnel required in the naval bases by 70%, while maintaining the same or an even better level of security.

Mr Ong Teng Koon asked about leveraging technology to enhance the NS experience. Indeed, besides enabling manpower savings, such technologies can also create wonders on the ground, make NS a better experience, and raise morale.

Last year, we introduced an e-fitting system at CMPB. Pre-enlistees no longer have to go through the tedious process of measuring all their body dimensions manually. This will now be done by infrared body and foot scanners to quickly and accurately fit pre-enlistees to their uniforms and sports shoes. The e-fitting system has also successfully reduced kit exchanges at BMTC from 20% to 6%.

We are embarking on a trial to further enhance the experience at CMPB during pre-enlistment screening. By using facial recognition and real-time queue management technology, we will optimise visitor flow and shorten waiting times.

Another innovation, which is quite cute, is an AI-enabled chatbot called "NS Buddy". I never had this when I was an NSman. At any time of the day, the serviceman could pose a question to the NS Buddy. For example, he can ask "What is BTP?" The Buddy will then explain that it stands for Basic Train-fire Package. Then it will present the facts, and then also give advice to say “aim properly. Don’t be a bobo shooter. Safety First!” We will be enhancing the NS Buddy in the next phase of the trial, expanding its content base, and adding more SAF lexicons.

Mr Chairman, Sir, for NS to continue to be the cornerstone of Singapore's defence, we need Singaporeans' support. Ms Joan Pereira and Mr Cedric Foo asked about the community's support for NS and recognition for NSmen. Many of us must be heartened to witness the high level of public participation in NS50. Members of the public, retailers, employers, Government agencies, the arts community and more, poured forward to contribute to the NS50 commemorations.

I recently took over the chairmanship of ACCORD from Dr Mohamad Maliki and was so inspired by the enthusiasm and passion of its members. It is one of those Government committees where members, after serving many years, still say, "Can I please continue serving?", and they do not want to step down!

We will continue to ride on the NS50 momentum to rally the community to support NS and recognise our servicemen. We have launched the “We Support YOU in NS” initiative to do so. Switzer Alliance is one of the participating merchants of this initiative. The owners felt that they had greatly benefited from their NS experience and wanted to pay it forward – by offering special discounts to NSmen on SAF Day and organising free seminars on topics of interest to NSmen.

We will continue to encourage employers like them to do so and also encourage employers to have NS-friendly human resource (HR) policies. We have made good progress since the launch of the NS Mark Accreditation Scheme in 2016. About 2,000 companies and organisations came on board to pledge their support for NS. More than 35% of these companies have also attained NS Mark (Gold).

Dr Teo Ho Pin and Assoc Prof Randolph Tan asked about preparing our NSFs for life after NS. Earlier, I talked about improving individuals’ performance in terms of fitness and operational skills. These are already very basic, useful life skills.

But further, in the process of developing these skills, our NSFs also learn valuable competencies, such as leadership, discipline, resilience and teamwork. And these are useful qualities that will help our NSFs perform well in their careers after full-time NS. In fact, I always advise male students, of all the leadership programmes that are out there in the market, the best one is the one SAF conducts and that you acquire during NS.

In January this year, we enhanced the Certificate of Service to recognise these qualities, as well as skills, through a statement of attainment for our Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) accreditation.

Today, about 96% of our NSFs will go through NS training that will be WSQ-accredited, especially those in areas, such as Signals, Supply, Logistics, Maintenance, and even Commanders' training as well.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

ACCORD will continue to drive this, will continue to work with the industry partners to expand accreditation of NS skills and help employers recognise the value of NS.

But having said that, we should be mindful not to lose sight of the fact that, ultimately, NS is about ensuring the operational effectiveness of SAF, it is a service to the nation, and it cannot become transactional.

12.00 pm

Mr Chairman, Sir, in conclusion, we must cherish our current level of support for NS and do whatever we can to maintain or raise it even further. This is psychological defence at its finest, where the entire population lines up behind a national cause. When our enemies see our resolve and unity, they will think twice.

The Chairman : Senior Minister of State Mohamad Maliki.

The Senior Minister of State for Defence (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) : Mr Chairman, as Minister Ng Eng Hen has explained, Singapore is faced with changing geopolitical and threat environments. With it, the role of SAF is also expanding to respond to these threats. But what do these developments mean for the average Singaporean, for them to appreciate their role in Singapore’s defence?

In today’s open world of porous boundaries and the Internet of Things, aggressors can put pressure on a target nation in many ways, and they have increasingly sought to direct this pressure at ordinary citizens, misleading them into resenting their fellow citizens of a different background, or unsettling their confidence in the Government. Essentially, a crisis of trust ensues and a society works towards its own unravelling. As such tactics become more commonplace, our people must be willing and ready to resist and respond and build up personal and social resilience to overcome these threats.

Singapore’s Total Defence strategy encapsulates what everyone playing their part to safeguard Singapore looks like. It was introduced in 1984 against the backdrop of the prevailing threat of armed military conflict that can affect many different aspects of our society. Beyond Military Defence, our leaders recognised that our ability to face and overcome any eventual conflict also depends on our people and their resolve. Indeed, with emerging concerns that target our people’s hearts and minds, individuals play an increasingly critical role as our first defenders.

Recognising this, MINDEF has both expanded and enriched our outreach over the years. In the past, our efforts were centred on the annual commemoration of Total Defence Day. Today, we have, in addition to that, a wide array of activities year-round, aimed at helping Singaporeans appreciate our threats and challenges and what they can do in response. This would not have been possible without our growing pool of partners from the public, private and people sectors that have come on board to work with us.

To cite a recent example, MINDEF and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) worked with Mediacorp to develop a national security documentary-drama, "It Will Never Happen Here", which aired on Channel 5 in January. One of the viewers, 58-year-old housewife Mrs Vemala Gurunathan was struck by the episode on cyberattacks. She shared, and I quote, "I was quite surprised that attacks on cyberspace can actually cause chaos in our society and everyday life… I like how the programme even showed us how we can overcome this by being more careful online and not blindly believing everything we read".

I am heartened that, today, Total Defence resonates with Singaporeans, and many are stepping up to contribute. A public survey conducted by MINDEF in 2017 showed that a majority of respondents appreciated the value of Total Defence in dealing with threats, both conventional and unconventional.

We have also seen how some participants of MINDEF's various engagement programmes have gone on to encourage others to play their part in Total Defence. One of them is 26-year-old Chong Yu Lun. Yu Lun has participated in every run of MINDEF’s short film competition "ciNE65", creating multiple winning, but more importantly, inspiring entries. These range from those that encourage NSmen to defend our home, to those that portray the resilience of Singaporeans.

Yu Lun went on to set up his own video production company and YouTube channel "Butterworks" – the people behind films like "The First Book Out from Tekong" and "With Pride, We Lead", that have a combined reach of over 700,000 views. When asked recently about what drives him to make these videos, he said, "I'm very motivated to create films that hopefully Singaporeans would be proud to call their own...we challenge ourselves to create inspiring stories that blend in a subtle element of that little patriotism in us".

Ms Low Yen Ling asked for an update on the 2018 Total Defence Campaign and how it will address new threats. As we move forward, just as we are building up the Next-Gen SAF, we will gear Total Defence towards the new security environment, according greater attention to social and psychological defence.

Mr Ong Teng Koon highlighted the need to do so in the face of terrorism. Other threats like fake news and cyberattacks compound this need. While the military and civil domains are most intuitively associated with defence, it is increasingly important today that we broaden our definition of what it means to safeguard Singapore.

For one, our social cohesion could be compromised if Singaporeans allow themselves to be swayed by divisive falsehoods or stigmatise particular social groups in the wake of a violent attack. Religion today has been misused by terror groups like ISIS and misrepresented by preachers who espouse extreme views. Religion has also begun to enter the realm of politics as seen in the region, resulting in built up tensions in community relations.

As a society, we can and will continue to be tested. With your permission, Mr Chairman, may I display a visual on the screen?

The Chairman : Yes. [ A visual was shown to hon Members. ]

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman : Just last year, two propaganda videos featuring a Singaporean ISIS fighter in Syria surfaced – the first video was of him rallying others to join him, while the other video was more graphic, showing him shooting three men at close range.

Upon hearing the news and watching such clips, how would or should Singaporeans react? The immediate reaction could include worry, disbelief, fear, anger and possibly distrust. However, these reactions could be mitigated, depending on how strong we are psychologically as individuals, and socially as a community.

With strong social cohesion and psychological resilience, the Muslims amongst us would reject attempts to sway them to adopt extremist ideas, denouncing those images and assuring their non-Muslim friends and neighbours that the images they saw neither reflect Islam nor Muslims in Singapore.

Again, with strong social cohesion and psychological resilience, we would also see our non-Muslims who have confidence in their Muslim friends expressing support and giving assurances that what they saw neither represent Islam nor Muslims in Singapore.

At the same time, those who might be affected by the images would feel comfortable enough to clarify their doubts and reservations with their Muslim friends. With deepened trust, all Singaporeans would stand united to safeguard the harmony we hold dear. This is the essence of our Social and Psychological Defence. Mr Chairman, may I say a few words in Malay, please.

( In Malay ) : [ Please refer to Vernacular Speech .] Just as we move forward to build up the Next-Gen SAF, we will gear Total Defence towards the new security environment, according greater attention to Social and Psychological Defence. While the military and civil domains are most intuitively associated with defence, it is increasingly important today that we broaden our definition of what it means to safeguard Singapore.

Our social cohesion could be compromised or affected if Singaporeans allow themselves to be swayed by divisive falsehoods, or stigmatise particular social groups in the wake of a violent attack.

Religion today has been misused by terror groups like ISIS and misrepresented by preachers who espouse extreme views. Religion has also begun to enter the realm of politics, as seen in the region, resulting in built-up tensions in community relations.

We need only turn to our own history to remind ourselves that trust and goodwill among communities are not a given and must be worked at unceasingly to sustain. As a society, we can and will continue to be tested. Just last year, two propaganda videos featuring an ISIS fighter from Singapore in Syria surfaced – the first was of him rallying others to join him, while the other was more graphic ‒ showing him shooting three men at close range.

Upon hearing such news and watching such clips, how would or should Singaporeans react? The immediate reaction could include worry, disbelief, fear, anger and, possibly, suspicion and distrust. This is a grave concern.

However, these reactions could be mitigated, depending on how strong we are psychologically as individuals and socially as a community. With strong social cohesion and psychological resilience, the Muslims amongst us would reject attempts to sway them to adopt extremist ideas, denouncing those images and assuring their non-Muslim friends and neighbours that the images they saw neither reflect Islam nor Muslims in Singapore. If we possess strong social cohesion and psychological resilience, we would also see our non-Muslims, who have a lot of confidence in their Muslim friends, expressing support and giving assurances that what they saw neither represent Islam nor Muslims in Singapore.

At the same time, those who might be affected by the images would feel comfortable enough to clarify their doubts and reservations with their Muslim friends. With deepened trust, all Singaporeans would stand united to safeguard the harmony we hold dear. As the Malay saying goes – "United we stand, divided we fall". This is the essence of our Social and Psychological Defence.

(In English): As Mr Amrin Amin noted, there are also new potential fault lines in our social fabric beyond race and religion which could be used against us if we are not careful. With globalisation and significant mobility amongst Singaporeans, we cannot assume that all Singaporean children will continue to experience the culture of our local schools and neighbourhoods as they grow up.

There are also others who come from transnational families. These are not concerns in and of themselves, but they do signal that the experiences and perspectives of our people are more varied than before. If we do not continue to forge common understanding, our differences could be played up to divide us, making it difficult for us to band together in a crisis.

We need strong Social Defence. This means growing our common space by interacting with people of different backgrounds, speaking up against attempts to sow discord and helping those in need. One important element of this is to fortify trust and understanding among people of different religious backgrounds to guard against radical ideas that may divide us.

Just last month, the five Community Development Councils (CDCs) launched the "Common Senses for Common Spaces" interfaith dialogue programme nationwide. This provides members of the community with a safe space to ask questions and learn more about the different faiths in Singapore, thus deepening their understanding and appreciation.

12.15 pm

It is also heartening to see that our youths understand the importance of Social Defence, and are initiating ground-up projects to expand our common space, too. The Interfaith Youth Circle, for example, was started by a group of youths who wanted to bridge gaps in understanding about the different religions in Singapore, especially given the negative sentiment and online chatter following terror attacks around the world. They organise activities, such as scriptural reasoning sessions, where people come together to read and reflect on scriptures from different faiths. Such efforts foster deeper trust and a stronger will to stand firm against attempts to turn us against one another.

Mr Vikram Nair asked about the impact of fake news on security, and how MINDEF is combating this threat. In an interconnected world, Singaporeans are more easily exposed to pressures that could unsettle their willingness to uphold our national interests, including racial and religious harmony. These influences could come in the form of falsehoods deliberately spread online.

In 2007, for example, an insensitive prank photo of pork sold at National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Fairprice with a halal sticker on the packaging was circulated via e-mail. NTUC Fairprice had called it out as false back then. Still, it resurfaced again in 2014. Social media had become a lot more prevalent in the span of just seven years, and the photo made its rounds on Facebook, where posts are easily shared with a wider audience. While the incident was resolved, similar cases could tear at our interfaith unity.

Likewise, falsehoods could be spread to weaken our trust in public institutions and confidence in a shared future or incite fear. Some Members may recall a video that was shared on social media early last year, purportedly showing an explosion in Tuas. While a fire did break out, this said footage of the incident was fake. The video had, in fact, been uploaded on YouTube multiple times from 2015 onwards and have on separate occasions been labelled as blasts in China, India and France – that same footage. If it had not been debunked, the video could have sparked panic and anxiety amongst Singaporeans. Fake news has the potential to undermine us from within and is a key challenge that has led MINDEF to focus more on Psychological Defence.

Moreover, the growing number of Singaporeans who pursue work and educational opportunities abroad may have to wrestle with dissenting views more squarely. Foreign business partners, schoolmates or friends may at times express fundamental disagreements with Singapore's decisions, policies or actions. They could even persuade you to adopt their viewpoint at the expense of supporting our national interests. Psychological resilience on the part of each individual is being decisive in withstanding such pressures.

I read an opinion piece on Total Defence earlier this year, where Channel NewsAsia editor Jaime Ho rightly pointed out how defence today entails Singaporeans "thinking for ourselves" and "standing up for ourselves". This is Psychological Defence – appreciating our vulnerabilities and challenges, advancing our values and interests; being able to spot mistruths; and standing up for Singapore.

Just as our threats extend beyond the military realm, so must our deterrence. In addition to a credible military force, we need a psychologically resilient people, able to withstand crises or viral attacks, and not be rattled. If someone comments negatively about Singapore and our immediate response is not to verify the facts but to instead condemn Singapore and, worse, spread the untruths, we are creating for ourselves a hole in our defence that our adversaries would not hesitate to jump at and widen the divide. I am glad to see that Singaporeans, such as those behind the online site "Confirm?" which runs quizzes on issues relating to Singapore, have taken the initiative to try and help those around them understand our principles, positions and policies better, preventing them from falling prey to fake news and untruths.

I have elaborated on Social and Psychological Defence because threats in these domains are very real, but often unapparent. They have a creeping yet significant impact on our ability to defend Singapore. In the other pillars of our Total Defence, Singaporeans are our first defenders, too. Take Military Defence, for example. Enlisting in SAFVC is one way many women, new citizens and first-generation Permanent Residents have stepped up to serve. To address Dr Teo Ho Pin's query, since SAFVC was launched in 2014, we have trained over 600 volunteers and deployed them to various roles. In 2018, volunteers will be able to serve in 15 additional roles across SAF.

Many are also contributing to Civil Defence. To prevent a terror attack, for example, Mr Charnjit Singh, Chairman of the Community Emergency and Engagement Committee (C2E) in Telok Blangah, worked with other volunteers to conduct regular patrols on our trains. In MINDEF and SAF, we are equipping our personnel to respond to crises in their personal capacity, too. Most of our servicemen who undergo BMT learn some first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)-automated external defibrillator (AED) skills, as do our SAFVC.

Mr Rajendran Mathan Prasath is a commendable example of someone who has not only stepped up to do more for Military Defence by joining SAFVC, but used the skills acquired during his training to contribute to Civil Defence while off duty. In April last year, he performed CPR on an elderly lady suffering a cardiac arrest. In the face of terrorism, we have developed a Community Response Module to supplement the skills that our personnel like Mr Rajendran possess. It has been rolled out in the BMT curriculum, and in the next two years, all MINDEF and SAF personnel will be required to go through the module. It complements the SG Secure effort and better prepares our servicemen to be active community responders.

MINDEF, alongside our partners, will continue to encourage different groups of Singaporeans to contribute in concrete ways to Total Defence.

We are constantly exploring innovative ways to engage our youths. Mr Baey Yam Keng asked how we are doing so. The "Guardians of the City" (GOTC) card game launched in 2017 is one way through which we are helping our youths understand the terror threat facing Singapore, and how they can respond. This year, we have given out over 38,000 decks of the game to all Secondary 2 students, and schools have organised GOTC cohort experiences. Mr Mohamed Shahmir Anwar, a secondary school teacher who facilitated the game and conducted reflection sessions for his students, shared that the students both enjoyed it and learnt valuable lessons on Total Defence. To quote him, "This game is something different, something exciting...the students want to try it because it is interactive…Because the games are so relatable to them, it is a good platform to teach them about Total Defence".

Other interactive tools to bring Total Defence to life for our youths include a Total Defence puzzle that was developed in collaboration with agencies across the Government and creatives at Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) THINK. It has been distributed to schools, SAF camps and community centres (CCs). Various organisations, especially schools, have found the puzzle to be a useful learning resource.

MINDEF also has more specific programmes for our young recruits. I fully agree with Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef that besides physical training, it is important to prepare our recruits psychologically in a changing security environment.

Beyond engaging future recruits as part of our outreach to students, there is a comprehensive plan to strengthen their physical and psychological resilience when they enlist. This is infused in various aspects of the full-time NS experience. One part of this is National Education activities and milestone events that help them understand what our security challenges are, what we are defending and why and what we must do to continue keeping Singapore safe and secure.

These include experiential visits to defence-related heritage sites, the weapon presentation ceremony and the 24-kilometre route march from Changi to Marina Bay. As they march past iconic landmarks in Singapore, they are reminded of what they are training to protect. The route march also symbolically reverses the Prisoners-of-War route of defeat from the city to Changi after Singapore fell to our invaders during World War Two. The soldiers march to their graduation parade at Marina Bay today. It represents their resolve to never again let Singapore fall.

Besides these events and activities, it is the overall full-time NS experience – building strong bonds with their mates and commanders and experiencing values in action demonstrated by their commanders – that strengthens our recruits psychologically. With understanding and conviction come the resilience to protect our home even in the face of new threats and challenges.

Families are key pillars of support for our NSmen. Ms Joan Pereira had asked what MINDEF is doing to engage families. SAF has been engaging families of NSmen through events, such as milestone parades, unit family days and open houses, and also provides them with information on NS. Through ACCORD, we also partner organisations, such as Families for Life and the Centre for Fathering, to engage families on NS and Total Defence.

Mr Chairman, may I have your indulgence to continue a little bit longer?

The Chairman : As we do still have some time before the guillotine time for MINDEF, please wrap up in the next few minutes.

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman : Thank you. Activities we have had include the "Celebrating NS50" picnic and Dads for Life Camp last year. ACCORD has also conducted focus group discussions with women to gather feedback on how we can better support our servicemen and their families. In this way, families can not only support NSmen in their NS journey but appreciate the role they themselves play in Total Defence, too.

In conclusion, Mr Chairman, Sir, if each one of us understands what Singapore stands for and is committed to protecting our way of life, we will be able to deter and overcome sinister attempts to shake our unity and confidence. Besides the individuals that I have highlighted today, there are many others who are putting Total Defence into action in their everyday lives, by giving their best during NS training, securing their personal devices, learning first aid, donating blood, and taking up new skills. MINDEF will continually work towards strengthening this whole-of-society effort. With a strong Total Defence, we have every reason to be hopeful and confident in Singapore's future.

The Chairman : Mr Pritam Singh.

Mr Pritam Singh : My question is directed to the Minister for Defence. I understand, Sir, there was an announcement made of the deployment of SAF troops to Iraq. I have four questions in that regard.

Firstly, what is MINDEF's assessment of the threat to our troops there? Secondly, in view of the inherent instability in Iraq and of particular concern being sectarian conflict between Sunnis and Shiites, in addition to the presence of ISIS and its other various incarnations, what is being done to prepare our servicemen and their families for the deployment? Thirdly, how long does the Ministry envisage the deployment to last and what is the SAF's mission and objectives with respect to this deployment, and is MINDEF concerned about the prospect of mission creep?

Fourthly, and this is the final question, Singapore deployed about 470 servicemen to Afghanistan from 2007 to 2013. They assisted the Afghan National Army Artillery training, improvised explosive device (IED) detection, construction and imagery analysis. Can the Minister share more details on the size and nature of our deployment to Iraq, what tasks our troops would undertake, and what and whose resources they can call upon to assure their security there?

12.30 pm

Dr Ng Eng Hen : Mr Chairman, those were good questions and very relevant ones. What is our threat assessment when we send SAF troops to missions? We must never prepare to send people if you think there are no risks, because there are always risks. We only send them when the risks are necessary to protect Singaporeans and Singapore. So, whether we send them to Afghanistan, whether we send them to Iraq, whether we send them to the Gulf of Aden, even when we send them to Timor-Leste − peacekeeping operations − we have casualties in peacekeeping operations.

We do this because, at the core, you are protecting Singapore's interests. So, for Afghanistan, we understood that if we did not deal with terrorism at its source where Al Qaeda influence was the greatest, you would basically just be responding to waves and waves of terrorists that are being radicalised – they are being trained, they are being exported from ground zero as it were. And it worked. We were in Afghanistan for 10 years, Mr Pritam Singh recollected accurately. Whether it is imagery analysts, or weapons locating radar, we made a contribution. We identified even hotspots for the coalition and the terrorist threat disappeared for now. I say "for now" because we are keeping a watch on Al Qaeda cells and there is every possibility that there can be a resurgence.

Against ISIS, we made significant progress. I think just two or even three years ago, if you just look at the geographical map, the areas in which ISIS strongholds controlled, were a majority of Iraq and Syria. But now, it has shrunk. So, there are a few last strongholds, if any. But the numbers are much smaller. So, we have made progress.

How do we prepare servicemen for these threats? Our SAF personnel who go there recognise that these are threats but we, systemically, identify the threats. So, for each mission, we would have a needs-and-threats assessment team that goes down to the ground, that speaks to the commanders, that maps the terrain, that maps the risks and the team will come up with an assessment. Then, not only the elements that are required to fulfil the operations – we will talk about that because the Member asked about it – but the protection is necessary. You can minimise it but you will never completely eliminate it.

How long will it last? For Afghanistan, our deployment lasted 10 years. Against ISIS, it has been relatively shorter, I think since 2014. But for us to not continue to contribute when the more significant gains have been actually taking back Iraq, I think it is not within our character and not within our mission imperative. There is no mission creep. The central mission is so that ground zero for the export of terrorists must be eliminated as we did in Afghanistan. Just imagine if we said, "Well, the rest of the world can go about it but we don't worry about Afghanistan." If the problems there gain momentum, we will suffer.

For Iraq, for ISIS, we have a much more vested interest because there were foreign fighters from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore who were there. So, there is no mission creep. It is very clear. It is to help now. It shifted to another phase. The first phase was actually the most difficult − to recover territory, to rid ISIS of their resources, of their ability to increase their resources to export terrorism. While our chaps were there, we were very useful. Our imagery analyst teams − the Member asked what they were deployed there for – to identify financial strongholds that ISIS troops had been using and help the coalition eliminate these, if you like, financial warehouses.

We are now deployed with other troops, the Australians and some other troops, for which there is joint protection and we can call on them. But there is camp security. I visited our troops last year and was satisfied that, to the extent possible, there is perimeter protection. In the event of an incident, there will be measures to respond to that. In fact, when I was there, it just so happened that they were responding in a simulated scenario to an attack. The Americans were there, the Australians were there, our chaps were there, and they mobilised the hospitals and then, for how to guard the vicinity. I think that is about as much as I can say for all the questions but let me just summarise.

We understand what this mission is about. We have to keep terrorism at bay. We have to keep at it. This is a long battle. We dealt with the threat after 9-11, Bali bomb blast and joined other forces in Afghanistan. With ISIS, we are now in Iraq. When will it end? When can we pull back? I do not know. Somebody said "Communism without divine intervention, without God, took 50 years."

The Chairman: Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef.

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef : I would like to ask the Minister on civil-military cooperation and this is not pertaining to the community involvement or the lay persons who are trained to respond to crisis like under C2E and all that. This is more about Singaporeans who form part of international humanitarian teams or respond to international humanitarian activities around the world, whether it is war-related or natural disaster-related. These are people who are disaster, medically and also tactically trained; they can actually value add to the response of a crisis that we have. How is MINDEF engaging and working together with them?

Dr Ng Eng Hen : That is the kernel of the idea behind the Changi Regional Humanitarian Centre. It came about because we recognised that after Cyclone Nargis, after Nepal, the first two to three days after an incident occurs are where you have the least coordinated response, even if all the resources are there. So, for instance, if you remember the typhoon in the Philippines, we sent a C-130. The reason they were under-utilised was that there were no air command and control facilities. Only the Americans could because I think they had their aircraft carrier and they were able to control the airspace. So, even though our C-130s were sent there, they could not be deployed optimally.

We set up this to coordinate military responses. But as Prof Fatimah Lateef rightly points out, humanitarian agencies include the whole ecosystem of civil groups, of UN groups. So, we have expanded it and linked up with the UN. We have linked up with other humanitarian organisations and I think we had one or two equivalents of table-top exercises to, say, if something happens, whom do I contact? We offered for these civil groups, these volunteer groups, to be physically based in Changi, if they can spare. This is an ongoing effort. We just have to keep increasing our contacts, increasing our efficiency and when the next crisis strikes, I think Singapore can play a more definitive role and contribute more.

The Chairman: Mr Vikram Nair.

Mr Vikram Nair : This clarification is in relation to the unconventional threats. I think Senior Minister of State Mohamad Maliki painted quite a graphic picture of the threats these provide. My concern was whether we should be doing more. First of all, in relation to the video on terrorism, for 99% of people, they will be disgusted by that video. But there might be a very tiny percentage, 0.001%, and perhaps a lone wolf who would be inspired by it to commit acts of violence.

Notwithstanding how strong our psychological defence is, all it takes is one person to get influenced by it to carry out the terror attack. The countervailing risk, of course, is that other people may generalise and say, "This is what Muslims do" which, I think in Singapore, that is not a big issue. But it could be, if our psychological defence is not strong. There is actually very strong reason to identify and take steps to weed out such videos either by, first of all, finding out the source; and secondly, potentially, to take legal action against the people who put up and circulate this.

Secondly, in relation to fake news, I think the example of halal pork was also again very compelling. It surfaced in 2007. Obviously, it is divisive because it suggests NTUC trying to sell pork to Muslims. It was untrue. NTUC clarified. But then it surfaced again six or seven years later. But this shows the power of fake news. Fake news is sensational, therefore, it gets circulated. The truth is rather boring. It does not get circulated. So, the truth is almost always triumphed by fake news. Could we take further steps to identify the creators of these fake news and take other actions against them?

Psychological defence is resistance. But if we can eliminate the virus, that is even better.

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman : I thank Mr Vikram Nair for those remarks. We totally agree with what we need to do to ensure that there is a comprehensive response to all these unconventional threats, whether it is images or otherwise. I just wanted to highlight one example. Just one image may create reactions in different groups of people and it is important for us to be aware of the reaction that different groups of Singaporeans may have and, therefore, what we need to do to strengthen our resolve first.

So, the different groups of people and different players of stakeholders that are relevant in this context: one, at an individual level, we need to be consistent, we need to be aware of our own reactions and how much do we take forward steps to learn more about such issues as well as build trust and relationship with all the other communities so that if something like that happens, we are not easily rattled. We ask questions, we ask and look for the facts rather than react negatively.

Secondly, it is the whole-of-Government effort and whole-of-society effort that is needed. If you see various legislation, various discussions in this House, you can see many things are happening. The development of the cyber defence agencies is one effort that looks at some of the areas that we need to do in the cyber domain. We also need to start looking at how Singaporeans respond to such fake news on social media. And this is one of the biggest challenges − the skillsets required by individuals to respond to such social media platforms. Once you see something on your Facebook feed or once you get something from your WhatsApp group, what do you do? Do you verify the facts? Where do you verify the facts? That is where we need to help Singaporeans to understand the different ecosystems that exist, the environment that exists. It is a very complex environment. It is an environment that is evolving, as we speak.

So, today, it is critical for us to educate Singaporeans in every age group, not just adults, but young children. Because they are the ones who are very comfortable with social media. They are the ones who get feeds from social media. If we do not educate them early enough, equip them with the skillsets required to determine what is right, what is wrong, and how these would impact on themselves and their relationship with others if they were to forward these unverified facts, as well as the concerns that they may have.

We also need to look at support systems available for communities who may have difficulties reacting or responding to such unconventional threats. The fundamental understanding today is that these are evolving unconventional threats and we need to find new creative ways to respond to them. Different agencies in Government are looking at that and various domains, and we continue to work with them.

The Chairman : Would the Member wish to withdraw the amendment?

Mr Vikram Nair : I would like to thank Minister Ng Eng Hen for sharing a compelling view on our defence and the importance of it remaining sustainable, and comforting us that it will be sustainable for the upcoming years, Minister Ong for sharing with us on NS and the important evolutions taking place, and Senior Minister of State Mohamad Maliki for sharing with us on psychological defence. And, of course, to all the people in MINDEF, SAF and all our servicemen. Thank you very much. I seek leave to withdraw my amendment.

[(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)]

[(proc text) The sum of $14,238,100,500 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)]

[(proc text) The sum of $761,000,000 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]

Hansard 原始记录

国防预算与安全挑战

关键要点

参与人员（27）

完整译文（中文）

英文原文