預算辯論 · 2020-03-02 · 屆國會 13
國防預算與未來威脅應對
議員質詢國防預算及新興威脅應對，強調全球大國競爭及區域不穩定帶來的安全挑戰。政府回應指出新加坡需通過科技創新和裝備升級（如F-35戰機）應對人力減少和訓練空間有限等問題。核心爭議在於如何平衡有限資源與不斷演變的安全威脅。
關鍵要點
- • 全球大國競爭加劇
- • 區域政治不穩定
- • 科技創新應對挑戰
推動科技升級，保持防衛能力
關注預算效率與威脅多樣性
強化科技驅動國防現代化
“The only way forward for SAF is to evolve, to invest in technology so that we can do more with less resources.”
參與人員 (17)
- Ang Hin Kee
- Arasu Duraisamy
- Charles Chong
- Chong Kee Hiong
- Desmond Choo
- Douglas Foo
- Heng Chee How
- Joan Pereira
- Kwek Hian Chuan Henry
- Minister for Defence
- Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman
- Ng Eng Hen
- Seah Kian Peng
- Senior Minister of State for Defence
- Sylvia Lim
- Teo Ho Pin
- Vikram Nair
完整譯文（中文）
Hansard 原始記錄 · 2026-05-02
主席：國防部J項負責人，Vikram Nair先生。
下一代新加坡武裝部隊
Vikram Nair先生（實巴旺）：主席，我提議，“將預算中J項的總撥款減少100元”。
去年，全球多方面的緊張局勢不斷升級。中美之間的競爭在多個領域展開，包括南中國海、貿易戰，甚至涉及5G網路和下一代技術。俄羅斯與西方的緊張關係也在持續，普京總統最近表示，如果美國想要，他準備迎接另一場古巴導彈危機。這些大國競爭總會對世界其他地區產生影響。雖然新加坡努力與儘可能多的國家保持友好關係，但這並非總是容易。
在本地區，存在相當大的不確定性。就在北邊的馬來西亞，過去兩週經歷了總理職位的爭奪，導致總理和政府更替。穆希丁總理昨天宣誓就職，但街頭似乎仍有動盪，新總理很可能面臨挑戰，比如下一屆議會的不信任投票。通常，當鄰國出現動盪時，政府可能會感受到壓力，採取更民族主義的立場，這可能不利於與其他國家的關係。
與此同時，非傳統威脅在增長。網路安全威脅和假新聞威脅著從內部顛覆我們的系統。一個典型例子是新冠疫情初期，錯誤解讀DORSCON橙色警戒含義的資訊引發恐慌，建議民眾囤積物資以防短缺；諷刺的是，正是這些資訊引發的恐慌導致了臨時短缺。
在中東，美伊緊張局勢升級，沙特與伊朗以及沙特與卡達之間的爭端持續存在。ISIS依然是威脅，繼續控制領土並在其他國家發動和激勵襲擊。
新加坡武裝部隊一直是我們國家防禦的中堅力量。它顯然面臨著需要準備的各種威脅和突發事件。雖然新加坡不尋求麻煩，但麻煩可能會找上門，我們必須做好準備。然而，儘管威脅在增長和演變，武裝部隊面臨兩個關鍵限制——由於出生率下降導致的人力減少，以及隨著土地被用於其他用途，訓練空間減少。
武裝部隊唯一的出路是進化，投資技術，以便用更少的資源做更多的事。近期有一些令人振奮的大型採購公告。部長宣佈空軍將採購F-35戰鬥機，最終替代F-16。海軍方面，宣佈計劃用四艘“無敵”級潛艇替換現有潛艇。人力方面，計劃發展混合部隊，越來越多的無人技術將替代作戰部隊中的人力。
這些無疑是令人興奮的頭條新聞。懇請國防部長更全面地介紹國防部確保下一代武裝部隊持續有效、能夠保障新加坡國家安全的計劃細節。我提議通過。
（程式文本）提案已提出。（程式文本）
訓練區域
Kwek Hian Chuan Henry先生（義順）：主席，去年我有機會訪問了武裝部隊在汶萊的訓練營。看到我們駐外分遣隊官兵的奉獻精神，以及他們協助來訪武裝部隊士兵訓練，令人感到欣慰。
多年來，海外訓練已成為武裝部隊成員的常態，無論是常備軍、國服役兵還是預備役軍人。我們進行海外訓練，是為了克服空間限制，給官兵提供更好、更真實的多樣化環境訓練機會。
國防部和武裝部隊與合作伙伴努力，確保武裝部隊能使用海外訓練設施。國防部最近宣佈與美國簽署諒解備忘錄，在關島設立空軍戰鬥機訓練分遣隊（FTD-Guam）。請國防部長介紹空軍關島分遣隊的更多資訊，以及它如何提升空軍訓練水平？
F-35採購最新進展
我的下一個削減。去年預算委員會辯論中，國防部宣佈計劃採購F-35第五代多用途戰機，具備空對空、空對地及情報、監視和偵察（ISR）任務能力。F-35的隱身能力有助於保持空中優勢，突破複雜防空系統。同時，F-35能融合來自不同來源的感測器和資訊，實現第四代飛機和武裝部隊資產的聯網。
國防部最近宣佈美國已批准向新加坡出售F-35。請國防部更新F-35採購進展，包括F-35如何提升武裝部隊能力？
海上安全
Vikram Nair先生：主席，200多年來，海上貿易對新加坡經濟至關重要，至今依然如此。新加坡是全球最繁忙的轉運樞紐之一，維護海上通道安全對我們非常重要。
去年，有兩艘馬來西亞船隻進入新加坡水域，似乎是挑釁行為。但馬來西亞政府未升級事態，馬來西亞海軍也未介入爭端。這很可能是因為新加坡海軍實力強大，顯然能夠在必要時保護新加坡。
最近，2019年12月，有報道稱馬六甲海峽海盜事件增多，自2018年以來此類事件數量上升。這類威脅可能削弱使用我們海上航道的信心。國防部和武裝部隊採取了哪些措施保障我們的水域安全？
安全形勢
Sylvia Lim女士（亞歷山大）：主席先生，東亞再次成為更激烈權力競爭的場所，尤其是在南中國海。令人擔憂的是，這種競爭在整個地區呈現出更軍事化的特徵。這些發展不幸地促使其他地區行為體採取更軍事化立場，包括武器採購和在爭端上的強硬態度。這些發展挑戰了穩定和自由通行，儘管未直接涉及新加坡。
請國防部長向議會通報政府應對日益複雜安全形勢的策略。僅靠威懾無法完全解決這些問題，國防開支需保持審慎。特別是，武裝部隊在日常和突發情況下應發揮何種作用，武裝部隊如何朝這些目標努力？
防務外交
Desmond Choo先生（淡濱尼）：新加坡的防務策略受國家獨立的獨特環境和持久的地緣戰略限制影響。鑑於我們的戰略環境，強大的防務是確保和平穩定、保護主權和領土完整的必要條件。
為捍衛主權和促進國家利益，新加坡與國際夥伴緊密合作，構建穩定的區域架構。儘管應對日益複雜的安全環境存在挑戰，新加坡仍與美國、中國等關鍵夥伴保持強勁關係。國防部如何與主要防務夥伴加強合作，應對共同安全挑戰？
新加坡是美國和中國的好朋友。美國是我們的主要安全和經濟夥伴。我們的部隊與美軍廣泛訓練合作，也在反恐方面緊密協作。美國在新加坡的投資規模遠超其他國家。
與中國，新加坡建立了“與時俱進的全方位合作伙伴關係”。我們與中國有廣泛的經濟合作，中國也是我們的最大出口市場。
這兩個國家對我們都很重要。但我們必須清醒認識自身國家利益，理解政府在雙邊、區域或國際問題上採取原則立場的考量。我們如何繼續與美中在安全合作上保持接觸？
2019年10月，國防部主持第12屆東盟防長會議（ADMM）。會議通過了東盟空軍軍事遭遇準則（GAME），這可能是全球首個此類多邊準則。我們如何繼續在此基礎上推進？
主席：Charles Chong先生，請同時提出您的兩個削減。
區域和平與穩定
Charles Chong先生（榜鵝東）：主席先生，去年預算委員會辯論中，部長談及國防部成功主持2018年東盟防長會議（ADMM）及ADMM Plus。國防部努力確保武裝部隊在需要時能防禦傳統和非傳統威脅，保護新加坡。
然而，更好的方式是盡力防止這些威脅產生。諷刺的是，如果我們從未真正需要動員官兵保衛新加坡，武裝部隊才算真正成功。請部長更新國防部為確保地區穩定和平所做的工作？
全面戰略伙伴關係
談到我的下一個削減。新加坡於2015年6月與澳大利亞簽署全面戰略伙伴關係（CSP）。澳大利亞是親密且重要的防務夥伴，CSP的簽署清楚體現了我們與澳大利亞朋友的關係。儘管我們與澳大利亞已有多年良好防務關係，CSP為兩國防務交流進一步深化提供框架。
下午1點15分
多年來，我們的部隊一直在澳大利亞接受訓練。許多官兵在Shoalwater Bay訓練區訓練。去年9月至11月舉行的Wallaby演習，約有3000名武裝部隊人員參與，訓練區面積約為新加坡的四倍。今年，我相信將是我們使用Shoalwater Bay訓練區的第30年。我們非常感謝澳大利亞政府和軍方的支援。
然而，近期澳大利亞東海岸發生森林大火，請部長告知Shoalwater Bay訓練區是否受影響，以及這是否影響武裝部隊充分利用該訓練區。特別是乾旱和火災威脅可能影響我們使用彈藥和火器，這本是使用Shoalwater Bay訓練區和投入軍事設施建設的重要原因。
回到CSP，該協議還為我們的部隊提供更大範圍使用澳大利亞訓練區的機會。請部長更新Shoalwater Bay訓練區和新Townsville野外訓練區設施的提升情況，以及CSP如何提升武裝部隊訓練效能？
恐怖主義
Joan Pereira女士（丹戎巴葛）：非傳統安全威脅如恐怖主義對我國風險日益加大。中東持續動盪為恐怖組織提供了加大攻擊的機會，不僅在當地，也波及鄰近地區。曾在伊拉克和敘利亞作戰的前戰士帶回技能，迴流東南亞。新加坡無法完全隔絕這些歸國戰士的影響。
鑑於海外恐怖威脅，國防部能否向議會介紹反恐工作進展？採取了哪些措施限制恐怖分子傳播激進資訊、減少其對社群的影響？此外，國防部如何識別、預防和監控潛在恐怖分子入境新加坡？對於可能激進化的新加坡公民、外國居民和勞工，我們是否有足夠的監控措施和資源進行發現、監控和控制？
化學、生物、放射、核及爆炸物（CBRNE）材料被恐怖分子用於攻擊人員和基礎設施。國防部如何限制此類材料的獲取，以減少潛在傷亡和破壞？
近期海外襲擊中，恐怖分子還使用了常見工具，如刀具甚至車輛，襲擊無辜路人。我們是否建立了早期預警和響應系統，能檢測異常行為並觸發警報和緊急支援？
主席：Chong Kee Hiong先生，請同時提出您的兩個削減。
氣候變化緩解
Chong Kee Hiong先生（碧山-大巴窯）：主席，去年國慶集會上，李總理談到氣候變化是我們面臨的最嚴峻挑戰之一。我引用：“武裝部隊和氣候變化防禦對新加坡都是生死攸關的事。”
最大威脅是海平面上升，將侵蝕我們這個小島的海岸線，除非採取緩解措施。優先保護區域包括軍事設施、機場、中央商務區以及裕廊和大士工業區。我們的防務和經濟岌岌可危。
全球變暖導致天氣更極端。新加坡變得更熱，乾旱期延長，同時出現更強降雨。風力也增強。一個關注點是緩解乾旱對水庫的影響。我們還需考慮與馬來西亞合作保護供應我們的水庫。我們必須規劃保護人民和設施，減少暴雨和風暴中洪水和倒樹的潛在損害。
簡言之，需要協調良好的國家努力，應對與氣候變化相關的經濟、社會和軍事防禦挑戰。請部長詳細說明國防部和武裝部隊採取了哪些措施應對這些問題？
圍墾試點開發
主席，我的第二個削減。新加坡是低窪島國，易受氣候變化導致的海平面上升影響。政府已承諾投入50億新元設立海岸和防洪保護基金，以抵禦海水侵蝕，並承諾未來預算允許時繼續追加資金。
考慮的緩解措施包括大型工程，如圍墾和離岸島嶼填海，以及沿海適應措施，如種植紅樹林。雖然新加坡有傳統填海經驗，但圍墾對我們來說是新技術。它涉及圍築堤壩，排幹內部水分。圍墾的低窪土地稱為圍墾地，低於海平面，由海堤保持乾燥。
圍墾技術用於在直落布蘭雅島西北端增加810公頃軍事訓練用地。該專案計劃於2022年完成。請問國防部該工程進展如何？我們從建設經驗中獲得了哪些教訓，未來如何應用此技術於其他填海區域？與傳統填海方法相比，該技術在建設和維護成本、效益及風險方面如何？
國防開支
Vikram Nair先生：主席，武裝部隊在威懾潛在侵略者和保護新加坡方面發揮重要作用。作為小國，我們在防務上處於天然劣勢，但防務又是生死攸關的。我們傳統上通過增加防務開支、投資最先進技術，以及與鄰國和包括美國在內的中大國建立良好防務關係來彌補規模小的不足。
然而，近年來，區域及全球多地防務開支不斷上升。隨著大國投資和強化軍力，我們的技術優勢可能減弱，預計我們將面臨增加開支以保持競爭力的壓力。國防部和武裝部隊有何計劃？是否預見長期增加防務預算以應對不斷增長的需求？
財政審慎
提名議員杜葛拉斯·傅先生：主席先生，我們是一個開放型經濟的小型城邦，因此容易受到外部因素的影響。正如國防部長黃永宏博士多年來反覆強調的，新加坡在前線防禦上絕不能失敗，以保護我們的主權。通過前輩們的努力，我們的武裝部隊現已成為本地區較為現代化的軍隊之一，裝備先進，戰鬥力強大。
國防部此前宣佈了建設現代化三軍武裝部隊的計劃，包括採購F-35S聯合攻擊戰鬥機以替代現有的F-16戰鬥機，採購新型無敵級潛艇和多用途作戰艦艇，以及為我們的防務部隊配備新一代裝甲戰鬥車輛。雖然這類開支對於現代化建設是必要的，但我們看到國防預算支出從2018年的148億新元穩步上升至2019年的154.7億新元。今年預算雖略降至151億新元，但仍是所有部委中最高的開支。
維持強大武裝部隊的重要性以及對納稅人的問責要求我們保持平衡。鑑於當前經濟放緩，企業面臨經營困難，是否應將大量納稅人的資金用於國防，還是更好地用於支援本地企業，這一辯論無疑會再次浮現在許多人心中。
部長能否分享現代化開支的可持續性，並說明國防部如何確保國防預算的每一分錢都被明智且謹慎地使用？
物有所值
林秀玉女士：主席先生，國防部此前曾向議會說明如何最大化新加坡的國防資金，例如只採購所需物品、改裝現有資產等。國防部長能否進一步闡述採購決策——國防部如何評估供應商報價的合理性，並確保採購物有所值？這些決策涉及數億甚至數十億美元，更重要的是關係到我們軍人的生命安全，最終關係到新加坡的安全。
一個關鍵問題是，與政府採購的其他產品和服務不同，國防物資由於規格保密或依賴專業承包商，可能無法自由進行市場測試。某些系統的售價可能伴隨昂貴的售後維護和升級服務，涉及專有和受保護的資訊。畢竟，現代國防平臺高度定製，涉及多個系統的整合，由眾多供應商和分包商監管。
以美國F-35專案為例。截至今年1月，新加坡擬採購最多12架飛機，估價27.5億美元，正處於美國國會審批程式中。然而，該專案一直受到成本超支和可靠性問題的困擾。還有關於機密資料洩露的問題，導致各供應商和分包商進行昂貴的重新設計和改裝。這只是一個單一專案的著名例子。
我的問題更廣泛。國防部能否詳細說明如何在採購決策中注入嚴謹性，確保物有所值？
訓練安全
張志賢先生：主席先生，我們所有人都曾服役於武裝部隊，或有子女、父母、親戚或密友服役。武裝部隊是新加坡的內在組成部分，也是我們作為新加坡人的身份象徵。武裝部隊之所以成功，部分原因是新加坡人與武裝部隊之間存在信任。武裝部隊獲得公民的廣泛支援，我們都理解為何必須實行強制國民服役，儘管這會影響個人在學術、體育等方面的追求。
然而，當父母送兒子入伍，或子女送別參加營內訓練的父母時，有一種合理的期待，即武裝部隊已盡一切可能確保他們安全歸來。不幸的是，正如議員們所知，過去幾年發生了幾起訓練事故，其中一些導致了官兵死亡。
就在去年的撥款委員會辯論前，武裝部隊宣佈成立監察長辦公室（IGO），負責審查武裝部隊各級單位的安全實踐。部長能否提供IGO過去一年的工作進展，包括髮現了多少不安全行為例項，以及採取了哪些切實措施加以解決？自IGO成立以來，武裝部隊的訓練安全是否有所改善？是否引入了額外的安全措施？
最後，部長能否提供陸軍、海軍和空軍安全熱線的來電數量，以及自我們加強訓練安全重視以來，來電是否增加？針對這些報告是否採取了具體行動？
安全意識
提名議員阿拉蘇·杜賴薩米先生：主席先生，訓練事故調查委員會發現，訓練相關事故是由於涉事官兵的疏忽造成的。這表明訓練安全不僅僅是安全指南和規章的問題，而必須成為武裝部隊的組織文化，並由每一名士兵在各級別踐行。部長能否分享武裝部隊如何在基層國民服役兵中灌輸安全意識和個人安全責任？
下午1點30分
醫療支援
張志賢先生：主席先生，即使我們力求零訓練死亡，武裝部隊的性質決定了事故可能發生，我們的挑戰是確保事故發生時，官兵能獲得最優質的醫療護理。
武裝部隊醫療兵團已有50多年曆史，已發展成為專業管理的醫療服務機構。然而，持續更新和升級醫療能力至關重要，以確保醫療支援在實踐、程式、裝置和技術方面均保持先進。部長能否介紹武裝部隊如何提升應急醫療能力，以及採取了哪些措施確保醫療兵團持續為官兵提供所需的醫療支援？
主席：張志賢先生，請將您的三個發言合併。
國民服役群體多樣性
張志賢先生：主席先生，新加坡人口結構隨著時間演變，人口背景日益多樣化。
如今，跨種族和跨國婚姻子女比例增加，許多新加坡人曾在海外出生和生活多年，還有永久居民和來自多國的新公民。這意味著我們的國民服役資源日益多元。
我想請教部長，近年來每年有多少年輕新加坡人需從海外返回服役，新公民比例及持有外國護照者的比例分別是多少？
對於長期在海外生活的年輕男性，國民服役尤其具有挑戰性。是否有專門的適應性培訓專案幫助他們調整文化差異？國防部和武裝部隊如何幫助來自多元背景的國民服役兵理解國民服役的必要性並適應服役生活？最重要的是，武裝部隊如何在這些群體中建立團結和凝聚力？
提升國民服役體驗
主席先生，我的第二個發言。我們的官兵為國民服役做出巨大犧牲。為了訓練和保持體能，他們必須犧牲個人和工作生活的部分時間。國防部和武裝部隊應盡力減輕官兵負擔。
部委是否考慮利用科技，與僱主及其他政府機構更緊密合作，系統收集反饋，匯聚關於托兒和養老等關鍵問題的建議？此舉旨在為官兵提供全方位支援，使他們在營區能更專注于軍事任務，安心生活的其他方面得到妥善照顧。
雖然重點放在兩年義務役，但也應關注預備役和後備役階段的服役體驗。這些經歷將影響下一代準備為國服役的年輕人。
國防部和武裝部隊如何提升不同階段國民服役兵的服役體驗？如何利用他們多年來的興趣、能力和經驗更好地服務國家？
技能未來
主席先生，我的第三個發言。所有年輕新加坡男性都必須在生命黃金期服役兩年。我們應認可他們的承諾和貢獻，並盡力支援他們在接近預備役服役結束（ORD）時為進一步學習或就業做準備。
國防部去年在總參謀長演講中推出了一系列SkillsFuture@NS計劃，支援義務役兵的終身學習。部長能否介紹國防部如何幫助義務役兵更新或獲取新技能，助力他們的服役後過渡？
我關心國防部在時間安排和財政支援方面為義務役兵提供了哪些支援？是否有協調機制，使課程既符合義務役兵在武裝部隊的職責，也符合他們的興趣？
此外，這些計劃的效果是否會被監測和評估？部委是否採納義務役兵、教育機構和僱主的反饋和建議，持續改進計劃？
科技
佩雷拉女士：主席先生，許多新加坡人線上滿足各種需求。我們的數字連線為國防部提供了機會，促進軍民雙方在聯合行動中的合作。部委有何計劃進一步利用科技加強雙方合作保障安全？部長能否分享我們如何利用科技提升士兵的國民服役體驗和福祉？
科技進步改變了全球的國防戰略和訓練方式。部委能否介紹這些技術發展如何影響武裝部隊？我們是否有足夠準備應對日益複雜的裝備？獲取這些技術的主要挑戰是什麼？我們在自主國防研發方面進展如何？
國民服役中心
阿拉蘇·杜賴薩米先生：主席先生，在人力有限的小國，國民服役兵在確保我們擁有可信賴且強大的防禦力量中發揮關鍵作用。每位新加坡男性都必須奉獻兩年青春服役。我們必須為年輕男性提供無縫便捷的入伍準備方式。去年總參謀長辯論中，國防部宣佈2023年將推出國民服役中心，集中處理入伍前流程。部長能否介紹國民服役中心的最新進展？
支援國民服役
宏茂橋區議員洪興基先生：主席先生，2017年我們慶祝了新加坡國民服役50週年。面對恐怖主義、網路攻擊等威脅，我們需不斷調整國民服役方式。國民服役體驗必須不斷塑造，以應對未來經濟和世代的壓力、需求和期望。
所有新加坡人、機構和社群都應參與確保國民服役體系穩健。家庭、僱主、學校和社群團體是關鍵支柱，支援官兵專注訓練。
我們許多人見證並參與了武裝部隊的社群參與專案。陸軍、海軍和空軍舉辦開放日嘉年華，開展學校合作專案。此外，國民教育和全面防衛日也是學校課程的一部分。
我想問是否有其他計劃，如與新公民和基層社群互動，幫助他們理解和認可國民服役的重要性？對於新僱主，包括新調派到新加坡運營的企業，是否有相關參與計劃？這將確保我們的預備役官兵同樣獲得良好支援，其角色被充分理解。
國民服役認可
杜葛拉斯·傅先生：主席先生，國民服役已成為每位新加坡男性的成年禮，但服役旅程並未在義務役結束時終止。之後，他成為預備役國民服役兵，開始長達10年的預備役訓練週期。作為新加坡人子弟，我親身經歷了整個週期，深知這是獨特的體驗。事實上，我仍在服役，我的兒子Donavan剛加入預備役旅程，我還有三個兒子即將加入。
然而，服役兩年意味著推遲教育或職業規劃。無論是公民還是在新加坡工作的外國人，都間接受益於新加坡子弟的犧牲。我們希望所有人都能認識並感激他們為國家和平與主權所做的貢獻。
作為新加坡製造聯合總會（SMF）主席，我很高興分享SMF是國防部的積極合作伙伴，全面支援國民服役。自2013年參與以來，SMF每年支援武裝部隊重申誓言儀式。通過這一年度活動，我們鼓勵僱主支援國民服役及其員工，並提醒他們國民服役在保衛國家中的重要作用。
我們的國民服役兵犧牲時間和精力保護新加坡。除了兩年全職服役，預備役官兵每年還需離家兩三週參加營內訓練。我們必須持續表達對他們承諾和貢獻的感激。國防部如何確保對國民服役兵的認可既及時又充分？
防範新冠肺炎措施
海洋坊區議員謝健鵬先生：主席先生，武裝部隊迅速響應新冠肺炎疫情，動員官兵包裝口罩分發給眾多家庭。在抗疫過程中，必須保護官兵健康。
武裝部隊訓練常涉及密切接觸和高強度體能活動，可能導致飛沫傳播，且許多士兵在狹小空間內訓練。
我知道我們不能因停訓而影響國家安全和部隊戰備，但相信我們可以調整部分訓練程式，確保官兵強健、安全和健康。針對新冠疫情，國防部採取了哪些防範措施保護官兵？
數字防禦
佩雷拉女士：主席先生，近年來，社交媒體和應用程式上錯誤資訊和假新聞傳播趨勢加劇。在某些國家，假新聞甚至影響了選舉結果。在新加坡，疫情期間也出現多起假新聞傳播，造成部分民眾不必要的恐慌和擔憂。
國防部如何支援政府整體努力，幫助新加坡人應對網路虛假資訊傳播？部委是否有評估框架判斷網路虛假資訊何時威脅國家安全？何時啟動應對措施？
網路安全
張皓斌醫生（武吉班讓）：主席先生，過去一年，我們目睹了網路安全漏洞事件的增加。作為對這些事件的回應，許多國家正在加大力度加強其網路安全能力。在去年的供應委員會辯論中，國防部長宣佈將設立國防網路安全中心。請問部長能否提供國防部在加強我們的網路安全能力以威懾和應對潛在威脅方面的最新進展？
資料保護
謝健鵬先生：資料安全是新加坡強大防禦和持續經濟成功的核心。隨著來自各種來源的惡意威脅出現，包括資料外洩的嘗試，強化我們的能力和防禦至關重要。去年發生的兩起事件具有啟示意義，均涉及通過惡意惡意軟體和勒索軟體從承包給新加坡武裝部隊（SAF）的供應商洩露SAF人員資料。
顯然，我們看到有不友好的勢力在觀察我們的系統可能存在的弱點，以便加以利用。數字防禦是全面防禦的新組成部分。每一位公民都在保衛我們的國家和生活方式中扮演角色——包括在網路上保持警惕。
如今，敵人是看不見的——詐騙、假新聞和網路攻擊。鑑於全球持續報道的安全漏洞，國防部正在做些什麼來保護我們的安全系統，確保我們的資料和資訊不被洩露？
下午1時45分
企業數字防禦
郭賢泉先生：我們的許多企業依賴安全可靠的網路進行貿易、交易和溝通。他們還在新加坡儲存大量個人和商業資料。
隨著數字領域的擴充套件，保護企業網路和系統變得尤為重要。我們已經看到網路攻擊對個別企業造成的毀滅性影響。更重要的是，這類攻擊也可能損害新加坡作為可信賴樞紐的聲譽。
鑑於數字威脅的普遍性，國防部和信息通信媒體發展局於2019年將數字防禦納入全面防禦的支柱。國防部如何與合作伙伴協作，裝備企業應對數字領域的威脅？
心理防禦
謝健鵬先生：在社會壓力加劇的時期，心理防禦尤為重要，以確保新加坡人在面對外部威脅時保持團結。我們已經看到恐慌和恐懼如何迅速擾亂我們的生活方式。
在我的預算主旨演講中，我提到了偉大者、智者和善良者，以及那些嘲笑他們的人。這些摘自葉芝的詩《來吧，讓我們嘲笑偉大者》。他敦促我們嘲笑這些嘲笑者，那些在大風暴中不伸出援手的人。
鑑於近期新冠疫情爆發，人們很容易袖手旁觀，保持安全，同時嘲笑那些正在工作、承擔風險並制定新規則以維持社群運轉的人。我們的心態、心理防禦有多重要？新加坡人能做些什麼來幫助克服這場危機？
社群韌性建設
張皓斌醫生：主席先生，全面防禦於1984年首次提出時，就認識到威脅不僅影響我們的軍隊，還可能影響新加坡人，無論是戰鬥人員還是非戰鬥人員。因此，我們必須繼續在人民和社群中建立韌性。
為了讓新加坡戰勝威脅，強化整個社群的韌性至關重要。面對恐怖主義、網路攻擊等威脅，尤其是近期新冠疫情爆發，這一理念更加突出。
先生，我想請教部長，國防部在與社群互動、裝備他們以具備應對新加坡可能遇到的各種威脅所需的心理狀態、知識和技能方面有哪些最新進展？
教育
喬安·佩雷拉女士：多年來，除了軍事防禦這一核心支柱外，新加坡還建立了民防、經濟防禦、社會防禦、數字防禦和心理防禦五個非軍事支柱，以鞏固全面防禦的綜合安全結構。所有新加坡人，無論個人還是集體，都在我們的安全中扮演重要角色，貢獻各自的專業知識和能力，建設一個強大且有韌性的國家。
全面防禦使我們克服了過去的挑戰，如非典、恐怖主義和經濟衰退。繼續教育下一代新加坡人保持團結、共同應對新威脅非常重要。國防部或新加坡武裝部隊如何教育我們的年輕人瞭解全面防禦？
全面防禦
張皓斌醫生：主席先生，全面防禦的成功依賴於社會各界的積極參與和貢獻，包括政府、企業、社群和個人。不幸的是，今天看到的全面防禦舉措大多由政府發起。我們應當爭取更多公民參與全面防禦。
公民參與體現在一個名為“西北911”的應用程式中，由西北社群發展理事會（CDC）的志願者開發。該應用程式可以幫助新加坡人更好地應對和響應14種危機情景，並提供基礎急救等功能。我們正在鼓勵更多人下載此應用，以便他們隨時隨地擁有危機指南和資源目錄。
先生，我呼籲部長支援“西北911”計劃，並敦促所有新加坡人，尤其是制服服務成員，下載該應用，做好應對未來緊急情況的準備。先生，我想請教部長，政府主導和社群主導的加強全面防禦的努力及其成效有哪些最新進展？
主席：謝健鵬先生，您可以一起回答您的兩個問題。
新的全面防禦標誌
謝健鵬先生：主席先生，全面防禦自推出以來已36年。像許多新加坡人一樣，我們很高興得知國防部最近發起了新的全面防禦標誌設計競賽，旨在設計一個代表六大支柱的新標誌，並設有5000新元獎金。
共有10個設計入圍，我想請問部長，新加坡人對設計新標誌的響應如何？部長能否解釋新標誌的意義？毋庸置疑，我認為設計不錯，但我覺得讓大家瞭解標誌背後的含義同樣有用且重要。
全面防禦中的氣候防禦
我的第二個問題。新加坡採取全社會參與的國家安全方法。全面防禦於1984年構想，作為新加坡防禦的綜合模型。從1984年到去年，我們一直有五個支柱。2019年，我們增加了數字防禦，因為網路威脅與實體威脅同樣嚴重。
今天，2020年，我請求本議會考慮再增加一個支柱——氣候防禦。有人可能認為我們增加得太快，但我認為我們動作太慢。氣候變化是新加坡的生存威脅，我們需要正視它。不僅越來越多人談論它，我們都在看到並感受到氣候變化的影響。
在我對總理辦公室的質詢中，我曾主張鑑於氣候變化的複雜性及其跨越多個部委的特性，我們需要政府整體應對氣候變化。
隨著全球趨勢和威脅的變化，技術和氣候的安全化已成為我們國家的生存威脅。青年行動黨（YPAP）和環保人士已提議將氣候防禦作為全面防禦的第七支柱。我支援這一呼籲。
這一宣告不僅是政策效率的問題，更是提升該議題政治重要性的問題，使其不再被擱置。環境問題也不應在官僚決策中被視為經濟增長的次要因素。
在本預算中，我們為長期規劃騰出了空間，包括環境議題。這是正確的做法。按照這一思路，國防部是否考慮將氣候防禦納入全面防禦的支柱？
主席：黃永宏部長。
國防部長（黃永宏博士）：主席先生，首先，感謝各位議員持續支援建設新加坡強大防禦——不僅是過去的預算，議員們都給予了支援，我也希望本預算同樣如此——以及許多議員的個人承諾。
許多議員曾服兵役，許多議員的子女也在服兵役。正如傅建明先生所述，他的兒子們。聽他發言時，我希望他能有更多兒女，培養下一代兵役青年。
副總理兼財政部長在總結髮言中提醒我們李光耀先生所說的義務。我們最大的義務是對未來負責，聽著議員們發言，我認為這是美德。大家對外部環境的困難有深刻認識——環境多變、變化迅速，影響我們，作為一個小國，我們幾乎無法控制外部事件，更難以改變降臨我們的變化——無論是氣候變化、恐怖主義，還是鄰國的派系政治。
但同樣，大家高度關注如何建設強大國防。議員們提出了許多好問題，關於審慎、管理、國防開支如何使用、如何確保流程最大化價值，以及確保資金投放得當且國防預算可持續。
有許多問題，我和同事們將盡力回答。首先，我想讓大家更好地理解國防部和新加坡武裝部隊如何看待這些問題。讓我先談談我們如何看待新加坡的防禦。
軍事史上有一句熟悉的格言——導致失敗的一個根本錯誤是根據上一場戰爭準備下一場戰鬥。分析人士特別指出越南戰爭，美國在二戰歐洲戰場獲勝的戰術在越南遊擊戰中失效。許多人可能看過Netflix上的紀錄片系列，生動展示了這一根本錯誤。
新加坡作為一個資源有限的小國，如果措手不及，應當銘記這一格言。維克拉姆·奈爾先生說得對，“我們必須做好準備”。但準備什麼？
我們沒有資源為所有可能性做計劃。正如議員們所暗示，新加坡必須敏銳地意識到周圍環境的變化及其影響。我們的地區，乃至全球，正處於一個轉折點，許多議員指出了這一點，新加坡必須為這一新環境做好準備。
內部，新一代武裝部隊士兵已建立並操作新軍事能力，且操作得當。我必須說，這得益於歷屆政府的堅定承諾和議會各黨派議員的廣泛支援——國會議員、非選區議員、提名議員——我們共同成功建設了一支強大的武裝部隊，今天被公認為現代化、專業的軍事力量，能夠捍衛國家利益。傅建明先生提到了這一點，張志賢先生也正確指出。武裝部隊的成功在於我們未被考驗，正如我們財政預算書中的使命宣告所言——“威懾”。
即便如此，為應對新的安全挑戰環境，武裝部隊必須果斷重組，以應對新挑戰，保持相關性、響應性和效能。我認為林秀怡女士談到了這一點——變化的格局將帶來新威脅，武裝部隊必須準備好。我稍後會詳細介紹所需的重組。
但首先是新環境。議員們談到了它。張志賢先生、朱德明先生、林秀怡女士、維克拉姆·奈爾先生。我完全同意議員們的看法，和世界其他地方一樣，新加坡已進入地緣政治的新階段。局勢更復雜、更不可預測，因此有更多未知事件。二戰後70年，由美國及其西方自由盟友主導的時代不再是唯一主導敘事。新篇章已開啟，既有舊元素，也有新主要參與者。中國是崛起的全球大國，區域大國如日本、印度和澳大利亞也在增強實力。
不僅亞洲變化迅速，歐洲的跨大西洋聯盟也在演變。當英國政府決定允許華為在其5G網路中扮演有限角色時，英國媒體斷言美英關係已“少了特別之處”。今年慕尼黑安全會議的主題旨在激發反思，但也反映了不安——主題是“無西方主義”。
下午2時
在全體會議上，德國總統施泰因邁爾嚴厲批評美國的“美國優先”政策和“再次偉大”是以鄰國和夥伴為代價。美國希望歐盟放寬貿易政策，購買更多美國產品並增加國防開支。作為回應，一些歐盟領導人確實希望減少對美國的依賴。去年，法國總統馬克龍直言不諱地說，“過去幾年美國的決定……促使我們重新思考根本的外交和軍事戰略，有時甚至是我們曾認為永遠不可剝奪的團結元素”。歐洲離新加坡很遠，但那裡的變化必然影響我們所在地區。
中東最大的變局是美國近70年來首次成為能源淨出口國，比歷史上任何時候都更少依賴中東的原油和天然氣。俄羅斯首次擁有通往地中海的直接通道——敘利亞的溫水港口，並開始在那裡建立和施加軍事存在。另一方面，中國、日本和其他亞洲國家仍依賴通過霍爾木茲海峽從中東進口石油。這就是特朗普總統諷刺但不無道理地說美國仍在“為其他國家保護航道卻沒有任何補償”的原因。美國對下一次中東危機的反應將受這些新考量影響。
美國國防部作為外交和國家政策的執行機構，明確表示我們的地區——印太地區——是他們的“優先戰區”。原因明確，就是中國，他們將其視為“戰略競爭者”和“對手”。美國國防部正在落實這一政策，向日本和韓國的基地調動更多艦船、飛機、裝備和部隊，已有7.8萬駐軍。去年，美國海軍陸戰隊創紀錄地部署到澳大利亞，美國計劃在國會批准後在澳大利亞建設更多軍事設施。特朗普總統支援增加國防預算，這些努力將得到推動。
中國會怎麼做？中國人民解放軍在遠洋能力、空中投送、導彈和太空專案上取得進展。其海軍現為世界最大艦隊，至少按艦船數量計。去年，中國首艘國產航母山東號服役。美國近期宣告和行動可能加速而非減緩解放軍現代化步伐。
歐洲大國也在響應美國號召或獨立行動，力圖在亞洲佈局。我的法國同行弗洛朗絲·帕利部長表示，法國“不會離開，因為[它]是該地區的一部分”。言出必行，法國派遣軍艦穿越南海，2018年其空軍在東南亞進行了自2004年以來最大規模部署，從澳大利亞到印度，彰顯法國在該地區的存在。英國也積極在亞洲佈局。僅2018年，英國皇家海軍就向該地區部署了三艘艦艇。去年，皇家海軍加強了與美國海軍在南海的聯合軍演。
亞洲國家也加強了軍力。過去十年，亞洲軍事開支增長超過50%，中國和印度均位列全球前五大軍費開支國。東盟成員國過去15年軍費開支翻倍。
這些事件交織，導致亞洲地區軍事化和競爭加劇，正如議員們所注意到的。南海爭端加劇了緊張局勢，但動機更深層，是對不斷演變的世界秩序中長期主導地位的爭奪。
對於新加坡這個面積僅700平方公里、人口約五百萬的小型城市國家來說，我們密切關注這些發展，謹慎地為自己保留空間，維護主權，追求自身利益，正如議員朱德明所談及的那樣。我們無意選邊站隊或捲入交火。我們堅持國家利益。迄今為止，我們已保持獨立和空間。但隨著本地區競爭加劇，這將變得越來越困難。
因此，我感謝各位議員提出的問題，“你們將做什麼？新加坡政府將如何維護這一卓越的外交品牌？”
儘管面臨挑戰，新加坡仍能與美國、中國及關鍵夥伴建立更強的防務關係。正如議員們所觀察的，我們與美國續簽了關鍵檔案——1990年關於美國使用新加坡設施的諒解備忘錄。該檔案支撐了雙方過去30年的防務關係。續簽協議由李總理與特朗普總統簽署，允許美軍繼續使用我們的空軍和海軍基地15年。
與中國方面，我們加強了2008年簽署的防務交流與安全合作協議。今年，武裝部隊計劃首次在同一年內與中國人民解放軍舉行兩次雙邊演習。在最近的航空展上，八一飛行表演隊首次亮相，此外還有美國的F-22和F-35B戰機。
與印度方面，我們的三軍在雙邊協議框架下舉行了多次雙邊演習，繼續歡迎印度參與本地區事務。正如張志賢議員所說，今年是我們在澳大利亞Shoalwater Bay訓練的第30年，作為戰略伙伴，我們正在建設聯合訓練設施，進展順利，稍後我會詳細介紹。我們也很高興能派遣兩架CH-47“支奴幹”直升機和空軍人員協助澳大利亞國防軍應對近期的森林火災。
面對不斷變化的地緣政治，我們必須密切關注，靈活應對，並做好準備。即便如此，我們仍需應對明確且迫切的安全威脅——即恐怖主義、網路威脅和海上威脅，議員們也談及了這些。
針對恐怖主義，正如佩雷拉女士強調的，我們並非對歸國戰鬥人員免疫，實際上不僅不免疫，而且相當脆弱，因為本地區存在優質目標。對此，我們加強了努力，通過東盟“我們的眼睛”倡議正式共享情報。武裝部隊將協助此項工作，並與志同道合國家緊密合作。
武裝部隊正在重組自身的軍事情報機構，以便更好地進行反恐情報工作，實現預警——正如佩雷拉女士所警示的。我們需要一個機構，至少能提醒我們有陰謀正在醞釀。應對這些陰謀也將成為保護新加坡的核心任務之一。這將是武裝部隊情報單位的重要職責和問責點，同時他們將與其他新加坡相關機構協作。
一些議員提及網路安全問題——佩雷拉女士、張鴻賓博士、謝健鵬議員。為指導應對安全挑戰所需的重組工作，武裝部隊和國防部已成立兩支高階委員會。其中一支專注於網路威脅，由國防發展常任秘書兼武裝部隊總司令領導，負責推動此項工作。在武裝部隊歷史上，這項工作的重要性堪比組建新的軍種，如陸軍、海軍和空軍，即建立一個綜合的網路司令部和部隊，保護我們的數字邊界，特別是防範尋求破壞我們穩定或威脅國家安全的外國網路行為者，無論是國家還是非國家主體。張鴻賓博士詢問了自去年談及組建網路部隊以來的進展。
我們對此進行了深入思考。基本挑戰是建立一個類似陸軍、海軍和空軍的綜合網路司令部和網路部隊，能夠在網路領域運作、防禦和保護我們的利益。
我相信在座無人會質疑建立網路部隊的必要性。但在許多方面，網路領域比空中、陸地和海洋更難規劃和執行，可能需要不同型別的單位和部隊配置。最簡單的問題是：敵人是誰？空中、陸地和海洋的潛在侵略者數量有限，但網路領域的潛在敵人可能更多。
因此，委員會打算大膽探索解決這一挑戰的方法，同時同樣重要的是招募具備合適能力計程車兵，進行相應培訓和部署。因為空中、陸地和海洋所需的人才與網路領域可能不同。
儘管如此，為確保指揮完整性和問責制，重組後，武裝部隊總司令將繼續負責任務成果——無論挑戰多大，都必須有指揮結構，有一位指揮官負責審視問題、做出決策、提升訓練、維持部隊以應對挑戰。首席C4I官將是最高職位，承擔問責，直接向總司令彙報，類似其他軍種。
武裝部隊網路司令部將負責提供網路攻擊威脅評估和預警，並做出相應響應。網路威脅和活動者範圍廣泛，網路司令部必須優先考慮重點威脅，避免資源分散。該重組工作將耗時數年完成。
讓我轉向海上安全，許多議員提及此議題，包括維克拉姆·奈爾議員。武裝部隊乃至整個政府已作出調整，更好應對近年來擴大的海上威脅。新加坡海峽近期海盜事件激增，以及對新加坡領海的入侵，都是例證。
海軍的海上安全特遣部隊將採購新型專用平臺，提升應對威脅的能力。首先，四艘翻新的巡邏艦將專門部署，以增強對領海的持續保護。但我們都知道，海上威脅具有跨國性質，無法單靠一國解決，必須與鄰國合作。我們已與馬來西亞和印度尼西亞同行接觸，提議將馬六甲海峽巡邏倡議——通過協調巡邏有效減少海盜行為的成功經驗——擴充套件至周邊其他水域，相關討論正在進行中。
這些針對恐怖主義、網路和海上威脅的重大重組反映了新加坡面臨的威脅譜系迅速演變。但無論威脅如何，對於每個武裝部隊單位來說，有效訓練是決定性因素。在不確定的環境中，我們必須培養、訓練並維持部隊，既能應對傳統威脅，也能應對非傳統威脅。我認為這是郭振輝議員所暗示的觀點。
主席先生，若獲允許，我想在螢幕上展示幾張幻燈片。
主席：好的，請。 [幻燈片向尊敬的議員們展示。]
黃永宏博士：那麼，讓我談談傳統作戰。對於傳統作戰，武裝部隊的目標是擁有全球最佳訓練設施。我們談及傳統，也談及非傳統。對於傳統訓練，我們的簡單目標是擁有世界上最好的訓練設施。雖然目標很高，但我們有信心實現。
一些議員詢問了Shoalwater Bay的發展情況，特別是張志賢議員。讓我介紹一下我們與澳大利亞的全面戰略伙伴關係下的最新進展，該基地將成為頂級訓練設施的關鍵節點。它將為武裝部隊提供現代化的儀器化訓練場，如聯合陸空訓練場和城市作戰實彈射擊設施，面積約為新加坡的十倍。
下午2時15分
進展顯著，去年完成了彈藥儲存大樓。聯合陸空訓練場正在為陸軍和空軍開發，支援坦克、步兵車輛、無人機、炮兵及其他聯合兵種平臺的聯合訓練。城市作戰實彈射擊設施將為空軍和聯合兵種提供逼真的實彈射擊環境。這些設施配備先進的靶標和儀器裝置。完成後，我們將能進行大規模複雜訓練，全球僅有少數軍隊能做到。預計Shoalwater Bay的建設將於2024年完成，Greenvale另一個場地將於2028年完工。屆時，武裝部隊將能進行涵蓋三軍的綜合訓練，每年最多可容納14,000名人員，訓練週期最長達18周。這是我們防務能力的重要資產。
張志賢議員問氣候變化對這些計劃的影響。簡短回答是可能無人知曉，我們必須密切關注。今年發生的森林火災事件不僅影響我們，更對澳大利亞國防軍影響深遠。Shoalwater訓練區部分活動曾暫停，原因不是火災本身，而是擔心火勢加劇。我們正密切關注，必要時將作出調整。
海軍方面，我們的艦艇有充足機會在海外訓練。在“太平洋獅鷲”演習中，美軍與我艦成功發射全套導彈，摧毀海空目標並追蹤潛艇。我們還首次與印度和泰國在安達曼海舉行三邊海上演習。今年，海軍將在世界最大多邊海上演習“環太平洋演習”（RIMPAC）中擔任關鍵領導角色，與太平洋地區成熟海軍並肩作戰。海軍在海外部署中表現出色，驗證了系統並標定了能力。
海軍也在加強傳統能力方面取得良好進展。八艘近岸任務艦中的最後三艘上月服役。在德國，我們的新型“無敵”級潛艇已開始水下試航，首批船員正在進行訓練。
空軍方面，正如郭振輝議員所問，天空已開放。去年12月，我與美國國防部長馬克·埃斯珀簽署諒解備忘錄，在關島設立戰鬥機訓練分遣隊。空軍計劃部署F-15、F-16及支援資產如灣流550預警機赴關島訓練。關島周邊空域及訓練設施將支援空軍進行更大規模、更復雜、更逼真的空對空和空對地訓練。同時，該分遣隊與澳大利亞、印度和泰國的其他部署相輔相成，能在需要時迅速返回新加坡，極具戰略價值。
有人詢問F-35戰機採購進展。我們已決定採購F-35B型，該型號可在較短跑道起飛並垂直降落，這對土地稀缺的新加坡尤為重要。我不知道它是否能降落在你們的組屋停車場，但我們會考慮這種情景。F-35B在最近的新加坡航空展上亮相，其360度旋轉能力令人稱讚。我們採購F-35B並非僅因其旋轉能力，正如郭議員指出，它配備完整的感測器和作戰能力。我們已獲得美國政府和國會批准。國防部正處於採購四架F-35的最後階段，並有購買八架的選項。預計2026年前後交付，屆時F-35B將在美國進行訓練和深入評估。
林秀麗女士提出了關於F-35的疑問，我們密切關注。我們計劃先購四架，全面評估後再決定是否追加八架。我們的時間表對我們有利，我們不急於採購——F-15和F-16足以滿足我們的防空和空中能力。我們將全面評估，包括F-35相關的成本和維護問題，才會做出最終決定。
我已談及傳統作戰，接下來談非傳統作戰。我們必須為武裝部隊乃至整個社會準備應對更不確定且威脅範圍更廣的挑戰——我們稱之為“灰色地帶”威脅，與黑白分明的威脅相對。
低強度恐怖襲擊是“灰色地帶”威脅的典型例子，可能演變成嚴重的國家不穩定。烏克蘭早期階段的情況是“灰色地帶”威脅的警示——初期隱伏，隨後迅速擴散，最終爆發。防禦失敗即意味著失敗。
因此，武裝部隊已彙編了各種“灰色地帶”威脅及其應對選項。雖然單一威脅有限，不足以威脅主權，但可能導致不穩定，或累積削弱我們維護國家利益的能力。
另一個非傳統威脅是新冠疫情對新加坡的衝擊，考驗了我們的全面防衛。在極短時間內，陸軍包裝了520萬個口罩，分發至89個社群中心和俱樂部，覆蓋137萬個家庭，僅用兩天時間。武裝部隊還協助衛生部聯絡人員，並在機場操作熱成像裝置。這些努力增強了我們的心理、社會和經濟韌性。我的同事，資深國務部長馬利基將進一步講述全面防衛。
還有一種威脅，武裝部隊可能不是主要負責方，但必須參與保障新加坡安全的努力。張啟雄議員提及此事，謝健鵬議員也談到。我同意謝議員，我們必須採取氣候防衛措施。
政府已制定關鍵方向——資深部長張志賢領導的跨部委氣候變化委員會進行了深入的二階甚至三階研究，探討如何逐步應對這一問題。我感謝他們的努力，因為這聚焦了我們的注意力，也儘可能提供了定量或半定量的預測。
武裝部隊也在作為政府整體計劃的一部分，進行重大調整。
針對海平面上升的影響，國防部和武裝部隊正與相關機構密切合作，推進海岸適應措施。張啟雄議員詢問了由建屋發展局主導的新加坡首個圍墾地專案——直落惹島的進展。正如他所描述，該圍墾地由堤壩保護填海土地免受海水侵襲，並配備排水和抽水系統保持土地乾燥。該低於海平面的土地將用於陸軍訓練。
目前仍處於早期階段，暫無具體報告。但顯然這是一個重要專案，我們在創造新土地以應對海平面上升方面正不斷學習。如果成功，該模式和模板可推廣至新加坡其他地區。因此，這是一個重要專案，國防部和武裝部隊對此高度重視。
國防部和武裝部隊正按計劃實現國家節能減排目標。部分議員提及國防服役中心，該中心預計2023年完工。杜里亞薩米議員談及此事。該中心設計最大化自然通風和採光。我本以為如今所有武裝部隊建築都如此設計，但這裡強調的是最大化自然通風和減少太陽熱增益。這是積極因素，有助降低熱增益和能源需求。我們設定目標，使國防服役中心成為新加坡能源效率排名前10%的建築，我預計能實現。
武裝部隊也在採取具體措施減少碳排放，甚至在不降低效能的前提下改變作業模式。首先，我們計劃更換400輛行政用車，優先採用混合動力車型，每輛車可減少多達三分之二的二氧化碳排放，未來隨著島內基礎設施完善，將逐步採用電動車。
我們還與國家環境局（NEA）和國防科技局（DSTA）聯合合作，建立了一個廢物管理系統，將回收的食物廢料轉化為能源。在這裡需要說明的是，我們已經減少了廢物。我注意到我已經就此回覆了一個特定問題。廢物量不多，但這是首要要做的重要事情。但對於存在的廢物，我們將其轉化為再生能源。目前，從八個食堂收集的食物廢料在回收廠通過微生物和酶處理，產生沼氣。我們正計劃將此擴充套件到另外10個食堂。如果成功，將推廣到所有食堂。
國防部已在克蘭芝營區和實裡達營區建成淨零能耗建築，並且到本財政年度末，我們12個營區的建築將配備太陽能電池板。今年3月，我們將交付（實際上已經開始交付）樟宜空軍基地的首個淨正能量飛機機庫，該機庫因設計中融入了某些特性，能夠產生超過消耗的電力。全面實現後，這些努力合計將在本財政年度末減少11,400噸二氧化碳排放，支援我國應對氣候變化的國家努力。
這些措施也延伸至我們海外的訓練區域。我們提到了肖爾沃特灣訓練設施。我們正與澳大利亞國防部合作，納入環保可持續設計措施，如太陽能照明和使用含有較高比例回收材料的建築材料。我們積極採取措施減輕洪水和火災風險，通過洪水建模、建設防火隔離帶以及使用不可燃的防火材料。這是對鍾志成議員提問的回答。
採用“綠色”技術也可能帶來作戰優勢。海軍正在探索在設計新艦艇時使用混合推進系統。這類技術使我們的新艦艇不僅減少碳排放，還能提高能源效率。
在全球為緩解氣候變化所需的重大變革中，可以說我剛才提到的二氧化碳總減排量可能微不足道，我也同意。但所有機構和國家都必須踏上這條復甦之路。
讓我聚焦於構成我國武裝部隊主體的國民服役者。高階國務部長王乙康將談及一些認可他們貢獻的舉措，但我之前提到過第二個高級別委員會。
該委員會已成立，負責審視兩個領域——營內訓練（ICT）和人力部署，由副秘書長（行政）和陸軍參謀長共同主持。該委員會必須應對人力減少和為實現武裝部隊目標所需的變革，同時滿足新一代國民服役者的需求，許多議員對此表達了精彩見解。每名國民服役者的ICT次數將保持不變。讓我再說一遍——每名國民服役者的ICT次數將保持不變。但我們希望提升每次ICT的成果和效率。
下午2時30分
在人力方面，雖然我們已重組武裝部隊以匹配整體人力減少，但我們確實需要更好地將國民服役者的技能和能力與其職業相匹配，並使訓練更聚焦於其作戰角色。我們將在適當時候公佈這些具體變革。
去年，我向議會通報了監察總署（IGO）的成立，旨在加強安全工作，高階國務部長王乙康將分享並回應議員們提出的一些問題。
主席先生，正如我之前所述，我們可以繼續維持並發展武裝部隊，國防開支避免大起大落，但至少保持與通脹同步，每年名義增長約3%至4%。多位議員——維克拉姆·奈爾先生、杜葛拉斯·傅先生和林秀霞女士——詢問我們是否能以現有國防開支應對挑戰，我的評估是肯定的。承諾依然有效，今年預算預計較去年增長3.2%。
有許多問題問到，我們如何確保不僅審慎，而且我們的流程能最大化每一國防資金的回報——杜葛拉斯·傅先生、林秀霞女士。
當我們採購平臺或服務時，會對生命週期成本進行徹底研究。林女士說得對，我可以賣給你價格低廉的東西，但後續維護成本高昂，實際上會讓你花更多錢。我們在這方面做得更好。我們將所有成本納入生命週期成本，這樣我就能準確知道一個平臺的全生命週期成本；進行徹底研究。
儘管大多數專案涉及敏感需求，但我們仍通過公開招標確保競爭性建設。因此，如果你看武裝部隊和國防部發布的所有合同，大多數仍通過競爭性投標和公開招標。這就是我們確保獲得公平價值的方式。但即使是機密需求，我們也確保有幾家公司通過安全審查。換言之，我們預先資格審查，確保有多家公司滿足安全要求，從而進行競爭性投標。這是第二個方面。
但在特定情況下，正如林女士所問，若需求只能由單一供應商滿足，國防科技局會進行嚴格的成本核算，我們會將投標價格與內部評估進行比較，若差距過大，無論是過高還是過低，都會重新評估。價格過高意味著不公平價值；價格過低則擔心無法交付所需產品。
這些流程強化了我們的採購工作，事實上，如果你問業界，且業界資訊充分，國防科技局被廣泛認可為“嚴苛客戶”和“標杆買家”；有人這樣對我說。因為當國防科技局批准時，向所有采購者傳遞該產品物有所值的資訊。這也是供應商和廠商有時會付出額外努力向我們推銷產品的原因，因為國防科技局不僅在能力方面，而且在價效比方面進行徹底評估。
拉長國防資金效用的另一個重要方面是從設計之初開始。例如，陸軍去年服役的獵人裝甲戰車不僅因其新能力被選中，還因其設計維護友好。與其他裝甲車輛相比，我們節省了高達40%的維護成本。還有許多類似例子，通過維護或減少人員節省了成本。
主席先生，讓我總結。感謝本院議員們作為議員及個人身份對我們的堅定持續支援。正是所有新加坡人，包括在座議員的集體決心和承諾，建設一支強大的武裝部隊，保護我們的家園，在這個不可預測的世界中為我們提供保障和空間。[掌聲]
國防高階國務部長（王乙康先生）：主席先生，國防部長剛才談到我們的地緣政治環境日益複雜。武裝部隊必須隨之發展，以應對這些挑戰，才能建立強大的國家防禦。我們最大的資產仍是人民，國民服役（NS）是國防的基石。因此，國防部和武裝部隊必須繼續投資於有能力的國民服役者，豐富他們的服役體驗，加強新加坡人對國民服役的支援。
武裝部隊致力於有效且安全地訓練國民服役者。家庭將兒子託付給我們，我們必須且將維護這份信任。
鍾志成議員問及訓練安全的改進。去年2月，武裝部隊監察總署（IGO）成立，負責審查和執行武裝部隊單位的安全措施。IGO檢查員前往各單位，評估其安全系統的健全性及實踐情況。他們採訪各級服役人員——從指揮官、安全負責人到士兵——瞭解安全措施在基層的執行情況，以及士兵是否感到自信和舒適，能就安全提供反饋。IGO已審計了武裝部隊70%的編制及其下屬單位，預計今年9月完成首輪審計。
除了安全審計外，各級各時刻還必須採取具體且持續的行動。陸軍已引入對所有高風險活動和野外訓練的100%檢查。現有裝備定期審查，新裝備設計時融入安全特性。例如，新服役的獵人裝甲戰車配備緊急停止功能，以及音訊和視覺警報，提醒乘員周圍危險。
正如阿拉蘇·杜賴薩米先生指出，我們希望每名士兵在訓練時自覺保持安全。這不是妥協，而是兩者兼顧。為此，單位指揮官在日常工作中與單位進行行動前後評估和風險評估。第六陸軍維修基地就是例子。晨會時，指揮官和士兵公開討論可能的失誤或險情，例如使用錯誤工具或士兵未戴頭盔等。通過簡單的“思考-檢查-執行”方法，士兵系統地規劃步驟，檢查裝備，預防風險。隨著時間推移，每名士兵將內化這些安全習慣。
我們也在利用科技。去年我提到SafeGuardian，這是一款一站式移動應用，方便隨時訪問安全檢查表，士兵間即時共享危險資訊，並通知危險區域。通過將安全資訊置於士兵易於即時獲取的位置，我們培養了“人人為我，我為人人”的安全文化。該應用已在海軍基地試用，反饋積極，我們將逐步推廣至整個武裝部隊。
我剛才談的是預防措施，確保士兵訓練安全。鍾志成議員問武裝部隊如何提升醫療緊急響應能力。武裝部隊醫務人員接受11周的救生技能培訓。為提升能力，武裝部隊與新加坡民防部隊（SCDF）合作，開展名為“服務計劃”（Project Serve）的專案，安排醫務人員在SCDF國家緊急救護車中進行為期六個月的實習。換言之，武裝部隊醫務人員隨SCDF護理人員出診真實病例，在真實且時間緊迫的環境中實踐知識。
最近，我們還試點安排醫務人員到國立大學醫院急診醫學部實習。這類實操培訓對醫務人員極為寶貴——他們通過培訓變得更自信、更勝任傷員管理。目前正與SCDF及其他醫院討論擴充套件此類專案。
通過這些舉措，我們將打造一支始終有效且安全訓練的能戰鬥部隊。
從安全談到健康，謝健鵬議員問武裝部隊針對新冠肺炎威脅採取了哪些預防措施。國防部和武裝部隊參考政府的公告、指導和要求。對曾赴中國且即將入伍的預備役者，實施強制休假（LOA），並推遲曾赴中國的國民服役者的營內訓練。
上週，我們將這些措施擴充套件至曾赴韓國大邱市或清道郡的預備役者和國民服役者，符合衛生部的最新建議。換言之，我們密切關注形勢，並相應調整。
所有武裝部隊醫療中心均有流行病應對計劃，儲備充足的個人防護裝備，並配備醫療人員，按衛生部要求管理疑似病例。隨著疾病預警系統（DORSCON）升級至橙色，武裝部隊加強營區內預防措施，要求人員每日測量體溫兩次，更頻繁消毒工作場所，並錯峰用餐。我們將繼續盡最大努力保護服役人員。
現在談談提升國民服役體驗。雖然我們健全的訓練、安全措施和醫療支援讓士兵有信心好好訓練、刻苦訓練，但武裝部隊的持久力量最終依賴於士兵的承諾。這就是為什麼我們不斷尋找方法，改善每名服役者在服役各階段的體驗。鍾啟雄議員提出了這一點。
對於預備役者，我們更好地為他們準備國民服役，無論是身體上還是心理上。正如鍾啟雄議員指出，預備役者背景多樣。絕大多數顯然是土生土長的新加坡公民，正如議員們指出，他們大多有家人曾服役。但也有新公民和永久居民，可能沒有家人或朋友經歷過國民服役。換言之，他們可能對國民服役瞭解較少。
為更好支援這群人，我們與ACCORD合作，在外國體系學校和私立資助機構任命專職國民服役協調員，協助解答有關國民服役的問題。我們也促進國民服役協調員之間的互學交流。去年，聯合世界學院（東南亞）主辦了一次交流會，我也出席，討論內容豐富、坦誠開放，大家都覺得非常有用。未來還會有新一輪，我也期待參加。
我們也意識到許多預備役者希望在入伍前更好地鍛鍊身體。因此，國防部與SAFRA合作，通過“國民服役預備鍛鍊計劃”（PREP4NS）讓預備役者更方便使用健身設施。通過PREP4NS，預備役者可免費獲得為期一年的SAFRA六個健身中心會員資格，這些健身中心分佈在新加坡不同地區。該試點計劃正在進行，自去年11月啟動以來，已有約6,000名預備役者註冊。我們也在考慮增加更多場館，為此正與SportSG合作，探討如何讓預備役者使用其24個健身中心的會員資格。具體細節將在確定後公佈。
接下來談談全職國民服役者（NSF）。NSF為國家服役兩年。因此，作為他們時間和才能的管理者，我們有責任支援他們的志向。
下午2時45分
以職業興趣計劃為例。該計劃始於2016年，NSF可表達對33個國民服役職業的興趣。國防部和武裝部隊會盡力根據作戰需求，將他們匹配到所選職業。這一計劃受到NSF歡迎。令人鼓舞的是，超過60%的NSF對步兵、警衛、裝甲等要求較高的職業表示興趣，也有強烈意願成為指揮官。
為幫助NSF在服役結束後轉學或就業，國防部去年推出“技能未來@國服”（SkillsFuture@NS）計劃，NSF可使用價值350新元的E-PREP積分，選擇約3,000門課程。這些課程涵蓋技能未來系列課程及高等學府提供的課程，有助於NSF升學或獲得學分減免。鍾啟雄議員詢問了該計劃的最新情況。
今年，我們將推出進一步改進。首先，NSF可享受E-PREP課程全額補貼，而目前僅支援最高90%的費用。也就是說，費用可全額覆蓋。
其次，我們將增加E-PREP課程數量，擴大課程池。我很高興地分享，兩所新機構加入提供E-PREP課程，分別是國立大學（NUS）和工藝教育學院（ITE），使E-PREP合作伙伴增至九家。我們也與現有合作伙伴緊密合作，擴充套件課程內容。新增課程後，從今年4月1日起，武裝部隊及內務部隊的NSF將可選約4,000門課程，比去年增加1,000門，其中近100門為學分課程，助力進一步學習。相比之下，前年僅有26門。
為表彰國民服役人員的貢獻，我們也提高了每月國服津貼，金額根據軍銜、職業和部署不同，增加70至120新元不等。此調整適用於國防部和內務部隊的NSF及國民服役者，涵蓋所有軍銜和職業，自2020年3月1日起生效。杜葛拉斯·傅議員提及此事，我表示感謝。
隨著我們繼續將國家服役人員置於工作的核心位置，我們也不斷自問——如何才能更高效、更有效地服務？這就是為什麼我們將數字技術應用於國家服役的各個方面，從行政管理、訓練到醫療保健。Joan Pereira 女士對此有所詢問，請允許我分享一些資訊。
對於我們的服役人員來說，他們的國家服役旅程始於中央人力基地（Central Manpower Base，簡稱 CMPB）。多年來，我們不斷提升 CMPB 對預徵兵者的體驗。2015 年引入了紅外掃描器，以快速準確地測量身體尺寸。即時排隊管理系統和麵部識別技術也正在試驗中，以提供更順暢的體驗。
今年六月，我們將以改進的電子服務配合這些現場提升，為預徵兵者提供更便捷的線上辦理大部分事務的體驗。例如，預徵兵者將能夠通過一次線上申請和交易完成服役保證書和出境許可的申請，而不必像現在那樣分別申請和辦理。預徵兵者還可以線上監控其申請進度。
至於 Arasu 先生提到的將於 2023 年完工的新國家服役中心（NS Hub），它將整合智慧技術，如生物識別身份驗證以及目前在 CMPB 試驗的其他舉措。我們預計這些措施將減少約三分之一的等待時間。
另一個舉措是“虛擬醫療”（Virtual Care）。在虛擬醫療下，武裝部隊的醫療官員利用數字聽診器和視訊會議工具等技術，遠端有效診斷併為常見疾病開具藥方。去年，這項服務在兩個武裝部隊醫療中心試點。事實證明，這種服務既方便，也能加快診斷速度，因為不必像傳統方式那樣等待醫生與患者面對面會診。因此，這使醫療服務更易獲得、更便捷，並減少了等待時間。
我剛才談到了國防部（MINDEF）和武裝部隊（SAF）為每位國家服役人員提供最佳體驗所做的努力。正如 Ang Hin Kee 先生強調的，我們的家庭、企業、學校和社群團體也是重要的支援支柱。通過 ACCORD，我們將繼續感謝並凝聚社會對國家服役的強大支援。特別感謝 ACCORD 成員為貢獻他們的想法，並積極在各自社群內推動相關舉措。
例如，商界已積極表達對士兵的感謝。早些時候，Douglas Foo 先生也詳細介紹了作為商業聯合會的 SMF 所做的工作。
在“我們支援國家服役”（We Support NS）活動下，去年有超過 540 家商戶、企業和小販提供了豐富的折扣優惠給現役和退役的國家服役人員。其中包括小販業主兼文禮小販協會主席 Anthony Low 先生。Low 先生看到他的兒子通過國家服役變得堅強後，便召集了協會內 60 多個小販攤位為國家服役人員提供優惠。
通過許多不同且個性化的方式，我們都能有所作為。每一份努力和每一個舉動都很重要，也受到感激。為了感謝企業的支援，我們去年舉辦了首屆“我們支援國家服役”感謝活動，感謝了 200 多位商戶的參與。我們希望這種勢頭能夠持續。
同樣，ACCORD 也以多種方式與不同社群互動，繼續促進對國家服役的廣泛而深厚的支援。因此，這段旅程永無止境，在所討論的背景下，全方位國防的必要性是我們必須持續推進的。
主席先生，通過全社會持續的承諾支援我們的國防，我們將展示保護新加坡自由和主權的意志和決心，無論發生何事。
國防高階國務部長（Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman）：主席先生，一個國家的強大在很大程度上取決於其人民抵禦和應對威脅的準備程度，這種準備有多種表現形式。這些需求和全方位的防禦及威懾戰略最好通過全方位國防來實現，其包含六大支柱，強調每個人都應發揮作用。
全方位國防團結了新加坡人，共同應對威脅我們獨立和福祉的挑戰。儘管面臨恐怖主義威脅、經濟衰退和非典（SARS）等挑戰，我們都成功克服了。新冠肺炎（COVID-19）爆發是我們作為一個國家集體力量的最新考驗。Seah Kian Peng 先生詢問新加坡人如何發揮作用，共同克服這場危機。
過去一個月，我們看到對病毒的恐懼導致了囤積家庭必需品、囤積口罩牟利以及對醫護人員的排斥。然而與此同時，我們也見證了無數令人感動的例子，顯示新加坡人展現了默默的力量和決心，共同抗擊危機——居民在公共區域放置洗手液和備用口罩供他人使用，大學生為請假同學送餐。
宗教領袖也聯合起來，在此期間提供宗教指導。以新加坡伊斯蘭宗教理事會（Muis）為例，曾向穆斯林釋出建議，指出伊斯蘭教允許病人免於參加集體禮拜，包括星期五禮拜。穆斯林也被建議暫時停止握手（salam）以避免病毒傳播。一些寺廟和教堂減少或取消常規禮拜，鼓勵信徒線上收看禮拜。我非常感謝宗教領袖在當前形勢下團結社群所提供的指導。
政府意識到新加坡人和企業正面臨壓力，因為新冠疫情導致經濟下行、放緩和不確定性。在 2020 年預算案中，政府宣佈了幫助受疫情直接影響企業的措施。我們必須增強經濟韌性。
令人欣慰的是，企業通過實施業務連續性計劃、派遣員工再培訓以及定期消毒工作場所等措施，體現了經濟防禦。新加坡航空、新電信（Singtel）和陸路交通管理局（SMRT）等公司通過削減資本支出、運營成本和管理層工資，努力避免裁員。希望這些措施能為員工提供更大的就業保障，幫助他們度過難關並變得更強。一些企業如凱德集團（CapitaLand）和樟宜機場也提供租金減免，幫助零售商應對疫情衝擊。
企業盡力而為的同時，新加坡人也應表現出團結——採取必要預防措施，繼續正常生活；正常飲食和購物，支援這些企業。看到商店消毒或醫護人員穿戴個人防護裝備（PPE）提供幫助時，請不要恐慌——這些都是此時的常規預防程式。
在抗擊病毒的同時，我們還在對抗一個更大的威脅——假新聞的傳播。根據麻省理工學院（MIT）的一項研究，假新聞傳播速度是真實新聞的六倍。
過去一個月，關於因新冠病毒傳播而關閉學校和地鐵站的虛假資訊被傳播。
當你通過 WhatsApp 或其他線上平臺收到未經證實的資訊時，請不要轉發或傳播。務必核實資訊是否來自政府官網或官方新聞釋出。如果不確定，請不要傳播。保持這種紀律將極大助力我們對抗假新聞。
總的來說，如果新加坡人心理堅韌，支援政府和企業應對疫情，新加坡人能夠並將克服新冠肺炎疫情。我們不應輕易慌亂，而應展現作為一個民族的信心。正如我計程車兵常說的福建話“ai zai”（穩重）。主席先生，請允許我用馬來語說幾句話。
（馬來語）：[請參閱方言發言。] 新加坡的宗教領袖聯合起來，提供宗教指導並制定防止新冠病毒傳播的措施。例如，新加坡伊斯蘭宗教理事會（Muis）曾建議穆斯林，伊斯蘭教允許病人免於參加集體禮拜，包括星期五禮拜。穆斯林也被建議暫時停止握手（salam）以避免病毒傳播。一些寺廟和教堂減少或暫停彌撒和常規禮拜，鼓勵信徒線上收看。我非常感謝宗教領袖在當前形勢下團結社群所提供的指導。
在我們努力防止病毒傳播的同時，還有一個更大的威脅需要我們抗擊，那就是假新聞的傳播。根據麻省理工學院（MIT）的一項研究，假新聞傳播速度是事實新聞的六倍。過去一個月，關於因新冠病毒傳播而關閉學校和地鐵站的虛假資訊被傳播。請記住，當你通過 WhatsApp 或其他社交媒體平臺收到訊息或未經證實的資訊時，請不要轉發或傳播。
請確保核實所收到的資訊是否來自政府官網和官方新聞釋出。如果不確定，請不要傳播。我們必須在對抗假新聞中保持紀律。總的來說，如果新加坡人心理準備充分、堅韌不拔，並支援政府和企業應對疫情的努力，新加坡能夠並將克服新冠肺炎疫情。我們不應輕易慌亂，而應充滿信心。正如我計程車兵常說：“放輕鬆，不要緊張！”
下午 3 點
（英語）：主席先生，新冠肺炎危機期間虛假資訊的傳播只是一個例子，說明假新聞如何損害我們的社會，侵蝕社群信任和社會凝聚力。Joan Pereira 女士詢問國防部如何支援政府整體努力，準備新加坡人應對網路虛假資訊和假新聞的傳播。
作為提升資訊素養和增強新加坡人對數字威脅理解的更廣泛努力的一部分，國防部（MINDEF）、技能未來新加坡（SkillsFuture Singapore，SSG）、國家圖書館局（NLB）和新加坡網路安全域性（Cyber Security Agency of Singapore）合作，將數字防禦內容納入“數字職場技能未來”專案。該專案的增強將使參與者具備識別和應對假新聞及數字威脅的技能。同時，國防部/武裝部隊與國家圖書館局合作，豐富現有的新兵訓練營（BMT）課程，加入網路攻擊和資訊威脅內容。現在，新兵必須完成武裝部隊數字安全電子模組，並參觀新加坡發現中心的數字防禦展覽。參加 2019 年 N.E.mation! 競賽的學生有機會參觀武裝部隊網路防禦學校，該校為國防部/武裝部隊的網路人員提供技能和知識培訓，以部署於網路防禦單位，瞭解武裝部隊的網路能力及其保障新加坡網路系統和基礎設施安全的貢獻。他們還參觀了《海峽時報》新改造的新聞編輯部，瞭解該報如何識別和應對假新聞。
網路虛假資訊還可能影響企業聲譽和信譽，甚至造成嚴重的經濟損失。一個例子是特斯拉。去年一月，特斯拉的股票和消費者對其產品的信心受到影響，因為網上流傳了聲稱特斯拉汽車不安全的假影片。Henry Kwek 先生詢問針對企業主的舉措，以幫助他們應對數字威脅。為此，國防部、技能未來新加坡、新加坡社會科學大學（SUSS）和國家圖書館局合作，將數字防禦內容納入 SUSS 的中小企業韌性、創業和培育專案，教授中小企業主如何使用 S.U.R.E.（來源、理解、研究和評估）框架，更好地評估資訊的可靠性。去年我們舉辦了一場課程，反饋非常積極。
雖然我們竭力防禦數字威脅，但必須承認，尤其是面對有決心和能力的對手，完全防止所有網路和資料事件是不可能的。Teo Ho Pin 博士和 Seah Kian Peng 先生詢問國防部加強網路安全以防範潛在威脅和攻擊的努力。國防部/武裝部隊正加倍努力提升整個國防部門的網路安全標準和準備度，包括供應商及與國防部相關的組織如 SAFRA 和 NSRCC。我們將限制他們持有的資料量，並確保實施技術和程式措施保護資料傳輸和儲存安全。此外，我很高興宣佈，首批網路國防服役專家已部署到國防部/武裝部隊的網路防禦行動中。2019 年宣佈的國防網路安全中心（DCSC）已實現全天候 24/7 執行能力，負責監控、檢測和響應威脅。DCSC 將協調整個國防部門的行動，並整合網路威脅情報能力。
在加強數字防禦的同時，當前多方面的威脅意味著要保持新加坡強大，我們需要政府、企業、社群和個人等社會各方面的共同努力，涵蓋全方位國防的每個支柱。
Teo Ho Pin 博士詢問國防部如何與社群合作，加強對潛在威脅的韌性。國防部正與人民協會合作，今年為社群應急響應團隊（CERT，現有 2,000 名活躍志願者）推出全方位國防成就徽章計劃。為獲得該計劃最高等級，CERT 志願者需參加課程，學習識別假新聞、社群調解和心理急救等培訓內容。這樣，CERT 志願者將更好地掌握應對不斷變化的緊急情況的知識和技能，從而將全方位國防付諸行動。
Teo 博士還詢問政府主導和社群主導的加強全方位國防的最新進展。我很高興向議會分享，社群已以多種方式主動承擔起全方位國防的責任。例如，四名南洋理工大學學生、Coding Lab 和信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）合作，開發了全方位國防桌遊，納入“Tiny Thinkers Starter Kit”，發放給低收入家庭的學齡前兒童及其家長，旨在讓幼兒接觸全方位國防。
正如 Joan Pereira 女士所指出，許多國家從小就教育兒童韌性和應急準備的重要性。在新加坡，為了為下一代奠定全方位國防基礎，國防部與 MediaCorp 藝人 Edmund Chen 及早期兒童發展局（ECDA）合作，創作了《我的小紅點——讓我們的家園更美好》一書。通過這本書，幼兒可以以互動方式學習全方位國防，家長也被鼓勵與孩子分享團結和韌性等價值觀。
主席先生，全方位國防的關鍵是強大的武裝部隊——我們的軍事防禦支柱。對於像新加坡這樣的小國，擁有足夠規模且可信的軍隊的唯一途徑是徵兵制，即每位適齡男性新加坡人都為國防貢獻力量。高階國務部長 Heng Chee How 早前對此已有詳盡闡述。我相信，強大的家庭和社會支援將激勵我們的國家服役人員在履行職責時盡心盡力。為表彰並加強對所有服役人員的家庭支援，我很高興宣佈，國防部和內政部今年將推出 SAFRA 家庭計劃和 HomeTeamNS 家庭計劃。根據這些計劃，現役預備役國家服役人員可為自己及其家屬報名家庭套餐，無論家庭成員多少。這將大幅節省費用，因為服役人員無需為每位家屬單獨繳納會員費。我們希望這能鼓勵更多家庭訪問 SAFRA 和 HomeTeamNS 會所，享受設施並共度更多美好時光。SAFRA 和 HomeTeamNS 將於 2020 年中公佈更多細節。
上個月，我們推出了新的全面防衛標誌——獲獎設計由聯合教育者Samantha Teng女士創作。謝健鵬先生詢問了新標誌的意義以及新加坡人對設計新標誌的響應。在Teng女士的設計中，向上的箭頭代表新加坡持續不斷地保持對當前和未來威脅的韌性。當我們啟動標誌設計比賽時，我們希望創造一個代表六大支柱的新標誌，更重要的是，聽取新加坡人對全面防衛的理解。我們很高興收到來自各行各業參與者的600多份設計作品——包括學生、教師、專業設計師和退休人員。
全球趨勢和威脅在演變，正如謝健鵬先生指出的，我們的青年和世界許多年輕人越來越關注的一個問題是氣候變化。鑑於全面防衛已使新加坡保持強大超過35年，作為一個國家，我們現在正是時候振興這一全方位的防禦和威懾戰略，以應對當前和未來威脅。我們將繼續與新加坡人合作，尋求加強全面防衛的想法，因為這應是一項全民努力。作為“新加坡攜手同行”運動的一部分，國防部將在2020年下半年舉辦一系列參與活動，聽取新加坡人關於如何更好地落實全面防衛以及如何為未來加強全面防衛的意見。這也將讓年輕的新加坡人反思全面防衛對他們的意義，並在應對未來威脅和挑戰時將其付諸實踐。
主席先生，總結來說，儘管新冠疫情尚未結束，我相信政府、社群和個人的共同努力將幫助我們度過這場危機。我們必須繼續鼓勵在此期間展現的社群精神，並支援前線人員。正是憑藉這種集體力量，我們才能保持韌性，團結一致成為一個民族。我們必須讓全面防衛成為每個新加坡人的基因。擁有強大的全面防衛，我們有充分理由對新加坡的未來充滿信心和希望。
主席：有需要澄清的問題嗎？林秀貞女士。
林秀貞女士：謝謝主席。我有兩個關於我們購買F-35戰機的問題需要國防部長澄清。部長早前提到已獲得美國國會批准購買。請問我理解的是，這只是原則上的批准，正式的買賣條款仍在談判和敲定中嗎？這是第一個問題。
第二個問題是關於部長承認飛機存在一些技術問題，他提到為了確保我們的國防資金得到合理使用，現有的時間表對我們很有幫助。能否請部長詳細說明這一方面？
黃永宏博士：首先，關於美國的程式，美國國防部必須支援，我們已獲得支援。行政部門也支援，我們提交請求信時得到了支援。國會方面，不是批准，而是可以提出反對意見，但目前沒有反對。
基本上，這些程式已經完成，議員說得對，我們現在處於簽訂買賣協議條款的階段，協議將涵蓋除購買F-35外的其他方面——例如我們希望在哪裡與國防部共同訓練等。我已說過我們處於最後階段，如果一切按計劃進行，我們預計2026年獲得戰機。
關於林秀貞女士的第二個問題，到我們2026年或以後獲得戰機時，我們將評估已購的四架F-35B並作出決定。全球範圍內，F-35和F-35B已有數千架服役於許多軍隊。
這是一個良好局面。換言之，許多國家基於該採購規劃其防空系統。
新平臺不僅是F-35，還有F-16和F-15，都會存在設計和操作問題。因此，我們會從技術和飛行員角度進行評估。對我們國防部來說，必須提出問題並確保有嚴格的技術評估。但如果與飛行員和技術人員交流，他們相當有信心主要問題已解決，平臺將達到穩定的作戰狀態。
維護和零件方面存在一些問題，但那屬於後勤。我想說的是，我們不急於求成，必須讓系統成熟。我認為F-35採購初期提出的大部分問題已得到解決。
魏克拉姆·奈爾先生：我記得部長提到有三大迫切威脅：恐怖主義、網路安全和海上威脅，其中最難規劃和應對的是網路安全。但目前計劃由新加坡武裝部隊負責網路安全，並向總參謀長彙報。部長是否考慮設立一個武裝部隊外的力量來處理網路安全，特別是為了吸引不願入伍的人才，比如白帽駭客或該領域的專業人才？
黃永宏博士：這是個好問題，主席先生。網路領域非常廣泛，政府採取整體方法，有一個由張德福高階部長主持的委員會，負責整體規劃，不僅是網路安全，還有業務連續性、物流等方面。各機構負責不同的網路威脅，武裝部隊只是其中一部分。讓我們明確武裝部隊的職責。
當然，我們有網路安全域性，主要負責保護我們的網路，他們在資料外洩事件中發揮了重要作用，正如一些議員提到的。還有其他政府機構。
對武裝部隊來說，職責類似於識別現實世界中的威脅——空中、陸地和海上。換言之，如果有國家或非國家行為者利用網路領域先滲透，再破壞、削弱我們的意志，作為動用武力的前奏，比如混合戰爭。幾年前我向議會介紹過混合戰爭的概念，這是一些軍事專家提出的。我們認為識別這些外部威脅是武裝部隊的責任。
例如，如果有恐怖分子陰謀首先控制我們的人口，不一定是聖戰者，可能是任何宗教，長期或中期計劃招募追隨者。我們必須能夠識別這些威脅。伴隨資訊戰，收集武器、策劃陰謀或破壞活動。因此，武裝部隊必須在保護新加坡主權和穩定方面發揮核心作用。
明確任務後，接下來是需要什麼樣的人才？即使在武裝部隊和國防部內部也有利弊。我們討論過，是穿制服好還是非制服人員好。對任何部長或負責國防和武裝部隊安全的人來說，武裝部隊的優勢是動員迅速，按下按鈕即可行動。其他單位則需要更多討論。但我們也希望高效有效。
因此，我們決定由總參謀長負責指揮C4I（指揮、控制、通訊、計算機和情報）。至於如何招募和需要什麼型別的人才，您說得對，這就是委員會將審視的招聘流程。我們認為部分崗位類似技術兵種，但又不完全相同；還有一些人才非常聰明，但不一定適應穿制服或適應軍事生活。我想您明白我的意思。這些問題我們會逐步解決。
主席：魏克拉姆·奈爾先生，您是否願意撤回修正案？
魏克拉姆·奈爾先生：感謝黃部長、國防高階國務部長王瑞傑和莫哈末·馬利基高階國務部長對我們國防的全面審視。隨著威脅演變，我們武裝部隊的發展非常有趣，我們也感謝所有穿制服的男女為我們服務和保護。謝謝大家，我請求撤回我的修正案。
[(程式文本) 經許可，修正案撤回。 (程式文本)]
[(程式文本) 頭J項下的14561155500元列入主要預算。 (程式文本)]
[(程式文本) 頭J項下的889200000元列入發展預算。 (程式文本)]
英文原文
SPRS Hansard · Fetched: 2026-05-02
The Chairman : Head J, Ministry of Defence, Mr Vikram Nair.
Next Generation SAF
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".
The last year has seen global tensions rise on multiple fronts. The rivalry between China and the US is playing out on many fronts, including the South China Sea, in the context of a trade war and even over the 5G network and the next generation of technologies. The tensions between Russia and the West are also continuing, with President Putin recently declaring he is ready for another Cuban missile crisis if the US wants one. These great power rivalries have always had repercussions for the rest of the world. While Singapore tries to maintain friendships with as many people as possible, this may not always be easy.
Around the region, there is considerable uncertainty. Just up North, in Malaysia, the last two weeks have seen a tussle for the premiership, which has resulted in a change of Prime Minister and change of government. While Prime Minister Muhyiddin was sworn in yesterday, there seems to be further unrest on the streets and the new Prime Minister may well face a challenge, such as a vote of no confidence in the next Parliament sitting. Typically, when there is unrest in our neighbouring countries, governments may feel under pressure to become more nationalistic and this may adversely affect relationships with other countries.
At the same time, unconventional threats are growing. Threats to cybersecurity and fake news threaten to subvert our systems from the inside. A classic example was during the early days of COVID-19 when panic was being triggered by messages that misstated the implications of DORSCON Orange and suggested people stockpile to avoid shortages; ironically, it was messages like these that triggered the panic which resulted in the temporary shortages.
In the Middle East, tensions between the US and Iran are escalating and the disputes between Saudi Arabia and Iran as well as Saudi Arabia and Qatar continues. ISIS remains a threat and continues to hold territory and both carry out and inspire attacks in other countries.
SAF has been the backbone of our national defence. It clearly faces a wide range of threats and contingencies it needs to prepare for. While Singapore does not look for trouble, trouble may well come to us and we have to be ready. However, while our threats are growing and evolving, SAF faces two key constraints – falling manpower arising from a fall in our birth rates and less available spaces for training as land gets put to other uses.
The only way forward for SAF is to evolve, to invest in technology so that we can do more with less resources. There have been some exciting announcements of big ticket acquisitions in recent times. The Minister has announced the Air Force is going to acquire F-35 fighter jets to eventually replace its F-16s. In relation to the Navy, plans were announced to replace Republic of Singapore Navy's current submarines with four Invincible-class submarines. In relation to manpower, plans have been announced to develop a hybrid force, so that more and more unmanned technologies will be able to replace men in the fighting force.
These are certainly exciting headlines. I will be grateful if the Minister for Defence could provide us more generally, with details on MINDEF's plans to ensure the Next-Generation SAF continues to be effective and capable of safeguarding Singapore's national security. I beg to move.
[(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]
Training Areas
Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry (Nee Soon) : Chairman, Sir, last year, I had the opportunity to visit SAF's training camp in Brunei. It was heartening to see the dedication of our servicemen who had to man our overseas detachment and to facilitate the training of our visiting SAF soldiers.
Over the years, going on overseas training has become a part of what it means to be a member of the SAF, whether it is a regular, NSF or NSMan. We train overseas because we need to overcome our space constraints, to give our people better and more realistic training opportunities in diverse environments.
MINDEF and the SAF have worked hard with our partners to provide the SAF access to overseas training facilities. MINDEF recently announced the signing of an Memorandum of Understanding between US and Singapore to establish a RSAF Fighter Training Detachment in Guam (FTD-Guam). Could the Minister for Defence please provide more information on RSAF's Guam Detachment and how it will improve on RSAF's training?
Update on Acquisition of F-35
My next cut. At last year's Committee of Supply debate, MINDEF announced the intention to purchase the F-35, a fifth generation multirole aircraft, which can provide air-to-air, air-to-ground and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The F-35's stealth capabilities can help us maintain air dominance and overcome sophisticated air-defence. At the same time, the F-35s can fuse sensors and information from different sources, thereby networking our 4th Generation aircrafts and SAF assets altogether.
MINDEF recently announced that Singapore has received the US's approval for the sale of F-35s to Singapore. Could the MINDEF please provide an update on Singapore's acquisition of the F-35s, including how the F-35s will improve the capabilities of the SAF?
Maritime Security
Mr Vikram Nair : Chairman, for more than 200 years, sea trade has been vital to Singapore's economy. This remains the case today. Singapore is one of the busiest transshipment hubs in the world and it is important for us to maintain our sea lines of communication.
Last year, we had two Malaysian vessels in Singapore waters, which appeared to be a provocative act. However, the Malaysian government did not escalate matters and the Malaysian Navy never got involved in this dispute. This is likely because the Singapore Navy is strong and it was clear it would have been able to defend Singapore if necessary.
More recently, in December 2019, there was a report of increasing incidents of sea robbery taking place in the Malacca Straits and the number of such incidents has been higher since 2018. Threats like these may reduce confidence people using our sea lanes. What are MINDEF and the SAF doing to secure our waters?
Security Landscape
Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied) : Mr Chairman, East Asia is again becoming a site for more intense power contestation, particularly in the South China Sea. Worryingly, some of this competition is taking on more militarised characteristics region-wide. Such developments have the unfortunate consequence of prompting other regional actors to adopt more militarised stances. They include arms acquisitions and more muscular positions over disputes.These developments challenge stability and freedom of access, even if they do not directly involve Singapore.
Could the Minister for Defence update the House on the Government's strategy for navigating this increasingly complicated security landscape? Deterrence alone cannot fully address these concerns, and defence spending needs to be within prudent limits. In particular, what role should be played by the SAF on a routine basis and during contingencies and how is the SAF working towards these objectives?
Defence Diplomacy
Mr Desmond Choo (Tampines) : Singapore's approach to defence is shaped by both the unique circumstances surrounding our country's independence and the enduring geostrategic limitations we face. Given our strategic circumstances, a strong defence is necessary to ensure that we enjoy peace and stability and that our sovereignty and territorial integrity are protected.
In order to defend our sovereignty and promote our national interests, Singapore has worked closely with our international partners to build a stable regional architecture. Despite the challenges involved in navigating an increasingly complex security environment, Singapore has continued to forge strong relations with our key partners such as the US and China. How is MINDEF working with our key defence partners to enhance cooperation and address common security challenges?
Singapore is a good friend of both the US and China. The US is our major security and economic partner. Our troops train extensively with US forces. We also cooperate closely on counter-terrorism. The size and scale of US investments in Singapore far out-strip any other country's.
With China, Singapore has established an "All-Round Cooperative Partnership Progressing with the Times". We have extensive economic cooperation with China. China is also our largest export market.
Both these countries are important to us. But we must be clear-eyed about our own national interests and understand the Government's considerations when we adopt principled positions on bilateral, regional or international issues. How do we continue to engage the US and China in our security collaborations?
In October 2019, MINDEF chaired the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM). The ADMM adopted the ASEAN Guidelines for Air Military Encounters (GAME). It is perhaps the first such set of multilateral guidelines in the world. How do we continue to build upon this?
The Chairman : Mr Charles Chong. Both your cuts, please.
Regional Peace and Stability
Mr Charles Chong (Punggol East) : Mr Chairman, at last year's Committee of Supply Debate, the Minister spoke about MINDEF's successful chairmanship of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' meeting (ADMM) and the ADMM Plus in 2018. MINDEF has worked hard to ensure that should the need arise, our Armed Forces will be able to defend Singapore against both conventional and unconventional threats.
However, the better way to deal with these threats is to do what we can to ensure that they do not arise in the first place. To that end, as ironic as it may appear, the SAF will be truly successful if we never actually need to call on our servicemen and servicewomen to defend Singapore in a time of conflict. Could the Minister provide an update on what MINDEF is doing to ensure that the region remains stable and peaceful?
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Moving to my next cut. Singapore signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with Australia in June 2015. Australia is a close and valued defence partner and the signing of the CSP was a clear demonstration of the relationship. We enjoy with our Australian friends. While we have had an excellent defence relationship with Australia for many years, the CSP provides a framework for the further deepening of defence engagements between our two countries.
1.15 pm
We have already been having our troops trained in Australia for many years. Many of our troops have trained in the Shoalwater Bay training area. Last year's Exercise Wallaby, held from September to November involved some 3,000 SAF personnel in an area almost four times the size of Singapore. This year, I believe, will mark the 30th year that we have been able to use the Shoalwater Bay training area. I know that we are very appreciative of the support provided by the Australian government and the Australian defence force.
However, with the recent bush fires in the east coast of Australia, could the Minister let us know if the Shoalwater Bay training area has been affected and whether this has had an impact on the SAF's ability to fully utilise the area as a training ground? In particular, I imagine that the dry conditions and the threat of fires could have had an impact on our use of ordinance and ammunition which would have been a significant reason for using the Shoalwater Bay training area in the first place, and for us committing to spend on developing military facilities there.
Coming back to the CSP, this also provides for even greater access to training areas in Australia for our troops. And I would like to ask the Minister if he can provide an update on the enhancements to training facilities, including both in the Shoalwater Bay training area as the new Townsville field training area and how the CSP can improve the SAF's training effectiveness.
Terrorism
Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar) : Unconventional security threats, such as terrorism, pose increasingly greater risks to our nation. The on-going turmoil in the Middle East provides opportunities for terrorist groups to step up attacks, not just there, but also close to home. Former fighters, who have acquired skills from their experiences in Iraq and Syria, are returning to Southeast Asia. Singapore is not insulated from the influences of returning foreign fighters.
Given the threats from terrorism abroad, would the Ministry share with the House an update on its efforts to counter terrorism? What measures have been implemented to limit their ability to propagate their radical messages and minimise their influence on our communities? In addition, how does the Ministry identify, prevent and monitor potential fighters entering Singapore? For Singaporeans and foreign residents and workers here who may be radicalised, do we have adequate surveillance measures and resources to spot, monitor and contain them?
CBRNE materials − chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives – are utilised by terrorists to attack people and infrastructure. How does MINDEF restrict access to such materials in order to minimise potential injuries, deaths and damage?
In recent attacks overseas, we have also observed the use of common tools, such as knives, and even vehicles, by terrorists to launch attacks on innocent bystanders. Do we have in place an early alert-and-response system to detect behavioural anomalies which will trigger alerts and calls for urgent assistance?
The Chairman : Mr Chong Kee Hiong. Take your both cuts together.
Climate Change Mitigation
Mr Chong Kee Hiong (Bishan-Toa Payoh) : Chairman, at last year's National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee spoke about how climate change is one of the gravest challenges we are facing. I quote, "Both the SAF and climate change defences are existential for Singapore. These are life and death matters."
The greatest threat is from rising sea levels, which will erode the shorelines of our small island unless mitigating action is taken. Areas at risk and which require priority protection include our military installations, the airport, central business district, and the industrial estates of Jurong and Tuas. Our defence and economy are at stake.
Global warming has also resulted in the weather becoming more extreme. Singapore has become hotter with prolonged dry spells even as we experience bursts of heavier rainfall. Even gusts of wind have become stronger. One concern is about mitigating the impact of these dry periods on our reservoirs. We also need to consider collaborative measures with Malaysia to protect the reservoirs there which supply us with water. We have to plan for ways to protect people and minimise the potential damage to our facilities from flooding and toppling trees, during heavy downpours and storms.
In short, a well-coordinated national effort is needed to respond to economic, social and military defence challenges related to climate change. Would the Minister elaborate on what are some of the measures taken by MINDEF and SAF to address these concerns?
Polder Pilot Development
Chairman, my second cut. Singapore is a low-lying island nation that is vulnerable to rising sea levels as a result of climate change. The Government has committed $5 billion to the Coastal and Flood Protection Fund to fend off the encroaching sea and pledged to top up this fund whenever our budget permits in the future.
Mitigating actions being considered include major engineering works, such as empoldering and reclamation of offshore islands and coastal adaptation initiatives, such as planting mangroves. While Singapore has had experience with the traditional land reclamation method, empoldering is new to us. It involves building a dyke around the area to be reclaimed and draining water from within it. The reclaimed low-lying land, known as a polder, will be below sea level, kept dry by the sea wall.
Empoldering is being used to add 810 hectares of military training space to the north-western tip of Pulau Tekong. This project was slated to be completed in 2022. May I ask the Ministry for an update on the progress of this construction? What lessons are we gaining from this building experience for the future use of this technique in other reclamation areas? How does this technique compare with the traditional land reclamation method in terms of construction and maintenance costs, as well as benefits and risks?
Defence Spending
Mr Vikram Nair : Chairman, the SAF performs an important role in deterring potential aggressors and protecting Singapore. As a small country, we are at a natural disadvantage when it comes to our defence, while at the same time, defence is existential. We have traditionally compensated for our small size by spending more on defence and investing in the best and latest technologies, while at the same time, building good defence relations with a wide range of countries, including all our neighbours as well as some of the middle and great powers, including the US.
However, in recent years, defence spending has been rising all around the region and in many other parts of the world. As larger countries also invest and strengthen their forces, our technological edge may diminish and I expect there will be pressure on us to spend more to keep up with them. What is MINDEF's and the SAF's plan? Do they envision a long-term increase in our defence budget to keep up with these rising demands?
Financial Prudence
Mr Douglas Foo (Nominated Member) : Mr Chairman, we are a small city-state with an open economy and we are therefore vulnerable to external factors. As the Minister for Defence Dr Ng has reiterated over the past years, Singapore cannot fail in its frontline defence to protect our sovereignty. Through the past efforts of our predecessors, our SAF is now one of the more modernised armed forces in the region with superior equipment and stronger fighting power.
MINDEF previously announced its plans to building a modernised tri-service SAF which include acquiring F-35S Joint Strike Fighter jets to replace the current F-16 fighter jets, acquiring new Invincible-class submarines and multi-role combat vessels as well as new next-generation Armoured Fighting Vehicles for our defence forces. While such expenditure is necessary for modernisation, we have seen budget spending on defence rise steadily from S$14.8 billion in 2018 to S$15.47 billion in 2019. While there is a slight drop in this year's Budget to S$15.1 billion, it is still the highest expenditure among all the Ministries.
The importance of maintaining a strong SAF and the need to be accountable to taxpayers requires a balance. In light of the current economic slowdown where we are seeing enterprises struggle to stay in business, the debate on whether we should be spending so much of our taxpayers' money on Singapore's defence or if the money is more well spent aiding our local enterprises will no doubt resurface in the minds of many.
Can the Minister share how sustainable it is to spend to modernise and can the Minister explain what is MINDEF doing to ensure that every dollar of the defence budget is spent wisely and prudently?
Value for Money
Ms Sylvia Lim : Chairman, MINDEF previously informed Parliament how it attempts to maximise Singapore's defence dollars, through the purchase of only items it needs, retrofitting existing assets and so on. Could the Minister for Defence elaborate also on its acquisition decisions – how MINDEF assesses the reasonableness of the prices quoted by vendors and ensures that it receives fair value for money on its purchases? At stake in these decisions is hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars. More importantly, they involve the lives and safety of our men and women in uniform and, ultimately, Singapore's security.
A key issue is that unlike other products and services involved in Government procurement, defence articles may not be freely market-tested due to the confidentiality of specifications or dependence on specialist contractors. Systems sold at a certain price point may be subject to expensive after-sales maintenance and upgrade packages with proprietary and protected information. After all, contemporary defence platforms can be highly tailored and involve the integration of multiple systems overseen by large numbers of vendors and sub-contractors.
An example is the US F-35 programme. As of January, Singapore's purchase of up to 12 aircraft for an estimated US$2.75 billion is undergoing the US Congressional approval process. However, the programme has been dogged by cost overruns and questions about reliability. There were also issues regarding the leak of confidential data that required costly redesigns and retrofits from various vendors and subcontractors. This is just one well-known example about a single programme.
My question is broader. Can MINDEF elaborate on how it injects rigour into its procurement decisions to ensure value for money?
Training Safety
Mr Charles Chong : Mr Chairman, all of us have either served in the SAF or have a child, parent, relative or close friend who have been in the SAF. The SAF is an intrinsic part of Singapore and is part of our identity as Singaporeans. Part of why the SAF has been successful has been the trust which exists between Singaporeans and the SAF. The SAF enjoys broad support among citizens and we all understand why we need to have mandatory National Service, even if it comes at a cost to personal pursuits in academia, sports and other areas.
However, when parents send out their sons of to enlist in the SAF or when children bid goodbye to a parent who is going for in-camp training, there is an expectation, a very legitimate expectation, if I may say, that the SAF has done everything possible to ensure that they return home safely. Unfortunately, as is well-known to Members, there have been several training incidents over the last few years, some of which have led to deaths of our servicemen.
Just before last year's Committee of Supply debate, the SAF announced the setting up of an Inspector-General's Office (IGO) to scrutinise safety practises at all levels across all services in units of the SAF. Could the Minister provide an update on the work of the IGO, including how many instances of unsafe practises the IGO has identified in the past year and what real steps have been taken to address this? Has training safety in the SAF improved since the IGO was set up, and have additional safety measures been introduced?
Finally, could the Minister provide details on the number of calls which have been made to the Army, Navy and Air Force safety hotlines, and whether this has increased since we have enhanced our emphasis on training safety and whether concrete action has been taken following the making of these reports?
Safety Consciousness
Mr Arasu Duraisamy (Nominated Member) : Chairman, the Committee of Inquiry into the training accidents had found that training-related accidents happened due to lapses by the servicemen involved. These findings demonstrate that training safety cannot just be a matter of safety guidelines and regulations, but must be part of the SAF's organisational culture and practised by every soldier at every level. Can the Minister share, how is the SAF instilling safety consciousness and personal responsibility for one's safety amongst National Servicemen on the ground?
1.30 pm
Medical Support
Mr Charles Chong : Mr Chairman, even as we aim for zero training fatalities, it inherent in the nature of the SAF that accidents will probably happen and the challenge for us then is to ensure that when they do happen, that our service personnel have the very best medical care which we can provide for them.
The SAF Medical Corp has been around for over 50 years now and has developed into a professionally run and managed medical service for our servicemen and women. It is, however, important that the medical capabilities of the SAF are continually updated and upgraded to ensure that medical support for our troops is up-to-date, both in terms of practice and procedure as well as in equipment and technology. Now, could the Minister provide some insights as to how the SAF is improving its capabilities to respond to medical emergencies and what steps are being taken by the SAF to ensure that the SAF Medical Corp continues to provide the medical support which our servicemen and servicewomen require?
The Chairman : Mr Chong Kee Hiong, take your three cuts together.
Diversity of NS Cohort
Mr Chong Kee Hiong : Chairman, the profile of Singapore’s population has evolved over time. Our demography is made up of people from increasingly varied backgrounds.
Today, we have a larger proportion of children born to inter-racial and transnational marriages. We also have many Singaporeans who have been born and lived overseas for a number of years, Permanent Residents and new citizens from many different nationalities. This means that our NS resource has become increasingly diverse.
I would like to ask the Minister, on an annual basis for our recent cohorts, what is the average proportion of young Singaporeans who have to return from overseas to serve, the proportion of new citizens and the ratio of those who hold foreign passports?
National Service is particularly a challenge for young men who have spent extended periods of time overseas. Are there specific orientation programmes to help them adjust to the cultural differences? How is MINDEF and SAF helping National Servicemen from such diverse backgrounds understand the need for National Service and adjust to NS? Most importantly, how does SAF build a sense of unity and solidarity among these cohorts?
Enhancing NS Experience
Chairman, my second cut. Our servicemen make much sacrifice towards NS. In order to train and remain fit and ready for their duties, they have to make sacrifices in the areas of their personal and work life. It is important that MINDEF and SAF does its best to help ease the burdens on our servicemen as much as possible.
Would the Ministry consider tapping on technology and closer collaboration with employers and even other Government agencies, to enable systematic collation of feedback and harness suggestions on areas of key concern such as childcare and eldercare? The purpose of this suggestion is to enable 360-degree support for our servicemen so that they can better focus on their military duties when in camps, knowing that the other areas of their lives are well supported and taken care of.
While much emphasis is placed on the two years as an NSF, it is also important to keep in mind that the entire NS experience also includes the time that the men of Singapore spend as pre-enlistees and Operationally-Ready National Servicemen. Their experience will also influence and have an impact on the next generation of our young who are watching and getting ready to serve the nation.
How is MINDEF and SAF working to enhance the NS experience for our National Servicemen at different stages of their NS journey? How can the Ministry tap upon their interests, aptitudes and experiences over the years to serve our nation better?
SkillsFuture
Chairman, my third cut. All young male Singaporeans have to commit two years in the prime of their lives for service to our nation. It is important that we recognise their commitments and contributions, and do our utmost to support them as they prepare for further studies or entry to the workforce as they near their Operationally Ready Date (ORD).
MINDEF took some steps in this direction at last year's COS with the introduction of a suite of SkillsFuture@NS initiatives to support our NSF's life-long learning journey. Would the Ministry provide an update of what MINDEF is doing to help our NSFs refresh or acquire new skills as part of their post-ORD transition?
I am curious about what support measures MINDEF offer in terms of time allocation and financial support for these NSF to commit to these courses. Is there any way that MINDEF can assist to coordinate areas of synergy so that the courses are both relevant to the NSF's role in SAF and their areas of interest?
In addition, will the effectiveness of these programmes be monitored and reviewed? Does the Ministry also take into account feedback and suggestions from the NSFs, education institutions and employers about the usefulness of these initiatives and how improvements can be incorporated over time?
Technology
Ms Joan Pereira : Chairman, many Singaporeans go online for all their needs. Our digital connectivity provides opportunities for MINDEF to reach out and engage both the military and civilian forces in joint initiatives. What plans does the Ministry have to further exploit technology to enhance cooperation between both stakeholders for our security? Would the Minister also share how we are leveraging on technology to enhance our soldiers' NS experience and well-being?
Technological advances have changed defence strategies and training methods around the world. Would the Ministry share how these technological developments have impacted SAF? Are we adequately prepared to handle increasingly sophisticated and complex equipment? What are the main challenges in securing access to such technologies? How are we progressing in our proprietary defence research and development?
NS Hub
Mr Arasu Duraisamy : Sir, in a small country with limited manpower, our National Servicemen play a crucial role in ensuring we have a credible and robust defence force. Every male Singaporean has to commit two years of his youth to serve the country. We must provide a seamless and convenient means for young male Singaporeans to prepare for enlistment. At the COS debate last year, MINDEF announced that it would be unveiling the NS Hub in 2023, a single facility that centralises pre-enlistment processes. Could the Minister please provide an update on the status of the NS Hub?
Support for National Service
Mr Ang Hin Kee (Ang Mo Kio) : Chairman, in 2017, we celebrated 50 years of National Service in Singapore. Amidst rising threats of terrorism, cyber-attacks and other challenges, we will need to evolve our approach towards NS. To this end, the NS experience must be constantly shaped and re-shaped to address the pressures, demands and desires of our future economy and future generations.
Everyone, meaning all Singaporeans, our institutions and community has a role to play in ensuring we have a robust NS system. Thus, our families, employers, schools and community groups are key pillars of support so that our Servicemen can focus on their training.
Many of us have seen and participated in the regular Singapore Armed Forces community engagement projects. The Army, the Navy and the Air Force have open house carnivals to engage the public as well as school partnership programmes to engage the students. Besides that, National Education and Total Defence Day are also part of the school’s curriculum.
I would like to ask if there are other plans to engage the community such as new citizens and grassroots, to help them understand and appreciate the importance of NS? How about new employers, including those who are newly posted to run operations located here in Singapore? This will ensure that our reservists will similarly be well supported and their role well understood.
NS Recognition
Mr Douglas Foo : Mr Chairman, National Service is now seen as a rite of passage in every Singaporean man’s life, but the journey does not stop after the NSF’s ORD. Instead, he becomes an Operationally Ready National Serviceman, to begin his 10-year ORNS training cycle. As a Singaporean son, I myself have been through the whole cycle and can testify that it is indeed a unique experience for all. In fact, I am still serving now. My son Donavan has just joined me on this journey of ORNS. I have three more boys who will be joining on this journey soon.
However, serving two years of National Service means pushing back one’s plan for education or career. The people living in Singapore, regardless of whether they are citizens or foreigners working here are indirectly benefiting from the sacrifices of our Singaporean Sons, and we hope that all will recognise and appreciate the sacrifices made by them that allow for the enjoyment of peace and sovereignty in our nation.
As President of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF), I am pleased to share that the SMF is an active partner of MINDEF and fully supports National Service. The SMF has been supporting the SAF Re-dedication Ceremony each year, since its involvement in 2013. Through this annual event, we encourage employers to show their support for National Service and the NSmen working in their organisations as well as to remind them of the important role National Service plays in protecting the nation.
Our National Servicemen sacrifice their time and energies to protect Singapore. Besides our young men who set aside two years to serve full-time, our NSmen have to spend two to three weeks away from their families when they return to do their annual In-Camp Training. It is important that we continue to show our appreciation to our Servicemen for their commitment and contribution to defence. How does MINDEF continue to ensure that recognition of our National Servicemen remains both updated and adequate?
Precautionary Measures for COVID-19
Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade) : Mr Chairman, the SAF responded quickly to the COVID-19 situation in Singapore, mobilising our Servicemen to pack masks for distribution to many households. As they contribute to Singapore’s fight against the virus, our Servicemen’s health must be protected as well.
Training for SAF often involves close contact, requires high physical exertion, which may lead to transmission of droplets. There may also be many soldiers training within a small space.
I know that we cannot compromise our country’s security and safety, by stopping the training exercises and reducing the operational readiness of our forces. At the same time, I am sure that we can modify some of our training procedures and processes to make sure that our men stay strong, safe and healthy. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, what are some of the precautionary measures that MINDEF has put in place to protect our Servicemen?
Digital Defence
Ms Joan Pereira : Chairman, over the last few years, we have observed the trend of misinformation and falsehoods being propagated via social media networks and applications escalating. In some countries, the proliferation of "fake news" has even influenced the outcome of elections. Here in Singapore, amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, we have seen several pieces of "fake news" being circulated, some of which had caused needless panic and fear among certain segments of Singaporeans.
How is MINDEF supporting whole-of-Government efforts to prepare Singaporeans to combat the spread of online falsehoods and misinformation? Does the Ministry have an assessment framework to determine when the spread of such online misinformation is threatening our security and at which point will the countermeasures be activated?
Cybersecurity
Dr Teo Ho Pin (Bukit Panjang) : Chairman, over the past year, we have witnessed an increase in the number of cybersecurity breaches. As a response to these incidents, many countries are stepping up efforts to strengthen their cybersecurity capabilities. At a Committee of Supply debate last year, the Minister for Defence announced that a Defence Cybersecurity Centre would be set up. Could I ask the Minister to provide an update on MINDEF's efforts in strengthening our cybersecurity capabilities to deter and act against potential threats?
Data Protection
Mr Seah Kian Peng : Data security is core to Singapore’s strong defence and our continued economic success. As malicious threats emerge from various sources, including attempts at data exfiltration, it is essential to strengthen our capabilities and defences against these. Two instances last year have been instructive and both involved data leak of SAF personnel from vendors contracted to the SAF through malicious malware and ransomware.
Clearly, we see that there are unfriendly elements watching to see what weaknesses our systems may contain so that they can exploit them. Digital defence is the new addition to our Total Defence. Each and every citizen has a part to play in defending our nation and our way of life – including being vigilant online.
Today, there are enemies unseen – scams, fake news, and cyberattacks. Given continual reports of security breaches worldwide, what is MINDEF doing to protect our security systems and ensure that our data and information are not compromised?
1.45 pm
Digital Defence for Businesses
Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry : Many of our businesses and companies rely on secure and reliable networks to trade, transact and communicate. They also store vast amount of personal and commercial data in Singapore.
As the digital sector expands, it is important that business networks and systems are well protected. We have seen the devastating impact of cyber attacks on individual businesses. More importantly, such attacks also could hurt Singapore's reputation as a trusted hub.
Given the pervasiveness of digital threats, MINDEF and MCI introduced Digital Defence as a pillar of Total Defence in 2019. How is MINDEF working with our partners to equip businesses to deal with threats from the digital domain?
Psychological Defence
Mr Seah Kian Peng : In times of increased stress on society, psychological defence is particularly salient in ensuring Singaporeans remain united in the face of external threats. We have seen how panic and fear can quickly disrupt our way of life.
In my main Budget speech, I spoke about the great, the wise and the good, as well as those who mock them. These are taken from the poem by Yeats, "Come let us mock at the Great". He urged us to mock at these mockers, people who would not lift a hand to help others out of a great storm.
In light of the recent COVID-19 outbreak, it is easy to stand back, stay safe and mock others who are doing the work, taking the risks and deciding on the new rules which would keep our communities going. How important is our state of mind, our psychological defence? What can Singaporeans do to help overcome this crisis?
Building Resilience in the Community
Dr Teo Ho Pin : Mr Chairman, Sir, when Total Defence was first introduced in 1984, it was recognised that threats will not simply affect our military but potentially Singaporeans, combatants and non-combatants alike. Thus, we must continue to build resilience in our people and community.
In order for Singapore to prevail over a threat, it is important that we fortify the resilience of the entire community. This concept has become more salient today, in the face of threats such as terrorism, cyber attacks, and especially so in face of the recent COVID-19 outbreak.
Sir, I wish to ask the Minister for an update on MINDEF's efforts to engage the community and to equip them with the relevant psychological states, knowledge and skills to deal with a myriad of threats that Singapore may encounter.
Education
Ms Joan Pereira : Over the years, in addition to the core pillar of Military Defence, Singapore has built up the five non-military pillars of Civil, Economic, Social, Digital and Psychological Defences to fortify the comprehensive security structure of Total Defence. All Singaporeans, individually and collectively, have important roles to play in our security, contributing our different expertise and abilities to build a strong and resilient nation.
Total Defence had enabled us to overcome past challenges such as SARS, terrorism and economic downturns. It is important that we continue to educate the next generation of Singaporeans to stay united and work together to overcome new threats. How is MINDEF or SAF educating our young about Total Defence?
Total Defence
Dr Teo Ho Pin : Mr Chairman, the success of Total Defence is contingent upon active participation and contribution by all parts of society, including the Government, businesses, communities and individuals. Unfortunately, the Total Defence initiatives you see today are for the most part initiated by the Government. We should aim to have more civic participation in Total Defence.
Civic participation manifested in the form of an app called North West 911, developed by volunteers from the North West Community Development Council (CDC). This app can help Singaporeans to better cope and respond to 14 crisis scenarios and administer basis first aid, among other functions. We are in the process of encouraging more people to download this app so that they can have a crisis guide and a resource directory, all from the convenience of one's pocket.
Sir, I wish to call on the Minister to support the North West 911 initiative and urge all Singaporeans, especially members of the uniformed services, to download the app and be operationally ready to respond effectively to any future emergencies. Sir, I wish to ask the Minister for an update on the Government-led and community-led efforts to strengthen Total Defence and their effectiveness.
The Chairman : Mr Seah Kian Peng, you can take your two cuts together.
New Total Defence Logo
Mr Seah Kian Peng : Mr Chairman, it has been 36 years since Total Defence was launched. Like many Singaporeans, we are all pleased to learn that MINDEF has recently launched the new Total Defence logo competition to create a new logo that represents all six pillar, including a prize money of $5,000.
There were 10 designs that have been shortlisted and I would like to ask the Minister how did Singaporeans respond to the call for the design of the new logo? Could the Minister also explain the significance of the new logo? Make no mistake, I think it is a nice design but I think it is useful and important for all to also know what goes behind the logo.
Climate Defence in Total Defence
My second cut. Singapore adopts a whole-of-society approach to national security. Total Defence was conceptualised in 1984 as a comprehensive model for the defence of Singapore. From 1984 to last year, we have always had five pillars. In 2019, we added Digital Defence as cyber threats were as grave as physical ones.
Today, in 2020, I am asking this House to consider one more – Climate Defence. Some may say we are moving too fast in adding one more. I would argue that we have moved too slow. Climate change is an existential threat to Singapore and one we need to recognise. Not only are more of us talking about it now, we are all seeing and feeling the effects of climate change.
In my cut at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), I had argued that we needed a whole-of-Government approach to climate change, given its complex nature, and which straddles many Ministries.
With changes in global trends and threats, the securitisation of technology and climate has become an existential threat to our nation. The Young People's Action Party (YPAP) and environmentalists have already proposed that we adopt Climate Defence as the seventh pillar of Total Defence. I support this call.
This declaration is not just a matter of policy efficiency. It is a matter of raising the political importance of this issue so that it will no longer be put on the back-burner. Neither will environmental concerns be considered the poor cousin of economic growth in bureaucratic decision-making.
In this Budget, we have made room for long-term planning, including for environmental issues. This is the right approach. In line with this approach, would MINDEF consider adopting Climate Defence as a pillar of Total Defence?
The Chairman : Minister Ng.
The Minister for Defence (Dr Ng Eng Hen) : Mr Chairman, first, let me thank Members for their continued support to build a strong defence for Singapore – not only for previous Budgets, which Members have given assent but I hope for this Budget as well – and for many of the Members, for their personal commitment.
Many of the Members have done their National Service (NS) and for many here, their children are doing National Service. As Mr Douglas Foo recounted, his sons. As he was speaking, I wished he had more sons and daughters to produce the next generation of NS men.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, in his round-up speech, reminded us of what Mr Lee Kuan Yew said our obligation was. Our greatest obligation is to the future, and sitting there, listening to Members speak, I think it is virtuous. There were well-informed views about how difficult our external environment is – how fluid, how fast-changing, how it impacts us, how as a small country we have very little wherewithal in which to control our external events and even less to effect changes that come upon us – whether it is climate change, whether it is terrorism, whether it is factious politics in neighbouring countries.
But equally, there was strong consensus and pre-occupation about how to build a strong national defence. There were good questions asked and rightly so about prudence, administration, about how we spend our defence dollars, how we make sure that our processes give us the maximum value and that we ensure that where we put our money is, is well chosen and sustainable for our defence budget.
There are many issues and what our colleagues and I will aim to do is try to answer to the best of our abilities. First, I think, and foremost, to give a better understanding of how MINDEF and SAF approach these questions which Members have raised. Let me start with how we think about our defence for Singapore.
There is a familiar dictum in military annals – that a cardinal mistake which has led to failures has been to prepare for the next battle based on the last war. Analysts cite this specifically for the Vietnam War, where tactics that gave the US victory in Europe during World War II proved ineffective and could not overcome the guerrilla insurgency employed by the Viet Cong. Many of you would have seen the series on Netflix – a gripping documentary that underscores this cardinal mistake.
Singapore, as a small nation with little reserves, if caught off guard, should heed this dictum. Mr Vikram Nair put it rightly when he says that, "We have to be ready." But, ready for what?
We do not have the resources to plan for all eventualities. Instead, as Members intimated, Singapore must be keenly aware of the changing circumstances around us and how they impact us. Our region, indeed, the world, is at an inflexion point, which many Members pointed out, and it is for this new environment that Singapore must prepare itself.
Internally, new military capabilities have been built and are operated by a new generation of SAF soldiers, and operated capably, I must say. And it is because of the steadfast commitment by successive Governments and the overwhelming support from Members of this House, across party lines – Members of Parliament, Non-Constituency Members of Parliament, Nominated Members of Parliament – that we have collectively succeeded in building a strong SAF that is recognised today as a modern and professional military force, capable of defending our national interest. Mr Douglas Foo alluded to that and Mr Charles Chong rightly put it. The very success of the SAF is that we are not tested, and indeed, that is what is said in our mission statement in the financial Budget Book – "Deterrence".
Even so, to respond to a new environment of security challenges, the SAF must again restructure decisively to meet new challenges, to remain relevant, responsive and effective for our national defence. I think Miss Sylvia Lim talked about it – how the changing landscape will throw forth new threats and the SAF must be ready. I will go into the details of the restructuring required later.
But first, the new environment. Members have talked about it. Mr Charles Chong, Mr Desmond Choo, Ms Sylvia Lim, Mr Vikram Nair. I agree completely with Members that along with the rest of the world, Singapore has entered a different phase in geopolitics. It is messier, less predictable and therefore, with more unseen events. The post-World War II era of 70 years, championed and spearheaded by a hyper-dominant US together with its Western liberal allies is no longer the only and main narrative. A new chapter has begun with elements of the old but also new principal actors. China is a rising global power but regional powers too are gaining strength, including Japan, India and Australia.
And it is not just Asia that is fast-changing. In Europe, the trans-Atlantic alliance is evolving. When the UK government decided to allow Huawei a limited role for its 5G network, the UK dailies concluded that the US-UK relationship had become "less special". This year's Munich Security Conference theme was meant to be provocative to prompt soul-searching, but nonetheless carried more than a modicum of insecurities – the theme was "Westlessness".
2.00 pm
At its plenary, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier sharply criticised the US' "America First" policy and that "Great Again" was at the expense of neighbours and partners. The US wants the EU to liberalise its trade policies to buy more American goods and spend more to defend themselves. In response, some EU leaders do indeed want to reduce their dependence on the US. Just last year, French President Emmanuel Macron put it starkly, "American decisions over the last several years... have led us to rethink fundamental diplomatic and military strategy and on occasion elements of solidarity which we thought were forever inalienable". Europe is far away from Singapore, but the changes there will invariably impact our part of the world.
In the Middle East, the biggest game changer is a US that is now a net exporter of energy for the first time in nearly 70 years, and less dependent on crude oil and natural gas from the Middle East than ever before in its history. For the first time too, Russia has direct access to the Mediterranean Sea, and this is a warm water port in Syria, and where it can begin to build and exert military presence there. China, Japan and other Asian countries on the other hand, are still dependent on oil from the Middle East, through the Strait of Hormuz. This is why President Trump remarked wryly, but not inaccurately, that the US was still "protecting the shipping lanes for other countries for zero compensation". The US' reaction to the next Middle East crisis will be shaped by these new calculations.
The US Department of Defense (DoD) as the action arm of foreign and state policy has made it clear that our region – the Indo Pacific – is now their "priority theatre". Why? Pointedly, because of China, which they characterise as a "strategic competitor" and "rival power". The US DoD is putting that policy in practice, and moving more ships, planes, other equipment and troops to its bases in Japan and Korea, on top of the 78,000 troops already stationed there. For Australia, a record number of US Marines deployed there last year, and the US has plans to build additional military infrastructure in Australia once Congress gives its approval. With President Trump’s support for a bigger defence budget, such efforts will get a boost.
What would China do? For China, the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) expansion in blue water capability, air projection, missile and space programmes have gained momentum. Its Navy is now the world’s largest naval force, at least in numbers of ships. Last year, China’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, the Shandong, was commissioned. The US’ recent statements and moves are likely to accelerate, not slow down, the pace of PLA modernisation.
European powers too, some in heeding the US’ call and others independently, want to position themselves in Asia. My counterpart, French Minister Florence Parly has said that France, “is not going anywhere, because [it is] part of the region”. True to these words, France sent its warships through the South China Sea and in 2018, its Air Force conducted its largest-ever deployment in Southeast Asia since 2004, from Australia to India, to mark France’s presence in the region. The UK too has actively positioned itself in Asia. In 2018 alone, the British Royal Navy deployed three ships to the region. Last year, the Royal Navy increased its joint military exercises with the US Navy in the South China Sea.
Asian countries too have beefed up their militaries. Military spending in Asia has grown more than 50% in the last decade, with both China and India in the list of top five global spenders. ASEAN member states have doubled their spending on defence over the last 15 years.
Willy-nilly, these events, conflated, have resulted in the Asia arena becoming more militarised and contested, as Members of this House have noticed. The South China Sea dispute adds grist to the mill but the motivations go much deeper, that of time-old dominance in an evolving world order.
For Singapore, a small city state, 700 sq km, five-odd million people, we watch these developments ever so closely, carefully trying to preserve space for ourselves, to maintain our sovereignty and pursue our own interest, something which Member Desmond Choo talked about. We have no desire to take sides or be caught in the crossfire. We stand for our national interest. And so far, we have maintained independence and space for ourselves. But as contestation increases in this region, it will be increasingly difficult to do so.
So, I appreciate Members' questions, "What will you do? What will the Singapore Government do to maintain this wonderful brand of diplomacy?"
Despite the challenges, Singapore was able to forge even stronger defence relations with the US, China and key partners. With the US, as Members observed, we renewed a key document – the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding for the US’ use of facilities in Singapore. And this document had underpinned defence relations between both sides for the last 30 years. The renewal, signed between Prime Minister Lee and President Trump, allows the US forces’ continued access to our air and naval bases for another 15 years.
With China, we enhanced the 2008 Agreement on Defence Exchanges and Security Cooperation. This year will be the first time the SAF is planning to conduct two bilateral exercises with the PLA in the same year. At our recent Airshow, for the first time, the Ba Yi aerobatics team performed as did the US’ F-22 and F-35B.
With India, our militaries held bilateral exercises across all three Services under the ambit of our Bilateral Agreements and we continue to welcome India’s engagement of the region. With Australia, as Mr Charles Chong said, our 30th year of our training in Shoalwater Bay this year, our strategic partner, we are building our joint training facilities and it is on schedule. I will give some details later. And we were very glad that we could contribute two Chinooks and RSAF personnel to assist the Australian Defence Force during the recent bushfires.
Against the changing geopolitics, we have to watch it, we have to respond nimbly to it if we can, and we have to prepare for it. Even so, we would need to respond to clear and present security threats – namely three, and Members have talked about them: terrorism, cyber threats and maritime threats.
Against terrorism, which Ms Joan Pereira highlighted, we are not immune to the returned fighters. In fact, not only not immune, but quite vulnerable. Because there are choice targets in this region. Against them, we have stepped up efforts and formalised intelligence sharing through the ASEAN "Our Eyes" initiative. The SAF will assist in this effort and work closely with other like-minded countries.
The SAF is restructuring its own military intelligence outfits, so that counter-terrorism intelligence to detect, forewarn – what Ms Pereira warned about. We need an outfit that tells us, at least alerts us, that there are plots being undertaken. And also responding to these plots are now part and parcel of the core mission to protect Singapore. It will be a key deliverable and accountability for SAF intelligence units even as they work together with other Singapore agencies dealing with this space.
Some Members asked about cyber – Ms Joan Pereira, Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mr Seah Kian Peng. To guide the restructuring efforts required to meet security challenges, the SAF and MINDEF have convened two high level committees. One of the committees is against cyber threats, headed by Permanent Secretary (Defence Development) and CDF to spearhead this effort. In the SAF’s history, this is as important as raising another service, just like Army, Navy and Air Force, namely to build an integrated cyber command and force to defend our digital borders, especially against foreign cyber actors, both state and non-state who seek to undermine our stability and/or pose a threat to national security. Dr Teo Ho Pin asked for updates from last year when we talked about building up a cyber force.
We have thought about it, gone deeper. And basically, the challenge is to build, just like Army, Navy and Air Force, an integrated cyber command and cyber force that can operate, defend and protect our interests in the cyber domain.
None here, I suspect, will question the need for such a cyber force. But in many aspects, the cyber domain is more difficult to plan and execute than in air, land and sea, and may require different types of units and force configuration. The simplest question: who is the enemy? For air, land and sea, you have a limited number who are potential aggressors. But in cyber, it could be potentially many more.
So, the committee intends to be bold in examining ways that we can address this challenge but also as important, is to recruit soldiers of the right aptitude, their training and deployments. Because what you recruit for air, land and sea, may be different from what you need in the cyber arena.
Nevertheless, for command integrity and accountability, after the restructuring, CDF will continue to be in charge of mission outcomes – never mind the challenges; there has to be a command structure, there has to be a Commander who is in charge, who is looking at the problem, making decisions, raising training, sustaining forces to be able to meet these challenges. And the Chief C4I will be the pinnacle position that holds accountability and reports directly to the CDF, similar to the other services.
The SAF cyber command will have to provide threat assessments and early warning in cyber attacks, and also respond accordingly. The universe of cyber threats and activists is large and the cyber command will have to prioritise its efforts and focus on key threats so as to not dissipate resources. This restructuring effort will take some years to accomplish.
Let me turn to maritime security, which a number of Members has brought up, including Mr Vikram Nair. The SAF and indeed the whole-of-Government had made changes to better tackle maritime threats, which have expanded in recent years. The recent spike in sea robbery incidents in the Singapore Strait is but one example, as well as intrusions into Singapore Territorial Waters.
RSN’s Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) will be acquiring new purpose built platforms that can enhance our capabilities to deal with such threats. For a start, four refurbished patrol vessels will be dedicated and deployed for greater persistence to protect our territorial waters. But all of us know that maritime threats are transnational in nature and cannot be solved without co-operation and collaboration of our neighbours. We have reached out to our counterparts in Malaysia and Indonesia to propose that the Malacca Straits Patrol initiative, which has worked so well through coordinated patrols to reduce piracy in the Malacca Strait, be extended to other areas in our surrounding waters. Discussions are on-going.
These significant restructuring efforts against terrorism, cyber and maritime threats reflect the rapidly evolving spectrum of threats that today’s Singapore faces. But whatever the threats, for each SAF unit, effective training makes the decisive difference. In an uncertain landscape, we must raise, train and sustain units within the SAF to deal with both conventional and unconventional threats. I think this was a point that Mr Henry Kwek was alluding to.
With your permission, Mr Chairman, may I display some slides on the screens.
The Chairman : Yes, please. [ Slides were shown to hon Members. ]
Dr Ng Eng Hen : So, let me deal with conventional operations. For conventional operations, the SAF aims to have the best training facilities globally. So, we talked about conventional; we talked about unconventional. For conventional training, our simple goal is that we want to have the best training facilities in the world. It is a high mark but we are confident we will achieve this.
Some Members have asked about developments in Shoalwater Bay, Mr Charles Chong, in particular. And let me give some updates under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Australia, which will be a key node for best of class training facilities. It will provide the SAF with modern instrumented training ranges such as the Combined Arms Air-Land Ranges and the Urban Operations Live Firing facilities in an area approximately 10 times the size of Singapore.
2.15 pm
Significant progress has been made, with completion of an ammunition storage building last year. The Combined Arms Air-Land Ranges is now being developed for the Army and Air Force to train together with tanks, infantry vehicles, drones, artillery and other combined arms platforms. This will be complemented by the Urban Operations Live Firing facilities for air and combined arms live-firing in a realistic environment. And these facilities will be equipped with advanced targetry and instrumentation. In essence, when completed, we can conduct complex training on a much larger scale, that only few militaries are able to, elsewhere. We expect construction at Shoalwater Bay to be completed by 2024 and Greenvale – that is another site – to be completed by 2028. When these facilities are completed, the SAF will be able to conduct integrated training across all three Services, involving up to 14,000 personnel annually and over a span of up to 18 weeks. This is a significant asset for our defence capabilities.
Mr Charles Chong asked what will be the effect of climate change on these plans. The short answer is probably nobody knows and we have to watch it very carefully. There were the incidents of the bush fires this year. And it not only will affect us but also more impactfully, the Australian Defence Force (ADF). For the Shoalwater training area, there was some halt in some activities not because there were bush fires there but because of the fear that it may accentuate it. So, we are watching it very carefully, and if we have to make adjustments, we will have to.
For the Navy, our ships have ample opportunities to train overseas. During Exercise Pacific Griffin, the US and our ships successfully fired the full suite of missiles, destroyed surface and air targets and hunted submarines. We also conducted the inaugural trilateral maritime exercise in the Andaman Sea with India and Thailand. This year, the RSN will take on a key leadership role in the world's largest multilateral maritime exercise, Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), alongside established navies in the Pacific Ocean. The RSN does well in these overseas deployments that validate its systems and benchmark competencies.
The Navy is also making good progress to strengthen our conventional capabilities. The last three of the fleet of eight Littoral Mission Vessels entered into service last month. In Germany, our new Invincible-class submarine has commenced trials in the water and her pioneer crew is undergoing work-up training.
What about the Air Force, as Mr Henry Kwek asked. For the Air Force, the skies have opened up. In December last year, I signed an MOU with US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper to establish a fighter training detachment in Guam. The RSAF plans to deploy our F-15s, F-16s and supporting assets, such as the Gulfstream 550 – Airborne Early Warning to Guam for training. The airspace around Guam, together with training facilities, will allow the RSAF to conduct larger scale, more complex and realistic air-to-air and air-to-ground training. At the same time, this detachment in Guam, alongside other deployments in Australia, India and Thailand will allow quick re-deployment back to Singapore when required. So, it is a significant asset. You can train nearer; we can bring you back if we need you.
Some have asked for an update on our acquisitions of the F-35s. We have decided on the F-35B variant of the aircraft, which can take off from a shorter runway and land vertically, and it is an important feature in land scarce Singapore. I do not know whether it can land in one of your HDB carparks but we will consider this scenario. The F-35B performed in the recent Singapore Airshow and its ability to swivel 360 degrees was simply, as some people said, "Awesome". We did not buy the F-35B or we did not order F-35Bs just because it can do that. As Mr Kwek rightly pointed out, it has a full suite of sensors and fighting capabilities. We have obtained the US government and Congress' assent. MINDEF is in the final stages of acquiring our four F-35s, with an option to purchase eight more. And when delivered, which we hope will be around 2026, the F-35Bs will be deployed in US for training and in-depth evaluation.
Ms Svlvia Lim raised good questions about the question marks over the F-35 and we watch it very closely. We said we will buy four, evaluate it fully before deciding to commit on a further eight. And our timelines are, if you like, useful to us. We are in no hurry – the F-15s and F-16s are adequate for our air defence and air capabilities. And we will evaluate them fully, including all the questions that were attributed to the F-35s, including cost and maintenance before we decide fully on a full fleet of the F-35s.
I have talked about conventional and traditional operations. Let me move on to non-traditional operations, for which we must prepare not only the SAF, but indeed, I think, our entire population, for a more uncertain and expanded array of threats – we call these "grey zone" threats, as opposed to black and white.
Low-level terrorist attacks are a good example of "grey zone" threats that can turn deep black when the whole country is destabilised. What happened to Ukraine in the early stages is a salutary lesson on "grey zone" threats – incipient, then it cascades, extrapolates and blows up. And when you try to mount the defence, you are finished.
So, the SAF has compiled the range of such "grey zone" threats – of course, you will pardon me if I do not give you a list of "grey zone" threats – and the options available to respond for each. Each, by themselves, if limited, do not threaten our sovereignty but nevertheless can lead to instability or, cumulatively, whittle away our ability to defend national interests.
Another example of a non-traditional threat occurred, as some Members pointed here, when COVID-19 hit Singapore, that tested our Total Defence. At a very short notice, the Army packed 5.2 million masks, delivered them to 89 Community Centres and Clubs to distribute to 1.37 million households within two days. The SAF also helped MOH with contacting personnel as well as manning thermal imagery machines at the airport. And these efforts by the SAF were to enhance our psychological, social and economic resilience. My colleague, Senior Minister of State Maliki will speak more on Total Defence.
There is another threat for which the SAF may not be primarily responsible, but must join in the efforts for Singapore's security and safety. Mr Chong Kee Hiong alluded to it. Mr Seah Sian Peng talked about it. And yes, I agree with Mr Seah that we must adopt climate defence.
The Government has laid out key directions – Senior Minister Teo's Inter-ministerial Committee of Climate Change has done very deep second, even third order work in terms of how we can step wise deal with this issue. And I appreciate the efforts because it focuses our attention. It also gives, to the extent available, quantitative or if not, semi-quantitative projections of what each does. And I think that is the right approach.
The SAF is also making significant change as part of the whole-of-Government (WOG) plan.
Against the effects of rising sea levels, MINDEF and SAF is working with relevant agencies closely on coastal adaptation. Mr Chong Kee Hiong asked about the progress in Singapore's first polder development at Pulau Tekong that is led by HDB. As he described it, the polder comprises a dike which protects the reclaimed land from the sea and a network of drains and pumps to keep the land dry. The tracts of land created, which are below sea level, will be used for Army training.
It is early days yet so I do not have anything concrete to report. But obviously, this is an important project which we are learning from as we create new land for countering rising sea levels. And if this succeeds, that model and that template can be used for other areas in Singapore. So, it is an important project. And MINDEF and SAF understand this.
MINDEF and the SAF are on track to meet our national targets to reduce energy and water consumption. Some Members have raised the NS Hub. It will be completed in 2023. Mr Duriasamy talked about it. It was designed to maximise natural ventilation and daylight. I would have thought all SAF buildings were designed for natural ventilation and daylight nowadays. But take this as what is meant, it is to maximise natural ventilation and to reduce solar heat gain. So, that is a plus now – solar heat gain and energy demand. We have set an aim for the NS Hub to be the top 10% of energy-efficient buildings in Singapore. I expect that aim to be achieved.
The SAF is also taking discrete steps to reduce carbon emissions, even changing modes of operation without loss of any effectiveness. First, we intend to replace our 400 administrative vehicles to reduce CO 2 emissions. To hybrid models first, reducing emissions by up to two-thirds per vehicle and later when our island's infrastructure is built, with electric vehicles.
We also established a waste management system under a joint collaboration with NEA and DSTA that turns recycled food waste into energy. Here, a caveat, we have cut down waste. I noted that I have replied to a particular question on it. It is not much waste but that is a first important thing to do. But where there is waste, we turn it into recycled energy. Currently, food waste collected from eight cookhouses is processed by microbes and enzymes at recycling plants to generate biogas. And we are looking to expand this to 10 more cookhouses. If successful, this will be expanded to all cookhouses.
MINDEF has commissioned net zero energy buildings at Kranji and Seletar Camps, and by the end of this financial year, the buildings in 12 of our camps will be equipped with solar panels. In March, we will deliver, which we already are, we will deliver the first net positive energy aircraft hangar at Changi Air Base, which can generate more electricity than that consumed due to certain features that were incorporated into the design of the hangar. When fully realised, these efforts combined will reduce 11,400 tonnes of CO 2 emissions by the end of this financial year and support our national efforts to combat climate change.
These measures extend to our training areas overseas as well. We have mentioned Shoalwater Bay training facilities. We are working with the Australian Department of Defence to incorporate environmentally sustainable design measures, such as solar-powered lighting and using building materials that have a higher proportion of recycled content. We are taking proactive efforts to mitigate flood and fire risks, through the use of flood modelling, and the construction of fire breaks and the use of non-combustible fire-rated materials. And this is in answer to Mr Charles Chong's question.
Adapting to use "green" technologies could also reap operational advantages. The Navy is exploring the use of hybrid propulsion systems in designing its incoming vessels. Such technologies enable our new ships to not only reduce carbon emissions, but become more energy efficient.
In the grand global scheme of changes necessary to mitigate climate change, one could say that our total reduction of CO 2 emissions that I just talked about might be considered insignificant, and I would agree. But all agencies and countries must start on this road to recovery.
Let me focus on the NSmen who make up the bulk of our SAF. Senior Minister of State Heng will touch on some initiatives to recognise their contributions, but I mentioned earlier a second high level committee.
This committee has been formed to look at two areas – the In-Camp Training (ICT) and the deployment of manpower, chaired by Deputy Secretary (Administration) and the Chief of Army. This committee must address the reduction in manpower and changes necessary to fulfil the aims of the SAF, as well as to meet the needs of a new generation of NS men, which many of you eloquently spoke for. The number of ICTs for each NSman will remain the same. Let me say that again – the number of ICTs for each NSman will remain the same. But we want to improve the outcome and efficiency of each ICT.
2.30 pm
For manpower, while we have already restructured the SAF to match the reduction in overall manpower, we do need to better match skills and aptitude of National Servicemen to their vocations, as well as to make training more focused on their operational roles. We will announce these specific changes in due course.
Last year, I informed the House about the Inspector-General’s Office (IGO) which was stood up to strengthen safety and Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How will share and reply to some of the questions that Members have raised.
Mr Chairman, as I have indicated previously, we can continue to maintain and grow the SAF with a defence spending that avoids sharp ups and downs but which at least keeps pace with inflation, about 3% to 4% nominal increase each year. A number of Members have asked – Mr Vikram Nair, Mr Douglas Foo and Ms Sylvia Lim – whether we are able to meet our challenges with the defence spending and I would say our assessment for now is yes. The commitment holds, with a projected increase for this year's Budget over last year's of 3.2%.
A number of questions have been asked, how do we make sure that not only are we prudent, but that our processes give us the maximum returns for each defence dollar – Mr Douglas Foo, Ms Sylvia Lim.
When we procure platforms or services, a thorough study is made on life-cycle costs. Ms Lim is quite right, I can sell you something with the low price but really dock off your dollars with high maintenance cost. We are a little better at the game. We put everything as life-cycle costs, so that I know the exact cost of a platform over its life-time; a thorough study is made.
Even though we have sensitive needs for the majority of projects, it is really by open tenders to ensure competitive building. So, if you take all our contracts that the SAF and MINDEF put out, majority are still by competitive bidding and open tenders. That is how we ensure we can get fair value. But even for classified needs, we ensure that a few companies pass security requirements. We pre-qualify them, in other words, we ensure that we have more than one company that satisfies our security requirements so that they can bid competitively. That is the second prong.
But in specific circumstances, which Ms Lim asked about, where requirements can only be fulfilled by a single vendor, DSTA does its own stringent costing and we will compare the bid price versus our internal costing, if it is too far from our evaluation, whether too high or too low, we re-evaluate it. Too high because this is not fair value. But too low, we are worried that you cannot deliver the product that I want.
These processes have strengthened our procurement and indeed if you ask the industry and the industry is well-informed, DSTA is widely acknowledged as a "tough customer" and "reference buyer"; people have said that to me. Because when DSTA signs off on this, it tells to the whole universe of procurers that this product is value-for-money. That is why sometimes they go the extra mile – the suppliers and the vendors make the extra efforts to try to sell things to us – because DSTA does a thorough evaluation not only in terms of ability, but value for money.
The other significant aspect to stretch the defence dollar is through design from inception. So, for example, the Army's Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) that were commissioned last year were chosen not only for their new capabilities but because they were maintenance-friendly by design. We saved up to 40% in maintenance costs as compared to other armoured vehicles. And there are many such examples where cost has been saved through maintenance or reduction in crew.
Mr Chairman, let me conclude. Let me thank the Members of this House for their strong and continued support both as Members of Parliament and in their individual capacity outside this House. It is the collective resolve and commitment of all Singaporeans, including Members of Parliament here, to build a strong SAF that protects our home and provides us assurance and space in this unpredictable world. [ Applause. ]
The Senior Minister of State for Defence (Mr Heng Chee How) : Mr Chairman, Minister for Defence just spoke about how our geopolitical environment is becoming increasingly complex. The SAF must evolve with these challenges in order to be able to mount a strong national defence. Our greatest asset remains our people, with National Service or NS, as the cornerstone of our defence. MINDEF and the SAF must therefore continue to invest in capable national servicemen, enrich their NS experience and strengthen Singaporean's support for NS.
The SAF is are committed to training our national servicemen effectively and safely. Families entrust their sons to us. We must and we will uphold the trust in us.
Mr Charles Chong asked about improvements to training safety. Last February, the SAF Inspector-General's Office, or IGO, was formed to scrutinise and enforce the safety measures in SAF units. IGO inspectors go to each unit to assess the robustness of their safety systems as well as their practices. They interview servicemen at every level – from commanders, to safety appointment holders, to soldiers – in order to understand how safety measures are practised on the ground and whether the soldiers themselves feel confident and comfortable to provide feedback on safety. The IGO has already audited 70% of all formations and their sub-units across the SAF and they will complete this first round of audits by September this year.
Safety audits aside, there must also be concrete, consistent action at all levels and at all times. The Army has introduced 100% inspections of all high-risk activities and field training. Existing equipment are regularly reviewed, while new equipment are designed with inbuilt safety features. For instance, the newly commissioned Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle comes with emergency stop features, as well as audio and visual alerts to prompt the crew about surrounding hazards.
As Mr Arasu Duraisamy pointed out, we want every soldier to consciously keep safe while they train. It is not a compromise, it is both at the same time. To achieve this, unit commanders conduct before- and after-action reviews and risk assessments with the units as part of their daily work. The 6th Army Maintenance Base is an example. During morning roll calls, their commanders and soldiers discuss openly about possible lapses or near-misses; for example, if you use the wrong tools or soldiers not wearing their helmets and so on. Using a simple Think-Check-Do approach, the soldiers systematically plan their steps, check their equipment and pre-empt risks before each maintenance task. Over time, every soldier will internalise these safety practices.
We are also harnessing technology. Last year, I spoke about SafeGuardian, which is a one-stop mobile app for on-the-go access to safety checklists, instant sharing of hazards among servicemen and notification amongst them of danger zones. By placing safety information within the easy and instant reach of our servicemen, we foster a culture of safety – "By All, For All". The app was trialed in our Naval Bases and feedback has been positive. We will be progressively rolling this out throughout the SAF.
I have spoken so far about preventive measures to keep our soldiers safe as they train. Mr Charles Chong asked how the SAF is improving its response to medical emergencies when accidents happen. SAF Medics undergo an 11-week training on life-saving skills. To enhance their competencies, the SAF has partnered the SCDF, under an initiative known as Project Serve, to create a six-month attachment within the SCDF's national emergency ambulances. In other words, the SAF medics go with the SCDF paramedics in the ambulances attending to real cases. By doing so, they put their knowledge into practice under real-life, time-pressured situations.
Recently, we also piloted the attachment of our medics to the NUH Emergency Medicine Department. Such hands-on trainings are extremely valuable to our medics – they have emerged from such trainings, more confident and competent in casualty management. Discussions are currently underway with both the SCDF and the other hospitals to extend and expand such programmes.
Through these various initiatives, we will build a capable fighting force that will always train effectively and safely.
Moving from safety to health, Mr Seah Kian Peng asked about the precautionary measures that the SAF has put in place to protect our servicemen in light of the COVID-19 threat. MINDEF and SAF take reference from the Government's advisories, guidelines and requirements. We gave pre-enlistees who have travelled to China and are due for enlistment a mandatory Leave of Absence (LOA) and deferred In-Camp Training for NSmen who have travelled to China.
Last week, we extended these measures to pre-enlistees and NSmen who have travelled to Daegu City or to Cheongdo County in South Korea, in line with MOH's revised advisory. In other words, we keep a very very close eye on the situation and we adjust accordingly.
All SAF Medical Centres have a Pandemic Readiness Response Plan and we hold sufficient supplies of Personal Protective Equipment and we also have medical personnel ready to manage suspected cases in line with MOH's requirements. With the change to DORSCON Orange, the SAF has also stepped up preventive measures within camps, requiring our personnel to take their temperature twice daily, conducting more frequent disinfection of workplaces as well as staggering meal times. We will continue to do our utmost to protect our servicemen.
Let me now talk about enhancing the NS experience. While our robust training and safety measures and medical support give our soldiers the confidence to train well and to train hard, the enduring strength of the SAF ultimately rests on the commitment on the part of our soldiers. This is why we constantly look for ways to improve the NS experience for every serviceman, at every stage of his NS journey. This point was raised by Mr Chong Kee Hiong.
For pre-enlistees, we are preparing them better for NS, both physically and mentally. As Mr Chong Kee Hiong pointed out, our pre-enlistees come from diverse backgrounds. For the vast majority, obviously are still citizens born and bred in Singapore and who, as Members have pointed out, most likely have family members who had undergone NS. Yet there are also new citizens and PRs who may not have family or friends who have undergone NS before. In other words, they may know less compared to Singaporeans who were born and bred here.
To better equip this group, we partnered ACCORD to appoint dedicated NS Coordinators in Foreign System Schools and Privately Funded Institutions in order to assist with their questions and clarifications about NS. We are also facilitating mutual learning and exchange among NS coordinators. In one such exchange, which was hosted by United World College (South East Asia) last year; I was there and the discussions were very enriching, frank and open. Everybody found it very useful. There will be another round upcoming and I look forward to attending it as well.
We are also aware that many pre-enlistees want to be more physically prepared before they enter NS. Hence, MINDEF is collaborating with SAFRA to make gym facilities more accessible through the Pre-Enlistees Exercise Programme for National Service, or PREP4NS. Under PREP4NS, pre-enlistees can sign up for a one-year complimentary membership to six SAFRA gyms conveniently located in different parts of Singapore. This trial is on-going, we have so far about 6,000 pre-enlistees signed up for the membership since its launch last November. We are also looking at increasing more venues and for this, we are now working with SportSG in order to see how best to give membership access its 24 gyms. More details on this will be provided later when we are clearer.
Let me move on now to our full-time National Servicemen, or NSFs. NSFs devote two full years to serving the nation. It is therefore incumbent upon us as stewards of their time and talents to make sure that we support their aspirations.
2.45 pm
So, take, for instance, the Vocational Interest initiative. This was started in 2016 and under this initiative, NSFs may indicate their interest in 33 NS vocations. What MINDEF, SAF does is, we do our best to match them as far as possible to the vocation of their choice, subject to, obviously, our operational requirements. This has been well-received amongst the NSFs. We are encouraged to see that more than 60% indicate interest in demanding vocations such as in Infantry, Guards, Armour and strong interest by our NSFs to also become commanders.
To help our NSFs acquire new skills as they transit to studies or work after their Operationally Ready Date (ORD), MINDEF introduced the "SkillsFuture@NS" initiative last year where NSFs can use their E-PREP credits, which is $350 worth of E-PREP credits, and they may access training and choose from a pool of about 3,000 courses. These courses range from SkillsFuture Series courses, to those offered by Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) that will aid the NSFs in their admission or to gain them credit exemptions. Mr Chong Kee Hiong asked for an update on this.
So, for this year, we will be introducing further enhancements. First, NSFs can look forward to full subsidy of the E-PREP courses as opposed to currently allowing the E-PREP credits to fund up to 90%. You can fund it all.
Second, we will raise the number of E-PREP courses that are available, expand the pool of E-PREP courses. I am excited to share that two new institutions are coming on-board to offer E-PREP courses, namely, NUS and ITE, bringing the number of E-PREP partners to nine. For our existing E-PREP partners, we have also worked closely with them to expand their course offerings. With these additions, NSFs across the SAF and the Home Team will be able to enjoy a pool of some 4,000 courses, up 1,000 from last year, from 1 April this year. Out of these, close to 100 will be credit-bearing as they undertake further studies. This compares with 26, the year before.
In order to recognise the contributions of our NS personnel, we have also increased the monthly NS allowance quantums from their current levels, which varies according to your rank, vocation, deployment. They will go up by between an additional $70 to an additional $120. So, depending on what is your current rank, level, vocation and your deployment; it will go up by between $70 and $120. This will be applicable to NSFs and NSmen in both the SAF and the Home Team, covering all ranks and vocations from 1 March 2020. Mr Douglas Foo brought this up, I thank him for that.
As we continue to place our national servicemen at the heart of what we do, we also constantly ask ourselves – how can we serve ever more efficiently and effectively? This is why we are applying digital technologies to various facets of NS, from administration and training to healthcare. Ms Joan Pereira asked about this, so allow me to share some information.
For our servicemen, their NS journey begins at the Central Manpower Base, or CMPB. Over the years, we have enhanced the experience at CMPB for pre-enlistees. Infrared scanners were introduced in 2015 to measure body dimensions quickly and accurately. A real-time queue management system and facial recognition technology are also on trial for a more seamless experience.
Come June this year, we will complement these on-site enhancements with improved e-services to provide our pre-enlistees an even more hassle-free experience of completing most transactions online. For instance, pre-enlistees will be able to complete their bond and exit permit application in one single online application and transaction instead of the separate applications and transactions that they currently have to do. Pre-enlistees will also be able to monitor the progress of their applications online.
As for the new NS Hub to be completed in 2023, which Mr Arasu asked about, that will integrate smart technologies, such as biometric identification and other initiatives on trial at CMPB today. These, we expect, will cut waiting time by about a third.
Another initiative is "Virtual Care". Under Virtual Care, medical officers in the SAF use technologies such as digital stethoscopes and video conferencing tools to diagnose effectively and prescribe medicine for common ailments remotely. Last year, this service was piloted at two SAF medical centres. It has proven to be convenient, it actually also allows the diagnosis to be done faster because you do not have to wait for the doctor and the patient to physically meet as applied to common ailments. So, this has made medical services more accessible, more convenient and has reduced wait times.
I have just spoken about MINDEF and the SAF's efforts to provide the best possible experience for every national serviceman. As Mr Ang Hin Kee highlighted, our families, businesses, schools and community groups are also key pillars of support. Through ACCORD, we will continue to appreciate and rally strong societal support for NS. My deepest appreciation to ACCORD members especially, for contributing their ideas and for so proactively putting their initiatives into action within their respective communities.
The business community, for example, has stepped up to show appreciation for our soldiers. Earlier, Mr Douglas Foo has also elaborated on what the SMF as a business federation has done.
Under the "We Support NS" campaign, over 540 merchants, businesses and hawkers last year offered a wide selection of discounts to past and present national servicemen. Amongst them is Mr Anthony Low, hawker-owner and Chairman of Boon Lay Hawker’s Association. So, what Mr Low did was he rallied more than 60 hawker stalls within his Association's membership to provide privileges to national servicemen, after seeing how his son had toughened up through NS.
In so many different ways and individual ways, we can make a difference. So, every effort and every gesture counts and it is appreciated. To thank the businesses for their support, we held the inaugural "We Support NS" Appreciation Function last year and we thanked more than 200 merchants who came to meet us. We hope that the momentum can be kept up.
Likewise, ACCORD has engaged the communities – different communities – in multiple ways to continue fostering wide and deep support for NS. So, this journey never ends, and in the context of what was discussed, the need for Total Defence in all its dimensions is something that we have to keep doing and press on.
Mr Chairman, through continued whole-of-society commitment to our defence, we will demonstrate our will and resolve to protect Singapore's freedom and sovereignty, come what may.
The Senior Minister of State for Defence (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) : Mr Chairman, the strength of a nation depends largely on the readiness of her people to resist and respond to the threats, and there are various manifestations. These demands and all-round defence and a deterrent strategy best provided by Total Defence, with its six pillars and emphasis on everyone playing their part.
Total Defence has rallied Singaporeans together in responding to challenges that have threatened our independence and well-being. Despite these challenges, be it threats from terrorism, economic downturns and SARS, we overcame them all. The outbreak of COVID-19 is the latest test of our collective strength as a nation. Mr Seah Kian Peng asked how Singaporeans can play a part to overcome this crisis.
In the past month, we have seen how fear of the virus had led to panic buying of household essentials, hoarding and profiteering from the sale of masks and shunning of our healthcare workers. Yet at the same time, we came across countless heartwarming examples of how Singaporeans have displayed quiet strength and resolve to fight this crisis together – residents leaving hand sanitisers and spare masks in common areas for others, and University students bringing food for their classmates who were on leave of absence.
Religious leaders have also come together to provide religious guidance during this period. The Islamic Religious Council for Singapore, for example, has said in an advisory to Muslims that Islam excuses those who are unwell from attending congregational prayers, including Friday prayers. Muslims are also advised to set aside the practice of salam or shaking hands to ensure that they do not transmit the virus. Some temples and churches are scaling back or cancelling regular services and urging followers to watch their services online instead. I really appreciate the guidance provided by the religious leaders to rally the community together in the current situation.
The Government is mindful that Singaporeans and businesses are facing pressures as Singapore is affected by economic downturn, slow-down and uncertainties from this COVID-19 outbreak. In Budget 2020, the Government has announced measures to help businesses directly affected by the outbreak. We must build resilience in our economy.
It is heartening to know that the businesses are exemplifying economic defence by implementing business continuity plans, sending workers for retraining and following calls to disinfect working areas regularly. Companies like Singapore Airlines, Singtel and SMRT, are finding ways to avoid retrenching their workers by cutting capital spending, operating costs and wages for managerial staff. Hopefully, these measures will provide workers with greater job assurance and help them cope and emerge stronger from the difficult period. Some like CapitaLand and Changi Airport have also offered rental relief to help retailers cope with the COVID-19 crisis.
As businesses do their part, fellow Singaporeans should also show solidarity – take the necessary precautions and carry on with our own life; eat and shop as you normally do and support these businesses. Please do not panic when you see shops disinfecting their premises or medical workers in Personal Protection Equipment or PPE providing assistance – these practices are routine precautionary procedures at a time like this.
As we fight the virus, concurrently, we are also fighting an even greater threat – the spread of fake news. According to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Study, fake news can travel six times faster than true stories.
In the past month, false information on the closure of schools and the closure of an MRT station due to the spread of COVID-19 was propagated.
When you receive messages or unsubstantiated information over WhatsApp or other online platforms, do not forward or circulate them. Always check the information against official sources like the Government websites or the official news releases. If you are unsure, do not spread the information. Such discipline will go a long way in our fight against fake news.
All in all, Singaporean can and will overcome this COVID-19 situation if Singaporeans are psychologically resilient and support the Government and businesses to deal with this outbreak. We should not be easily rattled and instead show confidence as a people. As my soldiers often say in Hokkien "ai zai" or be steady. Mr Chairman, may I say a few words in Malay, please?
( In Malay ) : [ Please refer to Vernacular Speech .] Religious leaders in Singapore have come together to provide religious guidance and to prepare measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For instance, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) had advised Muslims in Singapore that, in Islam, those who are unwell are excused from attending congregational prayers, including Friday prayers. Muslims were also advised to set aside the practice of "salam" to avoid the transmission of the virus. Some temples and churches in Singapore are scaling back or suspending mass and regular services, and urging followers to watch their services online instead. I really appreciate the guidance provided by the religious leaders to rally the community together in this current situation.
As we try to prevent the transmission of this virus, there is an even greater threat that we must fight, that is, the spread of fake news. According to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study, fake news can travel six times faster than true stories. In the past month, false information on the closure of schools and an MRT station due to the spread of COVID-19 was propagated. It is important to remember that, whenever you receive messages or unsubstantiated information over WhatsApp or other social media platforms, please do not forward or circulate them.
Please ensure that you check the information you receive against official sources, like the government websites and official news releases. If you are unsure, do not spread the information. We have to be disciplined in the fight against fake news. All in all, Singapore can and will overcome this COVID-19 situation if Singaporeans are ready, psychologically resilient and support the efforts by the government and businesses to deal with this outbreak. We should not be easily rattled and instead, be confident as a people. As my soldiers often say "Relax, Don't Be Stressed Out!"
3.00 pm
( In English ): Mr Chairman, the spread of falsehoods during this COVID-19 crisis is just one example of how fake news can damage our society, erode communal trust and social cohesion. Ms Joan Pereira asked how MINDEF is supporting the whole-of-Government efforts to prepare Singaporeans to combat the spread of online falsehoods and fake news.
As part of a broader effort to raise information literacy and increase Singaporeans’ understanding of digital threats, MINDEF, SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), National Library Board (NLB) and Cyber Security Agency of Singapore had worked together to add a Digital Defence component to the SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace programme. The enhancement to the programme will equip participants with the skills to detect and deal with fake news and digital threats. At the same time, MINDEF/SAF has partnered NLB to enrich our existing BMT curriculum with content on cyberattacks and information threats. Now, BMT recruits will have to complete an e-module on Digital Security in the SAF and visit the Digital Defence exhibition at the Singapore Discovery Centre. Students who joined the 2019 N.E.mation! competition had the chance to visit the SAF Cyber Defence School, which equips the MINDEF/SAF's cyber workforce with skillsets and knowledge for deployment in cyber defence entities, to learn about the SAF's cyber capabilities and contributions to keep Singapore's network systems and infrastructure safe and secure. They also visited The Straits Times’ newly revamped newsroom to learn how ST detects and deals with fake news.
Online falsehoods can also affect the reputation and credibility of businesses and even cause serious financial losses. A case in point is Tesla. Last January, Tesla's shares and consumers' confidence in their products were affected when fake videos claiming that Tesla's cars were unsafe were circulated online. Mr Henry Kwek asked about the initiatives targeted at business owners to equip them to deal with digital threats. One of the many efforts to achieve this is a collaboration between MINDEF, SSG, the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and NLB to introduce a Digital Defence component into the SUSS SME Resilience, Entrepreneurship and Nurturing programme to teach small- and medium-sized enterprise business owners how to use the S.U.R.E. (Source, Understand, Research and Evaluate) framework to better assess the reliability of information. We conducted one session last year and the feedback on this has been very positive so far.
While we do our utmost to defend Singapore against digital threats, we have to acknowledge that it is impossible to prevent all cyber and data incidents, especially by determined and capable adversaries. Dr Teo Ho Pin and Mr Seah Kian Peng asked about MINDEF's efforts to strengthen cyber security against potential threats and attacks on our security systems. MINDEF/SAF is doubling down on efforts to raise the cybersecurity standards and readiness within the entire defence sector, including our vendors and among MINDEF-related organisations like SAFRA and NSRCC. We will limit the amount of data they hold and ensure implementation of technical and procedural measures to protect the data during transmission and storage. In addition, I am happy to announce that the first batch of Specialists from the Cyber NSF scheme has been deployed into our cyber defence operations across MINDEF/SAF. The Defence Cyber Security Centre (DCSC) which was announced in 2019, has also reached 24/7 operating capability to monitor, detect and respond to threats. The DCSC will coordinate operations across the defence sector and integrate cyber threat intelligence capabilities.
While we step up efforts in digital defence, the multi-faceted threats of today mean that to keep Singapore strong, we need the collective effort of all aspects of society – Government, businesses, communities and individuals like you and me, across every Total Defence pillar.
Dr Teo Ho Pin asked about MINDEF's efforts to engage the community to strengthen resilience against potential threats. MINDEF is working with PA to introduce the Total Defence Achiever Badge programme this year for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), which currently includes 2,000 active volunteers. To achieve the highest tier of this programme, CERT volunteers will have to attend lessons to learn how to identify fake news, community mediation and psychological first aid, among other training components. In this way, CERT volunteers will be better equipped with the knowledge and skills to respond to the evolving nature of emergencies, thereby putting Total Defence into action.
Dr Teo also asked for an update about the Government-led and community-led efforts to strengthen Total Defence. I am happy to share with the House that the community has, in various ways, taken ownership of Total Defence. One example is the collaboration between four NTU students, Coding Lab and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to develop a Total Defence board game within the Tiny Thinkers Starter Kit, which were given to pre-schoolers and parents of low-income families, with the aim of exposing young children to Total Defence.
As noted by Ms Joan Pereira, in many countries, education on the importance of resilience and emergency preparedness starts at a young age. In Singapore, to anchor Total Defence for our next generation, MINDEF collaborated with MediaCorp artiste Edmund Chen and the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) to create "My Little Red Dot – Making Our Home A Better Place" book. Through this book, young children can learn about Total Defence in an interactive manner and parents are encouraged to share values, such as unity and resilience, with their children.
Mr Chairman, key to Total Defence is a strong SAF – our military defence pillar. For a small country like Singapore, the only way to have a credible military of sufficient size is to have a conscript force, where every able-bodied male Singaporean defends Singapore, thereby contributing to military defence. Earlier, Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How had talked about this extensively. I believe that strong family and societal support for our National Servicemen will motivate them to give of their best when performing their duties. To recognise and strengthen family support for all our servicemen, I am happy to announce that MINDEF and MHA will launch the SAFRA Family Scheme and HomeTeamNS Family Scheme this year. Under these schemes, Operationally Ready National Servicemen can sign up for a family package for himself and his dependants, regardless of the size of his family. This allows significant cost savings because servicemen no longer need to pay individual membership fees for each dependant. We hope that this will encourage more families to visit SAFRA and HomeTeamNS clubhouses, enjoy the facilities and spend more quality time together. SAFRA and HomeTeamNS will announce more details on this in mid-2020.
Last month, we launched the new Total Defence logo – the winning design, by Ms Samantha Teng, an Allied Educator. Mr Seah Kian Peng asked about the significance of the new logo and how Singaporeans responded to the call for the design of this new logo. In Ms Teng’s design, the arrows pointing upwards represent Singapore’s continuous journey to stay resilient against current and future threats. When we launched the logo competition, we wanted to create a new logo that represents all six pillars and, more importantly, to hear from Singaporeans what Total Defence meant to them. We were heartened to receive more than 600 designs by participants from all walks of life – from students, teachers, professional designers and retirees.
Global trends and threats are evolving and, as Mr Seah Kian Peng noted, one of the issues our youths and many young people around the world are increasingly concerned with is climate change. Given that Total Defence has kept Singapore strong for more than 35 years, it is timely for us, as a nation, to revitalise this all-round defence and deterrence strategy to address these threats confronting Singapore now and in the future. We will continue partnering fellow Singaporeans to seek ideas on how to strengthen our Total Defence because this should be a whole-of-nation effort. As part of the SG Together movement, MINDEF will conduct a series of engagement sessions in the second half of 2020, to hear from Singaporeans on how all of us can do better to put Total Defence into action and how Total Defence can be strengthened for our future. This will also allow younger Singaporeans to reflect on what Total Defence is to them and operationalise this as we respond to future threats and challenges.
In conclusion, Mr Chairman, although the COVID-19 outbreak has not ended, I believe that the collective effort from the Government, communities and individuals will see us through this crisis. We must continue to encourage the community spirit shown during this period and support those at the frontline. It is with this collective strength that we are able to stay resilient and united as one people. We must make Total Defence in every Singaporean's DNA. With a strong Total Defence, we have every reason to have confidence and a sense of hope for Singapore's future.
The Chairman : Clarifications? Ms Sylvia Lim.
Ms Sylvia Lim : Thank you, Chairman. Two clarifications for the Minister for Defence regarding our purchase of the F-35s. Earlier, the Minister mentioned that US Congressional approval has been obtained for the purchases. Do I understand that this is the in-principle approval that is needed and that the formal terms of the sale and purchase are still being negotiated and finalised? That is the first clarification.
The second clarification concerns his acknowledgement that there had been some technical issues with the plane and he mentioned that, to ensure that our defence dollars are well-spent, the timelines that are available to us will be useful. Could he elaborate a bit more about this aspect?
Dr Ng Eng Hen : First, on the process which is specific to the US requirements, the US DoD has to support, which they have. The administration has to support, which they did when we submitted our letter of request. On the Congressional side, it is not so much approval, but they can raise objections, which they have not.
So, basically, those processes have been done and the Member is quite right, we are at a stage where we are doing the terms of the sale and purchase agreement which will include aspects beyond the purchase of the F-35s for us – where we would like to base them when we are training together with the DoD and so on and so forth. I have said that we are in the final stages and we are. If all things proceed as we planned, then we will acquire it in 2026, we think.
For the second part of Ms Sylvia Lim's question, by the time we acquire it in 2026 or beyond – we have evaluated the first four F-35Bs that we have acquired and then made a decision – I think, in production, you would probably have, for F-35s and F35Bs, across the world a few thousand platforms used by many, many militaries.
3.15 pm
That is a good position. In other words, there are many vested interests for many countries who plan their air defence systems based on that acquisition.
With new platforms, not only with the F-35s but also F-16s and F-15s, you will always have design issues, operational issues. So, the assessments, of course, will be done technically as well as with our pilots. Basically, for us, in the Ministry, we have to ask questions and satisfy ourselves that there is a rigorous technical assessment. But if you speak to the pilots and the technical side of the house, they are quite confident that the main problems have been ironed out and that the platform will reach a steady state in which it is operational.
There are some issues related to maintenance and parts and so on, but that is logistics. What I meant was that it is good that we are in no hurry and we have to allow the systems to mature. I think most of the issues that were raised initially when the F-35 procurement was in its infancy would have been ironed out.
Mr Vikram Nair : I think the Minister mentioned there were three imminent threats: terrorism, cyber security and maritime threats, of which the most difficult to plan and deal with would be cyber. But the current plan is for the cyber security to be dealt with under the SAF and reporting to the Chief of Defence Force (CDF). Would the Minister also consider having a force outside the SAF to deal with this, particularly, so that it can tap talent which may not want to be in the military, such as the white hats or people with talent in this area?
Dr Ng Eng Hen : That is a good question, Mr Chairman. The cyber arena is enormous and there is a whole-of-Government approach where there is a committee which Senior Minister Teo chairs, looking at the overall picture, not only for cyber but business continuity under various aspects, logistics, so on and so forth. So, that is the whole umbrella. There are various agencies dealing, for example, with cyber threats. The SAF is one component of it. So, let us situate what the SAF does.
And, of course, we have the Cyber Security Agency, which is primarily responsible for protecting our networks and they were very involved when there was a – some Members here talked about data ex-filtration, rightly so – they were the ones. There are other Government agencies.
For the SAF, it would be similar to identifying threats as we do in the kinetic world, in the real world – air, land and sea. In other words, if there are state and non-state actors who are using the cyber realm to first infiltrate, then to decimate, to diminish our will, as a precursor, for example, to a kinetic move, as we talked about, a hybrid. A few years ago, I mentioned to this House this concept of hybrid warfare, which was surfaced by some military experts. We see it as the SAF's responsibility to identify these external threats.
For example, if there is a terrorist plot, first, to capture our population. Not necessarily jihadists. It could be any religion. To capture acolytes for their movements, as a long-term plan or even a medium term plan. We ought to be able to identify that. And together with that, information warfare, then to gather arms or to have plots or to commit sabotage. So, I think there has to be a central role for the SAF, which is similar to what we have defined as our role in protecting Singapore's sovereignty and stability. So, that will be the context.
Now, having defined our missions, then, who do you need? There are pros and cons, for example, even within the SAF and MINDEF context. We have talked about this. Is this better uniformed or non-uniformed? The comfort for any Minister or indeed, anybody who oversees the security for MINDEF and SAF is that the SAF is the quickest to mobilise. All of us know that. When you push a button, you know that the SAF can move. Whereas other units, there is a little bit more discussion, I think. But we also want it to be effective and efficacious, as well as efficient.
So, I think that we have settled that it should be the CDF to see C4I. As to how you raise them and what type of people you need, you are quite right, and that is why this committee will look at the recruitment processes. We take that for some, it would be similar to what we raised, for example, technicians in the technical force, but not quite similar; and there will also be certain, I suppose, they sit on the right side of the curve, they are very brilliant, but you do not know whether they can sit nicely in uniform and whether they can adapt to it. I think you know what we are talking about. So, there are these considerations which, over time, I think, we will be able to address.
Mr Chairman : Mr Vikram Nair, would you like to withdraw the amendment?
Mr Vikram Nair : I thank Minister Ng, Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How and Senior Minister of State Mohamad Maliki bin Osman for your comprehensive review of our defence. It has been quite an interesting development in our SAF with all the threats evolving, and I think we would also wish to thank our men and women in uniform who serve and protect us. Thank you all, and I seek leave to withdraw my cut.
[(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)]
[(proc text) The sum of $14,561,155,500 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)]
[(proc text) The sum of $889,200,000 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]