預算辯論 · 2017-03-03 · 屆國會 13

國防預算與安全挑戰質詢

AI 與國家安全 AI 基礎設施與研究 AI 與公共部門 爭議度 3 · 實質辯論

議員質詢國防部當前面臨的主要安全威脅，包括地區大國衝突、朝鮮核試驗、恐怖主義及網路攻擊。政府強調多元威脅並重視網路安全，呼籲加強防禦能力。核心爭議在於如何平衡傳統與非傳統安全威脅的資源分配及應對策略。

關鍵要點

  • • 地區大國安全威脅
  • • 恐怖主義持續存在
  • • 網路攻擊成新挑戰
政府立場

重視多元安全威脅，強化網路防禦

質詢立場

預算應更審慎，關注威脅多樣性

政策訊號

加強網路安全防禦

“The security threats we face come from far, wide, in many forms, and MINDEF is very much in the frontline.”

參與人員 (21)

完整譯文（中文）

Hansard 原始記錄 · 2026-05-02

主席：國防部J組負責人。Vikram Nair先生。

上午11時52分

我們的安全環境

Vikram Nair先生（實龍崗）：女士，我提議，“將預算中J組的總撥款減少100元”。

今年是新加坡在第二次世界大戰中淪陷75週年。自那一天起的20年間，新加坡經歷了波瀾壯闊的獨立歷程。

即使在獨立之後，安全依然是我們的關注點之一，國民服役（NS）也隨之啟動。今年，我們也慶祝國民服役50週年。令人欣慰的是，新加坡在國內和平的背景下不斷發展壯大，繁榮昌盛。然而，安全威脅依然存在。

在南中國海，美國政府最近表示，他們認為中國在島嶼上建設設施是非法的，可能會採取措施阻止中國進入這些設施。中國則回應稱繼續進行安全巡邏，甚至派遣航母穿越該地區。雖然我認為衝突不符合任何一方利益，但大國之間的威脅顯然正在逼近。

在更近的地區，朝鮮半島，朝鮮于2016年9月進行了第五次核試驗。更近的地方，在吉隆坡機場，一名朝鮮公民金正男——朝鮮領導人的同父異母兄弟——在神秘情況下被殺。似乎在過程中使用了被歸類為“大規模殺傷性武器”的神經毒劑VX。

與此同時，近年來引起我們關注的恐怖威脅依然存在。即使所謂的“伊斯蘭國”在伊拉克和敘利亞失地，恐怖襲擊仍在繼續。去年，包括尼斯、葉門、土耳其和孟加拉國發生多起襲擊，死亡人數達數百人。其中一些是有組織的襲擊，另一些則是自我激進化的“孤狼”襲擊。這使得恐怖主義的影響範圍廣泛，尤其是“孤狼”襲擊極難被偵測。

在本地區，也並非一切安然無恙。印度尼西亞多年未見的暴力示威在雅加達爆發，起因是其省長的言論引發抗議。但物理威脅並非唯一威脅。就在幾天前，國防部（MINDEF）報告其網路系統遭受攻擊。網路攻擊是一個長期引起我們關注的威脅，但現在似乎已迫近家門。

我們面臨的安全威脅來自遠方、廣泛且多樣，國防部正處於應對這些威脅的前線。因此，我想借此辯論開場，詢問國防部認為當前新加坡面臨的最突出安全挑戰是什麼，包括傳統和非傳統威脅。

[(程式文本) 提出問題。 (程式文本)]

主席：副教授Fatimah Lateef。

副教授Fatimah Lateef（海洋坊）：女士，我可以把兩個削減一起討論嗎？

主席：可以，請講。

和平與安全

副教授Fatimah Lateef：我們與美國簽署的戰略框架協議正式確立了雙邊安全與防務關係。該協議允許美國輪換使用設施，而不觸及敏感的主權問題。新加坡先進的設施和在地區的政治地位使我們能夠接待美國。

近期，許多變化和轉型正在形成。這包括新當選的美國總統以及崛起的中國，具有某些顯著特徵。特朗普政府使這些關係的結果充滿不確定性。兩國領導層變得更加難以預測。中國希望施加影響力，而美國的立場也不明確，處於懸而未決狀態。國防部如何看待這一複雜的過渡問題？這將對我們在地區和全球的安全與發展產生影響。鑑於維護強大關係對我們重要，是否預期與美國和中國的防務關係會有變化？

地區和平與安全

如今，除了傳統安全問題，東南亞國家聯盟（ASEAN）還面臨複雜的非傳統威脅，即恐怖主義和跨國犯罪。這些可能包括販運、洗錢、網路犯罪甚至人口走私。該地區也未能免受核武器威脅。

需要更緊密、更強有力的合作與協調，既包括雙邊，也包括多邊夥伴關係，必須持續培養和加強相互理解。防務關係無疑是其中一個重要領域。

新加坡如何與東盟夥伴及地區其他國家合作，首先在衝突預防、緩解和調解方面；其次在反恐和打擊跨國犯罪方面；第三在維和行動和包括海上安全的行動方面？最後，我們是否也在探索新的合作領域？

與馬來西亞和印度尼西亞的軍事關係

Pritam Singh先生（亞歷山大）：主席女士，在最近第七屆馬新領導人會晤中，李總理和納吉總理重申了加強雙邊關係的承諾，並強調了兩國防務合作的重要性。一個月前，馬來西亞和新加坡軍隊成功完成了長期舉行的“Semangat Bersatu”聯合軍演最新一輪。

雖然過去關係惡化時此類演習曾被暫停，但當前地緣政治環境強調了加強而非削弱防務合作的重要性，以提升雙邊和地區安全。

為此，國防部是否考慮在馬六甲海峽巡邏、五國防務安排（FPDA）及東盟防長會議（ADMM）和ADMM-Plus框架之外，引入新的信任建設舉措，與馬來西亞和印度尼西亞合作？此前我建議探索聯合維和行動和國際任務訓練的可能性。國防部是否考慮與馬來西亞開展除“Semangat Bersatu”系列外的新軍事合作領域，以利用政治關係帶來的良好意願，謀求未來更持久的關係？

相比之下，儘管與印度尼西亞的政治關係更復雜，因其政治多元和更具代表性的民主環境，但軍事關係似乎是全天候的，儘管偶有政治波動。然而，2017年標誌著新印防務合作協議（DCA）尚未實施的第十週年。

各位議員應記得，DCA與兩國引渡條約相關。2007年，印尼在與新加坡達成細節後尋求重新審視DCA，而新加坡堅持談判已完成。最終導致該協議胎死腹中。

然而，去年4月，雅加達確認加強執法合作以替代引渡條約，並據報向新加坡提供了逃犯名單以便跟進和協助。鑑於新印建交50週年及東部邊界條約簽署，國防部如何看待以加強軍事合作和外交聯絡為名，啟動DCA新一輪討論？

主席：Amrin Amin先生，您有兩個削減，請一併發言。

中午12時

打擊假新聞

Amrin Amin先生（實龍崗）：作為一個多種族、多宗教國家，虛假資訊和假新聞可能侵蝕各群體間的信任，且可能被外部勢力利用。黃永宏部長2013年也曾警告，某些型別的假新聞可能產生指數級後果，破壞國家安全。網路虛假資訊在緊張或動盪時廣泛傳播，造成混亂和恐慌，削弱社群凝聚力，導致分裂。國防部如何準備應對資訊領域的此類威脅？每個新加坡人能發揮什麼作用？

混合攻擊的脆弱性

去年，黃永宏部長談到我們將面臨的“動盪和平”，在日益動盪和無國界的環境中。我們最近目睹了據稱由國家主導的混合攻擊，結合傳統和非官方軍事手段、網路戰、宣傳和間接策略。這類攻擊在我們地區有多普遍？我們是否脆弱？如何防範此類攻擊？

擴充套件的安全威脅

Cedric Foo Chee Keng先生（先鋒）：女士，正如前面幾位所述，新加坡面臨的威脅已擴大。除了傳統戰爭，還有恐怖主義、網路安全、疫情管理、人道援助和災難救援等領域。

僅2016年，全球就發生了多起恐怖襲擊。更近的例子是新加坡曾在9·11後成為伊斯蘭祈禱團（JI）的目標，去年8月還有激進組織計劃向濱海灣發射火箭的陰謀被挫敗。揭露這次未遂恐怖襲擊凸顯了未來恐怖襲擊在新加坡的真實可能性。

國民服役人員（NSmen）和全職國民服役人員（NSFs）的訓練大綱，正如我們所知，主要基於傳統武裝衝突。我想知道是否已更新大綱，涵蓋這些新威脅和挑戰。具體來說，我想問部長，國防部是否已做好充分準備，使新加坡武裝部隊（SAF）人員接受反恐訓練，並配備必要的情報、技能、技術和裝備來應對恐怖主義。更重要的是，如果新加坡遭受襲擊，我們的軍人是否接受過應對後果的訓練？我們的民眾是否準備好應對襲擊後的救援工作？

網路安全，正如其他人所指出的，對新加坡尤為重要，因為我們志在成為更智慧的城市。最近的網際網路系統洩露事件清楚顯示了我們的脆弱性，也讓我們看到防禦堅定駭客的難度。網路恐怖主義也可能癱瘓新加坡，因為我們依賴網際網路，日常生活越來越多地在線上進行。

我還想問部長，國防部和其他政府機構，如網路安全域性（CSA）、GovTech等，如何準備加強我們的網路安全？如果遭受攻擊，有哪些措施減輕損害？

網路攻擊與網路安全

副教授Fatimah Lateef：主席，不久前孟買恐怖爆炸事件中，手機和電子裝置在協調和執行階段發揮了重要作用。網路攻擊確實日益增多，帶來複雜且獨特的挑戰。先進資訊系統的出現徹底改變了我們今天的世界。網路威脅難以納入大多數現代國家現有的傳統安全框架。新方法至關重要，軍隊的適當且平衡的角色是核心。倫敦國王學院的研究將這些威脅分為：（a）間諜活動，（b）顛覆，（c）破壞，（d）網路犯罪，最後是（e）網路戰爭，後者較少見。

軍事響應不是唯一響應，而是包括法律、政治等多方面協調一致的綜合方法。國防部如何應對這一問題？如何與新加坡其他機構協調，如執法部門？這一框架如何融入我們的國家網路安全生態系統？

投資國防技術

Jessica Tan Soon Neo女士（東海岸）：我們正經歷一場廣泛的革命，技術無處不在，影響著工作和生活的許多方面。

與以往工業革命不同，第四次工業革命正以指數速度發展。該革命的特點是多種技術融合物理、數字和生物世界，創造了技術融入生活的新方式。這些技術包括人工智慧（AI）、機器人技術、物聯網、自動駕駛車輛、3D列印、奈米技術和量子計算的突破。

我們知道技術帶來可能性，是國防部轉型建設下一代新加坡武裝部隊的重要部分。但關鍵不僅是技術本身，而是如何使用技術。這需要人才和能力。

國防技術社群（DTC）始於1966年，由國防科學技術局（DSTA）、國防科學組織國家實驗室（DSO）、國防部未來系統與技術司以及國防工業與系統辦公室組成，如今已發展為擁有5000名成員的社群。

在紀念DTC成立50週年的演講中，陳慶炎總統稱DTC站在科學與工程發現的前沿。DTC先驅在塑造新加坡國防技術方面發揮了關鍵作用。

部長能否分享國防部如何利用這些新興技術支援新加坡國防？除了利用技術，國防部如何激勵人才，建設能力，實現這些新興技術的潛力？

無人機對國家安全的威脅

Joan Pereira女士（丹戎巴葛）：主席，無人機變得越來越普遍且先進。由於其在物流、運輸、攝影、影片甚至巡邏等多種應用，無人機將成為我們生活的重要組成部分。但落入壞人之手，無人機可能威脅國家安全。

上個月，《華盛頓郵報》報道，伊拉克和敘利亞的伊斯蘭國（ISIS）成立了新的無人機部隊，配備改裝無人機攜帶炸彈。

無人機易於購買和運輸，可從幾乎任何地方起飛，飛行後幾分鐘內可到達幾公里內的任何地點。較小的無人機幾乎難以被雷達探測，現有雷達系統設計用於追蹤較大型飛機。

無人機可用於運送物品。對於惡意者，這些物品可能包括毒粉或毒氣如沙林、燃燒裝置、手榴彈和炸彈。

更令人擔憂的是，追蹤無人機的擁有者和操作者非常困難。運輸、發射和操作過程中被發現的風險很低。

我們是否有控制和基礎設施來規範無人機的使用？國防部如何評估無人機對新加坡當前及未來的威脅？國防部有哪些措施確保隨著無人機日益普及，我們的國家安全不受影響？

國防技術投資

Vikram Nair先生：作為一個小國，技術對我們的防務至關重要。同樣重要的是發展我們自己的技術。

我親眼見證了這些變化的重要性。我曾是使用M-16的國民服役人員。後來在預備役時，我接觸了SAR-21，這是一種完全改良的武器。我也見證了它帶來的巨大差異。以前我在國服時射擊測試勉強及格，使用SAR-21後，我整個班組都成為神槍手。因此，我們自主研發武器極大提升了生產力。

當然，重要的是我們是否能培養足夠的人才來開發這些武器和自主技術。我們需要具備科學、技術、工程和數學（STEM）背景的人才。國防部如何確保有足夠STEM背景的人才，以維持自主技術開發能力？

新加坡武裝部隊

Cedric Foo Chee Keng先生：主席女士，1965年新加坡成為獨立國家。我們隨後成立了新加坡武裝部隊（SAF）。多年來，我們不斷現代化SAF，催生了1980至1990年代的第二代SAF。2004年，我們建立了第三代（3G）SAF。這一轉型升級了我們的系統，成為先進的網路化部隊，具備領先能力。

如今，新加坡面臨的威脅確實擴大了。SAF比以往任何時候都更重要，以保衛新加坡免受各種威脅。

儘管威脅擴大，SAF可用的人力資源將因長期低生育率而減少。SAF如何在可用人力減少的情況下做更多事？正如Vikram Nair先生所說，我們如何利用技術提升生產力、戰鬥效能，當然也包括增加神槍手數量？

部長能否概述新加坡武裝部隊（SAF）在陸地、海上、空中，甚至通過衛星在太空中的能力和戰備情況，以有效防禦新加坡免受如此廣泛的威脅？國防部（MINDEF）未來幾年將非常繁忙。

資源挑戰

羅燕玲女士（蔡厝港）：主席女士，去年十一月，李總理提到經濟增長放緩將成為新常態。的確，我們正經歷經濟轉型。貿易放緩，本地勞動力增長接近極限。

正如財政部長在預算陳述中指出，許多經歷同樣轉型的發達經濟體，其年度國內生產總值增長已放緩至1%或更低。在這一新常態背景下，鑑於醫療保健和基礎設施等領域需求增長，目前的財政環境顯得謹慎。財政部長指出，隨著開支需求增加，政府必須繼續審慎支出，強調物有所值，並推動創新交付。

每個部委都有責任確保審慎支出，以更好地為未來做準備。然而，我們觀察到，在國防和安全領域，區域國家的國防開支達到歷史最高水平。自2012年以來，亞洲在國防上的絕對支出超過歐洲。我們還觀察到，未來幾年，區域國家將以比世界其他地區更快的速度增加國防開支。事實上，根據斯德哥爾摩國際和平研究所的資料，僅2014至2015年，亞洲和大洋洲的軍事開支增長了5.4%，遠超全球國防開支1%的增長。

我們的安全環境日益複雜且不可預測。我認識到國防部必須繼續投資必要資源，確保武裝部隊能夠防禦針對新加坡及新加坡人的各種安全威脅。國防部能否詳細說明如何在保持審慎的同時，確保武裝部隊擁有保障新加坡安全所需的資源？

主席：維克拉姆·奈爾先生，您可以將兩個發言合併。

維克拉姆·奈爾先生：主席女士，作為一個小國，武裝部隊與許多其他用途競爭土地。最近宣佈收購巴耶利峇空軍基地。我對巴耶利峇空軍基地有美好回憶，因為我母親曾是那裡的心理學家，我小時候常去那裡。幾年後，這個營地可能不復存在。

我服兵役的營地，義順營，可能不再作為基礎軍事訓練營運作。事實上，我認為它已經停止作為基礎訓練營。我們看到武裝部隊曾使用的訓練區和營地逐漸被放棄。無論是空軍、海軍還是陸軍，三軍都需要土地進行訓練。鑑於本地土地稀缺且對土地的需求增加，武裝部隊如何確保士兵獲得必要訓練？

國民服役

如我之前提到，今年也是國民服役50週年。國民服役已成為新加坡的制度。它不僅是國家防禦的基礎，也是國家認同的重要部分。它是男性彼此容易產生共鳴的基礎；女性也能輕鬆理解男性經歷的事情。

國民服役面臨的根本問題之一是人口下降，服役群體每年可能越來越小。因此，每位國民服役者將更加珍貴。國防部採取了哪些措施，確保每位國民服役者接受充分訓練，充分發揮潛力，最大化其能力？

與此相關的是我們面臨的新型威脅。許多早期發言者提到網路攻擊、混合戰爭的威脅，這些威脅未來可能更加重要。我們需要發展防禦網絡攻擊的能力，甚至可能將其作為更廣泛防禦戰略中的反擊手段。國防部自己的伺服器幾天前被駭客攻擊，凸顯了這一威脅的真實和迫切性。

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但應對這一威脅也需要人才，而所需技能高度專業，具備這些技能的人才可能很少。

未來經濟委員會對此有何建議？該委員會建議利用國民服役者增強網路人才庫，以應對這類威脅。我瞭解到其他國家，如以色列，也利用國民服役者應對網路安全威脅。

國防部能否提供是否計劃實施未來經濟委員會建議的細節？如果計劃實施，如何執行？

馬寶慶先生（淡濱尼）：女士，在上個月國民服役50週年啟動儀式上，吳慶瑞部長表示，50年前，“我們在國家成立時承諾，絕不允許1942年新加坡在二戰中淪陷給日本的情況重演”。吳部長談及我們先驅一代國民服役者的貢獻，指出當時“新加坡面臨對抗、馬來亞共產主義叛亂和越南戰爭可能帶來的影響”。

國民服役剛開始時，對於年輕國家的防禦至關重要。我們的先驅一代國民服役者肩負保衛新加坡的重任，當時幾乎沒有可言的武裝部隊。

五十年後，我們的地區經歷了數十年的相對和平與穩定。我們擁有強大且有能力的武裝部隊，保護新加坡的邊界和利益。新加坡繁榮且安全。

全球範圍內，立陶宛、法國和瑞典等國家已廢除徵兵制，但最近一些國家考慮恢復徵兵。

在此背景下，國民服役對新加坡扮演什麼角色？它仍然重要嗎？國防部如何持續提醒公眾，包括准入伍者、現役國民服役者、退伍國民服役者及其家屬、僱主和公眾，國民服役不斷演變的角色及其持續重要性？

張浩斌博士（武吉班讓）：女士，我希望向國防部澄清以下問題：

鑑於戰爭形態變化，國防部如何調整訓練和作戰以應對城市戰爭的新挑戰？

女士，今年新加坡慶祝國民服役50週年。許多服役過的男性新加坡人理解保衛新加坡的重要性，並已培養出保護國家的決心。

然而，他們大多接受過傳統戰術訓練，如叢林戰，這在當今混合戰爭威脅中可能不再適用。混合戰爭是一種軍事概念，結合傳統武器和非常規手段，如經濟制裁和通訊，旨在不訴諸公開戰爭而取得勝利。

女士，在當今密集建設區域及新加坡內外不斷變化的威脅下，戰爭的作戰環境發生了巨大變化。因此，我們需要審視訓練原則和成果，發展國防部隊的新能力。

除了訓練現役國民服役者和常備軍，我們還需制定培訓路線圖，提升退伍國民服役者的能力。

女士，我認為應聚焦三方面強化國防部隊。第一，發展城市作戰能力；第二，發展資訊與通訊能力以應對網路攻擊；第三，發展攻擊能力以威懾或摧毀任何侵略者。

李毅賢先生（東海岸）：主席女士，2014年6月，政府接受了加強國民服役委員會（CSNS）提出的30項建議。該委員會由來自不同背景的成員組成，包括本院議員，負責審視如何加強國民服役，更好地服務新加坡和新加坡人。

CSNS報告引用政策研究所的一項調查，97%的受訪者認為應更好地匹配服役者的個人技能與國民服役職業。報告還指出，CSNS研究了芬蘭和瑞士的國民服役制度，這兩個國家均享有強烈的公眾支援，並注意到芬蘭和瑞士均有政策允許徵兵者在入伍時表達職業偏好。

基於這些發現，CSNS建議在分配國民服役者職業時考慮其職業興趣。根據CSNS建議，國防部允許去年11月首批預入伍者在報到中央人力基地時表達職業偏好。

國防部能否更新職業興趣計劃的進展？武裝部隊是否正在審視其他方式以更好地部署服役者？

傅誌慶先生：女士，國民服役是所有新加坡男性公民和第二代永久居民的神聖職責。它是新加坡國防和安全的基石。對許多新加坡男性而言，國民服役是成年禮，他們18歲離開舒適的家，承擔保衛國家、家人和朋友的責任。無論社會地位、種族或宗教如何，男性們攜手訓練，互相照應，共同克服挑戰。這種通過國民服役鍛造的“社會紐帶”，對國家而言極為珍貴。

鑑於國民服役者為訓練和保衛國家付出時間，國防部理應改善國民服役體驗。國防部多年來如何做到這一點？近期有何舉措提升國民服役者的參與感和滿足感？國民服役的編制顯然不同於民間部門，因為其使命不同，而我們從民間部門抽調整批男性服役者。然而，在可能的範圍內，若能匹配國民服役者的私營部門興趣與其國民服役職業，國防部將獲得更多效益，服役者也將從國民服役中獲得更多。

鑑於國民服役者對新加坡的重要性，我們無疑應認可他們的貢獻和努力。事實上，我們應更進一步，認可支援他們服役的家人、配偶、女友等。

我支援武裝部隊預備役協會（SAFRA）會員資格認可，也支援向僱主強調國民服役貢獻。我認為這在認可方面已取得長足進展。但對於金錢獎勵，我持保留態度。我們應取得平衡，避免將國民服役簡化為純商業交易。

部長能否介紹其他國民服役認可計劃，以及我們還能如何讓國民服役對服役者更有意義？

國防部長（吳慶瑞博士）：女士，首先感謝多位議員的發言。聽他們發言時，我有兩個總體感受。

一是感謝我們甚至幫助一些人提高了射擊技能。我們會在應得時接受讚譽，即使有時不完全是我們的功勞。我感謝跨黨派的支援。無論政治立場如何，無選區議員、提名議員，我非常感謝國防獲得各方支援。

第二個感受是認同。事實上，我幾乎同意議員們提出的所有觀點。聽他們發言，是對不斷變化的安全環境的全面闡述——世界確實不可預測；新威脅正在出現甚至已迫近。然而，由於其他需求增加的壓力，武裝部隊和新加坡如何用有限預算應對這些威脅？對此，我完全贊同議員們的看法。

他們的發言抓住了新加坡和新加坡人必須為之準備的新安全環境的本質，武裝部隊必須適應以保護主權和家園。傅誌慶先生和張浩斌博士談到了這一點。我們多年來談論第三代武裝部隊轉型，但新的環境已到來。

和這裡的議員一樣，我們認識到今年是特殊的一年——新加坡淪陷75週年，國民服役50週年。與在座各位一起，我們感謝超過一百萬忠誠履行職責的國民服役者，他們過去幾十年建立了強大的武裝部隊保護新加坡和新加坡人。儘管我們讚揚他們的個人貢獻，我同意議員們的看法，武裝部隊現在必須採取關鍵步驟，更好地保護新加坡應對新安全環境。正如我們為第三代武裝部隊轉型所做，武裝部隊必須再次轉型為下一代武裝部隊，更好地為未來定位。我的演講重點將圍繞此展開。

我同意議員們的觀點，世界確實處於轉折點。採訪任何世界領導人，他們都會這麼說。即使領導人不說，我們的公民也能感受到即將到來的動盪和變化。發生了什麼？

冷戰結束後的25年，全球化迅速發展，儘管存在極端恐怖主義威脅（我們不輕視），但總體相對和平。這種相對和平使歐盟軍隊實際縮編。我記得訪問德國時，德國國防部談及削減三分之一兵力，幅度顯著。他們有充分理由，希望從統一歐洲的和平紅利中獲益，以應對被視為衰退的俄羅斯。

亞洲經歷了良好的三十年。中國經濟以每年約10%的速度驚人增長30年。印度經濟也增長，儘管速度較慢，約6%年均增長，從1979年起持續30年。這種巨大增長提升了全球經濟，尤其是亞洲，包括東盟，年均增長6%，遠高於全球4%的平均水平。

我們目睹的時代軌跡正在改變，全球化的利益在國家內部和國家間並不均衡。全球化帶來的“弊端”，如移民和就業中斷，削弱了許多國家的民眾支援，儘管數億人擺脫貧困。

因此，取代冷戰結束時的樂觀和希望，今天充滿不確定性。關於“美國優先”對全球領導和貿易的影響存在不確定性，尤其是當前或曾經的全球貿易領導者不參與跨太平洋夥伴關係協定時；亞洲對美中戰略競爭如何影響亞洲和我們存在不確定性，正如多位議員之前所言，尤其是對像新加坡這樣的小國面臨選邊站隊的壓力。

12點30分

歐洲仍在2008年全球經濟危機的餘波中，部分成員國面臨安全威脅的不確定性。多位議員提及瑞典，不僅是一個國家，而是整個歐洲。甚至對歐盟本身的存在也有擔憂，尤其是極右翼政黨推動類似英國脫歐的運動正在壯大。

多位議員反映了這些不確定性，包括法蒂瑪·拉蒂夫副教授，她問我們是否脆弱。確實，我們脆弱。我們應接受地緣政治將動盪不安，新加坡必須為波濤洶湧做好準備。但同時，我們應對不確定性的國家戰略依然穩健。戰略簡單，首先基於強大的武裝部隊和全民防衛，我們每年在您的支援下穩步投入資源。

其次，正如多位議員提及，包括普里坦·辛格先生，與鄰國保持良好關係，並與志同道合國家建立強大夥伴關係。一些議員，包括普里坦·辛格，詢問我們與鄰國的關係，我告訴您，整體良好，確實在多方面合作。正如提及的，馬六甲海峽巡邏去年慶祝十週年。防衛夥伴關係協議（FPDA）持續獲得堅實支援，現已進入第46年。18國防長會議加（ADMM-Plus）取得良好進展，多個工作組應對不同安全挑戰。

普里坦·辛格問是否應有更多合作平臺。我們持開放態度。任何改善軍隊間合作的舉措，我們都會參與。但我們也理解，在某些方面，我們需等待邀請，例如新的蘇祿海巡邏。我們已將樟宜海軍基地的資訊融合中心資源提供給蘇祿海巡邏，因為這符合我們的利益。對於其他倡議，如果其他國家希望我們進一步參與，我們會積極響應。

我們於2015年與美國簽署了加強防務合作協議（DCA），去年與澳大利亞簽署了全面戰略伙伴關係。我們與中國和印度的雙邊關係也在增長。2014年，議員們會記得，我與常萬全將軍達成了“四點共識”，確認原則和實質步驟，加強雙邊防務合作。對於印度，2015年我與馬諾哈爾·帕裡卡爾部長簽署了修訂版DCA，我們正探索在海上安全和反恐等領域加強合作。

這些強有力的夥伴關係為我們提供了良好的基礎，但歸根結底，正如各位議員所言，下一代新加坡武裝部隊（Next Generation SAF）的首要使命和責任是應對21世紀的安全威脅。我們知道，這完全是我們的職責所在，武裝部隊必須隨時準備應對。我也同意各位議員的看法，這其中包括網路攻擊和假新聞的威脅。

兩年前，我在撥款委員會（COS）辯論中提出了混合戰爭的問題。那時這個詞並不常見，實際上非常罕見。但今天，當我聽各位議員的發言時，發現這個詞在短短兩年內變得如此普遍和廣為人知。威脅逐漸上升。我剛從慕尼黑安全會議回來，會上默克爾總理公開表示，有些國家認為混合戰爭是合法的。她說得沒錯。上週，《金融時報》發表了一篇關於網路戰爭的完整報道。讓我引用其中一段重要內容。

“俄羅斯軍方不像西方那樣，將網路戰爭視為嚴格限定、依法衡量的行動，而是討論更廣泛的資訊戰概念，這一概念早於蘇聯時代，其工具包已為數字時代進行了升級。”文章繼續指出，俄羅斯國防部長確認了信息部隊的存在，這支部隊多年來一直被傳聞，但官方長期否認。他們引用俄羅斯國防部長的話：“宣傳必須聰明、有文化且有效，”他在下議院議會中說。據當地報紙《商業報》報道，俄羅斯每年在其約1000人的“網路軍隊”上花費3億美元。

這是德國政府的領導人說，周邊有國家認為這合法。國防部長公開表示，“這是我的編制和使命的一部分。”有教義、有訓練、有執行。俄羅斯並非孤例，據報道其他國家的軍隊和部門也擁有網路營甚至網路師。我完全同意各位議員的看法，下一代武裝部隊需要為這種環境做好準備，在這種環境中，國家主導的網路和資訊戰對另一國家的攻擊不僅被視為合法，而且可能持續不斷。這種威脅的影響可能帶來真實且嚴重的物理後果。讓我給大家舉幾個例子。

烏克蘭的電網曾多次遭受網路攻擊，其中2015年12月的一次攻擊切斷了一個面積約為新加坡20倍的地區的電力，且發生在冬季。愛沙尼亞是一個人口約130萬的小國。其人民和政府對這一威脅特別瞭解，因為自2007年以來，他們已成為精心策劃的網路攻擊的目標，持續了十年之久。以至於愛沙尼亞計劃製作整個國家的數字副本，包括出生記錄、產權證、銀行資料和所有政府記錄。他們計劃將這些資料儲存在另一個地點，一個秘密地點，可能是在英國或盧森堡。至少，他們給出了這兩個儲存地點。

他們為什麼要這樣做？試想一下。我們曾有850條個人資訊被盜。假如有人入侵我們的中央公積金記錄、死亡和登記記錄、住房記錄並將其銷燬，任何國家都會陷入混亂。

甚至選舉也可能受到有組織的網路攻擊的影響。美國民主黨全國委員會在上次總統選舉中遭到駭客攻擊，數千份檔案被未知來源洩露，旨在抹黑其候選人。《金融時報》稱，俄羅斯已入侵法國和德國的政黨伺服器，這兩個國家即將舉行選舉。我不知道《金融時報》如何得知此事，但他們確實報道了。更近的例子是印尼，議員們提到印尼確實激化了種族和政治緊張局勢。印尼已成立機構應對網路犯罪和假新聞。

我們對抗資訊戰的最佳防禦是全民防衛（Total Defence），這一體系經受住了時間的考驗。我將留給高階國務部長馬立基詳細說明我們如何根據這些混合威脅更新和重新整理全民防衛。

但現代軍隊不能再選擇忽視數字戰線上的外部威脅。我們若這樣做，將是愚蠢且失職的。事實上，我們準備這篇演講已有數週，但國防部最近披露其內部網路系統遭到入侵。演講計劃是在發現該入侵之前準備的。這並不令人驚訝。告訴各位，我們未來還會遇到更多此類網路攻擊，這並非新鮮事。正是早期認識到網路威脅的潛力，因此自武裝部隊成立之初，我們的機密和作戰網路就與網際網路分離。我們當時就明白了。但威脅現在已成現實且更為嚴重。我完全同意各位議員的看法，武裝部隊需要加強網路防禦，尤其是在威脅不斷升級的情況下。

傅振邦議員尖銳地詢問我們應對這些新威脅的努力。明確且毫不含糊地承認網路領域是當今戰場，國防部和武裝部隊將成立新的網路司令部，稱為國防網路組織（Defence Cyber Organisation，DCO），並置於我們組織架構的最高層級。該網路司令部將由一名副秘書領導，下設四個主要編制單位，每個單位由至少一名上校或將軍、海軍將領指揮，隸屬於國防部和武裝部隊。

網路司令部將負責政策制定，訓練網路部隊全天候監控和防禦我們的網路免受威脅，評估漏洞，檢測入侵和系統破壞企圖。武裝部隊必須跟上網路領域侵略者的戰術和行動，正如張豪斌議員所說，這是一場永無止境的遊戲，就像常規戰爭一樣。

在平時，國防網路組織將擁有約2600名士兵，得到國防科技局（DSTA）和國防科學與技術局（DSO）的科學家和工程師支援。這是對現有人數的顯著擴充，反映了這一新戰線的重要性。回應議員們的關切，這是一個明確的訊號。我們同意你們的看法，武裝部隊和國防部將加大力度。

有議員問到國民服役者（NSmen），是的，國民服役者也將接受網路防禦職業培訓。我們不這樣做將是愚蠢的；他們是我們的主要資源。正如安全部隊士兵現在保護關鍵設施一樣，我們也將部署這些國民服役網路防禦者與總參謀部一起保護我們的設施。翁毅康部長將對此作進一步說明。

像陳潔儀議員這樣的一些議員詢問技術和資源部署。現代軍隊依賴技術，尤其是新加坡，無法迴避。正如議員們正確指出的，我們將面臨人力下降，國防技術機構將加強支援這些變化。

魏克拉姆·奈爾議員問及我們在STEM（科學、技術、工程和數學）領域的招募努力。他說得對。我們現在擁有5000名且不斷增長的國防工程師和科學家社群。到2025年，我們將增加40%的獎學金和獎勵，從現在的120個增加到170個。今年將頒發國防部的頂級公共服務委員會獎學金（工程類）。

將設立兩個新實驗室，以便集中力量，正如許多議員談到的利用技術，我完全同意。一個是國防科學與技術局的機器人實驗室，另一個是國防科技局的新實驗室，將專注於人工智慧和資料分析。我們將為這兩個新實驗室每年提供4500萬元的啟動資金，以推動更多實驗和創新。我們處於前沿領域，商業軟體並不容易買到，因此必須投資資源啟動這一程序。

機器人方面的工作已開始。六名新加坡步兵團士兵正在試驗無人空中和地面車輛執行任務。海軍更進一步，正在投入可自主導航和避碰的無人水面艦艇（USV）投入作戰。我要明確指出：這不是遙控裝置，而是自主裝置。

武裝部隊與內政部合作，已部署並開發了針對潛在無人機攻擊的對策。這是佩雷拉議員關心的問題。我們認識到這一威脅，確實是現實威脅。我們正在監控伊拉克和敘利亞等地的發展，但我們不會掉以輕心。事實上，這一問題已在由張德明副總理主持的安全政策審查委員會討論過。無論你是否知道，最近在國家體育場舉行的國慶閱兵中，這些系統已部署，不僅用於檢測，還包括對策。正如各位所記得，國會最近也通過了相關法律，賦予我們相應權力。

分析與人工智慧實驗室將利用物聯網和各種平臺產生的海量即時資訊。我們擁有許多平臺，我同意議員們的看法，我們不僅脆弱，還需要利用這些資訊，因為其潛力巨大。讓我舉一個例子。

每天約有1500艘商船穿行於我們水域。新加坡海事危機中心使用一套嵌入人工智慧的程式，為這些船隻生成獨特的簽名。這些簽名彙集自多個來源，包括社交媒體和其他特定資訊。它們被彙總、掃描、分析並融合成一幅圖景，然後檢測與簽名的偏差。

2015年，這種嵌入AI的方法檢測到一名可能的ISIS支持者在一艘油輪上，該油輪當時在我們水域。眾多船隻及其數以萬計的船員和貨物中，發現了這根“針”。該人員被禁止在新加坡下船。通過現代手段才能在大海撈針般的環境中實現這一點。

我也相信，儘管新加坡國土面積小，但我們可以在國防技術領域領先。為實現這一目標，國防科技局將與我們的國立大學、科學技術研究局（A*STAR）及政府機構如GovTech、總參謀部、國家研究基金會和經濟發展局合作，於2018年舉辦首屆新加坡國防技術峰會。

我問工作人員，全球是否已有類似的技術峰會。他們說“還沒有”，我回答“那很好，我們來嘗試舉辦。”

此次峰會將提供全球平臺，邀請傑出人物和領軍人物分享觀點，展望未來。不僅如此，還將提供交流機會，擴大我們對創新和理念的接觸。因為你我都知道，對於國防來說，這關乎生存。我們必須部署技術，因為其他因素對我們不利。

即使我們成立新的網路司令部和技術實驗室，舉辦首屆國防技術峰會，我完全同意張豪斌議員的觀點，我們絕不能忽視訓練武裝部隊的常規力量以應對傳統威脅，正如傅振邦議員指出的恐怖主義。許多議員都贊同這一點。

我們都知道土地有限，因此我們在海外建設訓練設施，比如在與澳大利亞簽署全面戰略伙伴關係後。但同時，我們必須擁有世界級的本地訓練設施。魏克拉姆·奈爾議員談到他的童年記憶，每當某些營地被拆除時的感受。土地有限，我們理解壓力。我們確實需要最低限度的訓練營地，但會最大化利用現有資源。我們必須防止過度依賴海外訓練場。近期事件已暴露出風險。所有國民服役者不可能只在海外訓練，因為大部分訓練仍在本地進行，尤其是陸軍。

許多曾服役的議員對武裝部隊訓練學院（SAFTI）實彈射擊區很熟悉。你我都記得曾被要求衝上彭崗山，接受堅固目標戰鬥（FOFO）訓練，這些都是我們的記憶。但SAFTI實彈射擊區建於1960年代，已有50年曆史。

正如議員們指出，武裝部隊已變，城市已變，地形已變，世界已變。議員們問：“武裝部隊如何應對？有新戰術嗎？有新教義嗎？有新裝備嗎？”我們認識到這些。答案是肯定的。不僅如此，我們需要反映武裝部隊將執行的任務和行動的訓練場地。為了讓武裝部隊進行真實有效的訓練，我們將建設新的SAFTI城，因為即使是維和和人道援助及災難救援（HADR）任務，也可能在城市和基礎設施中進行。

新的SAFTI城建設週期約十年，預計耗資約9億新元。議員們有資料單。若獲主席許可，我認為播放影片更直觀。

主席：好的，請播放。[向議員們播放影片。]

黃永宏博士：謝謝主席。細節很多，但我先給大家講大致思路。新SAFTI城的目標是讓任何一個營能夠連續跨越不同地形作戰，就像真實任務中一樣。

因此，它將包括城市和常規地形。城市環境有低矮房屋和高層建築，開闊地形有叢林、山丘和河流。最大的變化是，我們將利用最先進的訓練模擬技術融入作戰環境。我們從零開始建設，以實現這一目標。將設有互動靶標和戰場效果，如炮擊，使士兵訓練更真實，並獲得充分反饋，瞭解表現如何。完工後，SAFTI城將使國民服役訓練達到更高的真實感和效果。

例如，參與島嶼防禦行動計程車兵可在SAFTI城內模擬煉油化工廠、倉庫、集裝箱場和工業建築訓練。第二區將有高層和相連建築、地下停車場、公交換乘站和地下地鐵站，適合反恐和高強度城市作戰，正如議員們所談。第二區還將包括災難救援用的城市廢墟。

SAFTI城周邊將建三個新的儀器化戰鬥迴路（iBAC），幫助小單位提升戰鬥技能，配備攝像頭和資料分析，指出個人表現優劣，並反饋每名士兵的表現。可配置不同場景，適用於和平時期應急和常規軍事行動。

劉燕玲議員問武裝部隊如何在審慎國防開支下滿足需求，她說得對。我們意識到人口老齡化和經濟增長放緩帶來的預算壓力。正如我向議員們概述的，所有這些新專案需要中期內大量且持續的資源，無法五年內完成。可能需要10、15甚至20年才能完全打造下一代武裝部隊。但我們會重新調整專案優先順序，應對必須面對的挑戰。

在此，我非常感謝多年來支援我們的議員們，使我們能夠穩定地增加國防預算，持續更新編制和裝備，這使我們今天能夠發展這些10至15年前未曾預見的新領域。

陸軍的翻新豹式坦克和Terrex裝甲車仍然年輕。Belrex防護作戰支援車去年引入。下一代裝甲戰鬥車輛將於2019年推出。空軍今年晚些時候將升級F-16戰機，配備新雷達和武器，Aster 30導彈系統將部署以加強防空。海軍擁有新的近海任務艦，並將替換兩艘Archer級潛艇。我們將在今年晚些時候公佈潛艇替換計劃。

我們之所以能做到這些，是因為每年我們都將國防開支保持在相當比例，且增長平穩，無大幅波動。即使面對我剛才描述的下一代武裝部隊的新需求，國防部預計我們的國防預算仍可保持每年3%至4%的增長軌跡，至少能跟上通脹。

羅燕玲議員發表了非常尖銳的評論，指出在我們亞洲地區，軍事開支已經超過了歐盟，平均增長率為5.4%。我們的3%至4%低於這個水平，但由於我們有更長時間的穩定開支軌跡，我們可以保持3%至4%的預算預測。但國防部不會猶豫在有新的需求增加或安全環境惡化時推動更高的開支。

國防部和新加坡武裝部隊（SAF）意識到政府在新加坡人民的大力支援下，每年在國防預算上投入了大量資金。

我要感謝議員們和新加坡人民的持續支援，並向你們保證，我們將盡最大努力充分利用每一分錢的國防預算。正如一些議員所建議的，我們會在可能的地方削減成本。我們通過新加坡共和國海軍的新型護衛艦管理系統實現了這一點。該系統將維護時間縮短了93%，為我們節省了4000萬新元。另一個例子是陸軍的智慧彈匣（SMART magazine）。服役的國民服役男兵（NSmen）知道我們因各種原因使用空包彈。但有人想，為什麼要用空包彈，為什麼不使用可以模擬空包彈的彈匣？這正是智慧彈匣的功能。它每年將節省140萬新元。這些大大小小的措施體現了節儉的文化，利用創新在不降低武裝部隊效能的前提下削減成本。

主席女士，請允許我總結，並讓國防部第二部長王乙康和高階國務部長馬力基稍後回應我未能涵蓋的其他議員提出的問題。

武裝部隊將發展下一代能力，以應對現實世界和網路空間的威脅。我想以吳慶瑞博士最後一次重要公開演講中的一句話結束。他說：“我們獨立最可靠的保障是強大的武裝部隊。強大的武裝部隊又依賴於政治意願去付出努力和代價。”

我認為吳博士的提醒是永恆的。無論我們是作為一個新興國家的貧窮國家需要投入國防，還是作為一個不斷崛起的國家面臨其他需求，現在又面對一個老齡化社會和不確定的世界，每一步都需要投資國防，也需要政治意願。

我要感謝我們國民服役男兵的堅定承諾，議會成員的堅定支援，以及新加坡人民不可動搖的決心。有了這些要素，武裝部隊隨時準備作為和平的守護者和我們生活方式的捍衛者。[掌聲]

武裝部隊在反煙草工作中的角色

提名議員蘭道夫·陳：主席女士，武裝部隊在改善所有服役人員健康和福祉方面發揮著重要作用，尤其是新入伍的國民服役兵（NSF）。由於入伍年齡18歲也正是合法吸菸的年齡，武裝部隊在解決吸菸問題上的角色因此顯得自然而然。

儘管新加坡的吸菸率有所下降，但我們男性人口中吸菸者的比例仍高於許多發達國家。

下午1時

雖然我不知道有任何確鑿證據，但男性吸菸比例高的現象恰巧與一些軼事相符，這些軼事表明吸菸在我們的服役人員中仍然很普遍。如果屬實，這將在醫療成本和紀律等多個領域產生嚴重後果。

軍隊內部對吸菸作為一種流行文化的容忍並不新鮮，甚至早期流行文化中也有所體現。然而，在現代武裝部隊的背景下，這種現象應被視為背道而馳的，原因有很多。如果現有的軍營和訓練區禁菸令執行不力，可能會降低訓練效果，導致紀律鬆懈，並對作戰人員的實地表現產生連鎖反應。如果軍隊內部容忍吸菸文化，非吸菸者也可能面臨困難。例如，如果允許吸菸休息，非吸菸者該怎麼辦？

雖然軍事基地和訓練區禁止吸菸，但觀察到服役人員和訪客會聚集在營區外吸菸。這表明儘管有控煙措施，吸菸文化仍然存在。女士，如果看起來我反對服役人員吸菸，我必須明確表示並非如此。我推動的是明確的指導方針，以防止與吸菸相關的不良紀律文化產生。

鑑於國民服役的重要性及執法不力帶來的成本，我敦促國防部對服役人員的吸菸趨勢進行研究，調查實現更大幅度減少吸菸率的障礙，並採取積極干預措施，根除基地和訓練區內的吸菸文化。女士，我並非建議以戒菸為主要目標，因為這顯然會偏離武裝部隊的職責。但我強烈建議武裝部隊採取積極措施，確保吸菸率不會無意中上升。

儘管不指望武裝部隊自行消除吸菸，但應制定策略鼓勵吸菸的服役人員戒菸。在此過程中，我建議與吸菸成癮領域的專家協商，設定切實可行的目標。同時，應積極勸阻服役人員以吸菸作為社交形式聚集。最後，應勸阻那些入伍時非吸菸者在服役期間開始吸菸。

全職國民服役男兵的安全

佩雷拉女士：女士，國民服役是新加坡生活的一部分。然而，在我與居民交流時，安全問題經常被提及，尤其是有兒子和孫子服役的母親和祖母們。她們信任國防部，但難免有些擔憂。她們擔心兒孫的健康、體能訓練、地形和武器操作。過去一些不幸事件也提醒我們事情可能出錯。

國防部已保證，維護訓練安全是建設強大專業武裝力量的關鍵。我欣慰地注意到，2013年武裝部隊將安全列為第八項核心價值。安全與系統審查處（SSRD）成立，負責監督國防部和武裝部隊的安全與系統審查。SSRD於2013年成立了首個外部審查小組——武裝部隊安全外部審查小組（ERPSS），在三年任期內審查武裝部隊安全的各個方面。我想問任期屆滿後下一步計劃是什麼？

武裝部隊多年來一貫重視安全承諾，但流程應不斷審視。國防部能否分享為保障國民服役男兵訓練安全所做的額外努力，以及如何將這些努力傳達給他們的家人和親人以增強信心？

國民服役男兵的交通津貼

非選區議員陳立豐：女士，我瞭解到國民服役兵（NSF）可能因工作時間不固定而獲准申請交通報銷，如計程車費用，以方便工作日單位與家之間的往返。我相信這是為了幫助他們分擔交通費用，考慮到他們的國服津貼有限。

對於國民服役男兵（NSmen），並非所有單位在營內訓練期間（ICT）都有“留營”政策。女士，有些國民服役男兵沒有留營選項或因合理原因無法留營。這些國民服役男兵可能因職責要求仍需很晚離營或很早入營。我想請部長考慮允許部分國民服役男兵申請交通報銷，特別是全日制學生或ICT期間失業的國民服役男兵。

在去年的國防預算辯論中，王乙康部長提到本地大學的學生在學習期間被召集參加預備役訓練（ORNS）。這些是全日制學生，可能與國服兵無異，他們沒有工作也無收入。我也請部長考慮允許正在修讀私人課程的全日制學生和ICT期間失業的國民服役男兵享有此福利。他們的指揮官可根據國防部規定的適當條件協助管理這些報銷。

我相信允許此類交通報銷將幫助部分國民服役男兵應對非正常時間的離營和入營，而無需承擔不必要的經濟負擔。

為國服後生活做準備

阿明議員：未來經濟委員會（CFE）的一項舉措是“獲取和利用深厚技能”，這同樣適用於服役國民服役人員。

2015年，國防部和內政部與新加坡勞動力發展局聯合舉辦了國民服役兵職業技能研討會。這是加強國民服役委員會的建議，旨在幫助國服兵完成全職服役後順利過渡到職場。

國防部能否詳細說明還有哪些計劃幫助國服兵為服役後生活做準備？

全民防衛與社會參與

羅燕玲女士：主席女士，去年高階國務部長馬力基·奧斯曼博士談到了全民防衛在應對混合威脅中的重要性。他說，我引用：“雖然新加坡人相信我們先進且訓練有素的武裝部隊保障了我們的家園和生活方式，但我們必須知道安全機構無法單獨完成這項工作。”

去年，我在2016年國防預算辯論中表達了對伊斯蘭國（ISIS）及恐怖主義對新加坡威脅的嚴重關切。在過去12個月裡，新聞頭條似乎更加令人不安。

近期發展也揭示了多種非傳統安全威脅。例如，全球無數網路攻擊已造成嚴重現實影響。國家或團體入侵政黨和機構，意圖影響政治結果。網路攻擊者還證明了他們能入侵成千上萬個銀行賬戶，竊取受害者辛苦賺來的錢。

我們也瞭解到本地發生的網路洩露事件，個人資訊被盜。一些網路攻擊可歸因於犯罪分子和惡作劇者，但有技能者利用網路攻擊傷害我們的事實令人擔憂。如果落入錯誤之手，網路攻擊者可能被訓練並用於對新加坡發動更大規模衝突。

同時，我們瞭解到惡意國家和團體如何利用影響力活動分裂和破壞社群。顯然，僅靠軍事手段無法應對新加坡面臨的廣泛安全挑戰。即使是美國，其軍事開支超過其他幾個國家總和，也成為大規模網路攻擊和影響力活動的目標。專家認為國家間衝突將越來越多地在戰爭與和平的灰色地帶展開，軍事力量甚至可能不參與。這意味著普通公民可能成為針對新加坡的混合攻擊前線。我們都聽過黃永宏部長早前的講話，他提到一些國家甚至將混合戰爭視為合法。

鑑於這些最新發展，國防部能否評估混合威脅的演變情況，以及我們如何加強全民防衛以應對這些威脅？

沙尼爾·薩帕裡議員（巴西立-榜鵝）：女士，國防社群關係諮詢委員會（ACCORD）向國防部提交了18項提案，旨在增強對國民服役的支援和認可。去年，高階國務部長馬力基·奧斯曼更新稱，18項提案中已有14項完成。我讚揚政府在落實ACCORD提案方面取得的良好進展。國防部能否提供過去一年剩餘提案的實施狀態更新？實施剩餘提案面臨哪些挑戰和限制？

李毅賢議員：主席女士，新加坡享有數十年的和平與穩定。在去年的國防預算辯論中，我們瞭解到年輕一代與開國元勳不同，他們將對峙事件、種族騷亂和獨立之路視為學習內容，而非親身經歷或記憶。

鑑於此，我想問國防部如何努力與年輕一代新加坡人就國防問題進行互動，並在青年中培養強烈的國防承諾。我注意到高階國務部長馬力基發起了“國防承諾”大使計劃，讓武裝部隊開國元勳與年輕一代交流並激勵他們。

主席女士，每一代新加坡人都必須面對自身的安全威脅。雖然我們不再處於二戰或對峙時期，但新加坡仍面臨多方面的安全威脅。僅在過去一年，全球和地區的發展就顯示，恐怖主義、網路攻擊和假新聞等威脅日益明顯，且比我們想象的更接近。

比以往任何時候都更需要武裝部隊和內務部隊以及全體新加坡人的警覺、團結和韌性。鑑於安全環境迅速變化，能否提供國防部全民防衛工作的最新進展，以及其如何與政府其他努力（如SG Secure）相結合？

全民防衛

張浩斌博士：女士，我想向國防部請教：國防部如何持續與新加坡人接觸和互動，激勵他們學習、實踐並具備全民防衛的作戰準備？

女士，鑑於戰爭形態的變化，新加坡有必要審視我們的全民防衛策略。基於本地區的國防開支和新安全威脅，我們需要建設城市和網路戰爭的防禦與作戰能力。

每年2月15日為全民防衛日，紀念1942年新加坡淪陷於日本。自1984年以來，組織了多種活動，提醒新加坡人他們在建設強大國家和保衛新加坡中可發揮的作用。

全民防衛的五大支柱，即軍事防衛、民防、經濟防衛、社會防衛和心理防衛，為新加坡人參與全民防衛提供了框架。儘管付出諸多努力，新加坡人對全民防衛的理解和準備總體不足。

許多新加坡人仍不瞭解自己在全民防衛五大支柱中的角色。全民防衛的作戰準備也不足。

女士，多年前我訪問以色列，深受其人民應對恐怖襲擊和常規戰爭的作戰準備所震撼。無論年輕人還是老人都準備好應對任何襲擊。

事實上，我在那裡看到一群持槍青年在市中心街道巡邏。他們盡職盡責地執行任務，確保巡邏區域的安全。

女士，我希望國防部能制定一套全民防衛技能清單，確保新加坡人具備這些技能，從而更有效地參與全民防衛。我們需要不斷測試新加坡人在全民防衛中的作戰準備。全民防衛需要實用的防衛技能。因此，我敦促國防部讓全民防衛變得切實可行，激發新加坡人的戰鬥精神。

主席：請第二國防部長王乙康發言。

下午1時15分

國防部第二部長（王乙康先生）：上個月，我在德光島參加了國民服役50週年（NS50）啟動儀式。新兵和家屬當天到場，我與他們在伙食部共進午餐。飯菜非常好。我問：“這是標準伙食嗎？”他們保證每天都是這樣，但不會每天吃雞肉，而是輪換。標準一直保持得很好。

我與許多新兵及其家屬交談，詢問他們是否準備好以及感受如何。我感受到年輕人中有自豪感，甚至有些渴望。他們很多人剃了光頭然後入伍。雖然剃頭髮型在營內外都類似，但他們很樂意這樣做。我問家長們感受如何，他們都說，國民服役對兒子有好處。

時代變了，新加坡人對國民服役的支援很強烈。一個關鍵原因是我們看到國服如何將我們凝聚在一起，鍛鍊了年輕人。另一個重要原因是，經過50年，父輩經歷過國服，瞭解其好處，現在支援兒子經歷同樣的過程。這是真正的責任代代相傳。

今天，我將談談如何更好地利用武裝部隊最寶貴的資源——國民服役男兵，以及如何提升國服體驗。

國防部長黃永宏博士曾談及下一代武裝部隊，我們必須最大化每位服役人員的才能、專長和貢獻。

首先，我們確保每一名士兵都具備個人的“強健”。這就是為什麼我們啟動了“士兵強健”計劃，旨在培養身體強健、心理堅韌並致力於新加坡防衛計程車兵。

在“士兵強健”計劃下，國民服役軍人將能在2017年底投入運營的新士兵表現卓越中心接受強化體能訓練。該中心將專注於體能訓練方案、士兵營養、預防傷害的預康復方案以及幫助受傷官兵康復的康復訓練。中心還將整合關於心理韌性的訓練課程，以增強士兵的心理素質。

副教授蘭道夫·陳（Assoc Prof Randolph Tan）詢問新加坡武裝部隊如何處理吸菸問題。我們與國家政策保持一致，將繼續鼓勵官兵保持健康生活方式，減少健康風險因素。如今，武裝部隊營區和基地內禁止吸菸，除指定吸菸區外，任何營區和基地均不出售香菸。

我們還與衛生促進局合作，為官兵舉辦戒菸工作坊。但士兵也需要對自己的健康負起個人責任。

其次，我們通過更合理的部署，最大化國民服役軍人的貢獻。李毅賢先生對此提出了問題。武裝部隊的技術進步改變了職業性質。對於某些職業，自動化大大降低了體力要求。例如陸軍戰鬥工程兵，過去他們需要抬舉和固定橋樑的重型互鎖部件。如今，這些橋樑已被第三代機動橋（M3G）取代。M3G通過液壓臂的遠端介面部署。換言之，現在只需按按鈕即可部署一座能承載三輛五噸卡車的橋樑。

由於這些進步，我們一直在審視職業需求，並能根據國民服役軍人的體能和能力更有效地部署他們。

第三，我們考慮入伍者的職業興趣，從而更好地匹配技能和興趣與部署。李毅賢先生詢問職業興趣計劃，傅志豪先生詢問如何使國民服役更具吸引力和成就感，並獲得社會更好的認可。

我們已實施職業興趣計劃，促進國民服役軍人對服役經歷的個人認同。自去年11月起，預入伍者已在武裝部隊、新加坡警察部隊和新加坡民防部隊的33個職業中表達興趣。其興趣將作為確定職業的附加因素，結合適合度、人力和作戰需求等其他考慮。

有人認為剛畢業的入伍者在表達職業偏好時，會避開“辛苦”的步兵和衛戍部隊，轉而選擇與其學習領域相關的非戰鬥職業。確實存在這種看法。但武裝部隊的經驗並非如此，現今大多數入伍者希望盡其所能貢獻力量，若可能願意付出汗水。因此，在最新的徵兵中，60%的預入伍者表示對步兵和衛戍部隊感興趣。他們知道訓練艱苦，但對他們有益。

維克拉姆·奈爾先生詢問網路安全問題。我們將支援黃循財部長宣佈的新網路指揮部，發展新的網路職業。該職業將使武裝部隊能夠利用人才保護軍事網路和系統。國民服役軍人將從今年8月起部署到這些職業。

鑑於網路攻擊的頻率和複雜性日益增加，我們的網路防禦者需具備高超技能。他們將進入一個極具選擇性和要求的職業，堪比突擊隊員或海軍潛水員。作為職責的一部分，他們還將支援參謀長辦公室在試點計劃中保護我們的關鍵資訊基礎設施。

具備這些技能的預入伍者將通過本地網路競賽、訓練營和活動以及嚴格的選拔測試被嚴格篩選和識別。我預計許多競賽和選拔將在初級學院、工藝教育學院和理工學院等教育機構進行。這不僅影響被選入該職業的少數人，也將提升學生群體對網路和數字技術的興趣和專業水平，擴大國家防衛及新加坡日益發展的網路產業的人才庫。

接下來談談提升國民服役體驗的方法。多年來，我們的努力均遵循國防部長特別顧問委員會（CSNS）的建議。

首先是安全，這是訓練的關鍵要素。佩雷拉女士詢問如何確保國民服役軍人在服役期間的安全。每年有2萬個家庭將他們的兒子，且越來越多的女兒託付給我們。我們非常重視安全問題。我們對官兵的安全關切不亞於他們的母親和祖母。這也是我們保持良好安全記錄的原因。

2013年，國防部召集了一個由武裝部隊外部著名安全專家組成的外部審查小組，審查武裝部隊的安全狀況。

該小組最近完成了為期三年的安全審查，結論是我們的健康和安全體系在國際上屬一流，但當然仍有改進空間。一是加強單位層面的安全文化，二是進一步促進對險情的開放報告。武裝部隊已接受小組的建議，並將改進這些方面。

武裝部隊也加大力度向國民服役軍人的家屬和親人傳達我們對安全的重視。由於安全文化必須在單位層面培養，外展工作也必須在單位層面進行。

以海軍潛水部隊為例，他們特別努力定期與國民服役軍人的家屬溝通。例如，入伍時會為家屬舉辦簡報會，介紹相關情況。在戰鬥潛水課程畢業典禮上，家屬還會觀看潛水訓練演練影片及參與多項活動。這些都讓家長放心，雖然訓練專案艱苦，但都是循序漸進、專業且安全地進行。

國民服役作為一項制度的力量在於我們的國民服役軍人，因此社會表達對他們的感激非常重要。傅志豪先生詢問相關舉措。

為紀念國民服役50週年，黃循財部長上月宣佈，每名國民服役軍人將獲得100元購物券，義務兵還將獲得一年期的SAFRA或HomeTeamNS會員資格。但正如傅志豪先生指出，購物券無法體現官兵的真正貢獻和付出，這只是我們表達“謝謝”的一種小方式。

社會的支援和認可是國民服役軍人最強大的動力。我們將在8月的國民服役50週年周鼓勵企業和組織感謝和認可他們的國民服役軍人。超過250個組織將支援從7月到8月第一週的為期一個月的表彰活動，提供零售折扣、免費紀念品、更友好的國民服役人力資源政策及重申儀式。

丹尼斯·陳先生詢問國民服役軍人在進行個人訓練期（ICT）期間留宿外出的交通津貼。我們必須認識到國民服役是對國家的貢獻和犧牲，但我們也從中獲得許多無形的經驗。因此，我們採取更普遍的做法，提供津貼或服役津貼以支援國民服役軍人的基本個人開銷。我們定期審查國民服役津貼，確保其適當性。最近一次調整是在2015年12月，進行了上調。

阿姆林·阿敏先生詢問國防部如何為國民服役軍人退役後的生活做準備。這是一個重要問題，因為學習新技能是國民服役的主要方面之一。這些技能可能是職業技能，如駕駛、維修或作為教官的體能訓練，也可能是軟技能，如領導力和團隊合作。但我們可以更進一步，正式認證國民服役中學到的技能，供國民服役軍人未來職業使用。

國防部一直與教育部下屬的技能未來新加坡合作開展此項計劃。今年起，技能未來新加坡將認證入伍者在基礎軍事訓練中磨練的團隊合作技能。事實上，我們在國民服役中學到的團隊合作技能，我認為遠勝許多商業培訓課程。在整個全職國民服役期間，他們還可以獲得領導力、技術或專業技能等其他能力認證。

這些成就將反映在國民服役軍人在預備役服役日獲得的增強版服役證書中。到2018年，證書將更全面，涵蓋服役期間獲得的獎項、嘉獎和里程碑等額外成就。

雖然認證國民服役中學到的技能是提升國民服役體驗的有益舉措，但這既非國民服役的主要目標，也非其關鍵收穫。國民服役履行了貢獻國家防衛的義務和榮譽。持久的益處是品格和韌性的培養，以及與戰友之間建立的友情和戰友情誼。最終，成功完成國民服役的人，尤其是在挑戰性單位中展現其能力的，體現了其承諾和奉獻精神。這應當自明，並被整個社會包括僱主所重視和認可。

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如今，已有超過一百萬新加坡人經歷了國民服役這一成年禮。裴潤慶先生詢問國民服役持續的重要性。國民服役仍是我們防衛和安全的基石。訓練有素且忠誠的國民服役軍人提升了我們的軍事能力，使我們在發聲時更具可信度。潛在敵人知道，若攻擊新加坡，將面對一支全民訓練有素、隨時準備捍衛主權和自由的民眾。

法國和瑞典等國自冷戰結束後已廢除徵兵制，但在當今日益不確定的地緣政治環境下，這些國家正在考慮恢復徵兵制。事實上，媒體昨日報道瑞典已決定恢復徵兵制。裴潤慶先生提到的其他國家——立陶宛、阿聯酋和卡達——最近也立法實行強制徵兵。他們認識到從和平到敵對的地緣政治環境轉變可能毫無預警，而一支有能力且可信的軍隊無法一夜之間建立。我們應從這些例子中學習，珍惜國民服役這一制度。

最近，我讀到《紐約時報》一篇由越戰美國海軍陸戰隊老兵卡爾·馬蘭特斯（Karl Marlantes）撰寫的文章。馬蘭特斯強調美國徵兵制的重要性。徵兵制讓所有符合條件的美國男性擁有共同的為國作戰經歷，使各背景的美國人都認同自己是美國人。戰爭結束後，美國軍隊廢除了徵兵制，轉為全志願兵制。馬蘭特斯認為，這剝奪了美國人的共同經歷，削弱了美國社會結構，導致今日分裂的政治局面。

正如吳慶瑞博士1967年所言，我引用：“沒有什麼比參與國防和成為武裝部隊成員更能迅速且徹底地培養忠誠和國家意識。國防的國家建設作用將在社會各階層廣泛參與時更為顯著。”

隨著全球化時代的推進，國民服役在國家建設中的作用愈發突出。國民服役是新加坡身份認同的核心部分，不僅對男性如此，也對支援和鼓勵國民服役軍人貢獻和犧牲的母親、妻子、女兒和女友們如此。

它在社會內部以及社會與政府之間建立了相互信任。我們的國民服役50週年主題“從我的世代到你的世代”強調國民服役是共同責任，仍對新加坡的安全和國家建設至關重要。我們今天擁有的國民服役體系是我們共同的驕傲，並將在未來50年及更長時間繼續發展。

主席：國防部高階國務部長莫哈末·馬利基。

國防部高階國務部長（莫哈末·馬利基·奧斯曼博士）：主席女士，在全球劃界和排斥外來者的趨勢中，新加坡以其多民族、多宗教的獨特品牌脫穎而出。我們擁抱不同文化和信仰，同時構建共同的新加坡身份的原則，是我們成功的基礎，並將在未來繼續如此。但這絕不能被視為理所當然，正如我們早期宗教緊張和種族騷亂的歷史所證明。

作為一個小國，我們仍然容易受到全球和國內壓力的影響。面對混合戰爭，這些壓力只會增加。阿姆林·阿敏先生和劉燕玲女士詢問混合戰爭對新加坡構成的威脅。威脅是真實存在且無處不在的。攻擊者將繼續尋找利用我們對技術日益依賴的方式，針對社會各領域，攻擊我們全面防衛的各個支柱。黃部長之前已談及持續的網路攻擊威脅。

資訊攻擊不那麼明顯。但歷史表明，它們在針對社會各領域時極為有效。1950年瑪麗亞·赫託格騷亂源於報紙對法律程式和瑪麗亞在修道院居留的事實報道存在競爭版本。這些是媒體對事實的歪曲，被用作穆斯林激進分子反殖民的工具。激進分子利用該事件煽動當時新加坡穆斯林與主要為歐洲和歐亞裔天主教徒之間的敵意，導致18人死亡，173人受傷，財產嚴重損失。那時新聞傳播主要依靠印刷品或口耳相傳。

如今資訊攻擊更為有效和危險，技術滲透我們生活的方方面面。假新聞和錯誤資訊通過WhatsApp和Facebook傳播速度大大加快，影響力被放大。例如，現已關閉的網站“真實新加坡”釋出虛假宣告稱一菲律賓家庭的投訴導致2015年大寶森節遊行中警方與參與者發生衝突。這是對事實的歪曲，旨在煽動新加坡不同群體間的敵意。該資訊迅速傳播，若非有識別力的網民舉報該“敏感文章”，可能導致社會崩潰，類似瑪麗亞·赫託格騷亂，但影響更大。這清楚表明我們必須採取行動保護維繫我們團結的紐帶。

劉燕玲女士、法蒂瑪·拉蒂夫副教授和阿姆林·阿敏先生詢問如何應對新的混合威脅。全面防衛已實施33年，仍是我們最佳的防禦和應對措施。威脅渠道是新的——社交媒體、網際網路和電子裝置，但威脅本質相同——歪曲和虛假資訊。它們針對的脆弱點也相同——我們的種族、宗教和背景差異。這就是為何五大支柱和每個新加坡人團結一致、發揮作用保護新加坡及我們共同生活方式的核心資訊依然重要。我很高興國防部2016年調查顯示，超過80%的新加坡人瞭解全面防衛，且超過90%的人認為其仍對新加坡重要。

然而，為應對新挑戰，我們實踐全面防衛的方式必須演變。因此，政府將從“理念轉向行動”，幫助新加坡人理解如何在日常生活中踐行全面防衛。我們可能會發現全面防衛中的社會和心理支柱將更為突出。

在網路領域，每個人都是第一道防線，通過簡單措施防範網路釣魚和駭客攻擊，如為個人裝置和線上賬戶使用強密碼。企業也發揮重要作用，採取必要的網路安全措施並培訓員工應對潛在風險。最新威脅劫持物聯網裝置，如家中的安全攝像頭和媒體播放器。因此，保護這些裝置以及手機和筆記型電腦是網路防禦的第一步。

在假新聞領域，同樣，每個人都是第一道防線。我們需要對自己閱讀和決定線上分享的內容保持明辨和負責任的態度。例如，當你看到一篇令人震驚的文章時，一個好的第一步是用谷歌搜尋，看看是否有像英國廣播公司（BBC）、路透社或《亞洲新聞臺》（Channel NewsAsia）等信譽良好的新聞網站報道此事。如果你發現是假新聞，可能只需向Facebook舉報該帖子或發表評論揭露其虛假性。東歐有一個名為“波羅的海精靈”的運動，正是這樣做的——對抗網路噴子和虛假資訊。我很高興新加坡人也在積極行動。例如，去年12月，當一條關於可能在熱門購物區發生恐怖襲擊的Whatsapp訊息流傳時，許多市民反駁稱該訊息未經證實，不應傳播。夫人，如果可以的話，我想用馬來語繼續發言。

（馬來語）：[請參閱方言發言。] 新加坡人必須對我們自己的社群和機構充滿信心，並具備足夠的辨別力去質疑、核查並反擊假新聞，而不是簡單地轉發。尤其是假新聞和扭曲新聞對我們的安全產生影響時，這一點更為重要。

尤其如此，鑑於我們在與恐怖組織如ISIS在社交媒體上的意識形態鬥爭中面臨的安全挑戰。ISIS想在東南亞建立一個“省”（wilayat）。它已經組建了一個名為Katibah Nusantara的武裝團體，約有1000名來自東南亞的志願者。它還發布了多部以馬來語為目標區域穆斯林的宣傳影片和雜誌。

這些內容旨在煽動對我們社會中不符合ISIS定義的穆斯林群體的敵意和暴力。活躍於社交媒體的年輕人尤其脆弱；觀看斬首影片與展示ISIS下理想社會的影片並置，再加上一名戰士解釋為何每個穆斯林都有義務加入ISIS，隨後慶祝其殉難的場景並不難獲得。

在我們周邊地區，傳播排他主義和字面主義伊斯蘭傾向的極端主義團體的增長，對我們多宗教社會構成重大威脅。我們已知有31個此類團體宣誓效忠或支援ISIS。

我們的穆夫提和穆斯林團體，如宗教康復小組（RRG），已明確表示ISIS的方法違背伊斯蘭教。這些穆斯林團體通過輔導、出版物和演講積極向社群進行教育。

在個人層面，面對極端主義材料時，我們的第一反應不應是轉發，而應先向我們的穆夫提和新加坡伊斯蘭宗教理事會（MUIS）核實，然後發表評論反駁此類觀點。我們不應讓排他性思維滲透社群心智。我們必須具備心理韌性，抵制和拒絕那些我們懷疑不真實、極端或排他性的材料，因為它們可能對我們的社會凝聚力產生負面影響。

（英語）：張浩斌博士和李毅賢先生正確指出，總體防衛需要全社會的努力，並詢問國防部（MINDEF）在總體防衛方面的努力以及如何與新加坡人接觸和互動。國防部將加強我們在公共、私營和民間部門的廣泛合作伙伴關係。首先，我們將加強政府內部的緊密協作。上個月，我們與通訊及資訊部和新加坡國家檔案館聯合紀念了總體防衛日，同時在前福特工廠開設了重新裝修的日本佔領展覽館。75年前的那一天，新加坡在此向日本投降。這是一個回顧我們遺產的機會，傳達心理和社會防衛的資訊，並提醒新加坡人為何我們不能依賴他人來保衛我們的家園。

我們正與內政部（MHA）合作，通過SGSecure鼓勵新加坡人將總體防衛付諸行動，抗擊恐怖主義，建立社群警覺性、凝聚力和韌性。在新加坡武裝部隊（SAF）內部，我們培訓官兵成為有準備的公民和積極響應者，例如裝備他們基本的急救和消防技能，使他們能夠以個人身份支援總體防衛的民事支柱。一個例子是共和國空軍113中隊的軍事專家一等（ME1）Gregory Poh。2016年11月，Poh在下班回家途中注意到遊樂場一名兒童癲癇發作且停止呼吸，他立即進行心肺復甦，持續穩定兒童狀況，並協助趕到的急救人員。

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在SAF之外，我們今年將向所有中學制服團體推出一款總體防衛策略卡牌遊戲《城市守護者》。成員們稍後可在圖書館領取一套親自體驗。這款遊戲是一個自下而上的倡議，由SGfuture參與者萬俊彥設計，他受學生討論如何更有趣地傳達總體防衛課程的啟發，並與教育部和內政部合作開發。遊戲教育青少年如何基於真實案例，社會如何團結起來更好地準備、應對和恢復恐怖威脅。我們希望通過遊戲，青少年能成為同齡人中的總體防衛倡導者。

我們的年輕一代將塑造新加坡的未來。我們希望確保他們對總體防衛有同樣的承諾，並具備面對未來威脅和挑戰的正確本能。

因此，國防部正與文化、社區及青年部的公民參與委員會及國家青年理事會等合作伙伴合作，從青年的視角展開關於如何建立新加坡心理防衛的對話。

我希望會有更多像Nurul Fatimah這樣的青年。她14歲時在本地一所伊斯蘭學校讀書，決定參加CampTeen，該專案鼓勵學生間跨文化友誼。她說：“我生活的九年裡，一直認為最好待在自己的舒適區，沒有意識到在這個多元文化土地上交往的重要性。現在我知道，共同空間對我們這一代非常重要，但建立紐帶並不容易。”現年17歲的她受經歷啟發，成為OnePeople.sg的積極青年倡導者，該組織運營CampTeen。

第二，我們將通過ACCORD與經濟和社群領袖接觸。Zainal Sapari先生詢問ACCORD提案的實施進展。作為ACCORD主席，我高興地報告，我們已成功實施了涉及各利益相關方——僱主和企業、家庭和社群以及教育機構的全部18項提案。例如，在“我們支援你服國服役”倡議下，ACCORD家庭與社群委員會鼓勵商戶和零售商通過提供折扣和優惠支援國服役人員。iDental創始人兼首席牙科醫生鄭榮華博士在團隊提出此倡議時，欣然同意為國服役人員提供金屬牙套促銷。鄭博士引用中國諺語“有國才有家”，解釋道：“沒有國家就沒有家。我相信我們需要一支強大的軍隊來超越我們的實力。”他並非孤例。最近一項調查顯示，96%的僱主認為國服役為新加坡繁榮提供了安全保障。

ACCORD成員還幫助我們接觸新公民和永久居民，他們將成為社會不可或缺的一部分。例如，全球印度國際學校和聯合世界學院（東南亞），其校長均為ACCORD成員，組織分享會，為700多名學生和家長提供國服役入伍流程資訊。曾服役的校友也回校分享經驗，傳達國服役對新加坡防衛的重要性。

第三，我們將直接接觸個人，因為他們可以被賦能發起自己的總體防衛行動。AXA新加坡首席人力資源官Priya Shahane女士引入了一套系統，提前規劃員工被召集參加個人訓練召集（ICT）時的工作安排。這使得像助理經理潘志強先生這樣的AXA員工能無憂參加ICT。Shahane女士還引入措施，允許國服役員工請假準備個人體能測試（IPPT），並獎勵金牌獲得者額外半天年假，激勵他們在IPPT中表現更好。因其努力，Shahane女士於2016年獲得個人國服役倡導獎。

夫人，就我個人而言，我相信新加坡同胞會發揮作用，加強我們的總體防衛和國家精神。上個月，當新加坡植物園一棵40米高、6.5米寬的鐵樹倒塌時，至少有一百名在場者衝上前推開樹枝和樹幹，幫助被樹壓住的人。這種即時的公民意識反應讓我有信心，我們能夠適當應對任何挑戰，互相支援，並在危機後迅速恢復。

夫人，今年我們紀念新加坡淪陷75週年，提醒我們自身的脆弱。我們以50年的國服役和強大的武裝部隊，以及全體新加坡人共同參與的總體防衛作出回應。未來或許充滿不確定，威脅更難預測。但我們的決心堅定。我們將團結一致，以韌性和信心應對，就像過去一樣，度過任何危機，作為一個民族更加強大地崛起。

主席：我們還有一點時間做澄清。Vikram Nair先生。

Vikram Nair先生：有許多有趣的宣佈。從我的角度看，最有趣的是關於設立新的部門或小組來應對網路攻擊和假新聞。我聽說這個團隊大約有2600人。這是一個幾乎全新建立的組織。我們是否有其他模式可供借鑑，還是我們在開創先例？如果是開創先例，那大約一年後才會啟動。我們現有人員是否具備相關能力？如果沒有，我們將如何培養，因為這是相當開創性的？

黃永宏博士：夫人，這並非完全是全新建立。你應該還記得，2013年我們宣佈成立了網路防禦行動中心。我們一直在監控這方面。顯然，隨著許多系統依賴計算機系統、資料鏈接，尤其是所有軍隊，特別是新加坡軍隊因為依賴技術，我們認識到我們的優勢也可能成為弱點。

我們一直在研究其他模式。我曾去法國考察。他們有相當成熟的體系，且組織結構多樣，不僅是軍隊，更重要的是軍隊如何作為國家網路防禦的一部分進行協調。數字領域的本質是其滲透性和連通性，你不能只保護某一部分，因為你會受到影響。

國防部、武裝部隊和整個政府研究了不同模式，這也是為何網路安全域性（CSA）設在總理辦公室（PMO）。如果看其他國家，有些設在總理辦公室，有些設在國防部，但我們選擇了分層結構，CSA作為國家網路安全防禦機構設在PMO和通訊及資訊部（MCI）下。這個網路司令部是另一層，主要保護國防部和武裝部隊。但我們認識到，我們的網路部隊、網路士兵可以接受訓練並部署，就像保護新加坡的關鍵實體一樣；這是我們正在推廣的概念。所以，並非完全全新建立。我們正在大幅提升，因為威脅水平上升，我們認識到損害可能是實質性的。

主席：Cedric Foo先生。

傅志堅先生：關於SAFTI新訓練區改造，我認為這是個好主意，也很及時。同時，我想請部長考慮兩點。第一，當我們遷移場地並建造新建築時，不要失去歷史和舊訓練場地的舊名稱。如果彭崗山被改名，那對我們是不利的。

第二，因為是從零開始建設，我們不僅要確保其生產力和戰鬥效能，也應考慮士兵安全，並將其融入設計中。

黃永宏博士：夫人，我認為議員的觀點非常相關。我同意他的看法。我們希望有共鳴，這貫穿整個系統和所有機構。即使我們更新和刷新系統以滿足新需求，也希望保留能跨代傳承的歷史感。所以我會向武裝部隊反映，由他們決定如何執行。我認為他們不會物理上移除山丘或地形，但即使移除，也可以改為街道名稱，我想，但我會交由他們處理。

議員的第二點關於安全非常重要。傅先生完全正確。就像建築一樣，設計時融入安全要容易得多。我在擔任人力部長時處理過工作場所的傷亡問題時學到了這一點。例如，有些建築設計漂亮但難以清潔。設計時融入安全，不僅是建築本身，也包括建築的終身維護。在這裡，傅先生說的是，在操作過程中，是否可以設計出影片反饋能提醒這是不安全區域？這只是一個例子。所以，是的，我們會考慮這個建議。感謝議員的反饋，我們會採納。

主席：Nair先生，您願意撤回您的修正案嗎？

Vikram Nair先生：我要感謝黃永宏部長、翁業康二部長和高階國務部長莫哈末·馬利基·奧斯曼博士，感謝他們回答我們提出的廣泛問題。我們很高興聽到國服役今年慶祝50週年，這個永恆的制度依然強大。我尤其高興聽到年輕人非常熱衷於從事戰鬥崗位。我希望能對我那代人說同樣的話，但不確定是否屬實。幸運的是，當時沒有調查。但我特別高興，因為根據我個人的軼事經驗，我知道有人表示他們也想加入海軍潛水部隊。

主席：Nair先生，請撤回修正案。

Vikram Nair先生：好的，夫人。抱歉，講述國服役故事。我感謝國防部和官員們對我們防務的支援。我請求撤回我的修正案。

[(程式文本) 修正案，經許可，撤回。 (程式文本)]

[(程式文本) 主預算中J項下金額13,612,805,500元獲批准。 (程式文本)]

[(程式文本) 發展預算中J項下金額839,000,000元獲批准。 (程式文本)]

英文原文

SPRS Hansard · Fetched: 2026-05-02

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

11.52 am

Our Security Environment

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

This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the fall of Singapore in World War II. The events in the 20 years since that day have marked the tumultuous journey of Singapore to Independence.

Even after Independence, security became one of our concerns and National Service (NS) started shortly after. This year, we also celebrate the 50th Anniversary of NS. Happily, Singapore has grown against the backdrop of domestic peace and prospered. However, security threats remain around us.

In the South China Sea, the United States (US) administration has recently mentioned that they see China's developments of installations in the island as illegal and steps may be taken to stop China from accessing them. China has responded by continuing its security patrols and even sailing its aircraft carrier through the region. While I think conflict is not in either party's interest, the threat certainly seems to be looming amongst the great powers.

Closer to the region, along the Korean peninsula, North Korea has carried out its fifth nuclear test in September 2016. Even closer to home, in the Kuala Lumpur airport, a North Korean national, Kim Jong-Nam, a half-brother of North Korea's leader, was killed under mysterious circumstances. It appears that nerve agent VX, classified as a "weapon of mass destruction", might have been used in the process.

Meanwhile, terror threats that have captured our imagination in recent years continue. Even as the so-called Islamic State loses ground in Iraq and Syria, the terror attacks continue. Last year, these included attacks in Nice, Yemen, Turkey and Bangladesh, with the death tolls in the hundreds. Some of these were organised attacks, while others were lone wolf attacks by self-radicalised individuals. This makes the reach of terrorism far and wide, with lone wolf attacks being particularly difficult to detect.

In the region, too, not all appears comfortable. Indonesia, for the first time in many years, was wrecked by violent demonstrations in Jakarta in response to remarks made by its governor. But physical threats are not the only threats. Just the last few days, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) reported that there was an attack on its cyber systems. Cyberattacks, I think, are a threat that has captured our imagination for a long time but now it seems to have come very close to home.

The security threats we face come from far, wide, in many forms, and MINDEF is very much in the frontline to deal with many of these. For this reason, I would like to open this debate by asking what MINDEF sees as the most salient security challenges facing Singapore today, both conventional and unconventional.

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

The Chairman : Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef.

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade) : Madam, can I take both cuts together?

The Chairman : Yes, please.

Peace and Security

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef : Our Strategic Framework Agreement with the US formalised our bilateral security and defence relationship. This agreement allows the US access to facilities on a rotational basis without bringing up sensitive sovereignty issues. Singapore's sophisticated facilities and political standing in the region allows us to host the US thus.

In recent times, much change and transformation are shaping up. These include the newly elected US President and also a rising China, with certain observable characteristics. Trump's administration leaves a lot of uncertainties on outcomes in these relations. The leadership in both countries is becoming more unpredictable. Whilst China wants to exercise influence, the US stand is also unclear and in limbo. What is MINDEF's view of this complex, transitional issue, which will have implications on our security and growth, both regionally and globally? Are there anticipated changes expected in our defence relations with the US and China, knowing that maintaining strong relations is important for us.

Regional Peace and Security

Today, besides traditional security issues, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is confronted with complex, non-traditional threats, namely, in the form of terrorism and transnational crimes. These may include trafficking, money laundering, cybercrimes and even people smuggling. The region is also not exempt from threats of nuclear weapons as well.

A closer and stronger cooperation and alignment is necessary, bilaterally as well as with our multilateral partnerships and an understanding must continue to be inculcated and strengthened. One particular area is certainly defence relations.

How is Singapore working with our ASEAN partners and others in the region in the areas of, firstly, conflict prevention, mitigation and mediation; secondly, counter terrorism and transnational crimes curbing; and thirdly, peacekeeping activities and operations, including maritime security? Finally, are there also newer areas of cooperation that we are working on together?

Military Ties with Malaysia and Indonesia

Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied) : Mdm Chairperson, at the recent Seventh Malaysia-Singapore Leaders' Retreat, Prime Minister Lee and Prime Minister Najib reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations and reiterated the importance of defence cooperation between the two countries and to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation. A month earlier, the latest in a long series of the Semangat Bersatu joint military exercises between the Malaysian and Singaporean armies was successfully concluded.

While it remains important to remember that such exercises were halted when relations turn sour in the past, the reality of the geopolitical environment today emphasises the importance of greater defence cooperation and not less, so as to improve bilateral and regional security.

To that end, is the Ministry considering the introduction of newer confidence-building initiatives with both Malaysia and Indonesia, in addition to the Malacca Straits patrol, the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) and the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus frameworks? In previous cuts, I have suggested pursuing the prospects of joint peacekeeping initiatives and training for international assignments. Is the Ministry considering newer areas for military-to-military cooperation with Malaysia, beyond those like the Semangat Bersatu exercise series, so as to take advantage of the goodwill arising out of the political relationship with a view to more durable ties in future?

In contrast, while the political relationship with Indonesia is more complex, as a result of the politically diverse and more representative democratic terrain today, the military relationship appears to be an all-weather one despite occasional political turbulence. Yet, 2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the yet to be implemented Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between Singapore and Indonesia.

As Members would remember, DCA was linked to an extradition treaty between both countries. In 2007, Indonesia sought to review DCA after agreeing details with Singapore, while Singapore insisted that negotiations were complete. All this resulted in a package agreement that was stillborn.

In April last year, however, Jakarta confirmed that it was intensifying cooperation in law enforcement in lieu of an extradition treaty and was reported to have given Singapore a list of fugitives, for follow-up and assistance. In light of the 50th Anniversary of Singapore-Indonesia diplomatic ties and the signing of the Eastern Boundary Treaty, what is the Ministry's perspective of initiating fresh discussions on DCA in the name of renewed military cooperation and stronger diplomatic links between both countries?

The Chairman : Mr Amrin Amin, you have two cuts, please take them together.

12.00 pm

Combating Fake News

Mr Amrin Amin (Sembawang) : As a multiracial and multi-religious country, disinformation campaigns and fake news can erode trust among various groups, and this can be exploited by external parties. Minister Ng Eng Hen had also warned in 2013 that some types of false news could have exponential consequences which could undermine our national security. Online misinformation could spread widely during tense or volatile situations, causing confusion and chaos which could weaken the community's resolve and cause disunity. How is MINDEF preparing to respond to such threats in the information domain? What role can each Singaporean play?

Vulnerability to Hybrid Attacks

Last year, Minister Ng talked about the "troubled peace" that we will face in an increasingly volatile and borderless environment. We have witnessed recently alleged state-directed hybrid attacks which combine conventional and unofficial military means with cyber warfare, propaganda and indirect tactics. How prevalent are such attacks in our region and are we vulnerable? What can be done to guard Singapore against such attacks?

Expanded Security Threats

Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng (Pioneer) : Madam, today's threats facing Singapore have broadened, as others before me have spoken about. Beyond conventional war, there are areas, including terrorism, cybersecurity, pandemic management, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The year 2016 alone has seen a wide spate of terror attacks around the world. Closer to home, Singapore itself has been targeted by the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) in the aftermath of 9/11, and also in August last year by a militant group planning to launch a rocket at Singapore's Marina Bay. The unveiling of this foiled terrorist attack highlighted the real possibility of future terrorist attacks in Singapore.

The training syllabus of National Servicemen (NSmen) and full-time National Servicemen (NSFs), as some of us know it, was largely based on conventional armed conflict. I would like to know if the syllabus has since been updated to cover these new areas of threats and challenges. Specifically, I would like to ask the Minister if MINDEF has put in sufficient preparations such that our Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel are trained for roles in counterterrorism and are equipped with the necessary intelligence, skillsets, technology and equipment to deal with terrorism. More importantly, in the event of an attack in Singapore, are our servicemen trained to deal with its aftermath? Indeed, is our population prepared to deal with such an aftermath and relief efforts?

Cybersecurity, as others have pointed out, is also particularly important to Singapore because our vision is to become an even smarter city. The recent breach of our I-net system clearly illustrated our vulnerability and showed us how hard it is to defend against determined hackers. Cyber terrorism can also potentially cripple us in Singapore as we leverage the Internet and conduct increasingly a large part of our daily lives on the Net.

I would also like to ask the Minister how MINDEF and other Government agencies, such as the Cyber Security Agency (CSA), GovTech and so on, are preparing to strengthen our cybersecurity, and what measures are in place to mitigate the damage if breached?

Cyberattacks and Cybersecurity

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef : Chairman, in the Mumbai terrorist bombing incident not too long ago, the use of mobile telephones and electronic devices featured strongly in the coordination and execution phases. Cyberattacks are, indeed, growing in volume by the day and pose very complex and unique challenges. The emergence of sophisticated information systems has, indeed, transformed the world we live in today. Cyber threats do not fit in readily into the traditional security framework that exists in most modern states today. New approaches are crucial and the appropriate and balanced role of the military is central to this. The work from King's College London breaks down these threats into: (a) espionage, (b) subversion, (c) sabotage, (d) cybercrime and, finally, (e) cyber war, which is less common.

The military response is not the only response but part of a concerted and consolidated approach, including legal and political responses and so on. How is MINDEF approaching this issue and also how is it being coordinated with other agencies in Singapore, such as the law enforcement agencies that we have here? How does this framework fit into our national cybersecurity ecosystem?

Investing in Defence Technology

Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo (East Coast) : With the pervasive revolution we are experiencing, technology is pervasive and impacting many aspects of our work and life.

Unlike previous industrial revolutions, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is evolving at an exponential pace. This revolution is characterised by the emergence of a range of technologies fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds, creating new ways in which technology is immersed in our lives. These include technological breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, 3D printing, nanotechnology and quantum computing.

We know that technology enables possibilities and it is an important part of MINDEF's transformation effort to build the next-generation SAF. But the differentiator is not just technology but how technology is used. That requires people and talent.

The Defence Technology Community (DTC), which started in 1966, comprising the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and DSO National Laboratories (DSO), as well as MINDEF's Future Systems and Technology Directorate, and Defence Industry and Systems Office, has grown to a 5,000-strong community today.

In his speech marking the 50th Anniversary of DTC, President Tony Tan described DTC as standing at the forefront of scientific and engineering discovery. DTC pioneers have played a key role in shaping Singapore's defence technology.

Can the Minister share how MINDEF is tapping on these emerging technologies in support of Singapore's defence? Apart from leveraging technology, how is MINDEF engaging its talent base to build the capacity and capabilities to realise the potential of these emerging technologies?

Drones' Threat to National Security

Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar) : Chairman, drones are becoming more common and sophisticated. They will grow to be an integral part of our lives due to their many useful applications, from logistics to transport, photography, videos and even patrols. But in the wrong hands, they can be a threat to our national security.

Last month, the Washington Post reported that the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) had established a new unmanned aircraft unit, comprising of fleets of modified drones equipped with bombs.

Drones can be easily bought and transported. They can be launched from almost anywhere and once they are airborne, they can reach any location within a few kilometres in minutes. The smaller ones are almost undetectable in flight. Current radar systems are designed to track larger aircrafts.

Drones can be used to deliver goods. For those with bad intentions, such items may include poisonous powders or gases like sarin, incendiary devices, grenades and bombs.

More worrying, it can be very difficult to trace the owner and operator of a drone. The risk of detection during the process of transporting, launching and operating one is low.

Do we have the controls and infrastructure in place to regulate the access of drones? What is MINDEF's assessment of the threat drones pose to Singapore now and in the future? What measures does the Ministry have to ensure our national security will not be compromised with the increasingly widespread use of drones in our daily lives and in the near future?

Investment in Defence Technology

Mr Vikram Nair : As a small country, technology is going to be fundamental to our defence. What is equally important is developing our own technology.

I have personally seen how important these changes can be. I was in a group of NSmen that did NS with the M-16. Later on in reservist, I was acquainted with the SAR-21, a wholely modified weapon. I have also seen the wonderful difference this makes. I used to barely pass my shooting tests when I was in NS. With the SAR-21, my entire section became marksmen. So, there is tremendous improvement in productivity with our homegrown weapons.

One of the important things, of course, is whether we can get enough people to develop these weapons, these homegrown technologies. We need people with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) backgrounds or fields. What is MINDEF doing to ensure that we have enough people with background in STEM to ensure that we will maintain our own capabilities to develop such technology?

SAF

Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng : Mdm Chair, in 1965, Singapore became an Independent state. We set up SAF soon after that. Over the years, we have continually modernised SAF which gave rise to the Second Generation SAF in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2004, we created the Third Generation (3G) SAF. This transformation journey upgraded our systems to becoming an advanced networked force with leading-edge capabilities.

Today, the threats facing Singapore have, indeed, expanded. SAF remains more important than ever to defend Singapore against a broad array of such threats.

Even as the threats have broadened, the Singaporean manpower that SAF can draw upon will soon shrink as our total fertility rate has been low for many years. How would SAF do more with less manpower available to it? How have we leveraged on technologies, as Mr Vikram Nair has spoken about, to improve our productivity, combat effectiveness and, of course, expand the number of marksmen?

Can the Minister provide an overview of the SAF's capabilities and readiness on land, at sea and in the air, and, indeed, in space through satellites, to effectively defend Singapore against such a broad array of threats? MINDEF will have many busy years ahead.

Resource Challenges

Ms Low Yen Ling (Chua Chu Kang) : Mdm Chair, in November last year, Prime Minister Lee spoke of slower economic growth as being the new normal. Indeed, we are going through an economic transition. Trade has been slowing and our local workforce growth is nearing its limits.

As the Finance Minister noted in the Budget Statement, many developed economies going through the same transition have seen their annual gross domestic product growth decelerate to 1% or lower. Against the backdrop of this new normal and, given the growing requirements in areas, such as healthcare and infrastructure, it seems that the current fiscal climate is one of prudence. The Finance Minister noted that with our spending needs increasing, the Government must continue to spend judiciously, emphasise value-for-money and drive innovation in delivery.

Every Ministry has a part to play in ensuring prudent spending in order to better prepare for the future. However, we observe that in the area of defence and security, regional countries' defence spending is at its highest ever. Asia has spent more on its defence than Europe in absolute dollars since 2012. We also observe that the countries in our region will continue to increase the defence spending at even faster rates than the rest of the world in the years ahead. In fact, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, from 2014 to 2015 alone, there was a 5.4% increase in military expenditure in Asia and Oceania, which far surpasses the 1% increase in defence spending globally.

Our security environment is increasingly complex and unpredictable. I recognise that MINDEF must still invest in the necessary resources to ensure that SAF is able to defend Singapore and Singaporeans against different threats to our security. Can MINDEF elaborate on how it remains prudent whilst still ensuring that SAF has the resources it needs to keep Singapore safe and secure?

The Chairman: Mr Vikram Nair, you can take your two cuts together.

Mr Vikram Nair : Mdm Chair, as a small country, SAF competes for use of land with many other uses. Most recently, the acquisition of Paya Lebar Air Base was announced. I have fond memories of Paya Lebar Air Base because my mother was a psychologist there and I used to go there as a child. That camp will probably not be there in a few years' time.

The camp where I did my NS, Nee Soon Camp, will probably not be functioning as a Basic Military Training (BMT) camp anymore. In fact, I think it has already stopped functioning as one. Bit by bit, we see a long list of training areas and camps that SAF used to use being given up. Whether it is the Air Force, Navy or Army, all three services require land to train. Given local land scarcity and increasing demand for land for other uses, how will SAF ensure that our soldiers receive the necessary training?

National Service

As I mentioned earlier, this is also our 50th Anniversary of NS. NS has become a Singapore institution. Not only is it a fundamental part of our national defence, it is also an important part of our national identity. It is the one basis on which men easily relate to one another; and women can easily relate to one another as well talking about what men go through.

One of the fundamental issues we face with NS is our declining population, and cohorts are likely to get smaller and smaller each year. Each NSman will, therefore, become even more precious. What step is MINDEF taking to ensure that each NSman receives adequate training, his potential is well used and whatever capabilities he has will be well maximised?

Related to this are the new form of threats we face. Many of the earlier speakers have alluded to the threat faced by cyberattacks, hybrid warfare, and these threats are likely to become even more important in future. We will need to develop our capabilities to defend against cyberattacks and, potentially, even to use them as part of a counterattack in a broader defence strategy. The fact that MINDEF's own servers were hacked just a few days ago highlights how real and imminent this threat is.

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But dealing with this threat also requires people, and the skills required for this are highly specialised and the people with those skills are likely to be few.

What are the recommendations from the Committee on the Future Economy in relation to this? It suggested using NSmen to boost our pool of cyber talent to deal with such threats. I understand that other countries, such as Israel, also use national servicemen to deal with cybersecurity threats.

Can MINDEF provide details on whether it plans to implement these suggestions from the Committee on the Future Economy and, if so, how it plans to do so?

Mr Baey Yam Keng (Tampines) : Madam, at the launch of NS50 last month, Minister Ng Eng Hen said that 50 years ago, "We pledged at the founding of our nation that we would never allow the circumstances that occurred in 1942 when Singapore fell to the Japanese during World War II to recur". Minister Ng spoke of the contributions of our Pioneer Generation of NSmen, noting that, in their time, "Singapore was threatened by Konfrontasi, the communist insurgency in Malaya and the possible fallout from the Vietnam War".

When it was first started, NS was essential for the defence of a young nation. Our Pioneer Generation of NSmen was tasked with defending Singapore at a time when there was barely an SAF to speak of.

Fifty years on, our region has benefited from several decades of relative peace and stability. We have a strong and capable SAF that has protected Singapore's borders and interests. Singapore is thriving and secure.

Around the world, other countries, such as Lithuania, France and Sweden, have ended conscription, but, more recently, some are thinking of bringing it back.

Against this backdrop, what role does NS play for Singapore and is it still as important? How does MINDEF continuously remind people, including would-be enlistees, NSFs, NSmen, as well as their families, employers and the public at large, of the evolving role but continued importance of NS?

Dr Teo Ho Pin (Bukit Panjang) : Madam, I wish to seek clarifications from the Ministry on the following:

Due to the changing landscape in warfare, how does MINDEF evolve its training and operations to meet new challenges in urban warfare?

Madam, this year, Singapore celebrates 50 years of NS. Many male Singaporeans who have served NS understand the importance of defending Singapore and have developed the resolve to protect our land.

However, most of them were trained in conventional tactics, such as jungle warfare, which may not be relevant in today's hybrid warfare threats. Hybrid warfare is a military concept that involves using conventional weapons and unconventional tools, such as economic sanctions and communications, to achieve victory without resorting to open war.

Madam, in today's densely built-up areas and changing threats, both within and outside Singapore, the operating environment for warfare has changed quite drastically. Therefore, we need to review our training doctrines and outcomes to develop new capabilities in our defence force.

Besides training our NSFs and regular Servicemen on new capabilities, we also need to develop a training roadmap to upgrade the capabilities of our NSmen.

Madam, in my opinion, we should focus on three areas to strengthen our defence force. First, develop fighting capabilities in built-up areas for urban warfare; second, develop information and communications capabilities to counter cyberattacks; and third, develop attack capabilities to deter or destroy any aggressors to our country.

Mr Lee Yi Shyan (East Coast) : Mdm Chair, in June 2014, the Government accepted 30 recommendations proposed by the Committee to Strengthen NS (CSNS). This Committee was made up of members from diverse backgrounds, including Members of this House, all tasked with reviewing how NS could be strengthened to better serve Singapore and Singaporeans.

The CSNS Report cited a survey done by the Institute of Policy Studies where 97% of respondents felt that more could be done to match Servicemen's personal skills and abilities with NS vocations. The Report also noted that CSNS had studied the Finnish and Swiss NS systems, both of which enjoy strong public support, and noted that both the Finns and the Swiss had some form of policy where conscripts could indicate their vocational preferences when enlisted.

Based on these findings, one of the CSNS recommendations was to consider the vocational interests of NSFs when assigning them to vocations. In line with CSNS' recommendations, MINDEF allowed the first cohort of pre-enlistees under the new initiative to indicate vocational preferences when they reported to the Central Manpower Base in November last year.

Can MINDEF provide an update on the vocational interest initiative? Are there other ways in SAF that are being reviewed to better deploy its Servicemen?

Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng : Madam, NS is a sacred duty for all male Singaporean Citizens and second-generation Permanent Residents. It is the cornerstone of Singapore's defence and security. For many Singaporean men, it is a rite of passage where he leaves the comforts of his home at the young age of 18 and takes on the commitment of defending his country, family and friends. Men, regardless of social status, race or religion, train hand in hand, look out for one another and overcome challenging tasks as one people. This "social glue" that is forged through NS is, indeed, a precious outcome for the country.

Given that NSmen give their time to train and defend this nation, it would be right for MINDEF to improve the NS experience. How have MINDEF done this over the years and are there recent initiatives to improve NSmen's engagement and fulfilment? The NS Orbat (Order of Battle) is understandably different because its mission is different from the civilian sector, and we draw the entire cohort of men from the civilian sector. However, to the extent that we can match the private sector interest of the NSmen to their NS vocation, MINDEF will get more out of them, and they more out of NS.

Given the importance of our NSmen to Singapore, we, no doubt, should recognise their contributions and efforts. In fact, we should go further and also recognise those who supported them through NS ‒ parents, spouses, girlfriends and so forth.

I am all for SAF Reservists Association (SAFRA) membership recognition and for also highlighting NS contributions to their employers. I think that has gone a long way to recognising them. But as for monetary rewards, I am ambivalent. We ought to strike the right balance, lest we reduce NS duty to a mere commercial transaction.

Can the Minister highlight what other NS recognition programmes and how else we can do to make NS more fulfilling for our NSmen?

The Minister for Defence (Dr Ng Eng Hen) : Madam, let me first thank the many Members for their speeches. As I was listening to them, I had generally two reactions.

One, I am thankful that we have even helped some people improve their marksmanship. We will take credit where credit is due and even when it is not sometimes. I am thankful for the support across the aisles. Whether you are of any political affiliation, Non-Constituency Member, Nominated Member ‒ I am very thankful that the support for defence is across all parties.

The second reaction was one of agreement. In fact, I could agree with everything, almost all points brought up by Members of Parliament (MPs). And if you listen to their speeches, it was a tour de force of the changing security environment − how the world is, indeed, unpredictable; how new threats are on the horizon and even upon us. And yet, because we are under pressure with other increased needs, how can SAF and Singapore respond to these threats with the budget allocated? So, there is total agreement with what the Members said.

Their speeches capture the essence of the new security environment for which Singapore and Singaporeans must, indeed, prepare for, and which SAF must adapt to, to protect our sovereignty and defend our home. Mr Cedric Foo and Dr Teo Ho Pin spoke about this. We have talked about the 3G transformation for a number of years. But a new environment is upon us.

And like Members here, we recognise that this year is a very special year ‒ 75 years since the fall of Singapore, 50 years since NS' inception. Together with all Members here, we want to thank the more than one million committed NSmen who have done their duty faithfully and built a strong SAF to protect Singapore and Singaporeans these past decades. Even as we laud their individual contributions, I agree with Members here that SAF must now undertake critical steps to better protect Singapore in this new security environment. As we did for the 3G SAF transformation efforts, SAF must once again transform to the Next Generation SAF, to be better positioned for the future. Major parts of my speech will focus on this.

I agree with Members here that the world, indeed, is at an inflexion point. Interview any world leader now and he will say so. Even if world leaders do not say so, our citizens can feel that turbulence, that change to come. What is happening?

The last 25 years after the Cold War were marked by rapid globalisation and relative peace despite the threat of extremist terrorism, which we do not underplay. This relative peace was so much so that militaries in the European Union (EU) physically downsized. I remember when I visited Germany, when I first went to their Ministry of Defence, the Bundeswehr was talking about a one-third reduction, a significant reduction. There were good reasons. They wanted to reap the peace dividend of a united Europe against what was perceived to be a declining Russia.

In Asia, it was a good three decades. China's economy grew for 30 years phenomenally at an average of 10% every year. India's economy also grew, albeit at a slower rate of about 6% per annum over a similar period from 1979 for 30 years. This massive growth lifted all boats in the global economy, particularly for Asia, including ASEAN, which grew an average of 6% per annum, well above the global average of 4%.

That era we are witnessing is now changing trajectory, as the benefits of globalisation have not been uniform either within or across countries. And the so-called "ills" of globalisation related to migration and job disruption have eroded popular support in many countries, never mind the benefits of hundreds of millions lifted out of poverty.

So, instead of the optimism and hope that greeted the end of the Cold War, uncertainty prevails today. There is uncertainty about what "America First" means for global leadership and trade, especially if the erstwhile or current global leader of global trade is not part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership; uncertainty in Asia about how the US-China strategic rivalry will impact Asia and us, as many Members have said before me, especially the pressure on small states like Singapore to choose sides.

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Across Europe, still reeling from the global economic crisis in 2008, there is uncertainty about the security threat against some of its members. Many Members have mentioned Sweden, not just one state but across Europe. There is even concern over the existence of EU itself, especially when far-right parties that push for the equivalent of Brexit are gaining ground.

Many Members here have reflected these uncertainties, including Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef, who asked whether we were vulnerable. Indeed, we are vulnerable. And we should accept that the geopolitics will be turbulent and that Singapore has to prepare for choppy waters. But at the same time, our national strategy to deal with this uncertainty is still sound. It is a simple strategy, one based, firstly, on a strong SAF supported by Total Defence, which we have, with your support, steadily invested resources into every year.

Secondly, as Members here have mentioned, including Mr Pritam Singh, good relations with our neighbours coupled with very strong partnerships with like-minded countries. Some Members, including Mr Pritam Singh, have asked what our relations are with our immediate neighbours, and I will tell you that, generally, they are excellent and, indeed, we cooperate on many fronts. The Malacca Straits Patrol, as was mentioned, marked its 10th anniversary last year. There continues to be solid support for FPDA, now into its 46th year. The 18-nation ADMM-Plus has made good progress, with many working groups dealing with different security challenges.

Mr Pritam Singh asked whether we should have more platforms for cooperation. We are open to that. Anything that improves military-to-military cooperation, we will undertake. But we have to understand that, in some aspects, we wait to be invited, for example, the new Sulu Seas Patrols. We have already availed our resources from our Information Fusion Centre in Changi Naval Base to the Sulu Seas Patrols, because that is part of our interest. For other initiatives, we will lean forward if other countries want us to participate further.

We signed an enhanced DCA with the US in 2015 and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Australia last year. Our bilateral relations with China and India have also grown. In 2014, Members will remember that General Chang Wanquan and I agreed on a "Four Point Consensus" in which we affirmed principles and substantive steps to strengthen our bilateral defence cooperation. For India, Minister Manohar Parrikar and I also signed the revised DCA in 2015 and we are now exploring stepping up collaboration in areas, such as maritime security and counterterrorism.

These strong partnerships stand us in good stead but, ultimately, it is the Next Generation SAF's primary mission and responsibility to deal with security threats in this 21st century, as Members here have said. We know that it is fully in our court, that SAF must stand ready. And I agree with Members that this includes the threat of cyberattacks and fake news.

Two years ago, I brought up the issue of hybrid warfare in the Committee of Supply (COS) debates. It was not a very much bandied word; in fact, it was a very uncommon word. But today, as I listened to Members' speeches, it has become so common, so well-known only within a short space of two years. The threat has progressively risen. I just came back from the Munich Security Conference and, there, Chancellor Merkel stated openly that some countries considered hybrid warfare to be legitimate. She is not wrong. Last week, the Financial Times had a full write-up on cyber warfare. Let me quote a salient paragraph.

"Russia's military does not tend to talk of cyber warfare, as the West does, in tightly proscribed, legally measured actions, but rather discusses the broader concept of an information war, a concept that precedes the Soviet era, in which the toolkit has been brought up to speed for the digital era." The article continued that the Russian Defence Minister confirmed the existence of information troops, rumoured for years but long denied by officials. They quoted the Russian Defence Minister, "Propaganda must be smart, literate and effective," he told the Lower House of Parliament. Russia spends $300 million annually on its "Cyber Army" of about 1,000 people, according to the Kommersant, their local newspaper.

This is the head of a government − the German government − saying that there are countries around them which consider this legitimate. Defence ministers coming out openly to say that "This is part of my Orbat and part of my mission." There is doctrine, there is training, there is execution. Russia is not alone, as other countries, too, have been reported to have cyber battalions, even cyber divisions in their military and ministries. And I agree completely with Members here that the Next Generation SAF needs to prepare for this environment where state-orchestrated cyber and information campaigns against another state are not only considered legitimate but can be ongoing all the time. The impact of that threat can have real and damaging physical consequences. Let me give Members some examples.

Ukraine's power grid has been hit by several cyberattacks, and one such attack in December 2015 cut off power to an area about 20 times the size of Singapore, and this was in the middle of winter. Estonia is a small nation with about 1.3 million people. Their people and government understand this threat particularly well, because they have been a target of well-orchestrated cyberattacks since 2007 for the last decade, so much so that Estonia plans to make a digital copy of the entire nation, everything from birth records, property deeds, bank data, all government records. They want to do this and store it in another location, a secret location, in the United Kingdom or Luxembourg. At least, they have given you the two places they want to store the information.

Why do they want to do this? Just imagine. We had 850 personal information stolen. Suppose somebody burrows into our Central Provident Fund records, death and registry records, housing records and demolishes them. There will be utter chaos for any nation.

Even elections can be influenced by orchestrated cyberattacks. The Democratic National Committee was hacked in the last US Presidential Elections, with thousands of documents released by unknown sources meant to discredit its candidate. The Financial Times alleged that the Russians have already compromised the servers of political parties in France and Germany which are going to have elections. I do not know how the Financial Times knows this, but they have reported it. Nearer to home, Members mentioned Indonesia, that it did, indeed, inflame ethnic and political tensions. And Indonesia has responded by establishing an agency to counter cybercrime and fake news.

Our best defence against this information warfare is Total Defence, which has stood the test of time. I will leave it to Senior Minister of State Maliki to elaborate how we need to update and refresh Total Defence in response to these hybrid threats.

But modern militaries can no longer choose to ignore these external threats through the digital front. We will be silly to do so and be derelict in our responsibility. As it happens, we have prepared this speech for some weeks now, but MINDEF recently disclosed a breach in its I-net system. Plans for this speech were prepared before we detected that breach. It is not a surprise. It is no revelation when I tell Members that we can expect more such cyberattacks in the future. Indeed, it was that potential of the cyber threat which was recognised early, which is why, even from inception, for SAF, our classified and operational networks were separated from the Internet since we had those systems. We understood then. But the threat is now material and even greater. I agree completely with Members that SAF will need to step up its cyber defences, even as the level of this threat increases.

Mr Cedric Foo asked pointedly about our efforts to combat these new threats. In a clear and unmitigated recognition that the cyber domain is the battlefield today, MINDEF and SAF will stand up a new cyber command. It will be called the Defence Cyber Organisation (DCO) and placed at the highest level of our organisational hierarchy. This new cyber command will be led by a Deputy Secretary. It will comprise four major formations, each commanded by at least a Colonel or flag officer, a General or an Admiral, within MINDEF and SAF.

The cyber command will oversee policies, train cyber units to monitor and defend our networks 24/7 from threats, which will assess vulnerabilities, detect attempted intrusions and breaches in the system. SAF must keep up with the tactics and operations of aggressors in the cyber realm, something which Member Teo Ho Pin spoke about, and because this is a never-ending game, as we do in conventional warfare.

In the steady state, DCO will have about 2,600 soldiers, supported by scientists and engineers in DSTA and DSO. This is a significant build-up from the current numbers and it reflects the importance of this new battlefront. In response to Members, this is a clear signal. We agree with you. SAF and MINDEF will step up.

NSmen − some Members have asked − yes, NSmen will also be trained in vocations for cyber defence. It will be silly for us not to; they are our main resource. And just as security troopers now physically protect key installations, we will deploy these NS cyber defenders to protect our installations together with CSA. Minister Ong Ye Kung will elaborate on this.

Some Members like Ms Jessica Tan have asked about technology and how we will deploy resources. Modern militaries are powered by technology. There is no running away from it, especially so for Singapore. As Members have rightly pointed out, we will see a fall in manpower, and our defence technology organisations will gear up to support these changes.

Mr Vikram Nair asked about our STEM recruitment efforts. He is quite right. We now have a 5,000-strong and growing community of defence engineers and scientists. We will increase such scholarships and awards by 40% by 2025. So, 170 from 120 today. The pinnacle Public Service Commission Scholarship (Engineering) within MINDEF will be awarded this year.

Two new labs will be set up so that we can focus our efforts, just as many Members talked about leveraging technology, which I completely agree with. One lab will be DSO's, which will set up the robotics lab. DSTA's new lab will exploit AI and data analytics. We will give these two new labs a seed grant of $45 million annually as a start, so that they can lead in more experimentation and innovation. We are at the front edge of this, and it is not as if you can buy commercial software easily, so you will have to invest in resources to kickstart the process.

The work on robotics has already begun. Six Singapore Infantry Regiment soldiers are currently experimenting with unmanned aerial and ground vehicles to perform their missions. The Navy has gone further. The Navy is putting Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) which can navigate and avoid collisions autonomously into operations. Let me make this clear: it is not a remote control device, it is an autonomous device.

SAF, working with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has already deployed and developed countermeasures against potential drone attacks. This is something that Member Joan Pereira asked about. We recognise this threat. This is a real threat. We are monitoring these aspects, such as developments in Iraq and Syria. But we are not taking it lightly and, in fact, this is an issue that was discussed at the Security Policy Review Committee that is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Teo. And whether you know it or not, in the last National Day Parade that was held at the National Stadium, these systems were already deployed, not only to detect, but countermeasures. Laws, as you will remember, were also recently enacted by this House and legislation gazetted so that we can have powers.

The Analytics and AI Lab will exploit the mega volumes of realtime information that can be derived from the Internet of Things and platforms. We have many platforms, and I agree with Members that not only are we vulnerable, but we need to exploit it. Because the realisable potential is enormous. Let me give Members just one example.

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Every single day, there are about 1,500 commercial ships that ply our waters. The Singapore Maritime Crisis Centre uses a particular programme with AI embedded to generate unique signatures for each of these vessels in our waters. These individual signatures are collated from multiple sources, which include social media and other specific information. They are collated, scanned, made sense of and fused to give one picture. Then, it detects deviations from this signature.

This AI-embedded method detected a possible ISIS supporter on board a tanker that was in our waters in 2015. So, among all the ships, among the tens and hundreds of thousands of occupants, cargo, they detected a possible ISIS supporter. That person was barred from disembarking into Singapore. Finding this needle in a big haystack is only possible through modern means.

I also believe that Singapore can take the lead in defence technology even though we are small. So, to achieve that aspiration, DSTA, together with our national universities and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research and Government agencies like GovTech, CSA, the National Research Foundation and the Economic Development Board, will host an inaugural Singapore Defence Technology Summit in 2018.

I asked staff whether there were any global technology summits in the world. They said, "It does not exist yet", and I replied, "Oh, that is good. Let us try."

This summit will provide a global platform to invite luminaries, leading figures, to come share their views. It will give us a window into the future. Not only that; it will allow us opportunities to network and increase our access to ideas and innovation. Because you and I know that, for defence, for us, it is existential. We need to deploy technology because other factors are working against us.

Even as we set up a new cyber command and technology labs, even as we want to host the inaugural Singapore Defence Technology Summit, I agree completely with Member Teo Ho Pin that we must never neglect to train the SAF's conventional force against traditional threats and, as Mr Cedric Foo pointed out, terrorism. Many Members agree with that line.

We all know that we have finite land and we are building training facilities overseas, such as in Australia, when we signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. But at the same time, we must have world-class training facilities here. Mr Vikram Nair talked about his childhood memories and how each time certain camps are taken away. There is finite land, we understand the pressures. We do need a minimum baseload of training camps, but we will maximise what we have. And we must guard against over-dependence on overseas training grounds. Recent events have pointed out the dangers. It is not possible for all our NSmen to only train overseas because the bulk of our training is still conducted here, especially for the Army.

Many of the Members here who have done NS will be familiar with the SAF Training Institute (SAFTI) Live Firing Area. You and I remember charging up Peng Kang Hill, for whatever reasons we were told to, and being trained at Fighting On Fortified Objective (FOFO), the fortified hill. These are all in our memories. But the SAFTI Live Firing Area was built in the 1960s, or 50 years ago.

As Members here pointed out, SAF has changed, cities have changed, terrains have changed, the world has changed. Members here asked: "How is SAF going to respond to this? Is there any new tactic? Is there a new doctrine? Is there new equipment?" We recognise these. The answer to all your questions is yes. Not only these, we will need training grounds that reflect the missions and operations that SAF will be called upon to conduct. For SAF to train realistically and effectively, we will build a new SAFTI City, because even peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions are likely to be conducted in built-up cities and infrastructure.

The new SAFTI City will take a decade to complete and cost approximately $900 million. Members have a handout. But, with your permission, Madam, I think it is easier for Members to see what we are going to build. Can I please show the video?

The Chairman : Yes, please. [ A video was shown to hon Members .]

Dr Ng Eng Hen : Thank you, Madam. Many details but let me give Members the broad gist. The idea of what the new SAFTI City wants to accomplish is to allow any battalion to fight across different terrains successively, as they would do in real life missions.

It will, therefore, have both urban and conventional terrain. In the urban setting, low houses and high-rise buildings. In the open terrain, jungles, hills and rivers to cross. But the signature change, because we are using technology, will be state-of-the-art training simulation technologies designed into the operating environment. We are building it from scratch, so that we can do it. There will be interactive targets and battlefield effects, such as artillery attacks, so that our soldiers can train more realistically and get ample feedback about how well they perform. When it is completed, SAFTI City will take our NS training to a much higher level of realism and effectiveness.

For instance, for our soldiers who are involved in Island Defence operations, this SAFTI City will allow them to train in mock-up petrochemical complexes, warehouses, container parks and industrial buildings. Sector 2 will have high-rise and interconnected buildings, basement car parks, a bus interchange and an underground Mass Rapid Transit station which will be useful for Counter Terrorism and High Intensity Urban Operations, as Members talked about. Sector 2 will also include urban rubble for Disaster Relief Operations.

In the areas surrounding SAFTI City, three new Instrumented Battle Circuits (iBACs) will be built. These will help small units train up their fighting skills because there will be video cameras, data analytics to point to what a specific person did or did not do and they will give feedback on each soldier's performance. Different scenarios can be configured for both peace time contingency and conventional military operations.

Ms Low Yen Ling asked how SAF is going to meet its needs with prudent defence spending, and she is absolutely right. We are aware of these budgetary pressures from an ageing society, coupled with slower growth rates for the economy. As I have sketched out to Members here, all these new programmes will need significant and sustained resources over the medium term. They cannot be built in five years. It will take us 10, 15 or maybe even 20 years to fully size up the Next Generation SAF. But we will reprioritise programmes to meet these challenges that we must face.

Here, I am very thankful for Members who have supported us over the years, steadily, so that we can spend steadily on our defence budgets to renew our Orbat and platforms continually, which today allows us to grow for these new areas, which we did not foresee 10-15 years ago.

The Army's refurbished Leopard tanks and Terrexes are young. The Belrex Protected Combat Support Vehicle was introduced last year. The next-generation Armoured Fighting Vehicle will be rolled out in 2019. The Air Force will upgrade its F-16s with new radars and weapons later this year, and the Aster 30 missile system will be deployed to strengthen our air defences. The Navy has new Littoral Mission Vessels and will need to replace two of its Archer Submarines. We will announce the replacement for these submarines later this year.

We have been able to do this because, every year, we commit a sizeable proportion to defence spending, but steadily. No sharp dips, no sharp rises. Even with new demands that I have sketched out for the Next Gen SAF, MINDEF has projected that our defence budget can be maintained on the current trajectory of 3%-4% growth each year, which would allow us to at least keep pace with inflation.

Member Low Yen Ling made a very incisive comment that in our region, Asia's military spending has outstripped that of the EU and has an average growth of 5.4%. Our 3%-4% is below that, but because we have had a longer runway of steady spending, we can keep to the 3%-4% projection. But MINDEF will not hesitate to push for higher spending if there are increasing new demands or if the security environment deteriorates.

MINDEF and SAF are conscious that the Government, with the strong support of Singaporeans, invests substantially into the defence budget each year.

I want to thank Members and Singaporeans for their constant support and I promise you that we will pledge to stretch each defence dollar to the fullest. Where we can, we will cut cost, as some Members have asked. We did it through the Republic of Singapore Navy's new Frigate Ship Management System. This system reduces maintenance time by 93% and saved us $40 million. Another example is the Army's SMART magazine. NSmen here will know that we fire blanks for various reasons. But someone thought, why have blanks, why not have a magazine that can simulate the blank? Indeed, that is what the SMART magazine does. And it will save $1.4 million each year. These measures, big and small, reflect the culture of prudence, using innovation to cut costs without loss of effectiveness for SAF.

Mdm Chair, let me conclude and allow Second Minister Ong Ye Kung and Senior Minister of State Maliki later to address other queries which I have not addressed and which Members have brought up in their speeches.

SAF will develop next-generation capabilities to deal with threats in both the real world and cyberspace. I want to end with a quote from Dr Goh Keng Swee in his last major public speech. He said: "The most dependable guarantee of our Independence is a strong SAF. A strong SAF, in turn, depends on the political will to make the effort and pay the price."

I think Dr Goh's reminder is timeless. Whether we were a poor country as a new nation having to spend on defence or as an up and rising country with other needs and now having to face an ageing society with an uncertain world, at each step, you need to invest in defence and you need political will.

I want to thank the strong commitment of our NSmen, the unwavering support of the Members of this House and the unshakeable resolve of Singaporeans. With these elements, SAF stands ready as guardians of the peace and defenders of our way of life. [ Applause. ]

SAF's Role in Anti-tobacco Efforts

Assoc Prof Randolph Tan (Nominated Member) : Mdm Chair, SAF has a significant role to play in efforts to improve the health and well-being of all Servicemen, especially the newly-enlisted NSFs within its ranks. Since the enlistment age of 18 also coincides with the age at which smoking is legally permitted, SAF's role in addressing smoking concerns is, therefore, a natural one.

Although smoking prevalence has decreased in Singapore, the proportion of our male population who are smokers is higher than that in many developed countries.

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Although I am not aware of any confirmed evidence, the high proportion of males who smoke happens to coincide with anecdotes suggesting that smoking is still highly prevalent among our Servicemen. If true, this would have severe consequences across a range of domains, including healthcare costs and discipline.

The tolerance for smoking as a popular culture within armed services is nothing new and it was even embraced in early popular culture. However, in the context of a modern SAF, it should be viewed as antithetical for many reasons. If the existing bans on smoking in army camps and training areas are not strongly enforced, they could reduce training effectiveness, lead to an erosion of discipline and have potential knock-on effects on performance in the field for combat personnel. There are also the potential difficulties faced by non-smokers if a tolerance of a smoking culture persists in the ranks. For instance, if smoke breaks are permitted, what do non-smokers do?

Although military bases and training areas are off-limits, there is an observable practice of service personnel as well as visitors who gather and smoke outside of camps. This suggests that while smoking controls may be in place, a smoking culture persists. Madam, in case it appears that I am against smoking for Servicemen, I must say clearly that that is not the case. What I am pushing for are clear guidelines so that a culture of indiscipline associated with smoking does not arise.

Given the importance of NS and the costs associated with a lack of enforcement, I would like to urge the Ministry to conduct a study of smoking trends among its Servicemen, examine the impediments to achieving a greater reduction in smoking prevalence and introduce active interventions to root out any smoking culture within bases and in training areas. Madam, I am not suggesting smoking cessation as the primary aim, because this would clearly detract from the role of SAF. However, I strongly urge SAF to take active steps to ensure smoking rates are not inadvertently allowed to increase.

Even though one would not expect SAF to take it upon itself to eliminate smoking, it should develop strategies to encourage Servicemen who smoke to give up the habit. In doing so, I would caution that it should set realistic targets in consultation with experts in the field of smoking addiction. It should also actively discourage Servicemen from gathering in groups to smoke as, say, a form of social interaction. Finally, it should discourage those who are non-smokers at the point of enlistment from picking up smoking during the course of their service.

Safety of Full-time National Servicemen

Ms Joan Pereira : Madam, NS is part and parcel of Singapore life. Yet, often during my interactions with my residents, the subject of safety during NS training comes up, usually from the mothers and grandmothers with sons and grandsons in NS. They have trust in MINDEF but cannot help but worry a little. They worry about their sons' and grandsons' health, physical training, the terrains and handling of weapons. Some unfortunate incidents in the past also serve as reminders of how things could go wrong.

MINDEF has given the assurance that maintaining training safety is a key element of a strong and professional armed force. I am heartened to note that in 2013, SAF added Safety as its eighth core value. A Safety and Systems Review Directorate (SSRD) was formed to oversee the conduct of safety and systems reviews for MINDEF and SAF. SSRD set up its first external review panel, the External Review Panel on SAF Safety (ERPSS) in 2013 to review various aspects of SAF safety over its three-year tenure. I would like to ask what the next step would be now that the tenure has expired.

SAF has consistently reiterated its commitment to safety over the years. However, one should always relook processes. Can MINDEF share what additional efforts have or are being made to make training regimes safer for our NSmen and how these efforts are being communicated to their family members and loved ones to provide greater assurance?

Transport Allowance for NSmen

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong (Non-Constituency Member) : Madam, I understand that NSFs may be allowed to make transport claims, such as taxi claims, for the purpose of odd working hours, to facilitate travel between their unit and home on working days. I believe that this is meant to assist to defray their transport costs, given their limited NS allowance.

For NSmen, not all NS units have a "stay in" policy during their In-Camp Training (ICT). Madam, there are NSmen who are not given the option to stay in or could not stay in for good reasons. Some of these NSmen may still be required to book out very late or book in very early due to the demands of their roles. I would like to ask the Minister to consider allowing some of such NSmen to be eligible for transport claims, namely, full-time students or NSmen who are unemployed at the time of ICT.

In last year's COS debate, Minister Ong Ye Kung mentioned that students in local universities are called up for Operationally Ready NS (ORNS) training while studying. These are full-time students and may be no different from NSF personnel in that they are not working and do not have income. I would also like to ask the Minister to consider allowing this benefit to NSmen who are full-time students studying private courses and NSmen who are unemployed at the time of ICT. Their commanders can help administer such claims in accordance with suitable conditions to be stipulated by MINDEF.

I believe that allowing such transport claims will assist some of our NSmen to cope with booking out and booking in at odd hours without having to shoulder any unnecessary financial burden.

Preparing for Life after NS

Mr Amrin Amin : One of the Committee on the Future Economy (CFE) initiatives was to "Acquire and Utilise Deep Skills", which can apply to people serving NS as well.

In 2015, MINDEF and MHA, together with the Singapore Workforce Development Agency, jointly organised the Career Skills Workshop for all NSFs. This arose from the recommendation by the Committee to Strengthen National Service and aims to help NSFs transit to the workforce after they complete full-time NS.

Can MINDEF elaborate on what other initiatives are planned to prepare our NSFs for life after NS?

Total Defence and Engagement of Society

Ms Low Yen Ling : Madam Chair, last year, Senior Minister of State Dr Maliki Osman spoke about the importance of total defence in countering hybrid threats. He said that, and I quote, "While Singaporeans are confident that our home and our way of life are safeguarded by an advanced and highly trained SAF, we must know that our security agencies cannot do the job on their own."

Last year, I spoke with great concern of the threat to Singapore posed by ISIS and by terrorism more generally during the COS debate in 2016. In the past 12 months, it appears that the news headlines have become even more troubling.

Recent developments have also shed light on a variety of other non-traditional threats to our security. For example, countless cyberattacks around the globe have had serious real-world outcomes. Countries or groups have hacked political parties and institutions with the intent of influencing political outcomes. Cyberattackers have also proven their ability to hack into bank accounts by the thousands and to steal unsuspecting victims of hard-earned money.

We have also learnt of cyber breaches closer to home where personal information has been stolen. Some cyberattacks can be attributed to criminals and mischief makers but the fact that there are people out there with the skills to hurt us through attacks in cyberspace should worry us. Put in the wrong hands, cyberattackers can be trained and employed to wage bigger conflicts against Singapore as a whole.

At the same time, we have learnt how countries and groups with malicious intent can use influence campaigns to divide and damage communities as well. It is clear that a military solution alone cannot address the wide-ranging security challenges that Singaporeans faced. Even the US, which spends more on its military than the next few countries combined, has been a target of large-scale cyberattacks and influence campaigns. Experts argued that the conflict between countries will increasingly be fought in the grey zone between war and peace, where military forces may not be even involved. This means that ordinary citizens could be on the front line of hybrid attacks against Singapore. We have all heard from Minister Ng Eng Hen earlier. He spoke about how some countries even see mounting hybrid warfare as legitimate.

So, in light of all these recent developments, can MINDEF provide its assessment on how hybrid threats have continued to evolve and how we are strengthening total defence to deal with these threats?

Mr Zainal Sapari (Pasir Ris-Punggol) : Madam, the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) had submitted 18 proposals to MINDEF aimed at boosting support and recognition for NS. As of last year, Senior Minister of State Dr Maliki Bin Osman updated that 14 of the 18 ACCORD proposals had been completed. I would like to praise the Government for their good progress on the ACCORD proposals made thus far. Can MINDEF provide a status update on the implementation of the remaining ACCORD proposals over the last year? What are some challenges and constraints in implementing the remaining proposals?

Mr Lee Yi Shyan : Mdm Chair, Singapore has enjoyed decades of peace and stability. At the COS debate last year, we learnt that our younger generation, unlike the Pioneers, saw events, such as Konfrontasi, racial riots and our road to Independence, as study subjects rather than personal experience or memories.

With that in mind, I would like to ask how MINDEF is working to engage our younger generations of Singaporeans on defence issues and to foster a strong commitment to defence amongst the youth. I note that Senior Minister of State Maliki had launched a "Commitment to Defence" Ambassadors programme to allow SAF Pioneers to engage and inspire the younger generation.

Mdm Chair, each generation of Singaporeans will have to confront our own security threats. While we may no longer be in the era of World War II or Konfrontasi, Singapore still faces multifaceted threats to our security. Just in the past year alone, developments from around the world and the region have shown us that threats to our way of life, including from terrorism, cyberattacks and fake news, have become increasingly apparent and are closer to us than we think.

More so than ever, the security challenges of today require the vigilance, unity and resilience not just of SAF and the Home Team, but of all Singaporeans. In light of our rapidly evolving security environment, can we have a status update on MINDEF's Total Defence efforts and how it fits in with other Government efforts, such as SG Secure?

Total Defence

Dr Teo Ho Pin : Madam, I wish to seek clarifications from the Ministry on the following: how does MINDEF reach out and engage Singaporeans on a sustained basis in order to inspire them to learn, practise and be operationally-ready for Total Defence?

Madam, due to the changing landscape of warfare, it is necessary for Singapore to review our Total Defence approach. Based on the defence spending in our region and new threats to our security, we need to build our defence and fighting capabilities in urban and cyber warfare.

Every year, Total Defence Day is observed on 15 February to commemorate the day when Singapore fell to the Japanese in World War II in 1942. Since 1984, a wide range of activities has been organised to remind Singaporeans of the roles they can play in building a strong nation and defending Singapore.

The five pillars of Total Defence, namely, military defence, civil defence, economic defence, social defence and psychological defence, provide a framework to guide Singaporeans to play a part in Total Defence. Despite much effort, there is a general lack of understanding and total defence readiness among Singaporeans.

Many Singaporeans still do not know their roles in the five pillars of Total Defence. The operational readiness of Singaporeans in Total Defence is also lacking.

Madam, I visited Israel many years ago and was, indeed, very impressed by the operational readiness of its people to respond to terrorist attacks and conventional warfare. Both the young and old Israelis are ready to respond to any attacks on their land.

In fact, when I was there, I saw a group of youths armed with rifles patrolling the streets of the city centre. These youths performed their duties very diligently while ensuring safety and security in the areas patrolled.

Madam, I do hope that MINDEF can map out a set of total defence skills which Singaporeans must possess so that they can play a more effective role in contributing to total defence. We need to constantly test the operational readiness of Singaporeans in Total Defence. Total Defence requires practical defence skills. Thus, I would urge MINDEF to make Total Defence real and drive the fighting spirit of Singaporeans.

The Chairman: Second Minister Ong.

1.15 pm

The Second Minister for Defence (Mr Ong Ye Kung) : Last month, I was in Pulau Tekong for the launch of NS50 − the 50th Anniversary of NS. Enlistees were there on their first day, together with their families, and I joined them for lunch at the cookhouse. The food was very good. I asked "Is this standard fare?" They assured me that it is like that every day, but it is not chicken every day. It is a rotation. There is a standard that has been kept up.

I sat with many of the enlistees and their families, spoke to them, asked them if they were ready and how they felt. I sensed amongst the youngsters pride, even eagerness. Many of them shaved their heads and then get enlisted. Though the hairstyle, of shaving your heads, both inside and outside camp, is actually similar. But they were quite eager to do so. I asked the parents how they felt and they all said, every single one, NS is good for their sons.

Times have changed. Support for NS is strong amongst Singaporeans. One key reason is that we see how NS has bonded us all together and toughened up our young. Another important reason is that after 50 years, fathers have gone through NS and know its benefits and now are supportive of their sons going through the same experience. This is truly a duty passing from one generation to the next.

Today, I will talk about how we can better leverage our most precious resource in SAF − NSmen, and how we can enhance the NS experience.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen has spoken about a Next Generation SAF, one where we have to maximise the talent, expertise and contribution of every single Serviceman.

First, we ensure that every soldier is individually "strong". That is why we have launched the "Soldier Strong" initiative to develop soldiers who are physically strong, psychologically resilient and committed to the defence of Singapore.

Under the "Soldier Strong" programme, NSmen will have access to enhanced fitness training programmes at the new Centre for Excellence for Soldier Performance that will be operational at the end of 2017. This centre will focus on fitness regimes, soldier nutrition, prehabilitation regimes to prevent injuries, and rehabilitation to help injured Servicemen recover. The centre will also integrate training packages on resilience to enhance the mental strength of our soldiers.

Assoc Prof Randolph Tan asked how SAF addresses smoking in SAF. We are aligned with national policy on this. We will continue to encourage Servicemen to maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce their health risk factors. Today, smoking is not allowed in SAF camps and bases, except at designated smoking points. Cigarettes are not sold in any of our camps or bases.

We also partner the Health Promotion Board to conduct smoking cessation workshops for our Servicemen. But soldiers will need to take personal responsibility for their own health, too.

Second, we maximise contributions of NSmen by deploying them better. Mr Lee Yi Shyan asked about this. Technological advancements in SAF have altered the nature of vocations. For certain vocations, automation has greatly reduced the physical demands. One example is the Army's Combat Engineers. In the past, Combat Engineers had to lift and hold heavy interlocking parts of a bridge. Today, these bridges have been replaced with the Mobility 3rd Generation bridge, or M3G. M3G is deployed through a remote interface with the help of a hydraulic arm. In other words, you can now deploy a bridge that can carry up to three five-tonner trucks, mainly by pushing buttons.

Because of these advancements, we have been reviewing vocation requirements and can better deploy our NSFs effectively in accordance with their fitness and abilities.

Third, we take into account the vocational interest of enlistees and, in so doing, better match skills and interests with deployment. Mr Lee Yi Shyan asked about the vocational interest initiative, and Mr Cedric Foo asked how NS can be made more engaging and fulfilling and better recognised by society.

We have implemented the Vocation Interest initiative to promote greater personal ownership by NSFs over their NS experience. Since November last year, pre-enlistees have indicated their interest in 33 vocations across SAF, the Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defence Force. Their indicated interest will be an additional factor in determining their vocations, together with other considerations, such as suitability, manpower and operational requirements.

There is some perception that enlistees, fresh out of school, when asked to indicate their vocational preference, will avoid the very "siong" vocations like Infantry and Guards, and then they will pick non-combat vocations that are more related to their areas of studies. There is some perception of that. That has actually not been the SAF's experience, which is that most enlistees today want to contribute to the best of their abilities and sweat it out if possible. So, in the latest enlistment exercise, 60% of pre-enlistees indicated interest in Infantry and Guards. They know that the training is "siong" but good for them.

Mr Vikram Nair asked about cybersecurity. We will develop a new cyber vocation in support of the new cyber command, which Minister Ng has announced. This vocation will allow SAF to tap on the talent available to defend our military networks and systems. NSFs will be deployed to these vocations from August this year.

Our cyber defenders will need to possess a high level of skill, given the increasing frequency and complexity of cyberattacks. They will be entering a very selective and demanding vocation, comparable to the Commandos or Naval Divers. As part of their duties, they will also be supporting CSA in a pilot scheme to defend our critical information infrastructure.

Pre-enlistees who possess these skills will be rigorously selected and identified, possibly through established local cyber competitions, camps and activities, as well as rigorous selection tests. I expect many of these competitions and selection will be done in our education institutions − junior colleges, Institutes of Technical Education and polytechnics. The impact is not just on the few selected for the vocation but will heighten the interest and expertise in cyber and digital technology across the student masses. This will also increase the talent pool for national defence as well as Singapore's growing cyber industry.

Let me now talk about ways to enhance the NS experience. Our efforts over the years have been guided by the recommendations of CSNS.

The first is safety, which is a critical element of training. Ms Joan Pereira asked how we can provide assurance that our NSmen will be safe while serving. Every year, 20,000 families entrust their sons and, increasingly daughters, to us. We take the issue of safety very, very seriously. We worry about the safety of our Sservicemen as much as their mothers and grandmothers. And this is how we keep our safety record very well.

In 2013, MINDEF convened an External Review Panel, comprising prominent safety experts outside of SAF, to review safety in SAF.

The Panel has recently completed this three-year safety review and concluded that our health and safety system are internationally one of the best but, of course, there are areas for improvement. One is to strengthen safety culture at the unit level and another is to further promote open reporting of near-miss incidents. SAF has accepted the Panel's findings and will improve on these areas.

SAF has also been doing more to reassure NSmen's family members and loved ones of our emphasis on safety. Because safety culture must be inculcated at the unit level, outreach must also be done at the unit level.

Take the Naval Diving Unit, for example. It makes a special effort to engage NSmen's family members regularly. For example, upon enlistment, there is a briefing for family members on what this is all about. At the Combat Diving Course graduation ceremony, families are also shown videos of diving training drills plus many other engagements. All these assure parents that while the training programme is tough, it is carried out progressively, professionally and safely.

Because the strength of NS as an institution lies in our NSmen, it is important for society to show our appreciation to them. Mr Cedric Foo asked about such initiatives.

To commemorate NS50, Minister Ng announced last month that each NSman will receive $100 in vouchers and, for ORDN NSmen, a one-year membership to SAFRA or HomeTeamNS. But as we all know and as Mr Cedric Foo has pointed out, vouchers cannot reflect the true value of the commitment and contribution of our Servicemen. It is just a small way for us to say "Thank you".

Support and appreciation from society are the strongest form of motivation an NSman can receive. We will encourage this through the NS50 Week in August, where companies and organisations can thank and appreciate the NSmen amongst them. More than 250 organisations will support the month-long recognition campaign from July to the first week of August, through retail discounts, free souvenirs, more NS-friendly human resource policies and rededication ceremonies.

Mr Dennis Tan asked about transport allowances for NSmen who stay out during their ICT. We must recognise that NS is a contribution and sacrifice to the nation, but we also gain from the experience in many intangible ways. Our approach, therefore, is a more general one, to provide an allowance or Service Pay to support the basic personal upkeep of NSFs and NSmen. We regularly review NS allowances to ensure that they remain appropriate. The last review was in December 2015 when it was adjusted upwards.

Mr Amrin Amin asked how MINDEF prepares our NSFs for life after NS. This is an important question because learning new skills is one major aspect of NS. These could be vocational skills, such as driving, maintenance or physical training as an instructor, or soft skills, such as leadership and teamwork. But we can go further by formally accrediting the skills that are learnt in NS which NSmen can use for their future careers.

MINDEF has been working with SkillsFuture Singapore under the Ministry of Education (MOE) on this initiative. From this year, SkillsFuture Singapore will accredit enlistees with skills, such as teamwork, that are honed during BMT. In fact, the teamwork we learn in NS, I think, is far better than many of the commercial workshops. Throughout their full-time NS, they could also be accredited with other competencies, such as leadership, technical or specialist skills.

These achievements will be reflected in the enhanced Certificate of Service given to NSFs on their Operationally Ready Date. By 2018, the Certificate will be made more comprehensive to include additional achievements, such as awards, commendations and milestones, that an NSF acquires during their service, their full-time NS.

While accrediting skills learnt in NS is a useful enhancement of the NS experience, this is neither the main objective nor the key takeaway of NS. NS fulfils the obligation and accords the honour of contributing to the defence of our country. The lasting benefits are the development of character and resilience, and the camaraderie and friendships forged with fellow NSmen. Ultimately, the fact that someone has completed NS well demonstrates his commitment and dedication, especially in a challenging unit that stretches his abilities. This should speak for itself and be valued and recognised by the whole society, including employers.

1.30 pm

Today, more than one million Singaporeans have gone through the rite of passage of NS. Mr Baey Yam Keng asked about the continued importance of NS. NS continues to be the cornerstone of our defence and security. Our well-trained and committed NSmen increase our military capability and give us credibility when we speak. Potential adversaries know that if they attack Singapore, it is a fight against a populace, all trained and ready to defend our sovereignty and freedom.

Other countries, such as France and Sweden, have abolished conscription since the end of the Cold War. Yet, in today's increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment, these countries are considering reinstating conscription. In fact, it was just reported in the media yesterday that Sweden has already decided to do so. Others, as mentioned by Mr Baey Yam Keng – Lithuania, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar − have recently legislated mandatory conscription. They recognise that transition from a benign to a hostile geopolitical environment can happen without warning, and a capable and credible military cannot be built overnight. We should learn from these examples and cherish the institution of NS.

Recently, I read an article in the New York Times written by Karl Marlantes, a US Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War. Marlantes highlights the importance of the US draft. The draft gave all eligible American men a shared experience fighting for their country, socialised Americans of all backgrounds to the idea that they are all equally American. After the war, the US military abandoned the draft and transitioned to an all-volunteer force. This, Marlantes argues, deprived Americans of the common experience and undermined the American social fabric, which has manifested itself in divisive politics today.

Indeed, as Dr Goh Keng Swee said in 1967, and I quote, "Nothing creates loyalty and national consciousness more speedily and more thoroughly than participation in defence and membership of the armed forces. The nation-building aspect of defence will be more significant if its participation is spread over all strata of society."

The role of NS in nation-building has become ever more salient today as we march forward in this era of globalisation. NS is a core part of the Singaporean identity, not just for males, but for mothers, wives, daughters and girlfriends who supported and encouraged our NSmen in their contribution and sacrifice.

It builds mutual trust within society, and between society and the Government. Our NS50 tagline "From My Generation to Yours" anchors the theme that NS is a shared responsibility and remains crucial to Singapore's security and nation-building. The NS system we have today is something we can be collectively proud of and continue to build on in the next 50 years and beyond.

The Chairman: Senior Minister of State Mohamad Maliki.

The Senior Minister of State for Defence (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) : Mdm Chair, amidst the global trend of drawing boundaries and rejecting outsiders, Singapore stands out with our own brand of multi-ethnicity and multi-religiosity. Our principle of embracing different cultures and faiths while building a shared Singaporean identity has been the foundation of our success and will continue to be so in the years to come. But it must never be taken for granted, as evidenced by our own early history of religious tensions and race riots.

As a small country, we remain vulnerable to pressures from around the world and at home. The pressures will only increase in the face of hybrid warfare. Mr Amrin Amin and Ms Low Yen Ling asked about the threat that hybrid warfare poses to Singapore. The threat is real. It is pervasive. Attackers will continue to devise ways to exploit our growing reliance on technology across all sectors of society, targeting all pillars of our Total Defence. Minister Ng has earlier spoken about the ongoing threat of cyberattacks.

Information attacks are less obvious. But as history has shown, they are clearly effective in targeting all sectors of society. The devastating Maria Hertogh riots in 1950 arose out of newspaper reports that gave competing versions of the facts about legal proceedings and Maria's stay in the convent. These were distortions of facts by the media that was used as a tool of Muslim activism against colonialists. The activists exploited the incident to incite hostility between the Muslim and predominantly European and Eurasian Catholic populations in Singapore then. This resulted in 18 dead, 173 injured and significant property damage. And this took place in an age when news was spread in print or simply by word of mouth.

Information attacks today are far more effective and dangerous, when technology permeates every aspect of our lives. The spread of fake news and misinformation is much accelerated with WhatsApp and Facebook, and its impact is amplified. For example, the owners of the now-defunct site The Real Singapore made a false claim that a Filipino family's complaints had caused a scuffle between the Police and participants at the 2015 Thaipusam procession. It was a distortion of facts, again aimed at inciting hostility among different groups in Singapore. It went viral and could have led to a breakdown in our society, similar to the Maria Hertogh riots but with far greater impact, if not for discerning netizens who reported the "insensitive article". It clearly showed that we must act to protect the bonds that hold us together.

Ms Low Yen Ling, Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef and Mr Amrin Amin asked how we can respond to new hybrid threats. Now in its 33rd year, Total Defence remains our best defence and response. The avenue of threats is new ‒ social media, the Internet and electronic devices, but the threats are the same ‒ distortions and falsehoods. And they target the same vulnerabilities ‒ our differences in race, religion and background. This is why the five pillars and the core message of every Singaporean standing together, playing our part to protect Singapore and our shared way of life continue to be relevant. I am glad that more than 80% of Singaporeans surveyed by MINDEF in 2016 are aware of Total Defence and more than 90% of them agree that it remains important for Singapore.

However, to deal with our new challenges, the way we practise Total Defence has to evolve. The Government will, therefore, make a shift from "concept to action", and help Singaporeans understand how they can put Total Defence into action in their everyday lives. And we may find the social and psychological pillars of Total Defence gaining more prominence.

In the cyber domain, each individual is the first line of defence by guarding against phishing and hacking attempts through simple actions, such as using strong passwords for our personal devices and online accounts. Businesses also play an important role by putting in place necessary cybersecurity measures and training their staff to respond to potential risks. The latest threat hijacks Internet of Things devices like security cameras and media players that you might have in your own home. Securing these devices, as well as your phones and laptops is, therefore, the first step in cyber defence.

In the area of fake news, again, each individual is the first line of defence. We need to be discerning and responsible with what we read and decide to share online. When you see a shocking article, for example, a good first step is to Google it and see if it is being reported on reputable news sites like the British Broadcasting Corporation, Reuters or Channel NewsAsia. If you find fake news, it could be as simple as reporting a post to Facebook or commenting to expose the falsehood. There is a movement in Eastern Europe called the Baltic Elves that does just that ‒ fighting trolls and disinformation. I am glad that Singaporeans are also stepping up. For example, when a Whatsapp message was circulating in December last year, warning of potential terrorist attacks in popular shopping areas, many citizens countered by warning that the message was unsubstantiated and should not be circulated. Madam, if I may continue in Malay, please.

( In Malay ) : [ Please refer to Vernacular Speech .] Singaporeans must have confidence in our own community and institutions and be discerning enough to question, check and push back against fake news, instead of simply forwarding it. This is even more so when fake and distorted news have an impact on our security.

This is even more so, given the security challenges we face in the ideological battle with terrorist groups like ISIS in social media. ISIS wants to set up a wilayat in Southeast Asia. It has already formed a militant group called Katibah Nusantara comprising about 1,000 volunteers from Southeast Asia. It has also released several propaganda videos and magazines in Bahasa Malay that are targeted at Muslims in the region.

These are aimed at inciting hostility and violence against other groups in our society that do not fall within ISIS' definition of being Muslim. Our youths who are active on social media are particularly vulnerable; it is not difficult to access videos of beheadings juxtaposed with those showing an idyllic society under ISIS and a fighter explaining why it is every Muslim's duty to join ISIS, followed by a celebration of his martyrdom in death.

Around our region, the growth of extremist groups who spread exclusivist and literalist leanings in Islam poses a significant threat to our multi-religious society. We know of 31 such groups which have pledged allegiance or support for ISIS.

Our Mufti and Muslim groups, such as the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG), have made clear that ISIS' methods go against Islam. These Muslim groups have been reaching out to educate the community through counselling, publications and speeches.

At the individual level, when confronted with extremist material, instead of forwarding it, our first instinct should be to check with our Mufti and Islamic authority, Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), and then commenting to counter such views. We should not allow exclusivist thinking to permeate the minds of our community. We must have the psychological resilience to resist and reject materials that we suspect are untrue, extremist or exclusivist, which may have a negative impact on our social cohesion.

( In English ): Dr Teo Ho Pin and Mr Lee Yi Shyan rightly noted that Total Defence requires a whole-of-society effort and asked about MINDEF's Total Defence efforts and how we reach out and engage Singaporeans. MINDEF will enhance our extensive partnerships across the public, private and people sectors. First, we will collaborate closely across the Government. Last month, we commemorated Total Defence Day with the Ministry of Communications and Information and the National Archives of Singapore, in conjunction with the opening of the revamped gallery on the Japanese Occupation at the former Ford Factory, where Singapore was surrendered to the Japanese on that day 75 years ago. This was an opportunity to remember our heritage and draw out messages of psychological and social defence and remind Singaporeans why we cannot rely on others to defend our home.

We are working with MHA in SGSecure to encourage Singaporeans to put Total Defence into action in the fight against terrorism, by building community vigilance, cohesion and resilience. Within SAF, we are training our Servicemen to be prepared citizens and active responders, such as by equipping them with basic first aid and firefighting skills, so that they can support the civil pillar of Total Defence in their personal capacity. One such example was Military Expert 1 (ME1) Gregory Poh from the Republic of Singapore Air Force 113 Squadron. In November 2016, ME1 Poh was on his way home from work when he noticed that a child at the playground was having seizures and was not breathing. He administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately, continued to keep the child's condition stable and assisted the paramedics when they arrived.

1.45 pm

Beyond SAF, we will roll out a Total Defence strategy card game, "Guardians of the City", to all secondary school uniformed groups this year. Members can pick up a set and try out for yourselves from the library later on. This game, an example of a ground-up initiative, was designed by Mr Wan Junyan, an SGfuture participant, who was inspired by discussions with students on how to convey Total Defence lessons in a more engaging manner and developed in collaboration with MOE and MHA. It educates youths on how society can come together to better prepare for terrorist threats based on real-life examples, respond to them and recover from them. We hope that through the game, our youths will grow to become Total Defence advocates amongst their peers.

Our younger generation will shape the future of Singapore. We want to ensure that they have the same commitment to Total Defence and the right instincts to face future threats and challenges.

MINDEF is, therefore, working with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth's Committee on Citizen Engagement and partners like the National Youth Council to engage youths in conversations on what it takes to build up Singapore's psychological defence from their perspectives.

I hope there will be many more youths like Nurul Fatimah. She was a 14-year-old student in a local madrasah when she decided to attend CampTeen, which encourages cross-cultural friendships amongst students. She says, "For nine years of my life, I lived thinking that it was best to just stay within my comfort zone, without thinking of the importance of mixing around in this multicultural land. Now, I know that common space is really significant to our generation today, but the bonds are not easily made." Now 17, and inspired by her experience, she is an active youth advocate with OnePeople.sg, which runs CampTeen.

Second, we will engage economic and community leaders through ACCORD. Mr Zainal Sapari asked for an update on the implementation of the ACCORD proposals. As Chairman of ACCORD, I am pleased to update that we have successfully implemented all 18 proposals involving various stakeholders − employers and businesses, families and communities, and educational institutions. For example, under the "We Support YOU in NS" initiative, the ACCORD Family and Community Council has been encouraging merchants and retailers to show their support for NSmen by offering discounts and benefits. Dr Cheng Eng Wah, iDental's founder and Principal Dental Surgeon, readily agreed to have promotions on metal braces for NSFs when his team raised this initiative to him. Alluding to a Chinese saying 有 国 才 有 家, Dr Cheng explained: "There is no home without a nation. I believe we need a strong army to punch above our weight." And he is not alone. In a recent survey, 96% of employers agreed that NS provides the security needed for Singapore to prosper.

ACCORD members have also helped us to reach out to new citizens and Permanent Residents who will become an integral part of our society. For example, the Global Indian International School and United World College (Southeast Asia), whose principals are ACCORD members, organised sharing sessions to provide more than 700 students and parents with information on the NS enlistment process. Alumni from these schools who have been through NS also returned to share their experiences and communicate the importance of NS for Singapore's defence.

Third, we will reach out to individuals directly, because they can be empowered to initiate their own Total Defence efforts. Ms Priya Shahane, Chief Human Resources officer of AXA Singapore, introduced a system to plan for coverage of duties in advance when an employee is called up for ICT in her company. This allowed AXA employees like Mr Pan Chee Keong, an Assistant Manager, to go for ICT without worrying about work piling up. Ms Shahane also introduced measures to grant time off work for NSmen employees to prepare for the individual physical proficiency test (IPPT) and reward gold achievers with an additional half day of annual leave, which encourages them to do better in their IPPT. In recognition of her efforts, Ms Shahane was awarded the NS Advocate Award for Individuals in 2016.

Madam, personally, I am confident that my fellow Singaporeans will play their part and strengthen our Total Defence and national spirit. We saw this when a 40-metre tall and 6.5-metre wide Tembusu tree toppled at the Singapore Botanic Gardens last month. At least a hundred of those present rushed forward to push the branches and logs away to help those who were under the tree when it fell. This immediate civic-minded response gives me confidence that we will be able to respond appropriately to any challenges, support one another and recover quickly after any crisis.

Madam, as we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the fall of Singapore this year, we are reminded of our vulnerability. We have responded with 50 years of NS and a strong SAF, and all Singaporeans coming together for Total Defence. The future may be uncertain, the threats more unpredictable. But our resolve is resolute. We will stand together with resilience and confidence, just as we have done before, ride out any crisis and emerge stronger as one people.

The Chairman : We have a bit of time for clarifications. Mr Vikram Nair.

Mr Vikram Nair : There have been many interesting announcements. The most interesting, from my perspective, was the one on the new division or group being set up to deal with cyberattacks and fake news. I think it is going to be a big group of about 2,600 people. This is an organisation being created almost de novo. Are there any other models for us to follow or are we just pioneering this on our own? If we are pioneering this on our own, then it is going to start in about a year's time. Do we have the capabilities within our existing people to do that? If not, how would we be developing this, because this is quite ground-breaking?

Dr Ng Eng Hen : Madam, it is not quite de novo. You would remember in 2013, we announced the set-up of the Cyber Defence Operations Hub. We have been monitoring this. Obviously, with many of our systems being dependent on computer systems, data linkages and, particularly for all militaries and especially for the Singapore military because we are leveraging technology, we recognise that our strength can be exploited as a weakness.

We have been studying other models. I have gone to France to look at them. They have a fairly well-developed system and there are different organisational structures, not only for the military but actually, more importantly, how the military coordinates as part of a national cyber defence. The very nature of the digital domain is its porosity and connectivity and you cannot very well just protect one segment because you will be affected.

There are different models that MINDEF, SAF and the Government as a whole have studied, and that was the reason why the Cyber Security Agency was set up in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). If you look at other countries, some of them are with the prime minister's office, some of them with the Ministry of Defence, but we have chosen to have a tiered structure where CSA is a national defence for cybersecurity under PMO and MCI. This cyber command is another layer which protects primarily MINDEF and SAF. But because we recognise that our cyber units, our cyber soldiers can be trained and can be deployed as they do for physical key installations in Singapore; that is the concept we are extending. So, not quite de novo. We are ramping up significantly because the level of the threats has risen and we recognise that the damage can be material.

The Chairman: Mr Cedric Foo.

Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng : About this SAFTI new training area revamp, I think it is a great idea and overdue. At the same time, I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider two points. One is when we move the grounds and put up new buildings and all that, that we do not lose the history and the old names that were used in the old training grounds. We will do us a big disservice if Peng Kang Hill is changed to another name.

Secondly, because we are building it from scratch, we now have the ability not just to make sure that it is productive and combat-effective, we can also think about solders' safety and see how we can weave it into the design.

Dr Ng Eng Hen : Madam, I thought the Member's points were particularly relevant. I agree with him. We want some resonance, and it is across the system and across all our agencies. Even as we update ourselves, refresh our systems to meet new needs, we want to retain a sense of history that can carry across generations. So, I will put that to SAF and leave it to them how they will do it. I do not think they will be physically removing some hills or features, but even if they do, they can convert hills to street names, I suppose, but I will leave it to them.

The Member's second point is a significant one on safety. Mr Foo is absolutely correct. It is much easier and, just like buildings, to design safety in. I learnt that when I was the Manpower Minister and had to deal with injuries and deaths at the workplace. For example, they said some buildings are designed and are beautiful but very hard to clean. It is much easier to design safety in across not only just the building but the lifetime maintenance of that building. In this case, Mr Foo is saying, during your operations, can you design it, so that, for instance, your video feedback actually gives you an alert to say this is an unsafe zone? That is one example. So, yes, that will be taken into consideration. I thank the Member for the feedback. We will take it in.

The Chairman : Mr Nair, would you like to withdraw your amendment?

Mr Vikram Nair : I would like to thank Minister Ng Eng Hen, Second Minister Ong Ye Kung and Senior Minister of State Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman for dealing with a wide range of questions that we have raised. We are very heartened to hear that NS, which we are celebrating our 50th Anniversary this year, a timeless institution, is still very strong. I am particularly heartened to hear that the young men are very keen to do combat vocations. I wish I could say the same for my generation but not sure it would be true. Luckily, we had no surveys back then. But I am particularly heartened because, in my personal anecdotal experience, I know people coming up saying they want to join the Naval Diving Unit as well.

The Chairman : Mr Nair, just withdraw the amendment.

Mr Vikram Nair : Okay, Madam. Sorry, recounting NS stories. I thank the Ministry and the officials as well for all their support for our defence. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

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

[(proc text) The sum of $13,612,805,500 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)]

[(proc text) The sum of $839,000,000 for Head J ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]

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