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Restructured SAF to tackle terrorism, cyber and maritime threats: Ng Eng Hen

A restructured Singapore Armed Forces to better meet new security threats. (INFOGRAPHIC: Ministry of Defence)
A restructured Singapore Armed Forces to better meet new security threats. (INFOGRAPHIC: Ministry of Defence)

SINGAPORE — Restructuring efforts are underway to ensure that the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) stays responsive towards new security challenges, namely terrorism as well as maritime and cyber threats.

“(To) respond to a new environment of security challenges, the SAF must again restructure decisively to meet new challenges, to remain relevant, responsive, and effective for our national defence,” said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen in Parliament on Monday (2 March) during his ministry’s Committee of Supply debate.

He elaborated that the SAF is restructuring its Military Intelligence Organisation (MIO) such that counter-terrorism intelligence to “detect, forewarn and respond” to terrorist plots is now part and parcel of its core missions to protect Singapore.

“It will be a key deliverable and accountability for SAF intelligence units,” said Dr Ng.

Efforts in this area will be focused on building capabilities, such as acquiring systems that can uncover, investigate and monitor threat concerns. MIO will also look to strengthen its counter-terrorism and analysis expertise.

The organisation will also work closely with other national agencies on a bilateral and multilateral basis, and participate in efforts to enhance information sharing and collaboration, such as the Asean “Our Eyes” initiative.

To counter cyber threats, especially from foreign actors, a committee headed by the Permanent Secretary for Defence Development and Chief of Defence Force (CDF) has also been formed to oversee the building of an integrated cyber command and force, which Dr Ng said is as important as raising another service, just like the Army, Navy and Air Force.

“None here will question the need for such a cyber force. But in many aspects, the cyber domain is more difficult to plan and execute than in air, land and sea, and may require different types of units and force configuration. The Committee intends to be bold in examining ways to recruit soldiers of the right aptitude, their training and deployments,” said Dr Ng.

He noted that the CDF would continue to be in charge of mission outcomes, while the Chief of Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) will report to the CDF.

“The universe of cyber threats and activists is large and the Cyber Command will have to prioritise its efforts and focus on key threats so as to not dissipate resources. This restructuring effort will take some years to accomplish,” said Dr Ng.

On maritime security, Dr Ng said a recent spike in sea robberies in the area and intrusions in Singapore’s territorial waters are reasons for concern. About 70 per cent of the world’s maritime trade transits through the Singapore Strait.

To this end, the Republic of Singapore Navy’s Maritime Security Task Force will be acquiring new purpose-built platforms to enhance its capabilities against maritime threats. While waiting for these vessels to be delivered, four patrol vessels will be refurbished to protect Singapore’s territorial waters.

Dr Ng also noted that maritime threats are “transnational in nature” and tackling them requires the co-operation of Singapore’s neighbours.

In this regard, Singapore has proposed to Malaysia and Indonesia to propose that the Malacca Straits Patrol initiative - coordinated patrols to reduce piracy in the Malacca Straits - be extended to other areas in the surrounding waters. Discussions on this matter are ongoing.

The 61-year-old Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP also touched on non-traditional operations to deal with a more uncertain and expanded array of threats, which he labelled as “Grey Zone Threats”.

He cited low-level terrorist attacks as a good example of Grey Zone Threats, which “can turn deep black, when the whole country's destabilised”, while noting that the entire population – not just the SAF – needs to be prepared to deal with such threats.

Dr Ng added that the SAF has compiled a range of such threats and the options available for responding to them.

“Each by themselves, if limited, do not threaten our sovereignty but nevertheless can lead to instability or cumulatively whittle away our ability to defend national interests,” he said.

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