1 Safe environments and secure borders are fundamental to the existence and progress of any nation. Our external environment is more complex because of shifting big-power dynamics and growing transnational security threats. Crime is increasingly cross-boundary. A more diverse society and more strident advocacy on divisive issues that impact on religion, race and social values may create tensions and affect social harmony. To meet these challenges and stay safe and secure, we must stay united as one people and continue to invest and build capabilities for a strong and capable SAF, an effective Home Team, and a top-notch Foreign Service.
2 Singapore needs effective diplomacy to safeguard and advance our interests abroad, enhance cooperation with other countries, and enlarge our international space. We will contribute to ASEAN’s regional integration efforts, maintain good relations with our immediate neighbours, build links with key partners, and participate in International Organisations.
3 The SAF is the ultimate guarantor of Singapore’s sovereignty and independence. A strong security force also complements our diplomatic efforts to safeguard and advance Singapore’s interests abroad. The SAF will continue to make steady and prudent investments in advanced platforms and systems to build an effective force that can deter aggression and deal with a wide spectrum of threat and mission scenarios. We will also work with regional partners to address common security challenges.
4 On the homefront, we will acquire new capabilities and expand our ability to respond to the wide range of threats. We will expand the Community Policing System to all Neighbourhood Police Centres by 2015. We will strengthen throughcare to discourage re-offending, by implementing the Conditional Remission System and Mandatory Aftercare Scheme. We will also make much greater use of technology to sharpen sense-making and Command, Control and Communications through initiatives such as body-worn cameras for police officers, cameras in all HDB blocks by 2016, and greater use of biometrics and automation to clear heavy flows of people and vehicles at our land checkpoints. SCDF will also deploy unmanned fire-fighting machines.
5 In both homeland security and defence, our full-time and operationally ready national servicemen play crucial roles. We will implement recommendations from the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS). The SAF and the Home Team will establish professional cadres of trainers to strengthen NS training. We will optimise the contributions of national servicemen and improve administration to make the most of their time and provide a positive NS experience. We will enhance recognition benefits in the areas of healthcare, housing and education. To strengthen the broader community’s support for defence and NS, we will restructure the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) and set up an SAF Volunteer Corps.
6 The details of specific initiatives by MINDEF, MFA, MHA, and PMO (NSCS) are highlighted in the Annex.
ANNEX
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
• Continue to invest in advanced technologies to build a more capable SAF to effectively deal with a wide spectrum of threat and mission scenarios.
o Upgrade our F-16s, and acquire A330 Multi-role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, two Type-218SG submarines, and two more Sikorsky S-70B Naval Helicopters over the next five years.
o Put in place a multi-layered air defence with the deployment of SPYDER and ASTER-30 Surface-to-Air Missile systems.
o Acquire more Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles and work towards doubling the number of units operating on wheeled or tracked platforms.
• Strengthen the NS system and sustain public support for NS by implementing the recommendations from the Committee to Strengthen NS (CSNS).
o SAF, SPF and SCDF will recruit about 1,300 additional regulars to improve training and inculcate values more effectively.
o Provide national servicemen with more opportunities to hold leadership positions by expanding the proportion of officers and specialists from 30% to 40% to meet new operational demands.
o Make better use of full-time national servicemen’s (NSFs) skills by matching them to vocations and accrediting NS skills to support post-NS transition. We will also encourage more national servicemen to volunteer their civilian expertise in national defence.
• Continue to be good stewards of our national servicemen’s time by reducing wait time before enlistment.
o Enlist 90% of pre-enlistees within 4 months after post-secondary studies, and other pre-enlistees within 6 months. This will allow the majority of NSFs to proceed for work earlier after NS. Fewer NSFs will need to be disrupted from NS for local university studies.
o Facilitate NSFs’ transition to work and studies after NS.
o Deliver a more positive NS experience by easing administrative restrictions. This will include giving national servicemen more time and flexibility to meet their physical training and test requirements, and offering more convenient venues for fitness training. The notification requirements for overseas travel will also be revised to enhance convenience for national servicemen.
• Enhance recognition for national servicemen through the HOME (Housing, Medical, and Education) awards, and provide coverage for life and personal accident insurance.
• To strengthen the community’s support for defence and NS, we will restructure the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD), and establish a scheme to recognise employers and businesses which have gone the extra mile to support their national servicemen employees.
• Establish an SAF Volunteer Corps to encourage women, new citizens, and first-generation permanent residents to contribute to national defence.
• Continue to work with partners to enhance regional stability and deal with common security challenges. To enable militaries to respond effectively to natural disasters in our region, the SAF will host a Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre.
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
• ASEAN will remain the cornerstone of MFA’s foreign policy. Singapore will actively contribute to ASEAN’s regional integration efforts towards an ASEAN Community by 2015 and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), as well as the effective implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.
• Maintain good relations and build on our bilateral cooperation with our immediate neighbours: Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.
• Build on links with key partners including the United States, China, Japan, Australia, India and the EU, while identifying emerging opportunities in new markets including the Middle East, Turkey, Latin America and Africa.
• Expand Singapore’s strategic space through active participation in International Organisations (the UN and its agencies, APEC and the Arctic Council), and continue to be a responsible global player by providing technical assistance to developing countries through the Singapore Cooperation Programme.
• Leverage on technology to improve the provision of consular support to overseas Singaporeans to meet increasing demand for consular services and assistance in the coming years.
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
• Increase community policing and engagement to prevent and deter crime. The SPF will expand the Community Policing System to all Neighbourhood Police Centres by 2015. We will establish a new Police Divisional Headquarters, and two Neighbourhood Police Centres. Neighbourhood Police Posts will be revamped to provide round-the-clock electronic services to the public.
• Review, update, and formulate fire safety requirements for new building materials, MRT stations, and high-rise buildings, and build new fire stations, including a new marine fire station at Tanah Merah.
• Implement the Conditional Remission System and Mandatory Aftercare Scheme by the Singapore Prison Service and community partners to strengthen throughcare, starting from when offenders are incarcerated, and extending to aftercare to facilitate the reintegration of ex-inmates into society.
• Ensure that laws can deal with new challenges. MHA will introduce legislation to deal decisively with crime syndicates, regulate remote gambling, and provide support for the Private Member’s Bill on the prevention of human trafficking.
• Leverage technology to sharpen sense-making and Command, Control and Communications. SPF will deploy cameras more extensively to support operations and enforcement. Police cameras will be installed in all HDB blocks by 2016. SPF will also pilot the use of body-worn cameras. SCDF is acquiring unmanned fire-fighting machines. ICA will introduce a new generation of biometric passports and expand the use of biometrics and automation for more efficient clearance.
• Strengthen partnerships with the community to serve Singaporeans better. For example, installing more community-based Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), training volunteers and developing mobile applications to alert and deploy community first responders. This will help improve emergency medical response within the community.
PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (NATIONAL SECURITY COORDINATION SECRETARIAT)
• Continue to anticipate emerging issues and national security risks through the Risk Assessment and Horizon Scanning (RAHS) Programme. The RAHS Programme has developed processes and products which can identify, analyse, model and monitor areas such as the evolving range of cyber threats, extreme weather hazards, and food security.
• Work with DSO National Laboratories to model the interconnectivities within the various domains of Singapore’s national security, so as to identify critical interdependencies and potential vulnerabilities. The pilot phase focused on three key sectors – Energy, Water and Infocomms. The next phase will map other critical sectors such as Transport and Healthcare.
• Work with partner agencies to protect Singapore’s information infrastructure and national assets through the National Cyber Security R&D Programme.
• Continue efforts in educating and engaging Singaporeans on our national security risks through multiple platforms and channels.
• Coordinate research across agencies to better inform policies to build social resilience in Singapore.