Written Reply by Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen, to Parliamentary Question on Steps to Improve Take-up Rate of SGSecure Mobile App

Dr Lee Bee Wah: To ask the Minister for Defence (a) what is being done to improve the take-up rate of the SGSecure mobile app apart from making it compulsory for full-time national servicemen (NSFs) to download it; (b) why are websites not used for the e-learning modules instead of an app; and (c) whether the Ministry will re-examine its policy for ensuring that NSFs download the app.

Dr Ng Eng Hen: As the member has suggested, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is indeed utilising e-learning including through websites to better equip all Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and SAF personnel, including national servicemen for training in counter-terrorism. The e-learning training programme is structured to be comprehensive with a number of modules to be rolled out progressively. E-learning modules will gain wide acceptance if they are functional, useful and easy to use. Making it compulsory is neither an enlightened approach nor effective to facilitate learning.

The SGSecure application is not a core part of the SAF's counter-terrorism training package nor compulsory for national servicemen to download. However, in support of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)'s nation-wide efforts against terrorism, MINDEF and SAF personnel are encouraged to download the SGSecure application so that like other residents, they can receive important alerts or provide information to the MHA authorities during major emergencies.