Speech by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Overseas Service Medal Presentation Ceremony 2021

Chief of Defence Force,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Families and Friends,

Introduction

I am very happy that we can have this ceremony physically, and particularly happy that we can include your significant other and your loved ones. It is something that we took for granted before COVID-19. Now, I look forward to it. Yes, we are all watching with bated breath, what Omicron will deal us, but let us just enjoy what we have. I am happy to award the Overseas Service Medal (OSM) to our servicemen and women from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) for their contributions, as the video has shown, in counter-terrorism operations in the Middle East, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions in Australia.

First, let me talk about counter-terrorism efforts. We have been doing this since 2007, quite a significant period. We joined other nations in the Middle East to prevent extremists from exporting terrorism to our part of the World. That was the reason why we got involved, because we believed that if we did not counter it, that we would not be safe here – even though it is many thousands of kilometres away. Because the false ideology that it exports, the people that they can radicalise as pawns and reach across borders, will ultimately affect us here, as we have seen in real life instances where MHA tracks, counters and apprehends these people who want to do harm to Singaporeans here. Since 2007, it started with our contributions to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. That was for about six years, from 2007 to 2013, and was followed by us joining the multinational coalition to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) from 2014. We know that this battle against terrorism is a long one. Why can we not get rid of it? Why can we not deal with it within two or even three decades? It is because the battle fundamentally is one against a false but seductive ideology, which preys on and exploits the vulnerable. Many of our Singaporeans who were apprehended, were not contacted by physical people, they were just staring at the screen, self-radicalised. They got caught up in the false information they were given. Some of them had very superficial understanding about of the religion. Yet, they concocted in their own minds, injustices, and translated it to real effects in their lives. Meaning that they make plans to go overseas to join others in this fight, or to procure weapons that will do harm to Singaporeans, to people here, ignoring what they do to their lives and their family members. If you think about it, it sounds bizarre, but very powerful. You and I, I presume – I speak for all of us that when we look at a screen and somebody wants to sell us something, we take it with a pinch of salt. Just imagine the self-radicalisation, that you would purchase weapons on the Dark Web, that you would go overseas to be trained in faraway places, in explosives, in guns, in armaments. Quite amazing, yet we have seen it happening to Singaporeans, and all over the world. Yes, the Americans pulled out of Afghanistan, we were involved in helping them move refugees from Afghanistan to Germany. But those 13 years that the SAF spent in Afghanistan and Iraq, we stemmed the rising tide of terror networks in our part of the World and gave time for the SAF to build up its capability here, even as you men and women who are on the frontlines directly engaging with the enemy during your deployments there.

I had visited SAF troops in both Kabul and Oruzgan in Afghanistan as well as in Iraq and I know that there are always risks where we put our SAF men and women in harm's way for every such deployment. We do not take that decision lightly. We know that when we put our troops there, there is always the danger that they will be physically harmed. I want you and your loved ones, who supported you while you were away, to know this – your efforts there protected your loved ones and families, as well as all Singaporeans here. That was the purpose that we sent you there, and that was the purpose you served. Because if extremist ideology had taken root in our region, many more lives would have been lost. Recently, we marked the 20th year of 9/11. I do not know whether you had taken the opportunity to read about the various aspects that were covered and released by the MHA. I think it is the first time they had ever done. If you did not, go on the Web, find out the details that they talked about, how the Jemaah Islamiyah here wanted to assemble bombs to blow up seven locations in Singapore, including a MRT station. If they had succeeded, hundreds, if not thousands, would be maimed, disabled, or dead. That is 20 years ago. That ideology, it all starts with the ability to get someone remotely, to convince him that he is fighting for a cause. If we do not recognise how powerful that ideology is, we underestimate our challenge. We had to move right into the heart of that area, which is exporting that kind of ideology. Of course, they gave us time, as I said, and now we are better prepared in terms of the SAF's ability to respond to terrorism, our information sharing is set up, the Counter Terrorism Information Facility. I think we are better prepared, but the battle still rages.

During this deployment, three of our servicemen were awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal by the United States Armed Forces, it was for their exceptional meritorious service in combat environments. It demonstrates how our foreign partners continue to recognise and appreciate the strong performance of SAF personnel during these multinational operations. Let me add my congratulations and thank them and all other recipients today for doing Singapore proud. Well done.

Today, we are also honouring those who were deployed, as you saw in the video,to help Australia deal with a devastating fire in 2020. It was a raging fire that razed more than 120,000 square kilometres of land, that is many more times Singapore's size, which is very hard for us to imagine. It is about actually 170 times the size of Singapore. This resulted in the loss of lives and property, and caused serious disruptions to communities, especially in south-eastern Australia.

Led by SLTC Benjamin Kwan, our RSAF CH-47 Chinook helicopters, and pilots, aircrew and engineers from the Oakey detachment were activated and they worked closely with their Australian military counterparts to help deliver fire-fighting equipment and relief supplies, and transport emergency service personnel in the operation. In total, our personnel flew over 30 sorties, to ferry more than 260 persons and close to 73 tons of supplies during this operation. You saw in the video, how heartfelt their thanks were for our service personnel. They were not just mouthing the words you can see the emotions. I got a glimpse of their deeply felt gratitude when then-Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds personally expressed how touched they were with our assistance. We were there, but to them it is their fire. They did not expect us to step up. It is not just our detachment stepping up, the energy we poured into it, the way we worked as if it was a fire in our own homes. They saw that, they saw the genuine empathy and commitment to help them deal and that left a deep impression on the Australian Defence Force and indeed Australians in general. When Defence Minister Reynolds spoke to me and said those words of thanks, you could see her staff nodding with conviction and deep impression about how good a friend the SAF had been in their time of need.

Closing Remarks

Let me congratulate all 89 recipients today for your dedication and commitment during these overseas deployments. You flew the flag of Singapore high and never wavered. Your professionalism and discipline showed clearly, and you achieved mission success. Let me also thank your family members and loved ones, for their support. I know it could not have been easy, especially those with young children and other family responsibilities, because you shouldered the responsibilities while they were away.

Thank you.

More Resources

89 SAF Personnel Honoured for their Contributions to Counter-ISIS and Humanitarian Assistance Operations