Reply by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence to Parliamentary Question on Deployment of Malay or Muslim Servicemen in the SAF

Mr Speaker Sir, as I stated earlier, investigations have shown that Muhammad Fadil was a solitary individual who took the wrong path.

This specific case therefore will not affect the way MINDEF deploys Malay or Muslim servicemen in the SAF.

The role of Malays in the defence of our nation and in the SAF, and the associated challenges and dilemmas we face, are difficult and sensitive issues for our multi-racial, multi-religious society. They have confronted Singapore since our early days of nation-building. The Government has on several occasions discussed them in this House, as well as with Malay community leaders. Over the years, we have all been able to work together in an honest, realistic and practical manner to make progress together as fellow Singaporeans.

The SAF is a microcosm of Singapore society, and race relations within the SAF reflect those in our broader society. Thus as Singapore has made steady progress towards racial and religious integration, so has the SAF. Malays serve today in many more places and roles in the SAF than before - in the Commandos, Engineers, Artillery, and as Pilots and Sea Soldiers. As Malay educational standards have improved, a higher proportion of Malay enlistees are fulfilling the educational prerequisites to be selected for commanders' training. Indeed, more Malays are now serving their full-time national service as commanders. And among our regular Malay servicemen, some have risen to hold senior and sensitive Command and staff appointments. In each case, it is because the individual serviceman has the required qualifications and merit, and is the most suitable person for the job.

Nevertheless, in an age of jihadist terrorism, race and religion remain salient issues. Events around the world as well as continuing incidents in our immediate neighbourhood remind us that it will be a long time before the threat from jihadist terrorism subsides. Singapore - including the SAF - will need to watch this international context, and continue to manage our own racial and religious issues sensitively and pragmatically, so as to safeguard our racial and religious harmony. The SAF will not let individual incidents, in particular those which impinge on sensitive racial and religious areas, cause distrust or suspicions among us, and negate the progress we have so painstakingly made. When we acknowledge the real problem that we face and tackle it together sincerely and practically, we can strengthen understanding, trust and confidence among our communities in Singapore, and thus make further progress together.

Our best approach is for the SAF to decide on appointments and advancements based on the qualifications and merits of the servicemen, so long as they are committed to Singapore, dedicated to the SAF, and capable of doing the job. By assessing each person according to these criteria, we can recognise the commitment, contributions and abilities of our servicemen, who come together to serve in the defence of our nation.