Reply to Parliamentary Question on Investigation Outcomes Following Recent Deaths of Full-time National Servicemen

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong: What is the outcome of MINDEF's investigations into the deaths of full-time National Serviceman Private (PTE) Lee Rui Feng Dominique Sarron, and Private (PTE) Amirul Syahmi Bin Kamal; (b) what are the measures in place to ensure the safety of our servicemen, especially those with medical conditions, as they undergo training; (c) whether the investigations revealed any deficiencies in systems and procedures or human lapses; and (d) whether remedial measures would be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen: Mr Speaker, Sir, I want to again offer my deepest condolences to the families of Amirul Syahmi Bin Kamal and Lee Rui Feng Dominique Sarron. MINDEF is committed to assist these families during these difficult times.

Sir, in every case involving the death of a National Serviceman, a number of investigations have been activated and are proceeding concurrently to specifically address the same queries which the Member has posed. First, in MINDEF, the Armed Forces Council has convened an independent Committee of Inquiry or COI to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding each of the two incidents. The COI is to ascertain fully the facts leading to the death and determine the contributory cause or causes of death. The COI is also tasked to determine if measures taken to treat, resuscitate and evacuate the affected NS men were adequate and prompt, and recommend measures to rectify shortcomings, if any. It shall also determine whether there were any breaches of relevant instructions, directives, orders and safety regulations. The COI shall ascertain whether the incident could have been prevented or avoided, and recommend appropriate measures to prevent future occurrence. This four-man COI is chaired by a senior civil servant from outside of MINDEF, with a senior doctor from the public sector as one of its members. The Committee is empowered to call any witness and hear his or her testimony, as well as receive any evidence regardless of its admissibility in civil or criminal proceedings in court.

Second, the Police will submit their independent report to the State Coroner who shall ascertain the cause of and circumstances connected with the death. The Coroner's inquiry is held in an open court. As part of this process, the Police will report to the Public Prosecutor if their investigations conclude that a person or persons may be arrested and charged in connection with the death.

Third, the State Coroner will review findings from post-mortem examinations to establish the manner and cause of death. The period to complete full post-mortem examinations by the Health Sciences Authority varies depending on the need for supplementary laboratory tests. For some complex cases, it can take as long as three months. As a matter of routine, MINDEF does receive the findings of these post-mortem examinations, to aid us in our investigations.

As these investigations are on-going and MINDEF has not received the finalised reports of post-mortem examinations of these two cases, I can only reveal some facts at hand in response to the Member's question.

First, on PTE Amirul. On 15 March this year, PTE Amirul did not turn up for a routine roll-call. A search was initiated and PTE Amirul was found unconscious in a locked toilet cubicle, with a rope tied around his neck and hanging from the shower beam.

Resuscitative procedures were immediately activated on site and continued en-route and at Changi General Hospital. Unfortunately, the resuscitation failed and PTE Amirul was pronounced dead at Changi General Hospital.

Second, on PTE Lee Rui Feng Dominique Sarron. PTE Lee was noted to have breathing difficulties while participating in a platoon exercise involving the use of smoke grenades at a training facility at Lim Chu Kang on 17 April 2012. The unit Chief Safety Officer immediately accompanied him to exit the building. Outside the building, PTE Lee lost consciousness and received Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation on the spot. He was given supplemental oxygen and evacuated in the safety vehicle to the Medical Centre. Resuscitation efforts by a SAF medical officer continued at the medical centre as well as en-route to the National University Hospital in an SAF ambulance. Unfortunately, the efforts were not successful, and PTE Lee was pronounced dead at NUH.

PTE Lee was noted to have a history of asthma during pre-enlistment screening on 4th January 2011 with his last reported asthma attack more than three years prior to enlistment. Based on the SAF medical classification system which is devised in consultation with leading senior medical specialists from the public and private healthcare sectors, NS men with well-controlled asthma are given a PES grading of A or B and certified fit for military training. Based on SAF's medical records, PTE Lee did not report sick for any asthmatic attacks in the five-month period after enlistment until this incident.

The concurrent investigations will examine all the facts to determine the cause of death, and if the asthma or smoke grenades were contributory factors. Smoke grenades have been commonly used for many years during military training and the SAF has not had any similar incident in the past. Sir, we will have to await the conclusive findings of these investigations to determine the cause and measures to be taken arising for these two specific cases.

But allow me to share general aspects on the existing system, which have incorporated lessons learnt from previous incidents. The on-going investigations are conducted so that we can continue to improve our system to ensure the highest standards of training safety for our NS men. This is our top priority and the SAF will do its utmost to implement all recommendations. This includes appropriate disciplinary action against any SAF personnel whose negligent actions have contributed to the death.

For NS men, the SAF stands guided by leading medical specialists drawn from the public and private sectors to formulate both medical screening protocols as well as a classification system based on known medical conditions to ensure the safe training and appropriate deployment of our servicemen. For this purpose, all NS men are subjected to a compulsory and detailed pre-enlistment medical screening to detect anomalies and diseases. Additional screening is also conducted prior to onerous training activities such as overseas exercises. We have and we will continue to review our medical screening procedures on a regular basis, to make sure they stay in line with international and national standards of clinical practice. After medical screening, NS men are deployed to suitable vocations to undergo military training. This Physical Employment Status or PES system has been in use since 1971, and NS men with a history of well-controlled asthma have been graded PES A or B and suitable for military training for more than 20 years.

In addition, ground commanders know that they have a responsibility for the safety of their servicemen during training. They have to keep a keen eye on the safety and condition of their servicemen before, during and after the training is completed. They have the prerogative to stop training for any serviceman at anytime if they sense something is amiss.

The SAF also reminds individual servicemen to ensure their own safety and that of their NS buddies. Servicemen who are unwell at any time during training are required to highlight their condition to their commanders. They are asked proactively before exercises and given the opportunity to excuse themselves. If in the course of their national service, they develop a new medical condition or injury, they have ready access to SAF medical officers or the public health care system. If need be, they would then be excused from certain types of training or redeployed to a role more suited to their medical condition.

Sir, safety is top priority for MINDEF and the SAF. We know that we have the responsibility to keep sons of Singapore safe while training. Every incident resulting in injury or death is painful to us and gets top management priority to make it right. We will spare no effort to investigate every incident thoroughly. We will also incorporate findings and recommendations from independent investigations by the Police and Coroner. Where there are mistakes, we will own up to them, learn, rectify and continuously improve. That way, we can put in place a robust safety system that will prevent all avoidable injuries and deaths. Once again, MINDEF and the SAF extend our deepest condolences to the families of the late Pte Amirul and Pte Lee.