Whole-of-Government Response to Simulated Terrorist Threats at Exercise Highcrest 2013

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (middle) receiving a brief from Chief of Navy RADM Ng Chee Peng (left) while observing the sea deployment exercise from onboard a Fast Craft Utility.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited Exercise Highcrest (HC) 2013 and observed the coordinated response by Government agencies under the National Maritime Security System (NMSS) to simulated terrorist threats from sea and on land. Ex HC is jointly led by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The successful execution of Ex HC validates the attainment of Full Operational Capability by the NMSS. Held from 29 October to 7 November 2013, Ex HC involved over 1,600 personnel from 20 agencies including the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Customs, and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

At the NMSS Command and Control Centre at Changi, PM Lee, DPM Teo and other Ministers observed various maritime and land-based agencies sharing information and coordinating operations against simulated terrorist attacks which included:

• Storming a simulated hijacked ferry and intercepting a small boat by the SAF's Special Operations Task Force (SOTF), Republic of Singapore Air Force and SPF's Police Coast Guard.

• Dealing with the aftermath of the incident by SCDF, MPA and ICA.

• Acting against multiple gunmen on a shooting rampage and rescuing hostages on a passenger coach at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal by SPF's Special Operations Command and SAF's SOTF.

• Rescue and fire-fighting operations by SCDF Special Rescue Unit and SCDF firefighters.

Speaking to the media after visiting the exercise, PM Lee highlighted the importance of a coordinated response at the national level in tackling terrorist threats. He said, "This exercise is the culmination of several years of work to prepare our National Maritime Security System... so you just look at all the logos which are involved in today's exercise - so many ministries, so many stat boards, the uniformed forces - they have to work seamlessly together. Otherwise, there will be some miscommunications, some clash in the plans or in the execution and then we will be in trouble... but from what I could see, I think they have prepared and trained well and I have every confidence that they will attain Full Operational Capability."

Also present to witness the exercise were Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Transport Lui Tuck Yew and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry S Iswaran as well as senior officials from the various ministries.

Exercise Highcrest 2013 concludes tomorrow.

SAF assets in action to counter a simulated hijacked ferry during the sea deployment exercise.

Troopers from the SAF's SOTF escorting terrorists after having taken control of a simulated hostage situation.

PM Lee (fifth from right), accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean (extreme right) and Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen (fourth from right), being briefed on the land deployment exercise at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.