Restructured ACCORD to Strengthen Engagement with Diverse Stakeholders

The restructured Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD)(Main) held its first meeting at SAFRA Toa Payoh on 25 Aug 2014, chaired by Second Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing and supported by Deputy Chairman, Minister of State for Defence Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman.

The restructured Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) held its first meeting at SAFRA Toa Payoh today. The ACCORD is chaired by Second Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing and supported by Deputy Chairman Minister of State for Defence Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman. The meeting was followed by the ACCORD Appreciation and Appointment Ceremony to thank the members who are stepping down and to appoint members of the new ACCORD and its three Councils.

The three Councils are the Employer and Business Council (E&B), co-chaired by Executive Chairman of Asia Resource Corporation Mr Tony Chew and Mr Chan; Educational Institutions Council (EI) co-chaired by Senior Minister of State for Education Ms Indranee Rajah and Dr Maliki; and Family and Community Council (F&C) co-chaired by Senior Vice-president of Banyan Tree Ms Claire Chiang and Dr Maliki. The Councils will play an active role in engaging their respective stakeholders to strengthen Commitment to Defence (C2D), and support for National Service (NS) and Total Defence (TD).During the ACCORD meeting, members discussed several areas to deepen support for NS and TD. These include extending outreach to raise understanding of NS and the need for defence, strengthening and recognising various stakeholders' support for NS and TD, and exploring initiatives and programmes that serve to address specific needs of diverse stakeholders.

At the ACCORD Appreciation and Appointment Ceremony, Mr Chan expressed his deep appreciation to all past and present ACCORD members for their contributions and support for National Service and defence. "I really appreciate your effort to come on board, because your effort to come on board to join us on ACCORD to explore some of these issues to strengthen the support for National Service and defence is the best testimony that we can ever have At the end of the day, it is the spirit, the fighting spirit of every one of us, the commitment of each and every one of us, that will make the ultimate difference in the defence of our country."In all, 52 new members and 17 existing members were appointed to ACCORD and its councils, while seven current members stepped down on 25 Aug 14.

Mr Chan interacting with members of ACCORD at the ACCORD Appreciation and Appointment Ceremony to thank the members who are stepping down and to appoint members of the new ACCORD and its three Councils.

More Resources

Fact Sheet: Restructured ACCORD and its Members