Speech by Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen, at the SAF Day Dinner on 26 July 2024

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 

Madam Ho Ching,

SMS Heng Chee How, 

SMS Zaqy Mohamad, 

Permanent Secretaries, 

CDF, 

Service Chiefs, 

Former CDFs, 

Senior MINDEF and SAF officers, 

Ladies and Gentlemen. 

INTRODUCTION

This year’s SAF Day Dinner is special because you are here, and because we as one MINDEF/SAF family have chosen it as an occasion to honour and thank SM Lee Hsien Loong for his contributions – both to the progress of the SAF and Singapore as Prime Minister for 20 years from 2004 to 2024. 

When SM Lee announced his intention on 15 Apr to step down as Prime Minister to effect succession, senior officials in MINDEF/SAF approached me soon after that – they felt that it was important to pay just tribute to SM Lee. And when they further suggested that we do so during the traditional SAF Day Dinner, I thought this an appropriate occasion for three reasons.  

SM LEE’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SAF

First and foremost, I think, quite rightly, the SAF lays claim to SM Lee Hsien Loong as one of her most precious and illustrious sons, who rose to the pinnacle of leadership in Singapore. Forever, it can be said, that of the Prime Ministers of independent Singapore, the 3rd, came from the SAF. 

This claim is indisputable. SM Lee joined the SAF in 1971 and held key appointments for 13 years until his retirement to enter politics in 1984. SM Lee’s seminal contributions while in the SAF are well known, indeed the stuff of vignettes and stories – even today, re-told in formal meetings, or when soldiers interact during down times i.e., TC sessions! Among these stories, how as CO 23rd Battalion Singapore Artillery (23 SA) in 1981, he introduced the Hewlett-Packard HP 41 programmable handheld calculator to compute firing solutions for guns, that did away with the tedious manual calculations. As Chief of Staff, General Staff in 1982, and concurrently Director Joint Operations and Planning Directorate in 1983, he drove the set-up of the Joint Staff and the SAF as a tri-service force, that shaped the SAF of today. And who can forget SM Lee’s role in the rescue operation during the 1983 Sentosa cable car accident. My wife and I recently took our grandson on a cable car ride, and it was only natural to re-tell the incident. When his eyes grew bigger, I had to tell him he was also very safe, and we never had any accidents after that.

SM Lee’s relationship with the SAF did not sever when he joined politics. Au contraire, it deepened, as Minister of State for Ministry of Defence from 1984 to 1987 and subsequently as Second Minister for Defence from 1987 to 1990 where he pushed to establish Ex Wallaby in 1990 in Shoalwater Bay for the SAF.

So, that’s the first reason. SM Lee, you may have left the SAF 40 years ago, but the SAF claims a part of you as its provenance. And of course, for good and virtuous effects. I know that for MINDEF/SAF recruitment campaigns each year, that a Prime Minister and other Government leaders came out of SAF, is a significant factor for would-be applicants and their parents. And it helps too that even now SM Lee continues to have strong following as a social media influencer. It is a noble and virtuous aspiration for the SAF to hope for more future Prime Ministers to come from its ranks. Because at its core, whether as a leader within the SAF or of Singapore, that same raison d'être exists – to serve and protect our country with every ounce of our being, and no better exemplar than General Lee Hsien Loong in the SAF or him as Prime Minister.

The second reason is the abiding commitment and confidence that SM Lee gave to the SAF, in its progress and abilities. In all the years that I have been at MINDEF, I cannot remember long conversations with him, whether it was about upgrading platforms, equipment, new initiatives or more resources for the SAF. Conversations were short and I came to predictably expect that then-PM Lee would strongly support any initiative that made the SAF stronger. Not only that, on many occasions, he as Prime Minister would initiate or push for them.

Lest it be misunderstood, it was not favouritism that underpinned this abiding support. What was it then? As he himself said, at the SAF50 Dinner in 2015, “The last 50 years have taught us that come what may, we will always need a strong SAF”. SM Lee recognised that a strong defence with the SAF as a backdrop, as an instrument of state, provides political space for its leaders when dealing with other countries. It gives an edge because the political leadership can do so from a position of strength and security.

Indeed, whether as General or PM, he did all he could to make the SAF stronger. One solid example comes to mind. When Australia and Singapore were negotiating its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2015, it was PM Lee who initiated more training opportunities for the SAF as part of the CSP, as he knew how valuable realistic training grounds in Australia were for the SAF, something he established as 2M back in 1990. This year, almost 9,000 SAF regulars and NSmen will be using newly-built facilities at the expanded Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) at Ex Wallaby and Ex Trident. This number will rise to 14,000 when Greenvale Training Area is completed. In years to come, more SAF soldiers can thank SM Lee for these precious training grounds.

SM Lee had deep confidence in the SAF, especially when the Whole-of-Government had to deal with wicked problems, crises, or unexpected incidents. It was not happenstance that the SAF became involved in Covid-19 operations under his watch as PM. I don’t think SM Lee would mind if I revealed that he remarked once then – “SAF to the rescue”.  

When US Vice President Kamala Harris visited Singapore in Aug 21, she had an ask. PM Lee offered the use of an RSAF Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for humanitarian assistance to evacuate Afghanistan refugees – the US military was withdrawing from that region. PM Lee’s quick offer was anchored on his confidence in the SAF to accomplish the mission. The SAF did not disappoint and within 48 hours, our MRTT aircraft set off for Al Udeid airbase in Qatar. In fact, the SAF was the only foreign military there, apart from the US. It is no exaggeration that the 2000 over refugees evacuated to Ramstein airbase and to parts of Europe thereafter were saved from oppression if not perdition, if they had been left behind.

Another example. Even as recently as in March, as one of his last acts as PM, it was his idea to activate the SAF for humanitarian airdrops into Gaza. Again, no long discussions or ruminations. He knew what the SAF could do, and as PM, he yielded it as an instrument of state decisively and precisely. Now, as DM, when I recount all these, I am very glad that the SAF has been training seriously and practising its air drop exercises and other exercises dutifully, and when deployed overseas at short notice, executed it flawlessly. As they say in vernacular, “heng ah”.

The third and final reason for the SAF Day Dinner being an apt occasion to pay tribute to SM Lee has to do with tradition and continuity, and the values that tonight signify. Over the years as many of you know, the SAF Day Dinner has become that occasion where we gather annually as one family to reflect on the year past, as well as to ponder what the SAF can better do to secure Singapore’s future.  At this dinner, we also honour those who have led their units to excel. So seated at the head table, and around the room are COs of some of the best units this year. We do so, with spouses of SAF servicemen and women, because it reminds us within SAF and MINDEF that in protecting our country, it is families – our spouses, children, grandchildren, kin and friends – whom we protect.

We have hitherto honoured the best units and their commanders at SAF Day dinners but before tonight, not the best among us individually. I can think of no better person to start this tradition, than Senior Minister Lee. MINDEF and SAF are therefore grateful and delighted that you, SM Lee and Mdm Ho Ching have joined us at this year’s dinner. SM Lee, tonight the SAF and MINDEF honour you. But you have honoured the SAF and MINDEF in return through your life’s work, sacrifice and achievements for Singapore; for the values your life exemplifies; for being who you are. 

Two words come to mind, in the portrayal of the man we honour tonight. “Semper Excelsior”. Semper is familiar to most – as in the motto of the US marines – “Semper Fidelis”. It means always. Semper Excelsior – Always upward; always higher; always reaching for excellence – no matter how high we have climbed, no matter our past accomplishments; always striving to be our best – epitomises the life and contributions of Senior Minister Lee. In the 2016 National Day Rally, PM Lee said in his speech that his hope for Singapore was that we would be “blessed with a ‘divine discontent’ – always not quite satisfied with what we have, always driven to do better.” Semper Excelsior – what he hoped for Singapore, he exemplified in his own life. SM Lee walks the talk.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

I think that SAF Day Dinner 2024 will be remembered for many years to come. It will be remembered as that special occasion when we sung righteous and fitting praise to one of SAF’s finest sons. One who embodied the values that all SAF commanders should have, and one who gave his utmost to the service of the SAF – Yang Pertama dan Utama, and country – Majulah Singapura. Thank you.

More Resources

SAF Honours Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong for His Contributions to the SAF