Speech by Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen, at the Overseas Service Medal (OSM) Presentation Ceremony, on 27 July 18

Chief of Defence Force,
Service Chiefs,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am always very happy when I can meet your family and family members especially when you are able to bring your children. So, welcome. This evening, we honour SAF servicemen and women who joined our coalition partners in the fight against ISIS in the Middle East. The Overseas Service Medal that each of you will receive recognises your personal contribution to keep Singaporeans safe by ensuring that we attack the source of terrorism. Because if we don't join with others to stop terrorism from growing, it will be a matter of time before the threat overwhelms us here, and indeed, globally. If your family members and your children ask you why you got a medal, you can tell them that you proudly joined others to fight against terrorists, to keep Singaporeans safe at home. This is an important fight. 

TERRORISM REMAINS A NEAR AND PRESENT THREAT

In fact, the threat of terrorism is at its highest for us here since the September 11 attacks. Between 2000 and 2015, the number of terrorist incidents around the world has increased exponentially, by 800%. In 2017, over 25,000 people died from terrorist attacks worldwide. 

But even as the coalition partners succeed against terrorists in Iraq and Syria, we must be prepared for the next phase where over 1,000 Southeast Asians who have joined ISIS there may make their way home. Armed with battlefield experience and frustrated from the defeat of ISIS there, they can escalate violence here. In May this year, we witnessed multiple bombings in the Indonesian city of Surabaya that involved three families. These attacks were led by a self-radicalised man who had returned from Syria and led his family, including his 6 and 9-year-old daughters, to carry out suicide attacks in his home town. When I spoke to my Indonesian counterparts about this, they too were shocked at this development -they never thought it possible for even Indonesian terrorists to use their families. Since 2013, Malaysia has arrested approximately 400 people for suspected links to terrorism. Between March and May of this year, the Malaysian police arrested 15 terror suspects, including a housewife who had planned attacks during Malaysia's 14th General Election (GE14)  Just last week, seven more terror suspects were arrested for plots against the Malaysian King and Prime Minister. So make no mistake, whether in scale, intensity or its perverse forms, terrorism is growing as a threat in this region.
 
Singapore is not immune to the threat of terror - whether it is from radicalised foreigners or Singaporeans themselves. In 2016, terrorists plotted to launch a rocket attack on Marina Bay Sands. We have uncovered several cases of self-radicalised Singaporeans. Between 2007 and 2017, over 30 Singaporeans have been issued restriction and detention orders under the Internal Security Act (ISA). Last year, we saw the first Singaporean appear in an ISIS propaganda video. During the recent Trump-Kim Summit, terrorism was the primary threat that the Home Team and the SAF had to guard against. The SAF's defences were mobilised to form a protective dome with many layers around Sentosa while the Summit was ongoing, protecting our air, land, and sea space.

OUR COMMITMENT TO THE GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST TERROR

The battle against terrorism for the SAF will be a long one, and we must be prepared to go the distance. Our strategy against terrorism remains the same since the 9/11 attacks. It recognises that terrorism needs to be neutralised at its source and in our own backyard. From 2007 to 2013, the SAF deployed close to 500 troops in Afghanistan contributing to the international stabilisation and reconstruction efforts there. Since 2014, in support of the multinational Defeat-ISIS efforts, the SAF has contributed assets and deployed SAF Liaison Officers, Intelligence Fusion Officers, Imagery Analysis Teams, and the KC-135R tanker aircraft for air-to-air refuelling operations, in the Middle East. The SAF Medical Team was deployed in June last year to provide healthcare support to members of the coalition forces as well as the local Iraqi population. During their year-long deployment, they treated 351 patients from the coalition forces, supported 83 medical evacuation duties, and conducted 20 medical training sessions for the members of Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). They completed the deployment last month.

All our efforts are worth it because the coalition is winning. At its peak, ISIS controlled around half of Syria, and a third of Iraq. Today, ISIS has lost most of its territory.

Later this year, the SAF Counter-Terrorism Training Unit (CTTU) will be deployed to Iraq to help train the Iraqi Security Forces. We will partner the Australian Defence Force for training in tactical-level weapons and combat tactics; and partner the British Armed Forces in counter-improvised explosive devices (C-IED) training. 

In this region, to guard our own backyard, counter-terrorism cooperation will take also top priority for Singapore as the 2018 ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Chair. Singapore will be hosting a counter-terrorism symposium in October, and also working to build a network of experts to counter chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) threats within the ADMM framework.

At home, the SAF regularly conducts exercises and training with Home Team agencies to enhance their joint responsiveness to homeland security threats. 2 PDF's Island Defence Training Institute (IDTI) has also trained 18,000 active servicemen and NSmen for homeland security operations. Just earlier this year, the SAF launched a new Counter-Terrorism Community Response Module to equip all MINDEF/SAF personnel with the ability to protect themselves, and to help others, in the event of a terror attack.

THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN

SAF troops are making a difference individually in these missions. Let me give you some examples - one of our medics deployed in Iraq received a "Hero of the Week" award. He received it from the Commanding General of the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command, for his good work in reorganising pharmacy operations in the base medical centre in Iraq. At the recommendation of commanders from other Armed Forces, one of our Intelligence Fusion Officers has been awarded the US Defence Meritorious Service Medal for his outstanding work in analysing the ISIS Information Operations campaign. He performed so well that the coalition forces had requested for him to extend his deployment. I am glad that he has returned in time for today's ceremony. The Director of Operations at the Geospatial-Intelligence Agency wrote personally to our Imagery Analysis Team. Nobody asked him to, he felt that he needed to. And he said: "I appreciated getting to see your unit and the outstanding work you are doing there. I can absolutely say your team is deserving of the fine reputation you have."

Our SAF soldiers and their families are making personal sacrifices in this battle against terrorists. The team lead in one of the Imagery Analysis Teams left for deployment when his wife was four months pregnant. She gave him her fullest support, and urged him to continue with the deployment. He returned from his mission - just in time for the birth of his baby girl. Congratulations to this happy family! One of our Military Experts had to fly back home just three weeks prior to the end of his deployment as his wife had to undergo an urgent surgery. Although she remained in hospital for the next two weeks after surgery, she encouraged her husband to return back to his deployment to ensure that the hand-over for his mission was proper and complete. I'm also glad to share that his wife is on the road to recovery.

Let me tonight thank each family and your loved ones for joining us at this ceremony and say how much we appreciate this unwavering support that you give to your spouses and family members within the SAF. It is that support which allows them to do well and complete their missions. 

CONCLUSION 

So to all the recipients of the Overseas Service Medal, the medal that you receive tonight signifies the nation's recognition of your dedication, your professionalism and commitment to the security and peace of Singapore. You have done the nation very proud and protected Singaporeans from your individual actions.

Congratulations, and well done. Thank you.

More Resources

64 SAF Personnel Honoured for Contributions to Counter-ISIS Operations