CREATING THE SINGAPORE ARMED FORCES
30
THREE
they could not intimidate us in this way. It stiffened our resolve and made us dig our heels in.”
10
Whether the problems with Malaysia were only teething problems which, moderated by the
presence of the British forces in Singapore, would eventually have dissipated, is a moot point.
But, there was no question that sooner or later, Singapore would have had to provide credibly
for its own defence and sovereignty in its national interest, even in foreign relations with its
immediate neighbours. Choosing to do it sooner, the Singapore Government also saw in it an
unrepeatable opportunity to rally the people around the new national flag, anthem and identity.
III. MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND DEFENCE
On separation, apart from the two regular infantry battalions (less those personnel who were
Malaysians or chose to remain with Malaysia) and the two ex-SVC battalions (10
th
and 11
th
Battalions, ex-Malaysian Territorial Army) worth of Volunteers, Singapore got back a small
Signals contingent which had been with 4 MIB; some personnel from the Armoured Car
contingent who had been assigned to the Malaysian reconnaissance regiment; some Volunteer
Engineers scattered throughout the MAF; the Singapore component of the Royal Malaysian
Navy Volunteer Reserve (which was renamed the Singapore Naval Volunteer Force (SNVF) on
1
st
January, 1966
11
together with the
Laburnum
(static HQ ship of the Volunteers, later renamed
Singapura
and still later scrapped),
Panglima
(a 37.5 metre Ford Class large patrol craft), and an
ex-police vessel, the
Bedok
.
12
There had been no Air Force Volunteers from Singapore at the
time of the merger as the service had been disbanded in 1960.
MID at Empress Place, 1965.