Library 13 JUL 1992 SPEECH by DR LEE BOON YANG, MINISTER FOR
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National Archives Library 13 JUL 1992 Release No.: 04/JUL 12-l/92/07/01 SPEECH BY DR LEE BOON YANG, MINISTER FOR LABOUR AND SECONDMINISTER FOR DEFENCE, AT THE BUKIT TIMAH GROUP OF COMPANIES - SAP DAY RESERVIST REDEDICATION CEREMONY1992 HELD AT THE BUKIT TURF CLUB ON WEDNESDAY, 1 JULY 1992 AT 5.00 PM First, let me thank the Bukit Timah Group of Companies, for organising this rededication ceremony. In 1988, the Bukit Timah Group pioneered the holding of combined reservist rededication ceremonies. It was a fine tradition. I am proud to note that for the past four years, reservists in this area, with their employers' support, have enthusiastically upheld this tradition. For the past 25 years, National Servicemen and reservists have made invaluable contributions to the security and survival of Singapore. People like yourself, make up the first generation of National Servicemen who have made the SAF an integrated and credible defence force that it is today. It is a strong SAF that serves as a foundation for peace. It is this peace that has allowed Singapore to build our economy and to progress. l However, peace and security are not the natural order of things. You only have to watch the news to see how easily peace and security can break down: Kuwait, Algeria, Yugoslavia, and Lebanon. Kuwait is a stark reminder that peace and security come from deliberate effort to deter aggressors and the ability to convince them that they will pay a very heavy price for aggression. What makes up this deterrence shield is not as obvious as it seems. It is not merely the size of our armed forces, but both the size and the quality; it is not just the technical superiority of our equipment, but how competent we are in using them; it is not how complete and thorough our mobilisation orders are, but the speed and efficiency with which they are 2 executed: it is not just the determination of our leaders, but the determination of every Singaporean that counts. We cannot get the right organisation, the state of mind and heart in place overnight. This is why National Security is a long term commitment. It is not dependent on the current situation. We pursued this objective as soon as we became a separate and independent nation because we knew it was a matter of survival or extinction. Twenty-five years ago, we introduced National Service for male citizens. For 25 years, we have worked to put in place the complex organisation and hardware to defend Singapore. We also had to search for the right mix of men, equipment and operational concept that we are comfortable with. But most important of all, these years gave us the headstart to rally Singaporeans behind the concept of Total Security - to signal to the rest of the world that for Singapore, National Security is not a superficial thing, but something that comes from the depth of our national consciousness. Total Security includes : Development, Diplomacy, Deterrence and Defence. Development will ensue a stable, cohesive society; Diplomacy to ensure good relations and to make friends who will stand by us in times of trouble; Deterrence to discourage threats as much as possible; and a strong Defence in case threats turn to actual conflicts. We are fortunate to be in a region where our neighbours are living in peace with one another. The security and stability of the region is an important factor in the economic dynamism of the Asia-Pacific. But it is important for Singaporeans not to be lulled into a false sense of security. Singapore’s security, survival and success have been the result of whole-hearted commitment to Total Defence. To forge ahead as a nation, we must continue to draw this commitment from reservists, their families and their employers. I am glad that 200 reservists and their employers are gathered here today to declare once again your support and commitment to the defence of Singapore. Today, as we mark the through the pressure and challenges of the SAF’s first 25 years. The Nation thank you for your gift of peace and security. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Labour/Mjul01‘92/Pgs.l-3 Cc: INFORMATIONS (8812:GVT224) From: INFORMATIONS (8812:GVT224) Subject: [Bukit Timah Group of Companies] Delivered: Mon 6-July-92 17:56 SING (54 lines) SINGAPORE GOVERNMENTPRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION LIST 1 Mr Yatiman Bin Yusof, Parliamentary Secretary (Foreign Affairs) GVT 047 2 Mr Lim Boon Heng, Senior Minister of State (MTI) GVT 090 3 Dr Yeo Ning Hong, Minister for Defence GVT 200 4 Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon, Senior Minister of State GVT 234 (Community Development) 5 Dr Ahmad Mattar, Minister for Environment GVT 080 6 BG George Yeo, Second Minister for Foreign GVT 049 Affairs 7 Mr Harun A Ghani, Political Secretary, Ministry GVT 710 of Home Affairs 8 Library Officer, Auditor-General Office GVT 370 9 Library. Ministry of Education GVT 036 10 Mr Lee Chiong Giam, GVT 615 Chief Executive Director (PA) l 1Oa Mr Soon Low Boon, Library (PA) 11 Library, Parliament House GVT 251 12 National Archives GVT 237 13 Mr Aziz Champion, Ministry of Law (PS's copy) GVT 125 14 Budget Division, Ministry of Finance GVT 052 15 Mrs Elain Swinn-Tan, Head, Public Relations, MOL GVT 168 16 Economics Dept, MAS GVT 721 17 PSD, Ministry of Finance GVT 111 18 The General Manager, 'Board of Commissioners of GVT 611 Currency 19 Library, Ministry of Community Development GVT 235 20 Commissioner for Lands, Land Office, GVT 463 Ministry of Law 21 Library, Jurong Town Corporation GVT 390 22 Public Relations Dept, Ministry of Home Affairs GVT 137 23 Resource Centre, Ministry of Trade & Industry GVT 091 24 Public Relations Dept. VITB GVT 480 25 Registry Supervisor, Ministry of National GVT 240 Development 26 The Chairman, Singapore Institute of Standards GVT 325 and Industrial Research 27 Librarian, NTUC Research Unit GVT 351 27a PA to Mr Ong Teng Cheong, Deputy Prime Minister 28 Mindef Library GVT 207 29 Director, Community Relations Dept, Ministry of GVT 470 Community Development (Kindly make copies and distribute to all the secretariats) 30 Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence GVT 560 31 Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Labour & GVT 205 Second Minister for Defence 32 Dr Tay Eng Soon, Senior Minister of State for GVT 030 Education 33 Mr Wong Kan Seng, Minister for Foreign Affairs GVT 044 33a Mr Peter Ho, DS (SEA) Min. of Foreign Affairs GVT 044 34 Dr Richard Hu, Minister for Finance GVT 017 35 Mr Yeo Cheow Tong, Minister for Health & GVT 172 Minister for Community Development GVT 230 36 Mr Sidek Bin Saniff, Minister of State for GVT 680 Education 37 Mr J. A. Nathan, Globalink, TDB GVT 817 .