CHAPTER II
SINGAPORE’S NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY
Long before the accident oN September 11, 2001, terrorist threats were not an urgent global security concern. However, after that 9/11 explosions tragedy, every country hasten a major transformation focusing on their national security.
Many countries, consequently, change including Singapore.
Singapore understands that today’s security environment is much more complex and the needs to utilize a sophisticated technique is a must in order to stop a complex problem like terrorism. Therefore, Singapore enacted a national security system that suitable to control extraordinary dangers. Thus, Singapore has organized a multi-ministry network because it believes terrorist threats need an action which requires varied expertise and multiple authorities.
Singapore itself has build a well-organized strategy to strengthen its national security to deal effectively with the threat of global terrorism. A Fight Against
Terror: Singapore’s National Security Strategy published by The National
Security Coordination Centre documents the operations. In this publication,
Singapore acquaints with the national security architecture which supervises agencies that are responsible to the security of Singapore. Also, according to the publication, Singapore’s strategy includes two general actors. Firstly, actor is accounted for the government which has a great responsibility to protect the city-state. In detail, the government works on a robust strategy which consists of three components: Prevention, Protection, and Response. Secondly, in the publication, the public involvement also matters because Singapore believes it
1 cannot work successfully without the public engagement. Therefore, the government creates what is called the “Total Defence” program.
A. National Security Architecture
Singapore presents what is called as “Home Team” which comprises 9 agencies working together to safeguard the home country. These agencies consist of the Ministry of Home Affairs Headquarters, the Singapore Police
Force, Singapore Civil Defence Force, the Internal Security Department, the
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, the Prison Department, the Central
Narcotics Bureau, the Commercial and Industrial Security Corrporation
(CISCO), and the Singapore Corporation for Rehabilitative Enterprises
(SCORE).
These agencies work together with another organization which keep
Singapore a safe and secured home for all. Singapore creates these agencies within three security pillars, which are the policy, operational and capability development coordination.
Figure 2.1 Security Policy Coordination (National Security Coordination Centre, 2004)
1. Policy Coordination
a. Security Policy Review Committee
This body is mobilized by the coordinator of Minister for Security and
Defence, which also works with the Ministers of Defence and the Minister of
Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs. In this body, they formulate a strategy
within a policy that considers the most critical issue and threats (National
Security Coordination Centre, 2004). b. National Security Coordination Secretariat
This coordinator is responsible to set a plan for the national security and
coordinate the policy and intelligence issue. The secretariat has been given
the responsibility to the permanent secretary for National Security and
Intelligence Coordination. They will report directly to the Prime Minister by
the Coordinating Minister for Security and Defence. The Permanent secretary
is further responsible to a National Security Coordinating Committee which
involves other permanent secretaries. Furthermore, they are responsible to the
Security Policy Review Committe (SRPC) for security policy coordination. In
addition, he is charged to coordinate the Singapore’s counter-terrorism
intelligence work (National Security Coordination Centre, 2004).
The National Security Coordination itself work on two key actors that are
first, the National Security Coordination Centre (NSCC). This agency works
on carrying out the policy, arrangement and risk-assessment and is
responsible for such horizon scanning, for example the operation of a Horizon
Scanning Centre. Second, the Joint Counter-Terrorism Centre is responsible
for terrorist threats. This includes policy-making and counter-terrorism
measures (National Security Coordination Centre, 2004).
2. Operational Coordination
a. Homefront Crisis Ministerial Committee
This Committe is responsible to the Minister of Home Affairs and other
Cabinet Ministers as principal members. Here, they enact measures such as strategic and political guidance to tackle down a crises in order to maintain a
state of normalcy (National Security Coordination Centre, 2004).
b. Homefront Crisis Executive Group
This group consists of a superior policy decision-maker from an
integrated ministries and government agencies and conducts by the
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Mainly, this group is
responsible to create policy guidance and strategy on managing a major
crises. It will also support the Ministerial Committe by providing operational
coordination, help them resolving cross ministry issue and ensure their
decision and directives are implemented (National Security Coordination
Centre, 2004).
3. Capability Development Coordination
a. Understanding Networking
This coordinator aims to make a common understanding to Singapore’s
national security strategies and policies, enhancing the awareness of terrorist
threats, and the new national security initiatives. The government initiates to
make a national security course which will be conducted for senior security
practitioners coordinated by the National Security Coordination Centre. Thus,
it will be focusing on the inter-agencies and network centric character of the
Singapore’s national security architecture. The government will also conduct
annual seminars which will present about national security objectives for the
future, even immediate future (National Security Coordination Centre, 2004). b. Anticipating Surprises
This is a framework on builidng risk-assesment and horizon-scanning
that will be capable to anticipate a sudden danger, for example, Singapore is
experience with SARS. Thus, Singapore believes it needs to make the country
ready to deal with sudden danger with a well-trained strategy (National
Security Coordination Centre, 2004).
B. The Integrated Approach
After building 9 government agencies above, Singapore introduce what is called as “An Integrated Approach” that consist of three approaches; prevention, protection, and response. Therefore, a strong defence strategy constructed upon a well-organized coordinaton bodies will obtain a good result.
Figure 2.2 An Integrated Approach to National Security (National Security Coordination Centre, The Fight Agints Terror, 2004)
1. Prevention
a. International Efforts
Fight againts terrorism is not only faced by one single country but it is
shared globally. Therefore, working with other countries and sharing
information and assistances become a need to control this transnational terrorism. Singapore has a remarkable cooparation with other countries on combating terrorism, for instances Singapore’s joint cooperation with the
United States to support “war on terror” campaign.
The other examples are Singapore’s participation in the US-led proliferation Security Initiative aiming to combat the mass destruction. More, in ASEAN region, Singapore is involved on appointing points of contact for intelligence liasion. The other effort done by Singapore is becoming the first country that use their port to implement the US Container Security Initiative
(CSI), which responsibility is to screen high-risk containers before they reach the American ports (National Security Coordination Centre, 2004). b. Intelligence Coordination
A good cooperation is one of the keys to successfully counter the terrorist groups. It does not only work closely in the international region; Singapore also keep maintains their coordination to keep the information exchange going on among ASEAN country such as Indonesia and Thailand, for example, Indonesia arrested Singapore JI cell leader, Mas Selamat, and he was handed over to Singapore (National Security Coordination Centre, 2004).
However, in 2008 Mas Selamat could escape from the Whitley Road
Detention Centre but was apprehended in Malaysia in 2009 (Hong, 2009).
Also, Thailand arrested Arifin Ali, who was also a member of the
Singaporean JI cell (National Security Coordination Centre, 2004). c. Border Controls
By understanding that this city-state has a bigger number of visitor than
the people live inside, border control needs to be well-coordinated to prevent
the foreign terrorist to come inside to Singapore. Singapore puts a stringent
measures by putting the Customs and Excise Departement to work with the
Singapore Immigration and Registration to form the Immigration and
Checkpoints Authority or ICA, enacted on 1 April 2003, in which this ICA
has unlimited capabilities to screen the movement of goods and the visitors
(National Security Coordination Centre, 2004).
2. Protection
By having limited resources, Singapore will concentrate on territories of most prominent concern to make the city-state safe for all. Singapore taken a protective measures which needs to be takes as a second layer of stronger effort.
Singapore must be harder than a threat (National Security Coordination Centre,
2004).
a. Critical Infrastucture and High Profile Events
Setting up a range of security measures is one of the purposes of
protective measures which are to safeguard the critical infrastructure and
High Profile Events such as installing the surveillance cameras at the power
stations and also water networks, studying Singapore’s critical infrastructure
and look for the recommendation steps to be taken in further in which it had
been done by the National Critical Infrastructure Assurance Committe. Also, foreign embassies has also guarded as Singapore commitment in its relation with foreign country (National Security Coordination Centre, 2004).
The other target is Jurong Island as the petrochemical hub, which means
Jurong Island is a prone. The area is guarded by a double security armies which are Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Police Coast Guard and
Commercial Security Forces. Beside the land, the sea is also guarded.
Singapore also becomes the host country for a lot of big events each year and it invites not a small number of dignitaries of which events may be attracting the terrorist to do their action. Therefore, in each event, Singapore will direct the security guard and work double (National Security
Coordination Centre, 2004). b. Land Transportation
As stated before, Singapore is visited by over 8 million people in where they travel around Singapore using the public transportation. Therefore, land transportation becomes a crucial issue for all people inside Singapore both for visitors and also citizen. This indicates that the economic of Singapore depends on these media. Consequently, the government is responsible to ensure that the public transportation does not only have a good quality to take them to their destination but also to take them safely and protected. Singapore also maintains security audits regularly which is conducted on emergency system. Also, it helds exercises on managing the disaster management procedures. Other than that, Home Affairs Ministry, Singapore Police Force,
Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Transport Authority and rail operators work together on creating detailed response plans in term of emergency response (National Security Coordination Centre, 2004). c. Aviation Security
Due to the fact that Singapore serves as the international aviation hub, the country is indeed a vital issue that need to be undertaken seriously. For that reason, this asset has to be well guarded. Singapore sets various measures to make this measures successfully work, such as at airport where all the checked-in baggage is screened by an in-line baggage screening system. For such a restricted areas in the airport like aircraft and also the key installations are monitored tightly. For the airlines, it has improved the access controlling to the cockpit and the awareness of potential terrorist threats. The other is the bullet-proof doors and surveillance cameras in the cockpit entry area, and the most noteworthy measures is by sending off the air marshals on selected
Singapore Airlines and SilkAir Flights (National Security Coordination
Centre, 2004). d. Maritime Security
The other important aspect is the maritime security. Singapore concerns on all the vital aspects that may be threatened by the terrorist group and make it specifically through a various measures depending on the aspect itself for example, this maritime security. The security on the straits and territorial water is also a crucial area that needs to be taken into account seriously.
Because of that, Singapore guards this territory by the strongest effort such as placing their maritime security agencies, such as the Police Coast Guard (PCG). The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Maritime and Port
Authority (MPA) work together to protect the city-state from threats by the
sea. They also work with the Port Operations Control Centre or known as the
Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) in term of information network
aiming to monitor and giving a timely information to the vessels that wade
the Singapore straits and territorial waters (National Security Coordination
Centre, 2004).
Minister for Transport, Yeo Cheow Tong, stated this in the International
Maritime and Port Security Conference on 21 January 2003 that:
“The global shipping and port industry is an important cog in the machinery of world trade. An attack on a port or shipping lane would seriously disrupt trade... Southeast Asia, Singapore included, cannot escape from such threats.” (National Security Coordination Centre, 2004) Because of that, the government uses the Maritime Security Task Force
to maintain and increase its effort to secure the country and also could
promote the Singapore’s maritime into broader network.
3. Response
Beside various measures and efforts that have been created and upgraded by
Singapore, it also has another plan just in case if their defense is broken down by the terrorist group. When happens, Singapore will take the country to the normal status immediately to prevent the mass panic. Singapore Civil Defence Force and hospital also join a significant exercise to be well prepared on disaster processes and also procedures. In addition, Singapore also increases their capabilities on the post-blast investigation. Also, the Ministry of Home Affairs establishes the air marshal unit, aiming to foil the hijacking while in flight
(National Security Coordination Centre, 2004).
Besides, non conventional threats are also need to be considered. The problem is, in recent days the dangers could be posed by using the chemical, biological and radiologal material, for instances, the smallpox virus, mustard gas, sarin, cyanide, and what so called as “dirty bomb” that comprises a material that will produce a conventional explosion attached to radiological material. To fight against these threats, as stated before, security agencies and health authorities will work closely to secure the citizen and create a system that could detect these biological threats. These efforts are also taken by the Centre for
Chemical Defence and the Defence Medical and Enviromental Research
Instititute at the Defence Science Organisation (National Security Coordination
Centre, 2004).
Singapore also sends the Singapore Civil Defense Force (SDCF) to handle these threats. The SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) crisis in 2003 made the Singapore SCDF learn to create improved procedures that must be prepared accordingly on combating these outbreaks. Hence, Singapore created a medica l system that could detect infectious diseases to make the response team aware of the possible biological attack (Corsi, 2008).
C. Public Involvement and the “Total Defence” Program
There will always be an opportunity for the terrorism in formalizing their plans. Although it seems like they are not visibly exist, they could be just everywhere around, and even the suspicious person around us that might become the suspect. Terrorism is a serious threats, it could destroy the infrustructure, brokes the economic, and the most severe is they could demolish the society.
They could crash the diversity that has been peacefully settled down, especially
Singapore, a place of diversity.
Besides setting up good and integrated strategies, other noteworthy thing to do is making the people understand about what's going on. Increasing the public understanding is necessary because the government could not defend the country by its own without the assistance from its citizen. It needs a united effort to do it together.
Thus, Singapore’s government highlights that each people from each level and religion and race background must involve to battle this challenge. Prime
Minister Goh Chok Tong also invites Muslim in Singapore to strengthen their power to defend themselves and other Muslim societies from extrimist propaganda that could betray the multi-racial and multi-religious society in which they have been living together with other religious society for years.
Singapore’s ex Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yeuw also said that Moslem community plays a crucial role for this. The government gives such statement because they do not want their Muslim society being misused and misunderstood by others. For this, the government embrace all Moslem to hand in hand spread out what are right (National Security Coordination Centre, 2004). MUIS
(Islamic Religious Council of Singapore) also states this on 10 january 2003 that:
“We condemn terrorism and will not allow Islam to be misused by any individuals or groups for their violent and destructive agendas. The Muslim community has always and will continue to stand united with other fellow Singaporeans to protect this nation against terrorism” (National Security Coordination Centre, 2004).
However, not just from Moslem, everyone has a role and they must speak out to everything that could threat them and the security (of the nation) in danger. Other than that, the government also builds another mean to keep the nation united such as The Inter-Racial Confidence circles (IRCC), a place for
Singaporeans to understand more to each other.
Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth stated that:
“The threat of terrorism is real. We cannot take the trust and harmony among the different races and religions for granted. Our religious leaders show the way in building trusting relations between them. Our IRCCs play an important role in rallying our communities to stand together particularly in time of crisis. However, to stay strong as a nation, each and every one of us has a part to play in staying vigilant and maintaining racial harmony” (IRCC, n.d)
Here IRCCs works to bridge the various religions inside Singapore to together build up the friendship among the belivers. The IRCC itself is established to be used as a media for the religious leaders which aim to build up a trust, understanding and confidence to each other beliefs, and also as a platform to overcome the race and religion problem that may occur in Singapore
(IRCC, n.d).
Furthermore, Singapore government introduces the Total Defence program; this program is not only maintained by the governmet as stated previously, it also involves efforts from public.
Figure 3 Total Defence Logo and Icons (Ministry of Defence, n.d)
There are five pillars The Total Defence that are Military, Civil, Economic,
Social and Psychological defence
Psychological defence, which builds on national pride and identity by reinforcing the qualities of resilience and determination amongst Singaporeans to overcome any crisis; Social defence, which builds the bonds for racial harmony and reinforces national integration in a multiracial society. This is accomplished by better understanding and appreciating the heritage, culture and practices of fellow countrymen, thus strengthening bonds as Singaporeans; Economic defence, which emphasises on building up a strong and robust economy that can sustain Singapore through economic challenges and national emergencies. On an individual basis, one can play a part by retraining and upgrading in order to remain employable in today’s competitive economy. The government and businesses would also need to work together to formulate contingency measures to keep offices and factories running, even after mobilisation of the military and equipment; Civil defence, which ensures that in times of emergencies, every civilian will be in a state of preparedness to save oneself as well as loved ones. Additionally, one needs to be observant and vigilant in this era of global terrorism, to help look out for and report suspicious individuals or behaviour; and Military defence, which is the operational readiness of the Singapore Armed Forces and the responsibility of reservists, fulltime national servicemen and regulars to deter and counter aggression (Choon, 2016).
Not all of these components contributed to embattle the terrorism. The government also contributes these program for the natural disaster, energy, water and food scarcity, illegal immigration, climate change and another real threats exist that might be faced by us (Defence, n.d)
This concept was established in 1984 and the idea was adapted from
Switzerland and Sweden. In A Fight Against Terror published by the National
Security Coordination Centre, the publications elaborate the reasons why
Singapore choose to adapt the concept of Total Defence. Firstly, it is because
Singapore understands it has a small population and it is not able to afford regular armed force. Thus, it embraces all Singaporeans to contribute and dedicate themselves to multiply the defence capability. Secondly, the war right now has been changed to the modern media. It has no battlefield and has no specific time and a clear ways. Therefore, with these five elements covered in
“Total Defence” program it is believed as the best approach to defend the nation
(National Security Coordination Centre, 2004).
“Its Personal. Play your Part” is the keyword that simply describes what
Total Defence is which is cited on the website of Ministry of Defence Singapore.
From there, the government basically does not pursue the people to a difficult task to support the total defence. Otherwise, the government emphasize that everything everyone does counts, although it is only a little action, for example, respect and accept the diversity, take care the environment, care for others, it already counts that Singaporean contribute to Total Defence (Defence, n.d). Finally, while the government keeps resolating and the society keeps maintaining the diversity, the Singapore could stand secure for now and in the future within the social harmony and robust security. To sum up, due to the fact that terrorist is an enemy for all level of human life, a good work between the government and the citizen is a necessity. For this reason, for those who call
Singapore as a home, it means they are responsible to secure their own homeland.