Defence scientists and engineers recognised at inaugural ceremony

SINGAPORE — It will not be possible for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to be a modern integrated force today without its defence technology community, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen tonight (May 6) at the inaugural award ceremony to recognise defence scientists and engineers. 

Describing the 5,000-strong defence technology community in the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the SAF as Singapore's "secret edge weapon", Dr Ng said defence technology pioneers had played an important role in transforming the armed forces.

The community had "marched alongside the SAF" through the years and ensured that its advanced capabilities were robust across their entire life cycle, said Dr Ng.

"It made sure that we could put together disparate platforms so that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It enabled different platforms to talk to one another, and commanders to see and share the whole picture," he said.

The dinner was held at Shangri-La Hotel and it was attended by 800 guests. They include current and former Permanent Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries and Chief Defence Scientists from MINDEF.

Three categories of awards were given to eight individuals.  The highest honour, the Defence Technology Medal (Pinnacle Award), was given to President Tony Tan Keng Yam, who served as Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister from 1995 to 2003, and Coordinating Minister for Security and Defence from 2003 to 2005.

The second highest award, the Defence Technology Medal (Distinguished Leadership), was given to officials who made outstanding contributions in the development and transformation of Singapore's defence science. The four recipients of this award were Mr Lim Siong Guan, Mr Peter Ho Hak Ean and Mr Teo Ming Kian, and Mr Philip Yeo. All four had served as Permanent Secretaries in MINDEF. Mr Teo is currently the chairman of MediaCorp.

Calling on the defence technology community to help Singapore overcome future challenges, Dr Ng pointed out that the number of full-time national servicemen is expected to shrink by about a third by 2030 and this would increase the SAF's dependence on technology.

Dr Tan said every Singaporean had benefitted from the work of the defence technology community. "(It) contributes to the security of our national transport, telecommunications and power supply systems, which are essential to the smooth running of our economy, and affect our daily lives in more ways than we realise," he said. Efforts by the community to build aerospace capabilities to support the air force helped to spin off the maintenance repair and overhaul industry here, while the SAF's Underground Ammunition Facility led directly to the development of the Jurong Rock Caverns, he added.