Govt working at all levels to get Terrexes back; SAF will learn from this: Ng Eng Hen

SINGAPORE — The Republic has been working at all levels of government “quietly and out of the limelight” to get the Terrexes back from Hong Kong, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen revealed in a Facebook post on Friday (Dec 30).

Describing the seizure of the Terrexes on Nov 23 as a “low point in 2016 from the defence perspective”, Dr Ng added that “the SAF will learn from this episode and has already changed its practices to better protect our assets”.

Dr Ng, who shared a video on the highlights of the year for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), said that the Terrex issue “does not pose an existential threat or even a potential threat as say, terrorism does today”.

He noted that the SAF must not lose focus or allow one issue to dominate all else. Similarly, he added, Singaporeans should not allow the seized Terrexes incident to “shake our confidence or weaken our solidarity” as a nation.

“We are a sovereign and independent country, and we will chart our own future.”

In his Facebook post, Dr Ng said he would be elaborating more on the issue when Parliament sits next on Jan 9.

Nine of the SAF’s Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles, were seized by Hong Kong customs on Nov 23, while enroute back to Singapore from Taiwan.

One month later, on Dec 23, the Singapore Government had conveyed its “formal position” to its Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) counterpart on the detention of the vehicles and have been awaiting “a full resolution of this matter” and the return of “our property”.

Looking back on the year past, Dr Ng noted that there were significant achievements that have strengthened our security.

“All in all, Singapore has been protected and Singaporeans kept safe. We enter 2017 with uncertainties about the global economy, international politics and regional security, and the ongoing threat of terrorism. But if we stay vigilant, united and support each other, we will draw strength and overcome all challenges that come our way,” he wrote.