S’pore will assess if it needs to send forces to frontlines to fight IS

SINGAPORE — Whether there is a direct security threat to Singapore would determine if Singapore sends forces to the frontlines for counter-terrorism efforts, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said, adding that the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) would despatch a medical team to Iraq for a three-month deployment in 2017.

This medical team will address the healthcare needs and medical triage of coalition troops and residents in Iraq.

Speaking in Parliament on Monday (Aug 15), Dr Ng said that should there be a direct security threat to Singapore, then the country would want to contribute to the fight to make a “real difference”, and not a “token” one.

He was answering a supplementary question by Member of Parliament (MP) Lim Wee Kiak, who asked how the Defence Ministry would evaluate requests from the multinational coalition to contribute directly to the strike force, be it through air force or ground forces. Dr Lim noted that, so far, Singapore has only been involved in support services.

Dr Ng Eng Hen first announced in November 2014 that Singapore would support the multinational coalition against the threat posed by the terror group, Islamic State (IS).

SAF has contributed so far by deploying liaison and intelligence officers, as well as sending an imagery analysis team to the Kuwait headquarters of the combined joint task force made up of US military and coalition forces. A Singapore Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker has also been deployed since May 2015 to support air-to-air refuelling operations.

Singapore has made a “big difference” so far, Dr Ng said. “Imagery analyst teams made a difference because we could disrupt cells, so that was actually part of, if you like, what we call the tooth, not the tail.”

He recalled how US Defense Secretary Ash Carter thanked this team for its work which disrupted a terrorist bank, which reduced the means for them to finance global terror.

Earlier in Parliament on Monday, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Lee also addressed the trend of terrorists launching attacks using everyday items. This was in response to a supplementary question by MP Zaqy Mohamed, who noted that an example of this happened in Nice, France, where a lorry was used to mow down people. He asked what could be done to better protect the nation.

Mr Lee called upon the community to be alert to threats, because prevention would require society to play a part. This included making sure that Singaporeans are not over-reacting, not being over-suspicious, are vigilant enough to pick up threats early, and to “pick up signs in the community that may point to people who might perhaps be led down the wrong path”.