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SGSecure app not compulsory for NSFs: Defence Minister

SINGAPORE – Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said it is not compulsory for Ministry of Defence (Mindef) and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel to download the SGSecure application on their mobile phones and complete the e-learning modules in the app.

TODAY file photo.

TODAY file photo.

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SINGAPORE – Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said it is not compulsory for Ministry of Defence (Mindef) and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel to download the SGSecure application on their mobile phones and complete the e-learning modules in the app.

Dr Ng was responding to a question posed by Member of Parliament Lee Bee Wah, who asked about the take-up rate of the mobile app apart from the compulsory downloads which are reportedly required for all full-time national servicemen (NSFs).

He explained that since “the SGSecure application is not a core part of the SAF’s counter-terrorism training package”, it is therefore not compulsory for the NSFs to download.

The app, which enables the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force to send alerts to the public in times of emergencies, and for the public to report suspicious activities, is part of the SGSecure movement launched in 2016.

Dr Ng, however, noted that Mindef and SAF personnel are encouraged to download the app so that, “like other residents, they can receive important alerts or provide information to the MHA authorities during major emergencies”.

In his response to Dr Lee’s question about SAF personnel using e-learning modules on other platforms instead of the application, Dr Ng said the SAF is utilising “e-learning including through websites to better equip all Mindef and SAF personnel, including NSFs for training in counter-terrorism”.

He added that “the e-learning training programme is structured to be comprehensive with a number of modules to be rolled out progressively” and that “making it compulsory is neither an enlightened approach nor effective to facilitate learning”.

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