A DECADE OF SERVICE

It is a bitter-sweet moment for former Minister of State for Defence Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee as he retires from politics and leaves the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) after a 10-year stint.

Approachable, easy-going and equipped with a friendly smile, Assoc Prof Koo has all the traits of a people person. These qualities have certainly stood him in good stead over the years as he built strong rapport with various groups of people from all walks of life.

For Ms Joanna Portilla, it has been an enjoyable three years working with Assoc Prof Koo as a member of the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD), which he chaired.

"I've gotten to understand the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) much better through our ACCORD meetings and visits to camps, and I think his interactions with us have fostered closer ties between the ground and MINDEF," she said.

"Each time you meet him, he makes you feel welcome and at ease. He always has a friendly smile and a listening ear for you, and is ready to answer any question."

In a tribute, Deputy Prime Minister and then Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean said: "When visiting servicemen during overseas exercises, Tsai Kee is always ready with a word of encouragement to rally the troops... In 2009, he spearheaded the Fifth Committee to Recognise the Contributions of Operationally Ready National Servicemen to Total Defence or RECORD V. This initiated many significant recommendations that have been very well received by servicemen."

Since joining MINDEF in 2001 as Senior Parliamentary Secretary and as Minister of State in 2006, Assoc Prof Koo has worked relentlessly on what he calls the biggest challenge of his job: to deepen commitment to defence.

"There are a lot of people who think that Singapore is a good place to make money and to put roots and grow a family, but what underpins that is actually the security of the country," he explained to PIONEER in an interview on 10 May.

"Everyone in Singapore plays a role in holding up that big security umbrella, and NS (National Service) is a pillar of our peace and prosperity. If this pillar is shaken, then everything else is under threat. People tend to take it for granted, but this message is something that we always have to reinforce."

NS Matters

"I meet a lot of families, and one part of my job is to reinforce the importance of Total Defence. I also meet a lot of new citizens and PRs (Permanent Residents), and I always tell them it is worth shouldering the duty of NS because it s not just to defend the country and protect the family, but also to develop their sons' character and personality.

But perhaps the most rewarding moment in my job is meeting national servicemen in the field, from New Zealand to South Africa to India. I see these young men, some 18 or 19 years old, fresh from school and undergoing this tough training, but overcoming the odds. My heart goes out to them, but at the same time I know they're doing it for their families and country and they'll be better for it. I've gone through it, and my son will go through it too.

I've got my own joys and pains in NS, but looking back, now that I'm 56, that period of my youth was a very memorable and rewarding time of my life. That's one of the reasons why I encouraged my son to join the NCC (National Cadet Corps).

The glamour CCAs (co-curricular activities) tend to be sports like badminton, swimming or basketball, but I told him NCC gives you a good, well-rounded curriculum that prepares you for NS. It prepares you for leadership, to work with other people and go through challenges. Sometimes you have to do things you might not like now, but you will appreciate it later on."

Moving on

"I think what I'll miss most when I leave MINDEF will be the professionalism that I've encountered and the many friendships I've made over the last 10 years.

It has also been a great learning experience. People think military officers just take orders and only think within the box, but actually, there are a lot of new ideas being generated within the military.

In 2007, the NDP (National Day Parade) was held at the Marina Bay for the first time, and the SAF's combat engineers were tasked to organise the NDP. Their solution was to hold the parade on a floating platform, and that was a very innovative idea that impressed me a lot.

The SAF is also one of the organisations that pioneer productivity growth, because we have to do more with fewer and fewer people. Our Navy's frigates, for example, were built to do more with less manpower.

Moving on from MINDEF, I'm planning to take a short rest, and then find something meaningful to do. Whatever it is, I want to make a contribution to society. In life, you go through a journey and there are many doors. I don't know which door I'll be opening, but whichever door I open, I will make the best use of whatever is in front of that door."