MINDEF VOLUNTEERS HONOURED AT DINNER

If you visit SAFRA clubs regularly and feel that the facilities are getting bigger and better, then one of the people you should thank is Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) (NS) Abu Bakar Mohd Nor.

He volunteers as a member of the SAFRA Management Committee and chairs a few of the working committees, which look at possible changes that SAFRA clubs can make to stay relevant and attractive to the club members.

LTC (NS) Abu Bakar received a certificate of re-appointment from Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean on 16 Aug.

The General Manager (Operations) at Keppel Shipyard, together with some 100 other volunteers, were honoured at a dinner hosted by Mr Teo at the Regent Hotel.

Although he was pleased and honoured to be re-appointed, LTC (NS) Abu Bakar felt that serving as a volunteer on the SAFRA Management Committee was "enriching".

He said: "Apart from contributing to national defence, there are tremendous opportunities for volunteers to develop their potential in various aspects."

In his speech, Mr Teo said "good leadership and public governance are indispensable" to Singapore.

"But more than that, it is our collective commitment and determination to prevail and the willingness of all sectors and citizens to pull together and make a contribution to society that gives us a well-founded confidence in the future," he said.

These volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and serve on 28 different MINDEF boards. With their expertise and corporate experience, they provide and offer fresh ideas and perspectives to MINDEF and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Reverend Seow Choon Seng and Mr K Rajaram certainly come from different backgrounds but both of them serve on the Board of Visitors to the SAF Detention Barracks (SAFDB).

Reverend (Rev) Seow is a pastor, while Mr Rajaram is the chairman of Citiport Credit Co-operative Limited.

However, as members on the board, they visit the SAFDB once or twice a year, inspecting the cells and providing an avenue for the errant soldiers to voice out their problems and concerns.

"At first, I saw this as a Singapore citizen's participation in Total Defence," said Rev Seow. "But after a while, I understood that these soldiers needed help and I see a need to continue helping them."

Mr Rajaram agreed. "We are fortunate to have a good family, but there are soldiers out there who may not just as fortunate."

"Full-time National Servicemen are at an age where they're emotionally charged. We older people have gone through a bit of life, so we try to offer proper guidance to them."