FAILURE NOT AN OPTION FOR SAF, S'PORE: LIM SIONG GUAN

Success and survival for a small country like Singapore are two sides of the same coin. In the same way, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) cannot afford to fail because it is the ultimate guarantor of the nation's independence and sovereignty.

This was the point made by Mr Lim Siong Guan, Group President of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) at this year's SAF Leadership Dining-In. He was Permanent Secretary (Defence) from 1981 to 1994. The GIC is a sovereign wealth fund which manages most of the Government's financial assets.

At the same time, he said, the challenge for the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the SAF was how to communicate the importance of a strong deterrence force to the continued success of Singapore to the youth of today.

Said Mr Lim: "Young people in Singapore (must) understand that they have to support the SAF not because it is fun to have the SAF with all its capabilities, but because it is a critical part of being able to decide the kind of future and environment that we can build for our children, and leave for our children."

The speech, lasting almost an hour, was met with a standing ovation from the 243 military men and women gathered for the formal dining event held at Pasir Laba Camp on 17 Oct.

The SAF Leadership Dining-In, which was re-initiated in 2011, is attended by senior officers, warrant officers and military experts. It is a formal social occasion and a military tradition that builds morale and esprit de corps.

During his speech, Mr Lim shared with candour his past experience in MINDEF. Calling it the "most meaningful and enjoyable time" in his civil service career, he said: "At the time, MINDEF was a place of experimentation... how to build the best SAF we could ever build (for Singapore)." Mr Lim was one of the pioneers who mooted the Total Defence concept.

Speaking on a broad range of topics, Mr Lim said that young Singaporeans must get to know the country more intimately. They must realise the limitations which a small country faces, he said.

"It's either we succeed and mean something in the world with some standing, and some people will listen to you in the world; or you fail and you're nobody and nobody cares."

"Success and survival go together for Singapore in a way which does not apply to large countries."

He cited China and India as examples. "They can decide to let the coastal cities succeed first and move on, while the rest of the country can take their turn."

Singapore's small physical size meant that the SAF remains an important part of the country's continued success, he said.

"People in the world trust Singapore; we are one of the largest wealth managers."

"The SAF is such an important part of giving us the ability to exercise that independence and sovereignty, to assure us that we can maintain the kind of system which other people looking at us feel that they have the confidence (to continue trusting) in Singapore," said Mr Lim.

Also speaking at the dining-in was Chief of Defence Force (CDF) Lieutenant-General Ng Chee Meng. He said: "Since the last dining-in held in August 2013, we have made significant achievements and the SAF continues to be in a position of strength."

LG Ng cited the successful conduct of counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, and other missions such as the search for missing Malaysian Airlines MH370 as examples of the SAF's strong capabilities.

"Our people have continued to fly our flag high time and time again," said LG Ng, who also presented the CDF Coin to senior SAF officers in recognition of their achievements and contributions to their respective Services and organisations.