TR EMERITUS

In a media interview last week to mark SAF Day today (1 July), Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen revealed that the SAF is considering buying a Joint Multi-Mission Ship (JMMS), a much larger ship compared with the current Land Ship Tanks (LSTs) which the SAF has. This will allow the SAF to carry more helicopters. The current Endurance class LSTs are the largest class of ships in SAF. They have a standard displacement of about 6,500 tons and can carry 18 tanks, 20 vehicles and bulk cargo. However, its flight deck and enclosed hangar can only accommodate up to 2 medium-lift helicopters [Link]. With a JMMS, it can accommodate more helicopters: A model shown in Singapore Airshow 2014 At the 2014 Singapore Air Show, a model of the Endurance-160 multi-role support ship was displayed as a landing helicopter dock. At the time, MINDEF did not confirm nor deny that a vessel of the type would be built. Defence analysts has speculated that such a vessel could be used as a light aircraft carrier given Singapore's confirmed interest in acquiring the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters, specifically the F-35B short-takeoff, vertical-landing (STOVL) variant. The STOVL F-35B only needs at minimum 168m of runway to take off and has demonstrated that it can land and take off easily from ships at sea [Link]. In an interview transcript released by the Defense Writers Group, conducted in July last year, US Air Force General Herbert Carlisle disclosed that Lt Gen Ng Chee Meng, Singapore Defence Force chief, had told him that Singapore would procure the F-35B. “I know that’s a decision that’s been made and that’s why they’re part of the program, but I don’t know where they’re at in putting that in the budget,” said General Carlisle, commander of Pacific Air Forces. However, during the media interview last week, Dr Ng said that with a bigger warship that can carry more helicopters, SAF can expand its role to send more helicopters to crisis-hit areas. He said the SAF’s experience in helping with relief efforts for Typhoon Haiyan, which hit the Philippines in November last year and reportedly killed tens of thousands of people, underscored the need for a JMMS, which has greater capacity and longer range than the LST. "While the LSTs have served us, we're seriously considering a larger joint multi-mission ship that will have greater capacity and greater range," he said. “The typhoon was so devastating that… communications were knocked out. There was no centralised ability for command and control for the air space. And in that context, a ship such as the JMMS would be very useful,” Dr Ng added. Stressing that no single country will have all the resources to cope with a catastrophe, Dr Ng said, “Part of building the networks is cultivation of relationships, knowing where your resources can be or where they can be pre-positioned, and who is available to be activated... Obviously, the affected country must agree to the help but once it does, then we can move.” The Ministry of Defence is in the final legs of evaluating what is required for such a ship, he disclosed. Singapore's Big Defence Budget During the Budget debate in March this year, it was disclosed that MINDEF was allocated $12.6 billion in this year’s Budget, up 3.2% from $12.3 billion last year. It is more than a fifth of total government expenditure ('MP Irene Ng wants S’poreans to support a strong SAF'). Singapore spends the biggest defence dollar in the region as the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reveals [Link]: In terms of defence spending as a percentage of GDP, Singapore is also ahead of other regional countries: At the budget debate in Parliament, instead of asking Dr Ng for more details, Tampines GRC MP Irene Ng was full of praise for increasing our defence budget. Ms Ng used to be a Malaysian and work for SPH, before becoming a Singaporean MP. Meanwhile, the government said it will spend about $430 million a year to subsidise premiums in the recently announced MediShield Life [Link]. The premium subsidies include: Pioneer Generation subsidies Subsidies for lower- to middle-income Singaporeans Additional Premium Support on a case-by-case basis for the needy It said that these will remain "permanent features of MediShield Life".      Read More →

I agree with the points made in Ms Natalie Turner’s commentary “Interacting with future thinkers” (Jun 4). Innovations have paved the way to alter the way we live our lives but to adapt to the constant changes, we need to give the younger generation more opportunities to be creative and self-sufficient in their ideas. Innovators struggle with the lack of funding and the help necessary to ease into Singapore’s industry as they do not have a clear direction to turn to. Starting at a young age to expose the younger generation to more than just classroom textbooks will help them think “out of the box” and come up with greater ideas to solve today’s problems. Schools are able to give this opportunity through innovation competitions or partnership with successful innovation businesses to teach the young and inspire them. It is a good opportunity to groom young innovators to realise their potential and interest towards the innovation industry. It is heartening to know that with the newly launched The Innovators Network (TIN) and backed by twenty partners, it will give people more opportunities to showcase their innovations to the public. These young students need to have the financial backing of the school and support of these communities to bring their creative ideas into fruition. Government bodies should work with these young innovators so that more ideas can be implemented towards the improvement of people’s lives. These collaborations will ensure that the innovation industry stay fresh and competitive against the changing landscape of the economy, social and technological aspects. Local enterprises often have their fair share of problems such as funding, manpower and adaptation to stay afloat in the industry. There needs to be a more cohesive teamwork in the management of these enterprises as sustainability becomes a problem. These enterprises need to stay updated by adapting and changing their business model to review their innovations and stay technologically relevant. The need for more young innovators will help pool together more like-minded individuals who will make Singapore grow as a global innovation hub. With the right opportunities and advice, more innovations will be given the chance to penetrate the Singapore market through better collaborations and partnerships with education infrastructures, innovation communities and government organisations. Schools can recommend young innovators for internships to these companies and give them the industry opportunities to further their ideas. I hope that the idea of Singapore as a global innovation hub takes off and more young Singaporean innovators can have the chance to showcase their ideas in the lucrative innovation industry. These opportunities will engage them as future thinkers for them to grow creatively and to think beyond just productivity to stay competitive and adapt to the changes in the industry, both locally and globally. Darren Chan * Contributed by TRE reader      Read More →

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday urged the Philippine embassy on Monday to look into a report that domestic workers, including Filipinos, were being put on display at malls in Singapore. A report by news outlet Al Jazeera depicted the plight of the domestic workers in “maid agencies” in the city-state, where the workers are allegedly made to sit beneath signs and posters that testify to their qualities, or advertise promo rates and discounts. The workers were also allegedly made to simulate real-life housework, like taking care of the elderly or children. “The Philippine embassy should investigate the report and if needed, make the proper representations with Singaporean authorities,” Binay, also presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ Concerns, said in a statement. If the report was true, he said, the act of “displaying” domestic workers in malls “violates human rights and international laws upholding the rights of migrant workers.” “I am deeply concerned by these reports. If this is true, then the domestic workers are being subjected to an indignity that should not be allowed and is in fact, a violation of an international convention protecting the rights of migrant workers,” said Binay. The Vice President also expressed confidence that Singapore will act on the matter once it is brought to their attention. “I am confident that such acts will not be tolerated by Singapore. Singapore is a friend of the Philippines and Filipinos,” Binay added. There are more than 184,000 Filipinos in Singapore according to December 2012 records of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. A large majority, around 118,000 Filipinos, are temporary workers while there are around 44,000 permanent Filipinos and more than 21,000 undocumented Filipinos. According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Authority (POEA), more than 2,800 domestic helpers were deployed to Singapore in 2010. The number of domestic helpers being deployed to Singapore has steadily risen over recent years. In 2007, more than 1,500 Filipino domestic helpers were deployed to Singapore. In 2008, 1,200 were deployed, and in 2009, more than 1,400.    Read More →