Sunday, July 19, 2009

Sustaining Safe Singapore (SSS)

If you always harbour bitterness, then happiness will call on other ports. Safeguard the Singapore Safe Harbour is our lifeline in survival.

Republic of Singapore has always taken a proactive stance in ensuring a well-balanced defence structure. In fact, we have many counter-terrorist measures in place. Be reassured of the knowledge of the ongoing upgrading of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

For example, the unveiling of the SAF's Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosives (CBRE) Defence Group shows the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has many special weapons, elite units and other capabilities in its arsenal to deliver a swift and decisive response should deterrence and diplomacy fail.

Our Total Defence foundations are deterrence by training a credible defence force of civilian-soldiers that is able to deter aggression and secure a swift victory over the aggressor should deterrence fail.

How many citizens remember how SAF commandos stormed an Airbus A310 on March 27 night, 1991? Flight SQ 117 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore had been hijacked by four Pakistanis the night before. The rescue operation, led by black-clad Special Operations Force commandos, was over in swift 30 seconds, and 123 passengers and crew were freed. My salute to the SAF commandos-rescue team. All four terrorists were killed by gunfire. The commando unit was formed in 1984 and trained with crack anti terrorist teams from the British Special Air Service, German GSG-9 and American hostage rescue teams. It was only during the operation in 1991 that their existence was revealed.

A new chapter in our SAF: On 23 December 2008, about 1,100 Full-time National Servicemen and regulars marched into the 50th Basic Section Leader Course bearing the new Specialist Cadet rank. They are the technically proficient Specialist Corps that will perform well in any conventional war-fighting scenario. The tactical decisions and actions of the 3rd Generation Singapore Armed Forces(SAF)'s small unit leaders, the Specialists can have a wider strategic impact on the battlefield.

These "Strategic Corporal" specialists (or Sergeant in the SAF's context) have become more empowered than their 1st Generation counterparts of the late 1960s and 1970s. WE are moulding the holistic strategic corporal in our defence force. In the integrated and networked environment of the 3rd Generation SAF, a strategic Corporal or sergeant is able to call on combined fire support from a wide array of artillery systems, air strikes from Apache attack helicopters and multi-role fighters F-16 falcon.

The age of inter-state industrial wars is over and the era of "war among the people" is upon us. Wars of this 21st Century will no longer be about defending national sovereignty but rather a way of life. The spirit of Total Defence for this Republic of Singapore is a lifetime way of life for every Singaporean around the world in a total effort to deal with threats and challenges to Singaporeans' continued survival and success. We must and can only strengthen first our own personal resilience prior to taking National Service seriously, volunteer in civil defence exercises, help to upkeep the economy going smooth, build strong meaningful ties and citizenship with one another regardless of race, religion or language, and stay committed to defend the country, we are doing something in every sector, daily, for our society to strengthen Singapore's resilience as a nation.

Our Strategic Corporals are prepared in every sense, not just war-fighters, but peacekeepers, goodwill ambassadors and winners of hearts and minds.

WE wish one and all Singaporeans, at homeland and abroad, a meaningful 44th National Birthday, on 9 August 2009.

We are Singapore, Singaporeans !
Welcome to the Family!

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OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM is in Malay language, which is our National official language, but we use English as it is the international business language to communicate and connect to the global citizens.

MAJULAH SINGAPURA ( ONWARD SINGAPORE)

Mari kita rakyat Singapure (We, the people of Singapore)
Sama-sama menuju bahagia (Together march towards happiness)
Cita-cita kita yang mulia (Our noble aspiration)
Berjaya Singapura (To make Singapore a success)

Marilah kita bersatu ( Let us all unite)
Dengan semangat yang baru (In a new spirit)
Semua kita berseru (Together we proclaim)
Majulah Singapura (Onward Singapore)
Majulah Singapura (Onward Singapore)

The Origin : The Republic of Singapore present National Anthem was written in the wake of nationalism during 1956-1957. Its composer, the late Encik (Malay for Mr) Zubir Said, had written it on the basis of two words, "Majulah Singapura" or Malay for "Onward Singapore" . "Singa" means lion while "pura" means city.

The patriotic song was first performed by the Singapore Chamber Ensemble on the occasion of the opening of the newly renovated Victoria Theatre. It was launched on the 3rd of December, 1959.

Upon independence in 1965, "Majulah Singapura" was adopted as the Republic's National Anthem.

http://theinnozablog.blogspot.com/2009/03/singaporean-national-pledge.html

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