[Defending the Lion City] Strengthening SG's response capabilities towards Terror threats

Image source: MHA

The Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced new laws to improve how the SPF can respond to terror threats and incidents.

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Ministry of Home Affairs Press Release

27 Feb 2018 : Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Bill 2018

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         The Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Bill was introduced for First Reading in Parliament today. The Bill is part of the Ministry of Home Affairs' (MHA) ongoing efforts to combat the threat of terrorism.

Updating of Existing Special Powers Legislation to Enable Police to Respond Effectively to Serious Incidents such as Terrorist Attacks

2.            Singapore continues to face a clear and present security threat, posed by home-grown radicalised individuals and foreign terrorists who view Singapore as a prized target. Attacks around the world have shown that the terrorists are continuously evolving their methods to inflict maximum casualties and deaths. It is therefore important to equip the Police with powers to be able to respond swiftly and effectively to attacks of any scale and of varying tactics.

3.            Over the last two years, MHA has significantly enhanced our ability to respond to the terrorism threat. The Public Order Act was amended and the Infrastructure Protection Act was enacted to enhance the security of large events and critical buildings respectively. The Police have also developed new capabilities for rapid and effective response to terrorist incidents.

 

4.            As part of these continuing efforts to combat terrorism, MHA is introducing the Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Bill, to provide the Police with the powers necessary to deal with serious public order and safety incidents, including terrorist attacks. The Bill updates the existing Public Order (Preservation) Act (POPA), which was enacted in 1958 to provide special powers to deal with large-scale communal riots. As part of the Bill, POPA will be repealed.

Key Provisions of the Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Bill

5.            The Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Bill will:

1. Enable the use of special powers for serious incidents affecting public safety;
2. Enable the Police to protect the secrecy of tactical operations; and
3. Enable the Police to respond to serious incidents more effectively.

Enable the use of special powers for serious incidents affecting public safety

6.            The special powers in the Bill are not available to the Police for routine operations. The Minister for Home Affairs must first issue an order to authorise the use of the powers in the Bill. To do so, the Minister must be of the opinion that (i) a serious incident has occurred or is occurring in Singapore, or there is a threat of such a serious incident occurring, and (ii) that the special powers are necessary to prevent the occurrence of the incident, reduce its impact, or control, restore or maintain public order.

 

7.            The existing POPA provides special powers to deal with large-scale public disorder, such as communal riots. However, they cannot be used in situations which seriously threaten public safety but there is no large-scale public disorder. For example, in the immediate aftermath of a terrorist attack when the pursuit of the terrorists is underway, but there is no large-scale public disorder. The Bill provides for special powers to be used in such serious incidents where public safety is threatened, and also where there is serious violence affecting the public.

Enable Police to protect the secrecy of tactical operations

8.            Denying the terrorists access to information on Police's ongoing tactical operations to neutralise the attack, is critical for the success of the operations. Leakage of such information to the terrorists could endanger the lives of security officers and members of the public who are caught in the attack.

 

9.            During the Mumbai attacks in 2008, live media broadcast of security forces preparing to storm the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel allowed the gunmen within to anticipate the actions of the security forces. In the January 2015 attack on the Hyper Cacher Deli in Paris, the terrorist who was holding several hostages in the deli was able to watch live television broadcasts showing Police officers outside preparing to storm the deli. In both incidents, there is no doubt that the information available to the terrorists made the Police operation more difficult, reduced the chances of a successful operation, and put the safety of the officers and hostages at greater risk.

10.          The Bill therefore proposes that after the Minister has issued an order to authorise the use of the powers in the Bill, the Commissioner of Police be empowered to make a communications stop order to require all persons in the incident area to stop making or communicating films or pictures of the incident area, and stop communicating text or audio messages about the ongoing security operations in the incident area. This is a special power which would only be used when the security situation calls for it.

11.          The Bill also provides the Police with powers to take down or disable any unmanned aircraft and autonomous vehicles and vessels in and around the incident area, regardless of their intention and activity.  Such unmanned aircraft and autonomous vehicles and vessels can be used for surveillance by the terrorists or even as weapons. Currently, the Police only has powers to take down unmanned aircraft and autonomous vehicles and vessels which are clearly posing a threat to public safety and security.

Enable Police to respond to serious incidents more effectively

12.          The Bill will incorporate and update several special powers already available in POPA. In addition, the Bill introduces new provisions needed for today's operational context.

13.          The Bill will enable the Police to direct owners of buildings within the incident area to take certain actions, such as closing their premises, restricting entry and exit, or to provide the Police with information about their buildings like floor plans. These directions will help the Police to manage the safety of the public in the incident area, and facilitate security operations.

 

14.          The Bill will also provide the Police with enhanced powers to stop and question individuals within the incident area in order to obtain information. Such powers are needed, for example, when the Police is conducting a manhunt. When these special powers are exercised, it is an offence for individuals to refuse to provide information to the Police. 

Source: Ministry of Home Affairs

Read more here:
Straits Times: Parliament: 3 proposals in Bill to give police special powers to deal with terror attacks

Channel NewsAsia: MHA tables Bill to expand Singapore police powers to better deal with terror attacks

[Defending the Lion City] What happened during Singapore's Counter-terrorism Exercise

Special Operations Task Force (SOTF) officers storming a cinema in Tampines in Singapore's largest counter-terrorism exercise yet. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

Islandwide anti-terror exercise: Officers rescue hostages in cinema and malls
By Danson Cheong, Tiffany Fumiko Tay, Straits Times, Published 18 Oct 2016

SINGAPORE – Their first target was the Century Square shopping mall in Tampines. Walking brazenly into the mall, four “terrorists” started firing without warning. Shoppers who were not killed or injured, ran for cover and called the cops.

Moments later, the first responders from the police’s Ground Response Force and Emergency Response Team arrived on the scene, and they soon overwhelm and kill the four gunmen.

This daring attack set the scene for the islandwide counter-terrorism exercise that culminated in simulated coordinated attacks on shopping malls in Bishan and Tampines in the wee hours of Tuesday (Oct 18) morning.

The scenario was part of Singapore’s largest counter-terrorism exercise. The 18-hour operation led by the police, started on Monday (Oct 17) morning, and ended at 4am on Tuesday (Oct 18). It involved over 3,200 officers, including those from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), other Home Team agencies and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Two "terrorists" have taken hostages inside the BHG department store in Century Square. Police officers from the Anti-Swarming Team arrive to deal with them swiftly. Video: Danson Cheong

In Tampines, police officers pursued the terrorists as they moved from Century Square to the adjacent Tampines Mall. Along the way, the Special Operations Command’s Anti-Swarming Teams were activated to also deal with the threat.

At the Tampines Mall atrium, the officers encountered a terrorist wearing a suicide vest – but before he could detonate it, he was shot and killed. Later, in an act of desperation, the remaining terrorists holed up in the Golden Village cinema taking about 35 movie-goers hostage.

They barged into cinema hall 1 as a movie played, firing blanks at the ceiling, and yelling: “Get down and shut up!”

In an anti-terror exercise at Golden Village Tampines, "terrorists" kill one hostage and strap an improvised explosive device on another. ST VIDEO: DANSON CHEONG

In an anti-terror exercise at Golden Village Tampines, "terrorists" strap a suicide vest onto a "hostage". ST VIDEO: DANSON CHEONG

In an anti-terror exercise at Golden Village Tampines, the SAF's Special Operations Task Force troopers neutralize the terrorist threat quickly and identify the hostage strapped with the suicide vest.

In an anti-terror exercise at Golden Village Tampines, a suicide vest gets detonated by SAF's chemical, biological, radiological and explosives engineers. ST VIDEO: DANSON CHEONG

They commanded hostages to take pictures and post them on social media. To let the hostages know they were not joking, they picked a man at random and shot him in front of the crowd.

"All of you better cooperate with us, or I will make sure you suffer and die," said one of the terrorists.

Later, one of the hostages was strapped with a suicide vest as he cried for help.


Said one of the terrorists: "We are ready to die, are you?"

This was when the SAF’s Special Operations Task Force (SOTF) was called in. The SOTF officers ended the siege in a flash. Armed with night-vision goggles, they fired blanks from their HK-416 assault rifles and P-90 submachine guns in the darkness, quickly neutralising the terrorists.

By the time the lights came on seconds later, all but one of the terrorists were dead. The one remaining terrorist rose to take a potshot at an officer as the team checked the aisles, but he too was quickly dispatched.

"Everyone listen up, we are from the Singapore Armed Forces, we are here to rescue you," said one of the officers to the hostages.

Outside the cinema, police officers formed a security cordon - the exercise was meant to test coordination between different agencies.

The moviegoers, played by SAF servicemen, were swiftly marched out with their hands on their heads, while the hostage who had explosives strapped onto him had the suicide vest removed.
It was later "detonated" in a controlled explosion inside the cinema hall, after the SOTF officers and hostages had left.


By then, SCDF officers have arrived on the scene at Tampines Mall to tend to the wounded. Those inside the mall were quickly brought to the first aid point outside, where a medical support vehicle, or mobile hospital, was waiting to tend to those with serious injuries.

Community responders trained in CPR and first aid had also been activated to tend to the injured and help perform triage.

One of them was accountant, Madam Rama Diwakar, who was helping bandage the wounded outside the malls. Speaking to The Straits Times after the exercise, Madam Rama, 45, said: “This is really very realistic. We’ve learnt how to treat patients without losing our cool.”

In another exercise, four gunmen blazed their way into Junction 8 Shopping Centre in a surprise attack just before 1am on Tuesday (Oct 18).

SAF and police personnel were put to the test with a "cold start" exercise at the Bishan mall, where they reacted to an active shooter scenario unrehearsed.

Pops of gunfire and cries for help from "shoppers" could be heard from outside Junction 8 when police officers arrived on the scene.

The Emergency Response Team officers, specially trained in counter-assault skills and armed with HK-MP 5 submachine guns, moved in tight formation as they entered the mall to neutralise the attackers.


In the second wave of response, the Army Deployment Force (ADF), a new rapid response unit set up by the SAF in July, showcased its operational readiness in its first deployment exercise.

A "gunman" kills a hostage before being taken out by Army Deployment Force (ADF) soldiers. Video: Tiffany Fumiko Tay

Arriving on the scene in Peacekeeper Protected Response Vehicles, soldiers set up a cordon around the perimeter of the mall to contain the shooters.

Meanwhile, SOTF officers spilled out of unmarked vans, entering the building through a staircase at the mall's loading bay.

Among the escaping shoppers were three "sleeper" gunmen, who were quickly identified and "killed" by ground forces.

By about 2.20am, with the smell of smoke heavy in the air, all seven gunmen had been neutralised.

In the last part of the operation, officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority would go on to nab a “terrorist” attempting to flee the country.

Article and Video Source: Straits Times


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My thoughts on the Counter-Terror Exercise:

• This Exercise is probably as realistic as anyone can practically get without firing any real ammo, and disrupting daily life.

• Keyboard warriors / "Haters" will most likely disparage the entire Exercise as a "wayang" (show) and say things like "it's so staged", "terrorist will not be so stupid" blah blah blah. Whatever lah you morons...you fail to see the larger exercise objective(s) beyond the obvious.

• Without discounting the seriousness and inherent value of such an Exercise, for those who are Counter-Strike fans and happened to be involved in the Exercise, the whole thing was probably one huge wet-dream. I mean - how often do you get to play out hostage scenarios in public places and fire off your weapon, even if it was only blanks?

• A shit-load of Blanks were fired. And a lot of dirty weapons will have to be maintained and cleaned before being sent to the armskote. I can imagine the hours that will be spent cleaning, digging, brushing. Fingers will be oily, dirty and cramping. But I think the exercise troops will think it's worth it. 

• As what other terror attacks like the Boston Marathon Bombing had shown, having a rapid and well-coordinated emergency response will significantly reduce fatalities. While it would seem from media reports that our public Hospitals are not actively involved in this exercise, they do conduct their own mass-casualty exercises (such as Exercise Kingfisher and Exercise Northstar) to test and strengthen their capabilities and management processes when faced with a sudden surge in casualty numbers.

Read more here:

• RAND Corporation - The Lessons of Mumbai (Terror attacks)

Note: The RAND report gives a chilling account of what happened during the Mumbai Terror attacks and looks in the tactics used by the terrorist. I would say that this is the nightmare scenario that haunts our security agencies. The Mumbai Terrorists did not attack any "hard" targets. Instead they went after "soft" targets such as hotels and train stations, all public places which had little or no security and had crowds of people around.

• Medscape - World Class Emergency Response in Boston Marathon Bombing

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[Defending the Lion City] S'pore's biggest anti-terror exercise kicks off

More than 3,200 personnel from police and military units, as well as over 50 volunteers from the People’s Association Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Civil Defence Lionhearters are part of the exercise. Pic: Various sources

TODAY, By Wong Pei Ting, Published: 4:19 PM, October 17, 2016

SINGAPORE — Don’t be alarmed if you see policemen, immigration officers or army personnel out in full force at shopping malls or MRT stations on Monday (Oct 17), or if you hear gunshots late in the night.

On Monday morning, the Republic kicked off its largest counter-terrorism exercise, which will conclude at 4am on Tuesday. It will test and validate Singapore’s multi-agency response plan in the event of terrorist attacks.

Led by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), more than 3,200 personnel from the Home Team and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) as well as over 50 volunteers from the People’s Association Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Civil Defence Lionhearters will be part of the exercise.

Conducted in two phases, the first phase simulates a situation of heightened alert, after Singapore receives information and intelligence threats pointing to an imminent attack on the country.

Shortly after the alert was received at 10am, Home Team and SAF personnel were dispatched at over 360 locations for land and border security patrols. Places where members of the public will see a heightened security measures include public transport nodes, commercial areas, residential heartlands and Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints.

Concurrently, the SAF started conducting refresher drills – also called “just in time” training – with its Island Defence Task Force (IDTF). These include weapon, baton and search-and-arrest drills. The men are also briefed of the rules of engagement when dealing with a suicide bomber or active shooter.

Notably, the SAF’s Peacekeeper Protected Response Vehicle (PRV) was deployed alongside a Police Fast Response Car (FRC) at the Marina Bay Financial Centre for deterrence and as part of stepped up security measures late on Monday afternoon.

Phase 2, which will take place later on Monday night, involves a response to multiple terror situations unfolding at different locations at 10pm, when blanks, thunder flashes, and smoke simulators will be used.

To facilitate the conduct of the exercise, cordons will be set up within the exercise venues. Also, Tampines Central 5 and Bishan Place roads will be closed to all vehicular traffic, except authorised SPF, SAF and emergency vehicles.

Parking restrictions along the peripheral roads will be strictly enforced, said the police, so vehicles parked indiscriminately or causing obstruction will be towed away.

Pic: TODAY

The SAF’s IDTF was established in 2001 when SAF soldiers were deployed to protect vital installations around Singapore to boost national security after the Sept 11 attacks in the US. Under this task force, soldiers from the SAF work closely with Home Team agencies such as SPF, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to protect key installations.

Pic: Channel News Asia

The SAF units activated for the joint patrols for Monday’s exercise are the 4th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (4 SIR), 5th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (5 SIR), and 41st Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (41 SAR). The soldiers comprise both full-time national servicemen and regular servicemen. They are equipped with the integrated Load Bearing Vest (iLBV) with ballistic protection and helmet, an SAR 21 Assault Rifle, a Military Security Armband, a flexicuff, a baton torch, and communications equipment.

Article Source: TODAY


Click below to learn more about SG Secure

• SG Secure

• SAF Facebook page

• SPF Facebook page

• Or search HashTags:  #StayAlert #StayUnited #StayStrong #SGSecure

• Straits Times - SG Secure news articles

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ADVISORY ON MULTI-AGENCY ISLANDWIDE COUNTER-TERRORISM EXERCISE

Source: SPF Facebook page

The Singapore Police Force (SPF), supported by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the People’s Association (PA) will be conducting an islandwide counter-terrorism exercise from 17 to 18 October 2016.

This exercise is part of ongoing efforts by the Home Team and SAF to test and validate Singapore’s multi-agency response plan in the event of terrorist attacks. The exercise also serves to raise public awareness on the current threat landscape and encourage continued vigilance from members of the public.

The exercise will be conducted in two phases:

Phase 1: From 10am to 10pm on 17 October 2016
Phase 2: From 10pm on 17 October 2016 to 4am on 18 October 2016

In Phase 1, officers from the SPF and the SAF will be conducting joint patrols at public places such as MRT stations and bus interchanges, while officers from the ICA and the SAF will be conducting joint patrols at the land checkpoints. Members of the public can expect a heightened visibility of SPF, ICA and SAF officers during the exercise.

In Phase 2, blanks, thunder flashes, and smoke simulators will be used at various locations. Members of the public are advised not to be alarmed. ‘Exercise-In-Progress’ signage will be placed prominently at exercise venues throughout the exercise. To facilitate the conduct of the exercise, cordons will be set up within the exercise venues.

During the exercise, the following roads will be closed to all vehicular traffic, except authorised SPF, SAF and emergency vehicles from 11pm on 17 October 2016 to 4am on 18 October 2016:

1. Tampines Central 5
2. Bishan Place

Parking restrictions along the peripheral roads will be strictly enforced. Vehicles parked indiscriminately or causing obstruction will be towed away.

Members of the public may call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 if they have further queries.

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Short Thoughts on recent events

The Lion vs The Dragon

China is pressuring / heckling / threatening Singapore for our stand on the South China Sea issues. Apparently they are not happy with us advocating for a world where small and large countries abide by a “rules-based international order” (in reference to The Hague Tribunal's South China Sea Ruling).

So now China is getting real angsty with Singapore, a country whose geographical size and population is easily dwarfed several times over by any one of China’s cities by spreading patently false news about Singapore's actions in NAM and even threatening economic sanctions.

We can reasonably infer three things about Singapore from China's reaction.

(1) Singapore's oversized influence on the world stage

What we say and do as a country carries significant clout/influence on the world stage despite of our tiny size. China is aware of keenly this and wants to mitigate the impact/fallout from our stand on the South China Sea issue.

(2) Singapore will not succumb to external pressures that are prejudice to her interests

Our stance on the issue may have been surprising/unexpected/shocking to China. After all, they are such a huge country with one of the world’s largest economy. 

Their surrogate’s reactions tell us what is in their minds. China, as the BIG country, had fully expected Singapore, the TINY country, to be compliant with China’s wishes/whims. The last thing they expected was for Singapore to have its own strong stand/opinion on the issue.

I think they forget that Singapore has been (and still is) through that sort of pressure (both political and economic) before from her neighbors over various issues. Just think Water Supply and Trans-boundary Haze and how Singapore was harassed over these issues.

And Singapore has never caved in or done anything that would be prejudicial to her interests. Even when the US pressured Singapore over the Michael Fay incident, we did not give in to their demands. (ok, we did give them a bit of face by reducing the number of cane strokes that Fay received. But the sentence was still carried out.)

(3) Singapore's Leaders have Balls of Steel the necessary courage to stand up to bullying tactics

Our leaders have the moral courage to take a principled stand, which is consistent with international law, to protect Singapore’s long term interests. We do not cave in to short term political or economic threats to us.

So yeah, China, you can go suck it.

Thailand Terror Threats

Just today (11 Oct), the Thai Police announced that there was an armed group was plotting car bomb attacks in a province near Bangkok. I hope that nothing of the sort happens and the Thais will be able to handle this threat quickly.

I also fervently pray/hope that nothing similar will ever happen in Singapore. And even if it does, that Singaporeans will stand united and strong as one and not falter in the face of terror threats.

Look at the Govt's preparation for terror attacks vis a vis SG Secure movement, the SAF's Army Deployment Force (ADF) and the SPF's Emergency Response Team.

US Presidential Elections

The US Presidential elections have, in my opinion, devolved into a reality show. What is truly horrifying is that Trump, a serial liar to the nth degree, with his disturbing stance on nuclear weapons use (seriously, Trump actually can ask why nuclear weapons should not be used??), can be taken seriously by US voters as a candidate for the highest office in the States. 

We are already seeing some signs of this sort of populist politicians coming into our own elections (read the 'loony fringe' politician-wannabes like HHH, Roy Ng etc). Lets just hope that our own elections do not go down the path of the US elections.

And in other news

The Govt is looking at:

(1) Measures to mitigate the fall from a Recession, just in case it happens. 

(2) Changing the Elected Presidency to strengthen the two-key protection of our national reserves. 

(3) Refining the CPF scheme, to better meet the changing retirement needs of Singaporeans 

(4) building and strengthening our ties with India, Australia and Norway 

(5) Contributing Temasek Rice seeds – a naturally bred rice stain which is hardy and able to withstand extreme weather conditions such as floods and drought - into the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the world's largest secure seed storage facility. 

(6) Fighting the Aedes mosquito to prevent the Zika & Dengue viruses from spreading.

(7) Building up our National Taps to harden Singapore's water supply for the future.

  

When you take in the big picture of all the recent events around the world, and the activities of our govt, one really has to appreciate the mind-boggling amount of work that is being done. Singapore has huge challenges  and numerous complex issues facing us right now and in the immediate future. 

It is true that the Govt has the advantage of ministries to help with the work but the Ministers are the ones that have to set the direction and lead their respective Ministries. The Civil Service cannot, and should not be,  the ones  who set policy and direction. That is the purview of the elected govt. 

However, when we look at our largest group of elected Opposition MPs in Parliament, we really have to wonder what the heck is going on with them. 

Pic: Singapore Matters

The Workers Party with the largest group of Opposition MPs in Parliament, 6 elected MPs and 3 NCMPs, is still grappling with resolving AHPETC/AHTC accounting issues after more than 3 years now. 

Maybe that's why LTK wants to have 20 Opposition MPs. Even with 9 MPs, WP is still so ineffective/ 

inefficient that they need at least 20 to function properly.

And yet WP wants to take over the PAP and lead the Govt when they, all 6 MPs and 3 NCMPs, cannot even resolve their self-created accounting issues. 

You can't even handle a Town Council and yet you dare to dream of leading the Govt?

Seriously… WTF lah. 

[Defending the Lion City] Exercise Heartbeat 2016 - Simulated terror attack at Esplanade

EXERCISE HEARTBEAT 2016
On 2 Sep 2016 at 8.30am, the Police and SCDF conducted an exercise codenamed “Exercise Heartbeat” at the Esplanade­-Theatres on the Bay.

The exercise involved the Esplanade staffs and tenants, members of the Safety and Security Watch Group, as well as residents and students within the vicinity. 

As a lead up to this exercise, they underwent training to equip themselves with SGSecure knowledge and skills, including ‘Run, Hide, Tell’ and Improvised First Aid Skills (IFAS). 

This exercise was an opportunity for the community stakeholders to apply their newly acquired SGSecure skills in a simulated terror attack exercise.

The threat of terror attacks in Singapore is at its highest in recent times. Exercise Heartbeat 2016 serves to enhance the emergency preparedness and resilience of the business community, so that they can better respond and cope in an actual terror attack.

Source: Singapore Police Force FB page



Simulated terror attack at Esplanade for Exercise Heartbeat 2016
By Loh Chuan Junn and Calvin Oh, Channel News Asia, Posted 02 Sep 2016 09:41

SINGAPORE: An explosion was heard and gun shots fired at Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay on Friday (Sep 2) as part of an anti-terror exercise, codenamed "Exercise Heartbeat".

Exercise Heartbeat was organised with the aim of enhancing emergency preparedness and joint response during a crisis. This was the eighth time the exercise has been held and this year's edition involved 167 people.

The recent attack at Bataclan Concert Hall in Paris made it all the more important for such exercises to be held, said Mr Amrin Amin, Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Home Affairs, who observed the exercise.

"Recently we have seen the attack of the concert hall at Paris so this is not child's play. It's real and we have to prepare ourselves and know what to do in the event of an attack," siad Mr Amrin.

"An exercise like this is very useful so we sensitise as well as practise our standard operating procedures. So when the time comes all of us are able to respond decisively," he added.

The exercise began with a simulated Improvised Explosion Device (IED) explosion during a concert held at the upper concourse of the Esplanade. As the public evacuated, gunmen started shooting, forcing them back in the building.

The Emergency Response Team from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) then joined the exercise by responding, engaging and neutralising attackers to minimise casualties.

Following which, Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers then responded to emergency calls to assist in the situation.

The exercise involved the Esplanade staff, members from the Safety and Security Watch Group (SSWG) and students and residents from the neighbouring buildings.

In total, the exercise lasted about 20 minutes.

Prior to this exercise, SPF and SCDF conducted SGSecure training sessions to equip Esplanade staff, tenants and other community partners on survival skills and knowledge.

In a release on Thursday, SPF said members of the public are "advised not to be alarmed by the loud sounds and exercise activities", and that “blanks, thunder flashes and fire and smoke simulators will be used during the exercise"

Signs indicating “Exercise-In-Progress” will be displayed and cordons will be set up within the exercise venue.

“Exercise Heartbeat will help our business community prepare for terrorist attack scenarios,” the police said, adding that members of the public may call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 if they have further queries.

- CNA/am

Source: Channel News Asia

[Defending the Lion City] Nightmares are made of stuff like this

Indonesian anti-terror police conduct a raid at a house in Batam on August 5. PHOTO: AFP

Singapore's 51st Birthday went on without a hitch.

The NDP celebrations at the new National Stadium were as grand and inspirational as one could have imagined.

However, in the midst of the festivities, one very significant piece of news seems to have been overshadowed - that is the fact that a terrorist plot to directly attack S'pore was foiled on 5 Aug, just days before S'pore's National Day.

• The Jakarta Post - Police arrest six terrorist suspects in Batam

• Reuters - Indonesia arrests six suspected of plotting Singapore 'rocket attack'

• Straits Times - Batam terrorist plot shows how serious terrorism threat against Singapore is: Shanmugam

• Reuters - Singapore says aware of thwarted plan to attack it with rockets

• Straits Times: Police scour Batam for remnants of terror cell

This piece of news did not seemed to be very widely shared on social media. There were probably much more people who were more interested and conscious of the fact  that Pokemon Go was finally available in S'pore than those who read about the terror plot.

There are two ways that one could maybe explain this seemingly lack of alarm over the terror plot.

1 - That S'poreans generally have confidence that the Govt will handle it. Our Gahmen steady one okay. Dun need to worry lah..

2 - That S'poreans have become complacent and take for granted the peace and security that S'pore enjoys.


Confidence in the Govt and her security agencies

There are many reasons for S'poreans to feel safe and secure. Afterall, we all know that our Home Team and the SAF are on-the-job, 27 / 7.

The visible security, heavily armed police patrolling on our MRT and other public areas, adds to the sense of security and confidence that we, or at least our Govt, are ready to handle any incidents.

Officers from the Emergency Response Team, Tanglin Division and Ground Response Force from Toa Payoh Neighbourhood Police Centre securing a public space in Toa Payoh Lorong 1 during a counter- terrorism exercise yesterday. PHOTO: DON WONG FOR THE STRAITS TIMES

As most S'poreans know only too well (via our Ten-year-series books), practice makes perfect.

Out of the public eye, our public institutions and security agencies drill incessantly on their SOPs for various scenarios and fine-tune their responses where necessary. In response to latest wave of terror attacks which favour attacks on soft targets, the Govt established a new police unit - the Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) - to be the immediate, first responders to any terror attack. We have even gone to the extend of conducting an mock-terror attack in the middle of the heartlands, not only to test our SOPs but to also to educate the public.

Various public programs such as the Community Emergency Preparedness Programme (CEPP) and Community First Responder Programme (CFRP), have been running to educate the general public on importance of Emergency Preparedness and what to do in the event of a crisis. Early in the year, a new national movement called "SG Secure" was launched to prepare S'poreans for a terror attack.

“SG Secure will represent our national strategy to safeguard our homeland and our way of life against this threat. 

Just as we have Total Defence, which involves every Singaporean playing a part for the defence of Singapore, SG Secure must become a rallying call for Singaporeans from all walks of life to unite, to play a part in making Singapore a safe place that it is today.” 

Home Affairs and Law Minister K.Shanmugam

There is also much national emphasis on the need to build up social cohesion and unity. If the terrorist succeed in creating a climate of fear and distrust in our community, then they would have won regardless of what we do.

“But if an attack occurs, we have to prepare Singaporeans with the psychological and other skills to come together and emerge stronger. 

A Singapore that is even more united and determined to safeguard our way of life, our racial and religious harmony. A Singapore where every Singaporean knows that he or she can rely on fellow countrymen. That is how we must be able to respond to terrorism, ..." 

Home Affairs and Law Minister K.Shanmugam

Complacency

The other problem that would be detrimental to our collective security is the sense of complacency. As this blogger best puts it:

Sadly, the success of our security agencies working behind the scenes is also the source of their greatest bugbear. 

Success breeds complacency. It stokes a sense of smug security bordering on stupidity, a kind of blasé stupor that will not be shrugged off short of seeing the worst effects of a terror attack, blood and mayhem on our streets. This is the wake-up call our society is waiting for.

When it comes, are you ready for it?

David Boey, Senang Diri, "The best customers"

Will we fall victim to our own success? Are we so arrogant and naive to think that such terror attacks will never happen to us?

Do S'poreans have a realistic sense of the various threats that face us as a nation?

Or do we simply not care - choosing instead to focus on our own lives and just pushing the entire responsibility to the Govt?

While the Govt will, and should continue to shoulder the bulk of the responsibility for our security, her citizens have, and must play their parts in the overall scheme of things.


Unfounded criticism and spreading of poisonous cynicism

The anti-PAP / anti-govt / anti-establishment groups continue to peddle their cynicism of national service and pour unwarranted criticism of our security agencies online.

They attempt to exploit societal fault lines and exaggerate stories to the point of sensational fantasy, all simply to push their political agenda and to attract more online viewership to earn a quick buck at the expense of the facts/truth.

Here are just some of the false and baseless accusations hurled at our own Home Team and SAF.

Pic - Shut Down The Rubbish Sites Facebook

Political Activists who are attempting to discredit the credibility of our Police Force. No matter what SPF does, it will never be good enough for these activists.

Pic - Shut Down The Rubbish Sites Facebook

Portraying NS as an exploitation by the Govt.

Pic - FLOP Facebook

Attempts to discount the need for NS and to cheapen the sacrifice of our NSFs into a commercial transaction.

No one is saying that we cannot criticize the Govt. But please lah, at the very least criticize base on facts can?

Constructive criticism based on facts, can help to improve our Govt and uncover any blind-spots that may be missed.

But criticism that is based on twisted half-truths and baseless accusations should not be perpetuated. Such baseless criticism cannot help solve or improve the situation and only serves to confuse the real issues at hand and unnecessarily agitate emotions.

Opposition groups and alternative media sites like to say that they are patriots and are fighting for the interests of Singapore. Really? How are you a patriot when you spewl forth nothing but twisted half-truths and baseless accusations that are clearly intended to stir up emotions and shake the confidence of our home team and security agencies?

It is only a matter of time when Singapore will be hit by a terror attack.

When it happens, will we stand together as one united nation and show those who mean us harm that we will never fall to their threats?

Or will we be struck by fear and fall into disarray? Our sternest test as a nation is yet to come.


Read more here

• Straits Times - Fast-response police unit to counter terror rolls out in June

• Straits Times - Calls to boost vigilance, social resilience in face of terror threat

• Singaporeans to be trained to deal with terrorist attacks

• SG Secure

• Straits Times - SG Secure to equip people for crises

[Defending the Lion City] 10 March 1965 MacDonald House bomb explosion

Pic: MyPaper

A bomb exploded in the MacDonald House building situated along Orchard Road on 10 March 1965 at 3.07 pm.

The explosion claimed the lives of three people and injured at least 33 others. The bombing had been carried out as part of Indonesian’s Confrontation (also known as Konfrontasi) with Malaysia (which at the time included Singapore). 

Two Indonesian marine commandos, Osman bin Haji Mohamed Ali and Harun bin Said, were later caught, found responsible for the bombing and hanged on 17 October 1968 by the Singapore authorities.

Their executions led to a souring of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Indonesia as the two men were regarded as war heroes by their countrymen. Singapore’s then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew sought to bring closure to the issue during his official trip to Jakarta in May 1973 when he sprinkled flowers on the graves of the two men.


The bomb blast

Indonesian marine commandos Osman bin Haji Mohamed Ali and Harun bin Said arrived in Singapore on 10 March 1965 at about 11.00 am.

Disguised as civilians, they proceeded to the MacDonald House building and each planted a bundle of explosives on the steps of the mezzanine floor near the lift area. After lighting up the fuse, they left the building at around 3.00 pm and boarded a bus. 

An eyewitness testified that he saw a Malayan Airways canvas travelling bag on the mezzanine floor that was producing a hissing noise with smoke coming out of it.

The bomb exploded at 3.07 pm, ripping off a lift door while the inner walls of the mezzanine floor took the full force of the blast. Windows within a hundred yards were shattered and the explosion damaged almost every car parked outside the building. The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank housed within the building had closed for business only seven minutes earlier and 150 employees were closing their accounts when the explosion occurred. 

Witnesses recounted a sudden flash followed by a bang. The explosion was powerful enough to destroy the pillars of the building and exposed the steel reinforcements within them. Later examination of the building showed that 20 to 25 lb (9 to 11 kg) of nitroglycerine explosives were used for the bomb.


Casualties, damages and aftermath

Two bank employees were killed immediately by the explosion: 36-year-old private secretary Elizabeth (Suzie) Choo and 23-year-old assistant secretary Juliet Goh. A third victim, 45-year-old Mohammed Yasin bin Kesit, a driver for the Malaya Borneo Building society, died a few days later after being in a coma following the explosion. Around 33 other people were injured in the blast with some warded at the General Hospital while others were given outpatient treatment.

Besides the surrounding mezzanine floor area, the explosion also caused damage to the offices of the Australian High Commission located within the building. The blast also created widespread damage to the car showrooms located in the surrounding area owned by car dealers Cycle and Carriage and Wearne Brothers.

At 3.30 pm, the reserve unit arrived and traffic police diverted traffic along Penang Road and Tank Road. Soon after, the British Army's bomb disposal squad arrived at the scene. Staff from the health department also arrived to clear the shattered glass pieces from the road. 

At 6.15 pm, then Minister for Health Yong Nyuk Lin visited the warded casualties at the hospital. Later that evening, then Deputy Prime Minister Toh Chin Chye condemned the attack as a "senseless act of cruelty".

MacDonald House building at Orchard Road

Pic: National Library Board Singapore

Konfrontasi Memorial located appropriately near MacDonald House

Pic by Min. Ng Eng Hen, Facebook

Arrest and execution of the two saboteurs

Three days after the explosion, the two Indonesian marine commandos responsible for the MacDonald House bombing were caught while trying to escape from Singapore by sea. 

They were rescued at sea by a bumboat man who saw them clinging to a plank. At that time, they were not wearing military uniforms and had no identification papers. 

They were later taken on board a marine police boat and subsequently interrogated by the police before being charged with murder for their role in the MacDonald House bombing.

On 20 October 1965, Harun bin Said and Osman bin Haji Mohamed Ali were convicted by the High Court of Singapore for the murder of three civilians resulting from the MacDonald House bombing and sentenced to death.

Their appeals to the Federal Court of Malaysia were dismissed on 5 October 1966.17 Both men were hanged on 17 October 1968.


Reactions in Indonesia

In Jakarta, the execution of the two Indonesian marine commandos caused a lot of public anger. A band of 400 students sacked the Singapore embassy in Indonesia and the residences of Singapore diplomats. They were upset as they felt that the two men were only carrying out the orders of the government of former President Sukarno. 

The students were reported to have used bamboo staves and smashed furniture and windows. They also ripped down Singapore national flags and national emblems. The attackers took less than an hour and they later went to the security headquarters building in Jakarta where the bodies of the two men were lying in state. Hundreds of thousands of Indonesians subsequently lined the streets for the funeral process of the two men, who were buried with full honours at the National Heroes cemetery.


Controversy over naming of ship

In February 2014, the Singapore Government expressed its deep concern over Indonesia’s announcement that a navy frigate would be named in honour of Osman and Harun for their role in the MacDonald House bombing.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa later stressed that Indonesia had meant “no ill intent or malice” when it decided to name the frigate after the two marines. Indonesia, however, went ahead with its naming of the frigate after the two bombers.

Singapore Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen responded by announcing in parliament that the frigate would not be allowed to call at its ports and naval bases nor sail alongside or take part in training exercises with ships from the Singapore Armed Forces.

Indonesia’s General Moeldoko subsequently apologised for the naming decision. Ng welcomed the move and said that the Singapore Armed Forces would reciprocate by resuming bilateral ties with the Indonesian Armed Forces.

This post is an extract from the National Library Board Singapore article. For the full article and associated references, please see here.

Have you ever wondered about our little Red Book?

Some of you may remember a time when our Passport Number was the same as our NRIC number - which made filling out those awfully small immigration cards so much less painful.

Have you ever wondered why that practice was discontinued, and all of our Passports now have a unique number?

Well, I never thought too much about it until I read this article.

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The story of a passport redesign to make Singapore safer

Ron Noble, 20 Jan 2016, via Straits Times

The writer was secretary-general of Interpol, the network of police forces from 190 countries, from 2000 to 2014


Just last week, news channel CNN published a story titled Why Singapore Has The Smartest Kids In The World, in which one expert succinctly described the cause of Singapore's economic success, saying: "They did it largely with education and training."

In the wake of the Paris-like terrorist attacks in neighbouring Jakarta, Indonesia, last week, and the arrest last Friday of a terror suspect in Malaysia who was planning a suicide bomb attack in Kuala Lumpur, I would add that it is not just in the economic realm where Singapore's dedication to education yields results, but also in the realm of security.

I speak from my experience as secretary-general of Interpol from 2000 to 2014, where I witnessed first-hand how Singapore emphasised education in the realm of security, devoting substantial resources to educating and training its intelligence, police, immigration and other law-enforcement officers.

As a result, Singapore has the well-earned reputation of being one of the safest places in the world.

In 2006, I was invited by the country's Ministry of Home Affairs to address the Home Team at a gathering of almost 1,000 law- enforcement officers.

I used this occasion to describe how, in 2003, Milorad Ulemek used a stolen Croatian passport to cross borders to plan, prepare and perpetrate the assassination of then Serbian President Zoran Djindjic. The assassin Ulemek's stolen passport received law enforcement's official stamp of approval at 26 European border crossings - and once, at the border crossing, to enter Singapore.

I recall the surprise and shock expressed by the Singapore media, who asked how it was possible for Singapore to have left such a gaping hole in its security. My revelation even made front-page news in The Straits Times the next day.

Fortunately, for Singapore's law-enforcement agencies, they could say that, back in 2003, the international database of stolen or fake passports that would have exposed Ulemek's passport as stolen, did not exist.

However, I also announced that since then, Interpol had created the world's only database of stolen and lost passports, and Switzerland had already proven that it could be implemented efficiently by any country that is willing to do so.

Singapore analysed the issue, and discovered that doing so would be expensive, complicated and time consuming. Why?

Singaporean identification documents were conceived with efficiency in mind, not security, with the same unchanging national identification number of each person used for many different identity documents. As a result, a Singaporean who reported his passport stolen and got a replacement passport issued risked being detained or arrested when travelling abroad because the new passport number and the stolen passport number were the same.

Singapore could have responded to media inquiries by stating that my proposal was not practical for Singapore to implement, as it would put Singaporeans at risk of being falsely detained or arrested.

However, Singapore could boast of not just some of the smartest, best educated kids in the world, but also some of the smartest, best educated law-enforcement officers, civil servants and technology experts in the world. 

Together, they redesigned Singapore's entire system for the issuance of identity documents, creating an entirely new ID document numbering system that would prevent Singaporeans from being falsely detained or arrested if their own passports were stolen, and that would allow Singapore to follow Switzerland's lead.

Singapore educated and trained its police and immigration officers on how best to use Interpol's databases and technology to detect stolen passports and yet avoid long queues at entry checkpoints.

It then began to systematically screen the passports of all those crossing its borders, preventing those with stolen passports from entering.

As a result, Singapore now ranks No. 3 in the world, in terms of passport screening, after only the United States and Britain - countries with populations 12 to 60 times larger than Singapore's.

Unfortunately, today, fewer than 15 of the world's almost 200 countries systematically screen the passports of those crossing their borders against global databases like Singapore does, thereby placing far too many people at risk of falling victim to terrorists and other dangerous persons who use stolen passports to cross borders.

It is too soon to know today whether Jakarta's terrorist attacks were facilitated by the use of stolen or fake passports, as was the case with the recent attacks in Paris and Bangkok. We do know, though, that the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria provides stolen and fake passports to its members.

Last month, Turkey arrested criminals possessing almost 150 authentic stolen European passports. Just last week, a passenger used a fake passport to board a British Airways flight to London, and was caught only because staff noticed her unusually nervous behaviour. Tellingly, fake passports are openly advertised on the Internet, accessible via a simple Google search.

In November last year, after the Paris terror attacks, the European Union's Justice and Home Affairs ministers made a common decision that, by March this year, passport screening against Interpol's stolen passport database would be implemented at all of the EU's external borders.

Singapore made this same decision, not because of a terrorist attack on its soil, but because its law-enforcement officers studied the experiences of other countries, learnt the lessons, and applied them to the real-world threat.

I am, therefore, confident that as Singapore celebrates the success of its children in school, its law- enforcement officers will be studying what happened in Jakarta, and the other examples of terrorist attacks around the world, to see what lessons can be learnt.

Their commitment to keep educating themselves and keep learning, in order to better protect their citizens, economy and guests, is never-ending.

The more countries that follow Singapore's example, the safer we all will be from the threat of terrorists and dangerous criminals.


Article source:
http://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/the-story-of-a-passport-redesign-to-make-singapore-safer?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#xtor=CS1-10


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And while we are on the topic of security and passports, here's a great little article by Sunrise Odyssey about the 7 reasons why it’s so awesome to travel as a Singaporean

1. We get to travel to almost anywhere in the world with our powerful passport
Due to our good relationship with many countries, our Singapore’s passport (ranked 6th in the world) allows us to travel to 167 countries without applying for a visa. 

Some of these countries include exotic destinations like Kyrgyzstan, Zimbawe, Tanzania, Iceland, Morocco, Fiji and many more! For most of the other countries where a visa is needed, our Singapore passport allows us to obtain it at a lower fee as compared to other nationalities. For example when applying for a visa to Iran, we only needed to pay 50€ (inclusive of administration fees) as compared to the exorbitant fee of 150€ for citizens of China.

Read the rest here: http://sunriseodyssey.com/awesome-travel-singaporean

[Defending the Lion City] Why must we serve?

Why must Singapore sacrifice the youth and energies of her young citizens towards National Service?

Singaporeans had long been asking ourselves this question since National Service was introduced in 1955.

And it's not just about our lost opportunities and time. Many of us have been sustain injuries, or have been permanently hurt. Some have lost their limbs and one too many of us have even made the ultimate sacrifice not in war but during peacetime training.

In 1997, Singapore lost two sons to a tragedy involving an FH-2000 155mm field howitzer that blew up during the live fire exercise. 11 other soldiers sustained serious injuries.

It is easy to lament and complain about the sacrifice that Singaporeans have to make when times are peaceful. And it is a common grouse that easily riles up the discontented, and even provokes anger when we see the lifestyles and opportunities that our foreign contemporaries enjoy in Singapore.

But what if the peaceful existence we have enjoyed is taken away?

Recent events around the world (ISIS attacks in Paris, Nov 2015) and close to home (Bangkok - Erawan Shrine explosion, Aug 2015) all point out to one sobering fact - that the world is not getting any more peaceful, or is less dangerous compared to the past.

Territorial disputes in the South China Seas threatens Singapore's peace and sea lines of communication

Image: Law Fare Blog

Despite the current period of relatively good relations with our immediate neighbours, it is not a secret that some quarters still harbour jealousy and resentment at our achievements and wealth. They continually seek ways to negate and coerce us;  ever seeking to make Singapore more compliant to their own national agenda and interests.

In 2014, Indonesia named a frigate after the two Indonesian marines who had  bombed MacDonald House on Orchard Road on 10 March 1965, killing three people and injured more than 30 others. 

And of course there are those out there who would seek to cause fear and mayhem in our society and plot out our destruction as a nation for whatever their nefarious agenda. And these extremists will not hesitate to inflict violence and death on the innocent to achieve their goals.

The terror group, Jemaah Islamiah (JI) in Singapore, formed in the early 1990s by radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, was detected only in 2001.

And Singapore is not immune to the threat of terrorism. While Singapore has yet to suffer any terror attacks, the seeds of terrorism has already taken root in Singapore. In May 2015, 2 Singaporean youths had to be detained under the Internal Security Act for terrorism-related activities.

The Ministry of Home Affairs revealed that one of the detained, Arifil, had stated that if he was unable to join ISIS in Syria, he would carry out violent attacks on key facilities and assassinate government leaders in Singapore. And if he was unable to execute those plans, Arifil had planned to carry out attacks in public places, with weapons such as knives, in order to strike fear within society.

All these are real threats to Singapore's peace and continued existence.

So in my mind, the real question that needs to be answered is not if our sacrifice for the nation is necessary but do we dare to let our guard down?

Can we assume the peace and prosperity that Singapore currently enjoys is an expected and natural outcome, unaffected by our external environment and uninfluenced by events further ashore?

The NS critics cry out repeatedly - Singapore has no immediate real enemies to speak of. Abolish NS. Cut down defence spending.

Perhaps we don't have any obvious enemies for now.  But we don't know for sure in the future.

If we do abolish NS as the critics clammer for, who would be there to defend Singapore when they come knocking at our doors? Will we watch helplessly as our enemies have their way with us, like lamb to the slaughter?

Are we to stand aside as others steal not just our material belongings, but destroy our peace and our way of life at their whim and fancy and inflict fear and death to our loved ones?

Are we to be so naive as to believe that the UN or other countries would come immediately to our aid to defend what is not theirs?

The harsh reality of the modern 21st century world has not changed since the times of the cavemen.

You only own what you can defend. You can only enjoy the fruits of your labor if you can deter thieves from stealing it from you.

The peace and prosperity we enjoy comes at a heavy price.

And it is a price that we cannot afford not to pay.

Prickly Porcupine

Read more about:

FH-2000 155mm field howitzer Explosion in New Zealand
http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/press_room/official_releases/nr/1997/jun/28jun97_nr.print.img.html

Indonesia names warship after marines
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/singapore-naming-indonesian-warship-after-marines-would-reopen-old-wounds

Terror's evolving threat to Singapore
http://news.asiaone.com/news/asian-opinions/terrors-evolving-threat-singapore

2 Singaporean youths radicalised by ISIS arrested, one of them detained for planning terror attacks
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/2-singaporean-youths-radicalised-by-isis-arrested-one-of-them-detained-for-planning-terror