By MP for Aljunied GRC, Muhamad Faisal bin Abdul Manap
[Delivered in Committee of Supply on 5 March 2015]
During last year’s COS debates, I had requested for the expeditious resolution of the issue of the loyalty of Singaporean Malays. The request was made based on the Suara Musyawarah report.
I would like to highlight one of the practices that may have inadvertently given rise to the unhealthy perceptions about the loyalty of Singaporean Malays. During a recent forum attended by the Minister of Defence, it was reported in the Straits Times that the Minister had been asked a question on perceived bias against Malays in the SAF and the exclusion of Malays from the Navy. In his response to the question, the Minister had said that there was a “practical issue” of having halal-certified kitchens onboard Navy ships. It is truly disheartening to find out from the Minister’s response that Singaporean Malays have indeed been excluded from Navy ships all this while. It is also very disappointing to find out that the exclusion of Singaporean Malays from Navy ship is a result of a “practical issue”. But, what is most worrying is that the practice of excluding Singaporean Malays from Navy ships may be wrongly perceived by Singaporeans as evidence that there is bias against Malays in the SAF, and that there is an issue over the loyalty of Singaporean Malays to this nation.
It was also reported that the Minister had said that provisions have been made to allow Singaporean Malays to serve onboard Navy ships if they are willing to do so. This is definitely a most welcome change, and I applaud Mindef for taking a step towards a more inclusive SAF. I urge the Minister to seriously consider the possibility of ensuring that all Navy ships are equipped with halal-certified kitchens so that Malays will be allowed to serve freely in the Navy without any constraints. I urge the Minister not to stop there, but also to work towards making the entire SAF an inclusive and open organisation that is fair and just to all Singaporeans regardless of race, language and religion.
My final point is with regards to what the Minister had said during the forum about sensitive positions in the military. The Minister was reported to have said that a person is deployed in a sensitive unit in the SAF based on his or her ability and beliefs, and not on his race. Again, I applaud the Minister and Mindef for their laudable efforts to make SAF an inclusive and open organisation that is fair and just to all Singaporean service persons. However, I note that the Minister advised caution over the fact that “people can be blackmailed”. While I agree with the Minister that we have to ensure that the people who are placed in sensitive positions in the military do not compromise our national security, I would like the Minister to clarify what kind of people does he have in mind and how can they be blackmailed.