Rilek1Corner

Tag: Singapore Armed Forces

  • Damanhuri Abas: I Protest Benjamin Netanyahu’s Planned Visit To Singapore

    Damanhuri Abas: I Protest Benjamin Netanyahu’s Planned Visit To Singapore

    I read with great consternation that Singapore will be hosting the Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu as a state guest.

    The Israeli PM is directly responsible for the current continued oppression of the Palestinian people through its illegal occupation of Gaza and the West Bank as stated by numerous UN resolutions which Israel continuously ignores with the shameful backing of the US government. Its occupying forces conducts numerous crimes against Palestinian civilians and its forces have conducted many agressions in occupied Palestinian territories that are culpable to war crimes, as recent as the last Gaza incursion in 2014 that claims thousands of Palestinian lives through excessive use of powerful bombs on densely populated Palestinian residential areas.

    The Singapore government may seem to think that it is acceptable to host the Israeli PM afterall the Israelis are the pioneering country that provided military assistance in terms of training and guidance to the Singapore Armed Forces when Singapore first setup its nascent military defence unit after independence.

    It serves as no great solace to know that we had relied on Israeli military advice and guidance in the formation of our Armed Forces. This is especially so as a Malay/Muslim Singaporean who has felt direct discrimination towards his race in the Singapore Armed Forces.

    This discrimination has most probably arisen from the advice and guidance of the Israeli military consultants who may have sowed distrust towards the Malay/Muslim citizens serving the Singapore Armed Forces likely rationalized and justified by their own experience and paranoia towards the Palestinan people (and the Arabs too) that they have kept under siege for 60 years encounting with no end to hostility nor nearing any peaceful settlement to the last remaining illegal occupation to exist on God’s earth.

    Such inhumane treatment that the Israelis imposed upon the Palestian people in the occupied territories has resulted in extreme distrust between them and the Palestinians and overtime have led to a toxic unsustainable relationship based on fears and suspicion with no end in sight.

    Likewise, a toxic relationship too may have emerged in our own land caused by our own policies for the last 50 years that blankets the entire Malay/Muslim population as suspicious and not to be fully trusted to be given full access to all military positions, especially so-called ‘sensitive areas’ in the Singapore Armed Forces. This unjustified and unproven fears that have shaped and colored policies preventing Malay/Muslim citizens full meritocratic access to all possible ranks and files in the military must end immediately.

    Only when this happens will the process of correction and rapprochement begin to eradicate the poisoned perceptions that have developed overtime by the majority towards Malay/Muslim trustworthiness in and beyond the Military into other aspects of society. This disriminatory policy must stop for the sake of fairness, justice and a true harmonious multi-racial/multi-religious Singapore that we intend to build for this nation.

    For all the above reasons, as a Malay/Muslim Singaporean I protest the coming of Mr Benjamin Netanyahu to my country. He is also an alleged war criminal.

    I forward below an email from our very own Dr Ang Swee Chai from Medical Aid for Palestinian, a London based NGO, in support of my involvement in previous protest effort against the brutal acts of the Israeli government towards the Palestinian people that the invited Isreali PM is currently heading.

    —— Forwarded message ———-
    From: SWEE ANG <[email protected]>
    Date: Fri, Nov 23, 2012 at 3:08 AM
    Subject: In support of your work
    To: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
    Cc: AimeeShalan <[email protected]>, stevenjames <[email protected]>

    Dear Damanhuri Abas and FMSA,

    Thank you for emailing me so that I can support what you and the Fellowship of Muslim Students Association are doing. As you know a ceasefire is in place after 150 Gazans were killed and nearly a thousand injured. As you know Gaza is half the size of Singapore and home to 1.7 million people, 80% of them refugees from the rest of Palestine. They were forced out from the rest of Palestine in 1948 and took refuge in Gaza. Since 2007 Gaza’s people are under constant military blockade. All her borders with Israel are sealed by the military and none can move in or out, except through Rafah which until recently was also closed by President Mubarak. The sea of Gaza is manned by Israeli warships and no one from Gaza can wander beyond 3 nautical miles. The targetting of fishing boats and killing and injury of fishermen by warships firing at them even with the 3 nautical miles are all too often.

    Even before this recent assault, military helicopters regularly fly into Gaza and kill and injure civilians. When you hear the word targets mentioned by the BBC and the Western Press, you do not hear the cries of the mothers who lost their babies, who are sometimes just called collateral damage. The skies of Gaza are patrolled by drones and the whole of Gaza is under surveillance and drone attacks are frequent.

    Electricity is scarce, many of the 21,000 homes and buildings destroyed from Cast Lead four years ago not rebuilt since there is also a blockade on building materials. The schools destroyed during Cast Lead are also not rebuilt and children are now crammed into whatever school buildings which are still functional. Many people are still living in tents or in temporary buildings. Unemployment is high since factories and workshops cannot function and even if they function the military siege makes it impossible to export their goods and import raw materials. It is the same with agriculture produce – all forms of trade is made impossible by the blockade. Hospitals are starved of medical supplies.

    Water is also a problem in Gaza since Israel has dug deep wells and siphoned off the natural water from Gaza. The water from Gaza now is heavily polluted and contains high nitrates and unfit for washing and drinking.

    You can find more facts from various sources including from the website of Medical Aid for Palestinians and Palestine Solidarity Campaign – I have only given you a very sketchy description.

    So when F16s bomb Gaza the last 9 days, hitting hundreds of “targets” daily, those of us who know Gaza well can only cry out in shock and anger against this atrocity and injustice. Yet many of us are astonished by the courage of people in Gaza in resisting the assault. The ceasefire is agreed on mainly because Israel knows it cannot beat down Gaza despite pounding it incessantly with bombs. They had planned a land invasion but did not go through with it not because they are humane, but because they know they cannot win and do not have the stomach to go through with it. Hilary Clinton got to turn round from her visit to Burma to fly Cairo to support a truce called by the new Egyptian Government.

    Your supporters need to know the following:

    Israel is the sixth largest military power in the world. In 2009 it has –

    200-300 nuclear warheads
    300 F16s
    60 military helicopters
    60 warships
    3650 tanks
    Plus daily military aid of eight million dollars from the USA ( as opposed to non-military aid) and the huge support of the Western Press and governments.

    Palestine has none of the above. Gaza has home made rockets.

    But Palestine has truth on her side. Despite the killing and the suppression of truth, people from all over the world are beginning to find out. And I hope your meeting will help others understand what is going on. Up to 1982, I was the victim of lies against the Palestinians until I went out to work in Sabra and Shatilla. By God’s grace I have seen the truth and may this never depart from me.

    I hope one day your Association will have the chance to visit Gaza and West Bank, and meet the people there. But until then take it from me that it is a great honour to be able to support them. For me it is a personal privilege that Medical Aid for Palestinians have been able to be partners to the humanitarian Palestinian institutions in Gaza, West Bank and in Lebanon. I hope your institution will be the same.

    Best wishes
    Dr Ang Swee Chai.
    22 November 2012

     

    Source: Damanhuri Abas

  • Anak Melayu, Mohd Fahmi Aliman, Dinaikkan Pangkat, Kini Jadi Kolonel

    Anak Melayu, Mohd Fahmi Aliman, Dinaikkan Pangkat, Kini Jadi Kolonel

    Seorang askar Melayu Mohd Fahmi Aliman, dinaikkan pangkat menjadi seorang Kolonel (COL) bermula esok (1 Jul). Beliau yang kini berpangkat Leftenan Kolonel Kanan (SLTC), merupakan Komander bagi Pusat Penilaian Latihan Tentera (ATEC).

    Kenaikan pangkat beliau itu didedahkan dalam Majlis Kenaikan Pangkat Mindef/SAF hari ini.

    Ini juga bermakna, mulai esok SAF mempunyai dua pegawai Melayu sepenuh masa yang berpangkat Kolonel, iaitu pegawai Melayu tertinggi dalam angkatan tentera yang sedang bertugas. Sekaligus ada sekurang-kurangnya dua pegawai Melayu SAF sepenuh masa sekarang, yang berpotensi menjadi Jeneral pada masa depan.

    Seorang lagi Kolonel ialah COL Zakir Hamid dari Angkatan Udara Singapura (RSAF) yang mendapat pangkat tersebut tahun lalu.

    COL Zakir kini seorang Komander bagi Kumpulan Pengangkutan RSAF.

    Di majlis kenaikan pangkat petang tadi, seorang pegawai waran iaitu 1WO Ahmad Ali, dinaikkan pangkat kepada Pegawai Waran Master (MWO).

    COL MOHD FAHMI ALIMAN

    COL Mohd Fahmi tiada di majlis kenaikan pangkat yang diadakan di Kementerian Pertahanan (Mindef) petang tadi kerana sedang menjalani latihan di luar negara.

    Dalam wawancara menerusi telefon, beliau yang berusia 43 tahun berkata, beliau mula menjadi Komander ATEC sejak tahun lalu.

    Tugas beliau ialah melaksanakan penilaian yang realistik dan mencabar untuk semua unit-unit SAF.

    Beliau kini juga memegang jawatan sebagai seorang Komander Briged Infantri, dan sudah bertugas dalam SAF selama 24 tahun.

    Ditanya komen beliau mengenai kenaikan pangkatnya, COL Fahmi berkata ini suatu penghormatan dan kebanggaan kepada beliau dan keluarganya.

    Ini juga beliau anggap sebagai cerminan sejauh mana SAF percaya kepada sumbangan beliau, dan memberi amanah untuk beliau membantu membangunkan SAF.

    COL Fahmi berkata: “Yang lebih penting adalah untuk pertahanan Singapura, setiap kita mempunyai tanggungjawab kita sendiri, sama ada kita dalam pasukan keselamatan atau kita seorang kakitangan awam, semua ada tanggungjawab sendiri. Itu pada saya amat penting. Itu yang menjadikan satu motivasi untuk saya terus bekerja lebih gigih lagi dalam SAF.”

    Kini dengan pangkat Kolonel, beliau berkata pengaruhnya akan lebih besar lagi, untuk menaikkan mutu sumbangannya.

    COL Fahmi berazam untuk terus memberikan yang terbaik untuk SAF. Beliau malah berikrar menyumbang demi “menaikkan taraf SAF di dunia”.

    BUKAN UNTUK DAPAT DUIT LEBIH ATAU GLAMOUR

    Sebagai seorang ayah, beliau mempunyai empat orang anak berusia antara 6 hingga 19 tahun, manakala isterinya bekerja sebagai seorang guru sekolah menengah.

    Walaupun sentiasa dihantui kesibukan, COL Fahmi berkata keluarga beliau memberi segenap sokongan.

    COL Fahmi menasihatkan anak-anak Melayu yang berminat dengan kerjaya tentera supaya ada komitmen yang tinggi, minat yang tinggi dan cita-cita yang tinggi untuk cemerlang dalam bidang ketenteraan.

    Ini tegas beliau suatu kerjaya yang diceburi “bukan untuk dapat duit lebih atau glamour”.

    Beliau turut melahirkan rasa positif bahawa pada masa depan “kita akan ada lebih ramai anak muda Melayu berpendidikan dan berwawasan dalam angkatan tentera”.

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

  • Judicial Commissioner: SAF Officers In Dominique Sarron Lee’s Death Have ‘Statutory Immunity’

    Judicial Commissioner: SAF Officers In Dominique Sarron Lee’s Death Have ‘Statutory Immunity’

    The two Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) officers sued by the family of the late Private Dominique Sarron Lee have “statutory immunity” against legal action, wrote Judicial Commissioner (JC) Kannan Ramesh.

    In grounds released on Tuesday (Jun 28), JC Ramesh outlined why in March this year he had thrown out a negligence suit brought by the family of Pte Lee. The full-time national serviceman died from an acute allergic reaction to fumes released by smoke grenades during an exercise in 2012.

    A Committee of Inquiry later found Captain Najib Hanuk Muhammad Jalal, Pte Lee’s platoon commander, had breached Training Safety Regulations (TSR) by detonating six smoke grenades – three times the limit specified in the TSR. The officers involved in the exercise were also punished with fines and delays in promotions.

    IMMUNITY WHEN ACTION IS CONNECTED TO OFFICER’S DUTIES

    However, since Captain Najib’s actions were “intrinsically connected to and a result of the execution of (his) duties in the conduct of the exercise … which he performed as (a) member of the SAF”, he is statutorily immunised from legal action, JC Ramesh wrote.

    Under the Government Proceedings Act, members of the SAF “are not burdened by the prospect of legal action while training or while conducting operations”. This immunises members of the SAF from liability when an incident is connected with the execution of the member’s duties, the JC stated in his judgment.

    In Pte Lee’s case, the actions of Captain Najib and Major Chia Thye Siong, the Chief Safety Officer for the drill, were connected to their duties in the conduct of the exercise, JC Ramesh wrote, dismissing the arguments of lawyers for Pte Lee’s family.

    Mr Irving Choh, who acted on behalf of Pte Lee’s family, had argued the detonation of six smoke grenades – as opposed to the regular two – was an act that was “extraneous” to the scope of the officers’ duties – simply because it constituted a breach of the TSR.

    ENLISTMENT NOT A “CONTRACT”, BUT A “DISCHARGE OF DUTY” MANDATED BY LAW

    Besides Captain Najib and Major Chia, Pte Lee’s family also named the Attorney-General (AG) as a defendant in the suit. They claimed the AG had breached a contract under the Enlistment Act but JC Ramesh rejected this as well.

    “There is no freedom in the formation of the relationship which one would see as a necessary ingredient in the formation of the consensual relationship that is a contract”, the JC wrote.

    The enlistment of a serviceman is an act done as “a discharge of duty imposed on him” by the law, explained the JC. “Therefore, (Pte Lee’s family) could not sue the AG for breach of contract.”

    Pte Lee died on Apr 17, 2012, after experiencing difficulty breathing following the detonation of six smoke grenades during an exercise.

    He collapsed and lost consciousness, and was pronounced dead the same day. A Coroner’s Inquiry found Pte Lee’s cause of death was acute allergic reaction due to the inhalation of zinc chloride fumes released from the smoke grenades.

    JC Ramesh ordered Pte Lee’s family to pay the legal costs of the AG (acting on behalf of the SAF) and the two officers, however this was later waived by the Ministry of Defence and lawyers for Captain Najib and Major Chia. No criminal charges have been brought against the officers involved, but the Ministry of Defence has said they have been dealt with, under military law.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • SAF NSF Found Dead At Sembawang Camp

    SAF NSF Found Dead At Sembawang Camp

    A Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) regular serviceman was found dead at Sembawang Camp today (Nov 21).

    Specialist Cadet Trainee (SCT) S Pravinraj, 20, a Supply Supervisor Trainee, was pronounced dead by SCDF paramedics at around 3.10pm, said the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in a press release.

    He was on guard duty in the camp at the time.

    The police are currently investigating the incident.

    MINDEF and the SAF extended their condolences to the family of the late serviceman and said they are assisting them in this time of grief.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • SAF Deploy Resources And 15-Men Medical Team to Nepal

    SAF Deploy Resources And 15-Men Medical Team to Nepal

    There is devastation in Nepal as it was hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake yesterday.

    More than 1,000 lives have been lost, many more are missing and trapped under the rubble.

    Singapore is responding to assist, including the SAF. Our SAF’s C-130 will airlift aid, ferry a 15-man medical team from the SAF, personnel from the Changi Regional HADR Coordination Centre (RHCC), a 55-man search-and-rescue team from the Singapore Civil Defence Force and officers from the Singapore Police Force.

    The Changi RHCC is monitoring the situation. If required, the SAF will do more.

    SAF C130

    Our condolences to the people of Nepal. Let us help and pray for them in this moment of despair and grief.

    – Ng Eng Hen

    ‪#‎NepalQuakeRelief‬
    The Singapore Army
    The Republic of Singapore Air Force

     

    Source: Ng Eng Hen – Defence Minister