Teachers, lawyers, accountants and MPs had a chance to see an armoured force get ready for action yesterday.
Members of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs and the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (Accord) saw some 15 armoured vehicles and more than 100 men in action.
the combat team, from the 42nd battalion of the Singapore Armoured Regiment, was activated in the afternoon and assembled at Sungei Gedong Camp.
They collected and loaded live ammunition and prepared it deploy four SM1 tanks as well as 11 Infantry Fighting Vehicles.
The team is part of the army's larger standby force which includes men from other units such as the artillery and infantry.
Minister of State (Defence) Matthias Yao was the host. He said of the exercise:" I was very happy with the performance this afternoon. They were very qucik and achieved the required timing.
"This is very good for Singapore as it shows that the SAF can handle any contigency should it arise."
The chairman of the GPC, Dr Ong Chit Chung, said that the visit was a fruitful one for members of the committee and the council, whose job is to give feedback to the Defence Ministry on its new policies as well as disseminate information about the armed forces to the public.
He said that the two groups visit camps and units every three months.
Dr Ong said:" The men are prepared to sacrifice their Sunday for the sake of the country.
"We are glad that they have this gung-ho spirit and are so raring to go."
(taken from The Straits Times, 17/5/99)