NON-CONSTITUENCY MP J. B. Jeyaretnam yesterday queried the Government's
spending on defence and called it a "disproportionate
allocation" of funds.
"We've got to make a calculation and see if our defence
spending is cost effective," said the Workers' Party chief.
He called on the Government to spell out the source of threats facing
Singapore and asked if the 25 per cent defence expenditure in the
Budget is designed to make Singaporeans think that they are besieged by hostile outside
forces.
The Government's "paranoia" is unnecessary, he argued, as it
has defence arrangements with other countries and could also use the United Nations to
settle disputes.
He pointed out that allied international forces came to Kuwait's aid
after it was invaded by Iraq.
His views were dismissed by MPs who stressed that a strong defence
force is vital for peace and stability.
Dr Tan Boon Wan (Ang Mo Kio GRC) said that being a small country,
Singapore is a convenient scapegoat for things that have gone wrong elsewhere.
It must not cower in the face of challenges to its sovereignty and the
right to live as equals among nations.
Mr Ong Ah Heng (Nee Soon Central) said: "In times like this, when
there is social unrest and chaos in other countries, we need to be prepared."
Nominated MP Simon Tay said that a good defence force is a factor for
stability in these troubled times but added: "My concern is that our defence spending
should not itself be a source of misunderstanding and concern in this region.
"I would encourage dialogue and transparency to allay any
suspicion that we are taking an aggressive posture and not simply an investment in a sound
defence."
He also queried the increase in Mindef's operating expenditure. He said
that the Public Accounts Committee had found lapses in Mindef's accounting practices and
asked if there are ways of benchmarking efficiency in the armed forces.
Replying to Mr Jeyaretnam, Finance Minister Richard Hu said that a
strong defence is a cornerstone of the well being of Singapore, and it is not enough to
rely on defence cooperation and support of international organisations.
He said that it would be foolhardy to allocate funds for defence only
when Singapore's security is threatened, as suggested by Mr Jeyaretnam.
"Without an adequate defence, it is not possible to continue our
way of life...Ultimately, we have to rely on ourselves. We need to prepare for all
circumstances and for the worst," he said.
(taken from The Straits Times, 10/3/99)