Addenda to President’s Address: Mindef, MinLaw, MHA, MFA lay out plans to fight Covid-19, uphold S’pore’s peace and sovereignty
The Ministry of Defence (Mindef), the Ministry of Law (MinLaw), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the National Security Coordination Secretariat (NSCS) issued their addenda to the President’s Address, joining a slew of other ministries that have done so following Mdm Halimah’s speech on Monday.
The NSCS is a secretariat under the Prime Minister’s Office.
The addenda set out how the agencies intend to fulfil the priorities for the new parliamentary term, which Madam Halimah listed at the opening of the 14th Parliament.
On Aug 31, Parliament will sit to debate the President's Address in a Motion of Thanks.
Read also: Addenda to the President’s Address: MOM, MTI, MCI set out plans to weather Covid-19 storm, including tightening foreign workforce policies
Here is a look at the top priorities at Mindef, MinLaw, MHA, MFA and NSCS as listed in their respective addenda:
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Mindef and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are prepared to continue fighting the coronavirus outbreak on the frontlines, such as in the areas of contact tracing, managing community care recovery facilities and contributing technology and testing solutions to support frontline operations.
Read also: Addenda to President’s Address: MOH, MOE, MSF lay out plans to fight Covid-19 and build a fair, inclusive society
The SAF will continue to strengthen its force by transforming its fighting concepts, restructuring its units and strengthening its operations technology integration. It also plans to create an integrated cyber force to defend Singapore’s digital borders.
Mindef also has plans to improve the National Service system. The National Service Review Committee, formed in 2020, will look into how to better match skills and experience to vocations and deployment.
Said Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen: “A strong defence safeguards Singapore’s peace, security, and sovereignty, and lays the foundation for our pursuit of economic and social progress”.
Read also: Addenda to President’s Address: MOT, MND, MSE on keeping Singapore’s hub status and building a sustainable and livable city
MINISTRY OF LAW
To help companies that may soon face the risk of insolvency, MinLaw will put in place measures to assist smaller companies who need to restructure or wind down their businesses through simpler, faster, and lower-cost proceedings.
For vulnerable populations who may be bogged down with legal problems due to the pandemic, the ministry will also expand its partnerships with Social Service Agencies and Family Service Centres to address both their legal and social needs.
To help law practices accelerate the adoption of technology, MinLaw will expand its Tech-celerate for Law programme so that law practices can improve their productivity and deliver legal services in new and innovative ways.
The ministry is also starting a new specialist Protection from Harassment Court for harassment victims to receive “holistic and effective relief” with simplified procedures and expedited timelines.
Said Law Minister K Shanmugam: “MinLaw will work with stakeholders, partners, and the public to advance access to justice, develop our legal services to support our economy and society and strengthen the rule of law in Singapore”.
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
In order to gradually reopen Singapore’s borders, MHA has set up a Safe Travel Office under the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority to streamline processes for safe international travel amid Covid-19.
MHA also has plans to strengthen Singapore’s legislation and regulatory regimes. It plans to:
Said Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam: “There remain significant threats to our safety and security. Externally, the terrorism threat remains high… Domestically, it remains imperative to ensure racial and religious harmony for the sake of our country’s peace and sovereignty, given the make-up of our society”.
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MFA continues to work with the international community to work with the travel restrictions that have been imposed worldwide because of the coronavirus outbreak while safeguarding Singapore’s interests and the welfare of Singaporeans.
It will also maintain and strengthen Singapore’s relationships with its neighbours to maintain supply chains for essential trade.
MFA will also continue to play a constructive role on the international stage, in organisations like the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization.
On these platforms, the ministry will continue to advocate for:
NATIONAL SECURITY COORDINATION SECRETARIAT
The NSCS will work with other government agencies to draw lessons from Covid-19 and strengthen Singapore’s long-term capabilities to deal with future pandemics.
It will:
- Mindef, MinLaw, MHA, MFA and the National Security Coordination Secretariat set out their priorities for the new parliamentary term
- Mindef will continue to assist with frontline Covid-19 operations
- MinLaw will help companies and individuals affected by Covid-19
- MHA and MFA will help Singaporeans coping with international travel restrictions and put in place measures for the safe resumption of travel
The Ministry of Defence (Mindef), the Ministry of Law (MinLaw), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the National Security Coordination Secretariat (NSCS) issued their addenda to the President’s Address, joining a slew of other ministries that have done so following Mdm Halimah’s speech on Monday.
The NSCS is a secretariat under the Prime Minister’s Office.
The addenda set out how the agencies intend to fulfil the priorities for the new parliamentary term, which Madam Halimah listed at the opening of the 14th Parliament.
On Aug 31, Parliament will sit to debate the President's Address in a Motion of Thanks.
Read also: Addenda to the President’s Address: MOM, MTI, MCI set out plans to weather Covid-19 storm, including tightening foreign workforce policies
Here is a look at the top priorities at Mindef, MinLaw, MHA, MFA and NSCS as listed in their respective addenda:
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Mindef and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are prepared to continue fighting the coronavirus outbreak on the frontlines, such as in the areas of contact tracing, managing community care recovery facilities and contributing technology and testing solutions to support frontline operations.
Read also: Addenda to President’s Address: MOH, MOE, MSF lay out plans to fight Covid-19 and build a fair, inclusive society
The SAF will continue to strengthen its force by transforming its fighting concepts, restructuring its units and strengthening its operations technology integration. It also plans to create an integrated cyber force to defend Singapore’s digital borders.
Mindef also has plans to improve the National Service system. The National Service Review Committee, formed in 2020, will look into how to better match skills and experience to vocations and deployment.
Said Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen: “A strong defence safeguards Singapore’s peace, security, and sovereignty, and lays the foundation for our pursuit of economic and social progress”.
Read also: Addenda to President’s Address: MOT, MND, MSE on keeping Singapore’s hub status and building a sustainable and livable city
MINISTRY OF LAW
To help companies that may soon face the risk of insolvency, MinLaw will put in place measures to assist smaller companies who need to restructure or wind down their businesses through simpler, faster, and lower-cost proceedings.
For vulnerable populations who may be bogged down with legal problems due to the pandemic, the ministry will also expand its partnerships with Social Service Agencies and Family Service Centres to address both their legal and social needs.
To help law practices accelerate the adoption of technology, MinLaw will expand its Tech-celerate for Law programme so that law practices can improve their productivity and deliver legal services in new and innovative ways.
The ministry is also starting a new specialist Protection from Harassment Court for harassment victims to receive “holistic and effective relief” with simplified procedures and expedited timelines.
Said Law Minister K Shanmugam: “MinLaw will work with stakeholders, partners, and the public to advance access to justice, develop our legal services to support our economy and society and strengthen the rule of law in Singapore”.
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
In order to gradually reopen Singapore’s borders, MHA has set up a Safe Travel Office under the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority to streamline processes for safe international travel amid Covid-19.
MHA also has plans to strengthen Singapore’s legislation and regulatory regimes. It plans to:
- Amend gambling-related legislation and form a new Gambling Regulation Authority
- Review Singapore’s drug laws
- Enhance the existing fire safety regulatory regime and strengthen the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s investigative and enforcement powers against fire safety violations
Said Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam: “There remain significant threats to our safety and security. Externally, the terrorism threat remains high… Domestically, it remains imperative to ensure racial and religious harmony for the sake of our country’s peace and sovereignty, given the make-up of our society”.
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MFA continues to work with the international community to work with the travel restrictions that have been imposed worldwide because of the coronavirus outbreak while safeguarding Singapore’s interests and the welfare of Singaporeans.
It will also maintain and strengthen Singapore’s relationships with its neighbours to maintain supply chains for essential trade.
MFA will also continue to play a constructive role on the international stage, in organisations like the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization.
On these platforms, the ministry will continue to advocate for:
- A free and open rule-based international system
- Preserving supply chain connectivity
- Facilitating the flow of essential goods
- Promoting vaccine multilateralism
NATIONAL SECURITY COORDINATION SECRETARIAT
The NSCS will work with other government agencies to draw lessons from Covid-19 and strengthen Singapore’s long-term capabilities to deal with future pandemics.
It will:
- Study and prepare for potential disruptions in the flow of essential economic resources, such as goods, manpower and investments
- Analyse how agencies can work together to tackle issues that cut across different sectors
- Conduct research on how Singapore can strengthen its social resilience and step up education and awareness campaigns on such issues
