total defence?
obviously they have never come to this forum...
we are planning to overthrow the government from the inside soon! LOL!
Dec 10, 2009
SINGAPORE'S TOTAL DEFENCE DOCTRINE
Not just a concept but a living truth
By Azmi Hassan
IT IS indeed unfair to compare the defence systems of Malaysia and Singapore because both have different defence doctrines. Not only are their doctrines different, but their defence allocations are also different.
It cannot be denied that the military assets owned by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are desired not only by Malaysia, but also other countries that are more developed and richer than Singapore.
What the SAF displayed at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2009 (Lima 2009) is a clear manifestation of the differences between Singapore and Malaysia.
What is important is that the Singapore Government is allowed to allocate up to 6 per cent of its gross domestic product on defence. This is unlike the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), which obtains an allocation amounting to only a small percentage of the SAF's allocation.
That is why it was not a surprise when Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that the Malaysian government would look into its financial capability before making any decision on the purchase of new assets to enhance the capabilities of the country's defence, including helicopters to replace the Nuri.
It is not surprising because the MAF's defence allocation, as explained by the Malaysian Prime Minister, has to be in tandem with socio-economic development.
This makes Singaporeans confident of their country's security, defence and sovereignty. In other words, the self-confidence of Singaporeans is strong for a country with an area of 648 sq km and surrounded by bigger neighbours.
Contrary to what is generally believed, the self-confidence of Singaporeans does not depend solely on the grand defence system of the SAF, but more on the comprehensive involvement of its people in matters pertaining to the economy, society, politics, security and defence. One interesting thing about the defence concept adopted by Singapore is how the issues confronting the country have been imprinted onto the minds of its people as challenges to Singapore's defence and sovereignty.
The concept is successful given the effective delivery of the message to the people to always be prepared. This strategy, adopted by Singapore since 1984, is encapsulated in the concept known as 'Total Defence' or Pertahanan Menyeluruh, which is celebrated every year on Feb 15 to remind Singaporeans to always be prepared to face challenges.
It is not surprising that Singaporeans regard the issue of water supply from Malaysia as an issue affecting their country's security and sovereignty because this is part of the strategy in accordance to the concept of total defence. This is different from Malaysians, who look at the water issue from a commercial perspective - that is, to obtain justice in the price of water.
In fact, it is not an exaggeration to assume that should Singapore have issues with Malaysia or its other neighbours, Singaporeans would perceive that they are related to Singapore's security and sovereignty. Such is the effectiveness of Singapore's 'Total Defence'.
Malaysia also has its own total defence concept, known as Hanruh, introduced in 1986. It consists of five components: national vigilance, solidarity and unity of the community, public vigilance, economic fortitude and psychological resilience.
Although it has existed for more than two decades, the majority of Malaysians are still not familiar with Hanruh because the strategy has never been put into practice.
The writer is a geostrategist at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Malaysia.
UTUSAN MALAYSIA
obviously they have never come to this forum...
we are planning to overthrow the government from the inside soon! LOL!
Dec 10, 2009
SINGAPORE'S TOTAL DEFENCE DOCTRINE
Not just a concept but a living truth
By Azmi Hassan
IT IS indeed unfair to compare the defence systems of Malaysia and Singapore because both have different defence doctrines. Not only are their doctrines different, but their defence allocations are also different.
It cannot be denied that the military assets owned by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are desired not only by Malaysia, but also other countries that are more developed and richer than Singapore.
What the SAF displayed at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2009 (Lima 2009) is a clear manifestation of the differences between Singapore and Malaysia.
What is important is that the Singapore Government is allowed to allocate up to 6 per cent of its gross domestic product on defence. This is unlike the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), which obtains an allocation amounting to only a small percentage of the SAF's allocation.
That is why it was not a surprise when Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that the Malaysian government would look into its financial capability before making any decision on the purchase of new assets to enhance the capabilities of the country's defence, including helicopters to replace the Nuri.
It is not surprising because the MAF's defence allocation, as explained by the Malaysian Prime Minister, has to be in tandem with socio-economic development.
This makes Singaporeans confident of their country's security, defence and sovereignty. In other words, the self-confidence of Singaporeans is strong for a country with an area of 648 sq km and surrounded by bigger neighbours.
Contrary to what is generally believed, the self-confidence of Singaporeans does not depend solely on the grand defence system of the SAF, but more on the comprehensive involvement of its people in matters pertaining to the economy, society, politics, security and defence. One interesting thing about the defence concept adopted by Singapore is how the issues confronting the country have been imprinted onto the minds of its people as challenges to Singapore's defence and sovereignty.
The concept is successful given the effective delivery of the message to the people to always be prepared. This strategy, adopted by Singapore since 1984, is encapsulated in the concept known as 'Total Defence' or Pertahanan Menyeluruh, which is celebrated every year on Feb 15 to remind Singaporeans to always be prepared to face challenges.
It is not surprising that Singaporeans regard the issue of water supply from Malaysia as an issue affecting their country's security and sovereignty because this is part of the strategy in accordance to the concept of total defence. This is different from Malaysians, who look at the water issue from a commercial perspective - that is, to obtain justice in the price of water.
In fact, it is not an exaggeration to assume that should Singapore have issues with Malaysia or its other neighbours, Singaporeans would perceive that they are related to Singapore's security and sovereignty. Such is the effectiveness of Singapore's 'Total Defence'.
Malaysia also has its own total defence concept, known as Hanruh, introduced in 1986. It consists of five components: national vigilance, solidarity and unity of the community, public vigilance, economic fortitude and psychological resilience.
Although it has existed for more than two decades, the majority of Malaysians are still not familiar with Hanruh because the strategy has never been put into practice.
The writer is a geostrategist at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Malaysia.
UTUSAN MALAYSIA
