Teo Chee Hean on the deaths of the 2 SAF
personnel
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean says the Singapore Armed Forces
is satisfied that all its training procedures are in place and
closely adhered to.
This comes after its three-day timeout on all physical and
endurance training activities ended at 7pm yesterday.
Such activities were temporarily suspended following the recent
sudden deaths of Officer Cadet Clifton Lam and Recruit Andrew
Cheah.
Mr Teo says SAF reviewed its training, medical and safety
procedures during the time out.
"They've completed that, looked at all the procedures and SAF is
satisfied the procedures are in place and they are being followed.
This three-day timeout has been very useful because it has allowed
review of the procedures to make sure they are all there. And it
also heightened awareness among the commanders and the individual
soldiers themselves on the issues involved in physical endurance
training."
Meanwhile, SAF has formed two inquiry panels to investigate the
two deaths.
MINDEF will be working with an independent committee of
inquiries chaired by a senior civil servant from another
organisation to look into the death of Recruit Cheah - a full time
National Serviceman.
Meanwhile, a separate committee from MINDEF will investigate the
death of Officer Cadet Lam, a regular serviceman.
Mr Teo says a coroner's inquiry will also be held to investigate
the deaths.
"Separately and independently, of course, the coroner's inquiry
will proceed and it's held in open court and the coroner will
determine the cause of death."
Recruit Cheah died after fainting during a two kilometer walk at
Pulau Tekong on Tuesday.
Officer Cadet Lam, on the other hand, died during jungle
training in Brunei the following day. -- 938Live