SPEECH BY MR TEO CHEE HEAN,MINISTER FOR DEFENCE, AT COMMITTEE OF
SUPPLY DEBATE ON DEFENCE BUDGET, 5 MARCH 2007, 4.00 PM AT
PARLIAMENT HOUSE
An excerpt.
"26. The SAF will be undertaking two humanitarian and
reconstruction projects in Afghanistan as part of the New Zealand
Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamiyan Province in central
Afghanistan. The SAF and NZDF know each other well and have
previously deployed together in the UN mission in East Timor. The
NZDF has operated in Bamiyan Province since 2003. Their personnel
have built up a strong foundation of trust with the local community
and provincial government.
27. For the first project, the SAF will deploy a five-man medical
team to Bamiyan hospital to set up a dental clinic. The SAF team
will bring specialised equipment, set up the clinic, and train
local Afghans to take over the clinic on a long term basis.
Separately, under the Singapore Co-operation Programme, training
will also be provided to the Afghans in dentistry and basic
healthcare so they can build up sustainable capabilities. For the
second project, a five-man SAF combat engineering team will
undertake bridge construction and repair work, together with the
NZDF and local Afghan contractors. The SAF assessed these projects
would be most helpful to the Afghan people after consulting the
NZDF, and the Afghan Government and local Afghan authorities during
a site visit. Each team will be deployed for three months. We are
currently working out the details with the parties involved,
including the NZDF, NATO and the Afghan Government.
28. Mr Chairman Sir, the Singapore Government will continue to
contribute within our means to international peace support
operations, as well as relief and reconstruction efforts where the
SAF can usefully play a role. But the primary mission of the SAF
will still be to defend Singapore. Our security is our top
priority. "
https://app-pac.mica.gov.sg/data/vddp/embargo/12931512.html
