SDP proposing $5.75b cut to annual defense budget

weasel1962 SG

To pay for its healthcare proposal, SDP is proposing $5.75b cut to annual defense budget (currently $12.285b). Essentially, ~47% of the armed forces will need to be retired/eliminated.

Can Singapore remain safe with half its current forces e.g. 2 fighter sqn instead of 4? Half its navy, army etc.

fudgester SG

And how do they want to cut the SAF in half?

Offer early retirement to all Enciks, and make only half the population do NS?

alize SG

1 year NS?

Even if it is workable it is unpalatable. SDP don't get it.

sgdiehard SG

Cut defence to pay for healthcare, it is always easy to fund projects with somebody's else money and it is always easy to cut the money that they do not make.

fudgester SG

1 year NS?

Even if it is workable it is unpalatable. SDP don't get it.

1 year NS, regardless of what the kids here may think, is not workable.

Even two years is already seriously pushing it. Really.

No one wants to do extra NS, but we really have to be realistic here.

alize SG

It's workable if we restructure the SAF to

1. make better use of training time. Eg we used to make CPL and above serve longer because they entered ahead of LCPs. Later we cut it down because we found it was not necessary.

2. place regulars in positions that require longer training. Eg in other militaries, highly technical vocations are held by regulars. Infantrymen go to war after completing BMT, advanced individual training and some exercises. Some return from deployment before a full year in service.

3. make everybody serve and we can get closer to the desired force size. Even if we make them be clerk and free up true citizens to do the grunt work, it is still better than letting them go without serving.

alize SG

Ultimately it is the last point where our Govt has failed and is more dangerous than reducing NS years, budget or numbers.

By being discriminatory, they have made people question NS. NS was once a sacred cow and talking about cuts was political suicide. Now it is being discussed openly.

dragg SG

1 year NS, regardless of what the kids here may think, is not workable.

Even two years is already seriously pushing it. Really.

No one wants to do extra NS, but we really have to be realistic here.

if they cut NS by half they'll need more money to pay for new recruits to join the military. thats more tax!!!

ditzy SG

EXACTLY!!!

Susanteo2011 SG

To pay for its healthcare proposal, SDP is proposing $5.75b cut to annual defense budget (currently $12.285b). Essentially, ~47% of the armed forces will need to be retired/eliminated.

Can Singapore remain safe with half its current forces e.g. 2 fighter sqn instead of 4? Half its navy, army etc.

with S'pore being a top oil refinery and forex trading centres plus so much foreign money here..........

even if S'pore don't even have a single soldier...........and we BEG M'sia or Indonesia to invade us................also they won't.................

Susanteo2011 SG

And how do they want to cut the SAF in half?

Offer early retirement to all Enciks, and make only half the population do NS?

no more NS..........only regulars

Army - reduce to just commandos in case got hijacking

Navy - reduce to coast guard standard for search & rescue + anti-pirace & smuggling

Air Force - keep choppers only for search & rescue

kick out many foreigners in S'pore so these ''excess'' people can join private sector.........

Li hao Lim Matthew SG

can we seek USA help to place more troops here so we can spend less ourselves?

i see that most army regulars are really a waste of taxes feeding them

Li hao Lim Matthew SG

1 year NS, regardless of what the kids here may think, is not workable.

Even two years is already seriously pushing it. Really.

No one wants to do extra NS, but we really have to be realistic here.

why is that so.

only commanders need more than 1 year. those enlistees should be just 1 year

Summer hill SG

Good! ST engineering wasted quite a lot of money.

Everything write off.

sgdiehard SG

why is that so.

only commanders need more than 1 year. those enlistees should be just 1 year

have you served NS?

weasel1962 SG

with S'pore being a top oil refinery and forex trading centres plus so much foreign money here..........

even if S'pore don't even have a single soldier...........and we BEG M'sia or Indonesia to invade us................also they won't.................

In that case, no need defence budget lah. Save $12 billion. Maybe can get WIT(les)S prize.

lce SG

without the defence $$$$ , some garhmen related companies will just go bust Laughing

lce SG

cuttin short NS will be gud as most of us r just wastin time

Li hao Lim Matthew SG

have you served NS?

does it matter?

weasel1962 SG

Woohoo. ST to build 4x Fearless OPV @S$880m for Oman.

http://www.stengg.com/press-centre/press-releases/st-engineering's-marine-arm-secures-s$880m-contract-to-design-and-build-four-patrol-vessels-for-the-royal-navy-of-oman

People dun realise that if even Singapore dun use it, no one will buy it.