http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,5562,351989,00.html?
I always find it strange and uneasy whenever I see Gurkha
policemen, often armed with sub-machine guns, deployed to provide
guard duty in some public places. It creates a disquieting
atmosphere.
I notice that Gurkhas are increasingly deployed in more vital
installations such as ferry terminals, Tuas and Woodlands
checkpoints, the homes of high-level government officers, and some
foreign properties.
I can understand the need to increase the level of security in the
light of the increased terrorist threat. But why use the Gurkhas?
Why don't we use our own Singapore policemen?
The only reason I can be think of is that the government trusts the
Gurkhas and considers them highly-skilled, given their discipline,
courage and dedication.
But this begs a question: are we not having many well-trained
police officers who are equally tough, skilled and most of all,
loyal?
As I see it, deploying the Gurkhas in public places gives a wrong
signal to Singaporeans about Singapore's ability to protect its own
citizens with its own security people.
Worse, it gives foreign visitors an impression that Singapore is
not capable of providing its own security personnel and has to
employ Gurkhas to protect the country.
Looking back, the Gurkha contingent was first introduced in
Singapore in 1949 by the British government to battle the communist
threat and racial violence.
At that time, the local police were perceived to be biased towards
their own communities and the deployment of the Gurkha contingent
was essential as it carried out its duties impartially when dealing
with civil disturbances. But it's been 40 years since Singapore's
independence. What is the logic for the government to continue
relying on the Gurkhas to protect our people and assets?
As Singapore is now more developed, the government has built up a
strong and multi-ethnic police force that is efficient,
trustworthy, impartial and loyal.
It has an elite police tactical unit (PTU) that is used to manage
serious situations such as civil unrest and cases involving
firearms. Many in the older generations will surely remember these
feared PTU officers, then called the reserve unit, with their
batons and body shields during those turbulence years in the
60s.
After the 9/11 incident, the police has started deploying the PTU
since 2004 to patrol more public places such as Orchard Road and
Holland Road to address terrorism concerns.
If the PTU officers can be used in such places, they should be used
in other key installations as well instead of deploying the
Gurkhas. The Gurkhas should be reserved for cases involving major
security threats only. We should and must be able to protect our
own people.
Seah Leong Khai
=================
My reply to Seah is:
Because local police are on standby for dangerous plycard wielding
demonstrators and rammaging white elephants.
