Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 26 October 2005 1243 hrs
Singapore developing risk assessment, scanning system to counter
new security threats
SINGAPORE : Singapore is coming up with a dedicated risk assessment
and horizon scanning system to counter new and unanticipated
security threats.
It is being developed by the National Security Coordination
Secretariat in the Prime Minister's Office in collaboration with
other government agencies.
Deputy Prime Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for National
Security, Professor S. Jayakumar, said this new capability would
help to integrate the country's strategic planning, intelligence,
research and surveillance processes.
Professor Jayakumar, who is also the Minister for Law, was speaking
at the third annual National Security Seminar on Wednesday.
The seminar brings together key members of Singapore's security
community, as well as other non-government participants interested
in security issues.
The proposed system will look for small signals, track multiple
scenarios and put in place collective frameworks to address new and
emerging problems and challenges.
It will then help the authorities to anticipate strategic
surprises, alerting policy-makers and operational agencies of
changes to Singapore's national security environment.
Professor Jayakumar said it would be like "long-range radar" to
identify, assess and counter emerging threats to the country.
He stressed that safeguarding our homeland would be a long-term
collaborative effort involving a wide range of government
agencies.
While Singapore has come a long way since September 11, it must
upgrade its systems and surveillance to encompass not just the
common-place but also the "inconceivable" and the
"unexpected".
Professor Jayakumar said Singapore was moving in the right
direction with the new and emerging concept of horizon-scanning and
risk assessment. - CNA/de
