SINGAPORE – All former and current national servicemen, including reservists and full-time national servicemen (NSFs) who enlist in 2024, will receive $200 in cash credits to recognise their contribution to Singapore’s defence.
Meanwhile, a new National Cybersecurity Command Centre will be set up to improve the Republic’s ability to detect and neutralise cyber threats.
Announcing these in his Budget speech on Feb 16, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the credits are a small gesture to express the nation’s gratitude to national servicemen, who have served faithfully and made immeasurable sacrifices for Singapore’s peace and security.
“The backbone of our defence and security remains national service,” he said. The initiative will cost $240 million and benefit 1.2 million NSmen and NSFs.
The credits, to be disbursed in November, can be spent at more than 100,000 merchants that accept payment via PayNow or Nets QR, and will be valid for a year from issuance. Eligible recipients will be notified via a text message, and the credits will be accessible via the LifeSG mobile app.
DPM Wong noted that in today’s world, defence and security apply not just in the physical space but also in the digital domain, with scams, denial-of-service attacks and other cyber threats becoming increasingly commonplace.
New technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing – next-generation computers that can unravel modern passcodes in seconds – have also changed the threat landscape, with cyber attacks set to increase in speed, scale and sophistication, he added.
The new cyber-security command centre will therefore better coordinate Singapore’s cyber defence operations, improve collaboration between industry and academia, and propel innovation in cybersecurity, said DPM Wong.
It will be located in the upcoming Punggol Digital District – Singapore’s first smart business district that is due for completion in 2026.
The new centre will complement other steps Singapore has taken to strengthen its cyber defence, such as the establishment in 2022 of the Digital and Intelligence Service as the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) fourth service, noted DPM Wong.
He added that Singapore will continue to invest steadily in defence, as it has done since independence, to safeguard the nation’s peace and security.
Singapore’s defence budget was kept at around 3 per cent to 4 per cent of gross domestic product annually over the last 20 years, while spending on domestic security has doubled over the past decade to more than $8 billion, which is about 1.3 per cent of GDP, he noted.
“We will continue to build and maintain a strong and effective SAF and Home Team. We will invest in them, and upgrade their capabilities year by year to protect ourselves from potential aggressors and security threats.”
