NS officers have made crucial contributions to Singapore's nation-building: Desmond Lee

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Senior Minister of State Desmond Lee giving his speech at the launch of the SCDF NS Gallery on Friday, April 28.
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Senior Minister of State Desmond Lee with SCDF Commissioner Eric Yap on his right listening to a presentation on the rescue operation for the Hotel New World Collapse in 1986.
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Mr Tan Kim Teck, an SCDF reservist who volunteered to help in rescue operations during the 1986 Hotel New World collapse. He describes his search for survivors at the building's basement carpark.
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SCDF Commissioner Eric Yap at the opening of the SCDF NS Gallery at the Civil Defence Academy in Jalan Bahar.
Visitors tour the newly opened SCDF NS Gallery. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
SGT (NS) Tan Kim Teck, who was involved with operations during the Hotel New World collapse, pictured in the newly opened SCDF NS Gallery. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
SGT (NS) Tan Kim Teck, who was involved with operations during the Hotel New World collapse, pictured in the newly opened SCDF NS Gallery. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Senior Minister Desmond Lee tours the newly opened SCDF NS Gallery. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

SINGAPORE - The contributions of generations of NS officers have been crucial to Singapore's nation-building, said Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development Desmond Lee.

They serve with the same commitment as their regular counterparts and share the common responsibility of keeping Singapore safe and secure, Mr Lee said in a speech during the officially opening of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) NS Gallery on Friday (April 28).

The event, co-hosted by SCDF Commissioner Eric Yap, was held at National Service Training Institute in Jalan Bahar.

In commemorating 50 years of national service, the gallery traces the journey, including the contributions and transformation of national service in the SCDF from the mid-1970s to present day.

Mr Lee said: "The SCDF NS gallery is designed as 'The Home of the Rescuers'. It is a walk-down memory lane for our NSmen."

Among the guests were SCDF NSmen, pioneers and those currently serving their national service including regular officers.

Some of the pioneer NSmen present were involved in firefighting and rescue operations like the 1988 oil refinery fire at Pulau Merlimau and the 1986 Hotel New World collapse.

On display at the gallery were equipment used and uniforms worn by predecessors of the current generation.

Commissioner Yap said: "The life-saving force of SCDF operationally ready NSmen, as well as full-time NSF, are an extremely important group of people. They perform emergency response duties alongside our regulars on a day-to-day basis round the clock to make sure that every emergency incident gets responded to in a very prompt fashion. "

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