SID marked its 60th anniversary with a closed-door event on Friday (Sep 4) to honour the contributions of both present and past officers.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong attended the event and was joined by Senior Minister K Shanmugam, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing and Senior Advisor in the Prime Minister’s Office Teo Chee Hean.
Speaking during the event, Mr Wong highlighted the value SID has provided to Singapore’s leadership and the agency’s unique contributions to the nation’s security and success over the years.
“Over the past 60 years, SID has played important roles at critical junctures in Singapore’s history. There are many others which may never enter the public record, and will not be discussed, even in a closed-door setting like this,” Mr Wong said during a speech.
“But through all of them, SID has helped successive generations of Singapore leaders see the world more clearly – identify threats early, understand the intentions of others, and make difficult decisions with greater confidence.”
He also expressed appreciation to past and present SID officers, including pioneer leaders such as former SID directors Mr Tay Seow Huah, Mr S R Nathan and Mr Eddie Teo.
Looking ahead, he said the external environment has changed, which means SID’s work will only become more demanding and more important.
“We all know the world is becoming less safe – it is more contested, more fragmented and less predictable,” said Mr Wong.
“The threats are also becoming more varied.”
Previously, many assumptions about the external environment could be taken as relatively stable.
“Today, we have to watch many things more closely – how relationships are shifting, where dependencies are building up, how new restrictions may affect us, and where the next vulnerabilities may emerge,” said the prime minister.
“At the same time, the boundaries between security, economics and technology are becoming less distinct. Trade, investment, supply chains and access to technology are increasingly being used as instruments of statecraft.
“Economic dependencies can create strategic vulnerabilities; commercial decisions can have national security consequences.”
Mr Wong encouraged the agency to continue sharpening its edge to keep Singapore safe and ahead.
“We need to understand not just what countries are saying and doing politically, but also how they may use all sorts of different levers, economic and technological levers, to advance their interests.
“SID must therefore help us understand these shifts early, assess what they mean for Singapore, and give us the foresight to prepare and respond.”
All that makes SID’s work more complex, more demanding and more consequential.
The agency must continue to adapt and strengthen its capabilities going forward, said Mr Wong.
“SID must help the government see patterns that others may miss, understand intentions that are not openly stated, and anticipate what may happen next.”
He also said the agency must continue to attract and retain people with sharp minds, sound judgment, deep expertise and a strong sense of mission for the country.
“SID has truly come a long way over these past six decades. From a small group of pioneers working quietly after hours, you have grown into a professional and capable intelligence service,” Mr Wong added.
“For a small country like Singapore, that ability to anticipate, understand and act early is a vital source of strategic advantage. And you help contribute to this strategic advantage.”