SINGAPORE, July 25 — Even though we have enjoyed 50 years of peace, the Republic will always need a strong Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), which will in turn need the support of all Singaporeans, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday.

But Singaporeans will only support the SAF if they are proud to be Singaporeans, said Lee, who was speaking at the SAF’s 50^th anniversary dinner, where he also paid tribute to the contributions of servicemen over the years.

While hoping that the next 50 years will be as peaceful as the last, Lee said no one could be certain that there will be no tension and conflict in Asia. Noting that five decades is “a very long time”, he said: “If there is trouble, we cannot depend on being lucky enough to avoid problems.

“We must be ready to defend ourselves if any troubles come our way.”

Apart from keeping up to date with the latest technologies, and adapting and finding new ways to fight smarter and more effectively, the SAF will also need the support of all soldiers, airmen, sailors and Singaporeans.

“Singaporeans will only support the SAF if we are all, in the first place, proud to be Singaporeans.

“And to be proud of being Singaporean, this has to be an outstanding country, one which we all have a stake in, one which we’ve all helped to build, and one which we will defend,” said Lee.

Full commitment was also expected from all servicemen.

“Being a soldier is not a job, but a calling,” he said to a 1,000-strong crowd of retired and active SAF and Ministry of Defence personnel and their spouses at Pasir Laba camp.

Expressing his appreciation for the contributions of SAF pioneers, regulars, operationally ready national servicemen, and the families and members of the public who have supported the system over the years, Lee noted that the contributions of the SAF have spanned domestic crises, international aid and relief work, organising national events and one special mission: Operation White Light, the State Funeral for founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

“The SAF poured their heart and soul into this. You executed it outstandingly well and you did Singapore proud,” said Lee.

A commemorative book, Giving Strength to our Nation: The SAF and its People, was also launched by the Prime Minister today, chronicling the contributions of SAF personnel over the years.

Lee also said that even though the first generation of soldiers have retired, their spirit “must live on in all of us”.

“And their values, the values of courage, of self-sacrifice, of service to the nation must be handed down from generation to generation,” he said.

Speaking at the celebrations today, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Ng Chee Meng, who has served for 29 years, said that pioneers, such as the first Chief of Defence Force LG (Ret) 
Winston Choo, are often invited back to share their tales of battle with young recruits and imbue in them a sense of responsibility.

LG (Ret) Choo, who was present today, added: “Veterans should (not) try to teach the SAF what it should be doing, because we’ve gone past our time ... (We) should take the opportunity to talk to the younger soldiers … and tell them what it was like during our time when we had to build up the SAF.

“A lot of young people think we have no threat now. It’s not true. The moment you let your guard down, there will be a big threat.”

The public can register at the SAF50 website (www.saf50years.sg) from today till Aug 6 to get a copy. A PDF version will be available online from Aug 15. — TODAY