55 Newton Road #15-01
Revenue House
Singapore 307987
Tel: 6353 9419
Fax: 6252 2814
www.nscs.gov.sg
A SECURE &
RESILIENT
NATION
A Networked Government
A Cohesive Society
An Engaged People
NATIONAL SECURITY COORDINATION SECRETARIAT
VISION
A Secure & Resilient Nation:
A Networked Government, A Cohesive Society, An Engaged People.
MISSION
We strive to integrate the many parts and agencies which
collectively ensure Singapore’s national security by looking
ahead, catalysing capability development and creating shared
central awareness – to be a collaborative pathfinder to all.
VALUES
Integrity, Passion, Bringing Purpose and Value to
Partnerships with Trust.
1
1999-2003
2004
The National Security Secretariat (NSS)
was set up within the Ministry of Defence in
1999 to undertake the task of strengthening
coordination among Singapore’s existing
security agencies.
A National Security Strategic Master
Plan was instituted in 2002 to put in place
various response measures for identified
security domains.
The inaugural National Security Seminar
in 2003 served as an annual event to update
security practitioners in the civil service on the
latest developments on key national
security issues.
19992003
M
Inciden
rorist
r
e
T
ajor
ts
• Sep 11 terrorist attacks in the United States
• Discovery of a Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) Plot
to Attack Yishun MRT Station and Foreign
Embassies (Dec 2001)
• Bali Bombings I (Oct 2002)
• Arrests of JI terrorists Mas Selamat Kastari and Hambali (2003)
2005-2006
The Strategic Framework for
National Security was formalised
in Jul 2004 after a major review of
Singapore’s security architecture.
The inaugural National Security Dialogue was
held in Jan 2005 to raise the business community’s
awareness of their roles and responsibilities towards
national security.
The National Security Coordination
Secretariat (NSCS), comprising the
National Security Coordination Centre
(NSCC) and the Joint Counter-Terrorism
Centre (JCTC), was established in the
Prime Minister’s Office to carry out the
coordination of strategic planning, policy
formulation and capability development
in security and intelligence across
agencies and domains.
The National Security Engineering Centre
(NSEC) was set up in partnership with the Defence
Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) in Nov
2005 to better coordinate and focus technology and
engineering efforts in national security.
The Risk Assessment and Horizon
Scanning (RAHS) programme was
established to explore methods and tools
that complement scenario planning
in anticipating strategic issues
2004
with possible significant impact
on Singapore.
• Madrid Train Bombings
(Mar 2004)
• Australian Embassy Bombing in Jakarta
(Sep 2004)
The Centre of Excellence for National Security
(CENS) was established in the S. Rajaratnam
School of International Studies (RSIS) at the Nanyang
Technological University of Singapore (NTU) in Apr
2006 to increase the intellectual capital invested in
strategising national security.
A general public campaign, “The Pledge”,
was launched in 2006 to increase public
awareness of the terrorism threat that
confronts Singapore.
20052006
• London Bombings
(Jul 2005)
• Bali Bombings II
(Oct 2005)
Fra
• Mumbai Train Bombings
(Jul 2006)
apor
for Sing
k
r
o
mew
2007
2008-2011
The inaugural Asia Pacific
Programme for Senior
National Security
Officers (APPSNO) was
jointly organised with CENS
in 2007 to provide senior
government officials from
the Asia-Pacific and beyond
with an enhanced exposure
to global best practices in
national security.
The National Security Initiatives
Review was completed in Oct 2011.
It evaluated Singapore’s national
security efforts against the threat of
transnational terrorism and examined
areas where improvements could
be made.
A review of the Strategic
Framework for National Security
was conducted in 2011 to better guide
the government’s actions to enhance
Singapore’s national security.
FROM 2012
The RAHS Programme was reorganised into the RAHS Programme
Office (RPO) in Jan 2012, with three constituent centres of expertise:
RAHS Think Centre, RAHS Solutions Centre and RAHS Experimentation
Centre.
The Resilience Policy and Research Unit (RPRU) was set up in
NSCC in Apr 2012 as a central resilience coordination outfit at the centre
of government to devise and coordinate resilience policy-making
and research programmes.
The Joint Counter-Terrorism Centre was renamed National Security
Research Centre (NSRC) in May 2012, in recognition that challenges
to national security extend beyond transnational terrorism.
The NSCS Programme on Interdependency Assessment and
Studies (NIDAS) was set up in the Defence Science Organisation
(DSO) National Laboratories in Nov 2012 to serve as the national focal
point for the study of interdependencies within and across domains that
impact Singapore’s national security.
2007
•
Detention of Law Lecturer
Abdul Basheer, Self-
radicalised by Extremist Ideas from the Internet (Feb 2007)
ecurity
re N a t i o n a l S
20082011
From
2012
• Jakarta Hotel Bombings (Jul 2009)
• Bomb Blasts in Delhi and Bangkok (Feb 2012)
• Detention of Full-time National Serviceman,
Self-radicalised Through Teachings of Radical
Clerics Posted Online (Aprl 2010)
• Stockholm Attacks (Jul 2011)
• Militant Plot to Bomb Tourist Areas in Bali Averted
(Mar 2012)
Other Emerging Challenges
2008
A global food crisis was set off with China, Egypt, Vietnam and
India curbing sales to protect their domestic stockpiles, leading to
record high prices and exacerbating social tensions around many parts of the world.
2009
Singapore was hit with the H1N1 Pandemic, six years after
the SARS outbreak, along with more than 70 countries.
2010
A computer super virus, Stuxnet was suspected to have
targeted the Iranian nuclear programme.
2011
Large amounts of radioactive material were released
into the atmosphere following a major earthquake that
crippled the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant in Japan.
4
NATIONAL SECURITY COORDINATION SECRETARIAT
NATIONAL
SECURITY
COORDINATING
STRUCTURES
The whole-of-government coordination and
collaboration to strengthen Singapore’s
capabilities against threats to our national
security is overseen by a ministerial-level
Security Policy Review Committee (SPRC)
and two senior official-level committees,
the
National
Security
Coordinating
Committee (NSCCom) and the Intelligence
Coordinating Committee (ICC). Inter-Ministry
Committees (IMCs) were also established
to undertake capability development and
develop strategic plans in specific domains.
•Security Policy Review Committee (SPRC)
Chaired by the Coordinating Minister for
National Security, this Ministerial Committee
deliberates, directs and guides national
security strategy planning and policy
formulation.
•National Security Coordinating Committee (NSCCom)
Chaired by the Permanent Secretary
for National Security and Intelligence
Coordination, NSCCom is an Executive
Committee which reports to SPRC, and
supports and executes SPRC decisions.
•Intelligence Coordinating Committee (ICC)
Officers from the Republic of Singapore Navy, Singapore Customs, Singapore Police
Force, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, and Maritime and Port Authority work
together as part of the National Maritime Security System launched in 2011.
ICC deliberates on developments in terrorism
and national security-related issues, and
provides direction for strategic analysis and
follow-up actions. This committee is chaired
by the Permanent Secretary for National
Security and Intelligence Coordination, and
reports to the SPRC.
National Security Framework
SECURITY POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE
Chaired by DPM/Coordinating Minister for National Security
with Ministers for Home Affairs, Defence, Foreign Affairs,
Transport and senior officials
NATIONAL SECURITY COORDINATING
COMMITTEE
Chaired by PS (National Security and
Intelligence Coordination)
INTELLIGENCE COORDINATING
COMMITTEE
Chaired by PS (National Security and
Intelligence Coordination)
10 Inter-Ministry Committees (IMCs)
Focus on specific domain areas
Supply Chain
Aviation
Public Transport
Maritime
Sea Lanes of
Communication
Security Sensitive
Materials
MINDEF-MHA
Collaboration
Food Security
Critical
Infrastructure
Infocomm Security
National Security Seminar
Since its inception in 2003, the NSS has been a key forum
to promote greater understanding of important issues and
developments in national security. It also serves as a platform
for agencies in the national security community to interact and
network with each other, to broaden their perspectives beyond
agency-specific initiatives, and foster a whole-of-government
approach towards security.
NATIONAL SECURITY COORDINATION SECRETARIAT
7
NSCS is headed by the Permanent Secretary for National Security and Intelligence Coordination and comprises two bodies – the National
Security Coordination Centre and the National Security Research Centre.
Coordinating Minister
for National Security
Permanent Secretary
(National Security and
Intelligence Coordination)
National Security
Coordination Centre
Resilience
Policy and
Research
Unit
RAHS
Think
Centre
RAHS
Programme
Office
RAHS
Solutions
Centre
Policy and
International
Relations
RAHS
Experimentation
Centre
National Security
Research Centre
Strategic
Plans and
Resources
Joint
CounterTerrorism
Centre
National
Security Risk
Assessment
Group
Terrorism
and
Extremism
Futures
Group
Domestic
Security
Mapping and
Monitoring
Group
Information
Management
Corporate Services
NSCS
ORGANISATION STRUCTURE
8
NATIONAL SECURITY COORDINATION SECRETARIAT
NSCC also works closely with other ministries and agencies to track
capability development across areas such as maritime security, aviation
security, public transport security, critical infrastructure protection,
cyber security, border control, and defence against CBRE (chemical,
biological, radiological and explosives) threats. In doing so, NSCC
ensures that efforts by agencies across Government complement
each other and there is no unnecessary duplication.
NATIONAL SECURITY COORDINATION SECRETARIAT
9
The National Security Coordination Centre (NSCC) strengthens coordination and collaboration across Government, by leading and
facilitating programmes that support our nation’s security, resilience and preparedness against strategic threats.
Enhances WOG strategic
anticipation capabilities
through engaging analyses,
robust processes and
leading-edge systems
Engages foreign countries
and organisations to support
national security needs of
Singapore
Develops and manages
the National Security
Technology Roadmap
and supports inter-agency
technology collaboration
Supports research
programmes to enhance
our understanding of
national security issues and
challenges
Risk
Assessment &
Horizon Scanning
International
Collaboration
Technology
Management
Policy &
Planning
National
Security
Coordination
Centre
Intellectual
Capital
Development
Formulates, reviews and
coordinates national
security policies
and programmes
Resource
Management
Resilience
Policy &
Research
Coordinates WOG surveys
and research on resilience to
better inform policy-making
on building resilience
in Singapore
National
Security
Awareness
Building
Undertakes outreach activities
targeting the general public,
businesses and schools to
raise awareness of national
security issues
Funds projects related
to National Security and
Emergency Preparedness to
encourage a WOG approach
towards capability development
The National Security Research Centre (NSRC) first began as the
Joint Counter-Terrorism Centre (JCTC) in 2004, where it sought
to provide strategic analysis of terrorism-related issues via its
core programme: the risk assessment of domains of security
interest. This work was carried out in close collaboration with
other ministries and agencies.
Since mid-2011, with the evolving transnational terrorist threat and
an increasingly complex security environment, JCTC has taken
on additional work related to other national security challenges,
beyond its core of strategic analysis of terrorism. JCTC was
renamed as NSRC on 1 May 2012 to recognise the expansion of
the Centre’s scope of work. “JCTC”, however, has been retained
as the label of one of the research units within NSRC as a sign
of the Singapore Government’s continued commitment towards
fighting terrorism.
NATIONAL SECURITY COORDINATION SECRETARIAT
11
The National Security Research Centre’s (NSRC) mission is to provide strategic and futures analysis of terrorism and other national
security issues in support of strategic planning, policy formulation and capability development.
Te
r
As ror
i
Pr ses sm
og sm R
is
ra
m ent k
m
e
National
Security
Research
Centre
Dom
urit estic
Pro y Mapp
gra
mm ing
e
ty
curi
l Se ment
iona
s
Nat Asses e
m
Risk ogram
Pr
Seeks to enable the comparison
of risk across a range of national
security issues including terrorism
is
ys
al
n
A ism
c
gi rror me
e
t
m
ra Te ra
St of rog
P
Sec
Delivers strategic analysis of jihadi
terrorism along regional lines, and
undertakes the monitoring of emergent
jihadi terrorism-related developments
Terrorism and
Extremism Futures
Programme
Monitors developments in non-jihadi
terrorism and non-jihadi extremism, and
actively experiments with analytical tools
to better understand issues of
security concern
Focuses on risk assessment of
terrorism within key domains such
as aviation, maritime and
public land transport
Compiles scenarios, using our in-house
Integrated Backcasting Methodology, to
map how domestic security challenges
to Singapore may unfold
12
NATIONAL SECURITY COORDINATION SECRETARIAT
NATIONAL SECURITY AWARENESS BUILDING
NSCS undertakes various outreach initiatives targeting specific segments of society. These include general public mass
media campaigns to increase public awareness of the threat of terrorism that confronts Singapore, the publication of a public
document, The Fight Against Terror: Singapore’s National Security Strategy in Aug 2004; the publication of 1826 Days –
A Diary of Resolve in Nov 2006 and Close Watch – A Nation’s Resolve to Secure Singapore in Apr 2012, both of which
recorded Singapore’s efforts as a nation to confront the threat of terrorism since the Sep 11 attacks; annual National Security
Conferences with the business community organised with the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and various educational
projects targeted at school children and educators. These include the National Security Comic Book for primary schools as
well as a Manga Book for teenagers and the Pick & Ponder cards, which feature events relating to various national security
challenges, as resource tools for schools.
Asia-Pacific Programme for
Senior National Security Officers
The Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers
(APPSNO) is one of the focal programmes endorsed under
the National Security Strategic Framework to support the interagency and network-centric character of Singapore’s national
security architecture. It aims to provide senior government officials
from the Asia-Pacific and beyond with better understanding of
transnational terrorism and an exposure to global best practices in
national security.
14
NATIONAL SECURITY COORDINATION SECRETARIAT
International Risk Assessment and Horizon Scanning Symposium
The International Risk Assessment and Horizon Scanning Symposium (IRAHSS), organised by NSCS, provides the opportunity for
sharing developments in Singapore’s RAHS Programme, networking for collaborative projects, and developing a forward-looking
mindset for managing in an increasingly complex environment.
NATIONAL SECURITY COORDINATION SECRETARIAT
RAHS
Excite policy-makers with insights to
emerging risks and opportunities with
national security implications
Horizon Scanning,
Research and Analysis
RAHS
Enable policy practitioners with
competencies in strategic anticipation and
explore new concepts
Agency Engagement,
Process Development,
Concept Exploration
RAHS
Experiment with emerging processes and
technologies and integrate them into
RAHS system
Experimentation,
RAHS System Maintenance
THINK CENTRE
SOLUTIONS CENTRE
EXPERIMENTATION CENTRE
RPO strives to enhance policy-making capabilities through engaging analyses, robust processes and leading-edge systems.
The vision of RPO is to be a leading centre of expertise in strategic anticipation for national security.
There are 3 constituent centres in RPO. The RAHS Think Centre analyses emerging and cross-cutting issues across 14 domains
and generates a range of information products. The RAHS Solutions Centre explores new concepts that enhance policy-making,
builds foresight capabilities in government, and develops processes to aid analysis. The RAHS Experimentation Centre,
set up in collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), develops the RAHS System, and experiments
with new technological tools to enhance policy-making capabilities.
15
16
NATIONAL SECURITY COORDINATION SECRETARIAT
CENTRES IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL SECURITY
NSCC works with external partners in
establishing competency centres to support
the National Security agenda.
National Security Engineering
Centre (NSEC)
NSEC was set up in November 2005 in
partnership with the Defence Science and
Technology Agency (DSTA) to provide
technological and engineering support to
meet the defence and national security
needs of Singapore.
NSEC conducts technology road mapping
at the strategic level and establishes
technology collaboration with key partners.
Leveraging on DSTA’s network of local
and international technology collaborators,
NSEC researches and develops promising
technologies that can revolutionise
security operations.
Centre of Excellence for National
Security (CENS)
A research unit of the S. Rajaratnam
School of International Studies (RSIS)
at the Nanyang Technological University
of Singapore (NTU), CENS was set up
in Apr 2006 to conduct research and
undertake policy-relevant analysis on
a range of national security issues.
The three research domains are:
- Radicalisation Studies
The multi-disciplinary study of the
indicators and causes of violent
extremism
-
Social Resilience
The study of both the source and ways
of promoting the capacity of multicultural
societies to hold together in the face of
systemic shocks
- Homeland Defence
A broad domain encompassing risk
management and crisis communication
NSCS Programme on Interdependency Assessment and Studies (NIDAS)
In partnership with the Defence Science
Organisation (DSO), the NSCS Programme
on Interdependency Assessment and Studies
(NIDAS) was set up in 2012 to serve as
the national focal point for the study of
interdependencies within and across
domains that impact Singapore’s national
security.