12/11/2018

What we Cannot Defend Do Not Belong to us.

A Singapore Lesson













Déjà vu 2002.  A young Singapore National Service Army Reservist (NSman) packed his uniforms and military gear into his car, ready to report and fights the war for which he had been trained for and been on standby for over 15 years earlier.  He had hoped that war will never come; but he remembered Sun Tzu’s 1st Principle in The Art of War - “Do not assume that the enemy will not come, but be prepared for his coming”.   

2018 last week, 16 years on; the sons of Singapore’s earlier NSmen braced themselves as they stood their ground for the potential armed conflicts which none of us actually wanted but prepared for.   

In 2002, a Malaysian gunboat had intruded and dropped anchor in Singapore waters in the vicinity of Pedra Branca Island where Horsburgh Lighthouse stands.  This unannounced provocative action followed Malaysia’s arbitrary claim of sovereignty and ownership over the Island and the Lighthouse, which was built by the British in 1851, without producing any basis for her purported legitimacy. Singapore had operated the Horsburgh Lighthouse on the granite island for more than 130 years without protest from its neighbour Malaysia (formerly Malaya), who actually acknowledged in a 1953 letter that “Johore (Malaya’s Southernmost State) does not claim ownership of Pedra Branca”.

For over more than a few days in 2002, the Singapore Navy encircled the Malaysian gunboat as our elite Commandos secured the Lighthouse, on the soccer-field size Island, with machine gun positions and other defensive weapons.  The standoff was tense and intense.  Elsewhere, 14 km away on the Singapore mainland, I had enjoined several thousand other NSmen readied to be deployed for the Mission which we were operationally-ready and trained for – to protect and safeguard the sovereignty of Singapore.

Then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew knew that the Petra Branca situation should not be allowed to fester and remain.  A Malaysian political party had already called for the invasion and occupation of the Island and Lighthouse.  PM Lee ordered the Malaysian gunboat to leave (by a specified deadline) or “be sunk”!  The ultimatum was quickly relayed through diplomatic channels to Malaysia.  To shorten this narrative, the Malaysian gunboat left long before PM Lee’s deadline as promptly as its unwelcomed arrival.  Everyone knew that PM Lee was a man of action who meant every word, warning and threat.  And sovereign is not a game to ‘play, play’ (in Singlish) or to be trifled with.











“WHAT WE CANNOT DEFEND DO NOT BELONG TO US!” – The Key Lesson.

The dispute over Petra Branca was finally resolved by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague in 2008.  The ICJ recognized and ruled that Singapore has sovereignty over Petra Branca.  Status update: In February 2017, Malaysia applied to the ICJ to overturn its 2008 decision, citing new “facts”.  Malaysia subsequently withdrew her application in June 2018, after these new “facts” were examined and found to be immaterial and irrelevant to support any review of the 2008 ICJ decision.   

Fast-Forward 16 years to October-November 2018.  Malaysian Government vessels, presumably including some armed naval ships, blatantly and deliberately intruded and violated Singapore Territorial Waters off Tuas on more than 14 occasions.  Like in 2002, the latest intrusions were not responding to any Singaporean provocations.  They followed the 25 October 2018 unilateral Malaysian official declaration to extend her Johor Port Limits arbitrarily beyond even their 1979 self-declared maritime boundary into our de facto, longstanding and established Singapore territorial waters.

The extension of Johor Port Limits makes no economic or rational sense and is a deliberate provocative action since Johor Port activities had also slowed down and reduced considerably because of the recessionary Malaysian economy due to domestic unrests, falling palm oil and petroleum prices.   So, why the need to increase the Johor Port Limits?      The 2 Johor Ports of Pasir Gudang and Tanjung Pelepas also handled less than 9.5 million 20-foot equivalent container units (TEU) compared to Singapore’s 34 million TEU, which is second only to Shanghai’s 40 million TEU.  Even so without the Port volume, Why Extend Them Into Other Country’s Territory?


In fact since 1999 or earlier, all ships of every nationality, including Malaysia, have recognized and respected Singapore’s territorial jurisdiction of the violated waters eg regular patrols by the Singapore Navy and Police Coast Guards, and seeking our permission to enter them.  The shipping community was therefore baffled and confused by the 11 Nov 2018 Malaysian Port Circular and 22 Nov 2018 Notice to Mariners.   

Like in 2002, Singapore protested the Malaysian intrusions through the usual diplomatic channels, but the provocative intrusions continued unabated almost daily.    The Singapore Navy intercepted the Malaysian vessels and warned them to leave our territorial waters.  


Singapore declared at a Press Conference on 4 December 2018 that the unilateral and arbitrary extension of Johore Port Limits “violated Singapore’s sovereignty”.  Several Singapore Ministers, all NSmen themselves, including the Defense Minister, have also publicly warned Malaysia to “cease and desist” her provocations or face their natural consequences from the full might of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).   













“WHAT BELONGS TO US, WE WILL FIGHT AND DEFEND AT ALL COSTS!” 
– The NSmen Response.

There is no ambiguity in a unified Singaporean response to the latest Malaysian provocations and violations of Singapore sovereign territory.  Even the leading opposition political party in Parliament, many also NSmen themselves, issued a Press Statement in full support of “our men and women in all our security and enforcement agencies who have been activated to deal with the incursion of Malaysian vessels into Singapore waters”. 

The Singapore Port Limits are now extended to the boundaries of our own Territorial waters.  Know that more than 1,000 ships use the Singapore Port on a daily basis.

Last Friday, even after Singapore’s public warnings in all the news and social media, at least 3 Malaysian ships made further illegal incursions in violation of our waters.  Lucky for them, they were spared from total annihilation within seconds by our Harpoon Missiles only by the well-disciplined restraint of the Singapore Navy.  

Malaysians and Singaporeans must understand that the return of Dr Mahathir as Malaysian Prime Minister a few months ago means also embracing the baggage of Dr M’s past bitterness with Singapore during his first tenure as Prime Minister from 1981 to 2003.  In addition to his own failure in building a better Malaysia, Dr M's personality and feelings of lower self-esteem and inferiority to former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew explain his driving motivations when dealing with Singapore.  We should not be stupid or foolish enough to be suck into any war due to someone’s inability to adapt and adjust to his current surroundings.   

In Sun Tzu’s 2nd Principle in The Art of War, he said: “When the enemy attacks, he must be met (or crushed) with unassailable and invincible force”.   Singapore wants to be a friend to all countries.  We have always regarded Malaysia to be a close friend and often good neighbor.  DO NOT MAKE US YOUR ENEMY.



















23 comments:

Titiana Ann Xavier said...

Dr M's strategy is based on brinksmanship. By destabilising the situation, he hopes to frighten away trade and investment. Singapore is at the receiving end of Dr M's wrath. His next move to curb air space is just as galling. The provocation by Dr M posed a challenge to the PAP leaders. LKY is not around. Dr M will seek China's help to get Najib's projects going again; just to make the going tough for Singapore. HSR is likely to end at JB. Singapore will seek to end the hostility by diplomatic means. Should that fail, the unthinkable will take place. Years of training by NS men will be tested. A potential war is in the offing.

Virgo49 said...


In 1967, we are Proud to be CAS (Compulsory Active Service) Men as we are called then to defend Singapore.

NOT NOW when even my son had served NS. For now, Singapore or Sinkieland does not really belongs to me.

It now belonged to anyone else. Anyone else that can conned the Stupid Government that they are talented to be here.

Also, most had not shed their sweat and blood for the Nation and are just parasites to sponge on the sweat and blood and the hard work of the past generations.

Also, your Almighty God is not my God.

You can swear allegiance your Bullshits honour to defend the land because you had it good on the sweat and blood and hardwork of the rest of your forgotten fellowmen.

That's why you have the PMB. Pinkat Mama Bootok.

For me and my family off we go to Matland.

Enjoy your Fight.

Anonymous said...

PAPpy ministers can yaya talk war & poking Mats to start fighting --- coz they fully know:

(1) High chance mats will back off, as Sinkie's $15B a year SAF will result in a very bloody critical injuries for them even if they win.

(2) Even if shooting & bombing starts, the PAPpy elites are all out of the frontlines --- even any relatives of PAPpy elites serving in the SAF will be safe in reinforced bunkers many miles behind the fighting.

(3) PAPpy elites & their cronies will be escorted by RSAF F15s and F16s to Oz-land. Even PAPpy generals & admirals will be flown to Perth to conduct the war from there. Matilar can do side business getting commissions to help them settle down in Oz-land.

(4) The fighting & dying will be done by the 100s of thousands of dumb Sinkies who can only afford bus/MRT, pay 30% water tax, pay $500K for $0 HDB flats, lost jobs or danger of losing jobs to 2.2M foreigners, CPF kena stuck & siphoned off, and anyway no money to retire, work until drop dead & die.

So for dumb Sinkies, either die young fighting the mats or die old working until drop dead.

Anonymous said...


worry not! worry not!

our 4G leaders spoke

when our 4G leaders 做事, 您 can 放心 lah!

our 4G leaders are super talents!

our 4G leaders know what to do!

so........worry not worry not!

but.....must 忍! 忍! 忍!

yes! 忍! 忍! 忍!

hahaha...........

UG said...

If dunno please ask foreign talent. I am sorry I am a daft. Sorry LKY and old leaders. I am a daft. I always hear a lot of li hai people talk. Maybe I am the only daft. So despite so many army I go, if here fall, I better run. I am a daft. Not much use. I stay for what? KAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKA. Song Boh old leaders? Throw 6 smoke bomb ah?

Never throw 6 smoke bomb on the ship that pass our water? See the peasant inside got die a not? Inside is peasant right? No die even the peasant is stronger than our army? Than engage what? We count smoke bomb also fail? Smell smoke bomb also die? Engage what?

So many ministers talk talk talk ah? Not even 1 smoke bomb throw ah?

The best part is we are Ang Moh alliance? Than power plant is China, Malaysia, Japan? Next time ask only China, Malaysia, Japan people in Singapore serve army. I am a daft. Need me for what? I dont even have a simple job but the army allow me to handle guns? Chun Boh Logic? Next time got war just ask regular and go OCS before one. The rest if pick up AK47 in war zone, we are daft leh, haven technical handling, fire, will kena charge a not?

Anonymous said...

Virgo is right. Ask the foreigners here to defend sg

UG said...

Little India Riot hide?
Mas Selamat run?
$600k is peanuts?
Ship pass by never throw 1 smoke bomb scared them? 1 smoke bomb will kill people? They "hung" us, we dunno how to "hung" them back?
Those li hai people in Singapore "hung" skill not very li hai one meh? Thought best?

Again I am sorry. Please ask foreign talent and Ang Moh how. I dunno how. I know how to watch tv. Buy gold store. Here fall, use my gold buy cruise ticket go other country. If buy shares, I still got to find computer. Than make sure the computer must find electricity. And must check 110 volt or 220 volt. Plus must bring travel charger. Than my shares can sell. Than can buy ticket for cruise ship to run.

KAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKA. Dont listen to me. I am a daft plus jobless. Dont worry. Singapore got 4G leaders. And we got Ang Moh. Dont worry. Will PAP or Workers Party give me gold to buy cruise ticket to run if here fall? Election come should I stay at home?

Virgo49 said...

Now they.faced disagreements with certain countries, they called for Unity.

Before, you are forsaken fellow citizens who are rided slip shod over your priorities for others.

How many of these instant trashes served NS and will fight alongside you?

Most will scurried b4 you count to three.

If the true blue Singaporeans were to save Singapore, you think the Elites will treat you differently?

You saved their arses, they be back to con you into slavery again.

Leopards do not change their spots.

UG said...

When I was cycling at Park Connector, got 1 helicopter fly on top on me, very near, very scary leh. When the ship pass our water, got helicopter fly on top and scared them a not? Than just shoot one bullet using sniper and sink the ship. No one die what. 6 smoke bomb also throw, people also die. So what sink a ship? Every time one ship pass by, sink one, what is Malaysia going to do? Fight war? And Malaysia people must remember, dont anyhow blame Singaporean. On top is who? Penang? Perak? If got people go in Johore, pump petrol, show off money, must see from where hor? Which type of Singaporean? Dont anyhow blame hor. Some type maybe need to send parents go JB hor. Where to find $8 heart bypass ah? Heart so important $8 ah? Got $8 kidney dialysis a not ah?

Najib, nah give you money jib?
Mahathir, mai hai tear, dont harm tear? Lau Bak Sai?
Tan Chong Motor, tan, chong, go try the car?
Borneo motor, boh neo motor, no give way motor, go try the car?
This world feng shui is damn scary. Too Kuai Lan on top will come down a not? Woo hoo. Scary. Not scary got religion for what? Next time ship pass by, just use tails man and tiao tang one? Or put one big big cross, get out of my water? Or use coconut? I think use coconut better. Smartest. No need manufacture the cross or paper for tails man. Mahathir. Mahathir. Mahathir. If not one ship only, so many news ah? So many minister talk ah? Too free ah? Never think of how to earn money reduce GST?

Anonymous said...

Urgh, here he comes again! What is he talking about? Sounds like Indian talking Greek to me.

Real torture trying to decipher!

UG said...

Maybe I help an Indian Lady while working at Tampines HDB, than the Indian Lady gave me elephant power, so I sound like that? But I am still jobless, and my dad sleep void deck. Woo hoo. I am still waiting for my millions compensation.

UG said...

Are you saying me ah? KAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKA.

UG said...

Whats wrong with Indian or Greek or Cai Ming Jie drive taxi? 6 smoke bomb is Chinese kill Chinese?

Anonymous said...

The plot gets more strange and unpredictable. What is elephant power? Loud trumpeting. I thought only Donald Trump can do that!

UG said...

Are we living in Lan Hao Lan era? Never throw some smoke bomb, or flash bang, or shoot some holes in the ship using bullets? If they jump ship, see which side they swim. Give them 10 mins, if the swim correct side back to their own country, tell Joseph Schooling next time see Malaysian swimmer must be careful. Peasant in open sea also so li hai already. If they swim wrong side, swim to our country, arrest them. Ask Malaysia pay money. War break out, send fighter jets bomb Penang and Perak first, than fly to other base not in Singapore. Surrounding Singapore put defense. Water cut off nvm. Got Hyflux. America send their navy ships come, sea so big, sure got way siam enemy. Continue bombing Malaysia until they chao tar. America also send the jets and bomb Malaysia, bomb until chao tar. Than our troops slowly advance to Malaysia and take over. LHL and peasant all wear uniform. Sit in big big area like China Communist Party. Salute to LHL. Woo hoo. LKY LKY LKY. You think China dare to interfere when only one Malaysia is under attack? Japan and Taiwan is waiting? Tee Hee. Than Russia eat pop corn. Song Boh America, Malaysia is yours. Germany make Mercedes.

While daft like me kena whack left right up down in my own country until I wake up, it is time to go Bangkok or Vietnam and slowly go China? Maybe Malaysian peasants also feel the same? China good leh. Got Chinese and Muslim. See Google Map, all land base. Walk wrong side still can go Russia. Tik Tik Kia should China first right?

If the Ang Moh say Make America Great Again, money leh money leh? Want ask Penang or Perak leaders in Singapore a not ah?

UG said...

Is konfrontansi or other story real a not ah? 6 smoke bomb never sack? Fake news? PAP must be right. Let vote for PAP. Or maybe if the 20 80 rule apply, Workers Party have not take over? PAP or Workers Party no one go jail yet? Where the money ah?

UG said...

Does our police know where is the money?

UG said...

When the Chinese and Muslim all go China, suddenly they discuss discuss discuss, oh is the Ang Moh? Than all attack Ang Moh and Ang Moh fight back. Fight fight fight fight fight fight. World War 3 finish. What is India doing ah? Is Nostradamus correct? Tee hee.

UG said...

Wah seh. I so li hai write stuff after reading other write. Sometimes I wonder why leh. Else people go religion for what? Who want believe? First must believe ten commandments and give my fairness a not? And sack 6 smoke bomb a not? If not world war 3 will be real a not? What is bible all about ah?

UG said...

PAP is right. Must shut down all alternative views website. Every time I read something, I got things to write. Will World War 3 be fulfilled?

PAP is right. Need foreign talent. No one want to give birth. Buy car buy property, rich one dont give birth more? Hail PAP. LHL LHL LHL.

PAP is right. Need more foreign talent. Little India Riot hide, Mas Selamat run, $600k is peanuts. Ship pass our water also lan lan. We need more foreign talent help us. Power plant is Malaysia, China, Japan, water also cannot protect. We need more talent from places like those construction workers. We are weak. PAP PAP PAP. Forget about Penang or Perak or Malaysian or China or Japan. We need the Little India Riot kind. Google CEO kind. Microsoft CEO kind. PAP PAP PAP. Than taxi driver got hope. And no need so headaches learn programming. PAP is right. We love PAP. And now young age can drive GRAB. No need headache for young people. 10 million people. Shiok. PAP PAP PAP.

But wait.

Look at Abel and Cain story in Bible. Is Dom Lee blood flowing? When is PAP sacking 6 smoke bomb? Know how to follow rules? Is every country enacting the bible again and again, until on top du lan, enact until revelation and if all fail, World War 3 come? Let say got 100 countries enacting the bible, result is fail, last hope is Singapore, most upright, 1 point also dont have, revelation finish, trumpet blow, World War 3 start? Destroy computer simulation. Restart simulation until 100 over 100 points? Tee hee. Like that still go election for what?

UG said...

http://news.asiaone.com/malaysia/mahathir-our-vessels-will-remain-disputed-maritime-border-between-malaysia-and-singapore

Very easy ah. We find our vessel do that to them also. Anyone dare? Penang police? If their police coast guard or navy shoot our vessel, we do the same also. Scholar never watch Naruto ah? Never see Kakashi ah? Sure a not? My camp last time got people see leh. A'level one chun boh?

UG said...

http://news.asiaone.com/malaysia/mahathir-our-vessels-will-remain-disputed-maritime-border-between-malaysia-and-singapore

Why we like so good to bully? Who gave them the impression? TCB? LHY? 6 smoke bomb? Quick, say sorry to LHL. I want follow like TCB last time follow PAP also. Live landed property? PAP 100%. We love PAP.

Anonymous said...

Alert! Alert! Institute of Mental Health just discovered one patient missing!