Security and Intelligence Division
Encyclopedia
The Security and Intelligence Division (Abbreviation
: SID) is an external intelligence agency
of the Ministry of Defence
of Singapore
responsible for gathering and analysing intelligence related to the external security of Singapore. It is highly secretive as most of its personnel are known only to the high-ranking government and military officials.
Most of its agents, recruited from civil service and some with military experience, work in branches of the government and in civilian organizations with relations to the government as fronts for their cover such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Singapore Airlines and the Singapore Tourism Board. A Director is in charge of the SID, who holds a Permanent Secretary-equivalent rank and reports directly to the Minister of Defence and the Prime Minister.There was also a post of Deputy Director, once held by Lim Chye Heng, although it is not known whether this position still exists.
. The primary intelligence organ since the colonial era was the Malaysian Special Branch
. With the independence of Singapore, the Ministry of Interior and Defence
was directed to reorganize and consolidate all intelligence capabilities in January 1966. SID was subsequently established in February 1966 with Mr Tay Seow Huah being appointed as its first Director. Tim Huxley also wrote a short history of the SID in his book Defending the Lion City.
In 1974, Director Nathan led a negotiation team to help resolve the Laju hostage crisis
. He later became the President of Singapore
.
, information regarding its work is only released occasionally to the local media. For example, reporter Yap Chuin Wei interviewed an ex-official who stated that SID's role's were: Collection of Information, Analysis of Information, and Informal Diplomacy. SID was featured in Mr. Lee Kuan Yew
's book, From Third World to First, where they played a part in providing weapons to anti-communist forces in Cambodia
in the 1970s. It also played a role in the rebuilding of relations with Indonesia
. SID officers hardly get public awards due to the nature of their work. Instead they are awarded a set of secret awards equivalent to National Day
awards.
were recently tasked to coordinate efforts to combat terrorism. They previously worked independently of each other.
Abbreviation
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase...
: SID) is an external intelligence agency
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
of the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (Singapore)
The Ministry of Defence is a ministry of the Government of Singapore entrusted with overseeing the national defence needs of the Republic of Singapore. It is the headquarters of the Singapore Armed Forces...
of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
responsible for gathering and analysing intelligence related to the external security of Singapore. It is highly secretive as most of its personnel are known only to the high-ranking government and military officials.
Most of its agents, recruited from civil service and some with military experience, work in branches of the government and in civilian organizations with relations to the government as fronts for their cover such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Singapore Airlines and the Singapore Tourism Board. A Director is in charge of the SID, who holds a Permanent Secretary-equivalent rank and reports directly to the Minister of Defence and the Prime Minister.There was also a post of Deputy Director, once held by Lim Chye Heng, although it is not known whether this position still exists.
History
The Security and Intelligence Division shares a similar background to its domestic counterpart, the Internal Security DepartmentInternal Security Department
The Internal Security Department is a domestic intelligence agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore. It was formerly part of the Ministry of Interior and Defence until it was split on 11 August 1970...
. The primary intelligence organ since the colonial era was the Malaysian Special Branch
Malaysian Special Branch
The Special Branch or SB is an intelligence agency attached to the Royal Malaysian Police. The SB is empowered to acquire and develop intelligence on internal and external threats to the nation, subversive activities, extremist activities and activities of sabotage and spying...
. With the independence of Singapore, the Ministry of Interior and Defence
Ministry of Interior and Defence
The Ministry of Interior and Defence of Singapore was set up in 1965, with Dr. Goh Keng Swee as the first Minister. The Ministry was responsible for both internal and external security, controlling both the Police Force and the Armed Forces....
was directed to reorganize and consolidate all intelligence capabilities in January 1966. SID was subsequently established in February 1966 with Mr Tay Seow Huah being appointed as its first Director. Tim Huxley also wrote a short history of the SID in his book Defending the Lion City.
In 1974, Director Nathan led a negotiation team to help resolve the Laju hostage crisis
Laju incident
The Laju Incident occurred on 31 January 1974 in Singapore, when four armed men attacked the Shell oil refinery complex on Pulau Bukom and later hijacked the ferryboat Laju.- Overview :...
. He later became the President of Singapore
President of Singapore
The President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
.
Activities
A highly secretive organisation unlike America's Central Intelligence AgencyCentral Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
, information regarding its work is only released occasionally to the local media. For example, reporter Yap Chuin Wei interviewed an ex-official who stated that SID's role's were: Collection of Information, Analysis of Information, and Informal Diplomacy. SID was featured in Mr. Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
's book, From Third World to First, where they played a part in providing weapons to anti-communist forces in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
in the 1970s. It also played a role in the rebuilding of relations with Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. SID officers hardly get public awards due to the nature of their work. Instead they are awarded a set of secret awards equivalent to National Day
National Day (Singapore)
The National Day of Singapore is celebrated every year on 9 August, in commemoration of Singapore's independence from Malaysia in 1965. This holiday features a National Day Parade, an address by the Prime Minister of Singapore, and fireworks celebrations....
awards.
Recent Events
Both the SID and its internal counterpart, the Internal Security DepartmentInternal Security Department
The Internal Security Department is a domestic intelligence agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore. It was formerly part of the Ministry of Interior and Defence until it was split on 11 August 1970...
were recently tasked to coordinate efforts to combat terrorism. They previously worked independently of each other.
Directors
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| February 1966 | 1971 | Tay Seow Huah Tay Seow Huah Mr Tay Seow Huah was a senior civil servant who served at various times as Director of the Special Branch, Director of the Security and Intelligence Division, Permanent Secretary and Permanent Secretary , prior to his retirement in 1976. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Award in 1967, and... (or Tan Boon Seng) |
| 1971 | 1979 | Sellapan Ramanathan (S.R. Nathan) |
| 1979 | 1994 | Eddie Teo Eddie Teo Eddie Teo is the Chairman of Singapore's Public Service Commission. A civil servant in the Administrative Service for 35 years, he retired in 2005... (张赞成) |
| 1994 | 14 March 2005 | BG (NS) Choi Shing Kwok (蔡承国) |
| 15 March 2005 | 02 September 2010 | BG (NS) Chee Wee Kiong |
| unknown (possibly the same day BG Chee stood down)In line with longstanding policy, the Singapore Singapore Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the... Government does not officially announce the names of new SID Directors |
MG (NS) Ng Chee Khern Ng Chee Khern Major General Ng Chee Khern 黄志勤 is currently the Director of Singapore's Security and Intelligence Division. He was formerly the Chief of the Republic of Singapore Air Force .... |