Quora Answer: Does the Singapore Armed Forces Exist Solely because of Malaysia?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “Does the whole Singapore Army exist solely for Malaysia?”

The Singapore Armed Forces exists for the defence of Singapore.  If there were no Malaysia tomorrow, we will not be disbanding the SAF.  Malaysia is one country in the region, and there are multiple potential threats, not all of them state actors.  Insurgency groups, and terrorist groups, have no state.  Whilst it is not their primary mission, the SAF is also responsible in maintaining order should the Singapore Police Force, and elements of the Home Team, require that assistance.

The existence of the SAF as a deterrent to aggression helps us with investor confidence, and government stability.  The existence of the SAF is also a tool for diplomacy.  Guns do not need to be fired to be effective.  Disbanding the SAF for any reason would shake investor confidence, and invite foreign pressure on our domestic policies.

Finally, the SAF is an avenue for national education through conscription.  It is this process that ordinary Singaporeans are forced to work with people, in a stressful environment, of different ethnicities, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds.  This strengthens the communal bond across the citizenry, and aids in creating and maintaining that national identity.  This is necessary regardless of whether there is a potential foreign aggressor.