Security and Intelligence Division launches LinkedIn page amid push to draw talent with 'sense of mission' for Singapore

About 60 years ago, a little known outfit — established within the then-Ministry of Interior and Defence to provide geopolitical analysis — was formed.

Today, as the Security and Intelligence Division (SID) marks 60 years of safeguarding Singapore's security and interests, it is a key, trusted national security agency that delivers critical information and insights to the government.

And it is this continued search for people with the right calling that SID has launched its official LinkedIn page along with its public website.

These platforms serve to enhance public understanding of the SID career, and better connect with Singaporeans with the values and skills to contribute towards its mission, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said.

Describing the agency's value in his speech at a closed-door commemoration event on Friday (Sept 4), Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said its contributions are unique.

"Over the past 60 years, SID has played important roles at critical junctures in Singapore’s history," he said, adding that while much of its work cannot be publicly discussed, the agency has helped successive generations of Singapore leaders to see the world more clearly.

These have, in turn, allowed Singapore's leaders to identify threats early, understand the intentions of others, and make difficult decisions with greater confidence, the prime minister added.

PM Wong noted that Singapore now faces a changed external environment, which makes SID's work "more demanding, and more important".

This, as the boundaries between security, economics and technology become less distinct, he highlighted.

"Trade, investment, supply chains and access to technology are increasingly being used as instruments of statecraft.

"Economic dependencies can create strategic vulnerabilities; commercial decisions can have national security consequences."

And in order for Singapore to understand not just what countries are saying and doing politically, but also, how they may use all sorts of different levers, economically and technological levers to advance their interests, SID must continue to be able to understand these shifts early and assess what they mean for Singapore, he said.

People fundamental to SID's success

The prime minister acknowledged that all these makes SID's work "more complex, more demanding", emphasising that the "most fundamental factor" to SID's success will be its people.

"SID must continue to attract and retain people with sharp minds, sound judgment, deep expertise, and a strong sense of mission for Singapore," he said.

They must be able to build deep tradecraft and regional expertise, work confidently with technology, think independently and give unvarnished assessments, PM Wong added.

SID will also need people with integrity, courage and resilience — who understand the hard realities of the world, but never lose sight of what they are working to protect, the prime minister said.

"The work demands dedication and discretion. Officers must be prepared to serve without public recognition. Finding such people will never be easy. But we must keep making the effort. I am glad we have many of them in SID."

MINDEF said in a factsheet on Saturday morning that this commitment fosters a dynamic environment designed to attract people with a heart and talent to contribute to its mission across five broad disciplines: analysis, corporate, international partnerships, operations and technology.

In an interview with the media on Aug 13, former SID chief Eddie Teo , who led the agency between 1979 and 1994, acknowledged that his position then required personal sacrifices.

He spoke about how he had to give up time with his family, but that they understood it allowed him to protect Singapore from threats beyond its borders.

Teo was awarded one of Singapore's highest civilian honour — the Order of Temasek (With Distinction) — in this year's National Day Awards .

Former SID chief-of-staff Kevin Santa Maria, now retired, said of the work: “Intelligence operations are fundamentally built on the dedication and sacrifices of our people, who receive little public recognition for the efforts they undertake. But every one of us is profoundly aware that working in SID is not just a job – it is a calling.”

Rounding up his address, PM Wong said that for a small country like Singapore, the ability to anticipate, understand and act early is a vital source of strategic advantage.

"And you (SID officers) help contribute to this strategic advantage," he added.

大约 60 年前，一个鲜为人知的机构成立了，该机构隶属于当时的内政和国防部，旨在提供地缘政治分析。

今天，新加坡安全与情报局 (SID) 迎来成立 60 周年，它作为国家安全机构，在维护新加坡的安全和利益方面发挥了重要作用，值得信赖，为政府提供关键信息和见解。

正是出于对有志之士的持续寻找，SID 推出了官方 LinkedIn 页面和公共网站。

国防部表示，这些平台有助于提高公众对新加坡国防军（SID）职业的了解，并更好地与具备相关价值观和技能的新加坡人建立联系，从而为新加坡国防军的使命做出贡献。

总理黄循财在周五（9月4日）举行的闭门纪念活动上发表讲话，描述了该机构的价值，并表示其贡献是独一无二的。

“在过去的60年里，新加坡国际发展局在新加坡历史的关键时刻发挥了重要作用，”他说道，并补充说，虽然该机构的许多工作不能公开讨论，但它帮助一代又一代的新加坡领导人更清晰地看待世界。

总理补充说，这些反过来又使新加坡领导人能够及早发现威胁，了解他人的意图，并更有信心做出艰难的决定。

黄总理指出，新加坡现在面临着外部环境的变化，这使得新加坡国际发展局的工作“更具挑战性，也更加重要”。

他强调，随着安全、经济和技术之间的界限变得越来越模糊，这种情况尤为突出。

“贸易、投资、供应链和技术获取正日益被用作治国的工具。

“经济依赖可能造成战略脆弱性；商业决策可能对国家安全产生影响。”

他说，为了让新加坡不仅了解各国在政治上的言行，还了解它们如何利用各种不同的手段，包括经济手段和技术手段来推进自身利益，新加坡国际发展局必须继续能够及早了解这些变化，并评估它们对新加坡的意义。

对SID的成功至关重要的人员

总理承认，所有这些都使SID的工作“更加复杂、更具挑​​战性”，并强调SID成功的“最根本因素”将是其人员。

“新加坡资讯通信发展局必须继续吸引和留住那些思维敏捷、判断力强、专业知识丰富且对新加坡有强烈使命感的人才，”他说。

黄总理补充说，他们必须能够建立深厚的专业技能和区域知识，自信地运用技术，独立思考并给出客观的评估。

总理表示，SID还需要有正直、勇气和韧性的人——他们了解世界的残酷现实，但永远不会忘记他们努力保护的是什么。

“这项工作需要奉献精神和谨慎行事。警员必须做好默默奉献的准备。找到这样的人绝非易事。但我们必须坚持不懈地努力。我很高兴SID有很多这样的人。”

国防部周六上午在一份情况说明书中表示，这项承诺营造了一个充满活力的环境，旨在吸引有爱心和才华的人士为国防部在以下五个广泛领域的使命做出贡献：分析、企业、国际合作、运营和技术。

8 月 13 日，曾于 1979 年至 1994 年担任新加坡情报局局长的 Eddie Teo 在接受媒体采访时承认，他当时的职位需要做出个人牺牲。

他谈到自己不得不放弃与家人相处的时间，但他的家人理解这样做是为了保护新加坡免受境外威胁。

在今年的国庆奖颁奖典礼上，张先生被授予新加坡最高平民荣誉之一——淡马锡勋章（优异）。

前SID参谋长凯文·圣玛丽亚（现已退休）谈到这项工作时说：“情报行动从根本上建立在我们人员的奉献和牺牲之上，而他们所做的努力却很少得到公众的认可。但我们每个人都深刻地意识到，在SID工作不仅仅是一份工作，更是一种使命。”

黄总理在讲话的最后表示，对于新加坡这样的小国来说，能够预见、了解并及早采取行动是获得战略优势的重要来源。

“你们（SID官员）也为这一战略优势做出了贡献，”他补充道。