Distinguished Guests,Ladies and Gentlemen,Good evening.2009 has been an eventful year for the SAF in terms of overseas deployments. Over the past months, we have seen the SAF perform a range of missions in support of a number of multilateral peace and security operations. The stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and peace support operations in Timor-Leste were pre-planned. On the other hand, the disaster relief operation in Indonesia was a quick-response mission. Today, we pay tribute to our servicemen who have participated in these overseas deployments that also reflect the SAF's operational readiness and flexibility.

Stabilisation and Reconstruction Operations in AfghanistanSince 2007, the SAF has been playing an active role in the multinational stabilisation and reconstruction operations in Afghanistan. From April to November this year, a six-man engineering team, led by LTC Desmond Yeo, was in Bamiyan province to supervise the construction of a Paediatric and Women's Ward extension for the local hospital, as well as a security wall around the Provincial Administrative Building. Their contributions were facilitated by the efforts of MAJ Chia Thuang Ping and 2WO Seah Chee Keng, who served in the National Support Element (NSE) from February to September. These two officers played a vital role in providing critical logistic and liaison support for our SAF personnel deployed in Afghanistan. In recognition of their commitment and contributions to our operations in Afghanistan, these servicemen will be awarded the Bar (Enhanced) to the SAF Overseas Service Medal.

As part of the SAF's continued contributions to Afghanistan, a 13-man medical team will begin operations in December at a field hospital in Tarin Kowt, capital of Oruzgan province, to provide emergency medical support, primary healthcare and pre- and post-operative medical care to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), as well as the Afghan locals. The medical team will be in Oruzgan for four months, till March 2010.

United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT)Nearer to home, two of our officers were deployed as part of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) to support the country's national reconciliation, and the restoration and maintenance of public security. I would like to commend LTC Lim Tong Hai and MAJ Foo Siang Yean, for their distinguished service under the UNMIT HQ in Timor-Leste for one year from Sep 08. For their invaluable contributions, they will be awarded the Bar (Enhanced) to the SAF Overseas Service Medal.

Relief Operations in IndonesiaMost recently, the SAF participated in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations following the earthquake off the coast of West Sumatra in Oct 09. From our experiences in the wake of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, we knew that Singapore could, even with our limited resources, make useful contributions if the needs are well-identified and the relief efforts quickly executed. This time, in consultation with the TNI, we chose to concentrate our efforts at Pariaman, an area assessed to be the most severely affected by the earthquake.

The SAF deployed a 54-member medical team to augment the efforts of the local hospital staff and to provide swift and effective medical assistance to more remote areas. The medical team attended to more than 1100 emergency cases and performed over one hundred surgeries during the course of their two-week long deployment. The RSAF also flew in a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) team and transported over 274,000 pounds worth of tentages, blankets and medical supplies for the earthquake victims. And as relief operations entered the recovery phase, we deployed a 30-man SAF engineering team to rebuild two clinics in Padang and Pariaman that had been destroyed by the earthquake. The SAF teams worked closely with their Indonesian counterparts throughout the mission.

For their commitment, compassion and competence in providing medical assistance to earthquake victims in Pariaman from 2 October to 18 October, the 54-member medical team will be awarded the SAF Overseas Service Medal (OSM). In particular, I would like to commend four medics - 3SG Liew Shan Zhi, 3SG Seah Chern Ern, CPL Toh Yong Chong and LCP Shah Hairy - whose professionalism and dedication in carrying out their duties were exemplary. They were able to establish a close rapport with their patients and the local medical staff.

Conclusion

Our deployments to the various multinational peace and security operations reflect the widening range of activities that the SAF has to undertake to ensure peace and stability in the region and beyond. This underscores the increasing inter-connectivity of the world that we live in, where instability in one part of the world has far-reaching consequences for other regions. Singapore will therefore continue to do our part as a responsible member of the international community, and as a good neighbour and friend. We do this by actively contributing to regional and international peace and security operations, and providing assistance and support to others in need, where we can.

All of you have successfully completed your missions with the highest standards of discipline, professionalism and commitment. Your commitment to duty reinforces the SAF's strong ethos of service to the nation. By upholding the high professional standards and core values of the SAF, you have done Singapore and the SAF proud.

Finally, I would also like to convey our deepest appreciation to the families of the servicemen whose understanding and strong support have allowed our servicemen to focus on their assigned tasks and successfully complete their missions.

Thank you.