Singapore DPM Outlines Three-Pronged Strategy To Address Challenges

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah SINGAPORE, April 9 (Bernama) -- Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Han has outlined a three-pronged approach to address the challenges brought about by a dynamic and widening global risk landscape. The three are multi-disciplinary, adaptive and international collaboration for effective response to complex issues. "We have to develop anticipatory capabilities and policy interventions that go beyond the individual stakeholder, agency or even country. "Instead, we need to also consider the full range of perspectives from various stakeholders to better understand the causal factors and interconnections, so as to deal with them more effectively," he said in his opening address at the 6th Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO) 2012 here Monday. Teo, who is coordinating minister for national security, said improvements in transport and communications had made it easier for people, goods and funds to move across borders. He said, because crime did not recognise national borders, and indeed would exploit them, enforcement agencies in different countries should work together to fight transnational crime. The three-day event beginning Monday, is themed, 'Complexities: Interactions and Inter-dependencies for National Security'. Guest speakers will share their experiences and perspectives with operational and policy experts from 20 countries. Jointly organised by the National Security Coordination Secretariat and the Centre of Excellence for National Security of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, APPSNO has established itself as an annual high-level gathering of operational and policy practitioners to network and develop stronger relationships with counterparts in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. -- BERNAMA