SINGAPORE : Singapore has defended its prudent and steady investments in defence over the years, saying today's independent and secure Singapore is made possible by a capable Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean told Parliament on Thursday he expects the defence budget over the next five years to be in the range of 4.5 to 5 per cent of the GDP.

The issue of defence spending during an economic downturn was raised by several MPs - both during the main debate on the Budget and during the allocation for the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on Thursday.

Nearly 28 per cent of the total budget has been allocated for defence expenditure.

Irene Ng, MP for Tampines GRC, said: "All the ministries, which also need to take a long-term view, are not recession-proof, except the Defence Ministry. As a policy, it can spend up to six per cent of the GDP, no matter what happens.

"Nevertheless, it is valid to ask the question - if the principle of making the defence budget recession-proof is itself a defensible one."

The minister explained that while the government is prepared to spend up to 6% of the GDP on defence, it has not always used the full amount, and invests only on what is needed.

In fact, from 1997 to 2002, defence expenditure was about 5 to 5.5 per cent of GDP. And since 2002, defence expenditure has been between 4.5 per cent and 5 per cent of GDP.

"We do not sharply increase spending during an economic upturn just because more money can be made available, and we do not sharply cut spending when the economy slows. Instead of a feast-and-famine approach, we put in consistent investments in defence. This is the prudent approach," said the defence minister.

Mr Teo stressed that security threats do not disappear during an economic downturn. Social and political frictions increase during difficult economic times and having a credible SAF to defend Singapore's sovereignty and vital interests is even more crucial under these circumstances.

So this year, the Navy's Coastal Command will be restructured as another SAF-level task force, called the Maritime Security Task Force.

It will work closely with the Police Coast Guard, Maritime Port Authority, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Singapore Customs to ensure national coordination in maritime security.

MINDEF is also supporting international commitments. It will be joining the international community's anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden by deploying a Landing Ship Tank with two Super Puma helicopters for three months this year.

Mr Teo explained that as a maritime nation, Singapore shared the international community's concerns regarding piracy.

The SAF is also exploring additional contributions in Afghanistan. These include deploying an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Task Group to enhance situational awareness and security there, and a KC-135 tanker aircraft in the later part of the year to support coalition operations for three months.

"Singapore is making these deployments to show our support and assist in a meaningful way in the stabilisation and reconstruction efforts, so as to prevent extremists from using Afghanistan to export terrorism," said Mr Teo.

The defence minister stressed that the current economic crisis has altered the security landscape, and a strong SAF underpinned the peace and stability that will allow Singapore to ride out the economic slowdown and protect vital interests.