Singapore’s security forces, namely the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Home Team, have to find new ways of adapting to the increasingly complex security environment, said Senior Minister of State for Defence Maliki Osman yesterday.

Countries around the world face modern threats like cyber attacks and terrorism, as the fight against terrorism moves away from the front lines in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, and closer to home. This can be seen in recent attacks in major cities like Paris, France.

Dr Maliki was giving the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 19th Asia Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers, or APPSMO.

The conference, which is organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), aims to improve participants’ knowledge of current affairs and their impact on the armed forces, as well as to provide networking opportunities for senior military officers.

Over the week-long event, participants will attend panel discussions and lectures by experts, such as East Asian Institute chairman Wang Gungwu and Professor Ralf Emmers, the associate dean of RSIS.