Singapore’s Intelligence Legacy Highlights the Economic Value of Early Warning

Singapore, 5 September 2026 – Singapore’s former external intelligence leaders have offered a rare account of how rigorous assessments and uncomfortable warnings shaped national decisions, underscoring the economic value of strategic foresight for a small, globally connected state. Their reflections accompanied the 60th anniversary of the Security and Intelligence Division, whose work normally remains outside public view.

Former senior director Ng Kah Meng recalled briefing national leaders on security developments and facing detailed questioning from founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. The questioning tested whether analysts understood the evidence rather than merely repeating assumptions. Once facts were established, discussions moved toward interpretation and real-time decisions, placing heavy responsibility on officials to provide accurate assessments.