Ministry of Home Affairs
Feature | National & Home Defence

Securing our Homeland

Ministry of Home Affairs
Under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the various Home Team departments work under the common goal of keeping Singapore safe and secure.

S afety, security, and stability – these are the things that are essential for the prosperity of a nation. As Singaporeans, we can go about our daily lives with the freedom to pursue our goals and aspirations in a safe and secure environment because of the efforts of the MHA.

MHA is the vanguard of our country’s homeland security, responsible for safeguarding Singapore against any danger that may arise and responding swiftly to any emergency or safety challenges.

To achieve its goals, MHA knows that there is no better way to do so than by building up a Home Team consisting of dedicated, passionate, and capable officers. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) scholar Julius Lim and Home Affairs Uniformed Services (HUS) Local Merit Scholar Mui Chin Nam are two such individuals. They share about their roles in ensuring the security of our nation and the opportunities that they have received from the Home Team.

A Calling

Julius’s interest in joining a uniformed service began during his childhood. He recalls, “I have always had the ambition to serve in the uniformed services. My dad, who was an army officer, was an inspiration. Having seen him in action since I was young, I came to admire the sense of mission, team spirit, and sacrifice required of our uniformed officers.”

Following this desire, Julius attended an attachment programme at the Central Division while he was studying in Junior College (JC), which sparked his interest in the SPF. “I saw how our police officers made a real difference to the community through their daily patrols and interactions. After that, joining the SPF became a natural decision,” he explains. Julius then applied and was awarded The Singapore Police Force Scholarship.

Mui Chin Nam

Mui Chin Nam
Local Merit Scholar

Designation:
Rota Commander, Tampines Fire Station

“There is a wide spectrum of opportunities available – from strategic policy work, running investigations and operations, to commanding a police station.”

Following this desire, Julius attended an attachment programme at the Central Division while he was studying in Junior College (JC), which sparked his interest in the SPF. “I saw how our police officers made a real difference to the community through their daily patrols and interactions. After that, joining the SPF became a natural decision,” he explains. Julius then applied and was awarded The Singapore Police Force Scholarship.

“To be honest, I didn’t really think of joining SCDF at first,” Chin Nam admits frankly. “It wasn’t on my mind until the scholarship interview session – this was held in a panel format with people from the different MHA departments. That was when the representative from SCDF asked me ‘why not SCDF?’ This caught me off guard, but that made me think ‘yes, why not SCDF?’

“So I did some research on them, and I found their work very meaningful. By joining the SCDF, I’d be able to help others in their time of need, and that was exactly what I was looking for.”

No Shortage of Stimulation

You can expect a career to be full of highs when you join the Home Team. Julius’s own career is full of memorable episodes. As the Assistant Director of Major Operations in the Joint Operations Management Department in Ministry of Home Affairs, he is part of an outfit that coordinates major operations across the Home Team. He helps to shape legal, policy, and operational levers to deal with evolving safety and security threats.

The Little India Riot is a notable incident Julius was involved in during his previous post as the Head of Operations and Training at Tanglin Division. “For me, one of the key takeaways of that incident was the courage that the police officers displayed despite the obvious danger to their lives. I still have visions of the scene that night, of our officers handling the rioters. Thinking about it reminds me of the real work that we do, inspiring me to overcome any hurdle in work and in life,” he recounts.

“As the host of Crimewatch, I have the privilege of telling the stories of the remarkable cases solved by the men and women of the police force who work so hard to solve crimes and to keep us safe. Every now and then, the Crimewatch team receives feedback from the public about how the show has had an impact on them and helped to educate them. Feedback like this makes the job very fulfilling, and one worth doing well.”

As for Chin Nam, he is currently serving as a Rota Commander at Tampines Fire Station. He ensures the smooth running of the fire station during his shift, training his men while also taking care of their welfare. “Of course, we also respond to emergencies when they occur – putting out fires and attending to rescue incidents, just to name a few,” he tells us.

Being so close to the action all the time, Chin Nam has no lack of stories to tell. He shares, “There was this one road traffic incident where a motorcyclist was pinned under a lorry. We used a hydraulic rescue tool and lifted the truck off him. Surprisingly, he only ended up with an injured leg despite having an entire lorry on top of him!”

Julius Lim Wei-Yang

Julius Lim Wei-Yang
Recipient of The Singapore Police Force Scholarship

Designation:
Assistant Director (Major Operations), Joint Operations Management, MHA

“I saw how our police officers made a real difference to the community through their daily patrols and interactions. After that, joining the SPF became a natural decision.”

Growing with the Home Team

Julius readily recommends students to consider a career with MHA, regardless of whether they join as scholars or as regular employees. He says, “There is a wide spectrum of opportunities available – from strategic policy work, running investigations and operations, to commanding a police station. You can be assured that the job will always be interesting. The Home Team is also embarking on a significant transformation journey, so there has never been a more exciting time to join us.”

However, he cautions that what he does may not be for everyone, stating, “The work of a police officer is seldom glamorous and often demanding. Finding time for family is not always straightforward. As a father, I have additional responsibilities at home which need to be balanced with work. You have to learn how to keep a disciplined schedule and spend the time meaningfully. It also helps that I am blessed with a loving and supportive wife who understands the demands of policing and never fails to motivate me to do my best.

“Anyone who takes up the scholarship must be willing to commit to something that is more than just a job. But if you think that is something you can do, then you will hardly find a more satisfying job.”

Chin Nam concurs with Julius, “Always consider your options before you set your mind on anything. Once you do, go all the way and don’t look back!”