The position has changed with the times and circumstances. We have made progress deploying Malay NSmen to more posts. Malay NSmen now serve not only in combat units like the infantry, and service support units like transportation, but also in support arms units like the artillery. Over the last five years, of those eligible for officer cadet course in the SAF, Police and SCDF, the percentage of candidates in the Malay pool who are selected has been comparable to that for the non-Malays. If there is closer integration across the board between the communities, NS men will be comfortable with each other, and trust each other.
Integration is a two-way process.
The Govern-ment would like our Malays to be an integral part of our society, but cannot force them. Our Malays will decide the kind of relationship they want with the non-Malays. If Malays in Singapore show that they prefer to be separate, the other communities will pick up these signals and react accordingly. As the majority race, the Chinese have to show a willingness to expand the common ground by including other races. This has happened in education.