Inside Singapore’s secret intelligence agency: Three former SID leaders on threats, sacrifice and service

Mr Santa Maria, a former SID chief of staff who dedicated over two decades to the top-secret agency operating under the Ministry of Defence, articulated the deep sense of pride its officers take in their vital, unseen contributions. Working diligently in the shadows, they ensure Singapore’s safety and security, finding immense satisfaction in being part of a collective mission far grander than individual recognition. Their reward lies in the knowledge that they are indispensable guardians of the nation, their achievements often remaining unheralded but undeniably impactful.

This spirit of quiet dedication recently came into the spotlight, albeit with a subtle nod to the agency’s past. Last month, former SID director Eddie Teo was bestowed with Singapore’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Temasek (With Distinction), Darjah Utama Temasek, during the prestigious National Day Awards ceremony. This extraordinary recognition marked 56 years of exemplary public service, a remarkable 24 of which were spent at the heart of SID. Mr Teo joined the nascent agency in 1970 and subsequently became its longest-serving director, helming its operations from 1979 to 1994, a period of significant regional and global flux.

Reflecting on his tenure, Mr Teo, now 79, expressed a poignant regret: the past policy that precluded SID officers from receiving such public honours. "For a very long time, that was one mistake I made. I did not allow them to get National Day Awards because I thought there was a security risk," he recounted. This policy, born from a stringent focus on operational security and officer anonymity, meant that countless dedicated individuals served without public commendation. However, subsequent, "wiser directors" recognized the need to balance security imperatives with morale and professional recognition. "I’m glad that now the good officers in SID can be given National Day Awards," he added, acknowledging a positive evolution in the agency’s approach to its personnel.

Established in 1966, just a year after Singapore’s independence, SID emerged from a critical need for self-reliance in a volatile region. Initially a small team tasked with providing geopolitical analysis, it rapidly evolved into a sophisticated intelligence agency. Beyond its primary role of furnishing intelligence to the government, SID actively supports high-level discussions on key strategic issues and conducts incisive analyses of global developments that could potentially impinge upon Singapore’s security and national interests. Mr Santa Maria likened SID’s operational genre to renowned agencies such as the US’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), implying a similar mandate for intelligence collection, analysis, and strategic foresight, albeit tailored to Singapore’s unique context and vulnerabilities.

For decades, SID operated in deep secrecy, its activities largely shielded from public scrutiny. Information about the agency remained scarce, reflecting its covert nature. However, in a rare and significant departure from tradition, SID launched a public website in 2021, a strategic move aimed at recruiting mid-career professionals and diversifying its talent pool. This initiative marked a conscious effort to adapt to contemporary recruitment challenges and signal the agency’s need for diverse skills beyond traditional intelligence backgrounds.

This year, as the agency celebrates its 60th anniversary, it took an even more unprecedented step into the public eye. Mr Teo, Mr Santa Maria, and Mr Ng Kah Meng, former senior director for counterterrorism, granted reporters a rare opportunity to discuss their experiences and the vital work performed behind the scenes, offering a glimpse into the usually impenetrable world of Singaporean intelligence.

SID Celebrates 60th Anniversary

The 60th anniversary was marked by a closed-door event on Friday (Sep 4), an exclusive gathering dedicated to honouring the profound contributions of both present and past officers. The gravitas of the occasion was underscored by the presence of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, accompanied by Senior Minister K Shanmugam, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing, and Senior Advisor in the Prime Minister’s Office Teo Chee Hean.

In his address, Prime Minister Wong eloquently highlighted the invaluable strategic insights SID has consistently provided to Singapore’s leadership, emphasizing the agency’s unique and indispensable contributions to the nation’s security and prosperity over six decades. "Over the past 60 years, SID has played important roles at critical junctures in Singapore’s history. There are many others which may never enter the public record, and will not be discussed, even in a closed-door setting like this," PM Wong stated, alluding to the classified nature of much of SID’s impactful work.

He continued, "But through all of them, SID has helped successive generations of Singapore leaders see the world more clearly – identify threats early, understand the intentions of others, and make difficult decisions with greater confidence." This statement encapsulates SID’s core mission: to provide the strategic foresight necessary for a small nation to navigate a complex and often perilous global landscape. PM Wong also expressed profound appreciation to the multitude of past and present SID officers, specifically acknowledging pioneer leaders such as former SID directors Mr Tay Seow Huah, Mr S R Nathan, and Mr Eddie Teo, whose foundational efforts shaped the agency.

Looking ahead, PM Wong articulated the increasing demands and paramount importance of SID’s work in a rapidly evolving external environment. He warned of an array of new complexities to monitor, including shifting geopolitical alliances, burgeoning international restrictions, and emergent vulnerabilities that could impact Singapore. He further emphasized the blurring boundaries between security, economics, and technology, noting that "trade, investment, supply chains and access to technology are increasingly being used as instruments of statecraft."

In light of these multifaceted challenges, PM Wong urged the agency to continuously sharpen its strategic edge, ensuring Singapore remains secure and maintains its competitive advantage. "We need to understand not just what countries are saying and doing politically, but also how they may use all sorts of different levers, economic and technological levers, to advance their interests," he explained. "SID must therefore help us understand these shifts early, assess what they mean for Singapore, and give us the foresight to prepare and respond." He concluded by stressing the imperative for SID to continue attracting and retaining exceptional talent – individuals possessing "sharp minds, sound judgment, deep expertise and a strong sense of mission for the country."

"SID has truly come a long way over these past six decades. From a small group of pioneers working quietly after hours, you have grown into a professional and capable intelligence service," PM Wong affirmed. "For a small country like Singapore, that ability to anticipate, understand and act early is a vital source of strategic advantage. And you help contribute to this strategic advantage."

The Job: More Than Just "Spies"

"First off, they are not spies," asserted Mr Santa Maria, keen to dispel popular misconceptions often fueled by sensationalized television shows and movies. While these fictional portrayals may have shaped public perception of intelligence work, especially given SID’s inherently low profile, the reality is far removed from dramatic espionage. "But actually, it’s far from that. It is not as dramatic as what comes out; it’s good for a movie and a TV show, but what we really do is actually quite different," he clarified. He elaborated that the word "spy" carries negative connotations, often associated with covert manipulation and clandestine operations that might not align with a nation’s official intelligence mandate. "We are an intelligence agency that provides information… The word ‘spy’ is too overdramatised, which I would not want to define (the) agency as," Mr Santa Maria emphasized, framing SID’s role as one of objective information gathering, analysis, and strategic assessment for policymakers.

Over the past six decades, the nature of threats confronting SID has dramatically evolved. When Mr Teo joined the agency in 1970, one of the foremost challenges he tackled was the enduring menace of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM), which sought to overthrow established governments through violent revolution and establish a communist state across Malaya. Simultaneously, the racial riots in Kuala Lumpur posed a pressing regional concern, triggering fears of a spillover into Singapore’s multi-racial society. "That seized us because racial politics became very important, and we were worried about spillover into Singapore," Mr Teo recalled, highlighting the immediate and existential nature of these early threats.

Mr Teo’s foresight extended beyond immediate regional concerns. He astutely anticipated the rise of global terrorism and, in response, established a small, specialized group within SID to meticulously study the emerging phenomenon. This initial unit eventually expanded to include representatives from other key agencies, notably the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Internal Security Department (ISD), with Mr Ng Kah Meng ultimately leading this broader counterterrorism effort. The catastrophic events of September 11, 2001, when terrorists hijacked commercial airliners and struck targets in the United States, served as a stark global awakening. Singapore’s senior leadership recognized that terrorism was "no longer a policeman’s problem" but a threat of "strategic proportions," as Mr Ng explained. "So in SID, we took it upon ourselves to issue a series of assessments, explaining to the Cabinet what this was about. Where did it come from? Why did it happen in this way? That was a start (to) ramping up furiously our counterterrorism coverage," he added, underscoring the rapid and comprehensive expansion of SID’s capabilities in this domain.

The same year, Singapore experienced one of its closest encounters with transnational terrorism when the regional Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group orchestrated multiple terror plots against the country. A swift and decisive operation by authorities successfully crippled the Singapore JI network, averting what could have been a catastrophic tragedy. "When we were dealing with the JI threat, that came home to us in a very big way, because the threat was imminent," Mr Santa Maria recounted, highlighting the intense pressure and profound sense of urgency. "We were facing something that could hit us anytime, anywhere. You can imagine that happening in Singapore – the implications (would be) catastrophic – and that really kept us awake." SID’s crucial role was to assess the external origins and dimensions of these threats, working in seamless coordination with the Internal Security Department (ISD), which focused on domestic security. "I will always remember that because… it wasn’t like two weeks; it was years of hard work to finally find them and bring them back, and a lot of professional coordination," the 66-year-old emphasized, illustrating the sustained, collaborative effort required to neutralize such complex threats.

Since the early 2000s, the terrorism landscape has continued to evolve, with the emergence of lone-wolf actors and self-radicalized individuals posing an increasingly significant threat alongside coordinated group plots. This trend is a grave concern for Singapore, as evidenced by the recent detentions of three self-radicalized teenagers by ISD in late July, two of whom had meticulously planned attacks on schools in Singapore, with one mere weeks away from execution. Mr Ng stressed that "Our vigilance towards these threats can never completely go away, even though prioritisation of resources and so on and attention may change over time in response to the changing conditions." He warned that "so long as the world has zones of conflict and these zones of conflict become magnets to attract people to want to go and become trained, and then they become emboldened because they are now empowered with the ability to do things when they come back to the region. So that is something that we really have to keep being vigilant about." Beyond terrorism, contemporary threats also encompass cyber warfare, disinformation campaigns, economic espionage, and foreign interference, all of which require SID’s continuous attention and evolving expertise.

All three veteran officers concurred that the fundamental mission of SID remains steadfast: to keep policymakers comprehensively informed about all potential threats to Singapore and to provide intelligence assessments that are both objective and accurate. Mr Teo articulated a cornerstone principle of SID’s operation: "Our intelligence assessments were based on facts as we knew them. We were very conscious that we must never twist or change our assessments to fit policy." He underscored the agency’s apolitical nature, stating, "SID is not a department that formulates policy. It feeds our policymakers objective intelligence assessments, and we will never allow intelligence to be politicised." This unwavering commitment to factual integrity ensures that national decisions are based on unvarnished truth.

The decision to launch SID’s public website in 2021 and increase its public visibility yielded tangible results. Mr Santa Maria reported a significant 50 per cent increase in applications from young graduates and mid-career professionals. Post-2021, a notable influx of mid-career individuals began joining the agency, a demographic shift that "kind of shifted the DNA of SID," he observed. These professionals, hailing from diverse fields such as law, media, and communications, brought fresh perspectives and varied expertise, "That gave us a very rich perspective of what’s going on outside there, and I think that’s where SID has basically enriched itself in its talent of being able to do better work."

Joining SID, however, requires more than just intellectual prowess. Those who embark on this path must possess a genuine and profound interest in the intelligence profession. "We go through a lot of stress. It’s intense. It gets you down. It’s tiring," Mr Santa Maria candidly admitted, describing typical workdays that can stretch from 12 to 15 hours. Despite these immense demands, it is an unwavering sense of mission and purpose in serving Singapore at a "very special organisation" that motivates and sustains its officers, driving their commitment to national security.

Working with Mr Lee Kuan Yew

When Mr Teo assumed the directorship of SID in 1979, Singapore was under the leadership of its founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Mr Teo recalled the extraordinary privilege of working directly with Mr Lee, who frequently contacted him. "I can tell you very few public servants have that privilege… The experience of working under these legends is something that is difficult for me to explain to you, but you have to be there," he reflected, emphasizing the unique and formative experience of serving alongside such a towering figure.

Mr Lee’s legendary attention to detail left a lasting impression on Mr Ng. He vividly remembered how the founding prime minister would initiate discussions with a few broad questions before meticulously drilling down into the minutest details. "Part of that is yes, he wants to know the answers, but part of it is to satisfy himself that you are not winging it, that you are not bluffing him, then he can take you seriously," Mr Ng explained, illustrating Mr Lee’s rigorous intellectual approach. "It was actually a joy to discuss with him because you know his perspectives are both very broad, but he immediately zooms down, then he zooms up again, and then he switches into decision-making mode based on the facts and the assessments that we give him."

Mr Teo also recounted receiving phone calls from Mr Lee at midnight or being instructed to launch operations on a Friday or Saturday, often derailing personal plans. "Your weekend is gone," the former SID director joked, though the underlying seriousness of these impromptu demands was clear. Yet, he concluded, "Despite all that, it was worth spending all my time in the public service. It was so interesting, inspiring, and the people I worked with showed me that Singapore was in a good place because they were doing all these things – not for the money, not for the power, but to enhance Singapore’s well-being and to serve the people of Singapore." This dedication, he added, was infectious: "Because your bosses behave like that, you also behave like that."

Mr Teo had taken over the directorship from Mr S R Nathan, who later achieved the highest office as Singapore’s President. Acknowledging the formidable legacy he inherited, Mr Teo humbly noted that several officers were more senior than him at the time. He expressed profound admiration for Mr Nathan’s exceptional ability to forge and sustain friendships over many years. "He’s written cards every year to people that he’s met 30, 40 years ago, and his ability to persuade and win over people – that’s something that I really respect about him," Mr Teo remarked. "I owe S R a lot, and I will always remember him for what he did for me." Mr Teo, who himself later served as chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers, concluded, "I hope that the way I ran SID was worthy of his perception of how SID should go."

Sacrifices and Retirement

Given the constant immersion in high-stakes situations, how did these officers manage to find time for rest and maintain a semblance of personal life? They explained that over time, they adapted to the demanding nature of the job, learning to compartmentalize and effectively separate their intense professional responsibilities from their personal lives. "You can’t let it affect your life, where half the time, you’re looking at behind you, who’s watching you, or worrying about the world – that’s not a way to live," Mr Santa Maria advised, emphasizing the necessity of mental discipline to preserve well-being.

However, preventing work from spilling into personal domains was not always straightforward. Mr Ng Kah Meng recalled at least three instances where he had to abruptly leave wedding dinners after receiving urgent calls about potential threats. "It wasn’t, say, ‘I had to pull out of a dinner’. It was really, actually wanting to go and do something about it," he clarified, illustrating the deep-seated sense of responsibility that drove their immediate responses. Even when an alert ultimately proved to be a false alarm, any intelligence regarding threats had to be treated with the utmost seriousness, leaving no room for complacency.

For Mr Teo, the decades spent as an officer and later as director came with undeniable sacrifices on the home front, something he is now consciously trying to address in his retirement. "In a way, it’s good to feel the sense of responsibility has been lifted from my shoulders. After 56 years, I am now free," he mused, articulating a profound sense of release. His son marked his father’s retirement with a touching tribute on Facebook, describing it as the beginning of a new chapter. "I was very touched by that, because I know I neglected him when he was young. I never spent the time I should have spent with him. But that’s life. You choose what you do, and you can’t go back and change things," he reflected with candour. "So I try to make up for it now by spending more time with family."

For Mr Ng and Mr Santa Maria, retirement has ushered in opportunities to pursue long-held passions and explore new avenues. Mr Ng, who retired a decade ago, now dedicates his time to art. While he occasionally painted during his years of service, he now has the luxury of fully immersing himself in his craft, having stocked up on art materials soon after his retirement. "It was really very fulfilling because somehow, lucky accidents happened in my art journey," he shared, noting that his paintings have even been displayed at gala dinners to raise charity for seniors. He has also embraced tai chi, finding tranquility and balance in the martial art.

Mr Santa Maria, who retired last November, has transitioned into providing leadership training and has published a book on the subject. He has also indulged in catching up on reading and ventured into the unfamiliar territory of LinkedIn. Unsurprisingly, his professional profile remains discreet, a testament to his ingrained habits of confidentiality, yet he finds enjoyment in the platform. "It’s an incredible world on LinkedIn. I didn’t know, obviously, but just interacting with people of the same interests and things like that," he observed. Looking back, he concluded, "Do I miss SID? Yes and no. Yes, because nothing gives you that kind of adrenaline. But there must be a time that you need to stop. I kind of miss the work, and yet I don’t, because now I am a lot freer to do the things I want to do and pursue things I want to do in the next phase of my life." Their stories collectively paint a picture of extraordinary service, personal sacrifice, and a profound, enduring commitment to the security and well-being of Singapore, a commitment that continues to shape the nation’s destiny, even in their well-deserved retirement.