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

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Former leaders of Singapore's Security and Intelligence Division (SID) have provided candid insights into their careers in secrecy. They dispelled myths about intelligence work and reflected on key moments in their service under the Ministry of Defence. Kevin Santa Maria, a former SID chief of staff, recounted two decades of duty at the top-secret agency.

He noted that officers took pride in working behind the scenes to safeguard Singapore. Eddie Teo, the longest-serving SID director, confided that public accolades for officers were once withheld due to security concerns, a practice he now regrets. SID, established in 1966, began as a small team focused on geopolitical analysis and has evolved into a critical intelligence agency supporting strategic discussions.

It operates much like the CIA or MI6, collecting information to protect national interests. While officially shrouded in secrecy, SID recently launched a website to recruit mid-career professionals and marked its 60th anniversary with a closed-door event attended by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and other senior officials. Wong praised SID's contributions to Singapore's security and leadership over its 60-year history.

He warned that the agency's work will become even more important as external threats evolve, including shifting geopolitical relationships and the growing influence of economic and technological factors. Wong emphasized the need for SID to continue developing its capabilities to anticipate, understand, and act on emerging challenges for Singapore's strategic advantage.