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Synopsis :

Minister of Defence, Dr Goh Keng Swee gives a speech (in Malay, English, Chinese) at the Third Anniversary Vigilante Corps (VC) Parade and Display held at Jalan Besar Stadium. He traces the development of the VC from a 'purely voluntary spontaneous organisation' transformed into 'a tightly knit organisation', but retaining the 'spontaneous public duty'. His speech covers various aspects which include:

1) its origin is the 'spontaneous response' of the people to the Confrontation and disorders of 1964-65;

2) with Singapore's independence in 1965, it is 'organised on new lines', which include tighter administrative control but the 'spontaneous citizen effort' is retained; the Management Committees of community centres provide the 'support and maintenance' of the VCs and the People's Association arrange the programmes;

3) in the second half of 1967, it 'moves into another new phase', which focuses on a vast exercise in training and organisation for its recruits; the underlying purpose is to produce 'a model citizen ... aware of his social responsibilities, equipped with the social values which Singapore needs for its future progress'.

Dr Goh believes the transformation will succeed as the people are always ready 'to try new lines of activity'. He cities as an example various community centres forming women VC units although the VC Headquarters prefer a later date.