Singapore appoints Sikh as its Army chief

Singapore:  Singapore has appointed Brigadier General Ravinder Singh as its next Army chief, the first Sikh in 30 years to be given the force's baton.

Singh, 41, takes over from Major-General Chan Chun Sing on March 25, Straits Times reported.

A Singaporean of Indian origin, Singh, is currently Deputy Secretary (Technology) at the Defence Ministry. He joined the Singapore Armed Forces in December 1982.

Singh also served as assistant chief of General Staff (plans), head of Joint Communications and Information Systems Department, and Chief of Staff - Joint Staff.

Brig Gen Singh is also the first non-Chinese Chief of Army in nearly 30 years.

Colonel Mancharan Singh Gill was the first ever when he took up the post in 1982, the report said.

Though Major-General Chan is retiring as announced by the Defence Ministry, local media speculates that he would be standing in the coming general election for a parliamentary seat under the banner of the ruling party Peoples Action Party.