Singapore appoints Sikh as army chief

Singapore has appointed Brigadier General Ravinder Singh as its next army chief, the first Sikh in nearly 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.

He is also the first non-Chinese chief of army in nearly 30 years. Colonel Mancharan Singh Gill was the first ever Sikh and non-Chinese to take up the post in 1982, the report said.

Though Major-General Chan is retiring as announced by the defence ministry, local media speculated that he would be standing in the coming general election for a parliamentary seat under the banner of the ruling People's Action Party.