Singapore can draw lessons from Lithuania: Ng Eng Hen

SINGAPORE — Citing an uncommon manual put out by the Lithuanian defence ministry recently on readiness for emergency situations and war, as well as their consideration of reinstating conscription, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said today (Mar 1) on his Facebook page that there are many lessons Singaporeans can draw from the Baltic state.

“We must keep up our strong defence if we are to avoid being in their precarious and hapless situation,” he wrote.

The 98-page manual titled “Things to know about readiness for emergency situations and warfare” includes instructions on how to respond in a “hybrid war” situation, an obvious reference to alleged Russian insurgents (also referred to as “little green men”) assisting rebels in Ukraine, wrote Dr Ng.

Citing the manual, Dr Ng said it advised that Lithuanian citizens “who notice unknown and unidentified armed groups operating in their neighbourhood or elsewhere should notify the authorities”.

Lithuania is now looking into reinstating military conscription for their male citizens – something which they had stopped in 2008, much to their regret now, he added.

Dr Ng said there was no doubting the reason why the manual was issued to help their three million citizens prepare for the possibility of invasion, occupation and armed conflict, as Lithuania was under Soviet control from 1940 to 1991 and it joined NATO in 2004.