Responsibility of defending nation rests with Singaporeans alone: Ng Eng Hen

SINGAPORE — Despite Singapore’s small size, it cannot depend on others to rescue and defend it, even while sceptics argue that small countries should not waste the effort to protect themselves adequately, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Tuesday (Feb 7).

Speaking at the launch of the NS50 campaign to mark 50 years of National Service (NS), he referred to the Hong Kong authorities detaining nine Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Terrex armoured vehicles last November and said that some had asked if this would have happened were Singapore a big country.  

“We cannot change the fact that we are a small country, but today, after 50 years of NS, we have built an SAF capable of defending Singapore,” Dr Ng said. 

“From time to time, relations with other countries may not be completely smooth, but our relations with big powers like the US, China and India are fundamentally sound and healthy.”

Ultimately, he added, the responsibility to defend Singapore “rests on Singaporeans, and Singaporeans alone”.

He also mentioned the example of how the Baltic nation of Lithuania abolished its conscripted forces after the Cold War, and said: “Countries, especially small countries that … are unwilling to pay the price to build a strong defence, often end up with regrets — some even too late.”

This year, Singapore commemorates 50 years of NS and the 75th anniversary of the fall of Singapore in 1942. The year-long campaign aims to recognise the contributions of more than a million past and present national servicemen across the SAF, Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and Singapore Police Force. 

At the oath-taking ceremony for 100 new enlistees at the Basic Military Training Centre in Pulau Tekong, Dr Ng also announced the launch of the NS50 recognition package for those who have performed or are serving their NS duties. 

Each serviceman will get S$100 worth of vouchers as part of the package, and for past and present operationally ready national servicemen, they will each get a one-year membership to the Safra or HomeTeamNS club.

Dr Ng also officially opened the permanent NS Gallery at the training centre, which showcases the NS history in Singapore. It is open to enlistees and their families when they visit. 

Separately, Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam affirmed the importance of NS for the Home Team, highlighting that national servicemen from the police and SCDF are deployed daily “at the frontlines” in communities, neighbourhoods and on the streets here “to ensure a safe and secure Singapore”.