Total Defence vital to S’pore’s well-being: Ng Eng Hen

SINGAPORE — Urging Singaporeans to do their part in building the five pillars of Total Defence, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said that while the Republic must anticipate and prepare for emergencies, no country can know all the dangers that come its way.

As such, “the stronger our Total Defence, the more certain we can be that no challenge will overwhelm Singapore”, said Dr Ng in his message for Total Defence Day, which falls today.

The five pillars of Total Defence are military, civil, economic, social and psychological defence.

Dr Ng noted that on Feb 15th every year, the sirens sound to declare the nation’s resolve for Total Defence.

The date marks that day in 1942 when British forces in Singapore formally surrendered to the Japanese army, and paved the way for the Japanese Occupation for the next three-and-a-half years.

While the nation now has a “strong and capable” Singapore Armed Forces because its National Servicemen are “committed and dedicated to military defence”, Dr Ng also stressed the importance of civil defence.

“Indeed, when there is a terrorist attack or a natural disaster, civilians will have to take the initiative to save themselves and others first, before the security forces respond.”

As for economic defence, Dr Ng said Singapore cannot afford a prolonged period of slowdown even during threats.

“We will have to keep our air and sea ports open, our businesses functioning even under trying circumstances. We did this during Sars in 2003 and the haze in 2015 to regain the vibrancy of our economy.”

Dr Ng noted that in challenging times, tensions will rise and relationships between individuals and community groups will be tested.

“Those who seek to do us harm will attempt to sow fear, discord and confusion among Singaporeans, to divide us and make us weak. If they succeed, we will lose the will to defend Singapore as one people. This is why social defence is a key pillar in Total Defence,” he said.

With Singapore being a small country, Dr Ng added, it is vulnerable to external pressures that will test its people’s “resolve and tenacity”.

“In defending Singapore, we can be only as strong as our collective will to do so ... Psychological defence will give us the resilience to overcome these pressures.”