Total Defence More Relevant Today

Senior Minister of State for Defence, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, officiated at the Total Defence Day Commemoration Event this afternoon at 'The Future of Us' exhibition, where he launched the Total Defence 2016 Campaign, themed "Together We Keep Singapore Strong", and toured the Total Defence 2016 Exhibition.

Speaking at the event, Dr Maliki said that terrorism was the biggest threat facing all countries and called on Singaporeans to unite against any force seeking to divide us and destroy the peace and harmony that all of us have come to cherish. He highlighted that Total Defence continues to be a strong foundation for the future of Singapore, but with a renewed emphasis on social and psychological defence. Dr Maliki said, "In our confidence and optimism for the future, we must not let our guard down. In particular, I believe we need to work hard to further strengthen our social and psychological defences. This is because the real battle of today and of the future is for the hearts and minds of our people".

Dr Maliki also invited Singaporeans to reflect on what Total Defence means for them now and in the future, and to contribute ideas on what they can do to defend Singapore through an ongoing series of SGfuture citizen engagement sessions aimed at engaging Singaporeans to play an active role in shaping our nation's future. Dr Maliki participated in one of these sessions this afternoon, held in conjunction with the Total Defence Day Commemoration Event, on the topic of "The Changing Face of Threats and Total Defence".

A highlight of this afternoon's programme was a live performance of the newly-arranged Total Defence song, "There's a Part for Everyone", by local band QuickPick. Written in 1984, its lyrics have also been updated to reflect the importance of psychological defence. The song was brought back to inspire and rally Singaporeans together to face whatever challenges that lie ahead.

The Total Defence 2016 Exhibition features stories and interactive exhibits that explore how we can, as one people, overcome the threats and challenges that Singapore may face in the future. The Exhibition will take place at the Marketplace within the 'Future of Us' exhibition at Gardens by the Bay until 18 February 2016, while a similar showcase packed with activities for students and featuring stage plays will be held at the Singapore Discovery Centre until 19 March 2016. Admission is free.

Total Defence Day is held annually on 15 February to mark the day Singapore fell to the Japanese during World War II in 1942. It reminds us that we cannot take our defence and security for granted and that everyone has a part to play in defending our country.

More Resources

Speech by Senior Minister of State for Defence Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman on Total Defence Day

Fact Sheet: The Total Defence 2016 (TD 16) Exhibition

Fact Sheet: Newly-Arranged Total Defence (TD) Song "There's A Part For Everyone"