Speech by Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen, at the Total Defence Awards Dinner 2023 at Raffles City Convention Centre, Padang/Collyer Ballroom, on 20 Nov 2023

Good evening

Parliamentary colleagues,

Permanent Secretaries,

CDF,

Service Chiefs,

Co-chairs and members of ACCORD,

Award Recipients,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Introduction

The concept of Total Defence (TD) was introduced in 1984, so next year we celebrate its 40th anniversary. A good idea withstands the test of time. And TD has done that – it has remained relevant despite a changing external security environment. If you look at our history in recent events, TD was very useful in SARS in 2003 – I think most of us will remember that, it seems quite far away, 20 years now since SARS – the Global Financial Crisis in 2008, and of course the most recent fight against COVID-19. But, perhaps a more important achievement, is that TD has been successfully transmitted across to a new and younger generation. I am gratified by that and that is quite assuring.

Our younger generation has bought into Total Defence. I say this because, in our polls, around 9 in 10 youths today say they would play their part in Total Defence, even if it meant some form of personal sacrifice on their part. That is very reassuring. Not only our generation, whatever generation you are, Pioneer Generation, Merdeka Generation – now there are classifications for it depending on how much vouchers you get – and the next generation, but for the young to say this, I think it is very gratifying.

When I speak to officials from other countries and we compare notes, and when I tell them that Singapore chooses to commemorate Total Defence Day on 15 February, the day that Singapore fell to Japanese invaders in 1942, those who are security-minded understand very quickly what our intent is. Because you choose a day where you fail, and that is the correct positioning. The theme is actually universal – that unless the citizens of any country can come together to mount a strong total defence, that country is at risk of losing their independence and way of life. If you do not protect Singapore, if you as a citizen do not protect Singapore, then no one else will and you will lose it.

Total Defence Amid Security Challenges

In truth, if you look at the past four decades, how this message of TD had been received by the public, I think it has waxed and waned – this is human and is to be expected. You cannot always have great reception to even a good message. And in times of peace, people will listen but the problem is not so close, less real.

This year, I think Singaporeans and indeed citizens of countries around the world, need less convincing that TD is vital and needed. If you are in Europe for example, there is war in Europe, fought on the proxy battlegrounds of Ukraine. The military campaign in Ukraine will take time to resolve, and some believe that there is no military solution. In other words, what both sides want, neither side can achieve it militarily. But let us assume that there is a pause or that it is settled, even in the aftermath, you cannot put Europe back as it was before Russia invaded Ukraine. The hopes and dreams of integration of Russia with Europe are gone and instead, seeds of distrust and enmity have been sown for another generation just as it was following the First and Second World War. So you are shoring up future problems between Europe and Russia for another generation and you are not sure what will come out of it. What will sprout from these seeds of distrust and enmity is anyone's guess, but lasting peace is unlikely.

We have the turmoil in Middle East arising after the terror attacks by Hamas against Israel, and the response and retaliation by Israel, are dividing nations around the world, including ours, especially those with sizeable Muslim populations. We are at risk too. In fact, on our local communities the impact of the situation in Gaza far outweighs the impact of the unlawful invasion of Ukraine. The loss of lives and limbs of innocents is heart-rending. There is only so much you can see without it being heart-rending, without, being for some, angry. It is very hard to see a young boy grieving over the death of his younger sibling. If that can occur to us, just imagine the impact on extremist groups in this region. It will only add fuel to stoke their fires that they want to destroy and retaliate. This is nothing new, but Singapore with its multi-ethnic groups and multinational companies and agencies, we are considered a target rich country.

We are carefully monitoring developments. Already chatter and visits to extremist sites have gone up many folds. While there is at yet, no information or any specific plot against targets in Singapore or Singaporeans, it would come as no surprise to all of you when I say that risks of attacks here have gone up.

These two epochal events – a war in Europe fought on the proxy battleground of Ukraine and the Middle East situation – all unforeseen. Prior to the Ukraine invasion, Germany was importing 40% of its energy needs from Russia. It had believed in their message and the intent of integration. Prior to the attack by Hamas, some were extolling the virtues of the Abraham Accords and they were looking towards the normalisation of relations between Arab countries and Israel. Unforeseen, unexpected, but I think we need to learn that surprises can occur.

Amid rising US-China rivalry, which has been gaining intensity over the past decade, I think the message of TD is very relevant. When the rivalry between the largest and second largest economies and militaries take place, we know that there can be serious consequences. Already, globalisation, in trade and finance has taken a hit. Just over the last decade, the global share of trade between China and the US has already changed substantially. The immediate effect of on-shoring, friendly-shoring, de-coupling or de-risking is reduced supply resilience and higher costs. It can be mundane items like rice, onions, chicken, or fish, or sophisticated items like chips and rare minerals - but if supply is limited, there will be volatility and increase in prices.

I said that the younger generation has bought into this concept of Total Defence. They have done so because they have witnessed for themselves the unfolding of events that make our world a more divided and dangerous place. They also feel more acutely the effects of climate change. They are frustrated that world leaders are not doing enough to deal with this existential threat. And as digital natives, they are well aware of cyber threats.

So this year, many of you as TD advocates, it has been easier for you to convince other Singaporeans that TD and its six pillars are needed. Young or old, they know that a strong SAF is needed amid contestation among powers. They read about law-and-order fraying, more homelessness in other countries especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, and appreciate that we need and have a strong police and civil defence force. They know that recurrent and strong forces divide people, such as racism and discrimination, and that these forces are well and alive. We value our racial and religious harmony that is the result of our social defence. All of us have experienced shortages of food and other essentials, especially during COVID-19, that will test our economic and psychological defence. And finally, the digital domain is like the physical environment with recurrent cycles of viral attacks that need adequate defences. Misinformation and falsehoods can be particularly virulent, meant to stoke the worst of our tendencies. All these changes I mentioned test a few pillars of our TD.

Appreciation for Awardees

I think this year, your roles as advocates of TD will be easier. But we need you to be just as passionate about TD when times are good, and that same important message needs emphasising.

Whether now or then, we appreciate your contributions greatly. We recognise and thank the NS Advocate Awardees, individuals, organisations, SMEs and large companies for your exemplary support towards total defence and NS. We also thank the many champions for our SCDF, our HomeTeam, for our digital defence, for our social defence, psychological defence and economic defence. Without that economic defence during COVID-19, we would have felt much more acutely the shortages. Those stories bear telling and I think that they have published it, they bear reading to see what groups or individuals, did to show up our various TD pillars. But let me share a few positive examples, time does not permit me to share all of them.

Shalom International Movers is an SME in the logistics business and Shalom made available its logistics and warehousing expertise to help our Army Logistics Training Institute test their concepts on the ground. It actively supports NS employees with time-off for IPPT and In-Camp Training. On Shalom trucks, if you see, you can see a NS Mark on their fleet of company vehicles.

Allkin Singapore Ltd last year organised a 'Service to Community Day'. It was in conjunction with SAF Day and it reminded the residents of the importance of NS and Total Defence, motivating family and community support for our NSmen.

We have individuals too who are receiving the award. Ms Eunice Tan, she is an executive in Changi General Hospital. She covers her NSmen colleagues' duties so that they can fulfil their ICT requirements. Now, some of you know of examples who did this but this is what is special about it. She did this while she was six months pregnant, till term and during a high workload period in the office. I think not only she, but her baby deserves an award too – her baby will be the youngest recipient.

Conclusion

So let me ask a question by way of conclusion: for Total Defence champions and advocates, do we want an easy or hard year? If it is an easy year, it means that troubles are collecting and our citizens can witness for themselves and need little extra convincing. If it is a hard year, it means that we can be lulled into complacency. When we look around the world and we see particularly for NS, the Baltic States, some of them did away with NS when the times are good. Now they are wishing they never did that, because you cannot put the genie back in the bottle. And you wish you did not. It is true for the other pillars as well.

I think the answer whether up or down – is persistence and commitment. If we can keep this message of Total Defence strong for another generation, then Singapore's future will be that much more secure for the future, come what may.

Thank you to all the recipients, and we look forward to your continued support.

More Resources

Total Defence Needed Amid a Changing External Security Environment: Dr Ng Eng Hen