Speech by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Total Defence Awards Ceremony

Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Defence, Mr Heng Chee How,

Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Defence and Manpower, Mr Zaqy Mohamad,

Minister of State (MOS) for Home Affairs and National Development, Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim,

Minister of State (MOS) for Education and Manpower, Ms Gan Siow Huang,

Permanent Secretaries,

Chief of Defence Force,

Co-Chairperson of ACCORD Employer and Business Council, Mr Tony Chew,

Award recipients,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

INTRODUCTION

First, on behalf of all at MINDEF and Ministry of Home Affairs, let me say how happy we are to meet you in person. Simple gestures that we might have taken for granted before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, like us to be able to sit with one another, share a meal, talk with each other, and present these awards in person - are now that more precious. We are very indeed happy that we can resume these activities.

So we are delighted tonight, to honour each of you – employers, civil resources owners and National Servicemen alike – for your outstanding support in strengthening the defence of Singapore and protecting Singaporeans. Congratulations to all award recipients, and thank you for your commitment and dedication to Total Defence.

CONTINUED RELEVANCE OF TOTAL DEFENCE

This year, it has been easier than most to convince Singaporeans about the need for Total Defence. I think there are three reasons. The first reason is the global fight against COVID-19. Singaporeans could see for themselves the different outcomes from various countries, even though some countries had the same strategy. So for instance, if you just look at the number of deaths compared across countries, and it is easily available – many groups, universities, think tanks have published this data - some countries had high death rates – the highest of more than 2,000 deaths per million people – so if that happened to Singapore we would have more than 10,000 people dead, that's more than 10 times what Singapore has experienced. If you look at countries with residents that did their part and trusted each other and their Governments they had better outcomes. Trust was an essential factor in how well countries did during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was true not only for public health, but even for non-medical issues, like maintaining supply lines for essential commodities and test kits. That's why Singapore was in a very good position to be able to help other countries – whether it was test kits, medicines, oxygen. We were thankful that we could help out. Yes, there were many instances of frustrations when restrictions were imposed. Nobody likes social restrictions – this was universal – but overall, the trend was clear. Those whose countries that residents trusted each other, and trust in their Governments, did better.

In Singapore, all six pillars of Total Defence went into action, and that compact, that social compact held. Individuals, community groups and businesses stepped forward to reach out to groups which needed assistance, including migrant workers, underprivileged schoolchildren, and elderly who live alone. Total Defence in Singapore against COVID-19 saved lives and kept Singapore united and strong. I think that was the first reason.

The second reason, this year marked the 80^th anniversary of the Fall of Singapore during the Second World War. If you think about it, 80 years on, there must be very few who personally experienced that day in 1942. But their relatives who have heard their accounts, even if they have passed on, and their relatives bear those deep impressions. And each year we commemorate Total Defence Day, on the Fall of Singapore – we don't do it on Victory Day, we do it on the Fall of Singapore to remind us of the consequences when we don't have Total Defence. It's not realistic to expect the next generation to have that same deep convictions, because they would be hearing it from those who never had those personal experiences. So one of our challenges going forward is to find new ways to teach the lessons learnt to the next generation, your children and theirs, about the consequences should Singapore fall.

Third, and probably the one that has provided the deepest impact, what we are witnessing ourselves is happening in Ukraine. Hearing the news, seeing the images of a modern country of over 40 million residents with their lives and freedom in peril from bombs and other explosives every day, is shocking. It is real, it is unimaginable, it is depressing. It drives home the hard truth of security threats to a country's well-being and sovereignty. It has only been five weeks, more or less. And before that, Ukrainians were going about their lives like the rest of the citizens in the free World, like you and I – sitting in dinners, their children were going to school, enjoying family life, doing productive work. Today, their future, even the next meal, remains uncertain. More than 3 million have fled the country, and now there are refugees waiting for some other country to decide if they are going to accept them. Of course the question must be asked: 'Can it happen to Singapore?'. The freedom and way of life that Singaporeans enjoy are never a given, and must be protected at all times. Singapore is vulnerable because we are small, and that will never change.

Whether it was residents in Singapore 80 years ago or those in Ukraine now, physical invasion of your country puts an end to all that you have built over the years and to future dreams. It doesn't matter how high the skyscrapers, how deep the bonds we have formed between people – all that is lost if we cannot protect the country. And for us, Singapore's right to exist as an independent country. Mr Lee Kuan Yew in his autumn years and I was Minister of Defence and he thought it was very useful for him to meet younger officers, meeting physically to speak to them, speaking at a Temasek Society dinner. And this was what he said at dinner: "Without a strong SAF, there is no economic future, there is no security". I have used this quote a few times before in this year. In the face of the Ukrainian invasion, I think it seems apt: 'Without security, there can be no progress, no economic future'. The Chinese have a saying, many of us are familiar with it – 没有国, 哪有家（méi yǒu guó, nǎ yǒu jiā). If you look at Chinese history, thousands of years of wars in states. States gobbled up, lives destroyed, and in the Chinese tradition, generations are wiped out. The ancient wisdom that teaches the same – 'Without a strong defence, there is no economic security, there is no future'.

TOTAL DEFENCE IN ACTION AMIDST COVID-19

I know that there are award recipients tonight who have committed themselves to be champions of Total Defence for many years now. These recent events I have cited will strengthen further that commitment and hopefully encourage more to support Total Defence. There have been positive examples. Let me cite a few examples during our fight against COVID-19:

Marina Bay Hotel Private Limited supports their NS employees during call-ups and other commitments such as proactively arranging for coverage of their duties during their ICT. When the company stepped forward to manage the Community Care Facility at Changi Exhibition Centre from Mar to Aug 2020, their NSmen employees were involved too. Marina Bay Hotel Private Limited put in late hours to ensure that more than 14,400 of our migrant workers had a safe, clean and comfortable place to rest and recover.

Qoo10, a multinational e-commerce platform, collaborated with Enterprise Singapore to help retailers here sustain their businesses by moving their sales and marketing efforts online. This company also encourages its supervisors to plan around their National Servicemen's ICT obligations, and that's the reason why none of their NSmen have applied for work-related deferment for their NS call-ups for three consecutive years.

CONCLUSION

Total Defence, first launched in 1984, has served one generation well. I am confident that the next generation, having lived through these recent events, will carry that same resilience and resolve to overcome each crisis in the spirit and solidarity of Total Defence.

My heartiest congratulations to all 148 award recipients of this year Total Defence Awards. Thank you and enjoy the dinner and company.

More Resources

Dr Ng Eng Hen: Total Defence Essential To Protect Singapore's Sovereignty and Way of Life