Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen and Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Chan Chun Sing visited the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel from Combat Service Support Command carrying out mask support operations at the SAFTI Military Institute today.

During his visit, Dr Ng was briefed on the SAF's operations to pack 5.2 million surgical masks into packets of four to be delivered to 89 Community Centres and Clubs, for distribution by the People's Association to Singapore households. The operation involves 1,500 SAF personnel performing a variety of roles such as packers, logisticians, transport operators and administrators. In addition, the SAF is also supporting Whole-of-Government operations including contacting of personnel identified to have a risk of being infected.

Dr Ng also interacted with SAF personnel during the mask support operations. At the end of the visit, Dr Ng said, "The SAF is very aware that all the agencies within the government must lean forward and do our part against the Wuhan virus. We have been involved in a number of aspects for the containment of the Wuhan virus. All of us, of course, are hoping that we can prevent the community spread and that is the most important."

The primary responsibility of the SAF is to safeguard Singapore's peace and security. From time to time, the SAF may be called upon to assist during extreme circumstances which affect Singapore. The SAF responded to contain the SARS crisis in 2003 and in 2013, when the haze blanketed Singapore, the SAF similarly packed and helped to distribute N95 masks to Singaporeans.