Channel NewsAsia - Wednesday, February 13
SINGAPORE : This year’s Total Defence campaign is taking on a personal dimension — it will stress the importance of every individual’s role in defending Singapore.
More than 1,000 students got a taste of what it will take to defend Singapore at the Total Defence exhibition at the Singapore Discovery Centre.
"I’ve learned lots of examples like civil defence and psychological defence. I think we have to play our part and (adhere) to instructions to keep Singapore safe," said Kunthavi Kalachelvam, a student at Choa Chu Kang Primary School.
The Second Defence Minister, Ng Eng Hen, who launched this year’s Total Defence campaign, warned about complacency setting in.
He cited a survey conducted last year by the Information, Communications and the Arts Ministry. It found that in the event of a terrorist attack, people’s awareness of what to do fell from a high of 80 percent in 2006 to about 50 percent in 2007.
As for people’s mental preparedness, it dropped from 67 percent to around 50 percent in the same period.
"Participation in security—related exercises dropped to 14 percent in 2007 from 23 percent in the previous year. This is an early warning sign about complacency that we should address as a nation," said Dr Ng.
There are 15 partners in this year’s campaign, including several ministries, agencies and the private sector.
The Total Defence exhibition at the Singapore Discovery Centre is on till February 19.
The travelling exhibition will next be at the Tampines Bus Interchange from February 22—24 and at the Toa Payoh HDB Hub from February 29 to March 2. — CNA /ls