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