) or https:// as an added precaution.Mr Kho Choon Keng, President, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry,
Distinguished Guests, Students,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. On this day 84 years ago, during World War II, Singapore fell to the invading Japanese Army. At that time, Singapore was a British colony. The Japanese Occupation lasted three years and eight months. It was a time of tremendous hardship and suffering. Tens of thousands of our people were rounded up during Operation Sook Ching, and machine-gunned to death. Thousands were forcibly conscripted to build military installations. Many families lost loved ones. They starved to death or were killed.
2. This Civilian War Memorial, unveiled in 1967, is a memorial to that tragic past. It honours those who died, and warns us of what can happen if we are not able to defend our people and our country. Last year, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Singapore, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that the memories of the Japanese Occupation live on through the voices of our parents and grandparents. It was a dark chapter that remains "etched in our national memory", and the sacrifices of those who died are "a debt we can never fully repay". Indeed, we cannot, we must not, and we will not forget this painful history.
3. That is why, every year, on the 15th of February, we mark Total Defence Day to remind ourselves that never again will we allow ourselves to be occupied by a foreign power, and that we must always be ready and prepared to defend our country if we are to remain sovereign and free.
Launch of Eternal Vigilance: Digital Learning Journey
4. Total Defence commands the total commitment of each and every Singaporean. It encompasses: Military and Civil Defence to ensure our physical security and emergency preparedness; Economic Defence to safeguard our livelihoods and our supply chains; Digital Defence to protect against cyberattacks and misinformation campaigns; Psychological Defence to strengthen our collective resolve and fighting spirit in the face of threats and crises; And Social Defence to maintain our unity. Total Defence is not just the work of security agencies. It is the shared and solemn duty of all Singaporeans.
5. It is therefore timely that the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry is launching The Eternal Vigilance: Digital Learning Journey, to enable our secondary school students to better understand our World War II history.
6. I commend the students from Nanyang Girls High School and the National University of Singapore for working with the Chinese Chamber and for contributing to this effort. They help us to tell our nation's story in a way that connects with our younger generations and future generations.
7. I would like to thank the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry for organising the War Memorial Service each and every single year for the past 59 years, and MINDEF's NEXUS team for contributing to the service. We also honour and salute our SAF veterans for safeguarding the safety, security and freedom that Singaporeans have enjoyed since independence.
Vigilance and Preparedness
8. When unveiling this Civilian War Memorial back in the year 1967, our founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew said this, and I quote:
"This monument is not intended to alert us to another imminent invasion from the Japanese, for the balance of world power has altered radically in the last 25 years. And it is because it has so altered that we should be aware of the new dangers in the region, indeed in the world. It should spur us on to pursue policies which will cultivate for us the largest number of reliable and strong friends. We must resolve that if in spite of every insurance we cannot avoid being caught in a major catastrophe, then unlike the last time we will not be unprepared for the trials and tribulations that will follow, nor left prostrate and suppliant in the face of terror." Unquote.
9. Since then, for nearly 60 years, Singapore has lived in peace, and avoided a major catastrophe.
10. But today, our world is again undergoing profound change. The post-World War II global order led by the United States is receding into the past. The international situation is becoming more contested, uncertain and dangerous. Today, Mr Lee Kuan Yew's words said in 1967 remain as true and relevant as ever. It is even more important for us to stay strong and united, and never again find ourselves vulnerable and defenceless.
11. In these uncertain times, we must do all we can to preserve peace, stability, and mutual trust in our region. That is why Singapore remains firmly committed to building strong friendships and enduring partnerships with countries, near and far.
12. At the same time, we will remain vigilant and prepared, ready to defend ourselves should the need ever arise. In doing so, we honour the sacrifices of those who suffered and perished. We uphold the legacy of our pioneers, who, having endured the ravages of war, dedicated themselves to rebuild our home from its ruins. And we reaffirm our collective responsibility to protect Singapore's security and independence for this generation and for generations to come.