REAFFIRMING COMMITMENT TO DEFENCE OF SINGAPORE

"With our lives!" echoed through SAFRA Toa Payoh as 110 Operationally-ready National Servicemen (NSmen) ended their reciting of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Pledge at the East Zone SAF Day 2015 Combined Rededication Ceremony (CRC) on 1 Jul.

Officiated by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen, the East Zone SAF Day CRC was the first of four CRCs held across the four geological zones in Singapore, the other three being North/North-East, Central Business District (CBD)/South, East, and West.

SAF Day CRCs have been organised since 1988, and are undertaken by civilian organisations on a voluntary basis. These organisations invite their business partners and companies that are located in that particular zone to participate in the CRC.

Delivering his SAF Day message at the East Zone CRC, Dr Ng emphasised the need for a strong and credible defence, saying: "Without a strong defence, Singapore could not have had the opportunity to progress from the Third World to the First."

"Why were our founding generation and our pioneers so convinced (of the need for a strong SAF)? It was because they had experienced being subjects under British rule, then being prisoners under the Japanese Occupation. After that, they saw saboteurs during the communist threat and Konfrontasi bringing violence and destruction to Singapore."

"They saw it with their own eyes They learnt very bitter lessons that when you're not in charge of your own destiny, others can reap what you sow, others can destroy what you built."

One of the NSmen taking part in the ceremony was Captain (CPT) (NS) Low Kok Ping Leonard, General Manager of Feoso Energy Pte Ltd, and Company Second-in-Charge of Maintenance Company, 3rd Forward Combat Service Support Battalion. He agreed with what Dr Ng said.

"I think National Service is very important," said CPT (NS) Low. "I've been privileged to travel to many places and have lived in other countries, so I think that what we have here in Singapore is very precious and is worth defending."

CPT (NS) Low also found the CRC to be a meaningful one, saying: "It is a very good way of recommitting oneself to the SAF and to the country a good reminder that we are serving something bigger than ourselves - we are serving our country and our fellow Singaporeans."

In total, more than 650 NSmen from 354 companies and their employers gathered to reaffirm their commitment to defence on SAF Day. Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Defence Lui Yuck Yew officiated at the West Zone CRC at the SIT@Dover. Minister, Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing officiated at the CBD/South Zone and Built Environment Partners CRC; and Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin officiated at the North/North-East Zone SAF Day CRC at the Institute for Technical Education College Central.