REMEMBERING THE FALL, PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE

It was the very spot which marked the fall of Singapore.

On 15 Feb 1942, British Lieutenant-General Arthur E. Percival surrendered Singapore to Lieutenant-General Tomoyuki Yamashita, commandant of the Japanese forces, at the former Ford Factory.

Seventy-five years on, a revamped exhibition space has opened in its place, along with a new name, Syonan Gallery: War and Its Legacies.

Meaning "Light of the South", Syonan was the name given to Singapore during the Japanese Occupation. With more than 200 exhibits on display, the new gallery showcases the British surrender, Japanese Occupation and the legacies of war.

The opening of the Syonan Gallery was part of the Total Defence (TD) Day Commemoration held on 15 Feb.

Describing the threats faced today as being increasingly diversified, Minister for Communications and Information Dr Yaacob Ibrahim said that the battle has now shifted from land to one of heart, will and mind.

He said: "The true test of having remembered and learnt the lessons of war is that we live lives of courage, resilience every day We need to transcend differences, and stay united regardless of race, language or religion, to work together to keep Singapore strong."

In his Total Defence Day message delivered on 14 Feb, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen urged Singaporeans to anticipate and prepare for emergencies.

He said: "No country can know all the dangers that may come its way. The stronger our Total Defence, the more certain we can be that no challenge will overwhelm Singapore."

Dr Ng also called for Singaporeans to stand shoulder to shoulder with a deep commitment and unshakeable resolve to keep Singapore safe, secure and sovereign for the next generation.

The TD Day commemoration event included a weapon presentation ceremony, where recruits from 2nd Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (2 SIR) received their Singapore Assault Rifle (SAR) 21.

For Recruit (REC) Malcolm Chow, receiving his SAR21 at the former Ford Factory meant a lot to him as his grandfather, who lived through the Japanese Occupation, was present to witness the ceremony. Since young, the 19-year-old has heard stories about his grandfather's experience during the war.

He said: "It's (receiving the rifle) a big deal because it symbolises that it is my time to take responsibility to defend the country and to ensure that whatever happened during World War II will never happen again."

Mr Seow Chan Chee, 85, was only 10 years old when the Japanese Occupation took place, and he never fails to remind REC Chow how much the people suffered during that period.

"We did not have National Service (NS) in those days; that's why we were bullied. We couldn't fight; we were not trained to. We couldn't even question the Japanese soldiers, or we would get beaten," recounted Mr Seow.

When asked what he thought of NS today, Mr Seow said he was proud to witness his grandson receiving his rifle and stepping up to defend the nation.

"They (enemies) will think twice before attacking us because they know that we can fight back," he said.

For REC Nazmi Bin Mohamed Yusof, it was Dr Yaacob's speech on Total Defence which left a deep impression on him.

"It's important for us to have the mindset to persevere during the hard times, and we have to be prepared for any crisis. We may be a diverse community, but we have to work together. We always have to be armed and ready in any situation that may arise, especially terrorist threats," said the 18-year-old.

Seeing his men receive their weapons at a place of significance in front of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) commanders and veterans also left an impression on 3rd Sergeant (3SG) Daniel Lopez.

"Total Defence is a way where we unite and show our commitment to defending (our) homes. Everyone should stay away from the mindset that everything is ok, that we are born into safety and comfort," he said.

The 20-year-old platoon sergeant from 2 SIR added that he would not hesitate to step up when the fight comes: "It's about what I do today that prepares me for tomorrow, and if I train hard today, I can fight well tomorrow.

"I also want to impart this mindset to my men so that... we will defend Singapore with our hearts, our minds and our strength."

Also at the TD Day commemoration was Second Minister for Defence Ong Ye Kung, together with members of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs (GPD-DFA), the three Service Chiefs, and senior SAF commanders.