As I pen this week’s column, I am reflecting deeply on a unique privilege I experienced just days ago. Clad in my No. 4 uniform, I had the honour of attending an SAF Day ceremony as an NSman currently serving in my reservist call-up.
Stepping away from the newsroom and into combat boots is always a stark transition, but this year, the experience resonated differently. It was a powerful reminder of why we pause every July 1 to reaffirm our collective pledge to Singapore’s defence.
In a world currently fraught with geopolitical turmoil, it is remarkably easy to look around our peaceful island and take our security for granted. However, as Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing pointed out across various media, including a vodcast session with Illaiya Thalaimurai (the young-audience brand of Tamil Murasu) this week, peace is never guaranteed. It is a hard-won necessity, not a luxury.
Mr Chan addressed a fundamental truth: we cannot afford to wait for danger to arrive before we start preparing. We have to get our defence right “first time, every time, all the time,” because an adversary only needs to succeed once.
What struck out most about the Minister’s insights is how rapidly the nature of national defence is shifting. The traditional perception of the military being solely about physically gruelling exercises and dangerous field manoeuvres is changing.
Today, our frontline extends heavily into cyberspace. With the integration of the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS), Singapore is actively leveraging technology and AI innovation to counter sophisticated cyber threats and disinformation. Defending our sovereignty now requires absolute, round-the-clock vigilance across all domains—air, land, sea, and digital.
Minister Chan beautifully encapsulated this reality during the SAF Day rededication ceremonies with a Mandarin phrase that drove home the message that extraordinary effort is required to sustain an ordinary day.
For us to enjoy a safe, normal day in Singapore, we require a massive, behind-the-scenes commitment from our servicemen, our families, and the business community.
Being on reservist right now puts this into sharp perspective. While juggling military duties admittedly takes me away from my daily work, hearing the Minister’s message completely reaffirmed my commitment to the mission.
Upholding Singapore’s defence is a collective, whole-of-nation duty. It is a sacrifice of time, but one that is entirely crucial. We are the extraordinary force keeping our home beautifully ordinary, and it is a duty I am incredibly proud to fulfil.
