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SINGAPORE \u2013 The many years of peace and security in Singapore may result in people letting their guard down, but this is a form of complacency the Republic cannot afford, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Sept 23.<\/p>\n
In a speech to mark SGSecure\u2019s 10th anniversary, PM Wong said an ordinary day in Singapore is nothing dramatic, but this sense of safety should not be taken for granted.<\/p>\n
He noted reports of close calls, with the authorities stopping potential lone-wolf attacks just weeks before they were due to be carried out.<\/p>\n
The self-radicalised individuals include a 17-year-old whom the Internal Security Department (ISD) detained in 2024 while he was planning an attack at a neighbourhood centre near Tampines West Community Club.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe managed to intervene in time before anyone was hurt. But things could have turned out very differently.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I ask myself: Can we keep catching every case in time? What if one day, despite our best efforts, something gets through? No security system can give us a 100 per cent guarantee.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is why we cannot become complacent about safety and security in Singapore,\u201d said PM Wong, adding that the country has been fortunate so far.<\/p>\n
He noted that the security agencies have worked tirelessly behind the scenes, detecting individuals who posed a danger, disrupting plots and intervening before anyone was harmed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs prime minister, whenever I am briefed about such a case, my first reaction is relief,\u201d said PM Wong, at the event held at Our Tampines Hub.<\/p>\n
He said Singaporeans go about their daily lives and attend religious services, take public transport, go for a walk at night in their neighbourhood and watch their children go to school without constantly worrying about danger.<\/p>\n
They are used to their country being safe, he said, adding: \u201cThese things feel normal to us. But look around the world, and you realise that what we regard as normal in Singapore is actually quite exceptional.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we have today is possible only because we have all worked hard to keep Singapore safe \u2013 through our security agencies, and by building preparedness and trust across our society.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said SGSecure was launched 10 years ago to get Singaporeans to stay alert to threats and know what to do if something were to happen, and, in the event of an attack, to stay calm, help one another and not allow fear or hatred to divide society.<\/p>\n
PM Wong said Singaporeans need to speak up when they see behaviour that is not right, and not walk away.<\/p>\n
This includes not assuming someone else will deal with an unattended bag spotted in a public place, or ignoring a friend or family member who is drawn to extremist material online.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be clear, we do not want Singaporeans to live in fear, or be suspicious of everyone around them. We want to continue going about our lives with confidence and peace of mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we can only do so if we are alert and prepared, and take sensible action when something does not seem right,\u201d he said, adding that SGSecure remains important for this reason.<\/p>\n
PM Wong lauded the progress made so far, noting that more Singaporeans now know what to do in a crisis, including how to help someone in distress and protect those around them.<\/p>\n
Neighbourhoods, workplaces, schools, religious and community organisations are now better prepared to deal with emergencies, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we have built stronger bonds of trust across our society. These bonds become especially important if an attack is motivated by race or religion,\u201d PM Wong added.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that after ISD detained the 17-year-old, the Tampines GRC Community Response Roundtable quickly brought religious leaders together.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey stood together and sent a clear message: such violent extremist ideologies represent none of our communities, and would not divide us.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is the resilience we need,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n