SGSECURE LAUNCHED TO PREPARE S POREANS FOR TERROR ATTACKS

"Terrorism threatens not just our physical safety, but also our social harmony and way of life. To protect ourselves, every Singaporean has to play his part You don't have to be a commando to make a difference, you can just be an ordinary person," said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the launch of the SGSecure national movement at the Singapore University of Technology and Design on 24 Sep.

The movement prepares Singaporeans by sensitising, training and mobilising them to play a part to prevent and deal with terrorist attacks. Elaborated Mr Lee: "SGSecure is about what each of us can do as an individual. It is about how each of us can play our part to protect ourselves and those around us".

Terrorism has been on the rise since 9/11 and both the Home Team and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) stand ready and vigilant to deal with this long-term threat. However, terrorism has become more virulent in Southeast Asia and has moved away from just attacks by trained terrorists to those by self-radicalised lone wolves. To make matters worse, its targets have gone beyond key installations to include everyday places such as MRT stations and hawker centres.

These developments make it important for every Singaporean to be more security conscious for instance, being aware of suspicious behaviour and to take necessary immediate actions during an attack and SGSecure is the response to this changing threat.

Mr Lee also urged Singaporeans to respond cohesively with courage instead of fear as how Singaporeans react during the aftermath of a terror attack that determines whether the society stands together or falls apart.

"I think if you ask Singaporeans which of those two they will do, it is quite clear what the answer will be. Stand up, do the right thing, get prepared, gird ourselves. It will happen, but we will be prepared when it happens."

At the event, Mr Lee also launched the SGSecure mobile app which allows users to quickly send images, location and information during a crisis when it is safe to do so. This information is sent directly to the Police Operations Command Centre where it will be assessed for quick response on the ground.

Members of the public will also receive timely alerts and official information during major emergencies through it. The app is available for both Android and Apple devices.

SGSecure prepares Singaporeans for terror attacks, as Singaporeans put the civil, social and psychological aspects of Total Defence into action by building community vigilance, cohesion and resilience. Total Defence is a national framework for an all-round response to threats and challenges that Singapore may face, and involves everyone playing a part in military, civil, economic, social and psychological defence, to keep Singapore strong.

For more information on how you can be a prepared citizen, active responder and effective mobiliser, check out www.sgsecure.sg.