ISD Heritage Centre Mobile Exhibition & Home Team Counter-Terrorism Exhibition @ Gek Poh Ville CC

The ISD Heritage Centre Mobile Exhibition and Home Team Counter-Terrorism Exhibition at Gek Poh Ville CC - Speech by Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, Senior Minister of State for Law And Home Affairs, 11 September 2005

Good Afternoon,

Dr Amy Khor, Mayor of South West District,
Community leaders,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am happy to be here today to launch the 2nd ISD Heritage Centre Mobile Exhibition and the Home Team Counter-Terrorism Exhibition in the South West District.

2 Community preparedness and readiness have always featured highly in the Home Team’s priority list. At the Home Team, we have the Singapore Police Force, the Internal Security Department (ISD), the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the Singapore Prisons Service, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and the Central Narcotics Bureau all coordinating and cooperating as a team, to bring about a safe and secure best home for Singaporeans.

3 This is exactly in sync with the efforts and priorities of local communities, such as the South West CDC and the Hong Kah North Grassroots Organisations, which aim to build the best home, and in today’s context, the best and safest home for all of us. The Home Team is grateful for the full support from our community and grassroots organisations in carrying out the Home Team vision.

4 As part of the Home Team’s relentless efforts to enhance emergency preparedness of the population, the month of September has been dedicated as the “Homefront Security Month”. The ‘‘Homefront Security Month” will be an annual event comprising a series of coordinated public outreach programmes aimed at engaging a wide spectrum of the population, from the general public to businesses to schools. I encourage all in the community to come and take part in these activities; learn more about emergency procedures that may prove useful for crisis situation, and understand how you can contribute to the vigilance of the nation.

Changing Security Environment

5 Coincidentally, today marks the 4th anniversary of the 9-11 tragedy, which marked a defining moment in history, as well as the onset of a new phenomenon – global and borderless terrorism. 9-11 changed the security landscape. Since 9-11, we have stepped up security, regularly reviewing security measures to makethem more effective.

6 The September 11 attacks were also a reminder of the importance of staying united and prepared. Singapore has long been regarded as a “hard target” for terrorists. But being a “hard target” does not guarantee “lifetime immunity”. We cannot and must not take this peace for granted. The community can and should play a leading role in countering this threat. We need every Singaporean to be our additional eyes and ears on the ground, to detect and alert us to any suspicious activities and people.

An Eye on Security

7 And if numbers are anything to go by, I am encouraged by the level of involvement of fellow Singaporeans in trying to keep Singapore a safe home for everyone. In 1997, there were just 26 Neighbourhood Watch Zones, or NWZs. In 2005, there were more than 600 NWZs. This represents a 94 per cent participation rate of all Residents’ Committees (RCs) and Neighbourhood Committees (NCs) in Singapore. Also, the number of Community Safety and Security Projects carried out by RCs and NCs has also increased. In 1998, there were only 64 CSSP Projects. In 2005, there were more than 700 Community Safety and Security Programmes initiated in the 634 RC and NC in Singapore. Just as they have been watching out for crime, they should also look out for suspicious going-onswhich could mean terrorist plots in the making.

Community Emergency Response Teams

8 More recently, in May this year, the People’s Association (PA) spearheaded the formation of Community Emergency Response Teams or CERTS with RCs and NCs, under the active guidance of the Civil Defence Executive Committees. These CERTs made up of community volunteers are equipped with the necessary emergency preparedness knowledge and skills to assist their local residents during aterrorist related incident or emergency.

9 CERTs also complement existing grassroots units such as Emergency Preparedness Groups (EPGs) – the planner and organiser of community level responses to emergencies – and the Civil Defence Executive Committees.

10 I am very pleased today to appoint trained volunteers from the Hong Kah North division as Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members. Since the inception of CERTs in May, I have been told that the South West District has already recruited 160 CERT volunteers. A commendable achievement indeed.

A Prepared South West District

11 The South West District has indeed blazed the trail. One significant achievement was its recent sweep of six Community Safety and Security Programme (CSSP) awards, out of the 17 national awards presented at the National CSSP AwardsCeremony on 27 July 2005.

12 Just last month, I understand that South West District Inter-Racial Confidence Circles gathered to brainstorm on standard operating procedures of possible responses in times of emergencies. This is a good initiative. In times, I encourage them to share their “fruits of labour” so that their efforts can multiply.

13 Today’s ISD Heritage Centre Mobile Exhibition gives the public an insight into the security threats posed by communal/religious extremism and international terrorism to Singapore. The Home Team Counter Terrorism Exhibition features latest technology and equipment employed by members of Home Team in the fight against Terrorism. It also provides information on the current terrorism trend and how citizens can play a part in counter terrorism.

14 In addition, the Singapore Civil Defence Force is also launching the multi-lingual Video Broadcast System at today’s event. This innovative project leverages on multimedia technology. It is able to broadcast public education videos simultaneously in the four official languages (English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil) and thus is able to reach out better to our multi-ethnic community. It also provides a more engaging learning experience than the use of the conventional posters and exhibits.

15 Worldwide, time and time again, natural disasters and terrorism strikes show us that emergency preparedness and emergency response readiness are not just academic or theoretical matters. They are real-life issues. When they occur, embracing them now may mean the difference between life and death.

16 In this vein, I warmly applaud the Mayor and this afternoon’s working committee made up of the South West Community Development Council, the Hong Kah North Grassroots Organisations and the Home Team for working together to organise this event. Such collaboration is the essence of emergency readiness and response.

17 Together, let us make this a safe and secure home.

Thank you.