Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen was the Guest of Honour at the annual Total Defence Awards 2024 held at the Raffles City Convention Centre this evening. 144 Total Defence (TD) Advocate Awards were awarded to 64 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), 26 Large Companies, 39 Organisations and 15 Individuals. The TD Advocate Award is the highest accolade conferred on businesses, organisations and individuals in recognition of their exemplary support toward Total Defence.

Dr Ng underscored the necessity of Total Defence in response to the conflicts and challenges facing the world today. He said, “In a more disruptive world where communities are pulled asunder by intolerance, assertiveness, the insistence of one’s own rights, we have been held up as a model to emulate for racial and religious harmony, of an atmosphere of give and take, of groups exercising self-restraint so that they do not stoke resentment or even violence by infuriating the sensitivities of others or by reacting violently when their own sensitivities have been disregarded. In Total Defence, all pillars have been tested and held up well in crises that Singapore went through. Our Military, Civil, Economic, Social, Digital, and Psychological Defence have stood strong and strengthened as a result of these stress tests.” 

Dr Ng also expressed his appreciation for Total Defence Advocates and their strong support for Total Defence. Addressing the award recipients, he said, “This virtuous state of affairs owes much to your personal contributions as individuals or companies. That is the reason why tonight we wanted to have this small token of a dinner to acknowledge and thank organisations, businesses, and individuals who have contributed directly to each of the six Total Defence pillars.”

Senior Ministers of State for Defence Heng Chee How and Zaqy Mohamed as well as Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim presented awards to SMEs, Large Companies and Individuals respectively.