SINGAPORE — People know that a strong internal and external defence, provided by the police, civil defence and armed forces, has been the foundation for prosperity, safety and confidence in the Republic.

But Singapore’s success was also partly due to the Government’s ability to communicate, and grassroots leaders going around to explain, the need for National Service, which was “deeply unpopular” in 1967, Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam said yesterday.

And amid the terror threat around the world today, communication remains vital, stressed Mr Shanmugam at an NS appreciation ceremony in Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency.

“Because if there’s an attack, you want the grassroots leaders to go out into the community, assuage concerns, tell people not to be worried, tell them not to listen to rumours (and say) these are the facts, let’s keep calm, come together ... and we’ll defeat the terrorists,” he said.

The People’s Association’s community networks are critical for this task, he added, especially as part of the SGSecure movement. This was also a role played by the PA during the Konfrontasi conflict with Indonesia in the 1960s.

Mr Shanmugam recounted how the PA worked with the police to administer the voluntary vigilante corps from 1964 to guard crowded places and key installations.

He also spoke about the circumstances faced by Singapore in 1967, when NS began.

It was a period of great uncertainty, and Singapore has a relationship with Malaysia “that no country in the world has with another country”.

“Neither Malaysia nor Indonesia nor anybody else thought we would survive.

“But we not only survived ... we soared high, and today, S$1 is three (Malaysian) ringgit,” he said.

NS was key to this success, he added. Over a span of 50 years, Singapore has gone from having “no troops, no weaponry, no systems” to having one of the most modern forces in South-east Asia.

Mr Shanmugam added that army duty was a difficult issue that affected every family back then.

“No Government that wants to win elections would introduce NS.

“But Mr Lee Kuan Yew did, and there was a tremendous need to go and explain because, suddenly, the families were going to lose their sons (to NS),” he said.

“They would wear a uniform, and they’ll go out, and you don’t see them for months and ... they were going to suffer. People were very unhappy.”

The PA and grassroots leaders went down to the ground, door to door, to explain the rationale. “Today, nobody questions it; everybody understands,” said Mr Shanmugam.

Elsewhere yesterday, the Members of Parliament for Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency and the single ward of Potong Pasir also showed their appreciation to national servicemen at a ceremony in Geylang West Community Club.

A total of 67 father-and-son pairs were presented with the NS50 Recognition Package at the ceremony.