Total Defence celebrates 30 years with video celebrating ordinary Singaporeans

By Kash Cheong, The Straits Times, 2 Feb 2014

To commemorate 30 years of Total Defence, the Defence Ministry (MINDEF) has released a video clip showing the importance of ordinary Singaporeans.

The two-minute video entitled "Hands" has five mini-stories which are inspired by real stories of everyday Singaporeans. It shows the different ways in which Singaporeans have played a part in Total Defence. One of the scenes of the video shows a Singaporean handing out masks during the height of the haze last year.

The film was directed by award-winning local filmmaker Meng Ong. "I hope that this collection of vignettes will strike a chord with viewers and encourage them to think about how they too have played and can continue to play an integral role in helping to build Singapore," he said at the launch event on Sunday.

The commissioned film will telecast on television and shown in Golden Village cinemas. It will also be available on www.totaldefence.sg and on YouTube.

Filmlet recounts everyday Total Defence stories
By Kash Cheong, The Straits Times, 3 Feb 2014

WHEN Mr Eugene Aw gets called up for reservist duty, the operationally ready national serviceman sets off on a training regime to get fit.

However, the 46-year-old NS officer and property agent does not do it alone. His wife and two daughters join him for 2.4km runs at Punggol Park near their home.

"It gives him moral support to know that we are there for him," said wife Eileen Aw, 45, who deals in pharmaceutical sales.

Their story is one of five which inspired a two-minute film commissioned by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) to celebrate 30 years of Total Defence.

Entitled Hands, the clip captures experiences which many Singaporeans are familiar with, but which may not be immediately connected with Total Defence.

Each of the stories represents one of the five pillars of Total Defence - military, civil, social, economic and psychological defence.

Mr Aw's story comes under the first category, while a young man giving out haze masks to the needy comes under social defence, which highlights the need to live harmoniously and look out for one another.

"The film highlights that small actions also count towards Total Defence. It is through everyday efforts of Singaporeans that our nation remains secure," said Senior Lieutenant-Colonel George Goh, deputy director of Nexus (Engagement). Nexus is a MINDEF department in charge of Total Defence and National Education.

The section on economic defence features Ms Siti Mastura, 50, who set up a baking school after being retrenched. Her school, Siti's Delights, today provides cooking and baking training for retrenched workers.

Hands does not feature the faces of those whose stories the film was based on, and uses actors instead. Director Meng Ong instead hoped that mood music, subtle gestures and facial expressions of the actors would tug at the audience's heartstrings.

Many who watched the film, which is on YouTube and Total Defence site www.totaldefence.sg, applauded the effort.

Said insurance agent Ben Teo, 32: "I thought it highlighted the small deeds, such as giving out haze masks, that we may forget."

Others, however, thought that Hands, which will also be screened on television and in Golden Village cinemas, could have featured the people whose stories were being told.

Said 26-year-old health analyst Sarah Wong: "It seemed idealised and didn't really touch me. Perhaps interviews could have brought out the fact that the stories were based on real people."






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