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SINGAPORE: The war in the Middle East is of deep concern to Singapore, and the country cannot take its relative peace here for granted, said Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong on Thursday (Mar 5).
“It's quite far away, but it's still relevant and it has repercussions on the rest of the world, including Singapore,” Mr Tong said in response to CNA at the launch of the new SGSecure campaign at Junction 8 mall.
“Here in Singapore, we have been fortunate to have had relative peace, even when the world is beset with tensions and war. This is, however, not something we should take for granted, and it did not happen by chance.”
Mr Tong, who is also law minister, was at the launch of the new SGSecure campaign called “Play Your Role”. It includes a short film and a series of roadshows islandwide.
Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong at the launch of the new SGSecure campaign at Junction 8 on Mar 5, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Abel Khoo)
Also present on Thursday was Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Sim Ann and members from various Home Team agencies.
“This year marks the 10th anniversary of the SGSecure movement, so we felt it is timely for us to refresh the campaign so that the message remains relevant and also top of mind for Singaporeans,” he said.
Members of the public can watch the short film on the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) YouTube channel. It will also be shown at grassroots events, in schools and Institutes of Higher Learning, and during engagement sessions with community and religious organisations, MHA said in a press release.
The roadshows will feature interactive activities set in places such as a bedroom and a hawker centre, letting visitors ponder how to respond to a terror attack and also learn practical skills, such as spotting suspicious behaviour and identifying signs of radicalisation.
“The SGSecure social experiments conducted last year showed that many of us are not as vigilant as we think, perhaps because many Singaporeans don't think that a terrorist attack is likely to happen in Singapore,” said Mr Tong.
MHA said the terrorism threat to Singapore remains high, with online self-radicalisation continuing to be the primary driver. Youth radicalisation is of particular concern.
The new campaign aims to shift the public’s focus from mere awareness to taking action, he said.
“A terror attack in Singapore is not unimaginable,” added Mr Tong.
He said that Singapore’s current state of relative peace is a result of years of effort to build trust across its communities and to stay vigilant against threats.
He emphasised the role of initiatives like SGSecure.
“They remind us that the security of Singapore is a shared responsibility. Everyone of us has a role to play in staying alert, standing united and responding calmly and cohesively in times of crisis,” said Mr Tong.
