'Keeping Calm Since August 10th 1965'

My fellow Singaporeans.

In the next few weeks, it may look like the world is ending. And it might already feel so, with the world shutting down, countries closing their borders.

This message is especially for the young ones.

If there is one country that has been preparing for disaster, it has been Singapore.

In fact, we have been preparing for disaster since August 10th 1965.

When a nation is born from ashes, reliant on the country that just kicked you out for even food and water, you prepare for the world to end from DAY ONE.

We have been stockpiling fuel. Stockpiling food. We are mostly self-reliant on water, even if our neighbours laugh at us for drinking our own piss. (WHO'S LAUGHING NOW?!) We have been stockpiling medical supplies. They are stockpiled in secret warehouses all across the island, which you probably walk past every day. You don’t see it but trust me, it is all there in places bigger than the biggest supermarket warehouses you have ever seen.

Most of all, we have been stockpiling money.

There have been annoying people throughout the years who have publicly said that this ‘siege mentality’ is unhealthy for Singapore. That it was was time to relax. I know many young people who grew up amongst the gleaming skyscrapers who think so.

Well, when your country is founded on the premise that it won’t survive (and even Malaysia thought so), you have to live every day as if there isn’t going to be a tomorrow.

You see action teams all over the island reacting fast.

Medical facilities ready to go.

Supermarket shelves re-stocked overnight.

Dormitories and other accommodation right now are being prepared for Malaysian workers who are stuck - and it has been just over 12 hours since our neighbours dropped the bombshell on us.

You really think we reacted overnight ?

No, these are plans laid out carefully over 55 years, every day living like we did since August 10th 1965.

When we thought there wasn’t going to be a tomorrow.

And if worst comes to worst, if it’s every country for itself, we have ammunition stockpiled. Our F16s are ready to fly back to protect us within minutes. Our NSmen who might complain every time there is reservist, stand ready to defend this island against whoever thinks can take advantage of a global crisis. You come, we make sure you get a sock in the face you don't forget. Did this happen overnight? No. We have been prepared since August 10th 1965.

The world isn’t going to end. But even if it were, my fellow Singaporeans, we are in one of the world’s safest and best prepared places. If you see everything that is being done and you are not amazed, then you have no idea how prepared we are.

So keep calm and look after each other. Don’t be selfish. We are prepared. And if Singaporeans stick together, we will live through this unscathed. Majulah Singapura.