Aiyoh, this one really hits close to home eh. When news broke about that Sydney Bondi Beach shooting last weekend, you could feel the mood shift at my regular kopitiam. Uncle Lim stopped halfway through his kaya toast, shaking his head. 'Wah, like that also can ah? Shopping center somemore!'

Now Singapore authorities pull out all the stops, Ministry of Home Affairs straight away announce enhanced police patrols at 'certain areas.' But serious question ah, how certain is certain? Last time orchard road crowd control also use same words, then people complain why so many hotspots left uncovered.

Look, nobody doubts our boys in blue do damn good work. Our crime rates so low until tourist can leave wallet at hawker centre tables without worry. But terrorism different game altogether. Like that time when little red dot uncovered that plot to attack Marina Bay some years back. Makes you wonder who really sleeping with one eye open and who just tok kok only.

MHA statement very fierce one. Say any foreigner or local support terrorism will kena whack properly, ISD hotline flashing brighter than MBS light show. But hor, got unker at coffee shop ask good question, why always need overseas incident then our security lights suddenly turn on? Last month Rhode Island university shooting, now this Sydney beach tragedy, all wake up calls but seems like we only wake up when other people kena earthquake.

Human cost here cannot ignore ah. Australia’s worst shooting in 30 years included 10 year old girl and Holocaust survivor. Our hearts go out to the victims and families. But look around our own streets you see similar soft targets everywhere. Sunday afternoon Mustafa Centre packed like sardines, Sentosa queues stretching longer than causeway jam. You think the ah so security guard with torchlight can stop shooter?

Malaysian my friend text me yesterday laugh until pengsan. 'Singapore got so many rules but rules don’t stop bullets lah.' He joking of course, but got small truth inside. Rules about chewing gum nice, but real security needs more than just policies typing in air conditioned rooms.

Now the run hide tell advice sounds good, but real talk ah, when bullets start flying, you think people remember what step three is? That SGSecure app our gahmen promote until the cows come home, last I check got how many downloads? Technology can help but safety still about human eyes and instincts.

Indonesia’s experience teaches us something. After Bali bombings, they overhauled entire counterterrorism approach, mixed cultural understanding with hard policing. Thailand facing south insurgency for decades already knows crisis preparation needs Muslim leaders and shopkeepers all working together, not just military.

Good news is, Singapore system learns fast. Last decade alone we saw security upgrades from Formula One barriers to mall bag checks. Police patrols today including special units blending in with crowds at places like Jewel and Gardens by the Bay. Like that steamboat uncle who always reading newspaper near MRT station, he might be more than just unker catching Pokemon, if you know what I mean.

But let’s not kid ourselves lah. Complacency killer number one. I remember PM Wong emphasize this at last NDP, when he said we cannot assume peace is default setting. Now theory meets reality test. One ISIS inspired nutjob can undo years of social harmony, especially in tense times like now with Middle East conflicts boiling over.

Here’s the kopi siew dai on this whole thing. Increased patrols good first step, but heart of security remains community trust. When the makcik selling nasi lemak knows to call 999 because regular customer suddenly start talking weird, that’s real early warning system. When mosque leaders and temple elders share contacts with police grassroots network, that’s multiracial defense in action.

So don’t stress over the patrol frequency or whether Gurkha units deploy here or there. Instead, keep eyes open, build relationships across racial lines, and remember what makes Singapore work isn’t just policies but people looking out for each other. Our hawker auntie can spot gangster from two stalls away, imagine what happens when same sixth sense applies to public safety. Keep calm, stay kind, and maybe buy that extra cup of teh for the blue shirt officer walking extra rounds today. They protecting our tomorrows, one sweaty shift at a time.

Finish already meh? Not yet. Because the best part about Singapore is we never stop upgrading. Today enhanced patrols, tomorrow maybe community defense workshops at RC centres. Got retired army encik teaching neighbours basic awareness, got cybersecurity experts volunteering to monitor extremist chats. All these little bricks building stronger dam against hate.

So while world feels dangerous right now, take heart. Our little red dot shines bright not because no storms come, but because we prepare shelters before rain falls. Sydney’s tragedy reminds us to check those shelters again. Which, I suppose, is what our gahmen doing now by boosting patrols. Just remember to play your part too, lah. Stay woke.