Temasek Seminar 2009 - Our Home, Our Future, Our Singapore 24 Jul 2009 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean interacting with participants of this year's Temasek Seminar. About 340 students from 20 junior colleges and integrated programme schools, and 5 polytechnics, attended the 19th Temasek Seminar, which was held at the SAFTI Military Institute this morning. With the theme "Our Home, Our Future, Our Singapore", the students discussed topics such as the efforts that made Singapore a modern city and the factors that underpinned its success, as well as what makes Singapore their home, and the importance of defending the nation. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong and Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Michael Palmer, engaged the students in an open forum chaired by Mr Teo. Speaking to the students before the forum, Mr Gan shared his views on the unique strengths of Singapore and their continued importance in the future. Mr Palmer talked about the concerns of Singaporean youths today, and the role they play in Singapore's continued success. 1 The annual Temasek Seminar began in 1991 for first-year junior college students, and expanded in recent years to include students from integrated programme schools and polytechnics. This seminar aims to create interest in public service, and to increase awareness and appreciation of security-related issues among students. Senior officials from the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), as well as principals and teachers from the participating schools, also attended the seminar. 2 .