I personally feel that the selldown is a calculated move.
It is not the usual financial market panic that is sentiment driven but an economic judgement/assessment on the real economy by investors. Many people are expecting a deep and long world recession(aka depression). But then again, keeping cash is quite risky when banks are collapsing. Keeping cash at home is even riskier because it may get stolen by thiefs or eaten by cockroaches.
In the case of Singapore, the impact of a world recession will be stronger.
1. over-construction
2. bursting of over-inflated property values
3. stale overseas investments
4. a fast declining export sector
5. a "sophisticated" financial market dominated by hedge funds, foreign funds, covered warrants, index futures, foreign companies listing, etc.
6. reverse flow of hot funds procured from overseas under private banking