Speech by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen, at the National Day Parade 2013 Appreciation Dinner, on 23 Aug 2013, 1925 Hrs at Ritz Carlton Hotel

Good evening, everyone. It was a wonderful video that brought back memories.

I am delighted to be here. It is not a formal occasion so I do not have any big messages but only a big thank you to all of you. It is a small gesture by hosting this dinner for making NDP 2013 such a resounding success. I do not have to tell you it is a success because I know many of your families and friends would have told you so. People from various walks of life, feedback from across many sectors - young, old, different configurations. We tracked it because we wanted to have a feel of how each NDP turns out and for this year's NDP, many people said it was very special. Many people came up to me and they shared how NDP moved them. You know sometimes they will tell you that NDP was very good but not so often would they say that NDP moved them. One particular person said that on few occasions that the hair on her arms stood. They felt connected to the various stories that you were able to tell through your performances. Extraordinary stories of ordinary Singaporeans. And many of them said it was their best NDP yet.

It has been a long journey to put up the NDP and when people tell me that it is a wonderful show, my usual response is that I know the NDP participants have worked very hard. This is a long journey. I know that each of you had to put in many months and burnt weekends, very hard work. But what amazes me, from talking to you, is that some of you do this year after year. I met one NDP participant during one of my visits to give you some encouragement. I met Mr Leo Sequeira  from NTUC. Mr Leo Sequeira told me that he has been performing in NDP for 39 years. If he is not here, he should be recuperating at home. His first NDP was as a unionist. He is from NTUC but at his first NDP, NTUC had not been formed yet. So he marched as part of the Singapore Teachers' Union contingent.

I could feel the commitment, the passion and the positive energies of all the contingents. I am particularly proud of our Muslim brothers and sisters because they did it during their Ramadan month. I know for a fact that religious wise, if they wanted they could have dispensation because of the hard work. They could break their fast. But every time I come down and I asked them if it was difficult, they shrugged their shoulders, they continued with their fast, they smiled and said: "No problem!" Really very positive.

Many Singaporeans said this year's NDP ventured into a refreshingly different format. Indeed, it was a bold attempt, because each year, MINDEF principals, myself and other office holders, the general staff and CDF will see and try to give comments along the way to just sharpen it. Usually in the previous years, we will be able to make comments on props because we used different props to wow the audience. This year, there were no props. So it was a strange experience because there are no prop to comment. The only props we had were those coloured trees and there are very few ways to arrange hearts and circles, so I left them alone. So it dawned on me after watching the first preview that this year's NDP was entirely dependent on you - the individual. That every individual performer gave his or her best. And it was harder because, if you noticed, that this year's LED was very high definition compared to previous years. We could see when you were just lip-syncing wrongly or you did not know the words. It was very visible. So that was the only comment that we had to tell them that people could see them very clearly for now. There were challenges. It was not as if everything went very smoothly. Remember the haze? We had to cancel one of your rehearsals. And the song initially received mixed responses. But at the end of it, it was your whole-hearted and enthusiastic performance that won Singaporeans over. I watched the show a couple of times and at the NDP itself, I was watching out for people's reaction to your performance. I did not watch you as I knew what you were going to do. I knew very early that it will be a success because some of them were laughing at the right time, some of them were captivated, some of them were very surprised and awed. I think the most important point is that your efforts and success of this year's national day show do get Singaporeans together. It is like the end of the play or movie, what did it do? If people say it is just a performance, well, that is fine. It was a good performance. People who saw it at home or at Marina Bay Floating Platform itself, went home feeling better about themselves as Singaporeans, and hopeful about Singapore. That is your greatest achievement. That says a lot.

Singaporeans Coming Together as One

That was the outer goal which you managed to achieve. But individually, many of you shared with me that this was your own special way of giving Singapore a birthday present. Some participated as families like Mr Chiew Chun Wee who joined the Sing-a-Nation choir with his wife and his two daughters . For many weeks, they bonded, they sang together and they now have a common memory that brings their family closer together. This special memory for each of you who participated in NDP binds you with Singapore and will always be with you.

I am very proud of your special acts. For example, the SOKA act. Even today, Singaporeans are wondering how you did it. So I tell them there were no visual cues. The SOKA contingent did not see anything to tell them when to flip the pieces on their clothing. It was all by counting. So if you started counting wrong, you would always be wrong. It required hours and days of practice. I was very proud of them. Our national athletes and extreme sportsmen were full of energy, many people really like the Represent segment. Of course Tan Ah Teck and Dolly brought back memories from "Under One Roof". Who can forget the solitary performance by Ramesh Meyyappan  in the Aspire segment? I was watching again at the faces. People were quiet. People were watching intently and when he went into the screen, and when he came out again, and at the end people thought anything is possible. Anything is possible for Singapore.
 
Singaporeans were of course delighted with their perennial favourites in the parade, the dynamic defence show and the aerial flypast. Our soldiers, our policemen, our Home Team personnel and volunteers and National Servicemen did us proud. And our Red Lions, of course, always our hot favourite. And I will tell Shirley that nobody can take away the fact you are the first Red Lioness to jump. That is your place in Singapore history and nobody can take that away. Even though there were clouds on the actual day and they made the right decision, and they could not jump. They basically could not see where we were and they said they could not see where Marina Bay was and they could have landed in Padang. I said the Padang had a crowd, so it is not so bad. Then they added they could have landed on ECP and it may be a problem. Then I said good you did not jump! They made the right call. Another first is that horses came on NDP. When Singaporeans saw the reflections on LED, many of them just thought it is not possible. But when they turned to their right and they saw horses coming, they said: "Wow, this is something special".   

A Tribute to our NDP Participants and NDP EXCO

I think all of you must be very satisfied that you had a positive impact on fellow Singaporeans. Young and old, old citizens, new citizens, foreign guests, gave NDP 2013 two thumbs up. Lee Shao Qi, a 19-year-old Singaporean, who has been a "loyal follower of the NDP" for the past 10 years and she enjoyed watching this year's NDP. Mr Albert Gomez, a 62-year-old Singaporean said: "I feel very proud to be singing the National Anthem and celebrating our nation's birthday with so many fellow Singaporeans." 

NDP 2013 was made possible only through your hard work, dedication and sacrifice. And it took a lot of people, 11,000 participants, partners, volunteers, and organising committees who worked tirelessly. And again a big "thank you" too our Muslim brothers and sisters. To the EXCO, thank you for pulling the pieces together. Your work started a year ago and you can be proud of the outcome. Let me also express my sincere appreciation to the corporate and individual sponsors for your generous contributions.

Once again, my heartfelt congratulations to all of you on a very successful and memorable NDP 2013. Thank you for making it possible. I hope you all leave NDP 2013 with fond memories and wonderful friendships. I look forward to your continued support for NDP.

Thank you very much.