Speech by Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen at the NDP 2021 Appreciation Ceremony

Chief of Defence Force,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon.

This is a good occasion for us to appreciate all those responsible for putting up what was a spectacular show. The NDP has been held every year from 1966, to mark Singapore's independence. NDP 2021 was the 56th edition. Singapore is of course not alone in celebrating its National Day. Countries all over the World, some much older than Singapore, continue to mark their independence albeit differently, reflecting their unique cultures, ethos and historical context. I remember vividly France's Bastille Day Parade held on July 14th in 2018. It is one of the oldest parades in Europe, that began in 1880! As it happened that year, PM Lee was there on a state visit and was invited to be their guest of honour for that year's parade. Our delegation was also invited to attend. It was a grand occasion, and it was strategically held right at the end of Champs-Élysées, with marching columns as far as the eye could see along Champs-Élysées. Our RSAF training detachment in Cazaux was invited to join the Parade, and we did. We held a combined flypast with the French Air Force. On the ground, a four-man party led by our RSAF contingent carried Singapore's flag proudly. Some of the marching contingents date their history back many years. There was one that wore leather and carried not guns, but axes and other medieval armoury. The Bastille Day celebrations remind the French from whence they came, the battles fought, the blood spilt, sacrifices made, that gave France its independence and freedom today. I can well imagine the cries of "Vive la France" that echo throughout France on that day each year.

I think you've seen how our neighbours - the ASEAN countries around us - mark their National Day with ceremony and celebrations. Some of us here have attended such celebrations in Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, and so on. Further afield, the United States' 4th of July festivities are renowned around the World. This year, the US embassy here sent out tasty cookies. It was unique that it had both the US and Singapore Flags side by side. On UK's National Day, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a basket of UK-made goodies from the High Commissioner, much to the delight of my family members who enjoy delectable treats at tea. For those of you who have watched it, who can forget China's 70th Anniversary Celebrations last year on October 1st. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, they staged a grand and meticulously choreographed Parade, with an impressive display of their military hardware, the largest ever that coasted along Chang'an Avenue to Tiananmen Square. There was no mistaking through that pomp and pageantry, China's declaration of its progress and achievements. With 59 formations, over 160 aircraft and 580 pieces of equipment, China was speaking to itself and the World, that she, once weak, was now strong and advancing. No one who witnessed the Parade could doubt this declaration.

This tradition of celebrating National Day, whether at home or abroad, with citizens as well as foreign friends runs deep and for many good reasons, not least for the citizens of that country to come together as one, to show their confidence in themselves and their heritage. It is the country's expression on their national day, its place in history and the World today.

For Singapore, our founding generation set the tone for our National Day celebrations. In the first NDP, Ministers did not get to watch it from the stands. Ministers like Jek Yeun Thong, Ong Pang Boon and Othman Wok marched together with the People's Defence Force. They held that NDP at the Padang, and the contingents went much further into Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar, amid heavy rain that fell on NDP that year. It was not a one day affair. Activities and celebrations lasted a week. It was Singapore's way of underscoring our newly found Independence just after separation, and confidence as a new nation that would thrive. It gave confidence to Singaporeans watching this themselves, as well as to other countries looking at Singapore. These week-long festivities were, despite the reality of high unemployment, and poor infrastructure development whether in public housing, hospitals, schools, transport at that time. Was our founding generation unaware of their hardship and challenges when they organised such a week of festivities? On the contrary, they decided to hold the celebration because of that deep realisation that in order for any nation to succeed, the people must first believe in themselves and their country. Mr Lee Kuan Yew put it this way during his first National Day Rally speech in 1966 - "This capacity to face up to situations, however intractable, however unpleasant, is one of the great qualities for survival. A people able to look facts squarely in the face, able to calculate the odds, to weigh the chances and then to decide to go (at) it, are a people not likely to go under."

Since then, we have held NDP every year, for the very purposes and hopes that Mr Lee articulated in that same speech – "Every year, on this 9th August for many years ahead – how many, I do not know – we will dedicate ourselves anew to consolidate ourselves to survive; and most important of all, to find an enduring future for what we have built."

Whether in good times or bad, the NDP marches on. Many of you here will remember the 2015 NDP to celebrate our Golden Jubilee, the 50th anniversary of Singapore. But it was also held after Mr Lee had passed in March that year. His passing evoked an outpouring of emotions that brought our nation closer together, less inward looking, and more thankful for what Singapore had achieved. It was no wonder that SG50 celebrations around the NDP of that year were the grandest and biggest yet. For NDP 2015, we had spectators both at the Padang, the Float and beyond as big screens were placed at various landmarks in the Marina Bay area, including The Promontory, Marina Barrage and Gardens by the Bay. Close to 300,000 Singaporeans gathered around these areas to join in the celebrations.

What a contrast from the highs in 2015, and this year's NDP. From unfettered celebrations for 50 years of Independence to severe restrictions and fear from a global COVID-19 pandemic, with just 1,000 spectators and 600 live performers – both a fraction of what previous NDPs involved. We have to close off Marina Bay so that people would not crowd. Even as late as July, we were not certain that we could prepare adequately to put up a good NDP. Performers had to rehearse in smaller groups, in various sites and undergo weekly prodding of nostrils for the COVID-19 test. To overcome that inability to gather in big groups or have many physical rehearsals, the NDP EXCO and their creative talents had to dig very deep and came up with many innovations. They harnessed technology to connect performances virtually for the first time, combining live and virtual elements. "Virtual contingents" joined the parade with 200 participants from nine uniformed youth group contingents and 12 civilian contingents. For the show, live performances at The Float blended seamlessly with pre-recorded virtual performances. It also gave us the opportunity to show off Singapore's key landmarks because they were decentralised across Singapore. That clip of the SSO dressed all in white at the Jewel, beautiful strains of music with a gushing waterfall as the backdrop captivated many Singaporean hearts. And when Aug 9th was just around the corner, the Jurong Fishery Port and KTV clusters broke out. For the first time in NDP history, the reserve date was activated and we held NDP on 21 Aug. Looking back, it could have turned out badly, given all these difficulties. Organisers and performers could have gotten infected to form clusters. The show could have been degraded given the few physical rehearsals possible.

And yet, many Singaporeans have openly declared that this was their best NDP ever. Media reports were just as glowing:

"It may have been a scaled-down affair, but the Singapore spirit kept the show going, resonating in the hearts of those at Marina Bay and at home." Wrote one CNA columnist;

"First postponed NDP in 56 years still manages to touch hearts" from Lianhe Wanbao;

"…those who were at the National Day Parade (NDP) on Saturday (Aug 21), as well as the millions watching at home and elsewhere, celebrated the country's 56th birthday just the same as the previous 55 occasions – with heart and gusto, and a tinge of nostalgia."— TODAYonline

The Straits Times succinctly described, NDP 2021 was a "heartfelt ode to the Singapore Spirit".

The NDP was our collective affirmation that no matter how hard the going, Singapore will overcome and thrive. As the song goes, "We did it before, and we will do it again". Together, Singaporeans can withstand adversity to emerge stronger.

The NDP this year paid tribute to ordinary Singaporeans doing extra-ordinary acts as front-liners. We invited some representatives – essential workers and community volunteers to attend NDP to receive on behalf of their fellow workers, this respect and recognition. We also featured some of their personal stories in the NDP, like Ms Tan Li Mei, a COVID-19 survivor, who as a patient, was inspired by the care she received from hospital staff. When she recovered, she started and co-fund the Kampung Kakis movement, a neighbourhood buddy system to support the elderly, isolated individuals and disadvantaged families during this difficult period. And Krsna's Free Meals, a soup kitchen providing free vegetarian meals to migrant workers, the elderly and those in need started by Ms Latha Govindasami and her sisters. Today, Krsna's Free Meals provides up to 800 breakfast and 700 lunch boxes a day, supported by various donors and a pool of 300 volunteers. These personal examples remind us that every Singaporean can make the positive difference for others around him or her.

Amid all the twists and turns, ups and down, NDP 2021 was held successfully. That statement on its own speaks volumes. Each of you who contributed to this success deserve our deepest thanks and admiration – the NDP 2021 EXCO, parade participants, show performers, as well as the support from partner agencies and sponsors. NDP 2021 became a reality by your personal effort and is the greatest tribute, I can think of, to all who strive daily to keep Singapore going, to keep the flame that is the Singapore Story burning bright, even against strong headwinds. The road ahead is uncertain. But we rest assured that if each of us embodies the Singapore Spirit, our future remains secure and bright.

Majulah Singapura.

More Resources

Minister for Defence Thanks NDP 2021's Organisers, Participating Organisations and Sponsors