Vice Admiral Aaron Beng, Chief of Defence Force

Members and participants of NDP 2024

Good afternoon.

1. It is a real pleasure to host today’s event to celebrate those who contributed to this year’s NDP.  

2. Every NDP is a massive effort, and an act of both precision and flair.

3. It involves extensive coordination among many groups. Careful consideration and curating of each of the items. And intensive bouts of hard work, demanding much sacrifice, including the many weekends preparing for the parade and show.

4. To the more than 16,000 participants, volunteers and organisers involved in the NDP this year: a heartfelt thank you.

5. Thank you for pulling off a parade and show that left a deep impression on Singaporeans.    

a. It displayed the emotional fibre of the nation

b. From depicting our humble origins and the tireless labouring of our pioneering generation

c. To profiling Singaporeans who go above and beyond to uplift the disadvantaged.

d. To celebrating our multicultural diversity, and shared love for our hawker culture

6. And it wasn’t just the performances that told a story. The performers themselves represented something.

a. Voices of Singapore, an intergenerational choir of singers of all abilities and backgrounds, embodied our Singapore ethos

b. Shabir Sulthan’s soulful rendition of our national anthem - “gentle and compassionate”, as he intended it to be,  made us think harder about the meaning of the anthem.

c. And everyone performed with a verve and spirit that overcame the downpour at the start of the NDP.

7. This NDP was also notable for the effort that went into making the fun packs both inclusive and sustainable.

8. My wife and I were happy to meet the student artists behind this year’s NDP Pack two months ago.

a. 40 students from 22 Special Education schools contributed to six unique designs.

b. From a Merlion wearing a durian helmet, to a beautiful three-tiered tingkat container and a drama dragon, these young individuals demonstrated imagination and humour in their drawings.

c. I thank the NDP Executive Committee and SG Enable, which have been working together for five years now, for providing this platform for differently-abled youths to showcase their talents through art.

9. The introduction of eco-friendly NDP Packs was another well-thought move – using recycled polyester instead of the more commonly used cotton which requires a lot more water and energy to produce. I hope such efforts will continue in the coming years.

10. Finally, let me say a few words about some of the individuals who contributed in this year’s NDP, whom I also had the pleasure of meeting in the lead-up to the event. Each of them has a unique story, and together they say something about all who participated and contributed.

11. Javier Tan, now 19, has been volunteering in the last three NDPs as an NCC contingent trainer. His strong dedication to NDP has inspired his father, Tan Kok Ann, a Home Team NS member, to join the Combined Volunteer Corps marching contingent this year.

12. It was the other way around for 20-year-old Alyla Abdul Aziz, who was representing the Girl Guides for the second time at NDP. She followed in her father’s illustrious footsteps:

a.Abdul Aziz was part of the Singapore Fire Service marching contingent from 1982 to 1986 under the SCDF, and continued through the ‘90s until the early 2000s with ST Engineering’s marching contingent.

13. 60-year-old Arun Aminur’s participation in this year’s parade is a story of resilience. He is a Stage 3 Cancer Survivor.

a.Upon recovery, Arun has continued to stay active. He joined NDP 2024 under Team Strong Seniors, a group of 10 physically fit seniors. You may have seen them in the parade, performing as early pioneers who built the nation.

CONCLUSION

14.  The theme of this year’s NDP, “Together, As One United People”, was simple and meaningful. It is not simply a slogan for this year’s parade.  Not just the feeling of unity on National Day itself, when we recite the pledge and sing the anthem together.

15. We must always be a nation that unites people from all backgrounds and from all walks of life. Who look forward to a future, knowing that we each succeed only when we succeed together. And who gain spirit from each other’s efforts and triumphs, like we all do from Yip Pin Xiu’s winning performance last night in the 100m backstroke at the Paris Paralympics.

                16. It was that spirit that this year’s NDP brought out, through all of your efforts. Once again, thank you.