Address by President Tony Tan at the NDP 2016 Thank You Reception

Dr Ng Eng Hen
Minister for Defence

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good afternoon

My wife and I are pleased to host this reception to thank the National Day Parade (NDP) 2016 Organising Committee and the participants for putting up an excellent National Day Parade on the 9^th of August. Congratulations and well done!

This parade followed the SG50 Golden Jubilee celebrations. Coupled with the long-awaited return to the National Stadium, public expectations were high. I am glad to say that NDP 2016 did not only meet, but in fact surpassed, the expectations of many.

This year’s parade leveraged on technologies to showcase the hopes and dreams of Singaporeans and give new twists to many of our traditional favourites. There were also several new features for NDP 2016. The stunning performance of our aerialists, the use of impressive aerial props and presentation of indoor fireworks came together to portray a bold and forward-looking vision of Singapore in the years to come. With the inclusion of special needs participants and the collective song signing, we were also reminded of the continuous need to progress as a cohesive and inclusive society. We were all inspired by the vision of our Singapore of Tomorrow.

I would like to thank all of you - representatives from the Ministry of Defence, the Singapore Armed Forces, the Singapore Police Force, the Singapore Civil Defence Force, Silat Federation, TOUCH Community Services, Academy of Nutz, Singapore SOKA Association, People’s Association, Ministry of Education, Heartware Network, and many others who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Your many hours of dedication, strong support and enthusiastic participation delivered a fitting celebration for Singaporeans this National Day.

Thank you once again for your support. My wife and I look forward to interacting with all of you at the reception.

Thank you very much.