DR NG THANKS NDP PARTICIPANTS, INVITES ALL S'POREANS TO JOIN IN CELEBRATION

A celebration by Singaporeans, for Singaporeans, with Singaporeans.

As the country counts down to 9 Aug, Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen invited all Singaporeans to show their appreciation to their fellow Singaporeans for planning a special birthday celebration for the nation.

"All the participants have given their very best to put up a show that we can all celebrate together. So I think that it'll be a good show, a show that we can all be proud of," said Dr Ng, acknowledging the hard work they had put in over more than four months to prepare for National Day Parade (NDP) 2016.

He added: "For many of them, it's their personal gift to Singapore's birthday and I think that's very positive. I want to thank all of them for putting their heart and soul into it."

Dr Ng was visiting participants of the NDP Parade and Ceremony (P&C) and Show segments at the National Stadium, ahead of the second NDP Preview on 30 Jul. This year, more than 10,000 Singaporeans from all walks of life are participating in the NDP.

The P&C segment will see the involvement of a total of 10 civilian contingents, each comprising 36 participants and one Contingent Commander. This includes first-time participants Koufu Pte Ltd and Vallianz Holdings Ltd. The civilian companies and organisations represent Singapore's social and economic progress.

NDP 2016 will also feature 150 special needs participants from seven Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) in the Show segment. Together with 420 performers from the Singapore Soka Association, the special needs participants will be hand-signing familiar NDP songs Home and Count on me, Singapore.

New venue, new experiences

With NDP 2016 being held for the first time at the new National Stadium, Dr Ng hoped that Singaporeans would share the excitement of the participants in being a part of history.

"(The participants) are all very excited. I think everyone feels the sense that (since) this is the first time we're doing it at the National Stadium, that we are part of history and they can tell their children, their family, even their grandchildren (about their experience).

"Each venue -- National Stadium, the Floating Platform or Padang -- gives you a different flavor. And I think it's something to be welcomed."