Debated in Parliament on 9 Sep 2014.
Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Defence in view of the celebration of Singapore's 50th National Day next year, whether the Government will consider having two NDP Preview shows so that more Singaporeans can have the opportunity to attend the parade at the Padang and celebrate this very significant National Day.
Mdm Speaker, MINDEF agrees with the Member of Parliament Mr Liang that it would be good, indeed ideal, if more Singaporeans could attend the NDP 2015 next year, in celebration of our 50th National Day.
The Organising Committee is evaluating various options to achieve this. The Member has asked about extra shows. Let me just give some details on our current format. There are now four shows open prior to the actual NDP – three National Education Shows for school students and the NDP Preview itself. The Member has suggested and asked if another NDP Preview would be one way of increasing the attendance. We can explore the idea but adding another NDP Preview may tax participants too heavily, who would require some rest before
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the actual NDP Show.
However, the Organising Committee is exploring other ideas to allow more Singaporeans to see the show "live", such as increasing the seating capacity at the Padang or creating satellite viewing platforms throughout the Marina Bay area during the Preview and NDP 2015. We are also working with the People's Association on activities to celebrate National Day in Heartland locations.
Madam, first and foremost, I want to congratulate the Defence Minister for yet another spectacular NDP this year. Increasingly, we are seeing more Singaporeans taking part in the celebration with great pride. And NDP, being a pinnacle celebration, I think, obviously is where more Singaporeans want to be a part of.
I would like to ask the Minister what more we can do to maximise Singaporeans' participation, especially at next year's NDP, and whether we could further leverage or harness on the surrounding places around Padang or the Marina Bay, so that more Singaporeans can be part of SG50. And thirdly, the NDP Preview, whether we could consider one more of this preview because the capacity at the Padang is usually much less and perhaps, we can see if we can have one less rehearsal in the earlier stages so that we can have one more Preview for the public to view.
Mdm Speaker, let me thank the Member for his kind words. Congratulations are due to the participants and the Organising Committee. I will pass on his good remarks.
With regard to maximising capacity and that is indeed what we do around the Marina Bay area. I am glad that the Member has brought it up. It shows that the Organising Committee is on the right track. They have looked around the area. There are possible focal points. I am not giving the distinct details or confirming it, but these are possibilities, because obviously, there are logistical problems. It is right in the middle of town, and if we expand the show, we have to see whether it is feasible.
There are potential sites. Marina Bay, of course, is a potential satellite site. The Marina Promenade is a potential site, but there are other possible sites. The advent of large LED screens with very good resolution makes it possible. I think that is the advance in technology that we have now. We are exploring this seriously to see whether there could be a better option.
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To add another NE show is based on the issue of logistics. There can only be so many shows when you are really ready to show to the public, and with the time given and required, we are now putting up all, in all five shows. Three shows are meant for school students, which many of us would agree are useful, and we do not want to rob from them to give it to others. So, we will keep it as three shows.
Adding another show means that we may have to add it on Sunday because we have it on Saturday now, and I think that may be very taxing on the participants.
We will let the Organising Committee evaluate all these options. They will include these inputs as well as, I am sure, inputs from members of the public, but they are quite cognisant that this is NDP 2015, our Golden Jubilee, and they want to put up a good show and include as many Singaporeans as possible either at Padang or the fringe areas.
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