Latest news with #NationalDayParade
Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
NDP 2025 Exco warns public against scammers posing as NDP representatives
'Do not disclose any personal, business, or sponsorship information if you are unsure of the caller's identity or credibility,' the advisory said. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI SINGAPORE - The National Day Parade (NDP) 2025 executive committee (Exco) will never ask the public or organisations for cash sponsorship, donations or personal details over the phone, organisers of Singapore's birthday bash said on June 28. In an advisory on its official Facebook page NDPeeps, the NDP Exco said it is aware of scammers pretending to be representatives from NDP 2025 and calling potential victims to solicit cash sponsorships and personal information. 'Do not disclose any personal, business, or sponsorship information if you are unsure of the caller's identity or credibility,' the advisory said. If members of the public or organisations are unsure if something is a scam, they can write to ndp@ to check. Those affected should report the scam calls to the police immediately, added the NDP 2025 Exco. The NDP on Aug 9 will be held at the Padang and Marina Bay. The Straits Times has contacted the NDP 2025 Exco and the police for more information. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
New Paper
12 hours ago
- Politics
- New Paper
Father and son to lead NDP 2025 mobile column to celebrate commitment to defence across generations
The 2025 National Day Parade (NDP) marks several firsts for Lieutenant-Colonel (NS) Alex Chan. He has participated in previous parades in a back-end capacity, overseeing security matters, but he will now be front and centre - as the commander of the mobile column. The mobile column serves as a showcase of the Republic's military and civil defence assets. For NDP 2025, 170 assets from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Home Team and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will be on display, along with more than 800 people from participating agencies. NDP 2025 will also see LTC Chan, who is chief of staff for the SAF's 8th Singapore Armoured Brigade, participate in the parade for the first time with his son, 10-year-old Keith Chan. The pair will be leading the mobile column in a Leopard 2SG main battle tank. "It's definitely an honour to participate this year, especially together with my son," said LTC Chan, 48, whose day job involves him overseeing back-end support at Alexandra Hospital. Keith, a pupil at St Anthony's Primary School, said he was "super excited" to be taking part in the parade with his father as well as to have the opportunity to see the different vehicles up close. The pair's participation is in line with one of the mobile column's four thematic segments for 2025, titled From Generation To Generation, which emphasises the continued strengthening of Singapore through generational commitment to defence. The mobile column will feature stories of men and women from the SAF and Home Team across generations, said Major Teo Wei Kok, chairman of the NDP 2025 mobile column, noting that veterans would also be appearing. Major Teo Wei Kok said that the mobile column will feature stories from across generations. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO "We want to honour the sacrifice and contributions of past and current servicemen and women, while inspiring future generations to take up the mantle and continue building upon the strong foundations of Singapore's defence and security forces," he added. Among those participating with their family is Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Stella Tay, who will appear in a video featurette during the mobile column with her 11-year-old daughter, Shermaine Goh, and her son, Edward Goh, nine. Deputy Superintendent of Police Stella Tay will appear in a video featurette together with her son Edward Goh and daughter Shermaine Goh. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO "It's a very rare chance to be able to bring the children to work so that they experience what I do," said DSP Tay, 38, who is with the Singapore Police Force's Public Transport Security Command. "I hope that I can be a good role model to them," she added. With his father also part of the police force, Edward aspires to follow in both his parents' footsteps to become a police officer. DSP Tay said she just wishes for her children to have a positive impact on others, whatever their careers. "Whatever they want to be, just contribute back to society," she said. The mobile column's other thematic segments highlight the SAF's capabilities to protect Singapore and the coordinated defence capabilities of the SAF and Home Team, as well as their contributions to global security and ability to conduct a wide spectrum of operations. MAJ Teo noted that 2025 marks the 18th mobile column - the mobile column first appeared in the 1969 NDP and is typically held during milestone years, with the previous iteration held in 2019 to mark Singapore's bicentennial celebrations. Singapore commemorates 60 years of independence in 2025, as well as the 60th anniversary of the SAF. For the first time, the mobile column will include air and maritime elements, in addition to the drive-past along St Andrew's Road. "We will see an aerial fly-past, and at Marina Bay we'll see a maritime display with vessels from the navy, the Home Team as well as the Maritime and Port Authority," said MAJ Teo. While the mobile column has typically showcased the army and Home Team's vehicles and artillery, the MPA is included as it is an important partner in ensuring the Republic's maritime security, he added. MAJ Teo also recognised some 200 people who work behind the scenes to support operations for the mobile column, such as road marshals and the logistics team. "Without them working tirelessly behind the scenes, there will be no mobile column," he said. Assets appearing in the mobile column for the first time include the army's Hunter Armoured Engineer Vehicle and TPQ-53 Weapon Locating Radar, the navy's Combatant Craft Underwater, the police's Tactical Strike Vehicle, and the Singapore Civil Defence Force's second-generation Medical Support Vehicle. Selected vehicles will also enter the Padang show stage during the drive-past, giving spectators a closer look at these vehicles. On Aug 10, some of these assets will travel from the city centre along five routes to various heartland celebration sites to give more people a chance to see them up close. Details of the routes and heartland sites will be released at a later date.
New Paper
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Redeem free national flag via Shopee under NDP 2025 initiative
Households here can now redeem a free national flag each on Shopee, in a partnership between the online shopping platform and the National Day Parade (NDP) organisers. The initiative, called Fly Our Flag, runs until 11.59am on July 15, or while stocks last, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) said in a statement on June 27. To redeem the flag, go to log in with Singpass and choose to have the flag delivered at a cost, or collect it from a collection point for free. "This effort aims to make it easier for families to come together and proudly display the flag as a symbol of our shared identity and national pride," MCCY said on June 27. Singaporeans are encouraged to display the national flag during the National Day celebration period between July 1 and Sept 30, it added. During this period, the rules for flying and displaying the flag are relaxed. The flag may be flown without a flagpole and does not have to be illuminated at night. The flag may be displayed at offices, buildings and residential premises. The national flag should be treated with respect and used "in an appropriate and dignified manner", and torn or worn out flags should not be displayed, MCCY said. Instead, they should be put in a sealed black trash bag before disposal, and not left visible in rubbish bins. The use of the Singapore flag and national symbols is governed by the National Symbols Act and Regulations. The full guidelines on the display and use of the flag can be found here. Singapore will celebrate its 60th birthday on Aug 9. For the first time, the NDP live show will be extended from the Padang to Marina Bay. Themed Majulah Singapura, the 2025 parade will honour the past 60 years of Singapore's nation-building journey, and call on Singaporeans to celebrate the past and build their collective future together.
Straits Times
a day ago
- General
- Straits Times
Free national flags for redemption via Shopee in tie-up with NDP organisers
Free national flags for redemption via Shopee in tie-up with NDP organisers SINGAPORE - Households here can now redeem a free national flag each on Shopee, in a partnership between the online shopping platform and the National Day Parade (NDP) organisers. The initiative, called Fly Our Flag, runs until 11.59am on July 15, or while stocks last, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) said in a release on June 27 . To redeem the flag, go to log in with Singpass and choose to have the flag delivered at a cost, or collect it from a collection point for free. 'This effort aims to make it easier for families to come together and proudly display the flag as a symbol of our shared identity and national pride,' MCCY said on June 27 . Singaporeans are encouraged to display the national flag during the National Day celebration period between July 1 and Sept 30, it added. During this period, the rules for flying and displaying the flag are relaxed. The flag may be flown without a flagpole and does not have to be illuminated at night . The flag may be displayed at offices, buildings and residential premises. The national flag should be treated with respect and used 'in an appropriate and dignified manner', and torn or worn out flags should not be displayed, MCCY said. Instead, they should be put in a sealed black trash bag before disposal, and not left visible in rubbish bins. The use of the Singapore flag and national symbols is governed by the National Symbols Act and Regulations. The full guidelines on the display and use of the flag can be found here. Singapore will celebrate its 60th birthday on Aug 9. For the first time, the NDP live show will be extended from Padang to Marina Bay. Themed Majulah Singapura, the 2025 parade will honour the past 60 years of Singapore's nation-building journey, and call on Singaporeans to celebrate the past and build their collective future together. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
New Paper
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Who's that man acting as President Tharman at NDP rehearsals? TikTok wants to know
There was a very audible buzz across the Padang and Marina Bay when he emerged from the Presidential limousine. But the crowd was not reacting to the arrival of President Tharman Shanmugaratnam - the oohs and ahs, or, more specifically, the very Singaporean "wahs", were for the President's stand-in. The moment during last Saturday's National Day Parade rehearsal was captured and shared on TikTok by user Elvinstinct, who describes himself as a "casual photographer with a broken sense of humour". The President will traditionally only make an appearance on the actual National Day Parade, and spectators would see a stand-in during rehearsals. The reactions to this year's stand-in have continued long after the rehearsal - that viral 19-second clip that has since garnered more than 660,000 views, with many commenters curious as to who he is. "THIS BELONGS TO MY HEAR ME OUT CAKE," declared one commenter in all caps, referencing the TikTok trend where users confess crushes through cake images. "He's damnnn handsome in a good way," said another, without explaining what a bad way might be. Several also offered - jokingly, of course - to be the President's stand-in for future NDP rehearsals. While some cheekily dubbed him "Taobao Tharman" or questioned the casting ("Why wasn't he Indian?"), the tone was mostly light-hearted and positive. Many praised his poise and presence. "Bro took his assignment seriously. It's not every day you get to be a president even if it's a stand-in," was the comment that received the most reactions. Even Elvinstinct chimed in: "He understood the assignment perfectly." It's not the first time a presidential stand-in has turned heads. Last year, RSAF Captain Lam Hong Xiang went viral for playing President Tharman during rehearsals - prompting a short reveal video from the Air Force itself. So far, no official word yet on the identity of this year's lookalike-in-chief. The New Paper has reached out to the NDP 2025 organising committee for more information. It's uncertain whether he will be reprising his role for upcoming rehearsals, but if TikTok has anything to say about it, he's already won hearts - presidential or not.
