Latest news with #NDP2025
The Star
an hour ago
- General
- The Star
Man dies after collapsing at Singapore's National Day Parade rehearsal
The man was from the OneChangi contingent for the parade and ceremony segment of NDP 2025. -- PHOTO: ST FILE SINGAPORE (Agencies): A 47-year-old participant in Singapore's National Day Parade (NDP) has died after collapsing during a rehearsal at the Padang on Saturday. In a joint statement, Singapore's Defence Ministry (MINDEF) and Changi Airport Group (CAG) said the man, from the OneChangi parade and ceremony contingent, collapsed at 11.23 am at the end of a component rehearsal. "He was immediately evacuated to the on-site medical post and arrived at 11.26 am, where he was attended to by the duty medical officer. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered immediately,' the statement said. MINDEF and CAG said the participant remained unresponsive and was transferred to a standby ambulance at 11.42 am and was sent to Singapore General Hospital. He arrived at the hospital at 11.57 am and was pronounced dead at 12.19 pm. "CAG and the NDP 2025 executive committee are in contact with the family and providing full support during this difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences to the family,' the statement said. NDP 2025 on Aug 9 will commemorate Singapore's 60 years of independence. The Straits Times reported that the 47-year-old man was from the OneChangi contingent for the parade and ceremony segment of NDP 2025. He was an employee of Certis, said the security firm's spokesman Robin Goh in response to queries from The Straits Times. Certis is one of nine companies in the OneChangi contingent. -- Agencies
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
NDP participant, 47, dies after collapsing at rehearsal
The 47-year-old man was from the OneChangi contingent for the parade and ceremony segment of NDP 2025. PHOTO: ST FILE SINGAPORE – A participant in the National Day Parade (NDP) died after collapsing at the end of part of the rehearsal at the Padang , said the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) and Changi Airport Group (CAG) on June 21. The 47-year-old man was from the OneChangi contingent for the parade and ceremony segment of NDP 2025. Mindef and CAG said the incident happened at 11.23am . The man was immediately taken to the on-site medical post. Upon arriving at 11.26am , he was attended to by the medical officer on duty. The man was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately, but he remained unresponsive. At about 11.40am , he was transferred to a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) ambulance on standby to be taken to Singapore General Hospital , where he arrived just before noon . Efforts to resuscitate the man continued on the way to the hospital. The man was pronounced dead at about 12.20pm , said Mindef and CAG. 'Changi Airport Group and the NDP 2025 executive committee are in contact with the family and providing full support during this difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences to the family,' they said. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
S'pore's ‘most ambitious' volunteerism, philanthropy campaign to mark SG60
From right: Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Goh Hanyan, Colonel Chong Shi Hao – chairman of NDP 2025's executive committee – and National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre CEO Tony Soh.. PHOTO: TARYN NG SINGAPORE – A national campaign to encourage volunteerism and philanthropy to commemorate Singapore's 60th birthday is its most ambitious edition yet, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Goh Hanyan. The third edition of the #GiveAsOneSG campaign will be longer, running for 60 days, and features more charities and causes than previously, said Ms Goh, who is also Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Speaking at the launch event on June 19, she said: 'Whether you are passionate about supporting persons with disabilities, engaging seniors, promoting our arts and sports or protecting the environment, there are meaningful opportunities for everyone.' The campaign, which is themed 60 Days of Giving to mark Singapore's 60th year of independence and runs until Aug 10, is jointly organised by the National Day Parade (NDP) committee and the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC). Singaporeans can support a variety of causes such as people with disabilities, the elderly, animals and the environment listed at through donations or volunteering. One of the new initiatives introduced in 2025 is NVPC's Flexi Volunteering Programme (FVP), designed to help companies kick-start regular volunteering efforts, with opportunities that require lower frequency and hours. NVPC aims to get 60 companies by December to contribute at least 60 volunteer hours in at least two volunteering sessions each – adding up to a collective target of 3,600 hours – with 10 community partners, including the Autism Association (Singapore) and the Caregiving Welfare Association. Addressing company representatives at the launch event, NVPC chief executive Tony Soh noted that business can be a positive force for good in society. 'It does not matter where you sit in the corporate hierarchy or what role you play because there are diverse opportunities where everyone can give and everyone can contribute,' he said. 'It is not just about how much money you can give, but also about rallying your colleagues, business partners and friends to contribute in whatever ways they can, towards building a more caring, inclusive and compassionate society.' The FVP builds on insights from Project V, a 2023 pilot initiative by NVPC and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) that matched companies with social service agencies that need ongoing support. This ensured reliable volunteer support for the agencies to improve their services and ensure they are able to make a difference to their causes consistently. Ms Goh called on Singaporeans to find a cause close to their heart to champion. PHOTO: TARYN NG Under Project V, over 2,400 corporate volunteers contributed more than 6,000 volunteer hours in 2024, touching the lives of over 10,000 service users, Ms Goh said. Among them were 48 volunteers from global agri-commodity firm Agrocorp International, who partnered with Bartley Community Care Services to promote mental and physical wellness among elderly residents. The #GiveAsOneSG campaign aligns closely with the broader theme of Majulah Singapura for NDP 2025, which honours 60 years of nation-building and looks ahead to the future, said Colonel Chong Shi Hao, chairman of the parade's executive committee and commander of the 3rd Singapore Division. 'The spirit of giving is synonymous with the spirit of celebrating as one Singapore. It strengthens the sense of belonging and unity among all Singaporeans... It reminds us that even as we progress, we are a nation that leaves no man behind,' he said. Mr Soh and Ms Goh playing with an assistant dog from charity K9Assistance. PHOTO: TARYN NG At the launch event held at the Devan Nair Institute For Employment And Employability in Jurong East, Ms Goh and Mr Soh also visited booths by various charities, including the Kidney Dialysis Foundation, Lions Home for the Elderly and K9Assistance. Among the community partners present was the Caregiving Welfare Association, whose executive director Steven Yeo welcomed the FVP, saying that he hopes the association can collaborate with companies to better support seniors and caregivers. 'As a community partner, we are excited to offer tailored volunteering opportunities that align with our mission of uplifting our beneficiaries, while engaging the corporate sector in ways that have a lasting impact,' he said. 'This initiative allows us to create stronger, more diverse partnerships that benefit both our cause and the volunteers who get involved, in support of SG60.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
New Paper
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Paper
NDP 2025 to feature first SCDF guard-of-honour contingent
For the first time in National Day Parade (NDP) history, the 2025 parade and ceremony will feature a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) guard-of-honour contingent on Aug 9. NDP 2025, which marks Singapore's 60th year of independence, will also see the Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) field its first full contingent to mark its 10th anniversary. Colonel Lim Yu Sing, the NDP 2025 parade and ceremony chairman, said on June 12 that the parade will feature 40 marching contingents - the largest number at the Padang since 1990, when 70 took part. While participants will train for about 14 weekends - similar to previous years - the higher number of guard-of-honour contingents has added complexity to their movements, said the 44-year-old Col Lim. Meticulous planning has gone into technicalities such as where the contingents turn, their spacing, marching speed and where they stop, said Col Lim, who was also parade and ceremony chairman for NDP 2023. SCDF Deputy Commissioner for Operations and Resilience Ling Young Ern said the decision to include the SCDF in the guard-of-honour contingent was made following public feedback. The force will remain a part of the guard of honour in future NDPs. The inclusion of the SCDF means that its service personnel have to be trained to handle the SAR21 rifle - which is not part of the SCDF's personal equipment but a standard weapon borne by guard-of-honour troops. For this reason, the SCDF was not part of the guard-of-honour contingent for previous NDPs, Deputy Commissioner Ling and NDP 2024 Exco chairman Brigadier-General Low Wilson said in 2024 in response to an ST forum letter. NDP 2025 will be led by parade commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Firdaus Ghazali, 38, and parade regimental sergeant major, Master Warrant Officer Lim Jie Hui, 46. About 2,100 participants will take part in the parade. They include members of six guard-of-honour contingents, the SAF colours party, several SAF and Home Team supporting contingents, uniformed youth organisations, numerous civilian contingents, a combined band and a live choir. In addition, 142 soldiers are involved in the presidential gun salute. Training for contingents from the SAF and Home Team began in April, while civilian contingents joined in from May. The first combined rehearsal at the Padang will take place on June 14. For LTC Firdaus, being a parade commander was his childhood dream. In 2002, he participated in the NDP as a performer for the closing act in the show segment when he was a Temasek Secondary School student. "I had a glimpse of the parade and ceremony segment during one of the training sessions from the stands of the (old) National Stadium," said LTC Firdaus, who is commanding officer of the SAF's Motorised Infantry Battalion Training Centre 1. "I developed a deep appreciation for the parade and its significance as the heart and core of our NDPs." In total, the parade at NDP 2025 will involve about 2,100 participants. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Major Lee En Hao, 34, commander of the SCDF's inaugural guard-of-honour contingent, said Aug 9 will be a "historic moment" for the force. He added that he is excited to see how future parades may evolve, with the SCDF guard-of-honour contingent now a permanent fixture in the NDP. With the rest of the guard of honour, the SCDF contingent will fire blanks using SAR21 rifles during the feu de joie or fire of joy, which is a ceremonial salute. Sergeant 3 Thenmoli Silvadorie, a 28-year-old SCDF paramedic, said learning how to use and fire a SAR21 rifle has been exciting for her. "Initially it felt heavy, but with more training... it has become a part of us," she said. "It instils a lot of discipline and accountability." NDP 2025 will be the second time in three years that the number of guard-of-honour contingents has increased. In 2023, the SAF's Digital and Intelligence Service - inaugurated in 2022 - joined the NDP for the first time, fielding a guard-of-honour contingent along with the army, navy and air force contingents as well as the Singapore Police Force. The SAFVC was first represented at the NDP in 2019, as part of a combined contingent that also featured members of the police's Volunteer Special Constabulary and the SCDF's Civil Defence Auxiliary Unit. The combined volunteer contingent did not feature again until NDP 2024. SAFVC contingent commander Arlene Pang, 42, said the fact that the volunteer corps is able to field an entire contingent in 2025 reflects how it has grown over the past decade. Ms Pang, who joined the SAFVC in 2015 as part of its first batch of volunteers, feels as if she has "grown up from primary school to secondary school" with the corps. "I've seen it from its genesis to where it is right now. I've seen how different leaders have come in to bring SAFVC to the next level and to make it what it is today," said Ms Pang, who serves with the navy. This year, the public can get up close with the SAF colours at an uncasing ceremony in Marina Square from 5.15pm before the parade and ceremony begin. During the parade and ceremony segment, spectators will be near the live choir, who will perform on "island stages" positioned near the seating galleries. The 127-member choir is formed by Greendale Secondary School students and singers from arts group Voices of Singapore. Accompanying them is a 100-piece band, with members from the SAF Band, SPF Band, Singapore National Cadet Corps Command Band and National Police Cadet Corps Band. As the National Anthem plays during the state flag flypast - just after the President arrives at the Padang - members of the uniformed youth contingents at the parade will form the words "Majulah 60" using umbrellas, a nod to NDP 2025's theme Majulah Singapura and the country's 60th birthday. The parade and ceremony will conclude with the onward march as contingents from the SAF, Home Team and uniformed youth organisations march past the spectator stands while exiting the Padang. People without tickets to the parade at the Padang can still get in on the action at Marina Bay, where four 25-pounder guns will sail around the bay on the SAF's Mobility 3rd Generation rafts, coming near those gathered at The Promontory @ Marina Bay.
AsiaOne
12-06-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
SG60 NDP to see largest number of marching contingents at Padang in over 30 years, Singapore News
This year's National Day Parade (NDP) marks 60 years since Singapore gained independence and will feature 40 marching contingents — the largest number for a parade in the Padang since 1990, where there were 70. NDP 2025 parade and ceremony chairman, Colonel Lim Yu Sing said this during a media event at the National Gallery on Thursday (June 12). The parade and ceremony segment, led by parade commander Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Firdaus Ghazali, will comprise about 2,100 participants from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds, including 18 civilian contingents, he added. Also speaking to media at the National Gallery, LTC Firdaus said that being a parade commander had always been his childhood dream. While participating in NDP 2002 as a performer, he remembered catching a glimpse of the parade and ceremony segment during rehearsals. "I developed a deep appreciation for parades and their significance as the heart and core of our NDPs," he said. This parade also represents the first time the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is participating with a Guard of Honour (GOH) contingent, alongside the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Singapore Police Force (SPF). Deputy Commissioner (Operations and Resilience) Ling Young Ern stated that the SCDF had received feedback from members of the public suggesting it should be included as part of the GOH contingent as it is "one of the three uniformed services safeguarding the safety and security of the nation". Upon review, the Ministry of Defence and SCDF agreed that it would be "very fitting" for SCDF to be included in the GOH contingent at this year's NDP to celebrate Singapore's 60th year of independence, he added. Additionally, this year's parade will also see the inaugural participation of a full Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps' (SAFVC) contingent as it celebrates its 10th anniversary. Row A contingent commander and SAFVC volunteer Arlene Pang likened her 10-year stint in the Corps to advancing from Primary to Secondary school. "I feel like I've grown up with the SAFVC as a volunteer, and at the same time, the SAFVC has grown up with me," she said. "I've seen how different leaders have come in to bring SAFVC to the next level and to make it what it is today." Public uncasing ceremony for SAF Colours This year, the annual SAF Colours uncasing ceremony, taking place in Marina Square, will be open to members of the public before the National Day parade and ceremony. Moreover, spectators at the Padang will get to watch the 127-member live choir up close. Formed by Greendale Secondary School students and singers from arts group Voices of Singapore, the choir will perform NDP 2021's theme song, The Road Ahead, on elevated platforms positioned near the seating galleries. They will be accompanied by a 100-piece band comprising members from the SAF, SPF, Singapore National Cadet Corps Command, and National Police Cadet Corps Bands. As part of the evening's proceedings, members of the 10 uniformed youth organisations at the parade will form the words "Majulah 60" — a nod to NDP 2025's theme Majulah Singapura and the nation's birthday — during the state flag flypast. This will occur just after the President's arrival at the Padang. Those without tickets to the parade at the Padang need not feel left out. Members of the public will still be able to witness the four 25-pounder guns at Marina Bay, which will sail around the bay on the SAF's Mobility 3rd Generation rafts, coming close to The Promontory @ Marina Bay. The parade and ceremony will conclude with the onward march, where contingents from the SAF, Home Team and uniformed youth organisations will march through the spectator stands as they exit the Padang. [[nid:718877]]
