Mr Heng Chee How, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning. I am delighted to host today’s reception in recognition of the hard work of the National Day Parade (NDP) 2022 Executive Committee, participants and volunteers. It has been a long three years since we last held an NDP of this magnitude. I would like to commend the team for successfully organising this special NDP to commemorate the difficulties we have overcome as a nation. After two years of safe distancing, many of us have been looking forward to come together to celebrate National Day. This year’s celebration has given Singaporeans the confidence that we can live with COVID-19. Well done!

This year’s NDP theme, ‘Stronger Together, Majulah!’ is both a strong reminder and a timely promise to continue writing the Singapore Story as one united people, and forging ahead with grace, mutual respect, and compromise as we work towards a better future. We must commit to be “Stronger Together” because there are still many challenges ahead as we embark on the road to normalcy. Similarly, this year’s theme song is a rallying cry reminding us to “leave no one behind” as we “rise, stronger together, like a phoenix from the flames”.

The show segment this year was especially meaningful. We were all captivated by the short film ‘Connections’ that paid tribute to the people at the forefront of our pandemic response, from healthcare professionals, to social workers, to volunteers and teachers. I am certain that the audience at The Float, and those at home watching the live broadcast, were all moved by the final line that paid tribute to “the people of Singapore”. This was a crisis that required monumental shifts in mindsets and lifestyles, and showcased the indefatigable Singaporean spirit. For me, this was best encapsulated in my favourite scene in the film, where the young soccer player rose up to his feet after missing a goal, ready to fight on, with the unyielding support of his family. This is what it means to be a Singaporean.

This year we commemorate 55 years of National Service (NS55). My husband shared with me that the NS55 tribute was the most memorable part for him. It was a touching moment when all NSmen, past and present, were invited to stand to receive the salute. I am heartened that NDP 2022 acknowledged the sacrifices that more than one million of our male Singaporeans and Permanent Residents have made since 1967.

It was also incredible to witness the triumphant return of our Total Defence Display. Last seen in 2017, the exciting air, land and sea manoeuvres, together with the inter-agency response to peacetime contingency scenarios, have helped to maintain the high levels of public confidence in our security agencies. Well done SAF, SPF and SCDF!

Beyond celebrations at The Float, it was clear that we wanted to involve as many Singaporeans as possible this year. The celebrations at heartland areas all across the island, with five carnivals, two Red Lions jumps, and five fireworks sites gave Singaporeans plenty of opportunity to partake in the festivities and spend quality time with their loved ones. This made the Year of Celebrating SG Families even more meaningful.

During my engagements in the lead-up to NDP, I had the opportunity to meet some of the participants, including the NDP Pack Artists, Virtual Choir singers, MOE show performers, and the families who planted the nutmeg trees here in the Istana to launch the ‘22 Days of Doing Good’ campaign. I was inspired to hear their stories and their contributions to NDP 2022. The results speak for themselves. This year’s NDP was nothing less than spectacular.

Organising the annual NDP is no easy feat and it took about 15,000 Singaporeans to come together and work as a team to deliver the biggest celebration for our nation. All of you should be proud of what you have achieved together. The journey is as important as the outcome, and I hope that you will always remember this positive NDP experience. Congratulations once again and a big thank you to every one of you for making this NDP one of the most meaningful ever.

Please enjoy the reception. Thank you.