Halimah: Stay in Singapore, celebrate together over long National Day weekend

SINGAPORE — Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob has urged Singaporeans to stay home over the long National Day weekend from August 7-10. She hopes Singaporeans would take the time to celebrate together.

7 August was declared a public holiday by President Tony Tan Keng Yam, as part of Singapore’s 50th birthday celebrations.

Madam Halimah said: “I understand that Singaporeans take the opportunity during periods of long weekends to chill out with their families overseas. On other occasions, that’s all right but on this occasion I hope that they will stay in Singapore and really celebrate together as a nation. It will be very sad if a quarter of Singapore goes overseas to celebrate.” CHANNEL NEWSASIA