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Govt seeks feedback on NDP funpack after calls to scrap it or allow opt out

SINGAPORE — The Government has sought feedback on the distribution of funpacks for the National Day Parade (NDP) this year after questions were raised by Singaporeans over whether the resources could be put to better use.

The online survey by Government feedback unit Reach asked Singaporeans to indicate if they are supportive of the distribution of funpacks and if the funpack is “an essential part of celebrating National Day”.

The online survey by Government feedback unit Reach asked Singaporeans to indicate if they are supportive of the distribution of funpacks and if the funpack is “an essential part of celebrating National Day”.

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SINGAPORE — The Government has sought feedback on the distribution of funpacks for the National Day Parade (NDP) this year after questions were raised by Singaporeans over whether the resources could be put to better use.

Government feedback unit Reach had put up an online survey form to ask Singaporeans various questions related to NDP and the funpack.

It is not clear when the survey started but Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Louis Ng, who had previously called for NDP spectators to be given an option to opt out of funpacks, had put up a Facebook post on it on Monday (May 25) morning.

Some netizens had also shared the survey on WhatsApp on Monday. But on Monday afternoon, the survey was no longer accessible, with a message that said "this poll has been closed".

TODAY has reached out to the Ministry of Communication and Information, which Reach is part of, for comments.

The NDP organising committee had said last week that about 1.2 million funpacks, which are typically distributed to those who attend the parade, will be provided to every Singaporean and permanent resident household this year.

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said in a Facebook post on May 20 that this would allow families to join in on the National Day celebrations, which falls on Aug 9, from the comfort of their homes amidst safe distancing measures.

In the online feedback form, Reach said that in a survey of close to 2,000 people in August last year, Singaporeans “being a practical bunch” had indicated water, snacks and discount booklets as their top must-haves in the funpack. Scarves, play tattoos and clappers were the bottom three items.

The latest survey asked Singaporeans to indicate what does National Day mean to them, what matters most when celebrating National Day while watching the NDP, as well as whether they are supportive of the distribution of the funpacks.

It also asked if Singaporeans think that the funpack is “an essential part of celebrating National Day” and if it will bring cheer to them even as safe distancing measures continue.

Singaporeans were also asked to indicate what they would like in the funpack.

The survey comes after some Singaporeans said that it might not be financially prudent to distribute funpacks or hold the fireworks display during this Covid-19 pandemic period. Others also felt that the funpack is not an environmentally friendly option and will lead to more waste.

TODAY reader Ms Crimson Toh Luan Chun had asked in a Voices letter if the “substantial cost” being put towards the funpack and the fireworks is necessary “given that the pandemic has dealt a blow to Singapore’s economy”

She suggested that the committee allow households to indicate if they wanted the funpack. Her letter generated a discussion on the issue among TODAY readers online. 

A petition which was started on the website Change.org by Mr Kaushik Ilango on May 21 to allow people to opt out of receiving the funpack had also garnered about 78,500 signatures as of 2pm on Monday.

The call to do away with funpacks during NDP is not a new one, with environmental groups such as Zero Waste SG and Mr Louis Ng calling for a rethink on funpacks to reduce the amount of waste generated in previous years.

The NDP committee had taken steps to reduce the waste generated at NDP last year. It had included reusable bamboo straws which doubled up as clappers and a miniature handheld Singapore flag without the plastic stand to reduce waste in the funpack.

In a Facebook post on Sunday night, Mr Ng, the MP, said that since last year, green groups have been meeting with this year’s NDP organising committee and himself.

Speaking to TODAY on Monday, Mr Ng noted that the NDP organising committee has already taken pains to reduce the amount of waste generated in this year’s funpack.

“The water bottles, discount booklets and plastic bags will not be in the funpack this year. Without the Covid-19 pandemic, if we had gone ahead with this year’s parade, it will still have been greener compared to previous years’,” said Mr Ng.

However, he said that with the funpacks now being distributed to households here, providing an opt-out option will provide a better indication of the number of people who want it.

This way, the organising committee will not produce more than the required number of funpacks, reducing resources required to produce them.

“So by giving people the option of saying they don’t want it, and then we don’t produce it, it is a win-win situation,” said Mr Ng.

He said he was heartened by the number of people who spoke up on the issue. “People want to take action and not just talk about it. That’s something that we should be very happy about and I hope more people do so.”

TODAY has reached out to the Ministry of Defence, which heads the NDP organising committee, for comments.

Related topics

NDP2020 fun pack Covid-19 coronavirus

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