NDP 2020 packs to be collected from CCs, RCs; fewer produced but enough for 80% of households

SINGAPORE — This year’s National Day pack will be made available for collection at community clubs (CCs) and residents’ committee centres for those who wish to have one, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said on Friday (June 5).

Speaking in Parliament, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen added that the organisers of the National Day Parade (NDP) will be producing packs for 80 per cent of households, fewer than the 90 or 95 per cent normally catered to. 

This figure was derived based on previous times when such packs were distributed, and therefore takes into account those who have said that they do not need one, he said.

This year’s pack — known as the Singapore Together Pack — will include two bottles of hand sanitiser, a thermometer and face masks, Dr Ng said. As families will be at home, there is no need for the pack to include single-use water bottles, plastic clappers or packaging, he added. 

There is also no need to print out the discount booklet that is normally in the pack — this year the booklet will be a digital one.

But the pack will contain items that “express our collective love and wishes for Singapore”, Dr Ng said. 

These include:

• Two national flags — a full-sized cloth flag and a handheld one 

• Iron-on flags that can be attached onto reusable face masks

• Red-filter mini stickers that can be affixed to phone torches for a “light up moment” on the evening of the NDP

• Face tattoos 

• A pledge card to encourage Singaporeans to take action towards worthy causes and express their appreciation to frontline Covid-19 workers

• Snacks and canned drinks provided by local food and beverage companies 

• A Singapore Together commemorative magnet.

Dr Ng said: “For many heartlanders, these are physical touchpoints… (Whether it be a flag or a face tattoo), it is a physical tool for them to latch on. Never dismiss these symbols even though the cost is there.”

Mindef said in a fact sheet that this year’s pack will have 12 items, down from the usual 20 to 25 items in a typical NDP pack, which would have included items such as luggage tags, light sticks or bands and plastic refuse bags.

As for the bag itself, it is meant to serve as a reusable grocery bag that can be folded into a small pouch. 

Designs that feature on the bags will be by artists with disabilities and some Primary 5 pupils, Dr Ng said.

USE OF RESOURCES TO MAKE PACKS

Dr Ng gave these details in reply to questions from three Members of Parliament (MPs), who have received feedback that the resources used to produce the packs could be put to better use, such as by helping households that have been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Among them was MP for Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency Louis Ng, who asked why the authorities did not simply ask Singaporean households whether they wanted a pack or not, so that they could get a more accurate estimate of the number of packs needed.

In response, Dr Ng said: “Just for practical purposes, I think members of this House (in their) businesses or organisations know there is a limit between analysis and paralysis. You want to have feedback, but you have to ultimately make a decision.

“Because why just the fun pack?… I cite this but I am not telling you to make this an issue: In terms of carbon expenditure, my fighter planes probably use up more, and we rah rah to the zoom of it.”

Ultimately, he said, a balance has to be struck. 

“There is a time for every activity, a season for everything... What’s this year’s time? We’ve been divided like never before by a little organism, barely 0.125 microns… Never a time that we’ve been so physically divided. Never a time have we been so psychologically affected,” he said. 

“This is not the time to shore up our divisions. Doesn’t mean we don’t ask for feedback, but this may be a time for gentle tones, to put aside some of our differences and come together.”

Responding to a question from Non-Constituency MP Leon Perera, Dr Ng said that each pack will cost around S$2.40 to produce.