For those who attended previous years’ NDP preview sessions, you might have noticed Madam Halimah Yacob (Speaker of Parliament) gracing the event as reviewing officer for the parade.
This is a photo of her at last year’s preview.
There are usually three National Education Shows and two NDP preview shows leading up to the actual National Day Parade.
The National Education shows are for the Primary 5 students and the reviewing officer is usually the Education Minister. As for the NDP preview shows, the Defence Minister and Speaker of Parliament will take turns to be the reviewing officer.
It’s natural for the Defence Minister to be the reviewing officer given how the entire National Day Parade is organized by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
But did you know that the Speaker of Parliament is invited to the preview session because he/she stands in for the President during his absence? Since the President attends the actual parade as Head of State, someone else can take his place to be present at the NDP rehearsals.
Check out these photos of past Speakers of Parliament who were reviewing officers for NDP preview sessions.
1) Mr Tan Soo Khoon at NDP 1997 Preview Session (Speaker of Parliament from 1989 to 2002)
2) Mr Abdullah Tarmugi at NDP 2009 Preview Session (Speaker of Parliament from 1996 to 2011)
3) Madam Halimah at NDP 2013 Preview Session (Speaker of Parliament from 2013 to present)
and Madam again at 2014’s NDP preview:
And her again at last year’s NDP preview session:
Noticed something? We’re missing Michael Palmer who was Speaker of Parliament from October 2011 to December 2012. There are no photos of him at the NDP 2012 preview session.
Anyway, given Madam Halimah Yacob’s experience at the NDP preview shows, we’re sure she knows what to do at the actual National Day Parade if she ever becomes Head of State.
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