To reporters during a media briefing at the floating platform at Marina Bay, Brigadier-General Tan Chuan-Jin, chairman of this year's organising committee said said costs would be managed, but that 'the bells and whistles will still be there'.

The 44th National Day Parade will be undertaken by he and his team - the army's Third Division - to the theme, 'Come Together, Reaching Out, Reaching Up'.

They are managing costs by recycling some props and even trimming the size of the stage.

He said: 'Singapore deserves to have a good and meaningful National Day celebration and should not stop because of the economic crisis.'

They are also trying to engage Singapore's different and diverse communities online to generate hype leading up to eht Marina Bay celebrations on August 9.

Organisers are also using new media to generate hype leading up to the show, on portals including Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.

Facebook group, NDPeeps, created by organisers on April 7, already has more than 3,400 members. Plus, the official NDP website, www.ndp.org.sg, launched on Wednesday, will contain microsites and online forums to get people to post.

Organisers are hoping to solicit views and reflections about National Day that keep with this year's parade theme.

'Every voice matters and we are going out in a big way to get everyone to play their part to make the celebrations meaningful,' said Brig-Gen Tan.

Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.