This year's NDP will be the last one at Marina Bay for at least a few years: Ng Eng Hen

Fireworks lighting up the night sky at the Marina Bay Floating Platform during the National Day Parade (NDP) on Aug 9, 2011. -- ST PHOTO: JAMIE KOH
Fireworks lighting up the night sky at the Marina Bay Floating Platform during the National Day Parade (NDP) on Aug 9, 2011. -- ST PHOTO: JAMIE KOH

SINGAPORE - This year's National Day Parade will be the last one at Marina Bay for at least the next few years, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Tuesday, calling the Floating Platform "a dream backdrop".

Next year, the parade will be held at the Padang, the venue for NDP every five years, and then at the new National Stadium the following year.

"I speak on behalf of all the organising committees of NDP when I say that Marina Bay was a dream backdrop - able to accommodate air, land and sea displays," Dr Ng wrote in a Facebook post.

The Floating Platform, which can seat about 27,000, was supposed to be a temporary site while the new National Stadium was built. It has been the venue for every NDP since 2007, except in 2010 when the parade was held at the Padang.

"We should all look forward to NDP shows at our fabulous new National Stadium," Dr Ng wrote. "But if truth be told, I will miss the Marina Bay setting. Sigh. Let's all savour this year's show and the fireworks at Marina Bay."

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