Getting Singaporeans to fly the National Flag collectively
during important celebrations like National Day is not a tired
formula, says Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Dr
Vivian Balakrishnan.
Instead, it is an ongoing commitment by all Singaporeans to
celebrate the nation's birthday jointly.
Dr Balakrishnan launched the "Join the Celebrations, Fly our Flag"
programme at the Bukit Panjang division on Saturday.
For the first time the Singapore Scout Association will also join
hands with grassroots bodies to rally more Singaporeans to display
the National Flag.
From now leading up to National Day the scouts will also play their
part and go on house to house visits in both HDB and private
estates to enhance this effort.
Dr Balakrishnan said: "For young people it is especially
significant. For them to get a sense that they are participating in
something at a national level. The young boys will also understand
the significance behind the flag and why there's a need for us in
some occasion in the year to fly it collectively. It's an
opportunity for us to remind every one young and old, whatever
religious or political background, that you have that this is an
occasion for joint celebration and commitment and a commitment to
the future.
"We want to make sure that whatever we do, we do it respectfully
and in a way which accords the respect the Flag deserves. At the
end of the day the Flag reflects us as a people. It's not a piece
of cloth. I am hoping to see more people on their own and more
groups come up on their own with new ideas on how to celebrate
National Day in their own way, how to use the flag and make it a
common exercise on the part of all Singaporeans."
