Latest news with #DavidKwek
New Paper
4 days ago
- New Paper
NDP celebrations to be held at 5 heartland sites on Aug 10
Singaporeans can enjoy the National Day Parade (NDP) festivities closer to home on Aug 10, with celebrations taking place in Bishan, Punggol, Yishun, Geylang Serai and Bukit Gombak. The heartland celebrations will include a mobile column featuring 60 different assets that will make pit stops and a fighter jet fly-past. At the Bishan site, there will also be a display jump by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) parachute team Red Lions. From 4pm to 9pm on Aug 10, the celebrations will take place at the open field next to Bishan Junction 8 mall in the Central District, at the open field next to One Punggol in the North East District, and at the open field next to FutsalArena @ Yishun in the North West District. Festivities will also be held at the open field beside Wisma Geylang Serai in the South East District and at Bukit Gombak ActiveSG Stadium in the South West District. Members of the public can collect tickets to the heartland celebrations at any of the 113 community clubs from July 8, on a first come, first served basis. Each person can collect up to two tickets, and every attendee will receive an NDP pack. The mobile column will return to the heartland in 2025, after its last appearance in 2020. The 60 assets - from the SAF, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force - will form five convoys. They will depart from the city centre, each heading to a different heartland site where it will be set up as a static display. The convoys will clock a distance of 180km in total. A live tracker will be available on the NDP website to facilitate real-time tracking of the mobile column's routes. Along the way, the five convoys will make pit stops to allow the public to have a closer look at the assets for up to 80 minutes. These pit stops will be from 2.10pm to 3pm at Jurong Town Hall bus interchange; from 2pm to 3pm at Kranji Primary School; from 2.20pm to 3.40pm at CHIJ Primary (Toa Payoh) and CHIJ Secondary School; from 2.50pm to 3.40pm at Hougang Bus Park; and from 1.30pm to 2.50pm at the Tampines Concourse bus interchange. The cut-off timing for entry to each pit stop is 10 minutes before the closing time. Speaking to reporters at an NDP media event on July 8, Colonel David Kwek, co-chairman of the NDP 2025 Heartland Celebrations Committee, said that bringing the mobile column to the major residential districts would allow Singaporeans to welcome the military assets from their windows or doorsteps. Lieutenant-Colonel Chek Wei Lun, chairman of the mobile column-to-heartland committee, noted that this is the first time pit stops will be open to the public for viewing the assets up close and taking photographs. He added that the five routes were selected to ensure that the mobile column passes through heavily populated areas and that the roads are wide enough to accommodate the military assets. From 6pm to 6.30pm, four F-16 fighter jets will fly in a diamond formation through the heartland, looping around each site twice. The display jump by the Red Lions will take place only at the Bishan site, with seven parachutists landing at around 4pm. On the choice of Bishan, COL Kwek said this was the only heartland site with enough space and entry points that could accommodate the landing of the parachutists. In the Central Dictrict, there will be a digital installation featuring 60 stories of residents who have made contributions to the community. Among the featured residents is Mr Mohammed Salihan Wahid, 27, who has been designing and painting wayfinding murals for various Housing Board blocks in Jalan Kayu. These murals will be ready in early August, in time for the heartland celebrations. Mr Mohammed Salihan Wahid, 27, holding up a miniature version of the Thumbs Up for SG60! artwork at the Central Singapore booth. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI The freelance artist hopes that the murals of food and familiar Singapore icons will be relatable and useful for elderly people with dementia, as well as others who are not familiar with the area. In the North East, residents can light up lanterns and send their good wishes in glowing message bottles. In the South West, floating lanterns with residents' good wishes will be exhibited. Mr Ang Ying Thye, co-chairman of the South West District Committee, said the heartland celebrations there will feature a hair salon for elderly residents with mobility or financial constraints, as well as a calligraphy booth helmed by Mr Lee Jun Le, an 18-year-old artist with autism. "What we wish to showcase... is that no matter who you are, you have a part to play in community building. Through being inclusive, we can understand each other better, and there will be harmony," Mr Ang added. South East District residents can also enjoy a skating experience. The North West District will showcase community-created works of art depicting local landmarks. All the five district celebrations will feature a drone show. One of the volunteers involved in planning the activities for the South East District is Ms Anne Saphrin Alex Sathyan, 21. Ms Anne Saphrin Alex Sathyan, 21, who designs some of the drone displays in the drone show, at the South East District booth. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI As a designer of the elements in the drone show, the university student chose to feature the national flower, Vanda Miss Joaquim, in many of her designs. One of them depicts the growth of a little butterfly, symbolising the nation's development over the years. COL Kwek said: "It is our hope that we can bring the spirit of National Day to as many Singaporeans as possible, into their homes and neighbourhoods."
New Paper
4 days ago
- Automotive
- New Paper
NDP 2025: Tank that bumped into traffic light had faulty part
A Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) tank that bumped into a traffic light during a National Day Parade (NDP) National Education show was found to have a faulty component that led to the loss of steering and braking power. Speaking to the media at an NDP media event on July 8, Colonel David Kwek, the co-chairman of the NDP 2025 Heartland Celebrations Committee, said preliminary investigations show that the incident resulted from "an isolated component" on the Leopard 2SG main battle tank (L2SG). "Out of an abundance of caution, we are doing more detailed reviews and the L2SG will resume its participation in the NDP mobile column and the heartland celebrations after all the necessary safety checks and clearances are completed," he said. The accident happened on July 5 during an NDP National Education show - a preview of the parade primarily for students. A video of the incident showed the tank unable to stop and bumping into a nearby traffic light when it made a right turn outside Parliament House and the Supreme Court. No injuries were reported and the tank remained within the cordoned area, away from the public. The accident did minor damage to the traffic light, which was left askew, but which has since been repaired. The tank is part of a mobile column, where military hardware is displayed, for NDP 2025. The Ministry of Defence earlier said the L2SG tank had experienced a technical issue and that the accident came after the mobile column segment of the parade. Col Kwek said the safety and well-being of the public and the crew are of paramount importance. The Straits Times has asked the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) whether this was the first time the component had experienced failure and on the expected duration of the checks. Mindef said it will give more details after the checks are done.
New Paper
4 days ago
- Automotive
- New Paper
NDP 2025: Leopard tank that hit traffic light to return to mobile column after fault identified
A Leopard tank went momentarily out of control during a National Day Parade (NDP) National Education show on July 5 will resume its role in the NPD mobile column and heartland celebrations. The Ministry of Defence (Mindef), in a statement on July 11 after the Singapore Army concluded its investigations into the matter, said the incident happened because an internal component within the transmission had malfunctioned. This resulted in a loss of transmission oil pressure, causing the tank to experience a partial loss in its steering and braking power. The tank was found to have sustained no major damage and the traffic light has since been repaired. The cause of the malfunction was traced to a failure in the channel taking the transmission fluid to the service brake, Mindef added. The tank operator, a full-time national serviceman, responded according to standard procedures and activated the parking brake to bring the vehicle to a stop. The Leopard 2SG main battle tank, which features in the NDP mobile column, hit a traffic light on July 5 while making a turn near Parliament House and the Supreme Court. The incident took place at about 7.20pm in North Bridge Road, just after the mobile column segment of the show had ended. The tank was moving within the 20kmh speed limit inside a cordoned area, and no injuries were reported. The next day, Mindef said the vehicle had experienced a technical issue which resulted in the accident. In video footage of the incident, put up later that day on the SGRV Facebook page, the tank can be seen making a right turn before hitting the traffic light, leaving it slightly askew. The clip was widely watched online, racking up nearly half a million views overnight. Several people online speculated that the cause could be a mechanical fault, including a possible steering issue. Preliminary findings on July 8 said a "faulty component" caused the tank to lose both steering and braking power. Colonel David Kwek, co-chairman of the NDP 2025 Heartland Celebrations Committee, said the issue was linked to "an isolated component" in the Leopard 2SG, and that safety checks are ongoing. Mindef, on July 11, said this is the first time the army has experienced such a fault in its Leopard 2SG fleet. The affected tank underwent standard checks before deployment and no issues were detected. The ministry said: "Comprehensive checks performed across the L2SG fleet since the incident have determined that it was an isolated one." Renk, the German manufacturer of the tank's transmission system, said the malfunction had not previously occurred in its systems. It will work with the army to establish a maintenance regime for the affected component. All transmissions in the fleet have since been verified to be in good working order.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Leopard tank internal component malfunctioned resulting in partial loss of steering, brake power: Mindef
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A video of the accident posted on Facebook page SGRV shows the traffic light slightly askew after the incident. SINGAPORE - A leopard tank went out of control during a National Day Parade (NDP) National Education show on July 5 because an internal component within the transmission had malfunctioned. Mindef in a statement on July 11 said this resulted in a loss of transmission oil pressure, causing the L2SG to experience a partial loss in its steering and braking power. The Leopard 2SG main battle tank participating in the mobile column on July 5 accidentally struck a traffic light while making a turn near Parliament House and the Supreme Court. The incident took place at about 7.22pm along North Bridge Road , just after the mobile column segment of the show had ended. The tank, which was moving w ithin the 20kmh speed limit inside a cordoned area, and no injuries were reported. The next day, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said the vehicle had experienced a 'technical issue', which resulted in the tank knocking into the traffic light. V ideo footage of the incident, put up later that day on the SGRV Facebook page, shows the tank making a right turn before gently knocking into the pole, leaving it slightly askew. The clip quickly gained traction online, racking up nearly half a million views overnight. While some netizens took the opportunity to joke about the situation - one quipping 'Tank-ful no one is hurt' - others expressed concern and speculated that the cause could be a mechanical fault, including a possible steering issue. Preliminary findings released on July 8 pointed to a 'faulty component' that caused the tank to lose both steering and braking power. Col onel David Kwe k, co-chairman of the NDP 2025 Heartland Celebrations Committee, told the media that the issue was linked to 'an isolated component' in the Leopard 2SG, and that safety checks are ongoing. While Mindef has confirmed that the tank sustained no significant damage and the traffic light has since been repaired, it added that detailed inspections are under way. The vehicle will only resume its role in the NDP mobile column and heartland celebrations after all necessary safety clearances are completed.
Online Citizen
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Online Citizen
MINDEF: Faulty component caused SAF Leopard 2SG tank to lose control, hit traffic light
SINGAPORE: A Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) tank that collided with a traffic light during a National Day Parade (NDP) education show was found to have suffered a technical fault, resulting in a loss of steering and braking power. Speaking at a media event on 8 July, Colonel David Kwek, co-chairman of the NDP 2025 Heartland Celebrations Committee, said preliminary investigations indicated a fault in 'an isolated component' of the Leopard 2SG (L2SG) tank. He added that more detailed reviews would be carried out 'out of an abundance of caution'. The incident took place at around 7.20pm on 5 July, along North Bridge Road, following the Mobile Column segment of the NDP National Education (NE) Show 2. The tank was making a right turn outside Parliament House and the Supreme Court when it failed to stop and struck a traffic light. Footage of the incident showed the tank proceeding forward during the turn and bumping into the traffic light. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the vehicle remained within the cordoned area, away from the public. The L2SG was travelling below the 20km/h speed limit, and the crew had followed standard operating procedures. The vehicle itself sustained no damage. The traffic light suffered minor damage and was left askew but has since been repaired. The Leopard 2SG is part of the mobile column for NDP 2025, which showcases Singapore's military hardware during the parade. The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) had earlier confirmed that the accident occurred after the mobile column segment had concluded and was due to a technical issue. Colonel Kwek emphasised that the safety and well-being of both the public and the tank crew remain the top priority. He added that the tank, which leads the mobile column line-up, will resume participation in NDP 2025 events once all necessary safety checks and clearances are completed.
