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New Paper
a day ago
- New Paper
NDP National Education show: Tank collides into traffic light
Mobile columns - where a country's military hardware such as tanks are displayed during celebrations such as Singapore's National Day Parade (NDP) - often attract attention, awe and admiration from members of the public. However, one tank garnered more attention than its operators bargained for during a National Day Parade (NDP) National Education show on July 5. While making a right turn outside of Parliament House and the Supreme Court, the leopard tank ended up bumping into a nearby traffic light. The video, which was posted at about 9.55pm on July 5, had garnered 472,000 views within 10 hours. It also amassed 2,400 likes and 738 comments as of 9am on July 6. The NDP, which marks Singapore's 60 years as an independent nation, will take place at the Padang on Aug 9. Tank experienced technical issue: Mindef In response to queries, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said on July 6 that a Leopard 2SG Main Battle Tank (L2SG) experienced a technical issue at 7.22pm on July 5. "This resulted in an incident along North Bridge Road, where the tank came into contact with a traffic light," the ministry said, adding that the accident came after the mobile column segment of the parade. No injuries were reported during the incident and the tank remained within the cordoned area, away from the public. Mindef said the L2SG was travelling within the speed limit of 20kmh when the incident took place. "The tank crew responded in accordance with standard operating procedures and the L2SG was safely recovered with no damage to the vehicle," it added. The affected traffic light stand sustained minor damage, but has since been repaired by Mindef, the NDP 2025 committee, and Land Transport Authority (LTA). Investigations are ongoing. 'Tank-ful no one is hurt' Many netizens saw the collision as a minor hiccup and called for others to be more empathetic towards the tank driver. Facebook user Chen WL commented: "Guys, have a little heart. He's probably a NSF (full-time national serviceman) earning minimum allowance... Let's hope the unit or the RSM (regimental sergeant major) won't tekan the poor kid too much..." Another user, Mr Low Beng Keat, said that accidents such as these are why rehearsals, previews, and dry runs are performed. "If there is a mistake, get up and move on, learn and be mindful the next time. No big deal, don't take it too hard on our soldiers guarding and defending on our homeland," he wrote.
Straits Times
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Prowess, pride and peace: A National Day Parade ride to remember
Members of the media riding the Leopard 2SG Main Battle Tank as part of the media experiential ride in downtown Singapore on June 21. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO SINGAPORE – 'You could take a little trip around Singapore town, in a Singapore city bus' – so go the lyrics of Singapore Town, a popular National Day song first performed in 1967 by The Sidaislers, a singing group from St Andrew's Cathedral. On the afternoon o f June 21 , I found myself going around downtown, not in a Singapore city bus, but aboard a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Leopard 2SG Main Battle Tank – one of 66 assets taking part in the mobile column drive-past for the 2025 National Day Parade (NDP). Equipped with a 120mm main gun and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, the tank was one of several vehicles that members of the media were invited to ride in that day. Other SAF assets included the Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier – an articulated armoured vehicle developed by ST Kinetics and the Defence Science and Technology Agency – and the Light Strike Vehicle, a fast and lightweight anti-tank vehicle that can be mounted with a variety of weapons. I jumped at the chance to ride the Leopard 2SG tank, which I had seen so many times at NDPs over the years. Although I served my national service in the army, the largest SAF vehicle I had sat in is the five-tonner truck – though I did belt out 'C-130 rolling down the strip' during my basic military training, a marching song inspired by the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft. Standing in the Leopard 2SG as it rolled along a 3km route from Nicoll Highway to St Andrew's Road and back gave me a new vantage point to view familiar landmarks such as the Civilian War Memorial, the former City Hall building and the Esplanade. Seeing such vehicles on the roads here has become a familiar spectacle during the annual National Day celebrations, stirring feelings of pride and excitement for many Singaporeans. However, I realised the sight of tanks rolling down city streets will evoke very different emotions elsewhere in the world. They are harbingers of fear rather than celebration, often associated with political turmoil, loss and deep uncertainty. In Singapore, the destruction of our city has only ever been fictional – depicted in the movies Ah Boys To Men and Independence Day: Resurgence . But in the Middle East, Ukraine and far too many other places, war has reduced cities to rubble and left lives in tatters. That sobering contrast made me grateful for the safety and security that my family and I enjoy in Singapore – a peace protected in part by the same vehicles, artillery, as well as the men and women we will see at the Padang on Aug 9. Zhaki Abdullah is a correspondent at The Straits Times. He is on the health beat, in addition to occasionally covering science, environmental, tech and Muslim affairs issues. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
