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PM Lee Hsien Loong: No National Day Rally this year, Parliament to open on 24 August

Singapore's Parliament House. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore)
Singapore's Parliament House. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore)

SINGAPORE — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Saturday (25 July) that there will be no National Day Rally this year and he will instead be making a major speech in Parliament.

Speaking after unveiling his new Cabinet, Lee said Parliament will open on 24 August with President Halimah Yacob making the traditional opening speech. Lee said he will deliver his speech on 31 August when debates in Parliament begin.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Lee said, “I’ve decided this year, I shall make my major speech to Singaporeans in Parliament instead of having a National Day Rally because it's not possible to convene a physical National Day rally and have a traditional event with an audience in front of me and I can take them through slides and explanations and recount stories.”

On the earlier than expected convening of Parliament, Lee said, “I have decided to do this because there's urgency in getting Parliament convened. We have legislation to pass urgently and there’s business to be done.”

The Cabinet line-up includes new Member of Parliament Tan See Leng, who will assume the roles of Second Minister for Trade and Industry and Manpower, as well as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.

The announcement comes two weeks after the General Election on 10 July, when the ruling People’s Action Party won 83 out of 93 electoral seats, and 61.23 per cent of vote share.

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