Singapore’s Padang was alive with color, music, and a palpable sense of history on August 9, 2025, as the city-state celebrated its 60th year of independence. But this year’s National Day Parade (NDP) wasn’t just a local affair; it was a showcase of regional camaraderie, with leaders from Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia joining Singapore’s top officials and thousands of citizens in a spectacular display of unity and friendship.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s arrival at Paya Lebar Air Base at 3:40 p.m. local time set the tone for a day steeped in diplomatic significance. According to TEMPO.CO, Prabowo was greeted by Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Ambassador to Indonesia Kwok Fook Seng, Indonesia’s Ambassador to Singapore Suryo Pratomo, and Defense Attaché Colonel Hendra Supriyadi. His one-day visit underscored Indonesia’s commitment to fostering strong ties with its neighbors, particularly within the ASEAN region—a sentiment echoed throughout the day’s events.
Prabowo wasn’t the only distinguished guest. The Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (representing Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim), and the Crown Prince of Johor Bahru, Tunku Ismail Idris, also graced the occasion. The Regent of Johor attended alongside his wife, Che’ Puan Mahkota Khaleeda, as reported by The Straits Times. Their presence, along with that of Prabowo, marked the first time since 2019 that foreign dignitaries had been invited to the NDP, a gesture that did not go unnoticed by the crowd of 27,000 spectators.
As the dignitaries entered the VIP stand, live footage of their arrival flashed across giant screens, prompting cheers and applause. The foreign leaders were seated among Singapore’s own, including Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, and former presidents Halimah Yacob and Tony Tan Keng Yam. The sight of so many regional leaders together was a powerful visual statement about the importance of friendship and cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The day’s festivities began with a tea session hosted by Prime Minister Wong and his wife at the National Gallery Singapore, located just beside the Padang. In a Facebook post, PM Wong expressed his gratitude to the visiting leaders, writing, “May the bonds between our countries continue to grow from strength to strength.” The message, simple yet heartfelt, captured the spirit of the event.
Earlier that day, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam hosted Sultan Bolkiah and Deputy Prime Minister Zahid for lunch at the Istana, Singapore’s presidential residence. President Tharman later reflected on social media, “Our ties with our special friends run deep. They are a blessing in a world of turmoil. And we must keep nurturing them, with each new generation.” His words resonated with the theme of the parade and the broader context of regional stability and partnership.
Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who played a key role in welcoming the dignitaries, also shared his thoughts online. “Our two countries share deep historical and cultural ties, and a friendship that has stood the test of time,” he wrote after greeting Deputy Prime Minister Zahid at Changi Airport. According to The Straits Times, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng had received Sultan Bolkiah and his wife at Changi Airport a day earlier, further emphasizing the lengths to which Singapore went to honor its guests.
The 2025 National Day Parade was themed “Majulah Singapura”—Malay for “Onward Singapore”—and served as a celebration not only of Singapore’s 60 years of independence but also of its enduring relationships with its closest neighbors. The parade itself, held at the Padang, featured thousands of participants in a vibrant spectacle of military displays, cultural performances, and fireworks. The event was a nod to Singapore’s journey from a fledgling nation to a global city, and to the partnerships that have helped shape its path.
President Prabowo’s attendance was more than ceremonial. As TEMPO.CO noted, his presence was “a form of respect for the close relations between the two countries that have existed for a long time.” The Indonesian leader was accompanied by Foreign Minister Sugiono, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, and Head of the Development Control and Special Investigation Agency Aris Marsudiyanto. They departed Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base at 1:10 p.m., seen off by high-ranking Indonesian officials—a sign of the visit’s importance.
For Malaysia, Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi’s participation carried its own weight. He expressed hopes that his attendance would “strengthen the longstanding relationship between Singapore and Malaysia, and that more doors of cooperation would be opened.” Zahid also met with Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong to discuss bilateral trade and ongoing initiatives such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. “We also talked about ways to develop closer bilateral ties between Singapore and Malaysia, as well as how to deepen integration within ASEAN, for the benefit of our region, businesses and people,” Gan wrote in a Facebook post.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summed up the occasion succinctly: “Singapore is honoured by the presence of dignitaries from our closest neighbours at our milestone celebration. Their attendance underscores our shared geographic and historical ties, and reflects the enduring strength of our friendships.”
For many Singaporeans and regional observers, the return of foreign leaders to the NDP after a six-year hiatus was a welcome sign of renewed engagement and optimism. The last such gathering, in 2019, had celebrated Singapore’s bicentennial and featured then Indonesian President Joko Widodo and then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. The intervening years, marked by a global pandemic and shifting geopolitical currents, only heightened the significance of this year’s gathering.
As night fell and fireworks lit up the Singapore skyline, the message from the Padang was clear: in a world beset by uncertainty, the bonds of friendship and cooperation remain as vital as ever. The 60th National Day Parade was not just a celebration of Singapore’s past and present, but a hopeful look toward a future built on mutual respect and shared aspirations—one where neighbors come together, not just for ceremonies, but for the hard work of building peace and prosperity in the region.
