People Playing Lee Hsien Loong & Halimah Yacob for NDP Rehearsals Are Going Viral for Playing the Role Way too Well

With the National Day Parade (NDP) coming up in less than two months, there’s something that Singaporeans can look forward to.

An abundance of funny sights or memes that people spot during the parade or on television.

And it seems like the funny sights have begun even before the actual NDP this year, and it’s all thanks to the actors standing in for the VIPs during the NDP rehearsals.

Yup, they didn’t just walk out holding placards that stated who they were acting as.

In particular, the actor and actress playing the role of Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong and President Halimah Yacob have caught the eye of many Singaporeans for their uncanny and amusing resemblance to the actual PM and President.

Actor Standing In for PM Lee Wore PM’s Signature Pink Shirt

After the recent NDP rehearsals that took place on Saturday (24 June), TikTok user @trashkendra uploaded the following photo of “PM Lee” entering the parade.

@trashkendra #ndp2023 ♬ original sound – Kendy

The actor was first filmed getting out of the car and waving to fellow Singaporeans before stepping onto the state podium.

He was also dressed in a pink shirt of the same shade as PM Lee’s iconic pink shirt.

In the video, Singaporeans could be heard cheering for the “PM” loudly as he entered the parade.

They also chuckled when the cameras zoomed in to show him on the podium.

However, despite nailing PM Lee’s attire and wave, some netizens pointed out something.

Yup, alas, despite the various similarities to PM Lee, the actor’s age (and head full of black hair) made it seem like PM Lee had aged in reverse.

Actress Standing In for President Halimah Actually Looked Like Her

But while you might say that the actor playing PM Lee doesn’t exactly look like him, you won’t be able to say the same for the actress who took President Halimah’s place during the parade rehearsal.

@trashkendra also uploaded a video of the stand-in for President Halimah at the NDP rehearsals.

@trashkendra roleplay next level #ndp2023 ♬ original sound – Kendy

Yup, that’s not the actual president. Just someone who looks incredibly like her.

She first made her way through the parade contingent and even interacted with a member of the contingent before she was driven around the Padang in a buggy.

The actress, who wore a white hijab and a red blouse with a pearl necklace, stood on the buggy and waved the Singapore flag just like how the president would do it.

At the end of the parade, “President Halimah” even walked across the Padang (again) to talk to performers and shake their hands.

Talk about dedication to the job.

Needless to say, many netizens were left impressed by the impeccable similarity that the actress had to the president.

Others came up with puns to describe the actress.