Dr Ng Eng Hen: No “strong reasons” for new citizens to serve National Service
March 6th, 2010 | 
Author: Written by Our Correspondent
Stung by fast rising public unhappiness and discontent against its pro-foreigner policies, the PAP has made some cosmetic changes to its policies of late to placate angry voters, but one thing remain cast on stone: new citizens will still be exempted from National Service which is compulsory for all males born in Singapore.
During a “parliamentary debate” yesterday, PAP MP Michael Pamler asked if “new citizens should shoulder responsibilities that able-bodied male Singaporeans undertake.”
For some strange reason, it was the Second Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen who answered his question and not the Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean who was caught sleeping on camera earlier.
Dr Ng said that “it is not a sufficiently strong reason for the requirement to be imposed on them”:
“‘We have specifically narrowed the scope because we know that it imposes considerable costs both to the individual and to the nation……From time to time, there have been calls to extend NS beyond this remit, to fulfil laudable social objectives. I am not in any doubt that these are laudable social goals but it is an inadequate reason for us to impose NS to go beyond the remit of a critical national security and survival need,” he claimed without substantiating his statements.
An increasing number of Singaporeans are getting fed up with the discriminatory policies the PAP has practised against them in favor of the immigrants.
For example, the PAP gives out generous scholarships to PRC students who are given Singapore citizenships upon graduation without ever serving National Service.
In contrast, Singapore males have to serve two years of National Service before entering universities at their own expenses if they did not manage to secure a scholarship. Furthermore, they are disadvantaged by their reservist obligations upon entering the labor market.
Dr Ng pointed out that there are many programmes to “integrate new citizens and help them better understand the importance of national defence.”
For example, the People’s Association organized visits for new citizens to the Army Museum while the Defence Ministry organises visits to the Pulau Tekong Basic Military Training Centre, but these one-day visits can hardly substitute for the unique 2-year NS experience which all Singapore males have gone through.
The new citizens should go through at least the 3-month basic military training to prevent them from taking a “free ride” on the contributions of native Singaporeans. Otherwise, it will appear that native Singaporeans are serving NS to protect the lives and properties of these new citizens.
Right now, there is a pervasive public impression that Singaporeans are being relegated to second class citizens within their own countries. The new citizens should be made to pay an additional social security tax to make up for not doing NS.
With Singapore being swarmed by foreigners thanks to the PAP’s liberal immigration policies, it is little wonder that there exists a common saying in the populace:
“NS for Singaporeans, Jobs for foreigners”
Posted in Headlines
102 Responses to “Dr Ng Eng Hen: No “strong reasons” for new citizens to serve National Service”
Loading ...
Alex Tan Allan Ooi AWARE Chee Soon Juan Chiam See Tong Claire Lee David Widjaja DBS Dr Allan Ooi Dr Silviu Ionescu Foyce Le Xuan George Yeo GIC highnote5 highnotes5 Hong Lim Park Jack Lin Xinli Jack Neo Jack Neo affair Jack Neo press conference Jack Neo scandal Josie Lau Josie Lau Meng Lee Lee Kuan Yew Lehman brothers Lighthouse Evangelism Malaysia MAS minibonds Miss Singapore World NTU stabbing Pastor Rony Tan Ris Low Romanian diplomat in hit-and-run Rony Tan S-League Sex silviu ionescu Singapore Tan Kin Lian Thio Su Mien Tiger Woods affair Tong Kok Wai Top 8 Wendy Chong
WP Cumulus Flash tag cloud by Roy Tanck and Luke Morton requires Flash Player 9 or better.
Ask Jet Li to serve BMT can?
Make him a special appointed Kung Fu instructor. Sure very productive!
No strong reasons for new citizens to serve NS, where then is the single “strong” reason to spend $10m taxpayers’ money to integrate them?
I vote if Gong Li join MDC lol
I reckon they should serve at least 3 months BMT.
No Strong reasons for me to serve either. but i did.
I was an apolitical Singaporean. I went about my meaningless life worrying about jobs, career, entertainments and realtionships. To quote Salinger (1951) “I thought what I’d do was, I’d pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes.” But know I am jobless and my fiancee left me. My eyes opened to the reality of Singapore. I have all the time to read and to find out more from other media. The reality of Singapore is much more starker and the course it is going we all will suffer down the road. I chose not be a death-mute anymore. It is time for me to choose a new course and it starts with voting out PAP.
I also want Gong Li to be my grassroot leader. I want to “uproot” her grass for a very long time liao, ever since she became a citizen here.
Cut the Bull and come to reality ?
I have served and I know the great inconvenienced it had created as well as “jeopardice” many opportunities along my career path….how can you easily give away Citizenships to compete against me and now tell you do not see aneed for them to do NS……..Go Fly you kite..I will boot you out !
I have a question about new citizen policy.
1. to become citizen of usa is not easy. some sign up to usa army in order to easier get the citizenship, if i not wrong.
Still, so many join usa because it is such a attraction.
2. given sg is said to be so great, why need to open the door so wide ? surely talented foreigners with high IQ can figure out if its worth becoming a citizen without or with tougher immigration policies?
If people say so many want to become new citizens because they like sg so much, so why not have immigration policies stricter to filter in the better ones ?
any ypap talented talent of the most talent category wanna give this question a shot?
Nothing beats the real thing.
The new citizens will pick up the local lingo, and they will have a common talking topic with their colleagues.
yes… Jet Li must do reservist! ALL OTHER NEW CITIZENS must do reservist till they are 40 or even 50, just like the rest of us REAL singapore males! Where is the justice?
Who are we protecting? Really…
Why are we serving NS? It’s actually just a CITY anyway, as insisted by that law minister recently. Why does a CITY need its own army force?
yes… Jet Li must do reservist! ALL OTHER NEW CITIZENS must do reservist till they are 40 or even 50, just like the rest of us REAL singapore males! Where is the justice?
Who are we protecting? Really…
Why are we serving NS? It’s actually just a CITY anyway, as insisted by that law minister recently. Why does a CITY need its own army force? WE ARE JUST A CITY!
A city of which country? What else.. CHina…..
Be the best you can be join the Army
Complusory for all Sophomore and Senior to serve this proud country ours, the lion nation
New comers will be protected
Go away noob, you suck, don’t discriminate Native Citizens
Aren’t you a Native too? Whose side are you at?
They talk so much about Total Defense. Why can’t new citizens serve a BMT of sorts or be trained to be in Civil Defence(duties at Fire Stations ?), Police work?
Don’t kid us. Our sons SERVE and we are paying an extra ‘tax’ to protect them, why can’t they contibute? Weekends are a good time for them to participate in Total Defense. NO EXCUSE.
Citizens must stop allowing the PAP make us Second Class Citizens ! Let’s Vote them OUT.
“No strong reasons for new citizens to serve National Service” because papies think new citizens are 1st class citizen and native s’poreans are 2nd class, period.
Vote the god damn papies out!!!!
JOBS FOR FOREIGNERS, NS FOR SINGAPOREANS
JOBS FOR FOREIGNERS, NS FOR SINGAPOREANS
JOBS FOR FOREIGNERS, NS FOR SINGAPOREANS
JOBS FOR FOREIGNERS, NS FOR SINGAPOREANS
JOBS FOR FOREIGNERS, NS FOR SINGAPOREANS
JOBS FOR FOREIGNERS, NS FOR SINGAPOREANS
JOBS FOR FOREIGNERS, NS FOR SINGAPOREANS
JOBS FOR FOREIGNERS, NS FOR SINGAPOREANS
JOBS FOR FOREIGNERS, NS FOR SINGAPOREANS
JOBS FOR FOREIGNERS, NS FOR SINGAPOREANS
well, then we have no strong reason to vote for this current government back into office for the next GE.
It is very clear to me now that we have the wrong people in charge of government alearly. No strong reason for new citizens to do ns is a clear sign of the minister shying away from taking tough decision. Strawberries stuff. Honestly, the most effective and cost effective ways of intergrating new citizens into our society is through doing NS. They must be made to understand that they do not just come to Singpaore and ‘take and take’ although we value their economic contributions. Life, anywhere, is a matter of give and take. That they and the local people share a common destiny. I remember my ns days. Together with my ns mates, we trained together, were punished together, laughed together, bathed together, ate together, and many did other things together. More than 30years on, the comradeship among us is still going strong. Can S$10 million of integration funds beat that? Strawberries ministers dishing out strawberries policies in favour of new citizens is doing us detrimental all round.
Ng Eng Hen…go and fly kite!!
This millionair minister totally talk nonsense. Does he need to give reason to foreigners or does he just need to beg foreigners to come. Everyone knows that all you need to do is just make it a law for foreigners to serve NS. Really waste our rice to feed all these stupid ministers who only serve their master and not the people of the country
I think the whole issue is about fairness to locally borned Singaporeans, and the new citizens should contribute something back to Singapore. It may not necessary be NS, it could be civil defence, social volunteering work, let it be flexible for these new citizens to choose. I also think singaporean female should also be included. With a bigger pool of people, the current 2-year NS of local males should also be revised for reduction.
For those who think that gong li is so keen to be a singapore citizen, please wake up. what she wants is actually to be a holder of the singapore passport. it facilitates her in jetting around other countries easily without having to apply for visas from a long list of countries…. i have nothing against her, it is just the reality of life.
On the subject national service, it has dawned on many singaporeans now that there is also no strong reason, or shall i say no compelling reason to serve national service. What is the purpose of serving? To protect whose interest?
I think the tak-sai ministers thought natinoal service is serving only in the army.. what about asking them to serve as firefighters? it is as noble a cause as serving in the army or the police, where sensitive information should not be entrusted upon them as yet.
“We have specifically narrowed the scope because we know that it imposes considerable costs both to the individual and to the nation”
Yeah right… It does not impose any cost to true blue Singaporean but to foreigners only, because that will chase them away. Another incompetent minister.
There is a good reason for them to serve national service. If they don’t do national service, then native Singaporeans are clearly getting a lousier deal in their home country!
is it correct to say that serving national serving is the best integration program instead of spending millions of precious dollars on useless and meaningless programs to make them feel this is their home?
Why do we need to pay millions $$$ for these idiots to sleep in the parliament?
see lah, another reason why we should pap out of power at next election.
Do you want to take up the gun for this island if:
-You have no flat. Cannot afford to.
-Have no job. Replaced by PR.
-Have no kids. Cannot afford to.
-risk losing your life and limbs for foreigners’ property
-FTs and PRs run back to their country if SG goes to war
-After war, they come back to retake property you lost your life to protect, while your family is financially ruined by your death
-you have to risk your lives protecting these arrogant, millionaire mini-stars and their LUXURY CONDOS and estates.
WOULD YOU???
what is the percentage of male new citizens exempted from NS?
judging from the trend of 20000 new citizens per year, abt 10k will be male,in 10 yrs time 100k. if a significant percentage of this 100k don’t serve NS, we will have the awkward situation of dwindling old male citizens (due to declining birth rate) protecting Singapore.
there may be also a problem of PRs choosing to convert to citizen status only when they know that they will be exempted from NS due to age.
Aren’t PAP creating a divide between old and new citizens thro’ this discriminatory policy?
What the heck is Dr Ng talking about? Newly converted citizens to be exempted from NS, but native citizens to do NS ! This is disgusting. This freaking govt is bending over backwards for foreigners at the expense of native citizens.
Soon the govt may even propose GST exemption or additional tax reliefs for these new citizens. We locals are being treated worse than pariahs, while the govt sucks up to the new citizens. This nonsense has to stop.
Sorry, doing just 3 mths BMT is not good enough. They must do the full works. Joining the PA, visiting army camps on a 1-day tour are holiday activities for the newbies.
It is time the PAP Government stop ducking the issues of NS.
When I was 18, I have to serve NS, while my Malaysian classmates went to the University and started their careers 2 years ahead.
Now you have more including the Chinese, Indians not serving NS and hence started their careers 2 years ahead, not to mention the free scholarship they are entitled to.
In many countries such U.S., Thailand, once you complete Military service, you are entitled to free medical benefits for life. Here you have 2 to 2.5 years of NS, up to 13 years of reservists, obligation to fight/ die first in a war, but no respect and benefits at all!
///For some strange reason, it was the Second Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen who answered his question and not the Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean who was caught sleeping on camera earlier.///
It’s a tactical move. In case he need to eat his words, the Minister can come forward to say something else. But if these words were muttered by the Minister himself, very lau kwee leh.
Dr Ng Eng Hen, “NO strong reasons for new citizens to serve NS?
How many strong reasons do you require? Let me give a few here
1. IF THERE IS NO JUSTICE IN THIS COUNTRY, IS THERE A LAW WHICH MANDATE OUR CITIZEN MEN TO SERVE NATIONAL SERVICE LIABILITY TO AGE OF 45?.
2. IF THERE IS A LEGAL LIABILITY OF ALL MALE CITIZENS, WHY IS THERE TWO SETS OF LAW APPLICATION OF ONE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION AND ONE LEGAL INTERPRETATION?
3. If in the case of catastrophic military emergency, nearly all our national service “expired of fighting existence” in sustained battlefields, who among the old, infirmed, young and those militarily-incapable of combat duties, is available defending this country, its constitution and its flag – FORGET THE HIGHFALUTIN HYPOCRITICAL PLEDGE – when those able-bodied new citizens just look around and laughing of our impending slavery?
4. are there DIFFERENT CLASS OF CITIZENS defined in our constitution?
5. Besides the new citizens, who else, UNSPOKEN PERHAPS, should be entitled to exemptions from military service by silence and lagoon of whatever criteria of privileged advantage.?
Waiting for your answer or that of Teo Chee Hean.
hooray ! No NS for Foreign Talents !
Locals get screwed from 18 to 40 !
no strong reason for new citizens to serve ns then there is no reason for citizens to serve ns also right? what the F@#$!
can I choose to visit the army museum and pulau tekong bmt centre on every last day of the month instead of doing ns? what the F&^*!
Ah Hen, I want to throw you out of your comfort throne this year!
Singapore citizenships are very easy to obtain. 3 of my gay friends without family nucleus got it within 5 years! 1 from East Malaysia and 3 from India.
1. They need not serve NS even tho’ their age are considerably fit and eligible.
2. They are not producing babies in the future because their vaginas are at the rear.
3. They are only diploma holders and not degree holders.
I am a graduate, my studies were deferred because of NS. And now, they live off better than me.
Can any TR readers tell me why why why?
A sizeable number of people want to vote the PAP out, which is truly good. Maybe you are the post 65s’ which is well and good. I’ll be turning 50 this year and in all my life I only voted for the PAP once, and this was when I was first allowed to vote. What we must do is to convince the older generation like your parents, uncles and aunties to vote the PAP out. Some still would not know of the issues we are now facing because of this present government.Those of you who have lost jobs, houses etc, educate and talk to your folks, only in this way we can garner more people to vote the PAP out. Good luck too.
There is “no strong reason” for his million dollars pay.
U can see the flaw of this policy with simple math. It is a fact that these new citizens are forming a larger and larger part of the population here and that they will not have to serve NS. So if this rule continues into perpetuity, we will have a declining/weak defence force vs size of population. That is the logical conclusion.
The question is whether the policy is a consious choice to trade national defence for the benefits of all out immigration. Or was this cost overlooked in the haste to placate the new citizens? I mean, it will be embarassing to reverse the policy in the future and create 3 classes, Singaporeans, new citizens w/o NS and new citizens with NS (coz oops sorry did not calculate that when we talked about the No NS thingee)
The darker explanation is of course when war does occur, we protect who is truly our own…Nah I dun think so…that will be bad for property prices…
I use to like Singapore but now not anymore.
Reasons:
1) In my own little country, I now have to jostle with hundreds of foreigners who think that our beloved country is their land and who have snatched away jobs, flats, education, and for some, husbands away from them. They are super-arrogrant and we are told to welcome them even though we do not like them with open arms as they are here to help us, to help us grow our economy as we are told. Never mind, that if I was scolded once by them anyhow, we have to bear this, as they are like fairies, helping us to grow our economy and we cannot scold them back, it seems.
2) Growing income disparity. Huge monies given to those scholars, MPs and Ministers while the rich-poor income further divide. Are people really worth so much to command millions of dollars per year for crafting polcies which now lead our little island to be so chokefull of unwanted people, our MRTs so crammed at anytime of the day (last time is still only the rush hour time) and many Singaporeans who want flats have to wait for a long long time or to pay a HUGE amount and compete with those PRCs and New citizens for flats and bearing the brunt of serving the huge mortgage loan for life!
I know the government is now proclaiming to stem the flow of the foreign talents, to give more housing priviledges to Singaporeans.. I know … for General Election is Coming!
I am Not Stupid and I hope Singaporeans are not stupid too.
What the F@#% is NEH talking abt.. If there’s no strong reason.. why than gov busy recruiting new citizen and telling us that they dneed o this due to shortage of new born baby.. what the F@#K??
If you divide SG’s annual GDP by its population or by land-area, Dot sg is bigger than www – whole wide world!
Therefore, Dot sg needs to increase its population since it cannot increase its land area.
Looking forward to see the entire NS servicemen comes out to protest by the battalions 1 day.
Dr Hen, go peck somewhere else real quick … because we are going to vote you out too! I firmly believe the pappies are going all out to sabo all native Singaporeans in their bid to kiss the new immigrants’ butt. Vote for change when you hold the ballot paper – your future and your children’s future is right in your hands!
PAP only needs Singaporeans for NS cheap labor.
For everything else, they have foreign talents.
Thank you, Foreigners Action Party!
I have long believed that (along with many of you readers) that NS is the BEST way to integrate these new citizens…. not the army? no problem.. CIVIL defence.. 2 years… no excuse… and ICT after tat too… why waste 10mil on them when you can have BETTER results at a CHEAPER cost too!
Why do some owe money and others get a refund for their taxes?
Hens like birds have pea brains
“NS AND LOW PAY FOR SINGAPOREANS; JOBS AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FOREIGNERS!”
Can I become a PR instead? This is such a disgrace and demeaning for a citizen like me!
WHAT? Teo caught sleeping on camera? Muahahahahaha, paid more than 100k a mth to sleep on the job?
If this HEN admits that NS imposes ‘considerable costs’ to the individual, why not pay us full salaries while we serve? PRs get full salaries outside, why not US? ARe our costs lower than those incurred by foreigners?
Kan Lin Bu Eh chau chee by!! What no need for them to do NS!
Like Top A-level student Pan Zixiang (a china citizen n a Sg PR) said, he considering Sg citizen and considering taking up PSC or DSTA scholarship and go US to study…what this? We paid them to go oversea and our boys needs to do NS before they can go university?
Now they don’t even have to do NS. gee..! we spore citizen kena playout by our own goverment!!
Vote PAP OUT!!
Why are we complaining here when we can not even get our women serve NS?
What is the percentage of the nation’s population serving NS?
Based on the statistics of the population in 2009:
- 34% of our population are foreigners
- Half of our local population are female
(at this point only 32% left = [100 - 34]/2 )
- Unknown percentage of our local population are PRs and new citizens who never need to serve NS.
- Unknown percentage of our local male population are either too old or too young.
- Unknown percentage of our eligible male population are not combat fit.
- So what is left? I read that the estimated figure is about 7%, 7% of the population protecting NS? If other countries got hold of this news, they will come and invade Singapore.
NO STRONG REASONS!
Taiwan – End of military conscription
On Monday Minister of National Defense, Chen Chao-ming, announced that Taiwan’s military will become an all-volunteer force within five years. Speaking to a military committee under the Legislative Yuan, Minster Chen explained that the process would commence on 2011 and by 2014 all divisions of the R.O.C. Armed Forces will be filled with career soldiers instead of conscripts. In the future, local men will only be required to serve four months of basic military training.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/editorial/taiwan-issues/2009/03/13/199883/End-of.htm
Now Young PAP has this new citizen–Michael Rebaczonok-Padulo–writing for them on their website. Never served NS and writes about Singapore foreign policy! How has he paid his dues to Singapore? How did he get that position? NS for Michael!
Sadly another idiot saying No Strong Reasons for new arrivals to serve NS. Its only an excuse becos he needs new citizens support.
MP Ng is NOT INTERESTED with Singaporean Voters anymore.
He meant that there are only strong reasons for SINGAPOREANS to serve NS to protect them and their million $ assets.
MP Ng Eng Hen does not need us, Singaporeans.
Likewise, we, Singaporeans have strong reasons as we do not need him anymore.
Two sets of rules. He can get out in coming GE.
Defence Budget is 6% of GDP = S$11.5 billions in 2009 while MinDef yearly enlisted only 15,000 NSmen fulltime.
How can Ministry of Defence spend S$11.5 billion on 15,000 NSmen i.e. S$766,666-66 per NSman each year.
NSmen are paid “PEANUTS.”
So, MP Ng Eng Hen, Where those monies go?
Over at the Young PAP website, they have one of these new citizens writing columns. Never served NS–writing columns for Young PAP! His name is Michael Rebaczonok-Padulo. Been in Singapore over 30 years and just became a citizen and a favourite of the Young PAP.
Everything is at the PAPs discretion:
-No strong reasons for new citizens to serve NS.
-Only Singaporean serves NS.
-from 30 months to reduce to 24 months.
-Only to protect those rich, elite and powerful.
In fact, NS army conscription should be abolished.
SAF must employ fulltime professional soldiers instead.
What can a “HEN” tell the tiny little “FROG”?
Both HEN and FROG talking nonsense.
I opine that if we make national service compulsory for new citizens and/or permanent residents of an eligible age (say less than 30 yo), we can truly sift out the genuine foreigners wanting to be Singaporean citizens and PR from those who just want to take us for a ride (work here and go back home country to retire with all the monies earned for eg) or a stepping stone to go another “better” country, like Australia for eg.
This cannot be further from the truth, that you will get truly genuine foreigners who really want to call Singapore HOME. As it stands, all the policies pertaining to foreigners, new citizens and PR are just not conducive and appropriate, it really disadvantaged native singaporeans in every facet of life: housing, national service, employment, mimimum wage, retirement etc etc etc. These are acts of a government not thinking far enough, fair enough, for the natives enough.
I am Singaporean. My moniker suggest i don’t live and work in Singapore, which is true. Perhaps it is prudent of me that my son is born in Australia not Singapore. time will tell but at the moment, as an avid observer of all the going-ons in singapore, i have an extremely good feeling of what i have done is only for the best of the kid, not just now but also in the future.
You should see the new writer they have over at Young PAP. Mr Michael Rebaczonok-Padulo is one of these new citizens who never served NS. Now he is writing columns and commenting on Singapore’s foreign policy! He was here 30+ years ago and only recently became a citizen! What if he serve NS way back when instead of waiting all this time to become a citizen and get a column in Young PAP?
As an NS man who incurred ‘considerable costs’ for serving, I feel this HEN deserves to be slapped by all who served NS for making such inconsiderate remarks. Go eat shit la! I’m going to sack you with my vote!
If you got son going into NS, vote out the Papies. And if you are serving NS now, tell your parents to vote out the Papies as well. Why?
Because we pledged for 45 years to build a united nation based on JUSTICE AND EQUALITY AND WE DON’T HAVE BOTH OR EITHER IN THIS DISCRIMINATORY POLICY.
There are NO STRONG REASONS to vote otherwise.
I think there is no strong reason for citizens to do reservist training.
If you got son going into NS, vote out the Papies. And if you are serving NS now, tell your parents to vote out the Papies as well. Why?
Because we pledged for 45 years to build a united nation based on JUSTICE AND EQUALITY AND WE DON’T HAVE BOTH OR EITHER IN THIS DISCRIMINATORY POLICY.
There are NO STRONG REASONS for us to vote otherwise.
I’ve been telling everybody I meet to vote wisely. This election may be our last chance to shaft some sense into the greedy, arrogant and mean pee scums.
ITS NOW OR NEVER !!!
“S’poreans first” for NS
Ng Eng Hen,
You claimed that NS is a “responsibility” of every male citizen……yet in the same breadth, you said makiing it mandatory for new male citizens to serve NS is merely a “laudable social objective”!!!!
What in the hell are you talking about????
That hen need to be cooked for a nice meal, for not protecting the native Singaporean.
Dr Ng, tell you what I also dont find any strong reason to consider voting for you to remain in power.
Thank you very much Dr. Ng. I don’t understand why we are excused from NS but we like it anyway.
FT’s
Instead of adopting the ‘beggar thy neighbour’ attitude and insisting all new citizens serve us, we should use this opportunity to push the agenda for no NS at all.
It’s an accepted fact that NS drives away global talent (though our FTs are sub-standard talent). It also means that it will drive away our own talent who may actually be global talent.
Foreign Talent is definitely an important component in the equation for our survival in the new global order. We have to know what these foreign talents can do directly and visually to our country. Mr Jet Li could be drafted to serve our country through teaching and developing the martial arts capabilities of our people in self defence who serve the national service as a mandatory component. He could also help to conduct as clinics throughout our island, at various locations, where the greying population can learn ‘taichi’, and all can learn to maintain good health through such clinics, just like those we see in China, Taiwan. Do these in Bukit Timah Hill, Sentosa, HDB precincts, Mount Faber, etc. We all need to survive well and longer and if jet Li can help improve our well being in health, he is doing our nation a lot of good. He could revive all our martial arts schools, so that our people can protect our country better. Privately, he could be drafted to be the director of films to put Singapore on the global map of good quality film making.
For Ms Gong Li….she will be great to be contributing to train our talents in singing and acting….and create many more Gong Lis amongst Singaporeans. If we have such senior world renowned people coming to our shores, the best services they can contribute with a direct impact for our growth and well being would be the best demonstration of their genuine commitment to our country. For their young, NS will help them integrate into our society for their own future good and for their growing up like many of us did. NS is a good character building process that we should maintain for our country’s long term survival, and those of our children’s. It unites in adversity when we have to fight for our country and our own survival wherever we are in the global village.
NS for all or none!
■anonymous on Sat, 6th Mar 2010 11:03 pm
Dr Ng Eng Hen, “NO strong reasons for new citizens to serve NS?
How many strong reasons do you require? Let me give a few here
1. IF THERE IS NO JUSTICE IN THIS COUNTRY, IS THERE A LAW WHICH MANDATE OUR CITIZEN MEN TO SERVE NATIONAL SERVICE LIABILITY TO AGE OF 45?.
2. IF THERE IS A LEGAL LIABILITY OF ALL MALE CITIZENS, WHY IS THERE TWO SETS OF LAW APPLICATION OF ONE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION AND ONE LEGAL INTERPRETATION?
3. If in the case of catastrophic military emergency, nearly all our national service “expired of fighting existence” in sustained battlefields, who among the old, infirmed, young and those militarily-incapable of combat duties, is available defending this country, its constitution and its flag – FORGET THE HIGHFALUTIN HYPOCRITICAL PLEDGE – when those able-bodied new citizens just look around and laughing of our impending slavery?
4. are there DIFFERENT CLASS OF CITIZENS defined in our constitution?
5. Besides the new citizens, who else, UNSPOKEN PERHAPS, should be entitled to exemptions from military service by silence and lagoon of whatever criteria of privileged advantage.?
Waiting for your answer or that of Teo Chee Hean
Can Anyone or Admin send this question to Mister?
IF THEY DONT TREAT NEW CITIZEN NICELY, THEY WONT VOTE THEM
THAT’S WHY HAS 10-million BUCKS PARTY,
WHILE LOCAL CITIZENS ARE SUFFERING.
No One Will Be Left Behind [ JUST LEFT ASIDE TO DIE ]
http://news.asiaone.com/News/NDP+Rally+2007/NDP+Rally+2007.html
Singaporeans Comes First For Govt [ FIRST TO BE LEFT BEHIND ]
http://news.asiaone.com/News/the%2BStraits%2BTimes/Story/A1Story20100101-189132.html
You have a PAP sleuth in your midst–on the Silvio Ionescu story from a while ago. It’s the same new-citizen (non-NS man) Michael Rebaczonok-Padulo who wrote a recent foreign policy column for the Young PAP. Here’s the link to the page with his comment in Temasek Review:
Scroll down to Rebaczonok-Padulo comment
Then, check out this non-serving FT’s column on the Young PAP:
New Citizen Talks Singapore Foreign Policy for PAP
The comments section there is a real hot item. He really gets blasted for being in the service of the Young PAP! Really quite funny to read. I hope the links work. If not, just take a visit over to the website on your own and tell him what you think! Ha!
We should let our brothers (every male) know the kind atrocities happening. We are not alone. I applaud those who pick up the courage to share your views in face of MIWs brainwashed victims. Have courage, find your resilence for you are not alone!
Pap policy is to have enough new citizens who will vote for them to stay in power, therefore cannot offend them. Is SMART POLICY.
i bet you remember the fun you had digging the shell scrape. the mosquitoes that kept you company took a break from the sweltering sun as your sergeant completed the last two expletives about your mother being unable to come here to help you dig the shell scrape.
thank you ng eng hen for keeping the privilege of national service solely for old citizens. you will go down in history next to wong kan seng mah bow tan.
The truth is this: Singapore does not have to spend so much on military defence. This island is NOT Israel, Taiwan or South Korea. If I remember correctly, Singapore spends the highest proportion of its GDP on defense among all its ASEAN neighbours. This siege mentality is not necessary.
You want a patriotic rite of passage for the boys, sure. But there’s no point serving for 10 cycles of reservist – it can be reduced further to around 5. Reservist, on top of the 2 years delayed time, is a tremendous impediment on the guys’ career/higher learning ambitions.
A lot of money earmarked for national defence is used to pay the exorbitant salaries of the top brass(generals, perm secretaries etc), purchase expensive military toys with zero practical purposes(eg. the frigate which the navy purchased some years ago), prop up govt linked-companies and contractors (eg. ST Logistics, Singapore Food Industries), funding the SAF in ‘kay-poh’ missions around the world (eg. sending troops to Iraq, rebuilding earthquake-struck Indonesian village, peacekeeping in Timor Leste… no doubt all done to do photo op sessions for the Pioneer magazine).
Don’t forget the SAF is sitting upon LOTS of prime land eg. in the west, Yishun-Seletar area etc. These lands could be better utilized for residential/industrial/commercial purposes. The PAP govt wants a boost in population and extra living space, but refuses to rethink slaying some of these ’sacred cows’. Topsy-turvy priority and wanting to have the cake and eat it. Typical PAP mentality.
I GIVE YOU ONE STRONG REASON NG ENG HEN !
MY STRONG REASON IS IF YOU MAKE ONE NEW CITIZEN DO NS, MY SON DON’T NEED TO DO !
I STRONGLY FEEL YOU SHOULD CONSIDER MY SON MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR NEW CITIZEN !
BLOODY HELL dare to say such thing.
second generation PR == foreigner must serve NS
new citizen == singaporean doesn’t need ???
what the f….
SECOND THIRD FOURTH GENERATION PRs should not need to serve NS as well ! you singaporean citizens should go play jungle and mud yourself, no need foreigners to help you. foreigners too busy drinking beer in clark quay and knocking down pedestrians.
20000 new citizen imported a year no need NS
protected by 37000 (current newborn rate) to 45000 (old born rate) citizens a year doing NS
40k people NS so that 20k new-citizen-free-loaders and another 26% (1.3 million) pure-foreigners freeloading too?
I can empathise with all who have served as I too have served. We were all brain-washed that NS is for the good of the nation and to protect our love ones in time of war. This double standard for new citizens is self-defeating on several counts:
- NS is a rite of passage for Singaporean males and bonds were forged during the service and not to mention allow young people from different backgrounds and ethnicity to interact and to know one-another
- Without doing NS the new citizens never went through this rite and have very little knowledge of local customs, culture and beliefs
- Without doing NS the new citizens will garner enmity from those who have served and will always be regarded with suspicions especially in times of conflicts and emergency.
- For not doing ICT will give new immigrants an edge in the job market. Further earning them disdain from local Singaporeans
- It will take more than 10 years for sons of new immigrants to reach enlistment age and for the time being where SAF is going to ensure the units are staffed?
In summary, without doing NS the new immigrants will have great difficulties in integrating into the society and local born male Singaporeans will be reluctant to accept them as they never went through the universal rite of passage of NS.