SINGAPORE: All youthful male Singaporeans, which includes new citizens, must do National Service, Protection Minister Ng Eng Hen said inside a ministerial statement on Tuesday (Aug 2), calling recent statements by Progress Singapore Party’s Leong Mun Wai “inaccurate and misleading”.
Mr Leong, a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP), stated on Jul five that “citizens simply by registration are not carrying out NS”. The opinion was made in a supplementary question after Doctor Ng’s reply on the subject of sporting privileges for national servicemen.
“Mr Leong’s assertion is incorrect and misleading, inch said Dr Ng in Parliament upon Tuesday.
“Since 2000, on average, 3, 400 new people are registered each year who have been or will be enlisted like almost all male Singaporeans in order to serve their NATURSEKT duties. ”
Dr Ng noted that the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) had provided a written answer to Mr Leong’s question within July, in response to their parliamentary questions about the percentage associated with males who have become Singapore citizens, and exactly what portion of them were not required to serve NS.
The ministry’s written reply stated that men who receive citizenship because mature adults, generally in their 30s and 40s, are not enlisted as they are not ideal for full-time NS in that age and did not enjoy any kind of benefits before getting their citizenship.
“New male people who stayed in Singapore when younger and enjoyed financial and social advantages are enlisted when they reach 18 years old or older, ” it added.
Dr Ng informed the House on Wednesday: “Let there be no doubt that for each young male citizen, whether by delivery, registration or descent, the NS financial obligations are the same. We do not differentiate. ”
They enlist for NS at 18 years or old to perform full-time NATURSEKT and must satisfy their operationally prepared NS duties and then. “That is common and equitable, ” he added.
“But if a foreigner comes to Singapore and becomes a resident as a mature grownup, typically in his 30s or 40s, all of us exempt him through National Service as they did not enjoy any socio-economic benefits such as young Singaporeans as well as because he would be too old to enlist for full-time National Service, ” Dr Ng reiterated.
This policy goes back to the early eighties, and other ministers plus Members of Parliament have spoken about them previously, said the Defence Minister.
“It can also be easy to get the related information on the Internet, and you may try it even now. If you key in your search engine ‘NS, new residents, Singapore’, there are many fora that make it known that will new young man citizens must do NS and that those who become citizens as adult adults are free. So this policy will be well publicised on the Internet, ” said Doctor Ng.
Mr Leong must have waited for MINDEF’s reply or searched for the full facts on a topic as important as NS, this individual added, noting the PSP member got repeated his deceptive statements in Fb posts in late May and early This summer.
Through the years, permanent residents and young male brand new citizens have formed “an increasing proportion” of NS enlistees, said the Defence Minister.
In the early 2000s, they made up five per cent of all full-time national servicemen (NSFs) enlisted every year. Now, they form about 20 per cent of all enlisted NSFs, this individual added.
Of the 20 per cent, slightly more than fifty percent are citizens simply by registration, and the leftover are permanent occupants, said Dr Ng.
“So what Mr Leong asserts is not true. Many new citizens are usually enlisted for National Service every year. New citizens and PRs are contributing to the national defence. And without that extra provide of new citizens plus PRs, our smaller birth cohorts would have impacted SAF’s (Singapore Armed Forces) manpower needs more acutely, ” he stated.
Including that it was important to appropriate Mr Leong’s deceptive statements, Dr Ng said: “If pre-enlistees are misled straight into thinking that new residents of their age are exempted, where will they have the heart to serve National Assistance?
“The correct facts should be put out to assure the national servicemen in the SAF and the Home Team. ”
Describing NATURSEKT as the bedrock of the SAF and Singapore’s national defence, Doctor Ng noted that will MPs have the duty to ask questions and debate policies within Parliament, including policies on NS.
“But they should not make deceptive statements that can weaken NS, the SAF and Home Team, ” he added.