Are we still in 1960s or 1970s? Defense the island by human or by gun?
Who are our aggressors? Do you foresee any country further than Malaysia or Indonesia? Point 10 missiles each at KL and Jakarta, berth 2 warships along sea water, do you need so many NS ? Just hire 10k professional soldiers and fight the modern war. If you think Japan or Vietnam will attack Singapore, buy more missiles.
If you tell your neigbours that NS policy is a deterrent, why not make it clear that Singapore missiles is pointing at their capitals or Singapore Airforce able to plant 10 bombs in their capital. Why 2 year NS is the only way out.
At best, trained all our boys with weapon handling skills and cut the NS to 6 months to be done during University term breaks.
Singapore welcome FTs, today population mixed is not the same as 1960s or 1970s. Serving NS is no longer a simple patroitism act. The government has to accept the social impact of FTs on NS policy.
Thanks,
J
Jit Koon Lee
12 years ago
More than 70 deaths in in NS during NS training so far, and that is only the ones we know:
2012 [Source 1, Source 2, Source 3, Source 4, Source 5, Source 6]
9.40am 11 January, Mr Li Hong Yang, (CPL, 62 Combat Service Support Battalion), 28 yrs old, collapsed during IPPT training at Kranji Camp 3, cause of death undisclosed
5.30pm 15 March, Mr Amirul Syahmi Bin Kamal, (PTE, 3rd Battalion Guards), 20 yrs old, found unconscious in a toilet at Bedok Camp, cause of death undisclosed
2.05pm 17 April, Mr Dominique Sarron Lee Rui Feng, (PTE, 3rd Singapore Infantry Regiment), lost unconscious during platoon exercise at Murai Urban Training Facility at Lim Chu Kang
1.56pm 11 May, Mr Tan Mou Sheng (3SG, ?), 20 yrs old, jeep overturned in Marsiling training area
12 August, Mr Muhammad Fahrurrazi Salim, (LCP, ?) 20 yrs old, drowned in a river at Brunei, Temburong training area
11.50am 27 Sep, Mr Tan Tai Seng, (LCP, 63 CSSB) 23 yrs old, hit by a falling tree, Ama Keng training area at Lim Chu Kang
2012 [Source 1, Source 2, Source 3, Source 4, Source 5, Source 6]
9.40am 11 January, Mr Li Hong Yang, (CPL, 62 Combat Service Support Battalion), 28 yrs old, collapsed during IPPT training at Kranji Camp 3, cause of death undisclosed
5.30pm 15 March, Mr Amirul Syahmi Bin Kamal, (PTE, 3rd Battalion Guards), 20 yrs old, found unconscious in a toilet at Bedok Camp, cause of death undisclosed
2.05pm 17 April, Mr Dominique Sarron Lee Rui Feng, (PTE, 3rd Singapore Infantry Regiment), lost unconscious during platoon exercise at Murai Urban Training Facility at Lim Chu Kang
1.56pm 11 May, Mr Tan Mou Sheng (3SG, ?), 20 yrs old, jeep overturned in Marsiling training area
12 August, Mr Muhammad Fahrurrazi Salim, (LCP, ?) 20 yrs old, drowned in a river at Brunei, Temburong training area
11.50am 27 Sep, Mr Tan Tai Seng, (LCP, 63 CSSB) 23 yrs old, hit by a falling tree, Ama Keng training area at Lim Chu Kang
2009 [Source 1, Source 2, Source 3, Source 4, Source 5]
9.51am 13 Marc
A
A J ISAAC
12 years ago
Hello my fellow singaporeans. I AGREE on most points Mr Tan Kin Lian has touched.
As a Ns Man who has completed my reservist recently. I would like to voice out my opinions.
Firstly 1 year is too short and 2 years seem long. 18 mths would be ideal. Reason being young man that enter army has the sense that it is a waste of time. Only after 6-9 months that most put in much effort(base on experience)
The ippt in the other hand is one that i feel should be loosen gradually over the reservist years. For eg 1st 2 reservist still the same as now. The rest of the reservist should be more targeted in the weakness of the soldier. If he fails a station instead of making him redo the ippt test again on another day. Give him ample training during his reservist time on the weakness( if he fails chin up,make him do upper body workouts and gym work). Forget RT. We reservist guys are not hard up for the monetary award, we just want to finish it.We would be more than happy to do that during reservist than to do RT. THIS IS AN OPINION OF MINE IF YOU DO NOT AGREE ITS FINE.
A
Adrian Low
12 years ago
Fully agree with the petition - NS affects a small subsection of Singaporean residents (male Singaporeans) who are not only forced to take on an inordinately large burden and provide defence services for Singaporean females, PR, foreigners (i.e. the vast majority of the resident population) for a token amount, It is not just the low pay but the opportunity costs and am afraid that all the SAFRA clubs, free National Day tickets are missing the point - time is the only thing that money can't buy...
Arguments as a rite of passage etc are also missing the point - working in say a charity or hospital something similar would provide a similar meaningful rite of passage. Plus I would say that would generate more utility for society than spending days waiting for things to happen in the camp. To paraphrase the famous quote on war being "interminable boredom punctuated by moments of terror" for the Singaporean NS man - "interminable boredom punctuated by moments of tedium" - there is a sprinkling of camaraderie but do I need 2 years of my life to artificially manufacture a love of to my fellow men and country?
It is time this sacred cow gets slaughtered and the reigning narrative gets challenged - "We are a small defenceless country surrounded by Muslim countries who want our lunch and hence we have to spend an inordinate amount of our budget on defence and conscript all Singaporean males" - gets challenged. Even countries who are technically at war such as Taiwan are changing their system.
The issue is that the military-government-industrial complex would be loath to rock the boat and would choose to perpetuate the system that has rewarded them - note the high number of ex-military men in the govt and govt-linked companies. So I am not optimistic. But kudos for bringing this up and trying!
A
Alice Lim
12 years ago
NS is an insult to Singaporeans.
C
Christopher Lee
12 years ago
scrapping the whole idea of ns could compensate the defense capability of singapore.
but ultimately, 2 years is too much.
for women who used the reasoning of periods and should not serve; firstly, not all NSF chiong sua, there are combat support roles. secondly, report that you are not feeling well if you are really not, 8th core value safety.
N
Ng Guan Yang
12 years ago
Featured
I hope that the reservist system will be abolished. The reservist system will disrupt our work and time spent with our families. If other countries can serve NS without having to return for reservist training, I believe Singapore can do it too. And talking about IPPT, the taxing requirement to pass will create unwanted stress.
how do you sign this?
Are we still in 1960s or 1970s? Defense the island by human or by gun? Who are our aggressors? Do you foresee any country further than Malaysia or Indonesia? Point 10 missiles each at KL and Jakarta, berth 2 warships along sea water, do you need so many NS ? Just hire 10k professional soldiers and fight the modern war. If you think Japan or Vietnam will attack Singapore, buy more missiles. If you tell your neigbours that NS policy is a deterrent, why not make it clear that Singapore missiles is pointing at their capitals or Singapore Airforce able to plant 10 bombs in their capital. Why 2 year NS is the only way out. At best, trained all our boys with weapon handling skills and cut the NS to 6 months to be done during University term breaks. Singapore welcome FTs, today population mixed is not the same as 1960s or 1970s. Serving NS is no longer a simple patroitism act. The government has to accept the social impact of FTs on NS policy. Thanks,
More than 70 deaths in in NS during NS training so far, and that is only the ones we know: 2012 [Source 1, Source 2, Source 3, Source 4, Source 5, Source 6] 9.40am 11 January, Mr Li Hong Yang, (CPL, 62 Combat Service Support Battalion), 28 yrs old, collapsed during IPPT training at Kranji Camp 3, cause of death undisclosed 5.30pm 15 March, Mr Amirul Syahmi Bin Kamal, (PTE, 3rd Battalion Guards), 20 yrs old, found unconscious in a toilet at Bedok Camp, cause of death undisclosed 2.05pm 17 April, Mr Dominique Sarron Lee Rui Feng, (PTE, 3rd Singapore Infantry Regiment), lost unconscious during platoon exercise at Murai Urban Training Facility at Lim Chu Kang 1.56pm 11 May, Mr Tan Mou Sheng (3SG, ?), 20 yrs old, jeep overturned in Marsiling training area 12 August, Mr Muhammad Fahrurrazi Salim, (LCP, ?) 20 yrs old, drowned in a river at Brunei, Temburong training area 11.50am 27 Sep, Mr Tan Tai Seng, (LCP, 63 CSSB) 23 yrs old, hit by a falling tree, Ama Keng training area at Lim Chu Kang 2012 [Source 1, Source 2, Source 3, Source 4, Source 5, Source 6] 9.40am 11 January, Mr Li Hong Yang, (CPL, 62 Combat Service Support Battalion), 28 yrs old, collapsed during IPPT training at Kranji Camp 3, cause of death undisclosed 5.30pm 15 March, Mr Amirul Syahmi Bin Kamal, (PTE, 3rd Battalion Guards), 20 yrs old, found unconscious in a toilet at Bedok Camp, cause of death undisclosed 2.05pm 17 April, Mr Dominique Sarron Lee Rui Feng, (PTE, 3rd Singapore Infantry Regiment), lost unconscious during platoon exercise at Murai Urban Training Facility at Lim Chu Kang 1.56pm 11 May, Mr Tan Mou Sheng (3SG, ?), 20 yrs old, jeep overturned in Marsiling training area 12 August, Mr Muhammad Fahrurrazi Salim, (LCP, ?) 20 yrs old, drowned in a river at Brunei, Temburong training area 11.50am 27 Sep, Mr Tan Tai Seng, (LCP, 63 CSSB) 23 yrs old, hit by a falling tree, Ama Keng training area at Lim Chu Kang 2009 [Source 1, Source 2, Source 3, Source 4, Source 5] 9.51am 13 Marc
Hello my fellow singaporeans. I AGREE on most points Mr Tan Kin Lian has touched. As a Ns Man who has completed my reservist recently. I would like to voice out my opinions. Firstly 1 year is too short and 2 years seem long. 18 mths would be ideal. Reason being young man that enter army has the sense that it is a waste of time. Only after 6-9 months that most put in much effort(base on experience) The ippt in the other hand is one that i feel should be loosen gradually over the reservist years. For eg 1st 2 reservist still the same as now. The rest of the reservist should be more targeted in the weakness of the soldier. If he fails a station instead of making him redo the ippt test again on another day. Give him ample training during his reservist time on the weakness( if he fails chin up,make him do upper body workouts and gym work). Forget RT. We reservist guys are not hard up for the monetary award, we just want to finish it.We would be more than happy to do that during reservist than to do RT. THIS IS AN OPINION OF MINE IF YOU DO NOT AGREE ITS FINE.
Fully agree with the petition - NS affects a small subsection of Singaporean residents (male Singaporeans) who are not only forced to take on an inordinately large burden and provide defence services for Singaporean females, PR, foreigners (i.e. the vast majority of the resident population) for a token amount, It is not just the low pay but the opportunity costs and am afraid that all the SAFRA clubs, free National Day tickets are missing the point - time is the only thing that money can't buy... Arguments as a rite of passage etc are also missing the point - working in say a charity or hospital something similar would provide a similar meaningful rite of passage. Plus I would say that would generate more utility for society than spending days waiting for things to happen in the camp. To paraphrase the famous quote on war being "interminable boredom punctuated by moments of terror" for the Singaporean NS man - "interminable boredom punctuated by moments of tedium" - there is a sprinkling of camaraderie but do I need 2 years of my life to artificially manufacture a love of to my fellow men and country? It is time this sacred cow gets slaughtered and the reigning narrative gets challenged - "We are a small defenceless country surrounded by Muslim countries who want our lunch and hence we have to spend an inordinate amount of our budget on defence and conscript all Singaporean males" - gets challenged. Even countries who are technically at war such as Taiwan are changing their system. The issue is that the military-government-industrial complex would be loath to rock the boat and would choose to perpetuate the system that has rewarded them - note the high number of ex-military men in the govt and govt-linked companies. So I am not optimistic. But kudos for bringing this up and trying!
NS is an insult to Singaporeans.
scrapping the whole idea of ns could compensate the defense capability of singapore. but ultimately, 2 years is too much. for women who used the reasoning of periods and should not serve; firstly, not all NSF chiong sua, there are combat support roles. secondly, report that you are not feeling well if you are really not, 8th core value safety.
I hope that the reservist system will be abolished. The reservist system will disrupt our work and time spent with our families. If other countries can serve NS without having to return for reservist training, I believe Singapore can do it too. And talking about IPPT, the taxing requirement to pass will create unwanted stress.