<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Adopt Swiss model for NS exemption
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to the letter by Mr Xiao Fuchun, 'NS for adult new citizens not practical' (Aug 11).
I agree with him from another angle. If national service (NS) for new citizens is made mandatory, very few foreigners will want to take up citizenship, as it will disrupt their career and earning power. This is a burden that is now shouldered by male Singaporeans, who are given no choice in the matter.
After 44 years of independence and prosperity, it is time to review the role of NS. Perhaps we should have a professional army to defend our nation. Already, we spend a large amount on military hardware. The current budget could be reallocated to pay competitive salaries to career soldiers. In any case, modern defence does not require a large number of infantry soldiers.
If there is still a need for a citizen army, citizens doing full-time NS should be paid an adequate allowance, similar to what they would earn in the private sector. They should not be required to shoulder an unfair burden to defend the nation, when citizenships are offered to foreigners without a similar responsibility.
If this increases the defence budget, I suggest that the Government should consider adopting the Swiss model, which requires residents exempt from compulsory military service to pay a 3 per cent additional annual income tax, popularly known as the 'defence tax', until the age of 30.
Tan Kin Lian
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to the letter by Mr Xiao Fuchun, 'NS for adult new citizens not practical' (Aug 11).
I agree with him from another angle. If national service (NS) for new citizens is made mandatory, very few foreigners will want to take up citizenship, as it will disrupt their career and earning power. This is a burden that is now shouldered by male Singaporeans, who are given no choice in the matter.
After 44 years of independence and prosperity, it is time to review the role of NS. Perhaps we should have a professional army to defend our nation. Already, we spend a large amount on military hardware. The current budget could be reallocated to pay competitive salaries to career soldiers. In any case, modern defence does not require a large number of infantry soldiers.
If there is still a need for a citizen army, citizens doing full-time NS should be paid an adequate allowance, similar to what they would earn in the private sector. They should not be required to shoulder an unfair burden to defend the nation, when citizenships are offered to foreigners without a similar responsibility.
If this increases the defence budget, I suggest that the Government should consider adopting the Swiss model, which requires residents exempt from compulsory military service to pay a 3 per cent additional annual income tax, popularly known as the 'defence tax', until the age of 30.
Tan Kin Lian
