Recruitment of Local Policemen In Singapore - Why Is "Anyone" Acceptable.

[Narong Wongwan]

This is true. I think they call it class A clearance or something.
Back then for SAF officers, OCS candidates were screened and if one parent was not Singapore born (which was quite common then) they will not be accepted.

Now it's still practise for certain uniformed groups.
A friend from ICA working in sensitive department is putting off his marriage to his foreign girlfriend because it will affect his clearance.
Also his bank accounts are monitored, among other things.

The poly is much more than that. For the the family background, the parents must be born in Singapore and none of the parents' siblings are born outside of the country. There are exceptions. Those who join midstream in their career, no longer important as your past work speaks for itself. There are also different stream. Low profile and small family preferred. Hopeless family and those with criminal record also not issue. Those who are born out of wedlock also taken in. There is much to all this.

 

[GoldenDragon]

Recruitment into the Police, Immigration, SAF are all major issues for years. Attrition is also very high. Even for Police senior officers. There have been instances where nearly the entire cohort for the year disappeared within 10 years. At 4 year mark, nearly 60 % of senior officers would have left. ISD will start raiding within 2 years so as not lose the opportunity.

ISD is also known to attract the 'marginalised' officers. Many remained stagnant in the SPF and either ISD 'rescues' and resurrect their careers or they will make the approach through trusted colleagues there.

 

[scroobal]

Spot on. You obviously know what is going on. A with * is even more interesting.

This is true. I think they call it class A clearance or something.
Back then for SAF officers, OCS candidates were screened and if one parent was not Singapore born (which was quite common then) they will not be accepted.

 

[scroobal]

Yes, and the philosophy behind this is quite interesting. MBNA one of the most successful financial institution in recent history before they were taken over by Bank of America had a similar approach. Recommendation by staff was considered priority. I have mixed feelings about this. I think it has something to do with behaviourial bond or something similar.

ISD is also known to attract the 'marginalised' officers. Many remained stagnant in the SPF and either ISD 'rescues' and resurrect their careers or they will make the approach through trusted colleagues there.

 

[GoldenDragon]

This is true. I think they call it class A clearance or something. /QUOTE]

Cat 1 or category 1. Still have higher clearances for those who deal with highly classified documents. Cat 1 minimum.

 

[pocoyo]

In the early period, when the ang-mors ruled this tiny island, policemen were all burly, tall and fit.
Today it is a world of a difference.
Anyone possessiing "paper quaslifications"is accepted within the ranks.
What could be the main reason?

What a good and true observation.

This seems to be happening after hong gan seng took over the mha.

Maybe he want all mata like him to be a shorty..

 

[Ramseth]

Recruitment into the Police, Immigration, SAF are all major issues for years. Attrition is also very high. Even for Police senior officers. There have been instances where nearly the entire cohort for the year disappeared within 10 years. At 4 year mark, nearly 60 % of senior officers would have left. ISD will start raiding within 2 years so as not lose the opportunity.

My entire batch, considered special select at that time, 60 out of 3,000 aspirants queuing all day long at PA, disappeared from the force within a decade, except for two.

 

[Kohliantye]

wow for you to even remember when the ang mohs ruled here must have been ages ago.

My Dear Jah,

Trust the old-timers who pen this "nostaglia" into these forum pages.

They know and speak the truth. Believe and learn from these "dashing heroes of yesteryears". The true gallant Lochinvars.

Learn from these "old-fools" (as some call us) for they are a reservoir of knowledge from the days gone by when the "ang-mors ruled this tiny island".

This sort of thing (recruitment of tall, burly and fit) happened right up to the time when the PAP took power, in the days prior to Singapore joining the Malaysian Federation.

It continued right till the end of 1970, when suddenly the SPF opened the doors to Malaysians (mind you foreigners) who came in droves on Kretapi Tanah Melayu to Police Academy to become members of the SPF.

Some of these people are still holding extremely high-ranking positions in the SPF. God knows how many are in sensitive areas.

"Sergeant Padang" never gave a chance to tiny, skinny and bespectacled officers. They were all told to "kembali" to their kampongs. But this was also a time when the Immigrations and Customs also wanted this people (those "written-off" cases). Many joined these organistaions too.

Look at the Parliament today. Our MPs, Ministers.....How many are Malaysians and Indons?

Look at the number of FTs today in our midst.

I shudder to think a day when an FT (a retired President or PM from US or Europe) may become a PM of Singapore - maybe a People's president.

How I wish Malaysia and Indonesia would allow we Singfaporeans into their Armed Forces or Police Force.

But sorry this only happen in Uniquely Singapore.

 

[Debonerman]

My Dear Jah,

You really kohliantye.........

 

[Ramseth]

In my time, colour-blindedness and eyesight were tested and only 6/6 and 20/20 could pass. Once you're recruited and in service, developing shortsightedness or longsightedness and thus, having to wear specs later, they won't blame you. The whole of my batch 3 squads totalling 60, were all Singapore born, pink ICs except one Indian born in India but also converted pink IC since his pri. sch. days.

 

[Unrepented]

You so tall, anybody got ever call you chilli padi or not

In my time, colour-blindedness and eyesight were tested and only 6/6 and 20/20 could pass. Once you're recruited and in service, developing shortsightedness or longsightedness and thus, having to wear specs later, they won't blame you. The whole of my batch 3 squads totalling 60, were all Singapore born, pink ICs except one Indian born in India but also converted pink IC since his pri. sch. days.

 

[Kohliantye]

You really kohliantye.........

[/
I love the name "KOHLIANTYE" partly because of what I had seen in my career as a low ranking public officer.

The suffering and embarassment these poor "pitiful" people went through.

The way the saw their homes in the kampongs torn down.

That livelihood and way of life theyb were used to, destroyed. Just for Singapore to be where it is today.

The pain these pitiful folks saw and went thru during the racial riots.

Enduring a period when their days were as dark as the darkest night

How they endured the torment when the mortal remains of their dead ones were exhumed. Kg San Teng, Chye Kay, Bulim, etc....

Thats why I am so close to these down-trodden lot that I pity them and named myself, "KOHLIANTYE".

My FAMILY also went thru HELL in a transforming SINGAPORE

 

[Erhnam]

Cat 1a, 1s? Got what other security clearance levels leh? I heard for cat1a, they will monitor and tap your phone convos during clearance, tat true?

 

[baldmonkies]

hahahaa cat shit

 

[Ramseth]

You so tall, anybody got ever call you chilli padi or not

I'm not tall. IIRC the mimimum height to pass was 1.64m. There're other physical criteria too, like weight and BMI, IPPT score in sec. school etc. In sec. sch. I was pioneering batch setting the stand for NS/SAF/SPF IPPT scores standard. I ranked 22nd nationwide in the standard setting test at National Stadium. Now, don't think about joking that there were were only 22 contestants. There were more than 200 for a reasonable average to be taken and standard to be set.

By the the way, if you know any Gurkha above 1.7m., introduce him to me. He should be quite a novelty.

 

[Unrepented]

Of course you are tall.......1.64m tall mah Can't be 1.64m short, right

There were 1.7m gurkha, but not many.

I'm not tall. IIRC the mimimum height to pass was 1.64m. There're other physical criteria too, like weight and BMI, IPPT score in sec. school etc. In sec. sch. I was pioneering batch setting the stand for NS/SAF/SPF IPPT scores standard. I ranked 22nd nationwide in the standard setting test at National Stadium. Now, don't think about joking that there were were only 22 contestants. There were more than 200 for a reasonable average to be taken and standard to be set.

By the the way, if you know any Gurkha above 1.7m., introduce him to me. He should be quite a novelty.

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

My Dear Jah,

Trust the old-timers who pen this "nostaglia" into these forum pages.

They know and speak the truth. Believe and learn from these "dashing heroes of yesteryears". The true gallant Lochinvars.

Learn from these "old-fools" (as some call us) for they are a reservoir of knowledge from the days gone by when the "ang-mors ruled this tiny island".

This sort of thing (recruitment of tall, burly and fit) h



"Sergeant Padang" never gave a chance to tiny, skinny and bespectacled officers. They were all told to "kembali" to their kampongs. But this was also a time when the Immigrations and Customs also wanted this people (those "written-off" cases). Many joined these organistaions too.

Look at the Parliament today. Our MPs, Ministers.....How many are Malaysians and Indons?

Look at the number of FTs today in our midst.

I shudder to think a day when an FT (a retired President or PM from US or Europe) may become a PM of Singapore - maybe a People's president.

How I wish Malaysia and Indonesia would allow we Singfaporeans into their Armed Forces or Police Force.

....................

well it's no secret that the govt of today allows fts to fully replace sinkies. With so many perks given to foreigners it's actually no surprise that we might get a foreign bred PM or president of singapore.

 

[GoldenDragon]

How I wish Malaysia and Indonesia would allow we Singfaporeans into their Armed Forces or Police Force.

And we would become millionaires within a decade with the right posting.

 

[GoldenDragon]

You really kohliantye.........

I know two chaps with this name. One may still be in the SPF. Should be Supt or DAC by now. Last heard he was seconded to Turf Club. The other, really kohliantye. He resides at Mandai - the late ASP Stephen Koh.

 

[GoldenDragon]

Cat 1a, 1s? Got what other security clearance levels leh? I heard for cat1a, they will monitor and tap your phone convos during clearance, tat true?

Ideally they should. But the screening unit involved just can't cope. They screen the entire civil service and some other key entities. Cat 1A? You must have been a civil servant to know that. Most others baru know or heard of Cat 1.