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Dear MINDEF - Any comments on the differences between this and PT's cases?
So, Colonel Bernard Toh,
Any comments on Dr Patrick Tan's case?
================================
4 September 2001, Straits Times
I REFER to the letter, “Inflexible policies could lead to brain drain” (ST, Aug 23), by Dr Ronald Paul Ng.
The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) understands the desire of Singaporean males to pursue their university studies prior to national service (NS) enlistment.
However, this has to be balanced with the duty to serve NS.
For Dr Ng’s son, Mindef had exercised flexibility by granting him deferment from NS to pursue his overseas undergraduate studies.
However, there is a limit to how long a person’s NS obligations can reasonably be deferred when others in his cohort have already been enlisted and some have even completed their NS.
In our universal conscription system where equity is a key tenet, Mindef has to apply its policies fairly and consistently.
When Dr Ng applied for NS deferment for his son in 1993, he was aware that further NS deferment could not be granted for his son to pursue a postgraduate degree after his undergraduate studies, and had agreed to this in writing.
COLONEL BERNARD TOH
Director Public Affairs Ministry of Defence
Share 6
So, Colonel Bernard Toh,
Any comments on Dr Patrick Tan's case?
================================
4 September 2001, Straits Times
I REFER to the letter, “Inflexible policies could lead to brain drain” (ST, Aug 23), by Dr Ronald Paul Ng.
The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) understands the desire of Singaporean males to pursue their university studies prior to national service (NS) enlistment.
However, this has to be balanced with the duty to serve NS.
For Dr Ng’s son, Mindef had exercised flexibility by granting him deferment from NS to pursue his overseas undergraduate studies.
However, there is a limit to how long a person’s NS obligations can reasonably be deferred when others in his cohort have already been enlisted and some have even completed their NS.
In our universal conscription system where equity is a key tenet, Mindef has to apply its policies fairly and consistently.
When Dr Ng applied for NS deferment for his son in 1993, he was aware that further NS deferment could not be granted for his son to pursue a postgraduate degree after his undergraduate studies, and had agreed to this in writing.
COLONEL BERNARD TOH
Director Public Affairs Ministry of Defence
Share 6
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