Dr Ng say Jobs for FT , NS for Sg

NS for new citizens: No strong reason

NS meant to meet critical national need, not fulfil social goals: Ng Eng Hen

THE idea that new citizens should be made to serve some form of national service is understandable.

But it is not a sufficiently strong reason for the requirement to be imposed on them, Second Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said yesterday.

He was responding to proposals by Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade GRC) and Mr Michael Palmer (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) that new citizens should shoulder responsibilities that able-bodied male Singaporeans undertake.

Dr Ng explained that national service is to meet a critical national need, namely national security and Singapore's survival.

'We have specifically narrowed the scope because we know that it imposes considerable costs both to the individual and to the nation,' he told the House.

'From time to time, there have been calls to extend NS beyond this remit, to fulfil laudable social objectives.

'I am not in any doubt that these are laudable social goals but it is an inadequate reason for us to impose NS to go beyond the remit of a critical national security and survival need.'

Dr Ng said agencies had programmes to integrate new citizens and help them better understand the importance of national defence.

The People's Association, for example, organised visits for new citizens to the Army Museum. And the Defence Ministry organises visits to the Pulau Tekong Basic Military Training Centre.

In his remarks, he said that two other fundamental principles - universality and equity - also served as the basis for policies on enlistment and deferment.

All young Singaporean males who are fit to serve are conscripted, and national service policies apply equally to everyone regardless of background or status.

Otherwise 'there will be strong feelings of unfairness, which will undermine the commitment of our national servicemen'.

He also responded to Nominated MP Viswa Sadasivan who asked if the ministry could be flexible with deferments for servicemen when there is a clash between the time they complete full-time service and the time they enter university.

Dr Ng said it was difficult to address specific needs of individuals, but provided this assurance: 'We want to ensure, in terms of equity, that no enlistee will enter a university later than his peers.'

CAI HAOXIANG