Alison Liew / Youth Writer
I attended a camp mate’s wedding dinner at Novotel recently. He has a 3-year old daughter born out of wedlock and become a full fledged-husband at the grand old age of 20. During the solemnization ceremony, the groom’s father was unable to be present as he had passed away when the groom was locked up behind bars for drug offences.
In case you are wondering, he is the norm rather than the exception in my unit. I am posted to a unit where Junior College and Polytechnic students are few and far between. Most of my camp mates consist of school drop-outs and they have all done time in Reformative Training centers, Queensway Remand Prison or Changi Prison.
Some sport tattoos to the extent that it becomes difficult for the superiors to differentiate whether they are actually in their long 4 or smart 4 uniforms from afar. Of course, many of them are still so young because they can no longer use education as an excuse to defer enlistment. They come from such complicated backgrounds that I once thought only possible in the highly-exaggerated drama serials shown on Channel 8. The various crimes they have committed range from rioting and assault to arson, housebreaking and consumption of drugs.
Salutary lessons in life
My camp mates have always looked up to me and consulted me on areas which they feel I will be able to help them in – from simple calculations of GST needed in the SAF vouchers to the more demanding tasks like explaining the gist of an article found in The Straits Times. My superior has requested me to play the role model and I hope that I have done that so far. He wants me to be there to correct them when they stepped out of line. But the humbling truth is that I actually learnt so much from them than they probably did from me. Of course, on this I do not refer to the fact that I actually learn that it is possible to duplicate a key by using only plasticine to mould its general shape first for housebreaking purposes – but on the other many salutary lessons in life.
For instance, during the wedding, my camp mate, who was closest to the groom, commented about the groom’s father’s death when he was still in jail. The groom only had half an hour at his father’s funeral and with all those chains binding his feet and hands, his movement was severely impeded and he only had time to offer a joss stick as a mark of respect. His face was stoic all the time and gave no clue to the gamut of emotions that he experienced within that half an hour. However, when he was back in his cell, and with only the four claustrophobic walls as his confidants, reality sank in and he began to wail like a banshee.
Dramatic as it may sound, the story was gut-wrenching for me and pricked at the heartstrings of all my camp mates present at the dinner. Then, I asked that particular camp mate, who himself has been under probation and tagged for 6 months, on whether he ever regretted taking this path. He replied,” No, never. During these years at the streets, I learn more than the books would have ever taught me. I met all kinds of people and all these uncles have taught me how to read different kinds of characters,” he said. “At least, I can differentiate black from white.”
I do not know whether I consider myself fortunate or unfortunate to have mixed with a bunch of people whom I have never known intimately before and never would have until NS brought us together. I came from a top Junior College and never had this opportunity to interact and talk to this group of people. I merely knew that they existed and I probably would not have cared much about their lives.
I am quite sure that had I not been certified out-of-course by the Medical Officer at Pulau Tekong, I would never have been posted to this unit and come into contact with them. Perhaps, it is a blessing in disguise.
The structural flaws of NS
Therein lays the inherent structural flaw of NS. It aims to build cohesion among the different groups of Singaporeans, but the way the system functions means that certain “elites” will never have the chance to mix with those that are brought up on the streets. The Junior College enlistees enter Pulau Tekong together and the majority will go on to be commanders and be posted to Headquarters and helm various departments. While it may be argued that some will be posted as commanders and lead the men in their training; then again, how many of them actually take time off to understand the struggles and difficulties that their men have experienced?
There is no doubt that some of these JC students, especially those on Government scholarships, will never have a chance to understand the common struggles of those less fortunate. How then, do you expect these future ministers to be able to grapple with the bread and butter issues of the less well-off and come up with policies designed to lift them out of this vicious cycle, or at least with the intent of alleviating their plight. The fact remains that these Public Service Commission (PSC) scholars, who are also our potential ministers, never have the opportunity to interact with the many faces of our society and thus remain perpetually oblivious to the issues on the ground. What is bred is not cohesion – but segregation.
What my camp mate said earlier was probably as good as Gospel truth, for no textbooks would have taught me about the many facets of society and how all these different webs intricately tie all of us together. They no longer warrant my disdain and condescending tone and I hope that I have cleared the misconceptions that the both groups will always have of each other.
As I left the wedding dinner, I received a text message from the groom. I read and left the place with satisfaction for I knew I have given him all the encouragement he needed.
The SMS read, “Alison, thanks for coming.J”
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About the author:
Alison Liew is currently a 20-year old NSF and hopes to cherish the remaining few weeks left in his unit before he ORD.
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You are right. NSF time is probably one of the most educational periods you will have in your life. For once, you get to learn about people – real people rather than the people your parents considered suitable for you.
One of the lessons I learned during that period was the fact that people in life who are most likely to care for you when you are down, are in fact from the less educated classes. You won’t appreciate at first, particularly when you’re from JC or Poly and are thinking about your future. But in the here and now of everyday life, you’ll find that the people who care about you as a person are not your fellow JC and Poly students.
NS teaches people that underneath the calm, there are insane people out there who resort to violence to solve problems.
The other life lessons in NS can also be learn in the working world, just that examples might be different.
1) Tang Li
“One of the lessons I learned during that period was the fact that people in life who are most likely to care for you when you are down, are in fact from the less educated classes. You won’t appreciate at first, particularly when you’re from JC or Poly and are thinking about your future. But in the here and now of everyday life, you’ll find that the people who care about you as a person are not your fellow JC and Poly students.”
I learnt that on the streets, asking for donations on flag days. Educational when you look at who is contributing to the collection.
#1, sorry, but I beg to differ. I agree that ‘people’ education is best learnt from those who have suffered through the many difficulties life has presented them with, because these trials and tribulations often teach us more than any textbook or education can. But to cast a blanket label that those who care more for you are probably those who do not come from JC and Poly is probably an over-generalisation. No doubt, many of these students may actually live up to the infamous creed of being bookworms whose live in a ‘paper’ world, but there are others who are also compassionate towards others.
If our society has taught us not to judge a person by his background and adopt unsavoury attitudes towards those less-educated, perhaps it is also time we truly acknowledge the essence of this old adage “do not judge a book by its cover” by granting the more-educated the fair treatment and not see them always as ‘elitist’ or ‘uncaring’.
Yes there are those from JC / Poly / Uni who are more compassionate.
The problem is, without exposure to those in less fortunate circumstances, how then can they be expected to understand and act on that compassion?
Hi Alison, i agree 100% that NS is a humbling experience. That was about more than 20 years ago, and I still remember my NS and reservists days more than my JC and university days.
As to the structural flaws you mentioned, it is part and parcel of life. There is still opportunity for some to be posted to units and they immersed into the culture. It all depends on individuals and how the commanders forge the comaderie.
Life is like that: you cannot have best of all worlds. Take it when the opportunity arises, with an open mind of course.
Hi Alison, I do understand your article with much emotions as well. Personally I was from a top JC last time and when I entered NS in 2005, my camp mates in Tekong were mostly of lower educational background, some even not completed primary school education at all. Despite many differences in terms of communications, we managed to become good friends even after POP.
When I was on course once, I came across an incident whereby one of the coursemate had already married. He was 19 and his wife was 17 or 18 I think.
Even though I had ORDed more than a year ago, I still miss the times I had in NS, particularly in my former unit where I went thru thick and thin with my company people.
Do cherish your remaining NS times before you ORD. ;)
Glad you got something out of your period of NS.
But is there any doubt that NS is nothing but slavery when the state exercise its absolute authority over your life with no recourse requiring compulsory servitude?
What we need is an all volunteer force, not slavery.
I do understand your article with much emotions as well. Personally I was from a top JC last time and when I entered NS in 2005, my camp mates in Tekong were mostly of lower educational background, some even not completed primary school education at all. Despite many differences in terms of communications, we managed to become good friends even after POP. – Jackson (#7)
Yeah. I appreciated the community spirit and the sense of togetherness when I was in NS. The NSF from my squadron was a good mix of JC, polytechnic and ITE graduates and it was sense of togetherness that helped us overcome the challenge and stress that arise from our unique function. We call this togetherness our brotherhood.
I declare to Singapore and the Singapore cyberspace community that I will not want to spend another day serving the free national service, the military conscription because of some of the hypocrite politicians in Singapore, some ungrateful Singaporeans, some ungrateful women, and of course, the foreign workers. Not forgeting some of the greedy elderly.
If Mindef/ Sg. Govt were to send me the call-up letter, I will tear it up and dump it in the rubbish bin. I am a free man. So are Singaporean boys and men. There is no such thing as forcing a free man or free men to do military conscription. The secular compulsory NS law is unjust and unfair. I shall not follow an unjust and unfair law. In fact, I must not follow an unjust and unfair law. Thank you.
Well written piece, I thought such experience would be extinct nowadays compared to what we went through 20 – 30 yrs ago. These are life lessons which you cannot pay for, I figured most of our so called scholars can’t even comprehend life outside their own, so how can they lead n govern in future? It is good the writer took things with a postive and open mind, something very lacking in our younger people, sheltered, chaperoned by parents/maids, permanent honey coated world. Live and learn.
No offence, but the article comes across like a travel review. For example, if after living in Singapore all my life, I endure a 2 year stint in a third world country and return, I would also similarly feel ‘humbled’. However, whether that experience will change who I am or who I continue to be is something that would remain to be seen.
From my experience with many different types of people, the article suggests that this ‘humbling experience’ is nothing more than the awe one experiences whilst watching a spectacular movie. Such awe will remain for a few hours or days after the show and, similarly, here too the writer will carry this sense of awe for a bit.
In all probability, however, it is my opinion that the writer will soon forget this experience after assimilating back to the ‘yellow brick road’ to success. I hope that I am wrong though, and that the author is one of the extremely rare breed of ‘elite’ who will walk away from the paved road for a monetarily-less-successful life that offers more value to society.
The fact that the writer had not on his own accord sought out this ‘unique’ experience and had to wait until a host of factors converged to create it for him, says a lot about the high-handed perception of “…such complicated backgrounds that I once thought only possible in the highly-exaggerated drama serials shown on Channel 8…”.
In a way, I feel offended by this article as the tone refers to ‘these people’ as if they were some sort of alien creature suddenly available for our anthropological study. In reality, all of us share the same McDonald’s, same hawker centres, same movie theatres and a host of other facilities. They are not some hidden segment of the society which the author had to ‘immerse himself’ into to ‘discover’.
I find this article insightful only for the far-removed and those disconnected. It is, at best, superficial. But I do hope the writer can prove me wrong 10 years down the road and have all ‘these people’ still a part of his life. For example, having ‘these people’ invited to his wedding, or invited to his home. Perhaps, even allow his children to mix with their children freely.
These are questions that can only be answered by the author’s conscience, good luck.
The purpose of national service must be national defence. That the only reason it is justified, if you think it is justified at all.
What you are talking about is not national defence but social engineering. That is not a just cause for conscription. It is a very dangerous idea.
When you justify conscription based on your ideas about how society should be shape into some utopia, you justify just about any kind of coercion.
Nice write-up.
NS shows the true colours of people. Those who talk too much, wayang and ‘kheng’ all the way are those who will usually crack under pressure. And usually many of these are the elites and scholars (mind you, I’m not saying all of them).
How many of your PC or NCOs are topo-kings? You wonder how come they can lead the platoon/sections?
Overhead someone said before in reservist, “The first person I’ll put the bullet thru the head is my PC. Chicken hearted and blur like sotong – probably will get all of us killed in war. Better he die than me.”
Yes, NS teaches us a lot. Especially how to accept people from different walks of life, regardless of background, colour or race.
ROD NCO,
Kaffein
I feel that if the government is good to the people,when war arises,these people will fight for Singapore. Some might not and choose to hide,but I think that the majority will fight.
Now,when I look at the government’s style of governing,I know why NS is compulsory. Becos they are afraid. They fear that everyone will desert them during war. Why? Becos they are tyrants. So in my opinion,the PAP needs to change their tyrannical ways or they will regret it.
@Ganga,
I myself watch a lot of TV8 dramas (nowadays ZERO) before entering NS. While I understand intellectually that ‘these people’ exist, they are still regarded as people from another ‘world’. Hence your analogy of a 2 year stint in a third world country isn’t far off the mark of how someone would actually feel. Coz I felt exactly the same when I came into ‘contact’ with them.
Also while the ‘awe’ of the experience may diminish over time, it is likely something unforgettable. There is a difference between intellectually knowing something and having experienced it. And once you have experienced it, it is usually quite unforgettable.
Frankly I don’t really care if the author ‘remembers’ it or not, what I wish is that our future leaders will also have this experience. And as mentioned by the author, currently, our ‘leaders’ are being segrageted and will never come into contact with them. They will always only know that these ‘people’ exist on an intellectual level, nothing more.
Also while the ‘awe’ of the experience may diminish over time, it is likely something unforgettable. There is a difference between intellectually knowing something and having experienced it. And once you have experienced it, it is usually quite unforgettable. – lobo76 (#16)
It is probably the last line of defense against elitism that is somewhat encouraged by the extensive streaming in our education system. It is also the reason why I am appalled by the practise that ITE, Poly and JC students are also streamed into BMT.
The ideal way to build to build bridges across the 3 academic classes in Singapore’s pre-university society is to put them together through a common experience together. This has to be achieved at the level of company and platoon during BMT, and then subsequently reinforced through experience by actually working with NSF from different walks of life in the subsequent posting.
While there is increasing income gap between the rich and poor, we should not let this develop into a widening social gap too. Only through empathy can one see through the fallacy of one’s prejudice. What Singapore needs is not only economic progress but also social progress. A caring society for Singaporeans by Singaporeans is my vision for our shared future.
Perhaps my comments about JC and Poly students being uncaring is an over generalisation and for that I appologise to the JC and Poly students who are actually nice people. But like allot of generalisations, I believe the one I made has a grain of truth to it and for that I believe that there is a fault line in our culture and education system. Somehow our education system produces people who are so obsessed with their brains they forget the importance of their hearts.
I also believe that I’m not wrong in pointing out another fault line in our education system that is obvious in NSF times – namely, everyone who has been through OCS or SISPEC is told that they should try and lead a group of A-level and Poly Students because they are “Easier to Control.” The “educated people” as graduates of OCS and SISPEC are often told – “Understand” the value of NS and the fact that everyone has a role to play. The “Ah Bengs” by contrast, actually expect their leaders to “take care of them” and their needs and don’t understand the concept of NS.
The logic seems reasonable in the Singapore context. But then, when I went overseas and shared NS experiences with guys from countries with National Service, they told me that in their countries, it was the ‘uneducated’ who were easier to control – “Educated” people ask more questions.
So, it makes you wonder? Why do we educated our population? Is it to stop them from asking questions and challenging the status quo? Well, it seems so, if the educated are easier to control. And one has to ask, is this good for society if educated people are only there to enforce the status quo? A friend of mine said that every Minister of Education we’ve had needs to be shot – why? In our recent good years, our economy has created lots of jobs – but the government claims all these jobs need to go to foreigners because…Singaporeans are not qualified to do them and what do all these Singaporeans have in common …. the education system.
During my NSF time I had the unfortunate experience of having to attend the funeral of two friends who were killed in a live firing exercise. I am no fan of doing NSF or NS. But having gone through the experience, I’m greatful for it for showing me a side of Singapore that’s not what our guidebooks talk about.
Alison,
Thanks for sharing your story. I was in an average, some say below average, some called it “gangster” secondary school. I made it to a good JC, got into NUS and went to do my masters degree in a “better” university.
I kept in close contacts with some of my friend in secondary school. A number of my peers appeared in the news papers – some for the right reasons others for the wrong reasons. When I was in secondary school I was somehow elected to be chairman of a society that did charity. There were students who can’t pay their school fees or for school books so it was the job of my society to go round the school every quarter to collect for these students. Many were not only poor, they were did not do well at school, got into trouble often. If you get to know their them better their story was something like “father drink, mother gamble”. “father unemployed, everyday parents quarrel over money”..and so on. They were trapped in a vicious cycle.
I believe this vicious cycle has become more vicious in recent years during which the poor got poorer. Our society became more fractured as the distance between groups grew when the income gap worsened. There is little the govt can do if its sole interest is to keep GDP growing and its businesses highly profitable….and indeed little has been done. If our govt can break out of its ideological shackles and do the right thing…perhaps there is a little more hope for these people and your friend.
Interesting article about NS and segregation.
I enjoyed reading this piece. It is simple yet conveyed much emotion, while remaining coherent.
Dear #10 Francis Chua on November 10th, 2008 10.18 am
I serve the NS not for the sake of politicians. But instead for the sake of friends and loved ones who stay on this land which I need to protect against aggression. In actual fact, I have never considered toiling in the NS is for the sake of the ruling coalition. And if during cases when we have to take up arms to invade another country as an aggressor, I will rather AWOL than to commit atrocities on others. A good leader will never bring his people to war for selfish gains. NS is a very different time we spend to grow up. We get to know people from different walks of life. No doubt it takes up 2 years of your life. But make the best out of it, you have a lot to gain.
i have commented on NS and its meanings for me on my website. feel free to take a look.
with all honesty, i agree with Ganga on his views.
NS is nothing but a sham for social engineering, the fulfillment of someone’s dreams.
Well done, young man. NS should be like you said, “build cohesion among the different groups of Singaporeans”. However it seemed that it had become another institution where “streaming” takes place. No wonder people do not see the meaning of serving NS.
When you justify conscription based on your ideas about how society should be shape into some utopia, you justify just about any kind of coercion. – back to basics (#13)
And schooling in Singapore isn’t a form of social engineering?
This NSF is brain damaged..
You want humbling experience and social cohesion or whatever,
please.. go get an education overseas or work overseas or live overseas for an extended period (at least 1 year)..
In that 1 year, I promise you that it will be a humbling experience …and better yet, a learning experience that will prepare you to be a better man than army can.
I can promise you nothing..but this I promise you.
schooling by and large itself SHOULD NOT be a form of social engineering. it wasn’t intended that way. its when the government starts inserting its political aims and ideals into education and management of schools that schooling in singapore becomes a means to the aim of a ideal society, aka social engineering, which should never have been the case.