Many foreigners coming to Singapore are in their late 20s or older. They are already economically productive and can immediately contribute to Singapore’s economy. It makes little sense to disrupt their activities for two years.
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For those that have done/are doing/gonna to do NS, pls note that you are the “privileged” MINORITY entrusted with the honor of possibly dying for our “nation”. 1/3 here are foreigners, half of the remaining 2/3 are gender-exempted, abt 10% of the remaining 1/3 are racial-exempted, abt 20% of the remaining 90% (of 1/3) were too old for NS, abt 25% of the remaining 72% (of 1/3) are too young, PLUS a sprinkle of malingerers, PES5, etc …. so being in the minority, your ECONOMICAL value is only small digits when our leaders consider the overall $$GDP$$.
i dont mind serving NS, it turned boys into men. but NS actually setback our growth path and citizens never duly rewarded.
in singapore, only the rich are taken care of. so importing rich prs etc…are government priority.
i had noticed many peers in NUS when i graduated who were foreigners and were applying for PR were like between 21-24 years. if a singaporean had not done NS for some reason and if he falls into that age group, he will be asked to go and do his NS. so why cant the government make NS a requirement for those foreigners of such age group in order to get PR?
i have a friend who married a girl from India. he is a singapore born citizen who has served in the army and worked before as a civil servant. he is a professional and she is a diploma holder who has completed 2 years of university. yet ICA is dragging even to give her visa. he told me that when he applied for a 3 month visa extension, they rejected and only gave one month. ICA is really using double standards for singaporean citizens who marry foreign wives and foreigners who bring in their foreign wives. i see all my foreigner colleagues who have even work permits being able to bring in their wives and get long term visas and permanent residence much faster. the really funny thing is that my friend earns more than my foreigner colleagues. he is more educated. he has served NS. he was a civil servant… some ICA folk please share with us how your logic system works
New citizens under the age of 18 should be enlisted also so that they get the same national education we all have received. Why disadvantage them by not giving them this opportunity to enjoy the same we the citizens of singapore have?
I hope they get the same treatment we all enjoy.
i mean, when new citizens reach 18, they must also be enlisted and do medical checkup and graded for pes status. A lot of things they can learn from NS. Should not miss this opportunity.
This way, new citizens get localised in a fast way and build bonds with his comrades and enjoy character building, maturing and the fruits of physical training. Strongly, they are encouraged to become soldiers. So many have benefitted. Why not give them the same? Afterall, we are all loyal citizens. right?
Do you feel left out in endless conversations when Singaporean men brag about their army days?…
Do you feel that you may never march in the infantry, shoot the artillery and zoom over the enemy?….
Do you feel breathless climbing a flight of steps or underperform in bed?
Come now and serve!
Yes! NS is a privilege and not an entitlement. For those new citizens who are not fit can also make use of this opportunity to slim down and keep fit and the best part is that you get paid for it. Singapore is so goooood, is so gooood to meeee…….O did i mention that you get paid for it!
my opinion… if i am considering moving to Singapore as a FT, i would not be coming if i had to waste 2 years of my life doing something that i need not do in Australia/Malaysia for example… it would take some serious consideration if i ever decide to move to Singapore… is it better if they dont come to Singapore at all? i also donno…
all of us talking so much about serving the country… if it is not compulsory to serve national service, i think i wouldn’t have done it honestly… if it wasn’t compulsory to go reservist, i rather stay at home with my kids and wife… how many of you would do it voluntarily? if not compulsory to do IPPT, i will be watching TV at home.. if RT is not compulsory, i might not care to pass my IPPT…
the fact is we got no choice… must serve the country or go to jail.. these FTs can just choose to go to another country… they can stay at their own country if they got no other choice…
Double standards will always exist as long as human beings with varied interests at heart and self-preservation objectives in mind are allowed to rule over others, in the name of national or world interests, but actually serving more of their respective selfish interests, aims and objectives, if not individually then collectively, e.g. in the interest of the long-term survival of the political party they are in – e.g. PAP.
i just don’t feel singaporean no more
NS for Singaporeans, Jobs& Scholarships for Foreigners
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMxTcRs3KDU
Systematic Marginalization is not a new thing. It crawls up slowly and very often goes unnotice by the affected party as it was camourflage under a sofisticated name. By the time you realize it you are too helpless to fight back. Very sad indeed, as the tide is turning.
i remember the words “dun push too hard, wait the other side push back”, or words to this effect…
I believe all these so called new citizens under 40 are breaking the law .The Enlistment Act requires them to serve. Who is the one that give these LEECHING ALIENS EXEMPTIONS and under which provision of the LAW.
OR ARE THESE EX ALIENS ABOVE THE LAW
complete bs. why do dual citizenship holders have to serve even though they are planning on renouncing singapore citizenship and havent lived in singapore for a significant portion of their life