well ... the rantings aside ...
this is certainly something the goverment need to address ... I'm
all for ideals and the burdens of citizenship, but there has to be
a level playing field for Singaporean males as well ... and don't
think that a few hundred dollars worth of NS bonus will make things
even ... that just smacks of "here's a bone, so shut up already"
...
I remember a conversation I had with a malaysian poly classmate,
way back in 1998 ... I asked him if he intended to get a job here,
settle down here, and get a PR after graduation ...
his reply ? "sure, I'd want to get a job here, it's quite easy to
get a job in Singapore, but PR ? ... siao ah ! ... I'd have to
serve NS then ... I'll wait till I'm old enough that I won't get
called up, then I'll apply for PR "
me: ".......................................... "
so the challenge is, how to level the playing field for men who've
spent 1/5th (or for old birds like some of us, 1/4th) of our golden
decade defending the country ? ... and go for reservists besides ?
...
well, here's a suggestion: Tax breaks for Singaporean men for the
duration of their 10 year cycle ... if our NS liabilities are going
to affect our employability, then at least even things out by
taking less from us ...