extracted from ST forums.
I REFER to Mr Liew Kai Khiun's letter, 'Are NSmen's sweat and tears
worth only $5,000?', and Mr Samuel Oh Chee Ooi's letter, 'What is
Mindef's stand on draft dodgers?' (ST, Nov 22).
All able-bodied male Singapore citizens are required to serve
national service to contribute to the peace, security and stability
of the country. Singaporeans enjoy the socio-economic benefits that
this stability brings and are expected to shoulder the
responsibility of national defence.
Mindef takes a serious stand on all defaulters who evade their
national-service duty. Defaulters will have to bear the
consequences of their action and will be dealt with by the courts
under the Enlistment Act.
They are, on conviction, liable for an imprisonment term not
exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding $5,000, or both. The
exact sentence will be determined by the courts.
Besides having to answer to the courts for their national-service
offences, defaulters will also have to serve their national service
if they are still liable for national service.
In the case of Mr Melvyn Tan, although he had renounced his
Singapore citizenship in 1978, he remained liable for the
national-service offence and has been dealt with by the courts in
accordance with the Enlistment Act.
Colonel Benedict Lim
Director, Public Affairs
Ministry of Defence
