I think everybody here should take one step back and look at the
issue objectively.
If the bloggers case is true, there is NO WAY that the SAF could
pressure him to close down his blog. At the very least, the
incident itself (him losing his sight) would result in a Board of
Inquiry, and you can be very sure that it would be discussed in
Parliment. If the SAF, or some part of the SAF, is found to
be actively supressing the blog, you can be very sure that many
heads will roll.
So then, why did the blogger take down his blog? I think that he
posted that story because he was pissed off with someone in the
SAF, probably his superiors. Maybe he thought that it would be
funny to play a little prank. Once he realised that people were
taking his story for real and publicising it, he got worried, and
tried to get out of the situation as easily as possible, because he
could be criminally liable for making false accusations against the
SAF.
Now, the fact that so many people chime in with their own
stories, some of which may be true, is in fact disturbing, but
shows once again, that the SAF, like every other organisation, is
made of imperfect people. But I think that there are certain
misconceptions-- Calling the SAF Hotline will not get you thrown
into DB. Yes, people can argue that it is circumventing the chain
of command, but the point is that it is supposed to be used when
the chain of command has failed. That being said, if you use the
SAF Hotline fraudulently (i.e. you made a false or unjustified
complaint), you can expect that there would be repercussions within
the chain of command, possibly affecting you. Of course, since we
are all garang and honorable soldiers, that would never happen,
right? :D
WP_:
"Even private companies have chao keng. There's people who went
to see their company doctor to get MC for nothing. There're even
people who buy cough syrup from their company doc even though they
do not have cough. But why didn't the doctor brand them as
chao keng? Cause he's paid at a good rate.
But the MO are just like us who are NSF are paid peanuts and
bound by law into serving the nation. But MO should maintain their
professionalism because they are only fellow in the whole unit that
help soldiers medically. So whether chao keng or not, they
shouldn't be reject medical treatment."
I contend that, in this case, the MO is professional and the
company doctor is negligent and should be fired! Doctors are
supposed to heal, not to harm, and prescribing medicine when the
patient is not sick can lead to harm in the patient!
Professionalism on the part of the MO also emcompasses making sure
that the unit is fit to fight. That is part of his unspoken duty.
He is in fact obliged, in spirit if not in law, to make sure that
chao keng soldiers are sent where they belong--with their sections,
training, just as he is obliged to make sure that real cases are
allowed to rest. So, in the case that you mentioned, Kudos to the
MO!
Hi edwin, please don't mind I ask. Have you done NS before? I hope
I don't sound blunt to you, but you sound like someone who has
not done NS or not treaded painful paths before.
