THE Government is coming down hard on draft dodgers in the wake
of a public outcry over a pianist who was let off with a fine for
skipping national service.
Taking an uncompromising stance on NS evaders, the Defence Ministry
(Mindef) plans to push for stiffer fines and press for jail
sentences for those who fail to enlist.
Those who dodge the draft could face a fine of up to $10,000 -
double the current maximum - and a jail term if they fail to answer
their call-up orders for more than two years.
The planned penalties, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said in
Parliament yesterday, are meant to send a strong signal that NS is
critical to the country's survival.
But, he stressed, they cannot be a substitute for NS. 'The fine is
a penalty for failing to fulfil his obligations under the
Enlistment Act, and the defaulter remains liable for NS.'
Giving figures, he gave the assurance that the situation was not
dire. In the past 20 years, only 185 men have been convicted in
court for offences under the Enlistment Act, which lays down the
law on the registration and enlistment of men liable for NS.
Of these, 43 were jailed and 140 were fined.
Also, each year, an average of 100 fail to register for NS or to
return home before the expiry of their exit permits, which all NS
men must obtain when they are out of the country for more than six
months.
This works out to just 0.5 per cent of the total liable for NS each
year. Of these, an average of 12 end up in court.
Mindef's firm stand is based on three key principles, said Mr
Teo.
They are: NS is critical for the nation's defence and survival; NS
is universal, and every Singaporean male who is fit to serve must
do so; and, there must be equity, with all treated equally, no
matter who they are or what talents they have.
Most Singaporeans, he noted, had shown their strong support for
these principles: Some 700,000 have served in the armed, police and
civil defence forces since NS became compulsory in 1967.
Of these, over 300,000 are now doing full-time NS, or are still
liable to be called up annually for in-camp training and standby
duties. Another 400,000 have completed their NS obligations.
Said Mr Teo: 'It is not an exaggeration to say that the peace and
prosperity that Singapore and Singaporeans have enjoyed over the
past four decades is built on the dedication of NS men.'
His ministerial statement, spelling out how Mindef plans to tighten
rules against NS evaders, was prompted by the uproar that erupted
after celebrity pianist Melvyn Tan was fined $3,000 for skipping
NS. Now a British citizen, the 49-year-old returned here to visit
his ageing parents last year.
Many Singaporean men cried foul over the fine, which they saw as a
low price to pay for skipping 2 1/2 years of sweat, mud and tears.
In forum letters and online postings, they demanded to know: Was Mr
Tan let off just because he was a famous musician?
But there were others who took a softer stance, noting that
Singapore could keep its talented citizens by allowing people to
serve their NS in the arts or community.
MPs yesterday were likewise divided, with one camp backing the
stiffer penalties, and the other pressing the need to
forgive.
For two hours, 16 Members of the House rose to speak passionately
on the subject. Hardliners including Non-Constituency MP Steve Chia
backed the clampdown on draft dodgers, while others noted that the
uncompromising stand was at odds with Singapore's larger push for
its citizens to go global and pursue their dreams.
But the defence minister remained unmoved by the calls for a more
liberal stance.
The uproar, he said, showed the penalties were inadequate for those
who had defaulted for so long they were too old to do NS.
He rejected calls to let people serve their NS outside the
uniformed groups. The Government, he said, could not compel people
to sacrifice two years unless it was critical for the country's
defence.
He also stressed that the laws had to be fair to the 700,000 who
had served or were serving their NS.
'Singaporeans serve willingly, out of a sense of duty, and also a
sense that the system is fair...nobody can dodge his responsibility
to serve without severe legal and social sanctions.'
Defaulters will have a hard time
FINE
Maximum fine to be doubled from $5,000 to $10,000.
JAIL
No change in maximum jail time, but the Ministry of Defence will
press for 'short jail sentence' for those who default on their
national service (NS) for more than two years but are young enough
to serve their full-time and operationally-ready NS in full.
Longer jail sentence for defaulters who are too old to serve NS in
a combat vocation or fulfil operationally-ready duties in full.
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean did not specify what age this would
be, but the cut-off age for training for operationally-ready NSmen
is 40.
Jail term of up to three years for those too old to be called up
for NS at all.
