To clear some doubts,
1) There are Malay pilots and there is one who is a F-16 pilot.
Muslim or not, I am not sure but he is a Malay.
2) According to my Commando friend, Malays are allowed, as in
Guards, in Cdo. However, because of the tough life, many got
out-of-course. So, statistically speaking, you don't see one
wearing red beret.
3) Guard units have many Malays and the guardsmen are supposed to
be elite infantrymen. There are Malays handling ATGM, MG, etc.
There was this Capt Sulaiman, who worked in Berita Harian, but was
in command of a mobile ATGM platoon (ATGM mounted on Spider
vehicle). Remember also that the guardsmen are trained in
demolition, heli-ops, etc. In terms of the infantry fieldcrafts and
sabotage techniques, the guardsmen are only second to Cdos, and
much superior than any armour infantryman.
Therefore, from the above, I do not think that SAF is
discriminating against the Malays. Some units, we must understand,
need 100% committment and clear directions when asked to act. The
people there cannot even have a slight doubt or even delay when
asked to act. It is true that we have significant dealings with the
Israelis, especially, armour, as the Israelis are considered the
best in terms of armour tactics and technolgy. So, it will be
troublesome, IMHO, in some cases to have muslims (not Malay) in the
formation.
I think, the SAF, having the standard Singaporean mentality, is
kiasu and kiasee. So, to make sure that there is not even a 0.001%
chance of a hiccup, has to install certain manpower policies.
I believe, all of our NSF, NSmen are patriotic, regardless of race.
However, the racial and religious traits of a person, whether Malay
or Chinese, cannot be totally removed. When in a critical
situation, a slight wavering or delay, may cause the death of his
buddy or a failure of a mission.
We have many Singaporeans who have relatives in the North and South
and when one has to face his relative in a conflict, whether Malay
or Chinese, it will be a tough decision.
The worrying trend for us, is the grow of islamic extremism. This
wrong and sinful use of religion to justify killings of innocent
people may affect our young recruits in the SAF. A fanatical tonner
driver is as dangerous as a mad tankee or a guardsman.
It is not the unit that one is in but the mind that one has.
