Response in The Straits Times Forum on "Bridge the Foreign-Local Gap with National Service"

NS: PRs who don't serve will face adverse consequences

We refer to the commentary by Dr Leong Chan-Hoong ("Bridge the Foreign-Local Gap with National Service"; last Wednesday) and related letters recently about National Service (NS) for permanent residents (PRs).

NS-liable PRs who fail to register or enlist for NS will be treated as NS defaulters. PRs who renounce their PR status without serving NS will also face adverse consequences. Their failure to serve NS will be taken into account when they subsequently apply to study or work in Singapore, or when they try to have their PR status reinstated. These adverse consequences will apply to the PRs, quoted by Dr Leong, who gave up their residency before being enlisted for NS.

Under the Enlistment Act, male PRs are liable for NS. First generation PRs who are able to contribute to Singapore economically immediately upon the grant of PR status are administratively exempted from National Service. Second generation PRs, who are sponsored by their parents for PRs and those granted PRs at a young age based on their potential to contribute to Singapore in the future, are required to serve National Service and will be enlisted after age 18. Therefore, it is incorrect for any PR who is serving or have served NS to claim that they volunteered for NS. NS is mandatory for PRs, just as it is for Singapore Citizens.

Colonel Kenneth Liow
Director Public Affairs
Ministry of Defence
 
MINDEF's reply was published as "NS: PRs who don't serve will face adverse consequences", The Straits Times, 16 May 12