Reply to Media Query on Mr Koh Huan Yin's Request to Take Leave During Full-time National Service

Upon turning 21 years of age on 5 September 2016, Mr Koh Huan Yin was informed by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to complete his Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty (ORAL) before he turned 22, so as to retain his Singapore citizenship.

Despite the one-year period to fulfil his ORAL requirements, Mr Koh did not apply for leave to go to Thailand to renounce his citizenship until July 2017, less than two months before the deadline. At that point of time, he was a section commander managing a batch of recruits undergoing basic military training, which would have completed on 9 Sep 2017. Hence, his commander had asked him to provide supporting documents for his leave application. However, he did not follow up with the request. While he had also taken leave three times after 5 Sep 2016, Mr Koh did not fly to Thailand to renounce his Thai citizenship.

The Singapore Armed Forces would have supported Mr Koh's request for leave if he had provided the required documents as requested. We understand that ICA is currently assessing Mr Koh's appeal.