Looks like COL Benedict's people must be killing their brain cells at this very moment to think of how they should reply to the letters published in The Straits Times. Mr. Samuel Oh and Mr Liew are questioning MINDEF's stand on the "famous" pianist Mr. Melvyn Tan, whom failed to report back to Singapore for National Service.
According to Enlistment Act (Cap 93), any person within, or outside, Singapore who failed to report for enlistment shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
Yes Mr. Melvyn Tan was fined $5000 for his offence, but is $5000 really enough? Who really wants to serve the nation for 2 years when the time can be used for studying, working, or doing things much more worth the time for? We serve because we LL. Serve And Fuckoff.
So if a $5000 fine without any imprisonment sentence is enough to allow him the be exempted from NS, be prepared to see more of such cases to come because Singaporeans ain't exactly that poor to be unable to afford $5000 "NS Exemption Fees". This is a case brought up in the media and this is what the people, including those who is going to or have served NS, is looking at. If MINDEF doesn't make their stand clear on how they are going to punish the offenders, then prepare for more to come.



Oh ya, it does help if you are good in some form of talent or another and you must pursue your dreams at the expense of NS as it might distrupt the progress of the "talent". and it also helps if you got some $$ as well............