'White horse' classification for NSmen existed prior to 200
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SINGAPORE : Minister of State for Defence Cedric Foo said the Singapore Armed Forces had a 'white horse' classification for NSmen prior to year 2000.
He said the term was used to identify sons of influential persons to ensure such enlistees were not given preferential treatment.
Mr Foo was replying to a question in Parliament on Tuesday by Nominated MP Steve Chia.
Mr Chia asked if there was such a classification and, if so, who qualifies to be classified as a 'white horse' and what privileges are accorded to them.
Mr Foo said: "All NSmen are treated equally and are deployed in vocations and units based on SAF operational requirements, their medical classification, and their academic and military performance. No NSmen has been accorded special privileges.
"Prior to year 2000, the term 'white horse' was used to identify sons of influential persons to ensure such enlistees were not given preferential treatment.
"And their medical classification and vocation assignments are scrupulously fair...since 2000, the SAF does not have a 'white horse' classification for NSmen." - CNA
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/56686/1/.html -
This is strange ... they classify people so that they're not accorded special treatment?
Then why identify them in the first place, since they're supposed to be treated like any Tom, Dick or Harry, who have no special treatment and not classified anyway? -
The qns asked by same NMP Mr. Steve Chia, one on the WH was reported by the local media CNA & yet the much more sensational but sensitive qn on the training deaths in the SAF was not even mentioned.....
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cedric foo is lying through his teeth...
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no mah.. they identify those white horse so tt special attention is paid to them to make sure they dun get special attention.Originally posted by Icemoon:This is strange ... they classify people so that they're not accorded special treatment?
Then why identify them in the first place, since they're supposed to be treated like any Tom, Dick or Harry, who have no special treatment and not classified anyway?
incredulous huh?
it's the first time i heard someone twist the explanation this way. and i mus say im impressed! 
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i wonder how they browbeat cedric foo into lying like that?
if he's one of the "new blood" in the government, we're in deep guanoOriginally posted by wuming78:no mah.. they identify those white horse so tt extra attention is paid to them to make sure they dun get special attention.
incredulous huh? it's the first time i heard someone twist the explanation this way. and i mus say im impressed! -
Originally posted by the Bear:i wonder how they browbeat cedric foo into lying like that?
if he's one of the "new blood" in the government, we're in deep guano
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cedric foo is a fool ... muahahah pun intended...
frankly... isit worth the salt to smear the good name of PAP on honesty with such an outlandish lie???
frankly... most singaporeans at any one time cannot be sure that PAP is telling the truth... , but we believe their honesty... their honesty and so call corruption free.. is their selling point in elections.
but with this big super lie... now everyone can agreed that even PAP MPs... do LIE ...OR. he is one big IGNORANT BABOON. -
ok lah.. mabbe we shudnt be too hard on him. hes prob good at making decisions and so on. but then well... he was cornered into making a statement on white horse. the MP who asked this question prob wanna c wat kind of response he will get (mabbe the 2 of them got bad blood. ) and so posed this tricky one. well. cedric did quite a good job. i would imagine he managed to convince close to 50% of singapore's populace initially - the entire female population who may not have enuff info abt the situation.
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just wanna know.. WTF is a Minister of State?
i mean, there's already a minister already.. so what the hell does he do?? -
mabbe u can post this question at speaker's corner? but singapore is not the only country with them. and searches using google failed to turn up anything. its baffling!Originally posted by the Bear:just wanna know.. WTF is a Minister of State?
i mean, there's already a minister already.. so what the hell does he do?? -
Woah... which planet are they on?
Do they seriously expect us to even believe 1 percent of the offical statement...
Dun say nevermind, but to say it this way, is utter disrespect for the people who serve the nation in defence... Esp if they think that we are just mindless cows to be herded to their whim and wane... -
I just really really wish our ministers will stop insulting Singaporeans with harebrained explantions like that. Who does Cedric Foo think he's kidding?
Singaporeans are much more educated than those in the 60s and 70s, and can think and see for themselves whats going on. When are the MIW going to realise that? -
Well said, its actually insulting to Singaporeans (ie. you and me and everyone else) for them to utter such ridiculous explanations in Parliament expecting we believe them. And to swallow whatever they say as gospel without question.Originally posted by SingaporeTyrannosaur:Dun say nevermind, but to say it this way, is utter disrespect for the people who serve the nation in defence...
T**ts. -
this reply insults the intelligence of countless men who's gone thru' NS down the years! what a dork!Originally posted by cavsg:He said the term was used to identify sons of influential persons to ensure such enlistees were not given preferential treatment.
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MOS is usually a junior post for new politicians deemed to have ministerial potential...but i don't think they have great executive powers as that of a full minister.Originally posted by the Bear:just wanna know.. WTF is a Minister of State?
i mean, there's already a minister already.. so what the hell does he do?? -
Then again, there are some Singaporeans who will believe anything their government says, as evidenced on this thread
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im not about to support mr cedric and his explanation (see my earlier post)
but i still would like to urge everyone to pause and think:
if u r in his shoes and got asked this question, what will u say? the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
well. its all up to individual and circumstances. im not saying his response was perfect. im sure some other response would be better. but would it be appropriate?
and please dont give a response saying hes the minister and we r not.
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he's a minister.. minister to the people.. not to his party..Originally posted by wuming78:im not about to support mr cedric and his explanation (see my earlier post)
but i still would like to urge everyone to pause and think:
if u r in his shoes and got asked this question, what will u say? the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
well. its all up to individual and circumstances. im not saying his response was perfect. im sure some other response would be better. but would it be appropriate?
and please dont give a response saying hes the minister and we r not. -
propaganda propaganda. cover up cover up. Haiz.
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no lah... its either he is a monkey or i am a cow... simply put... aint no way that guy is minister stuff...
the NMP should actually follow up with another question...
IF the white horse classification is set up in the past to ensure they do not get preferential treatment.. why are the classification removed after year 2000?
is cedric foo implying that,.... Now they are ENTITLED to PREFERENTIAL treatment?? -
Sorry wuming78, but he can't use that as an excuse. Questions to Parliament are submitted and approved by the Speaker at least a week before the actual sitting. Neither Steve Chia nor any other MP can't just stand up and ask any ol' question that pops into their head there and then and watch the one trying to answer squirm. Our dear minister had at least 1 week to prepare for the question, yet he chose to give a half-arsed whitewash which every Singaporean and their dog know is not true, rather than sit down and try to give a rational believable answer to a very legitimate question.Originally posted by wuming78:im not about to support mr cedric and his explanation (see my earlier post)
but i still would like to urge everyone to pause and think:
if u r in his shoes and got asked this question, what will u say? the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
well. its all up to individual and circumstances. im not saying his response was perfect. im sure some other response would be better. but would it be appropriate?
and please dont give a response saying hes the minister and we r not.
The question is, with the answer; is he an idiot, or does he think Singaporeans are? -
i think he's just out of touch.. like the rest of the ivory tower dwellers.. they're all divorced from realityOriginally posted by Viper52:Sorry wuming78, but he can't use that as an excuse. Questions to Parliament are submitted to be vetted by the Speaker of the House at least a week before the actual sitting. Steve Chia nor any other MP can't just stand up and ask any ol' question that pops into their head there and then and watch the other member squirm. Our dear minister had at least 1 week to prepare for the question, yet he chose to give a half-arsed whitewash which every person and their dogs know is not true.
The question is, with the answer; is he an idiot, or does he think Singaporeans are? -
i think time was not a factor here. it was deciding wat to tell.Originally posted by Viper52:Sorry wuming78, but he can't use that as an excuse. Questions to Parliament are submitted and approved by the Speaker at least a week before the actual sitting. Neither Steve Chia nor any other MP can't just stand up and ask any ol' question that pops into their head there and then and watch the one trying to answer squirm. Our dear minister had at least 1 week to prepare for the question, yet he chose to give a half-arsed whitewash which every Singaporean and their dog know is not true, rather than sit down and try to give a rational believable answer to a very legitimate question.
The question is, with the answer; is he an idiot, or does he think Singaporeans are?
in any case, wat he said MIGHT be true. (or he may actually think its being practiced - ivory tower as Bear mentioned. )
but we all noe how things become different from wat it is supposed to be when it gets practiced. one example is the recent trg incident. regulations disallowed certain actions. ppl on the ground did it anyway.
so in tt sense, he MAY be telling the truth, u noe. MAYBE the saf really does not recognise white horses in writing.
but well, the saf is stil an organisation run by humans, some of whom r afraid of offending the wrong persons and in so doing jeopardising their careers. so they may start to treat the white horses as white horses even tho they shudnt. and its not hard to noe who r the white horses even if they arent labelled as such.
jus my proposition. as a person "on the grd", i thought wat he said ludicrous. but well, i tot we shud try to see the other side of things too. -
I'm quiet neutral in this debate. I take the position that like a person being trial for a crime, the accused(in this case the govt) should be treated as innocent until the prosecution can prove otherwise that the accused is guilty. So unless there is concrete prove that the govt is lying. I would have to accept their explaination as throughout my military life, I've never encounter a white horse or happen to know one.