Punishment on NS Dodgers: Fairness vs Pragmatism

• PRP

  15 Jan 06, 20:49

  I am for fairness.Yes,it is unfair when judges only meted out light punishments to rich NS dodgers.
  
  But to be pragmatic,those ppl could choose not to come back to S'pore.Then they can't be punished.They came back voluntarily,do harsh punisments serve any purpose?Do we want them to come back?
  
  If the want to come back to live permanently,the govt can refuse them.But if they come here just for a short vist,should we mind?
  
  One more point is they may have $75,000 deposit forfeited by the govt.
  
  In my view, the govt is a pragmatic.
• The Emperor

  15 Jan 06, 20:58

  since they have already paid the huge amount to the garment, then there's no need to face punishment when they r just coming here for a visit.
  
  it makes no sense to punish a visitor or a tourist who did nothing wrong.
  
  also, if they didn't pay the amount, they should face the fines instead when they return. this will ensure a fair measure to those who went overseas without serving the NS.
  
  i mean.. if the garment wans money, there they have it. and they can just stop bugging the people with other stuffs.
  
  
• PRP

  18 Jan 06, 11:54

  I thought the govt is pragmatic but what the defence minister said in parliament on this matter does not seem to be so.Is the govt pragmatic?
• PRP

  20 Jan 06, 10:42

  Perhaps the govt is pragmatic secretely or quietly, but it talks tough publicly.
• PRP

  21 Jan 06, 11:13

  I quite agree with The Emperor's opinion.The deposit for the NS bond is $75000 minimum or half of the anual income of his parent.That is the price for a person to break the bond.With that money,I think Mindef can engage a foreigner to replace him to do his NS.If a NS dodger was sentenced to jail,the deposit for the bond should be be returned.Otherwise,it would be double punishment.