Only 70% of PR served NS take passport 20.09.2006
More Singapore PRs enlisted for National Service since 2000
SINGAPORE: More sons of foreigners who have moved to Singapore are opting to serve National Service in Singapore's military.
National Service is a sticky issue among some young Singaporean men, but an increasing number of permanent residents are opting for it , even though as permanent residents, they could have avoided enlistment by returning to their home country.
It is an option Li Chun Ming, who holds a British passport, never considered.
He has lived in Singapore since he was 13, and many of his friends can not even tell he is not Singaporean.
"We are here because Singapore offers us a chance to live here, we benefit from the social system and the education system. It is one of the best way for us to give back to Singapore, to defend it, defend Singapore," said 2SG Li.
It is a sentiment Jagdeep Singh, who has lived in Singapore the past 10 years, shares.
"When you put on a uniform, you feel that you are a solider, and part of the National Defence team of Singapore; it makes me proud. I never thought of not serving National Service at any point in my life, I always wanted to serve it and serve it with pride," said 3SG Singh.
In fact, Jagdeep feels that as a non-Singaporean, he is in a unique position to speak up for the objectives of National Service.
"I look at things differently. I always make a point to explain the purpose of National Service to my recruits," 3SG Singh.
The Armed Forces say that since the year 2000, there has been an upward trend in the number of permanent residents enlisting for National Service.
About 70 percent of these Permanent Residents take up Singapore citizenship soon after completing their military training.
The remaining 30 percent hold on to their overseas passports indefinitely but they can take up Singapore citizenship whenever they choose to.
A 2004 poll had shown that 7 in 10 Singaporeans believe foreigners are here only for the economic benefits they can gain, and have no commitment to the country.
The permanent residents who spend two years of their life in National Service will no doubt disagree with this view. - CNA /dt
2.Why they served bloody NS,as some sporean think,but not take up
citizenships?
Why do they serve NS without taking the biggest reward--citizenship?
Serving NS just let them have a choice to take up later.
Many of them simply can leave SG without serving NS.
