SAF items in online auction raise eyebrows
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Officer's sword and bullet among the things offered for bidding; Mindef is looking into the matter
By Ben Nadarajan , Straits Times
18 Jul 2003
MILITARY items from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), including an officer's sword and a bullet, are being put under the hammer at Yahoo's online auction site.
The sword, which every SAF officer is given when he is commissioned, was offered for sale on Monday by 'diediedive'.
His asking price is $400; so far, no one has made an official bid for it.
'Tianeng2002' is asking $58 for the bullet which does not contain gunpowder and cannot be fired.
He described the item, which is used in weapons training, as 'very rare' and promised 'it will not rust and will last a lifetime'.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the drill round, as soldiers call it, is a 'controlled item which should not have been taken out of camp'.
If the man is found to have sneaked it out, he can be charged by the SAF and could possibly face a fine or be sentenced to detention.
Another seller is offering a Good Service Medal - given to full-time NSmen who have put in five years of good service - for $180.
Eyebrows were raised at the SAF and Defence Ministry when told of the items on sale.
The Mindef spokesman said: 'The commissioning sword and the medal are items which are presented to individual SAF officers in recognition of their efforts and contributions.
'So, it's inappropriate for them to be sold for a profit.'
Mindef said that it will be looking into the matter.
The Straits Times tried to contact the three people who want to sell the items, but the seller of the bullet did not respond to e-mail messages.
Ms Bonnie Yong, who is selling the medal, said it belongs to a friend who had migrated recently and had asked her to sell some of his personal items.
Both have not received any bids for their items.
The man selling the sword, who calls himself Eric, said he was an officer during national service (NS).
He said he works part-time in Tuas and that the sword is his brother's, formerly also an NS officer.
In his advertisement, he said that he needed money.
'This sword is an extra one because my brother migrated and left his sword lying around in the house,' he added.
When told that he was speaking to a reporter, he claimed other officers are also selling their swords to collectors.
'Officers can always buy a new sword from the quarter-master for about $300, so those like me who need the cash will just sell their swords, then buy a new one when they have money,' he justified.
But barely hours after that, the item was taken off the auction website.
Retired major Raymond Chin is particularly upset about the sword offer.
Putting the SAF sword up for auction 'cheapened' it, he said, as 'the sword signifies a certain code and loyalty that the officers have for the nation'.
'It's irreplaceable and should not be treated so flippantly.' -
I totally agree.Where's the damned pride?
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Pride is one thing.
But if you have to sell your prized possesions so that you can put food on the table for your family or to pay for a family member's medical expenses, you cannot blame the guy.
Perhaps the guy really needed the money since he was working part time only.
Unless it is for some frivolous expense, we can choose to chastise him. But even then, it is his choice. -
pride is worth nothing in singapore.Originally posted by LazerLordz:I totally agree.Where's the damned pride? -
P eople
R est
I
D o
E xtra
Get it.....hahaha -
no money no talk
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money = pride.
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Originally posted by crazy monkey:
Rest In Peace.
By Ben Nadarajan , Straits Times
18 Jul 2003 -
he selling sword ??
why not sell the no.4 -
you being thru army or not?Originally posted by WiNtEr'SkiLL:he selling sword ??
why not sell the no.4
no.4 has value? mai siao lah, you can get that so easily compared to the officer sword. -
Why is old news being dragged up now...
I don't think anyone dare to sell SAF items online anymore. of course i could be wrong.
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Pride? Can eat one?
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http://page.auctions.yahoo.com/sg/auction/94226420
http://page.auctions.yahoo.com/sg/auction/89405271
http://page.auctions.yahoo.com/sg/auction/93685850
http://auctions.yahoo.com/sg/search;_ylt=Avtkn6LVULpFl4AgZFq2Q1QK1rF8?p=saf&cat=0&numresults0=15 -
Wah, got people sell the tank overalls. Its worth SGD200 bucks each. I got 600 bucks stashed in my wardrobe.
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Originally posted by kwlee:http://page.auctions.yahoo.com/sg/auction/94226420
http://page.auctions.yahoo.com/sg/auction/89405271
http://page.auctions.yahoo.com/sg/auction/93685850
http://auctions.yahoo.com/sg/search;_ylt=Avtkn6LVULpFl4AgZFq2Q1QK1rF8?p=saf&cat=0&numresults0=15
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use the sword to dig nose issit?
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in the article, the person selling the sword claimed that the sword is not his. so can't really blame him for selling.
but let say the sword or medal is yours? i don't understand why anyone would want to sell such a piece of significant item. surely it means something right? a token, a piece of memory?
it's equally wrong if anyone were to be stupid enough to buy it. if u are not an officer, buying a sword also doesn't make u one. -
hmm sounds like a pretty good trade to sell the sword for 400 and then buy new one for 300... what pride is there to have been forced to be in the saf?
the bullet either trying to be funny or he can be in trouble.
i wonder what charges they will try to cook up to harm the sword and medal seller though.......... -
maybe if the person sell NB shoes online ppl will want to buy
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where's the pride...
dun fit to be officers... despise.. -
very dissappointed with you.Originally posted by hisoka:hmm sounds like a pretty good trade to sell the sword for 400 and then buy new one for 300... what pride is there to have been forced to be in the saf?
the bullet either trying to be funny or he can be in trouble.
i wonder what charges they will try to cook up to harm the sword and medal seller though..........
This is our homeland and we need to protect it. Yes we maybe conscripted but it's all for the good of whatever we have right now. Please do not sit by the computer posting forum msges for granted... -
Lets hope that we would not hear such things as SAF personnel selling M-16 to JI...
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I'll sell his balls to the highest bidder if I find out.Originally posted by larrenV2.003:Lets hope that we would not hear such things as SAF personnel selling M-16 to JI... -
removed....
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This, the sword i give to you?????
So, the sword is mine to break or sell......
The baseline is the sword is mine, right?