Do you love Singapore?

[Busymom]

I love Singapore! No doubt about that. Can't imagine living anywhere else. :love:

[Busymom]

Way2GO:

For a soccer player and indeed for many sports, the youthful years are crucial for development to their full potential.
Fandi didn't have an option when his time came to serve NS.
He dutifully served but lost the opportunity to further himself in Europe.
His sons have an option.
They are good in playing soccer. That will likely be their break in life if they are not academically inclined.
If you are a responsible parent and face with these choices for your kids, would you not consider the options?

Now this sounds very bleak for the future of our sports here. Imagine those who have the potential will opt for overseas citizenship if given a chance...

[Busymom]

spikey:

if they represent South Africa, they have no way of coming back as FT. They are from Singapore. They have lived off Singapore. They are the children of Singapore's favorite son. Duty to country demands that they serve their country as expected of them...

Have his kids been living much in Singapore? From memory, doesn't seem so.

[Busymom]

markfch:

penglee:

wow... looking at the patrotic replies..

not to show off, but on my back my mum tattooed the words 精忠报国 ......... in invisible ink . 岳飞 would have been proud. (just kidding)

For a moment, I thought you are ZacK... :lol: :lol:

[Busymom]

Way2GO:

I hv known of some friends who migrated for various reasons.
They have also served the country in their time.
But they left for the sake of their kids.

Yes, to each his own.

Still, I can't help but feel sad.

[tankee]

Way2GO:

spikey:

if they represent South Africa, they have no way of coming back as FT. They are from Singapore. They have lived off Singapore. They are the children of Singapore's favorite son. Duty to country demands that they serve their country as expected of them...

Why not?
He has not said that his kids will represent South Africa.
He was concerned that the 2 years of NS will disrupt their development
in Europe as what had happened to him.
So he needs to consider that since his kids now have this option by virtue
of his SF connection.
If they have not represented SF, the FIFA rules don't stop them from representing S'pore if S'pore wants them.

Whereas I applaud your patriotism,
I also say to each his own.
He has also served.
This is not for himself, but for his kids.
I hv known of some friends who migrated for various reasons.
They have also served the country in their time.
But they left for the sake of their kids.

During my NS days, in my unit there were 2 national team members. 1 was soccer and the other a swimmer. Both are hardly in the camp as they were alway given time off for training and days off for competitions.

The soccer player was naturally in the SAFRA team and was appointed as an admin staff so that his absence from Army training will not be missed. The swimmer was in the manpower office as a clerk. Both super fit, yet assigned non-combat roles.

[tankee]

Busymom:

Way2GO:

I hv known of some friends who migrated for various reasons.
They have also served the country in their time.
But they left for the sake of their kids.

Yes, to each his own.

Still, I can't help but feel sad.

I have friends that have gone overseas for years, decided to return to Singapore for the sake of their kids. Enough of being second class \"citizens\".

[Way2GO]

Busymom:

Now this sounds very bleak for the future of our sports here. Imagine those who have the potential will opt for overseas citizenship if given a chance...

NS is a key policy, unbendable in its implementation.
Does anybody know specific criteria for exemption from NS?
MINDEF does not say; it's deliberately left that way.
Sure we will lose special talents in sports, arts etc for this unyielding reason.
But if MINDEF make exceptions, will it open the floodgate?
Will people start to find ways around it?
You see this behaviour in people finding ways to gain advantage, however slight, in getting good schools for their children.
It's human nature.
Will the citizenry become mature enuf to accept and not sneer that exceptions can be made for special talents and take that as another form of NS when they develop their talents, contribute to the country and make S'pore proud?
The gahmen is afraid to take this step forward.
Until they do, we will lose talents when these talented few have the means and resources to ply their talents elsewhere where they will feel more appreciated.
This is a very small minority. It is not going to make any significant dent in the manpower requirements of the SAF.
It is plausibly for the same reason that the number is so small that S'pore is prepared to lose them to avoid dealing with the wider implications of every Tom, Dick n Harry looking to avoid NS.
It's a shame really.

[Way2GO]

Busymom:

spikey:

if they represent South Africa, they have no way of coming back as FT. They are from Singapore. They have lived off Singapore. They are the children of Singapore's favorite son. Duty to country demands that they serve their country as expected of them...

Have his kids been living much in Singapore? From memory, doesn't seem so.

He was in Indonesia for a few years and his family was with him.
So I don't quite agree with Spikey's view that 'they have lived off Singapore'.
Those words can sound very hurtful to the recipients.

MINDEF does have a standing policy that makes it increasingly difficult
for a male Singapore citizen reaching 13 years old and who is resident in Singapore
to leave Singapore shores for long periods of time.
The explanation given is that the eligible male by 13
would be deemed to have benefited from S'pore society sufficiently
to do mandatory NS.
It is easier for a male child to leave Singapore before he reaches 13.
13 now is the magic number.

You would notice that Fandi's kids are all not yet 13 and they are currently not residing in Singapore.

[spikey]

Way2GO:

Busymom:

[quote=\"spikey\"]
if they represent South Africa, they have no way of coming back as FT. They are from Singapore. They have lived off Singapore. They are the children of Singapore's favorite son. Duty to country demands that they serve their country as expected of them...

Have his kids been living much in Singapore? From memory, doesn't seem so.

He was in Indonesia for a few years and his family was with him.
So I don't quite agree with Spikey's view that 'they have lived off Singapore'.
Those words can sound very hurtful to the recipients.

MINDEF does have a standing policy that makes it increasingly difficult
for a male Singapore citizen reaching 13 years old and who is resident in Singapore
to leave Singapore shores for long periods of time.
The explanation given is that the eligible male by 13
would be deemed to have benefited from S'pore society sufficiently
to do mandatory NS.
It is easier for a male child to leave Singapore before he reaches 13.
13 now is the magic number.

You would notice that Fandi's kids are all not yet 13 and they are currently not residing in Singapore.[/quote]sure sure...where were the kids born? What subsidies did they enjoy when they were delivered locally? Where did they have their pre-school education when they were young? What subsidies did they enjoy for pre-school? Not lived off Singapore? Wake up la.