DEFENCE Minister Tony Tan and his defence team members --
Rear-Admiral (NS) Teo Chee Hean, Mr David Lim and Mr Matthias Yao -- yesterday fielded
questions on defence issues from nine MPs. Here are some of their answers.
Q: Have there been more requests for deferments of in-camp training
because of the economic downturn?
A: Last year, 5,100 NSmen were deferred from 98,200 call-ups, a 5 per
cent deferment rate. This was about the same rate of deferment as the previous year.
Q: How ready are NSmen to defend the country?
A: The SAF has a high level of operational readiness. Recent missions,
such as its efforts to evacuate Singaporeans from troubled spots such as Cambodia,
indicate this.
Surveys show that 98 per cent of NSmen polled felt
they had a role to play in Singapore's defence. Nine
in 10 said they were ready to risk their lives to defend
the country.
Q: Can NS allowances be increased to help enlistees whose families depend
on them for income?
A: Full-time NSmen are not salaried workers. Food and accommodation
are provided free in camp. The allowance for NSmen is meant to cover daily expenses such
as transport. It was increased in 1994 and 1996, but is adequate for now.
Needy servicemen can apply for additional allowance of up to $200 per month, or
interest-free loans, and one-off grants and loans. Since 1975, more than 1,600 servicemen
have benefited from these schemes.
Q: How much progress have Malays soldiers made in the SAF?
A: There are many Malay commanders -- officers, warrant officers and
specialists -- in the SAF and they serve in various arms just like their non-Malay
counterparts.
As Malays progress up the educational ladder, they will also qualify for more and higher
appointments in the SAF.
About half the Malay regular officers are graduates and Malay officers have been getting
university scholarships since the 1980s.
It makes no sense for the SAF to deny an appointment or a promotion to an officer because
of his race or religion.
(taken from The Straits Times, 11/3/99)