These boys are career soldiers. How much more direct can a slap in the face be to Singapore?
Isn't it obvious that there is no allegiance there? What is the point in making them come back to do NS? It's ridiculous that an individual can't even choose to renounce his citizenship without terms and conditions. What is the point of serving the structure and abiding by the rules? Isn't there a more gracious way for a country to back down and find a elegant way to resolve this? This situation is not going to be unique. If any, I'm fairly sure that the numbers of such 'defaulters' are going to grow. The policy-makers should really take a long hard look into their crystal balls.
In 10 - 15 years, many of my girlfriends could well be facing a similar dilemma. They understand the circumstances and consequences. They don't want to make the citizenship choices for their children. They want their children to do that on their own free will in the future.
But it would mean not living in Singapore anymore, or moving away before their children are of school-going age. And that's that. They will not come back till their children are grown, safe and far away from the rigid reaches of the law. If this is the price of freedom, it is not an easy choice to make. It might mean a better environment; maybe not. But at the very least, the family's ideals would be fulfilled.
6 comments:
I think the NS rules are definitely the next of the sacred cows that have to be re-looked. While there will be questions about parity from men who have served NS, there will be too many of such similar cases in the future with our policy of attracting foreigners to our shores. The current rules are quickly becoming outdated and something should be done soon.
i can't agree more. yes, there are rules, but there should be flexibility.
it's one thing to remain a singaporean and refusing to do NS.
it's another thing to renounce the citizenship totally. not just because of NS. but because this country is not home. no loyalty.
dunno what kind of logic that MIN*** uses.
i totally agree. it's absurd to have "rules" in order to renounce citizenship. so what if they serve NS? if they don't want to stay, they won't stay no matter what. it'll just be a waste of resources to train them in NS before letting them go, and also making life difficult for the boys & family over nothing! hopefully the govt will relook into these silly NS rules now that this story is out.
D
i can't wait for the policies to change. i don't have the luxury of time. it affects our generation. so i don't intend to come back till my boys are over 18 and they make that choice to give up sgp citizenship.
for others, i think they prefer to just forget the hassle, uproot and leave sgp. they don't even bother to register their children in sgp anymore.
well. it's been a while. i've not attempted to come back. there's no impetus to. i don't know if i'll be stuck in this situation. i'm not about to find out at the customs in sgp. if it's gotta be asia, then let's stick to meeting in bangkok. ;p speaking of which, when the hell are you getting your ass over to maple leaf county?
It's a case of having one's cake and eating it too, with a mix of kiasi- and kiasu-ism thrown in to amalgamate this rojak called No-Choice An-Ass.
Choosing not to look beyond the immediate horizon is the true failing here.
What a shame.
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