NS deferment granted in ‘exceptional circumstances’: Defence Minister

SINGAPORE — Deferment of National Service has to be based on a “national mandate” whereby the applicant in question can “bring honour to the country”, and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will not grant deferment on personal grounds, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.

The issue of NS deferment had come under the spotlight recently in the wake of Singapore’s best-ever performance at the recent SEA Games. Singapore National Olympic Council president Tan Chuan-Jin, who is also Social and Family Development Minister, had said the council wants to work with the Ministry of Defence to provide the country’s top male athletes with more flexibility when performing their NS duties.

Touching on this issue during his annual SAF day interview, Dr Ng said: “If you allow some to be deferred or disrupted for personal needs, then it becomes unfair for the others… everyone would say, well, I would like to finish my education first. So the general principle is... if there are exceptional circumstances, or persons who need that time to train or to pursue their passion and they can bring honour to Singapore. So it (has to be) a national mandate, then we will consider it.”

Dr Ng also said that 24 pre-enlistees were granted shorter-term deferment for the SEA Games, while over 30 full-time National Servicemen did their NS but were given time to train as well.

“We have to be both flexible as well as fair, because if we are too flexible, then it becomes unfair,” he added.