Police NSFs to be honoured at annual dinner
Md Azhar (right) and Charles Ng pose for a picture at the Police Headquarters on May 29, 2015. Photo: Jason Quah/TODAY
SINGAPORE — His National Service (NS) stint as an assistant operations officer in the Security & Counter Terrorism Unit of the Central Police Division meant lots of planning and coordination work. And while this was enriching, Inspector (NS) Muhammad Azhar Haj Mohamed wanted more experience on the ground.
Hence the 20-year-old volunteered himself for opportunities that came along, which ranged from patrolling the streets of Little India during the weekends after the December 2013 riot, to planning and participating in the National Day Parade and Formula One event last year.
He even extended his NS by over three months, during which he took on the role of a crimes analyst in the Singapore Police Force’s (SPF) Crime Strike Force.
Mr Azhar is among the five recipients who will receive the SPF NSF (full-time National Serviceman) of the year award at the annual Police Dinner tomorrow (June 3). The newly-created category aims to recognise the outstanding contributions and commitment of NSF serving with the police.
Other awards to be presented include the Best Land Division Award, Best National Service Operationally Ready Unit Award and the NSman of the Year Award. The awards will be given out by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is also Minister for Home Affairs.
During his extended stint as a crime analyst, Mr Azhar looked into the types of crimes occurring within the Marina Bay Neighbourhood Police Centre’s jurisdiction. He also got the chance to engage in ground duties as he assisted in investigations within his precinct. On one occasion for example, his team dealt with a suspect armed with a broken glass bottle while investigating a reported fight at a club along Arab Street.
“I wanted to carry on (and do) more for NS after ORD (operationally-ready date), and felt that these experiences will give me a more holistic experience of policing and I will be able to relate more to officers (who are on the ground),” said Mr Azhar.
To support former SPF regulars and former NSmen who have passed their statutory age but wish to continue serving, a new Voluntary Extension of Service scheme for Police National Servicemen was introduced on Monday (June 1), under which they can contribute in areas such as mentoring. The current statutory ages are 40 years old for junior officers and 50 years old for senior officers.
For starters, six volunteer ex-NSmen were appointed under this scheme, among them is Deputy Assistant Commissioner (NS) Charles Ng, who will serve as an NS Commander Mentor.
Mr Ng, 51, said the VES allows for more formal mentorship across the board, so that everyone stands to gain from the shared experience. “If you do it informally, the outreach is just (one) group...if I am able to put myself up to be mentors to say NS commanders, then I can reached out to more divisions,” he said.
