awol from ns, $5000 fine

painist melvyn tan defaulted and ran away from serving national service, and returned after 30 years. he was found guilty and fined $5000. compare this with what a nsman has to go through and sacrificed for his 2-2 1/2 years fulltime service and his reservist liabilities, and the income lost, what message are we telling the people? is there a miscarriage of justice and fair play? the nation demanded by law that all able men served national service. now running away from such a liability deserves only a $5000 fine. it is a precedence that will erode the discipline, value and perception of not serving ns. it is a very attractive price to pay. melvyn tan has achieved fame for singapore. is that a consideration? melvyn tan has suffered for 30 years for not being able to return home? did he really suffered for being away from singapore? we can admire his achievements. we need not lambast him for not doing his national service like all dutiful male citzens. we need not be unkind or rude to him. but he has to pay a price that must be equitable to the sacrifice of other nsmen. otherwise we are unfair to all nsmen, all the several generations of nsmen that have gone through the harsh training to defend the nation. it may not be feasible or practical to expect melvyn tan to go through the same process and regimentation like any young nsmen. rightfully he should be jailed for the maximum of 3 years. that is what the law provides and there is no reason to do otherwise. if he is to be let off lightly, an alternative way must be considered to be seen to be fair to the nation and all nsmen. he could serve time with the music and drama company, full time for at least two years. in this way we are not wasting his talent, but to give him a chance to repay his debt to the nation. we will also tell the future defaulters that no way anyone is going to escape from his responsibilities to the nation. a singaporean male must serve the nation like any other singaporean, with no discrimination of your birth, your race, language or religion, or your talent. for the latter, if the state chooses to use an individual's talent in another way, it is a considered decision of the state, not the choice of an individual.

singapore australian union

a new malaysia or a reunion with malaysia is never going to be. both countries have gone their separate ways and have developed two different polities that are too diverse and no longer have a common platform to talk about. the common history and a common people with interlocking relations are all that is left. on the other hand, though separated by oceans and distance, there are more commonalities between australia and singapore than singapore and malaysia or singapore and the rest of asean countries. and very important, both share the same language, goals, interests and an international culture and value, and very similar govt service, legal and political systems and culture. and both are in about the same stage of economic and social development. we understand each other much better. perhaps a kind of union, similar to the european union, can be a new agenda between australia and singapore. new zealand too may want to be the next partner. all the three nations have very little to fear each other, very little contentious issues and differences and unlikely to mess up the domestic policies and stability of the other nations. a union of the three nations will be far easier to reach and can be something to look forward to.

minister sure win card

heard this in the kopitiam. the new mps will be very weary of which minister is going to carry the weight in his grc. it is no longer a sure win card. everyone is keeping his fingers crossed.

corporate governance and accountability

the usa regulators have completed a report on the accounting and auditing firms and have highlighted audit deficiencies by ernst and young and pwc, 6 cases in ernst and 30 cases in the latter. they are saying that they will take the findings seriously but short of making these firms being made accountable for their shortcomings. in singapore this seems to be the way authorities are treating professional incompetencies and fraud. we have yet to see such big boys being held responsible for their misconduct, not meeting professional efficiency and doing their due diligence. the question is why are these big boys allowed to get away often scotfree from mistakes that have huge financial impacts and often affecting many innocent public investors. it is way long overdue to bring the big boys to task to restore some credibility to the corporate world and make corporate governance meaningful instead of mere lip service.

singapore australia relations

hsien loong's quick apology to howard was well received and the latter also came out immediately to confirm that our relations with australia was not affected by the little hiccup. our relations with australia has never been better. we can count on many areas of common interest and collaborations. we share a common history in some way, the legacy of the british empire, we share a common language and many values. and we can compliment each other in regional and international affairs. the australians are trying to get back to the asean and east asian markets after several decades of eurocentric policies. and singapore is well place to open the doors for australia. economic and political considerations in these areas will provide numerous opportunities for the two countries to work closer to each other. our common perception and concern for terrorism, australia helping us in our military training, and we helping to explain australia's position to our neighbours. there are so much at stake and so many common interests for our relations to turn bad over a criminal. singapore should capitalise on this good relations to expand into australia, especially the northern territories. australia has plenty of land but little people. we have people but little land. our people speaks australian, oops, english, and can easily integrate into the australian society. it may be worthwhile, instead of investing in unpredictable and finicky environment, to invest in australia in farming to be self sufficient in vegetables, fruits, eggs, poultry and meat. move into northern australia in a big way, with australian approval, and the benefits are mutual. investment and development will be good for the australian economy. we can turn northern australia into our twin city. singaporeans as prs or employment pass holders in australia, employed by our own companies and also creating jobs for the australians, must be more welcome then people from unpredictable and uncommon background. looking into the future, half a million singaporeans in northern australia, commuting daily by our own airlines, from home to office and back in the same day. this will relieve us of the pressure on our land and limited resources, and singaporeans who love the big space and country would find australia a nice alternative. we can then comfortably think of a 8 million population, half in australia and half in singapore.