iT's A sMaLL wOrLd AfTeR aLL...

A few months back, there has been some active debate and discussion, on whether NS evaders should face a heavier punishment and penalty... It started when this guy, by the name of Melvyn Tan, born in Singapore and left Singapore to Britain 30 years ago to pursue his musical studies and career... He subsequently became a British citizen and a famous classical pianist.

Last year, he was back in town to perform and judge some piano and violin contest. Him, having evaded NS for so many years, and stepping onto Singapore soil again, got into trouble with the law. He was then given a $3,000 fine for the whole evading issue... This led to Singaporeans making a huge whoo-haa over the incident... (Hai... Singaporeans being Singaporeans...) There was a huge debate on the vaious medias... One wrote into the papers asking: "Is our 2 years of NS, and 10 years of reservist life worth only $3,000?" This person is damn ngiao to even ask until like that...

I feel, since he's already gone for so long, and has become a famous musician, we should be proud that he was once born in Singapore, with family roots here... Why should we give him the cold treatment when he has brought some goodwill to Singapore? I feel that the way Singaporeans can react to the incident will only tarnish the good image he has built for us... Considering this, and that he was remourseful and regretful, i think $3,000 is still something enough... Because of the whoo-haa, he has since cancelled his concert and judging positions...

I feel we should judge these incidents on a case-by-case basis, and for goodness sake, Singaporeans, behave like how a first-world country citizens should behave...

Concidentally, while the article below was printed on the front few pages in 'Today' newspaper on the 2nd of December 2005, there was another article on the SAFRA card, which have privileges that rewards NS men for their work; bearing the same cardholder's name, printed on the next few pages down... Is this a small world, or is it that now SAFRA card also stretches out their privileges to NS evaders? Hmm... a point to ponder...