VIEWS ON STRENGTHENING NS SOUGHT FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS

The collection of feedback and suggestions to strengthen National Service (NS) got underway at this year's Navy Open House (NOH).

A cross-section of community groups participated in dialogue sessions hosted by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman at NOH, held from 16 to 19 May. The groups included employers, women's groups and grassroots leaders.

Dr Maliki said these dialogue sessions were very good opportunities to start the Committee to Strengthen NS (CSNS) engagements. More than 600 participants attended these sessions. (See sidebar on CSNS.)

"What we have gathered is that commitment to NS is strong. All stakeholders acknowledge the importance of NS," said Dr Maliki.

Referring to the ideas that were discussed, he added: "This is a starting point where we get a broad-base sensing as to where we are, from the stakeholders' point of view.

The ideas that they have given us are useful for us to go deeper into understanding the issues and how we can overcome some of the pain points and make it a bit easier (for national servicemen), at the same time, not compromising the essence of why NS is important."

The community groups discussed a wide range of issues and shared their views on ways to strengthen support for NS. These included more ways for the public to share their thoughts on how NS has brought about benefits. For example, employers could share how NS had trained NSmen in leadership skills, which enabled them to take on higher responsibilities in the workplace. Ways to better recognise and appreciate the contributions of national servicemen were also brought up.

Suggestions on how to further develop the skill-sets and abilities of national servicemen so that they are also relevant to their careers, and to help them balance their NS, family and career commitments were also shared.

Grassroots leader Lim Sok Geok felt that an area that could be looked into was the timing of local university intakes. This would help minimise Full-time National Servicemen's waiting time to enter universities after their Operationally-Ready date. There is currently one intake in August for local universities.

The Siglap Community Club Management Committee auditor who has 17 years of experience as a grassroots leader said: "They (referring to MINDEF and the local universities) have to come together and say let's do two (university) intakes so that there is no waste of that seven or eight months (after completion of full-time NS)'."

Quality control manager Nick Qiu felt that the CSNS was a good effort by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) to understand the issues that the current generation of national servicemen was grappling with.

"Hopefully, we are able to come up with solutions to address all the issues and also acknowledge (the contributions of) NSmen," he said.

Mr Qiu was among the 130 employers, trade union leaders, civil resource owners and Total Defence Award winners whom Dr Maliki spoke to on 16 May when he hosted their visit to the open house.

Senior Minister of State for Defence Chan Chun Sing hosted the Advisory Council for Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) on 17 May. ACCORD members include media and education practitioners, employers, politicians, grassroots leaders and key appointment holders from the Singapore Armed Forces and Home Team.

ACCORD member Abdul Rohim Sarip felt that the CSNS was a step in the right direction. As President of the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he oversees 300 companies.

The ex-NSman from 2nd Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment said: "I think it's timely because after 45 years of NS, there must be a re-look and review of what has been done so far, what we have done right and the areas we can improve on."

On the issues he hoped would be discussed further as the CSNS conversation developed, he said: "I think we need to increase the level of commitment. It's NS, there's no reward to it. It's for your own benefit and for the nation's benefit."

Chairman of the People's Association Women's Integration Network and the Ang Mo Kio Women's Executive Committee Joanna Portilla would like the CSNS to explore ways of helping NSmen balance their NS and family commitments better. As a grassroots leader, she often comes across cases of young families who do not have help with their young children.

The mother of a six-year-old son also felt that it was a good opportunity for the public to clarify doubts about NS. "It's a channel for the public and for parents to express themselves and for MINDEF to communicate with the public," she said.

What is CSNS?

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen announced the formation of the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) in March this year.

The 20-member committee, chaired by Dr Ng, will be looking at ways to further motivate NSmen to give their best, how MINDEF and the SAF can help them do so, and how the community can support NSmen.

Mr Chan and Dr Maliki are each heading a working group under the CSNS - to strengthen support for NS and to look at recognition and benefits for NSmen, respectively.

Over the next few months, MINDEF will be conducting focus group discussions and surveys to gauge public sentiment and collect feedback on ways that NS can be made more meaningful for national servicemen. Mr Chan and Dr Maliki will be holding townhall sessions for this purpose.

The public is encouraged to go to the CSNS website www.strengthenNS.sg to share feedback and suggestions.