Here's yet another example why PAP MPs are making their party's popularity plunge deeper and deeper. First, it was Inderjit Singh of Ang Mo Kio GRC last week. He spoke passionately during the White Paper debate but still voted a yes.
Now, we have Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC's Mr Hri Kumar Nair who has, via a Facebook posting on Tuesday, proposed levying an additional income and property tax on PRs and foreigners living in Singapore
"My proposal is therefore a simple one. All PRs and foreigners must pay additional income and property tax to be called a National Defence Duty. In short, we do duty, they pay a duty."
He reasoned that since PRs and FTs are able to contribute manpower to the military or police, they should make a financial contribution instead. The man in white also stated that those whose sons are liable for NS will be exempted.
First of all, it is great that the MP recognizes the contributions of citizen soldiers. However, National Service should not come with a price tag (and so does eating bak kwa). Singaporean maleswaste spend two years of their youth to serve and not work for the nation.
Two years of service plus another seven high-key reservist trainings is mandated by the law but legal issues aside, it is an honour to play a part in the nation's defence. Honour should not be associated with money because well, one starts with H and the other M.
If one must put a price on NS, then every minor detail has to be taken into consideration. What is the market rate of driving a 5-tonner at midnight? Any surcharge? How much does it cost to run 1 km in combat boots? What about paying soldiers the wage of a cleaner for washing toilets?
By allowing non-Singaporeans the easy way of "paying themselves out of NS", the government will look as if it is degrading those who risked to serve the nation. The SAF or Home Team is a rigorous environment to work in and doing a duty is definitely more dangerous than just paying a duty.
Just take a look at the number of unfortunate events that the military had in 2012. What is Hri Kumar trying to state? Foreigners can fork out some money in exchange of "an escape" while locals have no choice but to suffer physically, psychologically and financially.
The contributions by us are priceless and the experience we gain are invaluable. Not even 6.9 million dollars is enough to recognize that. 6.9 million? Sounds familiar. Familiarly dumb. By who ah?
Now, we have Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC's Mr Hri Kumar Nair who has, via a Facebook posting on Tuesday, proposed levying an additional income and property tax on PRs and foreigners living in Singapore
"My proposal is therefore a simple one. All PRs and foreigners must pay additional income and property tax to be called a National Defence Duty. In short, we do duty, they pay a duty."
He reasoned that since PRs and FTs are able to contribute manpower to the military or police, they should make a financial contribution instead. The man in white also stated that those whose sons are liable for NS will be exempted.
First of all, it is great that the MP recognizes the contributions of citizen soldiers. However, National Service should not come with a price tag (and so does eating bak kwa). Singaporean males
Two years of service plus another seven high-key reservist trainings is mandated by the law but legal issues aside, it is an honour to play a part in the nation's defence. Honour should not be associated with money because well, one starts with H and the other M.
If one must put a price on NS, then every minor detail has to be taken into consideration. What is the market rate of driving a 5-tonner at midnight? Any surcharge? How much does it cost to run 1 km in combat boots? What about paying soldiers the wage of a cleaner for washing toilets?
By allowing non-Singaporeans the easy way of "paying themselves out of NS", the government will look as if it is degrading those who risked to serve the nation. The SAF or Home Team is a rigorous environment to work in and doing a duty is definitely more dangerous than just paying a duty.
Just take a look at the number of unfortunate events that the military had in 2012. What is Hri Kumar trying to state? Foreigners can fork out some money in exchange of "an escape" while locals have no choice but to suffer physically, psychologically and financially.
The contributions by us are priceless and the experience we gain are invaluable. Not even 6.9 million dollars is enough to recognize that. 6.9 million? Sounds familiar. Familiarly dumb. By who ah?
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