Friday, August 26, 2011

It's All In The Family

The proverb, "the apple does not fall far from the tree", is apparently of Eastern origin, it is frequently applied to someone with obvious failings, asserting that the problem was simply passed along from parent to child. Peter, 45, Patrick, 42, and Philip, 35, have joined their father in refuting allegations of special treatment during National Service stints.

White Lie, Not White Horse
Tony Tan was technically correct when he stated that "We fulfilled all obligations in accordance with the rules, regulations, and deployment policies of Mindef." What he was less candid about was how, like all rules regulations, and deployment policies in Singapore, they can be bent to suit the privileged and the favoured.

It is crystal clear now that Patrick Tan started his private sector career as a researcher with the Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute, when he should have resumed wearing his army uniform after an unheard of 12-year disruption. For many Singapore males, one of the key disadvantages of NS obligation is the opportunity loss of 2 years in Temasek green, when they could have embarked on their working life sooner, helping to pay the family bills. Mindef - Tony Tan was the Defence Minister from 1995 to 2003 - was roped in as accessory to the storyboard when they stated that 86 NSFs were allowed disruption for overseas medical studies, without highlighting that Patrick flew off for a PhD, not an MD. You betcha none of those 86 stayed away for 12 long years.

Technically, Peter and Philip also "fulfilled all obligations", except that these combat fit boys had a cushy time behind a desk, instead of learning how to charge up a hill to defend the nation. Those unfortunates without connections will have be put in harm's way, either blown up by a faulty made-in-China grenade fuse or run over by a Land Rover because of flaky Army safety measures. All these happening during peace time. Need we add that it's cooler in the air-conditioned office than under a blazing sun?

Of course Tony Tan never gave explicit instructions to the effect, neither did the kway teow hawker receive an official memo to add extra egg in the serving. Cedric Foo told parliament in 2003, "Prior to year 2000, the term 'white horse' was used to identify sons of influential persons to ensure such enlistees were not given preferential treatment." What the fool - who inadvertently confirmed the rumoured existence of white horses - did not explain was why Mindef did away with the system after year 2000, if it could indeed "ensure such enlistees were not given preferential treatment".

19 comments:

  1. It would be interesting to see the definition of 'white horse' and the identification/selection process. Oh, silly me, this is a state secret - at least until the MIW is out of power.

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  2. Technically, TT was right to say that all their sons fulfill NS obligations. I believe no one will doubt that. Unfortunately that was not the question!

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  3. Short of producing their reservists booklet, I will buy into their crap of those white horses fulfilling their NS liabilities. For that, TT lost my vote and from other guys in my office. Those regular guys who cursed and swore when they received their ICT, IPPT, BCTC notices and knowing that they will be disadvantaged at work while serving the country and the inconveniences caused particularly when they have young children and their wives have to shoulder this burden as well. They, the true men of S'pore, have fulfilled their NS obligations. I know life is not fair, but I have a right to vote.

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  4. Typo mistake, I mean to say I will NOT buy into those whites horses crap.

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  5. A vote for TonyTan alias PhonyTan is a vote for a scumbag.
    Easier to table questions that concern PhonyTan plus sons if he is not the president.

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  6. 此地无银三百两

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  7. Instead of 1 son, now it becomes 3 sons. And how exactly difficult is it for anyone to provide hard evidence to rebut such false allegations ?

    Until now we still have not seen any convincing evidence being produced ? Which leads one to ask the obvious question was there any in the first place ?

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  8. Also relevant:
    刻舟求剑

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  9. Have you seen his CV?

    Education:
    1986-1987 National Junior College, Singapore
    1988-1992 Harvard University, B.A.
    1992-2000 Stanford University School of Medicine, PhD

    Career:
    2000 - 2003 Research Scientist, Defence Medical Research Institute
    2003 - 2004 Senior Research Fellow, Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute
    .........

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  10. Agree with Alan. Is only one son name Patrick Tan that a lot of us are VERY unhappy about. Now in his typical foxy wily way, he drags in his other two sons (no relevance whatsoever) to try and confuscate matter. Think we dumb or what? If he becomes President, he will pardon all the misdeeds of LKY which will give him 2 yrs to come clean -- that's the real agenda why he's running.

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  11. The more TT drags his sons into the picture, even if he manages to brush aside such issues under the carpet, the backlash from the people against him will be greater.

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  12. Me thinks it is not fair to blame tony tan for wanting to be fair with all his sons. They are all his children and must be treated equally.
    Not right to blame a father for doting his children.
    Right?

    patriot

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  13. Under the white dress, it is a top secret to others how dirty or grey or black on his skin. Shame on all MIW. This country has reached a point where change is needed to end the unaccountable and opaque government as soon as possible.

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  14. Youknow "technically" the GIC met all the santiago principles..but that's only on the international scene. Locally, did they even meet the basic requests from the people who ask to account for their results? No - they didn't. They fAIL miserably. A Vote for TT is like putting a cat to look after the fish! Guess what's going to happen! If Singaproeans put TT into the Istana, only 1 word - DAFT and DESERVING.

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  15. 四粒蛋坏蛋,老蛋,捣蛋,丢鸡蛋!希望其中一个不是假蛋!哈哈哈

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  16. As a father and in high office, one will naturally wants some privileges for ones' children.

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  17. Have you seen his CV?

    Education:
    1986-1987 National Junior College, Singapore
    1988-1992 Harvard University, B.A.
    1992-2000 Stanford University School of Medicine, PhD

    Career:
    2000 - 2003 Research Scientist, Defence Medical Research Institute
    2003 - 2004 Senior Research Fellow, Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute
    .........

    Patrick Tan is quoted as having been proud to have served his NS.

    So proud that he dosen't even bother to mention it in his CV?

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  18. As a first batch national serviceman who had served 3 years NS and 13 years in Reserve, who had risked life and limb in training, who had seen many good young men, yes, Singaporean young men, come home from training overseas in “boxes”, who had visited men in bloodied army fatigues in hospital, Dr Tony Tan, his son (and those like him) and MINDEF sickens me to the bone. Make me want to vomit.

    Lest we all forget, many good young men had died over the years learning to defend this country. To the families of these young men, sacrificed for the nation’s good, those letters are a cruel requiem. They had not only given two years. They had given their entire lifetime.

    And lest we all forget, there are many out there who were maimed in service.
    Theirs must be bleeding hearts on reading those pungent letters.

    I believe I speak for hundreds of thousands of national servicemen, past and present, and their families who puked at the thought of Dr Patrick Tan “serving” his national service in an air-conditioned lab, under the very nose of his father, the Defence Minister, while others have to risk their lives and perhaps die on the field.

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  19. your blog post serves as a thought-provoking examination of a proverb's real-world application, and General Paper using the Tan family's situation as a lens to explore broader issues within the National Service framework. The meticulous research and critical analysis showcased in your writing make it a valuable contribution to the ongoing discourse on fairness and equality in such systems. I look forward to reading more of your insightful commentary on societal issues.






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