Land Rover Accident; Mandatory National Service and a Personal Fine

In July last year, full-time national serviceman 2LT Nicholas Chan was the unfortunate victim of an accident involving a military land rover in Seletar Camp. Being the only son made pain more unbearable for his homemaker mother. It is coming to year since that fateful day and I hope his family members are keeping well.

The remorseful driver, a full-time national serviceman just like 2LT Chan, was hauled to court few days ago and fined $5,000 for his negligence. After sentencing, the driver was reported to say, "My heart goes out to the family. I’m still sad at what happened and wished that this had never happened." Sigh, but happened it did. It is likely that the fine will have to come out from his own pocket, or that of his family members.

The exact details revolving around this disastrous incident are not the topic for discussion here. Unclear and unanswered questions arising from incidents like this one only serve to send parents into the abyss of fear, a realm they would prefer not to be in.

Both of them are serving their national service, as required by law. While the strategy to build a deterrent force has its rightful place in tiny Singapore, it resulted in many lives being sacrificed in the course of carrying out such national duties. So far, there is no recollection of any lives being sacrificed in combat, the loss of lives is mainly due to peacetime training/duties and administration.

Compensation for deceased and injured servicemen has all along been a subject poorly defined to those serving their more than 2 years of compulsory duties as well as to the general public.

In recent times, due to our flexibility in immigration policies, there has been a large influx of foreigners into Singapore, be they ‘talents’ or unskilled workers. These people are different from the tourists, who come and go. These people are here to stay, be employed, use public transport, share common facilities, occupy accommodations etc etc. Inevitably, the lives and livelihood of Singaporeans are drastically affected. The general population, especially the heartlanders, is suffocating in this tiny red dot by the presence of this sizeable force of alien.

In serving the nation, mandatorily, have we been fairly treated? I guess we are not asking for special treatment for this service. In a way, yes, we risk our life to serve. Is it too much then to receive at least the basics? It is not clear what the amount of monetary payout will be for next of kin/family should there be a loss of life. Are all national servicemen performing full time and Operational Ready Men doing ICT covered by insurance? If so, what is the quantum?

There is however a provision for an opt-out scheme, premium of course is a paid for by the servicemen themselves. See Opt-out Insurance Coverage for MINDEF Employees and SAF Personnel. One wonders why it is so difficult a decision to make by just providing this insurance coverage from the onset.

Even employers here in Singapore are bounded by law to provide mandatory workmen insurance to their foreign workers. This is to protect the basic rights of a workman should mishaps occur. If a Bangladeshi worker can be awarded $1,000,000 due to an accident at work, it is absurd that our national servicemen are not getting a fraction of it should mishap befall upon them.

Examples:

Bangladeshi Mohamad Bashar, then 24, paralysed from the waist down in 1996: Received $105,000 in workmen's compensation.

Indian national Sevugan Kalyanasundaram, then 25, paralysed from the neck down in 2003: Paid $190,000 in workmen's compensation.

Bangladeshi Dalim Ahmed Ali, then 27, paralysed from the waist down in 2003: Received $94,000 in workmen's compensation.

See $1,000,000 awarded to paralysed Bangladeshi