Search the Community

Taken from https://sg.news.yahoo.com/new-zealand-based-teen-with-singapore-passport-075121551.html An 19-year-old who currently holds both New Zealand and Singapore citizenship and lives in New Zealand wants to avoid doing national service (NS). Brandon Smith could face a two-year jail term and a $10,000 fine if he does not enlist. Smith, 19, moved to Dunedin when he was eight years old. The son of a New Zealander father and Singaporean mother told New Zealand media that it was a “waste of time” to go back to Singapore and come back. He was also concerned that he does not speak Chinese and would be treated differently in the army,reported New Zealand’s stuff.co.nz. Smith cannot renounce his Singapore citizenship until he turns 21. Smith’s father said they had spoken with Singapore Members of Parliament about the issue for a number of years, to no avail. He was quoted as saying, “Absolutely no one would accommodate us. It was always the same answer; ‘we regret to inform you that Brandon has to serve National Service’,”. New Zealand’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Murray McCully said he intended to take up the matter. He said in a statement to New Zealand’s Sunday Star Times, “While the Singapore Government is responsible for determining their own citizenship policies, I have considerable sympathy for the situation this family has found themselves in,” Readers who commented on on stuff.co.nz were divided, but a number of them said Smith should just return to Singapore to complete NS. A few readers were also quick to point out that the language of instruction in the army is English, and that Smith need not fear having a language barrier if he were to enlist. I guess there are still people who thinks NS is too tough.........