NATIONAL SERVICE CALL-UP

Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider not to call up all the children in a family for full-time national service, and if he will enlist the remaining children for part-time service if the first or second child has already been called up for full-time service.

The Minister for Defence (Mr Lim Kim San): Mr Speaker, Sir, in the implementation of the enlistment policy, the fact that in a particular family there may be more than one member eligible for enlistment will not be a consideration for deferment from full-time national service or the enlistment into part-time service of one or more members of such eligible group. However, Sir, application for deferment from full-time national service may be made on the grounds of hardship, if any, and if such application is approved, then deferment from full-time service of the other members of the family may be granted.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong (Mountbatten): Is the Minister aware of the case where two younger members of a family have been conscripted one after the other? The elder one, who has graduated from the Teachers' Training College, has been called up for full-time service. Will the Minister consider cases of this nature?

Mr Lim Kim San: The applicant may apply for deferment, Sir.