FULL-TIME NATIONAL SERVICE (Last six to nine months of training)

Mr Chia Shi Teck asked the Acting Minister for National Development whether there are Housing and Development Board flat owners who, having purchased their HDB flats, hardly live there at all.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: HDB flats are meant to be owner-occupied. Persons who do not intend to stay in an HDB flat should not purchase one. If they do so, they will deprive others who are in genuine need of an HDB flat.

Lessees who vacate their flats for valid reasons, and who want to sub-let their flats, should seek HDB's approval. HDB will consider each case on its own merits. HDB will compulsorily acquire the flats if the entire flats are let out without HDB's permission.

HDB is aware that many lessees leave their flats temporarily vacant for renovation purposes. Some have to be away temporarily to take care of elderly relatives who are ill. Also, many Singaporeans go overseas on holiday, or to work or study. Therefore, HDB adopts a flexible approach to lessees who leave their flats vacant for valid reasons. It will not penalise such lessees.

HDB may compulsorily acquire the flats of lessees who leave them vacant for long periods without valid reasons. However, HDB exercises its powers in this respect, very judiciously. Over the last three years, there have only been two instances where HDB initiated compulsory acquisition against lessees for such an infringement. In both cases, the lessees had left their flats vacant for five years.

Mr Chia Shi Teck asked the Minister for Defence (a) why full-time National Servicemen generally view the last 6 to 9 months of their National Service as less challenging and wasteful and (b) whether reviews had been made to improve the stint of NSF so that they will leave with a more positive feeling.

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Contrary to the Member's misinformation, the last 6 to 9 months of our full-time National Service is not "less challenging and wasteful". Indeed, this period constitutes the high point of the unit's training syllabus. At this juncture, the unit proceeds for overseas training where the NSFs are trained in a totally new and unfamiliar environment. This phase of unit training is physically and mentally demanding.

The primary challenge in this period is getting the unit to function as a cohesive and well-oiled combat force in contrast to the earlier period when learning personal skills is the main focus. Three months before the NSFs are released, the unit is required to undergo a Battalion proficiency test conducted by an independent evaluating team. The unit will be evaluated according to operational scenarios and high standards of training proficiency are demanded before it can be considered an operationally ready NS Battalion. If it fails to achieve the required standards, the unit will have to undergo corrective training and be re-evaluated. With the possibility of going through the demanding tests twice, it is the SAF's experience that NSFs make the extra effort to pass the test at the first trial.

The last 6 to 9 months of NSF training are thus far from wasteful. But this is the period when the NSF stint is coming to an end. At this stage some NSFs begin to focus their attention on what they are going to do after their full-time NS, be it work or studies. Anticipating the prospects of life after full-time service, inevitably leads some NSFs to feel impatient about completing their service and dampens their interests for military training. But it would not be right to therefore conclude that their training at this stage is a waste of time.

The SAF always reviews and enhances its training system to maximise the contributions of NSFs to national defence during their NSF stint. We will continue to ensure that the training syllabus is relevant to the defence needs of Singapore, and NSFs' time in the SAF used meaningfully and efficiently. If the Member could provide detailed information regarding the unit where the training in the last 6 to 9 months is "less challenging and wasteful", the SAF would carry out the appropriate investigations.