The Death of a Million is Just A Statistic
Dead or alive. Agony or not.
What do you call it when reason separates itself from actual events?
As if pure unadulterated reason, without being embedded in context, makes any sense on its own.
In all bureaucracies, especially those laced with smarts, there is always a proper process for everything. They told the Prime Minister's son the same thing the last time. This demonstrates... I guess... being egalitarian?
If there was indeed a process, why don't people use it?
What are the costs of triggering these processes?
Assuming that the costs are bearable, does triggering the process lead to any good?
By the way, is it appropriate to discuss any deceased's career and leave application (or lack of) behaviour in the national newpapers?
Thought such information is classified as 'confidential'.
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Mindef clarifies reports on Capt (Dr) Ooi
Mindef clarifies certain facts regarding media reports on Capt (Dr) Ooi's service in the SAF and his scholarship bond.
Mon, Mar 23, 2009
Mindef
THE Ministry of Defence (Mindef) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) extend our deepest condolences to the family of the late Captain (Dr) Allan Ooi Seng Teik.
Mindef wishes to clarify certain facts regarding media reports on Capt (Dr) Ooi's service in the SAF and his scholarship bond.
Capt (Dr) Ooi joined the SAF in January 2000 and was sponsored under the Local Study Award (Medicine) for his medical studies at the National University of Singapore, and completed his housemanship in April 2006. Thereafter, he completed the SAF's Medical Officer Cadet Course and was commissioned in August 2006. He then served for 11/2 years in the Air Force Medical Service. He was sponsored by the SAF for further specialist training in Aviation Medicine in Britain in January last year.
Upon completing this course in July last year, he was posted to the Aeromedical Centre to perform clinical and staff work. He was scheduled to go for his hospital posting at the end of this year.
While serving at the Aeromedical Centre, Capt (Dr) Ooi informed his superior that he was unhappy at work and was considering leaving the SAF. On Oct 3 last year, his superior offered him the option of posting to an appointment he would be interested in. He agreed to consider this option and get back to his superior in two weeks' time. However, he did not do so. He also did not submit any application to leave the SAF. He went Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) on Oct 15 last year.
Recipients of the Local Study Award (Medicine) are required to serve a 12-year bond after completing their housemanship. Of these 12 years, six years will be spent in hospitals to acquire clinical competency in fields needed by the SAF. The other six years will be spent in command and staff positions with the SAF Medical Corps, performing duties such as the clinical care of SAF servicemen and professional development of military medicine.
SAF officers who take up sponsorship have a responsibility to serve the full period of their bonds as substantial resources and time have been devoted to training them. Otherwise they will leave gaps in key positions in the SAF.
Nevertheless, if an officer wishes to leave the service early, he can submit an application through a proper process. Approval to leave the service will be granted only in strong and extenuating circumstances.
Colonel Darius Lim
Director, Public Affairs
Ministry of Defence
7 comments:
disappointment. the whole show of equality, being able to stand tall, and reasons reasoned in a way they can accept. be it reasonable or unreasonable.
While I sympathise with Ooi's position... I still cannot help thinking that he came from a family of doctors... he was not poor... so why take up the scholarship and then not have the tenacity to pull it thru... With the choice comes the consequence... whether you like it or not, you should fulfil it becoz you've deprived others...
strawberry generation... too easily bruised...
to: anon-march 24, 2pm
in allan's suicide note, he said mindef changed the rules halfway. only older wooden 'kayu' generation will stick to shit even when they recognize it as shit.
ending one's own life is not courage... it is kayu!
to: anon-march 24, 2pm and 11:38pm
nobody said anything about courage. that is an echo of the little voice in your head. sticking to shit is kayu.
It's just very sad to lose a colleague. I'm sure there were many other ways to resolve his issues and it's a waste that he chose the path he chose.
a bond is a bond is a bond. not to mention that it was a medicine scholarship. don't sign on the dotted line if there is any tinge of doubt that you might not be able see it through.
there must have been other options available yet he chose to go this way... and leave the whole world guessing, including his loved ones.
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