PAP Janil Puthucheary: I did not do NS, those are the facts
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by Andrew Loh
New People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate, Dr Janil Puthucheary, says that he “felt it was important to step up and stand forward to advocate on behalf of those who can’t do so for themselves, or aren’t heard.” He was responding to a question posed to him on his Facebook page on what he thought of Mr Chen Show Mao (Workers’ Party’s potential candidate) serving his National Service (NS), while he did not.
“I did not do NS, Mr Chen did, those are the facts, yes,” he said.
Dr Janil is 38-years old and is a pediatrician. He received his Singapore citizenship three years ago.
Mr Chen, 50, was born in Taiwan and moved to Singapore when he was 11-years old. Mr Chen had volunteered to serve his NS before he became a Singapore citizen in 1986.
The comparison between the two men have led to criticisms of Dr Janil not doing what most Singaporean men are required by law to do – dedicating two years of their lives to serving the nation. As the criticisms mounted, Dr Janil finally responded in late March. According to the local press, he was reported thus:
“…As for criticism that he did not serve national service, as he became a Singapore citizen at the age of 35, the pediatrician said he has been in public service: ‘I’ve spent the last 10 years saving kids’ lives.’”
This led to further outrage as critics saw his answer as equating what he does as a profession to what Singaporeans do as an act of patriotism, besides the fact that as a pediatrician he is paid more than the average NSman.
In his reply on his Facebook page, while acknowledging that Mr Chen has done his NS and he did not, Dr Janil seems to avoid commenting any further than that.
National Service is not the only controversy surrounding the new PAP face who is expected to be fielded as a PAP candidate in Pasir Ris-Punngol GRC, under the wings of Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.
In an earlier interview, he was asked if he was angry about the 10-month detention of his father, Mr Dominic Puthucheary, under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 1963. Dr Janil said he “could not express any anger for that.” He said “it was something… that happened in the long history that we were told about. It wasn’t something that we lived with or we knew of ourselves.” He seemed to pledge support for the ISA, despite what his father had gone through, when he said, “The potential uses for that law after 9/11 are very different. I may philosophically argue with some aspects of policy. But the philosophy is not as important as the pragmatic implications for our state, security and country.” (Asia One)
His remarks were criticised, particularly by online commentators, for seemingly supporting the stand that things like the right to an open trial, access to counsel, and burden of proof, were not important as important as the “pragmatic implications for our state.”
On his Facebook page, Dr Janil also said he is giving his first speech (as an MP) “a lot of thought”. But he said “this is premature” as he has not been elected or even nominated yet.
He says his focus now is to “demonstrate” his sincerity and “earn the trust of the residents.”
Dr Janil’s latest comments on his lack of a National Service stint will probably fuel more criticisms. It is left to be seen if the PAP will address this head-on. The party has so far kept mum about it.
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No one is going to vote for this Puthucherry already.
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his image and respect is gone.
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he must think spore is malaysia wild and in coherent type of.......humans.
he could be saving kids...but most of them could be non-sporean kids.
if i were him....i would be a man and serve national service on the spot to prove whatever he is trying to convince with great difficulty.
thing is....he isnt a man and cant admit it or use another sifter means to accomplish his goals!
so what are his goals?to make $$$$$ of course!!if he really wanted to be a doctor he would have setup a few clinincs worldwide instead of goin to politics.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
The comparison between the two men have led to criticisms of Dr Janil not doing what most Singaporean men are required by law to do – dedicating two years of their lives to serving the nation. As the criticisms mounted, Dr Janil finally responded in late March. According to the local press, he was reported thus:
“…As for criticism that he did not serve national service, as he became a Singapore citizen at the age of 35, the pediatrician said he has been in public service: ‘I’ve spent the last 10 years saving kids’ lives.’”
I have no qualms with him saving more lives in his capacity.
However, that itself is no equivalent of serving NS. I doubt his willingness to convert his citizenship if he needs to serve time in NS.
He gets a fast track and he puts down NS with his service as a pediatrician and gets paid in Singapore dollars and his choice of expertise does not equate to serving the nation.
In that case, any roadsweeper or toilet cleaners are even more worthy than he is as long as they serve more than 10 years. Similarly, a male nurse who worked ten years in local hospitals saving lives, and served National service is no lesser man.
Saving lives is just part of his job. Any other words is just adding condiments to a needless defence.
You never served time, don't play the "occupation" card and try to trade off because you had been paid your salary. If you do free voluntary service for the past ten years saving Singaporean lives, then maybe that is a slightly better trade off.
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HE SAID HE INVESTED IN SPORE.,,SO HE THINKS HE NOW OWNS 10% OF SPORE OR SOMETHING.
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Originally posted by Nelstar:
I have no qualms with him saving more lives in his capacity.
However, that itself is no equivalent of serving NS. I doubt his willingness to convert his citizenship if he needs to serve time in NS.
He gets a fast track and he puts down NS with his service as a pediatrician and gets paid in Singapore dollars and his choice of expertise does not equate to serving the nation.
In that case, any roadsweeper or toilet cleaners are even more worthy than he is as long as they serve more than 10 years. Similarly, a male nurse who worked ten years in local hospitals saving lives, and served National service is no lesser man.
Saving lives is just part of his job. Any other words is just adding condiments to a needless defence.
You never served time, don't play the "occupation" card and try to trade off because you had been paid your salary. If you do free voluntary service for the past ten years saving Singaporean lives, then maybe that is a slightly better trade off.
double standard lor.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
The comparison between the two men have led to criticisms of Dr Janil not doing what most Singaporean men are required by law to do – dedicating two years of their lives to serving the nation.
I served 2.5 years. I didn't serve 2 years.
Don't demean people who served 2.5 years please.
This fucking PAP. No respect for citizens at all.
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frankly, isn't he the type of people the normal folks in the street hate most about the "elite" ?
he has betrayed his father, he has come from another country, he probably has a privileged background, he has left his country to come to our country, he has an arrogant demeanour (see his youtube vid), he's hand-picked by the incumbent people in power into a place of privilege which he probably didn't work for (how could he seeing he's only been a citizen less than the time i've owned my old banger of a car), he demeans the institution of NS which we men all don't like but respect...
AND he's a shoo-in to be a lea-duh because he will be protected in a system we all hate called the GRC... and he will lord over us...
if anyone tells me that the MIW are divorced from reality and from the voices on the ground, i'll show them a liar...
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This PAP is so hopeless at winning popular support.
So useless, so worthless.
Beside throwing money during elections, what else can they do to win public support?
Worthless filth, this PAP.
The old head of the party can never win popular support, because he is a minority, so the entire party also infected by his rubbish.
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Originally posted by Vote PAP OUT to Save SG:
This PAP is so hopeless at winning popular support.
So useless, so worthless.
you can say that all you want but the fact is that they are voted in again and again...
as much as you do not like it, it is democracy... somewhat...
and show me a democracy that isn't manipulated and i'll show you that you weren't looking hard enough
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Originally posted by Vote PAP OUT to Save SG:
I served 2.5 years. I didn't serve 2 years.
Don't demean people who served 2.5 years please.
This fucking PAP. No respect for citizens at all.
Change from 2 years to 2.5 years and then gostan. As storeman also 2.5 years. Is education a good reason for this?
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Originally posted by the Bear:
you can say that all you want but the fact is that they are voted in again and again...
It's a fake democracy.
What kind of democracy is it when majority of voters don't even dare to discuss politics and their main source of information on state affairs is a PAP propaganda mouthpiece?
It's bullshit democracy.
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Originally posted by Vote PAP OUT to Save SG:
It's a fake democracy.
What kind of democracy is it when majority of voters don't even dare to discuss politics and their main source of information on state affairs is a PAP propaganda mouthpiece?
It's bullshit democracy.
sure.. but think about this.. how much what you fear is actually there? or are you just fearful and need someone to blame?
i find a lot of people need someone to blame for their own fears.. the easiest is to blame the MIW...
fake democracy or not, almost every single democracy on this planet is fake...
live with it, and do the best you can...
and you have to remember this: your enemy's enemy may not be your friend...
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Originally posted by the Bear:
he has an arrogant demeanour (see his youtube vid)
hope the kid's parents don't see this
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What I can say is this:
I’ve spent the last 10 years saving kids’ lives.'
Well, thank you for your service, doctor, we greatly appreciate what you have done for Singapore in particular and mankind in general.
However, the problem arises from the idea that he links this to doing National Service. Saving the lives of children is noble, but it is mutually exclusive from doing NS.
If that sounds harsh, then consider paediatricians who actually do serve NS as medical officers. They spent many years saving the lives of children and did NS as well. So where does this leave him?
These newbies sure don't know the first thing about proper PR skills. Why can't he just say something like:
'I didn't do NS, because I was 35 by the time I got my citizenship. Nonetheless, I wholeheartedly pledge my loyalty to Singapore and will do my best for this country in my capacity as both a paediatrician and a politician.'
That may be PR bullsh*t, but at least he would come across as far less defensive and far more humble.
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Originally posted by fudgester:
What I can say is this:
I’ve spent the last 10 years saving kids’ lives.'
Well, thank you for your service, doctor, we greatly appreciate what you have done for Singapore in particular and mankind in general.
However, the problem arises from the idea that he links this to doing National Service. Saving the lives of children is noble, but it is mutually exclusive from doing NS.
If that sounds harsh, then consider paediatricians who actually do serve NS as medical officers. They spent many years saving the lives of children and did NS as well. So where does this leave him?
These newbies sure don't know the first thing about proper PR skills. Why can't he just say something like:
'I didn't do NS, because I was 35 by the time I got my citizenship. Nonetheless, I wholeheartedly pledge my loyalty to Singapore and will do my best for this country in my capacity as both a paediatrician and a politician.'
That may be PR bullsh*t, but at least he would come across as far less defensive and far more humble.
I think it was his reflex reaction and the question from the lesser man irked him.
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NS =/= Public Service
He failed... ... ...
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Originally posted by alize:
I think it was his reflex reaction and the question from the lesser man irked him.
Well, if a man's reflex reaction is going to go that way, we have to recognise that he is indeed a lesser man.
He can be firm to say that he did not serve NS and go on about how he is prepared to help Singaporeans in future. Afterall, he is going to have voting rights in parliament to decide the future of Singapore.
Instead, we see a man who feels pressured to go fully defensive and tries to perform the balancing act. Being reactive, he is less likely to implement new rules that will improve the livelihood of Singaporeans and move on. He seemed like a man that's always looking at past achievements, and will be the type that always reinforcing failures and go fully on defensive mode.
Are we a progressive country or regressive? With what he said, he is regressive and in fact he convinced me that he is a lesser man not capable of future greats.
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Agreed. Being a good politician is not just about making good policies. It is also about being able to engage well with the masses and to come across as being in tune with them.
It may be true that he was faced with a hard question. However, his answering skills are certainly far off the mark. As many job-seekers and scholarship applicants know, one may have to face difficult questions in an interview. In such cases, it is not so much about giving the correct answer, because some questions do not necessarily have a strictly correct answer. Rather, it is about being able to handle the question and to answer it with the proper grace without making yourself look bad.
He could have taken a few seconds to properly think through the question and to answer it with a flourish.
Instead, he was being reactive instead of being active, and now people have a dimmer view of him.
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Unfortunate. In everyday life we would dissociate ourselves from these types, at most change our jobs. This guy is coming in and there is nothing we can do about it.
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Originally posted by alize:
Unfortunate. In everyday life we would dissociate ourselves from these types, at most change our jobs. This guy is coming in and there is nothing we can do about it.
Unless it is a walkover, there is something called voting.
Then again, will the people choose correctly? Or are their choices correct?
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New political party? - New PAP?
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Originally posted by Junyang700:
New political party? - New PAP?
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CSM has been here longer than Janil.
CSM felt passionate about giving to Singapore even at a young age.
Janil's father was expelled from Singapore for political dissent.
Janil is a parachute candidate, CSM is a naturalised citizen.