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Artists seeking NS deferment need ‘convincing’ proof of potential

SINGAPORE — Young male artists seeking National Service (NS) deferment will have to “convincingly” show that it is necessary for them to practise full-time and that they have the potential to achieve “outstanding results” at top international competitions for their applications to be considered.

MINDEF does consider NS deferments for ‘exceptional talents in both the arts and sports who can achieve national pride for Singapore’, said Col Kenneth Liow. TODAY file photo

MINDEF does consider NS deferments for ‘exceptional talents in both the arts and sports who can achieve national pride for Singapore’, said Col Kenneth Liow. TODAY file photo

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SINGAPORE — Young male artists seeking National Service (NS) deferment will have to “convincingly” show that it is necessary for them to practise full-time and that they have the potential to achieve “outstanding results” at top international competitions for their applications to be considered.

The Defence Ministry (MINDEF) said this yesterday, following renewed calls from several arts practitioners for a more flexible approach to help Singapore produce top-notch talent in the arts arena. The latest calls were made in the wake of last month’s move to grant swimmer Joseph Schooling deferment from NS until after the 2016 Olympics to allow the 18-year-old to train full-time.

Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) for the arts Janice Koh noted that artists — particularly classical musicians and dancers — are “not unlike” sportsmen in that they, too, are required to be in “top physical form” and can find success “at a relatively young age”.

Ms Koh, citing talented young musicians who have attained some measure of artistic excellence in their youth, is of the view that military training during this “critical” period could “potentially disrupt or jeopardise their chances of international success”.

Agreeing, conductor and music director Adrian Tan said the early years of an artist’s development would determine “the trajectory of his career”.

While Singapore has invested heavily in institutions, such as the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, “it takes more than just financial support and education for us to succeed in the arts ... Other aspects of Singaporean society, perhaps including NS policy, should look to playing a part”, he added.

When contacted, MINDEF Director of Public Affairs, Colonel Kenneth Liow, said the ministry does consider NS deferments for “exceptional talents in both the arts and sports who can achieve national pride for Singapore”. “Individuals to be considered will have to show convincingly that the deferment is necessary for them to practise full-time and (that they) have the potential to achieve outstanding results at top international competitions.”

“Individuals who have met these criteria ... and who have been granted deferment in the past were violinist Lim Chun and pianist Lim Yan.” MINDEF said it assesses all such applications in consultation with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.

Between 1999 and 2009, MINDEF had granted deferments for limited periods on “less than 10 occasions”, said then Second Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, in a 2009 parliamentary speech.

Dancer Goh Shou Yi, 24, is one artist who wished he had been granted an NS deferment. Drafted in August 2010, he had to temporarily put on hold his dreams of pursuing a one-year dance programme at Purchase College, State University of New York, after his applications for NS deferment were rejected.

MINDEF has disallowed deferments for university studies since end-2005. Currently, young men liable for NS may be granted deferment to complete their studies up to GCE A-Levels, polytechnic diploma or an equivalent level before enlistment. Before completing NS, Mr Goh re-submitted his applications for admission to Purchase College and a National Arts Council scholarship — and was successful in both instances.

Another dancer, however, would prefer to enlist now, rather than defer for a few years — even though Mr Thaddaeus Low is concerned that military training would put his body, his “instrument”, at risk. The 18-year-old, who is due to enlist next year, explained that it would be difficult to determine an artist’s peak. Unlike sportsmen, he said: “There isn’t a competition or a time in your career when you can define the peak of an artist.”

While Ms Koh does not expect exceptions to be made for all artists, the NMP hopes that “top-tier professionals” could be shown more flexibility when it comes to NS deferment or deployment. “For these gifted young artists, there is ... a critical window of opportunity that could, potentially, be lost forever,” she said.

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