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land118
01-12-11, 16:04
Interesting how this case pends out..., believe more will file if this 18 yr old succeed...

http://forums.asiaone.com/showthread.php?t=45063

PR Foreigner avoid NS after leeching Sg's system

This is the type of PR/converted citizens that the Singapore Govt loves - one who takes all the benefits available to citizens, but yet when it is time for him to fulfil his obligations, he will try his best to avoid. Will the Singapore Govt ever learn?

The Immigration & Checkpoint Authority (ICA) has rejected the application of Zhang Junyi to denounce his Singapore citizenship, citing that he is not yet a legal adult. In addition, the ICA also reminded Zhang of his National Service obligation when he becomes 18 year-old. In response, Zhang sought a judicial review on ICA's decision.

Zhang Junyi filed his request to the Supreme Court through his father Zhang Shaowei. Zhang Junyi was represented by lawyer Lee Jing Xiong who asked the Supreme Court to review the decision of the ICA and the Ministry of Defence on Zhang Junyi's case.

Zhang Junyi urged the Court to rule that he is eligible to renounce his Singapore citizenship, he doesn't qualify for national service, and that his notice to the ICA last year which declared his intention to renounce citizenship is valid.

Zhang Junyi is due for National Service registration soon. He is currently on an exit permit which cleared him for overseas studies. The exit permit will expire on 30 December 2011. The law requires males eligible for National Service to register with the Ministry of Defence when they turn 16.5 years old.

Zhang Junyi's parents Zhang Shaowei and Liang Jiali emigrated to Singapore in January 1996. They converted to Singapore citizenship, along with Zhang Junyi's 2 elder sisters. 2 months after gaining citizenship, they moved to Hongkong.

Zhang Junyi was borned in Hongkong 3 months after his family moved there. Subsequently, Zhang Junyi was granted Singapore citizenship the following Febraury. He lived in Hongkong until he returned to Singapore in 2005 at the age of 10 to study.

In August 2010, Zhang Junyi applied to Hongkong Department of Immigration to restore his Chinese citizenship. Although the Department accepted his application, it was conditional that he relinquishes his Singapore citizenship. 4 months later, Zhang Junyi notified the ICA of his intention to renouce his Singapore citizenship.

However. the ICA rejected his application, citing Section 1, Article 128 of the Singapore Constitution that a citizen can only give up his citizenship when he is above 21 years old and that parents may not make such a decision for the child. The ICA also added that according to Section 2, Article 128 of the Singapore Constitution, Zhang Junyi is obligated to complete his National Service as long as he remains a Singapore citizen.

The Central Manpower Base (CPMB) also suggested that Zhang Junyi should postpone his application for change of citizenship until he has turned 21 years old and that he has completed his National Service. CMPB will consider his application.

In response, Zhang Junyi described the constitutional interpretation of the ICA and the CMPB as "illogical and unfair", citing 3 points. Firstly, the Singapore citizenship was imposed on him because his parents emigrated to Singapore.

Secondly, he is not a 100% citizen because he will only be accorded with full citizenship rights as soon as he relinquished other citizenships within a year after he turned 21 years old. As such, the aforementioned constitutional provisions are irrelevant.

Thirdly, the Enlistment Act does not apply on him because he was less than 16 years old when he first declared his intention to ICA to renounce his Singapore citizenship.

The Attorney General's Chamber (AGC) was notified of the application for judicial review in the middle of November by Zhang Junyi's lawyer Mr Lee Jing Xiong. The pre-conference trial starts today.

Expert: "Interesting" Judicial Review

Constitutional law expert Dr Kevin Tan told Zaobao this would be an "interesting" judicial review. He also pointed out that the Courts rarely take on cases which involve citizenship rights because very few people would submit such issues to the Courts.

He also added that Zhang Junyi may not succeed in securing a judicial review because both the ICA and the CMPB did not act wilfully or irregularly, and as well as exceed their jurisdictions.

Dr Kevin Tan said that Article 128 of the Singapore Constitution appears absolute and that only Singaporeans above the age of 21 are eligible to renounce their citizenship.

Few days ago, Minster of Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen revealed in Parliament 8800 sons of new immigrants had been enlisted for National Service over the last five years. Among them, 6100 (70%) opted to become Singapore citizens.

However, among second-generation permanent residents, 4200 gave up their permanent residency over the same period. In another words, for every three sons of permanent residents, two would enlist while one would give up his permanent residency status in order to forgo national service.

Chinese transcript: http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp111129_004.shtml (http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp111129_004.shtml)

newbie11
01-12-11, 18:02
Court will send a strong msg

kane
01-12-11, 20:38
Can renounce, but finish NS first lah. Why in such a hurry.

Allthepies
01-12-11, 20:56
Don't serve ns can, jail for 2 years loh :D

land118
01-12-11, 21:38
Don't serve ns can, jail for 2 years loh :D
Better serve, at least still can book out on weekend, than stay in cell for 2 years...:D

Allthepies
01-12-11, 21:47
Better serve, at least still can book out on weekend, than stay in cell for 2 years...:D

Hee think now he has been exposed, no matter ns or jail, he will be tekan :D

proud owner
02-12-11, 11:59
this kind of problem .. only happens to sons of the rich

richwang
05-12-11, 02:14
He will loss the case. The cut off point to renounce citizenship is 10.5 years old. The cut off point to renounce PR is 16 .5 years old.

Thanks,
Richard

irisng
05-12-11, 07:30
I think he is scared of serving NS. Those ex-NS men console him lah, times has changed, it is different from last time already. :cheers1:

hyenergix
05-12-11, 08:12
I suppose in another 20 years' time, about one quarter of the armed forces will be PRs. Another one quarter will be contractors with foreign workers preparing food or involved in other logistics, or doing research/testing of military wares. The other half will be Singaporeans involved wayangs.

Mindef should consider changing our defence to operation like a GLC employing foreign workers and talents, because they are cheaper, better and faster. In addition, the productivity life-span of a worker can be increased further by 2 years. This problem of PRs being forced to serve NS can also be eliminated.

mcmlxxvi
05-12-11, 09:52
I dont think the gahmen will allow FT to run the country... How many minister or MP are PR or non-local? Or to be more on topic - which high ranking officer in tri forces are non-local? Unless you mean only the rank and file soldiers... Then who to guarantee their loyalty when crisis comes...

hyenergix
05-12-11, 10:00
I dont think the gahmen will allow FT to run the country... How many minister or MP are PR or non-local? Or to be more on topic - which high ranking officer in tri forces are non-local? Unless you mean only the rank and file soldiers... Then who to guarantee their loyalty when crisis comes...

Many in high positions are already PRs, including some who didn't serve NS. During times of war, would you risk your life to defend Singapore (including the >50% PRs, foreigners and their properties here - note that yours might have been destroyed by bombs, oops!).

mcmlxxvi
05-12-11, 10:06
Many in high positions are already PRs, including some who didn't serve NS. During times of war, would you risk your life to defend Singapore (including the >50% PRs, foreigners and their properties here - note that yours might have been destroyed by bombs, oops!).
Run road together with family!!!!! Like in movie 2012.

hyenergix
05-12-11, 10:13
Run road together with family!!!!! Like in movie 2012.

This is a problem that Mindef has to solve in 20 years' time, especially when they are forcing PRs to undergo NS. To many PRs, it doesn't make much sense to protect the lives and properties of the foreigners too.

mcmlxxvi
05-12-11, 10:19
Singaporeans - soon to be endangered species.

irisng
05-12-11, 11:44
My customer who is from Hong Kong send his son to Singapore to study and wants his son to serve the NS so that he will become a Singapore citizen.

hyenergix
05-12-11, 11:50
My customer who is from Hong Kong send his son to Singapore to study and wants his son to serve the NS so that he will become a Singapore citizen.

When it comes to the war?

irisng
05-12-11, 21:11
When it comes to the war?

When there is really a war, don't need to fight lah, one bomb only, S'pore "gone case" lo.