Maid Seen Carrying Fieldpack for NSF
He’s in the army, but she’s the one carrying the backpack.
A series of photographs making its rounds on the Internet has generated much debate about whether Gen Y soldiers in Singapore are too “soft” and “spoilt”.
The photos – which were taken off Facebook and posted on The Straits Times’ online portal Stomp —features a young man, fully decked out in army fatigues, with his maid trailing behind him carrying his large backpack.
The full pack the maid was carrying looks to be the newer type, which is bigger and has more compartments compared to older variations.
The contributor claimed that the photos had been taken in the area around Tanah Merah MRT.
Disgusted netizens began sharing the photos on social networking site Facebook and on online forums like hardwarezone.com.sg, triggering debate on whether the youth these days are too pampered.
Most were critical of the soldier, calling him “lazy” and “spoilt”. Some even said he “tarnished the image of Singapore”.
Others we more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, saying he could have been injured and needed help with his heavy backpack.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman told the paper, “The SAF takes a serious view of the conduct of its servicemen in public.”
She added that the SAF is looking into the matter and will take appropriate action.
Ex-NS men and NSFs who spoke to Yahoo! Singapore held differing views on the matter.
25-year-old Kelvin Wong, who completed his army stint in 2006, said, “This photo is just ridiculous. It’s hard to believe that a grown man who is supposed to be serving the nation is making his female domestic help carry his backpack.”
“He’s a disgrace to the army and makes Singaporean men look bad,” he added.
23-year-old Karl Mak, who finished his stint in 2008, said, “He’s probably a spoilt kid who had his bag carried by his maid since he was a child. I guess stuff like that is cultivated from a young age.”
A former army officer who only wanted to be known as Jonathan, was more amused than disgusted.
The 28-year-old said, “When I first saw the photo, I thought it was funny. I’ve never come across such a scenario before and I don’t think it’s at all representative of our generation. In the army, we trained recruits to take responsibility for themselves.”
“Anyway, it’s possible he had a shoulder injury and needed help with his bag. It’s not a big deal and we shouldn’t generalise this to the mentality of youths these days.”
[Main Article: FTPB]
The Singapore Armed Forces says it will investigate the case of a national serviceman who had apparently made his maid carry his backpack, and take the appropriate action.
The response came after a photo was posted in STOMP, showing a young man dressed in army fatigues walking in front of a woman carrying what seemed to be his backpack.
The story was later picked up by The Straits Times.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said in response to the report in The Straits Times that “the SAF takes a serious view of the conduct of its servicemen in public” and that it will investigate and take the appropriate action.
The story had sparked a debate among STOMPers, on whether Gen Y soldiers are too ‘soft’, ‘spoilt’ and ‘pampered’.
There are some, however, who wondered if a shoulder injury had prompted the ‘maid’ to carry the backpack for the serviceman.
[Source: STOMP]
I just wish I could stop seeing reports like this. It makes me upset as I wonder what is becoming of our society.
I have seen maids carry the bags of kids and I felt fed up and ashamed. I sure am glad I grew up in an era when we had no domestic help. Even then I don’t recall my parents every carrying my school bags. That would have been so embarrassing for both me and them. I should think that carrying loads like this should be beyond the job description of domestic helpers. Where do we draw the line people? I found this image disturbing when I saw it today at Yahoo Singapore and the Straits Times. It’s deplorable how she is made to lug the bag and trail behind him as he obviously plays with his cell phone.
NSF With Maid Carrying Backpack
Some comments from the articles:
25-year-old Kelvin Wong, who completed his army stint in 2006, said, “This photo is just ridiculous. It’s hard to believe that a grown man who is supposed to be serving the nation is making his female domestic help carry his backpack.”
“He’s a disgrace to the army and makes Singaporean men look bad,” he added.
23-year-old Karl Mak, who finished his stint in 2008, said, “He’s probably a spoilt kid who had his bag carried by his maid since he was a child. I guess stuff like that is cultivated from a young age.”
There were several comments on Facebook as well like this one and I too believe that parents should be more discerning. I just feel it’s not fair to the domestic helper:
Loke Yu Ming: Perhaps parents ought to be more discerning about what they expect their maids or themselves to do for their kids. Seemingly innocuous deeds like carrying school kids’ bags, which is common here, might cause them to develop undesirable behaviours unknowingly.
This young man was unfortunately caught red handed and singled out, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there are similar cases out there. I guess it’s not just about this one incident, but a reflection of how society is changing for the worse when employers take advantage of domestic helpers.
[Source: SGActually]
Update:
THE soldier who got his maid to carry his field pack has stepped forward and admitted his mistake to his superior.
In a letter to The Straits Times Forum Page, the Ministry of Defence said the Singapore Armed Forces has completed its investigation into the case. They added that the serviceman was a recruit going through his Physical Training Preparatory phase prior to Basic Military Training.
[Source: Straits Times Online]
Right now, there are several image spoofs circulating the internet, some of the nicer ones reposted here:
SAF 7th Core Value: "Care For Soldiers"
Next contingent entering the parade is the newly formed 1FT (1st Foreign Talent) Battalion, the Maids!
After spending another year in Australia to finish up my degree, I have decided to compile a list of food to eat once I get back to Singapore.
Bak Kut Teh
Chai Tow Kway
Char Kway Teow
Chee Kway
Chicken Rice
Durian
Hokkien Mee
Hor Fun
Rojak
Roti Prata
Tau Sar Piah
Wanton Mee
What other Singaporean food would you miss if you were out of the country for a year? I would like to hear from you. Share it in the comments!
Up to 60% Discounts!
Happening from 11th to 17th Jan 2010, get up to 60% discounts on Nike and Fila apparel, footwear and accessories. Happening for a week only so mark your calendars!
Event Details:
Venue: Isetan Orchard, Event Space L1
Date: 11 – 17 Jan 2010
Fila & Nike Sale @ Isetan | Great Deals Singapore.
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Tel: 67739277
Pedra Branca or Pulau Batu Puteh is an outcrop of rocks situated where the Singapore Strait meets the South China Sea. The Horsburgh Lighthouse on the island was built in 1851. The island, together with nearby islands Middle Rocks and South Ledge, is currently the subject of a territorial dispute between Singapore and Malaysia that is being determined by the International Court of Justice.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedra_Branca%2C_South_China_Sea
In common law, adverse possession is the process by which title to another’s real property is acquired without compensation, by, as the name suggests, holding the property in a manner that conflicts with the true owner‘s rights for a specified period of time. Circumstances of the adverse possession determine the type of title acquired by the disseisor, which may be fee simple title, mineral rights, or another interest in real property.
The law of adverse possession is partly statutory and partly common law. The required period of uninterrupted possession arises out of a statutory limitation period or statute of limitations. Other elements of adverse possession are judicial constructs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adverse_possession
ICJ’s Press Releases:
http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?p1=3&p2=3&code=masi&case=130&k=2b
ICJ will deliver its Judgment on Friday 23 May 2008 at 10 a.m.
<edit>
Singapore has won the case! Pedra Branca is still ours!
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/23/europe/EU-GEN-World-Court-Singapore-Malaysia.php
For those enlisting for NS, here is a list of things that you need for first two weeks of BMT but is not stated (based on my experience). The first two weeks is also known as confinement weeks as trainees are not allowed to go home, unless there’s a public holiday.
- At least $10 worth of 50c/$1 coins (for vending machines)
- Scissors
- $5-10 for e-mart /canteen breaks (if you are lucky)
- Pen for taking notes (notebook provided)
- Permanent black marker (to label your stuff with)
- Extra plastic bags for dirty laundry, misc. use (about 2-3)
- Enough underwear for two weeks (depending on your usage)
- Clothes hangers (4 should be sufficient)
- All-in-one body soap/shampoo (so you don’t have to bring too much), facial foam (you should wash your face after trainings)
- Toothbrush and toothpaste (you can use the one they issue to you, but is not recommended as you have to pack that set for outfield use, so bring another set)
Optional:
- Extra roll of toilet paper
- Extra handphone battery
- Battery-operated shaver
- Febreeze (anti-bacterial/odour spray for clothes, for those who are lazy to wash clothes in camp) (Sold in NTUC. Get the anti-bacterial one. I think it’s purple in colour)
- Washing powder and brush (for washing clothes if you are siao-on)
- Alternatively you can just use febreeze and re-use your clothes, bringing them home to wash at the end of the week
- Tip: Try not to wash your army stuff with other clothes at home; they really turn the water brown. The velcro on the new uniform may even damage sensitive fabrics like dry-fit/microfibre.
You can bring in the items below when you get to book out the first time. Most of them can be bought at beach road market (link at bottom of post). You can get them in advance, but bringing too many items on the first day is not recommended as you already got A LOT of stuff to carry up the stairs to your bunk (I’m not joking. They are going to issue you with about 30kg worth of equipment, and generally instructors don’t like you to drag it up the stairs). Update: Some of these are now issused in BMT during enlistment – check first before buying.
- Plastic ziplock bags for packing personal equipment for your field pack. (Note the number and sizes they ask you to get. Those thin ones for packing food are not acceptable; get these from beach road)
- Thick trash bag x2 (to line the inside of your field pack so your stuff don’t get wet)
- 2x large can of prickly heat powder
- At least two rolls of black tape and one roll of colour tape (colour depending on your platoon)
- Slippers
- Waterproof watch
- Nail clippers (do cut your nails before you enlist though)
- Spare pair of specs for those who wears them
Optional:
- Swimming goggles (if you cannot swim 50 metres without it)
- More clothes hangers, clothes pegs
- Wet tissues (Recommended item: removes camo easily, bring for outfield trainings. Watsons usually sell a pack of three smaller packs with 10 wet tissues each. I brought in three of these mega packs and they were just enough for use throughout BMT)
- Reading material, UNO card game (for free time. No poker cards allowed)
- Pain relieving spray (in case you are prone to muscle aches and sprains from strenuous activities. I never needed to use such an item)
- Some plasters
- Battery-operated radio
- More coins for vending machines
- Snacks (cup noodles, biscuits, etc. Only dry food allowed)
- Thirsty Hippo (or similar brands. Recommended item: removes smell and bad odour from your locker)
- Spare lock and two keys (a lock will be provided on enlistment, but get another in case you lose the one given)
Gray-area items depending on company
(ASK for permission if you want to bring them in, do not bring into camp during BMT):
- MP3 player
- Handphone charger
Other Resources:
- Official NS Preparation Website
- More info on BMT
- How to pass IPPT
- Ranks in the SAF
- Army discussion forum on sgforums.com
- SAF army lingoes
- Beach road market (Google Maps)
15 Beach Rd S190015
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