In the last two weeks since we broke news of Dr Patrick Tan Boon Ooi’s NS stint at the Defence Medical and Environment Research Institute (DMERI) as a ‘defence medical scientist’, we have been receiving tip-offs from netizens providing us more insight into MINDEF’s deferment policies, vocations as well as Dr Patrick Tan’s ’service’ during NS and reservist.
Dr Patrick Tan is the youngest son of PAP-endorsed presidential hopeful Tony Tan whose other two sons are Peter and Philip Tan.
In a statement released to the press, MINDEF clarified that Dr Patrick Tan served his NS as a ‘defence medical scientist’ according to ‘vocational guidelines’.
However, according to a Singaporean who served as a clerk in MINDEF’s Central Manpower Base or CMPB from 2005 – 2007, he has never heard of a vocation as ‘defence medical scientist’:
“The researchers at DSTA and DSO are all full-time civilians. As far as I am concerned, I have never come across a NSF who has ‘defence medical scientist’ as his vocation, let alone serve reservists there.” Full story
