<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Death of SAF doctor: Mindef replies to family's letter
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->WE REFER to last Thursday's letter from the family of the late Captain (Dr) Allan Ooi, 'Family of dead SAF doctor seeks answers'.
Mindef would have preferred to keep the exchanges private, out of respect for the late Capt (Dr) Ooi and his family.
As the letter has raised several matters, it is necessary for Mindef to provide some factual clarifications.
The six-month Aviation Medicine course that Capt (Dr) Ooi attended in Britain from January last year had a three-year bond, to be served concurrently with his 12-year Local Study Award (Medicine) bond.
This was explained to Capt (Dr) Ooi when he and his two sureties signed the course deed on Dec 19, 2007, before he left for Britain.
Mindef also sent Capt (Dr) Ooi an e-mail to confirm this. He acknowledged receiving the e-mail. It is thus untrue that his 12-year bond would be 'prolonged by another three years for one six-month course'.
After he returned from Britain last year, he told his superior at the Aeromedical Centre on July 23 that he was unhappy at work and wanted to leave the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
Mindef's records show that Capt (Dr) Ooi had written to the Head of Manpower at Headquarters Medical Corps on Aug 12 last year and not 'July 2008', expressing his wish to resign.
The Head of Manpower replied on Aug 20, explaining to him the application process for early release. But Capt (Dr) Ooi did not apply for early release.
=> Care to elaborate on what was being "explained" to him.
On Oct 3, his superior interviewed him and offered him the option of posting to an appointment of his choice.
=> Care to elaborate these options?
Capt (Dr) Ooi thanked his superior and promised to respond in two weeks. But he did not do so and went Absent Without Official Leave (Awol) on Oct 15.
Officers sponsored by the SAF know that they have a moral obligation to serve out the full period of their bonds, which goes beyond the legal obligation to pay the liquidated damages if the bond is broken.
=> Ah, sounds like Ooi was being pressured to withdraw his application. AyeAssD-style questioning?
Substantial public funds have been invested in their training. They are, in turn, expected to do their duty unless prevented from doing so because of extenuating circumstances, like medical reasons.
=> Cut the moral crap and confirm if Ooi can or cannot break bond.
The family of the late Capt (Dr) Ooi asked for an inquiry into Mindef's policies and processes on the premise that this would avert a similar tragedy.
Mindef convened a Board of Inquiry on March 11, which concluded that matters related to the late Capt (Dr) Ooi's service with the SAF were managed appropriately.
While the late Capt (Dr) Ooi was unhappy with his job and had wished to resign, he subsequently went Awol even though he had been told of other possible job options.
=> He wanted to leave, but was this option given to him as he'd wanted? No, then FCUK IT and MINDEAF must admit that it drove him to his death!
Mindef will continue to be as open and helpful as possible to the family of the late Capt (Dr) Ooi and also provide the facts of the case to the public while respecting the privacy of the family. Colonel Darius Lim
Director Public Affairs
Ministry of Defence
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->WE REFER to last Thursday's letter from the family of the late Captain (Dr) Allan Ooi, 'Family of dead SAF doctor seeks answers'.
Mindef would have preferred to keep the exchanges private, out of respect for the late Capt (Dr) Ooi and his family.
As the letter has raised several matters, it is necessary for Mindef to provide some factual clarifications.
The six-month Aviation Medicine course that Capt (Dr) Ooi attended in Britain from January last year had a three-year bond, to be served concurrently with his 12-year Local Study Award (Medicine) bond.
This was explained to Capt (Dr) Ooi when he and his two sureties signed the course deed on Dec 19, 2007, before he left for Britain.
Mindef also sent Capt (Dr) Ooi an e-mail to confirm this. He acknowledged receiving the e-mail. It is thus untrue that his 12-year bond would be 'prolonged by another three years for one six-month course'.
After he returned from Britain last year, he told his superior at the Aeromedical Centre on July 23 that he was unhappy at work and wanted to leave the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
Mindef's records show that Capt (Dr) Ooi had written to the Head of Manpower at Headquarters Medical Corps on Aug 12 last year and not 'July 2008', expressing his wish to resign.
The Head of Manpower replied on Aug 20, explaining to him the application process for early release. But Capt (Dr) Ooi did not apply for early release.
=> Care to elaborate on what was being "explained" to him.
On Oct 3, his superior interviewed him and offered him the option of posting to an appointment of his choice.
=> Care to elaborate these options?
Capt (Dr) Ooi thanked his superior and promised to respond in two weeks. But he did not do so and went Absent Without Official Leave (Awol) on Oct 15.
Officers sponsored by the SAF know that they have a moral obligation to serve out the full period of their bonds, which goes beyond the legal obligation to pay the liquidated damages if the bond is broken.
=> Ah, sounds like Ooi was being pressured to withdraw his application. AyeAssD-style questioning?
Substantial public funds have been invested in their training. They are, in turn, expected to do their duty unless prevented from doing so because of extenuating circumstances, like medical reasons.
=> Cut the moral crap and confirm if Ooi can or cannot break bond.
The family of the late Capt (Dr) Ooi asked for an inquiry into Mindef's policies and processes on the premise that this would avert a similar tragedy.
Mindef convened a Board of Inquiry on March 11, which concluded that matters related to the late Capt (Dr) Ooi's service with the SAF were managed appropriately.
While the late Capt (Dr) Ooi was unhappy with his job and had wished to resign, he subsequently went Awol even though he had been told of other possible job options.
=> He wanted to leave, but was this option given to him as he'd wanted? No, then FCUK IT and MINDEAF must admit that it drove him to his death!
Mindef will continue to be as open and helpful as possible to the family of the late Capt (Dr) Ooi and also provide the facts of the case to the public while respecting the privacy of the family. Colonel Darius Lim
Director Public Affairs
Ministry of Defence
