<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>SAF doctor's death: MP raises query on bonded officers
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Goh Chin Lian
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->DETAILS about Singapore Armed Forces scholarship holders serving out their bond periods will be discussed in Parliament on Monday following a question tabled by MP Irene Ng.
The Tampines GRC MP has asked Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean for details, specifically if officers can apply to leave the service early and the circumstances under which approvals can be granted.
Ms Ng told The Straits Times her question was prompted by the recent death of Republic of Singapore Air Force medical officer Allan Ooi, who was serving a 12-year medicine scholarship bond.
She also wants Mr Teo to provide figures for the number of applications made and approvals granted.
Her question is one of 11 tabled for Monday's sitting of Parliament. Three Bills will also come up for debate, including one that will give the police more effective powers to maintain public order.
Ms Ng said in an e-mail reply to queries yesterday that she filed her question before newspapers published a letter from Captain (Dr) Ooi's family about his bond, and the Defence Ministry's reply to it.
Capt (Dr) Ooi went absent without official leave (AWOL) for five months before being found dead in Melbourne, Australia, last month.
In their letter, his family sought answers from Mindef about the circumstances before he went AWOL and called for an independent inquiry.
Mindef's reply noted, among other things, that Capt (Dr) Ooi did not submit an application for early release and did not respond to his superior's offer to be posted to an appointment of his choice.
The family's letter showed that they 'wanted more answers', said Ms Ng, noting that questions had also been raised by some members of the public. She described Mindef's reply as 'open' and said it presented 'useful facts for people to decide on the matter'.
Other questions for Monday's sitting include one on speeding up installation of half-height screen doors at above-ground MRT stations.
Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Sembawang GRC) is raising the issue in the light of the deaths of two passengers this year after they fell from open MRT platforms. MPs will also debate the Public Order Bill, which includes provisions such as a 'move on' order. This will enable the police to order a person to leave an area if they determine that he is about to break the law.
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Goh Chin Lian
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->DETAILS about Singapore Armed Forces scholarship holders serving out their bond periods will be discussed in Parliament on Monday following a question tabled by MP Irene Ng.
The Tampines GRC MP has asked Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean for details, specifically if officers can apply to leave the service early and the circumstances under which approvals can be granted.
Ms Ng told The Straits Times her question was prompted by the recent death of Republic of Singapore Air Force medical officer Allan Ooi, who was serving a 12-year medicine scholarship bond.
She also wants Mr Teo to provide figures for the number of applications made and approvals granted.
Her question is one of 11 tabled for Monday's sitting of Parliament. Three Bills will also come up for debate, including one that will give the police more effective powers to maintain public order.
Ms Ng said in an e-mail reply to queries yesterday that she filed her question before newspapers published a letter from Captain (Dr) Ooi's family about his bond, and the Defence Ministry's reply to it.
Capt (Dr) Ooi went absent without official leave (AWOL) for five months before being found dead in Melbourne, Australia, last month.
In their letter, his family sought answers from Mindef about the circumstances before he went AWOL and called for an independent inquiry.
Mindef's reply noted, among other things, that Capt (Dr) Ooi did not submit an application for early release and did not respond to his superior's offer to be posted to an appointment of his choice.
The family's letter showed that they 'wanted more answers', said Ms Ng, noting that questions had also been raised by some members of the public. She described Mindef's reply as 'open' and said it presented 'useful facts for people to decide on the matter'.
Other questions for Monday's sitting include one on speeding up installation of half-height screen doors at above-ground MRT stations.
Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Sembawang GRC) is raising the issue in the light of the deaths of two passengers this year after they fell from open MRT platforms. MPs will also debate the Public Order Bill, which includes provisions such as a 'move on' order. This will enable the police to order a person to leave an area if they determine that he is about to break the law.
