Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen has apologised for the deaths of 4 NSmen over the past 17 months. In a ministerial statement yesterday, he said that he was "deeply sorry" for their loss. He promised that MINDEF and SAF will be accountable for every NSman and will "do all that is humanly possible to prevent training deaths... because precious sons have been entrusted to us by their families."
His apology comes after the death of actor Aloysius Pang, who succumbed to his injuries after repair works on a Howitzer.
Some may wonder if the Defence Minister's apology was catalysed by widespread media attention after Pang's death. Some may wonder if his apology was a means to appease Singaporeans who are up in arms over the latest accident. In the eyes of opposition politician Lim Tean, the apology came too late and has little meaning.
Why apologise now instead of doing "all that is humanly possible to prevent training deaths" in the first place? Why did none of our ministers bother to attend Aloysius Pang's wake? Was it inappropriate? How is it inappropriate if they merely wanted to give their sincere condolences, if any?
"Where was he, Lee Hsien Loong or Halimah Yacob when Singaporeans grieved over the recent tragic death of Aloysius Pang. None of them saw it fit to attend the wake of Aloysius Pang or to express more sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of Aloysius Pang and to the Nation...
Sadly, all of them were missing as the Nation was grieving. Sending Lawrence Wong as the government’s representative was totally inadequate and inappropriate."
Do our Ministers have heart? Where is their sincerity? It's time to show, not tell. Or they have no right to blame Singaporeans for finding fault with them.
