Mr Leong Mun Wai: To ask the Minister for Defence (a) from 2000 to 2021, what is the annual number of male citizens granted Singapore citizenship who did not serve National Service in the age groups of (i) 18 to 30 years old (ii) 31 to 40 years old and (iii) above 40 years old; and (b) of these male citizens, how many joined the SAF Volunteer Corps.

Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen:

The Ministry of Home Affairs had provided the age breakdown of the number of new male citizens granted citizenship since 2000, in reply to Mr Leong's Parliamentary Question (PQ) on 1 Aug 2022. About 57% of new male citizens are below 30 years old when they receive their citizenship. Of these, about 70% are below 18 years old, and the remaining 30% are between 18 to 30 years old.

New male citizens who stayed in Singapore when young and enjoyed economic and social benefits are enlisted when they reach 18 years of age or older. Males who receive citizenship as mature adults, typically in their 30s and 40s, are not enlisted for NS, as they are not suitable for full-time NS at that age and did not enjoy any benefits prior to their citizenship.

We have stated this in MINDEF's reply to Mr Leong's PQ on 5 Jul 2022 and in the 2 Aug 2022 Ministerial Statement on "Liability and Contributions of New Citizens to National Service".

The SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) was established in October 2014, and built up progressively. Today, about 250 new male citizens and Permanent Residents apply to join the SAFVC each year.