Dr Allan Ooi's death. Mindef has spoken.


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reachme2003

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Oct 6, 2003
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Mindef has spoken in st. today. Today paper as well.
 

quote from CNA:

For the first time since Singapore Armed Forces doctor Allan Ooi was found dead under a bridge in Melbourne nearly three weeks ago, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has come forward to address the incident in detail.

In a letter to the press, Mindef stated that it wished to “clarify certain facts regarding media reports on Capt (Dr) Ooi’s service in the SAF and his scholarship bond”, and gave a rundown of the events leading to his disappearance in October.

An alleged suicide note by Capt (Dr) Ooi, which has been circulating on the Internet, has been stoking public speculation, in particular. Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao had referenced the alleged letter and its contents, which touched on his dissatisfaction with his job and his bond with the SAF.

Mindef confirmed in its letter that Capt (Dr) Ooi, who studied medicine at the National University of Singapore under the SAF Local Study Award (Medicine), had last year informed his superior at the Aeromedical Centre that he was “unhappy at work and was considering leaving the SAF”.

Recipients of the scholarship are required to serve a 12-year bond after their housemanship, which Capt (Dr) Ooi completed in 2006.

“On 3 Oct 2008, his superior offered him the option of posting to an appointment which he would be interested in,” wrote Mindef spokesman Darius Lim in the letter.

“Capt (Dr) Ooi agreed to consider this option and to get back to his superior in two weeks’ time. However, he did not do so. He also did not submit any application to leave the SAF.”

Less than two weeks later, Capt (Dr) Ooi went Awol (absent without official leave). He would have been scheduled to go for his hospital posting at the end of this year.

In the letter, Mindef stated that SAF officers who take up sponsorship have a responsibility to serve the full period of their bonds as “substantial resources and time have been devoted to training them”.

“Otherwise, they will leave gaps in key positions in the SAF. Nevertheless, if an officer wishes to leave the service early, he can submit an application through a proper process. Approval to leave the service will be granted only under strong and extenuating circumstances,” wrote Colonel Lim.

Capt (Dr) Ooi was commissioned in 2006, and served for one and a half years in the Air Force Medical Service. He was sponsored by the SAF in January last year for further specialist training in Aviation Medicine in the United Kingdom. He was posted to the Aeromedical Centre after completing the course last July.

While it was not said if this would extend his stay in the SAF, a 12-year bond from a Local Study Award comprises six years spent in hospitals to acquire clinical competency in fields needed by the SAF.

The other six years are spent in command and staff positions with the SAF Medical Corps, performing duties such as the clinical care of SAF servicemen and professional development of military medicine.

Melbourne police are still investigating the circumstances of Capt (Dr) Ooi’s death.
 

Nevertheless, its a pity that SG have lost such a fine talent....
 

Mindef has not addressed the issue that another 3 years were added to his bond as a result of his London training. His family has maintained this. In his last email, the late doctor said that this was done 'at a stroke of a pen'. 'like unilaterally'. Mindef should provide more relevant details to dispel suspicions.

Besides, the late doctor has not submit application to leave earlier through a 'proper process'. The family has requested direct dialogue with Mindef to clarify the issues raised.
 

btw, giving financial aid to a talent who comes from a family of doctors. does he or his family need financial aid? this issue is at the core of our govt scholarship programme. ???

His action has deprived someone more deserving of the scholarship.
 

Bro you may want to check with SAF.

Any person who want to sign on with SAF, and do medicine usually get this. No one who can get into medicine will be deprived of this.

Its a choice as to whether you wish to get the money, and spend 18 years including med school.

At 18 its not easy to decide, and some will wish they did not.

Cheers

Anyway, there is more than meets the eye on this, not all the facts are out, so we should avoid speculation....

His action has deprived someone more deserving of the scholarship.
 

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We'll never know the truth officially but the SAF medical corps is a small knit community and it's a small world.

RIP Dr Allan Ooi.
 

more facts are revealed by Mindef today. a BOI was convened too.
 

What I find concerning is the way MINDEF says that they can only state certain things, but want to protect the family's privacy by not saying certain things. I find this a convenient backdoor because:

1. If someone comes out and say "How come I know this but you never say?" Mindef will say "sorry dude, that fell under private info hence we won't tell you.

2. A convenient way to tell only one part, and leave the not-so-good parts untold.

I think the family, by writing to the press, has already implicitly agreed that there is no longer anything private and is willing to have a full public discussion on it. IF privacy is really an issue, and if MINDEF is sincere, they would have asked the family "we want to put a full story, but some are private bits, are you willing to waive privacy?"

But of course that won't happen, cos in my view, MINDEF wants the backdoor as stated above. I think the family shoudl write to ST Forum and then say "We waive all privacy, please publish in full". THen there is no more backdoor that MINDFE can then hide behind.
 

April 8, 2009
SAF doctor found dead
Mindef clarifies doc's bond
By Jermyn Chow


THE Defence Ministry has addressed for a second time issues raised by the family of Captain (Dr) Allan Ooi, who had gone absent without official leave for five months before being found dead in Melbourne, Australia, last month.

In a letter to the media on Tuesday, the ministry said it would have preferred to keep such exchanges private out of respect for Capt (Dr) Ooi and his family. However, it said an earlier letter by the family had raised 'several issues', and it was necessary to clarify them.

Among them, said Mindef spokesman Darius Lim, was the three-year bond Capt (Dr) Ooi had to serve after he was sent for a six-month stint in aviation medicine in London in January last year.

In a letter to the press last week, the family claimed that this bond was to be served on top of the Republic of Singapore Air Force medical officer's 12-year medicine scholarship bond - in effect, making it a three-year bond for a six-month course.

However, Colonel Lim said yesterday that this was untrue. He said the bonds were to be served concurrently, and this was explained to Capt (Dr) Ooi when he signed the contract in December 2007 before flying off to London. In fact, two of his family members signed the contract as his sureties.

Added Col Lim: 'Mindef also sent Capt (Dr) Ooi an e-mail to confirm this. He acknowledged receiving the mail.'

When the SAF scholarship holder returned from his London training stint last July, he had told his superior at the Aeromedical Centre that he was unhappy at work and wanted out of the SAF.

About a month later - on Aug 12, not in July, as his family had said - Capt (Dr) Ooi wrote to the Head of Manpower at Headquarters Medical Corps, expressing his intention to quit.

On Aug 20, the Head of Manpower replied, and explained how to apply for an early release.
But Capt (Dr) Ooi did not submit an application, said Col Lim. On Oct 3, the doctor's superior offered him the option of a 'posting to an appointment of his choice'.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_360948.html
 

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What I find concerning is the way MINDEF says that they can only state certain things, but want to protect the family's privacy by not saying certain things. I find this a convenient backdoor because:

1. If someone comes out and say "How come I know this but you never say?" Mindef will say "sorry dude, that fell under private info hence we won't tell you.

2. A convenient way to tell only one part, and leave the not-so-good parts untold.

I think the family, by writing to the press, has already implicitly agreed that there is no longer anything private and is willing to have a full public discussion on it. IF privacy is really an issue, and if MINDEF is sincere, they would have asked the family "we want to put a full story, but some are private bits, are you willing to waive privacy?"

But of course that won't happen, cos in my view, MINDEF wants the backdoor as stated above. I think the family shoudl write to ST Forum and then say "We waive all privacy, please publish in full". THen there is no more backdoor that MINDFE can then hide behind.

There could be certain facts that are potentially embarassing to the family. As already pointed out in MINDEF's reply, there were inaccuracies in the family's claim. Now the ball is in the family's court. It is for them to further clarify or to tell MINDEF to bare it all.
 

Well I suggest the family can simply say "we waive all privacy issues", and then rebutt MINDEF if it wants to. I still think it is a convenient back door :).
 

the difference is family wants an 'independent' inqury while Mindef's BOI has been convened. i do not suppose Mindef's BOI proceedings and records can be made public.
 

Singapore is getting more and more mysterious with recent scams, deaths, and such events. I am concerned that Singapore will loose face in the global community if our Govt keeps on hiding things from the public. It will gave serious impact like loosing public faith in govt and foreign nation's questions. We should be more open.
 

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