SINGAPORE — National Sports Associations (NSA) told TODAY they have procedures in place to ensure national athletes doing full-time National Service (NS) have proper clearance before embarking on overseas competition.

On Saturday, it was reported that Singapore national footballer Shakir Hamzah was detained for four days after going Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL).

The 20-year-old defender had travelled with his Malaysian Super League (MSL) side LionsXII to Kuantan on May 17 for an MSL match against Pahang without permission from his superiors at the Singapore Police Force.

Shakir had reportedly assured the LionsXII team manager that he had sought permission from his NS unit, but a key question that arose from the saga was whether the FAS had a procedure in place to verify that a player had indeed obtained clearance.

An FAS spokesman told TODAY it is “conducting a review of our current processes and procedures”.

He said: “At present, players who are undergoing NS are required to submit full pay unrecorded leave forms through the SSC to secure their release from the SPF and SAF to represent Singapore. As for club players who are in NS, including the LionsXII, they will have to apply directly to their respective NS units for their paid leave.”

NSAs said it is vital to work closely with their athletes and respective NS units.

At the Singapore Rugby Union (SRU), national players serving full-time NS must obtain permission from their NS units when going for overseas meets, and apply for leave if required.

But as a safety net, the SRU’s team managers liaise directly with the players and their respective superiors to make sure everything is in place and not leave it to the player’s own devices.

“But the onus is on the players to make sure they have proper documentation and permission (from their NS superiors) when going away,” said the SRU’s national under-19 head coach Jonathan Leow, whose side will travel to Taiwan in August for the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) Division Two under-19 Championship.

“It is also the team manager’s job to make sure the player is properly cleared. That’s why the team manager is so important.”

Another NSA official, who declined to be named, said: “NSAs should always get the final clearance from the Home Team or Ministry of Defence via the Singapore Sports Council on whether the athlete has obtained clearance or given fully unrecorded paid leave and this has been in place for a while.”

Singapore Canoe Federation chief Chua Kee Huat said the key is to plan early in such matters, so that athletes who need to travel have the proper documentation in place.

“We try not to do things last minute, especially when applying for clearance from the canoeists’ NS units,” said Chua.

“While the boys will send in their applications themselves, we will find out from them who their commanding officers are so that we can follow up with our own official letters, supported by letters from the SSC.”

Similarly, the Singapore Sailing Federation (SSF) said it always reminds its national sailors who are in NS of the need to make sure that the necessary permits are in place before they travel for overseas regattas.

SSF Chief Executive Officer Tan Wearn Haw added: “And this close working relationship with all stakeholders, especially MINDEF, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defence Force allows for good collaborations to allow our athletes’ continued development.”

Former Singapore football captain and NFA Under-15 coach Nazri Nasir think’s Shakir may have been a little naive.

“He probably took things for granted that he is being released. I have served NS before, and I know it’s a sensitive subject. What Shakir did is not good for him and his image,” said Nazri.

“I hope everybody learns from this episode, including the FAS. I mean, how could you just rely on someone’s word that he is being released and everything is okay?

“Still, Shakir is responsible for what he has done and why he did it only he himself knows.” With additional reporting by DAN GUEN CHIN and PHILIP GOH