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Dear Mr Hoh,

Singapore Shooting Association (SSA) will not respond to your complaint. SSA only deals with club representatives in SSA.

It is regrettable that you are an Singapore Gun Club (SGC) member. I will respond on behalf of SGC.

The President of SGC sent a detailed account of the situation in the National Shooting Centre (NSC) to all SGC members. I find it strange that only you are ignorant. I would also ask you to get your facts straight when you refer to our Nation’s Security as an inter club squabble.

First, a Police investigation is ongoing  and I cannot elaborate on what is transpiring. The range will remain closed until the Police investigations are concluded.

Second, Singapore Rifle Association (SRA) ‘licensing issue’ has been escalated to one of “National Security”. Expect the range to remain closed for some time. I would be surprised if charges are not laid. It might be more appropriate to address your complaint to SRA.

Third, the State funded the construction of the NSC to train and select Singapore’s National Team for ISSF competitions. The members of the National Training Team are unaffected by this closure.

The SSA is funded for ISSF shooting activities. I assure you that under the SSA, all ISSF shooting activities are unaffected

In the NSC, the interests of Singapore’s National Team are paramount. All non ISSF activities are secondary to those of the National Team’s.

Being an SGC member does not give you any rights to conduct your business in SGC ranges. I presume the SSA will respond similarly.

You might want to save your complaints till after the range opens.

Regards,

Michael Vaz
President

Dear Mr. Michael Vaz, Mr. Tang Kee Kong and Mr. Eng Fook Hoong,

RE: Continued Closure of the National Shooting Centre,SGC & SRA

Please register this as a formal personal complaint that legal shooters and coaches are losing our training time and income due to circumstances out of our control.

Since early February I have personally turned away lessons from SGC and SRA members and also members of the public who are seeking to become members of the shooting fraternity here. I have also been unable to train for legitimate International FITASC sporting & compak events that I registered for before these closures. Moreover the decision to further not allow legally held and licensed arms to travel for legitimate competition is extremely disappointing (March FITASC in South Africa). 

It is also unacceptable that a range complex the size of the NSC be shut for this length losing revenue and credibility with everyday that passes. Ranges stand empty, while squabbles between the clubs and the SSA have led to a situation that threatens the survival of the shooting sports for the club shooter in Singapore. I have completely lost confidence in the management of the clubs, the SSA and Sport Singapore.

How is this extended closure supposed to be pro-sport? Both the clubs have not sent members any information beyond early letters and the SSA and Sport Singapore is completely quiet on the subject.There has not even been any formal information or explanation disseminated beyond hearsay and innuendo.

Moreover who will be liable for damage to our guns as they sit locked in armories without regular maintenance? Being the tropics our guns will rust in the humid environment, at least we must be allowed to be escorted in to maintain them?

Most importantly the issues must be resolved soon, we must be allowed to train, travel and compete. Shooting is not just about ISSF athletes, national teams and gold medals. Without a vibrant club scene Shooting as a sport is all but finished in our nation. I hope the various committees are working hard to resolve this situation quickly and without further loss of privileges for ordinary club members.  However, with the years of squabbling that have been the recent history of Singapore shooting, I am not confident any of the current leadership’s abilities to resolve these fractious issues.

Why are we being denied access to our sporting arms, the training facility and our sport when we were abiding by all rules? When will the ranges and clubs reopen? I would even settle for an estimate as there are overseas competitions that I would like to attend to pursue my sport, but am denied even the ability to plan ahead.

Looking forward to your reply,

please note: I have sent this email to the various club secretaries and the NSC GM email addresses to follow the correct protocol for lodging of a formal complaint. 

Thank you,

Yours Sincerely,

 Guy Hoh
Director/chief Instructor
+6597953167
guy@singaporesportshooting.com
Blaze Sporting Clays Singapore
www.singaporesportshooting.com
Shooting Sports & Safari Hunts for Individuals, Groups & Corporate Parties!