The news that Singapore-born writer Kevin Kwan defaulted on his national service obligations has cast a spotlight on the issue of draft dodgers and what they do to avoid having to serve.

Mr Kwan, who wrote the best-selling book that inspired the movie Crazy Rich Asians, is classified as a defaulter by the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) and could face arrest if he returns here. Mindef said last Wednesday (Aug 22) that the 44-year-old failed to register for NS in 1990, despite notices sent to his overseas address.