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Kevin Kwan, author of the 2013 book and an
executive producer of the film, was notably absent from the
Singapore premier of the romantic comedy on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Defence said Kwan had failed to register for
National Service (NS) in 1990, despite notices and letters sent
to his overseas address, and he had also stayed overseas without
a valid exit permit.
"Mr Kwan is therefore wanted for defaulting on his NS
obligations," the ministry said in a statement.
He was liable to a fine of up to S$10,000 ($7,315) "and/or
imprisonment of up to 3 years upon conviction", the ministry
said.
Kwan could not be reached for comment.
Singapore has a strict law on national service for all male
citizens and enforces it with few exceptions. It makes it
illegal for men to give up citizenship without having completed
their military service, of about two years.
Kwan left Singapore at age 11, first moving to Texas with his
family, and has lived in the United States since then, Singapore
media said.
His 1994 application to renounce his Singapore citizenship and a
subsequent appeal had been rejected, the ministry said.
Kwan's book and the film directed by Jon M. Chu depict Singapore
as a playground for the super-rich in a story about an
Asian-American woman who goes to the city state to meet her
boyfriend's wealthy family.
Kwan himself comes from a prominent Singapore family.
His great grandfather was a founding director of the
Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation - Singapore's oldest bank.
(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Robert Birsel)
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