ELECTORAL REGISTER

Mr William Tan asked the Chief Secretary what steps have been taken by the Government to bring the electoral register up to date.

Mr Goode: Sir, the following steps have been taken to bring the electoral register up to date.

(1) Approximately 57,000 new voters are being brought on to the roll.

(2) Enquiry is being made of all new voters who were recorded as having British nationality but who were born outside the United Kingdom and Colonies, the Federation of Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak, to ascertain their citizenship status.

(3) 65,000 changes of addresses have been recorded.

(4) A regular check is being made of deaths notified to the Registrar of Births and Deaths and all deaths registered. Deletions are also being made from the electoral roll of persons who surrender their identity cards on departure from Malaya. Approximately 13,000 deletions from the roll have now been made as regards death and departure.

(5) The names of persons obtaining registration as citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies and naturalised as British subjects are being included in the roll. About 500 persons are affected.

(6) The names are also being included on the register of locally domiciled persons serving in the armed services and with the police who are qualified as electors but do not hold identity cards. About 1,000 persons are so involved.

(7) The electoral register has been checked for duplication and incorrect identity card numbers and enquiry is being made in each individual case where possible. There are about 450 persons in this category.

Mr William Tan: Can the Hon. the Chief Secretary enlighten this House as to when this electoral register will be ready?

Mr Goode: Yes, Sir. The present programme is to publish the revisions as required by law in September, and then the new roll will be ready, I think, six weeks after that.

Mr John Ede: Sir, does that mean that if a general election were necessary in the next month or two, there would be no electoral roll available?

Mr Goode: Certainly not, Sir. The electoral roll continues in existence. All I am concerned with at the moment is revising it.