SINGAPORE CITIZENSHIP (AMENDMENT) BILL

10.08 a.m.

First Reading

The Chief Minister (Dr Lim Yew Hock): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to introduce a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Singapore Citizenship Ordinance, 1957 (No. 35 of 1957)."

Bill read the First time.

Second Reading

Mr Speaker: Second Reading, what day?

The Chief Minister: Now, Sir. Mr Speaker, Sir, I have to lay upon the Table a Certificate of Urgency signed by His Excellency the Governor in respect of the Bill.

Certificate of Urgency handed in.

Mr Speaker: The Certificate is in order. Please proceed.

The Chief Minister: Sir, I have with me the relevant number of typed copies of the Bill for distribution.

Typed copies of the Bill handed in to the Clerk and distributed to hon. Members.

The Chief Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, the objects of the Bill are clearly set out in the explanatory note. Clause 2 seeks to make an amendment to section 11 of the Singapore Citizenship Ordinance. Under this section of the Ordinance, persons who are recruited in Malaya into the British armed forces have been deprived of the right of becoming citizens of Singapore. I have received representations from this group of people and it has been considered that it is but fair that such persons and their families who have been recruited into the British armed forces in Malaya should be entitled to become citizens of Singapore.

Clause 3 seeks to make a minor amendment. It makes a correction of a mistake that crept into the Bill when it was considered last time.

Clause 4 seeks to add a proviso to section 26 of the Ordinance. Under section 26, people who are entitled to become citizens of Singapore are being registered for an initial period of three months ending 31st January, 1958. So far, more than 230,000 citizens have been registered but there have been cases in which the Registrars are not in a position to grant certificates immediately on application and have had to defer the cases for further investigation. This clause seeks to enable those deferred cases, when they have been finalised within one month after the registration period, to be allowed to be included in the electoral register.

There have been about 5,000 deferred cases of various categories, such as people who applied with identity cards defaced and have to get new ones to satisfy the Registrar on the claims on the application form, people who were born in Singapore and claimed birth elsewhere, cases of absences from the Colony, and cases where the applicants are seamen and were unable to satisfy the Registrar that their absences fall within the approved categories.

The Government is doing all it can to finalise consideration of these deferred cases within one month from 31st January, 1958, and it is felt that it is but fair that those who registered during the registration period but whose applications are deferred pending further investigation, should their applications be approved and citizenship granted them, should qualify for inclusion on the electoral register for the purpose of the next general election.

It is because the initial registration period will come to an end on 31st January, 1958, that a Certificate of Urgency has been found necessary. Sir, I beg to move.

The Minister for Education (Mr Chew Swee Kee): Sir, I second it.

Question proposed.

10.16 a.m.

Mr Lee Choon Eng: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not making a speech but just a point of clarification. The Hon. the Chief Minister said that the Government would try to finalise all deferred cases within one month. If it so happens that the Government cannot finalise matters within that month, and registration is made after the expiry of that month, will the Government then consider that the applicant is deemed to be a citizen of Singapore if registration is granted?

10.17 a.m.

Mr Lim Choon Mong (Serangoon): Mr Speaker, Sir, we support this Bill. In the case of those who are recruited into the British armed forces, I think we considered it in Select Committee, and we agree that such persons should be given that consideration.

However, I think the object of the Citizenship Ordinance is to allow people, who owe their loyalty to Singapore, to have a say in the matter of government. This means the exercise of the franchise and if those who have registered as citizens are going to stay away from voting during elections again, then the object of the Ordinance will be defeated. We should ensure that a good percentage of those who are on the electoral roll should come forward during elections to have their say. We do not like to see the fate of Singapore being decided by just a few people who go to the polls while the majority stay at home. If there is anything to grouse about later, they can only blame themselves for failing to elect a government of their own choice.

I take this opportunity, Sir, to warn the people of Singapore that it is of paramount importance that they should all go to the polls and exercise their vote so that the percentage of voters should not be just 30 but near 100. Only in that case can democracy work.

Sir, we support this Bill.

10.19 a.m.

Mr Lim Cher Kheng (Changi): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the amending Bill wholeheartedly but there is one point I would like to ask the Government to consider. Some people have been put in prison for banishment; they intend to apply for citizenship during the registration period. I wonder whether the Government will consider the cases of such banishees who sincerely want to swear allegiance to Singapore. Will Government consider their applications or not?

Mr Lee Choon Eng: Sir, can I have an answer to my question?

Mr Speaker: I think the hon. Member has already spoken.

Mr Lee Choon Eng: Mr Speaker, Sir, I was not making my speech, I was asking a question.

Mr Speaker: I think the hon. Member is too late.

The Chief Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, there are two points which require some reply. In the case of the question posed by the hon. Member for Queenstown, I can assure him that all deferred cases can be completed within one month. The figure of 5.000 was quoted by me but it does not mean that the Government is holding up these deferred cases until 1st February before it considers them. Out of these 5,000 cases, for all we know, 4,785 might have been disposed of. It is those cases coming in towards the end of the registration period which require this special amendment.

In regard to the point raised by the hon. Member for Changi, surely he understands that one of the qualifications for citizenship is that of good character?

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly.

Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. [The Chief Minister].

Bill considered in Committee.

10.21 a.m.

Clauses 1 to 3 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 4 -

The Chairman: If the hon. Member for Queenstown wishes to say anything further on the Bill, this is the opportunity.

Mr Lee Choon Eng: I have received my answer already, Sir.

Clause 4 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported without amendment; read the Third time and passed.