ALIENS BECOMING SINGAPORE CITIZENS AND SINGAPORE CITIZENS RENOUNCING CITIZENSHIP (Numbers)

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi asked the Minister for Home Affairs to state how many aliens became citizens of Singapore between 1st January and 15th December, 1959, and how many citizens of Singapore voluntarily renounced their Singapore citizenship during the same period.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is assumed that by "aliens", the hon. Member is referring to non-Commonwealth citizens. 9,608 persons were registered or naturalized as Singapore citizens under sections 8, 9 and 15 of the Singapore Citizenship Ordinance during the period in question. It is regretted, however, that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not readily available as the registers of citizens do not distinguish between aliens and the other categories of persons eligible for registration.

With regard to the second part of the question, 335 persons voluntarily renounced their Singapore citizenship during the period in question.