APPLICATIONS FOR SINGAPORE CITIZENSHIP (Numbers received, rejected, and under consideration)

Mr Teo Hock Guan asked the Minister for Home Affairs since 3rd June, 1959, (a) how many applications have been received for Singapore citizenship; (b) how many of these have been rejected; and (c) how many are still under consideration.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir:

(a) 108,320 applications for Singapore citizenship have been received since 3rd June, 1959, up to 30th September, 1961;

(b) 4,835 applications have been rejected during the same period;

(c) 10,318 applications were under consideration on 30th September, 1961.

Mr Teo Hock Guan (Changi): Could the Minister inform this House how many applications were rejected on political grounds?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: I would require notice of that question.

Mr Teo Hock Guan: Could the Minister also inform this House whether the applications were rejected because of their political ideologies?

Mr Speaker: It is a similar question. Notice of it will be required.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Yes.