NATIONAL REGISTRATION ACT (Statement by the Minister for Labour)

2.33 p.m.

Mr Jek Yeun Thong: Mr Speaker, Sir, over the last few days after the introduction of the National Registration Bill in Parliament on the 13th of December, 1965, much public concern has been expressed by the Backbenchers and through the Press over a provision in the National Registration Act - that an unnamed birth certificate supported by a statutory declaration shall not necessarily be sufficient evidence for the purpose of establishing Singapore citizenship by birth. The Registry of Persons has been besieged with inquiries as regards the citizenship status of persons holding unnamed birth certificates.

The Government wishes to make it clear that this provision in the Act is designed to debar people who were actually not born in Singapore but who claim birth here by using unnamed birth certificates not belonging to them. The Government appreciates the fact that there are many people who were born in Singapore but whose names had not been entered on their birth certificates either through the ignorance of their parents or through the tardiness of the colonial registration authorities. As far as those who were, in fact, born in Singapore and holding unnamed birth certificates are concerned, there need be no worry over this provision in the Act.

I would like to announce the Government's policy which is that a person who holds an unnamed birth certificate and has a Singapore identity card issued in 1949 or earlier, stating that his place of birth is Singapore, is presumed to be a Singapore citizen by birth. There is, therefore, no cause for anxiety by persons whose identity cards issued in 1949 or earlier stated that they were born in Singapore. They need not rush to the Citizenship Registry to have their citizenship status verified. They can apply for the new plastic laminated identity cards when their turn comes.

All those of 12 years of age in 1949 must have taken identity cards as required by the law then. In other words, all those now over 28 years, i.e. 12 years at 1949 plus 16 years, that is 16 years since 1949 to 1965, have their proof in their identity cards. There are persons born in Singapore who attained the age of 12 after 1949. In such cases their birth certificates, whether named or unnamed, have an endorsement on them by the Registry of Persons when they obtained their identity cards. This endorsement shows their present identity card number. When such persons produce their birth certificates together with their present identity cards for re-registration, they will be accepted as Singapore citizens by birth and will be given a Singapore citizen plastic laminated identity card. Further, any person who holds an unnamed birth certificate together with a statutory declaration made by one of his parents can always prove his Singapore citizenship by birth by other supporting documents such as:-

(a) birth certificates of his brothers and sisters, or

(b) birth certificates of his children, or

(c) school leaving certificate, or

(d) vaccination notice or certificate, or

(e) baptismal certificate,

which my Ministry will accept as sufficient evidence to establish status as a Singapore citizen by birth.

A citizen plastic laminated identity card in future will, be a very important document for a person to possess. In fact, the Government has taken measures to see that the new plastic laminated identity card is forgery-proof, tamper-proof and water-proof. With a citizen identity card, a holder will have all the rights and privileges conferred on a citizen of Singapore. It will be his passport to social amenities like education, housing, health, employment, and so on.

This statement should clarify the position and allay the doubts of those who were born in Singapore.

Mr Speaker: If Members are in any doubt, they may ask the Minister any question arising from that statement.

Mr S. Rajoo (Farrer Park): (In Tamil): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister in one part of his statement mentioned people without names in their birth certificates. The parents may have taken out statutory declarations regarding such persons and those will be accepted as proof. But there are instances where parents of certain children give away their children in adoption. Sometimes the adoption certificates are in order and sometimes they are not. Sometimes the natural parents of the children may unfortunately be dead. Now, these children may be about 17 or 18 years old. Therefore, their guardian ---

Mr Speaker: Order. I have indicated to the House that Members may ask questions on the statement, but not make a speech. If the Member will come to his question? Perhaps he is coming to his question!

Mr Rajoo: (In Tamil): My question is this, Mr Speaker, Sir. Those children who have not been given away properly in adoption, if their natural parents are deceased, can their guardians, who are looking after them now, submit statutory declarations in order to get these accepted as valid proof of birth?

Mr Jek Yeun Thong: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have explained earlier that the birth certificates of those who were born after 1949 - whether named or unnamed - will be endorsed by the Registry of Persons when they apply for identity cards. These birth certificates will be accepted as proof of citizenship.

The Deputy Prime Minister (Dr Toh Chin Chye): The Member's question is if the child was born before 1949.

Mr Jek Yeun Thong: Well, if he was born before 1949. I think the legal parent should be allowed to give a statutory declaration on that.