NEW CITIZENSHIP IDENTITY CARDS FOR NON-MALAY CHILDREN

Inche Mohd. Ariff Bin Suradi asked the Minister for Labour whether a non-Malay child, born in Singapore and adopted by Malays, will be issued with his Malay name and Malay as his race appearing on it.

Mr E. W. Barker (Acting Minister for Labour): Children born in Singapore who are Singapore Citizens by birth will be issued with the new citizenship identity card, irrespective of whether the child has been adopted by a citizen or a non-citizen of another race.

A non-Malay child who has been adopted by Malays will have his Malay name written on the new identity card. In addition, however, his name on the birth certificate will also be written within brackets on the identity card. This is to relate the identity card to his birth certificate. If, however, an adopted Order of Court is produced, the non-Malay name of the adopted child will not be entered on his new identity card; only the assumed Malay name will appear thereon.

A child cannot change his race by adoption but in order to avoid embarrassment it is the practice of the National Registration Office to enter the race of the adopting parents, if so desired, on the identity card of the child.