ILLEGAL ENTRY OF PERSONS INTO SINGAPORE

Mr Sim Boon Woo asked the Deputy Prime Minister whether he is aware that there are people entering Singapore illegally along the coast of Mata Ikan and Padang Terbakar, and what action he has taken, or proposes to take, in the matter.

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Mr Speaker, as long as there was a curfew imposed in Singapore port waters, it was easy to detect any craft making its way to Singapore. With the ending of Indonesian confrontation, the curfew has now been lifted and, as is to be expected, numerous small craft make their way to Singapore from the neighbouring Rhio Islands. Some of these are barter traders who conduct their business at Telok Ayer Basin, while others conceivably bring in illegal immigrants who land at odd spots along the Singa-port coast line.

The Immigration Department itself does not have a preventive branch to check these illegal entries, but relies on the Ministry of the Interior and Defence for surveillance of our coastal waters. The Immigration Department is liaising with the Ministry of the Interior and Defence on how to improve marine and beach patrols. Immigration and security responsibilities will be integrated when the Immigration Department is transferred to the Ministry of the Interior and Defence from the 1st of January next year. More effective measures to control illegal entries can then be worked out.

I suggest that the Vigilante Corps in those areas close to the sea can perform a public duty by patrolling the beaches as they did previously, and help to detain illegal entries. From time to time, the presence of illegal immigrants has been reported by public-spirited citizens to the Immigration Department. Raids are conducted and illegal immigrants are deported after serving a term of imprisonment according to the law.