CIVIL SERVANTS (Non-acquisition of Singapore citizenship)

Mr Bernard Rodrigues asked the Minister for Finance, in the application of the recent Modification of Laws (Constitution of Singapore) (No. 2) Order, 1967, to civil servants, what is the policy of the Government in respect of those civil servants who are eligible for Singapore Citizenship under the new proviso to clause (1) of Article 57 of the Constitution but refuse to acquire Singapore Citizenship.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is a normal requirement that all candidates for permanent appointment to the public service must be Singapore citizens or persons eligible for Singapore citizenship at the time of application for appointment, although Malaysian citizens of outstanding qualities are accepted into the higher grades of the public service in Divisions I and II. With the relaxation of the residential qualification for Singapore citizenship through the recent Modification of Law (Constitution of Singapore) (No. 2) Order, the Government expects all non-Singapore citizens in the public service to apply for Singapore citizenship as soon as they become eligible.

There is at present no intention to require those who refuse to seek Singapore citizenship to leave the service. This may, however, jeopardise their prospects of promotion as they may have to be excluded from some jobs which are security-sensitive and would have to be held by Singapore citizens who are required to be loyal to the Republic.