RESTRICTED PASSPORTS FOR TRAVEL BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND WEST MALAYSIA

Mr S. V. Lingam asked the Minister of Defence if he will consider improving the appearance and quality of the paper of the restricted passport for travel between Singapore and West Malaysia.

Mr Wee Toon Boon (for the Minister of Defence): Mr Speaker, Sir, the urgency of printing the present restricted passport and the large number required necessitated the use of whatever stock of security printing material was then available. A total of 200,000 restricted passports were printed, of which 87,000 had been issued as on 18-7-67. The present stock will have to be used up before a fresh format can be introduced.

There are plans to bring out a new restricted passport with improvements in appearance and in the quality of paper used.