ELIGIBLE VOTERS IN 1959 AND 1963 GENERAL ELECTIONS (Number refused Red identity cards)

Mr Chow Chiok Hock asked the Minister for Labour the number of persons, who had been eligible to vote in the 1959 and 1963 General Elections, who have been refused the red (Singapore Citizen) identity card.

The Minister for Labour (Mr Jek Yeun Thong): Mr Speaker, Sir, there are no records kept of persons eligible to vote in the 1959 and 1963 elections who were refused registration for citizen identity cards. The Member for Ulu Pandan is aware that the previous electoral registers were compiled from the counterfoils of the old identity cards. So long as a person is 21 years of age and above, and his place of birth is shown as Singapore on the old identity card, his name is automatically put on the electoral register. With the re-registration of the population for the new plastic laminated identity cards under the National Registration Act, we have cleaned up our records and have determined who are citizens and who are non-citizens. All who are Singapore citizens are issued with the new pink Singapore laminated identity cards.

Mr Chow Chiok Hock (Ulu Pandan): Will the Minister consider the approval of applications for citizenship by those who do riot possess birth certificates but who voted during the last two general elections?

Mr Jek Yeun Thong: What those people who have no birth certificates have to do is to apply for citizenship and then submit whatever documentary evidence they have for the consideration of the Registrar of Citizens.