NON-CITIZENS OF MALAYSIAN ORIGIN (Certificates of Identity)

Mr N. Govindasamy asked the Minister for Defence what is the outcome of his examination into the problem of issuing Certificates of Identity to non-citizens of Malaysian origin per manently resident in the Republic for purposes of travel between Singapore and West Malaysia.

The Minister for Defence (Mr Lim Kim San): Mr Speaker, Sir, the issue of Certificates of Identity is governed by the United Nations Final Act and Con vention relating to the status of stateless persons. Such certificates can only be issued to stateless persons lawfully residing in the Republic to enable them to travel outside Singapore.

As regards the issue of Certificates of Identity to non-citizens of Malaysian or other origins permanently resident in the Republic for purposes of travel between Singapore and West Malaysia, the matter has been carefully examined but the position remains unchanged.

Our present policy with regard to the issue of Certificates of Identity is that a person applying for such a certificate must produce evidence from his country of birth to the effect that he is stateless. The Government is aware of the position in which stateless people are placed, but, in view of the international issues of policy involved, the Government cannot relax the present regulations.

Mr Selvadurai: Mr Speaker, Sir, what happens in the event of a person getting a certificate from the Malaysian Government to the effect that he is not a citizen of Malaysia? Will that be satisfactory?

Mr Lim Kim San: That is avoiding the issue, Sir. What we want is a certificate from the country where the applicant was born stating that he is stateless.

Mr Selvadurai: Mr Speaker, Sir, no government would be able to give such a certificate of statelessness to any of its citizens.

Mr Lim Kim San: Neither can we certify that a person is stateless since he was not born here.