CITIZENSHIP (Applications from non-citizen members of family)

Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour whether the Government will give sympathetic consideration to an application for citizenship from an applicant who is the sole remaining non-citizen member of his family.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labour (Mr Sia Kah Hui) (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour): Mr Speaker, Sir, the general policy on citizenship was enunciated by the Minister in this House on the 21st of May, 1968. However, the Government is prepared to give sympathetic consideration to such applications provided the applicants satisfy the provisions of Article 57 (1) of the Singapore Constitution.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon (Tiong Bahru): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, at present, the Government is very strict as regards the approval of citizenship applications. Normally, an applicant who can fulfil residential and other qualifications is granted citizenship. But now the Government will have to consider whether he is likely to contribute economically to the state and, because of this, it is very difficult to have applications for citizenship approved. I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary --

Mr Speaker: Mr Ch'ng, are you going to ask a supplementary question?

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon: (In Mandarin): Yes, Sir. Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether Government's policy on applications for citizenship will be revised?

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have indicated just now that sympathetic consideration will be given to applications for citizenship. But as far as the policy is concerned, it is constantly under review.

Mr Ho See Beng (Bras Basah): Mr Speaker, Sir, we are aware of Government's difficulty on the issue of citizenship certificates to applicants at this particular time. But, all the same, as there are many applicants waiting for citizenship, can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether Government will issue a statement to the effect that for a period of, say, so many years, there is no need for people to apply for citizenship as we will not be able to give them citizenship, so that they need not waste their time?

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Sir, I do not think that would be practical. For example, people who apply for citizenship at the present time do not get their applications approved. But if they had applied, say, five years ago, their applications would have been approved. Therefore, it is almost impossible to lay down such a policy as indicated by the Member for Bras Basah.

Mr Ho See Beng: Sir, can the Government say what sympathetic grounds are required so that applicants for citizenship can prepare to meet these requirements?

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Sir, there are many different shades of people and character in this world. It is almost impossible to lay down anything definite. Just look at the Gentlemen across the Floor. Each Member has a different background and each has a different face. So how are we going to lay down the rules as to whom we will give sympathetic consideration?

Mr Ho See Beng: Sir, is it to be understood that the Government does not know what type of hardship can be considered as genuine grounds for sympathetic consideration?

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Mr Speaker, Sir, I can only say that each case will have to be considered on its own merits.

Mr Tay Boon Too (Paya Lebar): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether Government will give sympathetic consideration to applicants whose parents, brothers and sisters are all Singapore citizens? There is one case where, because the applicant was born during the Japanese occupation, he is unable to get his citizenship papers.

Another point relates to applicants who were told in 1964 not to apply for citizenship by the authorities concerned when we were in Malaysia. Now that they want to apply for citizenship, they cannot get their applications approved. Can the Parliamentary Secretary give sympathetic consideration to these cases?

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Mr Speaker, Sir, the first question of the Member for Paya Lebar was asked by the Member for Mountbatten, and I have already answered it.

As regards the second question, I do not think there is any proof that individuals were told in 1964 not to apply. Even if that were so, the case will still have to be considered on its own merits.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong (Mountbatten): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister enunicated the policy on citizenship on 21st May. 1968. It is now nearly two years and things in Singapore have improved a lot. In view of the rapid growth of the economy of Singapore, does the Government not think that it is now the opportune time to review the policy on citizenship so that more people can be productive and help to contribute to the prosperity of Singapore?

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Sir, as I said just now, the policy on citizenship is always under constant review.

Mr Lee Teck Him (Ulu Pandan): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, on the question of citizenship, I feel that the Government's policy is wrong.

Mr Speaker: Order. Mr Lee, are you asking a supplementary question or are you embarking on a debate?

Mr Lee Teck Him: (In Mandarin): Sir, what I meant to say was that the Government should revise its policy on citizenship and certain officials should be appointed for this task. I know of certain applicants who should qualify for citizenship.

Mr Speaker: Order. Mr Lee, can you please ask a supplementary question?

Mr Lee Teck Him: (In Mandarin): Sir, I want to ask a supplementary question and also give my comments on the Government's policy on citizenship. The policy should be reviewed, and, where possible, citizenship should be granted straightaway without the Criminal Investigation Department investigating to see how many wives an applicant has and so on.

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am afraid the Member is not asking a supplementary question at all. He is, in fact, giving a speech.

Mr Speaker: Mr Lee, will you please ask your supplementary question?

Mr Lee Teck Him: (In Mandarin): Sir, what I was asking is an indirect question. Is it true that applicants with more than one wife do not qualify for citizenship?

Mr Sia Kah Hui: I really do not know what the Member wants. If he says that we should give citizenship to a man with many wives, I do not think that is relevant. That could be a disqualification. As I said, we have to look into every aspect of the individual.

Mr Lee Teck Him: (In Mandarin): Sir, does the Parliamentary Secretary mean that a person with many wives is not qualified to be a citizen? As we are not debating this question, I suggest that the policy on citizenship should be reviewed.

Madam Chan Choy Siong (Delta): Mr Speaker, Sir, during my meet-the-people sessions, I receive many cases of applications for citizenship made years ago. They were informed by letter that their applications had been refused and were told to reapply again. But when they reapplied, the Registry of Citizenship did not accept their applications. Can the Parliamentary Secretary explain why their applications were not accepted when they had been told to reapply again?

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Sir, the circumstances of an individual change all the time. Several years ago, a person might not qualify for citizenship. If he were to reapply now, the circumstances might be different. He may now be a millionaire or a manufacturer or an industrialist. So the circumstances are different. Therefore, when we ask an applicant to reapply, it means that we will reassess his present situation to see whether he qualifies for citizenship.

Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Sir, that being the case, then those who apply for citizenship will be refused until they become millionaires. I do not think that is the proper answer.

Mr Sia Kah Hui: What I actually meant was that this applies to a person who can really make a definite contribution to the country. This is the policy enunciated by the Minister in May 1968.

Mr Tay Boon Too: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Parliamentary Secretary said that when a person has made no contribution to the state, he will not get his citizenship papers. But labour has contributed much to Singapore. So how can he say that a labourer has not made any contribution?

Mr Sia Kah Hui: I did not say that a labourer does not qualify for citizenship at all.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin (Jalan Kayu): That particular point, I think, has caused a bit of inconvenience. I am just wondering whether it would not be best, when sending out this letter of refusal, to indicate that if the personal circumstances of the applicant have changed, he may reapply. If there have been no changes, he may forget about reapplication. That will save a bit of inconvenience.

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Sir, that again is not practical, because, as I indicated earlier, the policy is under constant review.

Madam Chan Choy Siong: I would like to ask this question. If the applicant reapplies, will the Government ensure that he will get his citizenship?

Mr Sia Kah Hui: No, Sir, but consideration will be given to such an application.