NON-CITIZENS IN SINGAPORE POLICE AND ARMED FORCES (Grant of citizenship)

Inche Rahmat bin Kenap asked the Minister for Defence how many non-citizens are at present in (i) the Singapore Police Force; and (ii) the Singapore Armed Forces; and whether they will be granted citizenship.

The Minister for Defence (Mr Lim Kim San): Mr Speaker, Sir, on 1st April, 1970, there were 420 non-citizens in the Singapore Police Force and 258 non-citizens in the Singapore Armed Forces.

Citizenship is granted only to those whose loyalty to Singapore and what Singaporeans seek for themselves is beyond doubt. All these non-citizens have had the opportunity to take out Singapore citizenship and throw in their lot with us in the years before August 1965 when citizenship was obtainable by application after two years' residence. They decided not to apply to be Singapore citizens. Now for bread-and-butter considerations, some have applied. We think it is better to give them the bread-and-butter benefits without imposing the responsibilities of citizenship on them. They can all look forward to their gratuities or pensions when they have fulfilled their service obligations, and they will carry our good wishes with them when they retire to wherever they have come from.