NATIONAL REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Order for Second Reading read.

The Minister for Health and Home Affairs (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The re-registration exercise for persons born between 6th May, 1949, and 5th May, 1955, and who obtained their identity cards before attaining the age of 17 years ended on 29th September, 1973. However, in spite of the wide publicity given to this exercise and the provision of facilities for re-registration in practically all the community centres, about 19,000 persons Out of the 252,000 persons required to register under Regulation 15 of the National Registration Regulations, 1966, have not re-registered. These persons are liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term up to five years or to a fine up to $1,000 or to both imprisonment and a fine.

In order to reduce further the number of persons who have not registered, the Government has decided to extend the closing date of the re-registration exercise to the end of this month. However, it is envisaged that there will still be some who will still not re-register by this new dead-line. This number may be further increased with future re-registration exercises. It would be impractical to bring every case to court. Besides the presence of large numbers of offenders will increase congestion in our courts.

It is, therefore, proposed that the National Registration Act be amended to provide for the composition of offences prescribed under the National Registration Regulations, 1966. Consequent upon this amendment, the National Registration Regulations, 1966, will empower the Commissioner of National Registration to compound offences relating to late re-registration of persons who have attained the age of 17 years, by a fine not exceeding $100.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Chua Sian Chin].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.