GROUNDS OF REFUSAL TO ISSUE PASSPORTS

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Home Affairs on what grounds the Controller of Immigration refuses to issue passports to Singapore citizens for travel abroad.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: The issue of passports to Singapore citizens for travel abroad is governed by the Passports Act, 1970, and the Passport Regulations, 1971.

The issuance of a passport to an applicant by an officer of the Immigration Department is subject to the Passport Regulations and is also subject to any specific or general instruction given by the Minister.

Applications for passports may be refused, or passports may be endorsed not valid for travel to Malaysia, in circumstances prescribed in Regulation 5A(l) of the Passport Regulations, 1971. Such cases involve persons who have been convicted in Singapore or Malaysia for any of the offences set out in the Second Schedule of the Regulations or has been admitted to an approved institution under Section 33 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1973. Examples of such cases include drug trafficking, drug addiction, kidnapping, abducting, causing hurt in committing robbery or committing gang robbery with murder.

Other cases where applications for passports may be rejected include situations where the applicants are under investigation, or awaiting trial, for serious offences or where applicants are involved in activities prejudicial to the security and public order of the Republic.