PERMANENT RESIDENCE (Policy)

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) if he will set out the policy of his Ministry as regards the granting of permanent residence status; and (b) how many wives of Singapore citizens have applied for the status in the last ten years and how many of that number have been granted the status.

The Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs (Prof. S. Jayakumar) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, our policy on the granting of permanent residence to foreigners is a strict one and is geared to protect and advance the national interests of Singapore. Singapore is only a small island with one of the highest population densities in the world. We cannot afford to grant permanent residence as liberally as other countries endowed with larger land areas and natural resources. Our policy on permanent residence, like other Government policies, must give paramount consideration to safeguarding the interest of the vast majority of Singaporeans.

We must also bear in mind that permanent residence is a first step towards acquisition of Singapore citizenship. It also carries other privileges, such as, in the area of housing, education, medical facilities, which are not available to other foreigners.

Therefore, our Immigration policy on the grant of permanent residence has to be consistent with our national goal of promoting economic growth and maintaining a high standard of living for our people. Our policy on permanent residence seeks to attract foreign investors, skilled entrepreneurs, professionals and skilled workers who can contribute to our economic well-being. In addition, the Immigration Department will also consider applications for permanent residence from the foreign wives and dependants of Singapore citizens. The same consideration, as was explained in this House last year, applies, ie whether the Singapore citizen can well afford to maintain his wife and children so that they would not become a burden to the State. Permanent residence is a privilege and not a right. A citizen who wishes to sponsor his foreign dependants for permanent stay must show that he has the means to support them. This is important because we must discourage our citizens who can barely support a family from marrying foreign wives, and thus imposing a greater strain on our public housing, medical and social services.

Sir, as to the second part of the question, the answer is that in the past 10 years, 27,199 applications for permanent residence were received from wives of Singapore citizens. Of these, 20,452 applications were approved.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am indebted to the Hon. Minister of State for his lengthy statement on the considerations that must be taken into account. I would ask the Minister of State whether he would set out specifically the requirements that must be met before permanent residence is granted. Are there specific requirements or not?

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, there are requirements under the broad heads, but each case will have to be considered on its own merits. This is why, in my answer, I have set out the broad policy, for that is what the Member for Anson has asked - to set out the policy of our Ministry - and I have so set out.