REGISTRY OF MUSLIM MARRIAGES (New location and Computerization of records)

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi asked the Acting Minister for Social Affairs if he will report on the progress of the construction of the new Registry of Muslim Marriages, and state what new or better facilities will be provided in the new building, with details concerning the computerised registry system, its benefit and improved service.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs (Mr Teo Chong Tee) (for the Acting Minister for Social Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, the new Registry of Muslim Marriages will be housed under the same roof as the Registry of Civil Marriages. It will be completed soon and staff are expected to move into the new building by the middle of April 1983. The new Registry of Muslim Marriages will be more spacious than its existing premises. It will be in quieter surroundings. The Bersanding Hall will be tastefully decorated and can accommodate up to 90 persons who wish to witness the Bersanding ceremony. There are make-up rooms for the bride and the groom to freshen up before the wedding ceremony. The new building is located in park-like surroundings and couples will find that there will be many picturesque areas in Fort Canning Park suitable for taking photographs after their wedding.

The records of the Registry of Muslim Marriages will be computerized towards the end of this year. The computerization of the marriage records will lessen the work-load of the staff as they no longer have to manually retrieve information on marriages solemnized. Staff can also update information on the marital status of persons whose records are in the Registry of Muslim Marriages, e.g. when they have been granted a divorce by the Syariah Court.

With computerization of the Registry's records, the Statistics Department will also be able to compile statistics on Muslim marriages more speedily and directly from the data entered into computer tapes by the Registry staff. There will be savings in manpower for the Statistics Department, as staff no longer have to extract the raw data from application forms submitted by the couples.