CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS (Refusals)

Mr M.K.A. Jabbar asked the Minister for Home Affairs, in the years 1981-83 (a) how many applications for citizenship had been refused; and (b) how many of such refusals had been endorsed by the Citizenship Advisory Committee.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs (Prof. S. Jayakumar) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, from 1981 to 1983, 35,908 new applications for citizenship were received. This was in addition to the number of cases carried forward. In the same period, a total of 29,548 applications were approved and 13,149 were refused. All the applications refused had been endorsed by the Citizenship Advisory Committee. The number of refusals each year was as follows: Year No. of Refusals 1981 5,202 1982 6,887 1983 1,060

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam (Anson): Mr Speaker, Sir, supplementary question for the Minister. Perhaps would he tell us who comprise the Citizenship Advisory Committee?

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Citizenship Advisory Committee is constituted under Article 18, clause 2 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of Singapore. The present members of the Committee are Mr G. Ramachandran, Encik Mohamed Ismail bin Haji Pitchay and Mr Philip Liau.