APPLICATIONS APROVED BY REGISTRAR OF SOCIETIES

Mr Simon S C Tay asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether from June 1997 to June 1998, the Registrar of Societies has refused registration to any applicants or delayed approval of applications in any case for six months or more, and if so, the number of cases refused or delayed and the reasons for such refusal or delay.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: For the period 1st June, 1997 to 30th June, 1998 the Registrar of Societies approved 221 applications. Of these 167 (75%) were approved within 3 months and another 46 (21%) within 4 to 6 months. Eight (4%) applications took more than 6 months to complete due to the need to seek more information and clarifications during the processing.

During the same period from 1st June, 1997 to 30th June, 1998, 5 (2%) applications were rejected because the Registrar was satisfied that the proposed societies were likely to be used for unlawful purposes or that it would be contrary to the national interest for the societies to be registered.

Currently, there is one application which is outstanding for more than 6 months. Its processing will be completed shortly.