WOODLANDS CHECKPOINT (Smuggling of illegal immigrants)

Mr Goh Choon Kang asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether there has been an increase in the number of attempted smuggling of illegal immigrants into Singapore detected at the Woodlands Checkpoint; and what measures have been taken to check this problem.

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, more cases involving the smuggling of illegal immigrants into Singapore have been detected at the Woodlands Checkpoint this year. For the first half of 1999, 10 traffickers and 51 illegal immigrants were arrested, as compared to only one trafficker and two illegal immigrants arrested in the corresponding period last year. In the whole of last year, 61 foreigners were arrested at the Woodlands Checkpoint for attempting to enter Singapore illegally. Sir, indeed the numbers have gone up.

Last year, more than 14,700 illegal immigrants were caught in Singapore. SIR estimates that about 70% of them came through the Woodlands Checkpoint. This illustrates that illegal entry into Singapore through the Woodlands Checkpoint is indeed a serious problem. SIR has thus taken a range of measures to check the problem at the Woodlands Checkpoint.

What are some of these measures? First, like I have mentioned just now, more intensive checks. SIR has, since the later half of 1998, intensified checks at the checkpoint. From July 1998 to June this year, 19 vehicles were seized and forfeited, as compared to only five vehicles in the 12-month period preceding that. With the recent opening of the New Woodlands Checkpoint, SIR has also started conducting more complete checks on travellers and vehicles.

Second, enhanced intelligence capability. SIR has also enhanced its intelligence capability against syndicates trafficking illegal immigrants. These efforts have paid off, with more syndicate operations being crippled. For the first half of 1999, 10 trafficking cases were detected at the Woodlands Checkpoint as compared to only one case in the first half of 1998.

Third, more and better trained officers deployed at the Checkpoints. SIR and Police have also deployed more and better-trained officers to intensify checks at both the land checkpoints.

Lastly, SIR also works with the other Home Team's departments to jointly tackle the illegal immigrant problem. I am sure Members must have read in the papers about the use of SCDF rescue dogs deployed at the Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints to sniff out illegal immigrants concealed in car boots or secret compartments in tourist coaches, lorries, and `Bas Kilang' buses.

Sir, in addition to rigorous enforcement, we have also spread deterrent messages to potential illegal immigrants and traffickers. Since April 1998, SIR has been issuing pamphlets in four languages to foreigners at the land checkpoints carrying messages on the tough penalties for immigration offences. SIR has also been applying for deterrent sentences to be meted out when traffickers are prosecuted in court.

Mr Goh Choon Kang (Marine Parade): Sir, can the Minister of State say whether there have been instances where Singapore Immigration has apprehended illegal immigrants trying to leave Singapore by the Causeway? Second, would the Minister of State agree that if the Malaysian authorities also took tough measures to prevent such smuggling from taking place and by crippling the ground operations of these syndicates, it will be a win-win situation for both sides?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, I take it that the Member is referring to illegal immigrants leaving Singapore. SIR also takes a tough stand against illegal immigrants leaving Singapore. Perhaps he has in mind a recent incident at the Causeway where 35 or so illegal immigrants tried to come into Singapore from Malaysia, and some of whom, because they were in a lorry, were killed. I think Members know and have read in the papers that SIR also takes a tough stand against illegal immigrants trying to leave Singapore. I think it stands to reason, because this would add to the deterrence that if you come into Singapore, even if you come in successfully, it would be difficult for you to leave. In any case, these people who successfully leave may return in future. And that is why SIR is vigilant. Indeed, just two days ago, it is in the Straits Times today, a small column, page 3, Members can read about it, a Malaysian registered vehicle was trying to leave Singapore with five Thai illegal immigrants.

In 1999, for example, SIR has apprehended 23 such immigration offenders at the Woodlands Checkpoint. In 1998, 138 such immigration offenders tried to leave Singapore illegally, mainly in Malaysian registered cars driven by Malaysians. In the first six months of this year, 53 such offenders were arrested.

Sir, in answer to the Member's second question, indeed, I agree with him that continued vigilance is important on both sides of the Causeway and I hope that the measures that he has mentioned would be considered by the Malaysian authorities.

Assoc. Prof. Chin Tet Yung: Given that the illegal immigrants are on the rise and illegal immigrant trafficking seems to be on the rise, is there any intention to review the penalties, especially for the traffickers? I say this in the light of the recent case mentioned by the Minister of State that some illegal immigrants actually died on the way across in that particular incident.

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, the focus now is to plug this flow where in the past they came through the checkpoints. That is the focus of our efforts. In terms of the overall number of illegal immigrants caught, in fact, the number has come down. It has come down by about 30% for the first half of this year compared to the same period last year. But the number is still nevertheless high. I think there is no need at the moment to enhance the penalties. Looking at the situation of each case, for example, the case mentioned by the Member, if the driver is caught, one possibility is to charge him as a trafficker, and he would get up to five years' jail. But again it is up to the Attorney-General's Chambers. If indeed he is caught, the AG may look at the facts and the facts may warrant the AG to consider charging him under a more serious offence, perhaps causing death by a rash act. So there is a range of penalties which can be considered currently.

Mr Zulkifli Bin Baharudin (Nominated Member): Sir, enforcement against illegal immigrants at the causeway has brought about other problems, especially to companies which require to move goods to and from Singapore. How do we ensure that these companies are not affected as more stringent enforcement is conducted?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: If the Member is referring to the lorry queues, the situation, as I have said, has stabilised. Again, initially in the first few days, arising from teething problems, not just the lorries but all the other vehicles were affected. But in the second week of operations that we have monitored, the situation has improved and now the lorry queue is back to normal.