RESTRICTED PASSPORTS (Discontinuation)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Home Affairs what is the reason for discontinuing the use of restricted passports for travel to Malaysia.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Sir, the reasons for phasing out the Singapore Restricted Passport have been widely reported in the local newspapers and broadcast media. In brief, the Restricted Passports have been phased out due to falling demand, and because it is not cost-effective to continue issuing them.

Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam (Non-Constituency Member): Did I hear the Minister say that it is not cost-effective because there was a falling demand? I thought that a great many Singaporeans were crossing the Causeway. That is what we hear every day. Is the Minister saying that the number has dropped to an extent that it is no longer productive for the Ministry to produce the Restricted Passport?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, I gave two reasons. First, it was the falling demand. Second, it is not cost-effective to continue issuing them.

Mr Jeyaretnam: The Minister keeps repeating his answer. May we have an answer to my question? Is there a drop in Singaporeans crossing into Johore every day or weekly to justify discontinuance of the Restricted Passport? May we have an answer to that question?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, there has been a falling demand because, based on the 10-year period, from 1988 to 1998, the number of SRPs issued annually has dropped by 56%. So, it is a very clear indication, and not by the number of Singaporeans crossing the Causeway, because you can cross the Causeway by using also the SIP. But by the actual number of passports that have been issued over time, there is clearly a falling demand.

Mr Jeyaretnam: May I ask the Minister whether money was an important factor? The Singapore International Passport, I am told, costs $70, whereas the Restricted Passport used to be only $30. Was that a factor - that the Government could get more revenue?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, Mr Jeyaretnam knows that the Government does not operate this way. We do not raise fees just to get more revenue. The cost-effectiveness part comes in due to the new security features which have made our passport so much more secure. If we had continued producing the Singapore Restricted Passport, then the cost of production for both the Singapore Restricted Passport and the Singapore International Passport would have been equalised. In other words, we would have to charge Singaporeans something similar, whether we issue them a SRP or SIP, and that does not make sense because now, for $60, if a Singaporean applies by post, he gets a passport (96 pages) that would enable him to travel to more than just one country and with added security features at a one-time cost.

Mr Leong Horn Kee (Bishan-Toa Payoh): For those regulars travelling between both sides of the Causeway, either for work or business, is the Government considering issuing a Smartcard to facilitate travelling?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: This is already being done. A pilot has been done to issue those who are regular travellers with a Smartcard.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Can the Minister tell us whether the use of the Restricted Passport is a unilateral initiative on the part of Singapore or do we need an agreement with Malaysia to use our Restricted Passport?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, the issuance of a passport is a sovereign act, so we need not, for example, get the permission of the Malaysians for us to take this move.

Mr Leong Horn Kee: The Smartcard is being used in the airport, but is it also being used at the Causeway?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: A pilot has been done for frequent travellers, for example, for those Malaysians who work in our factories who come across regularly. In fact, it is an advanced technology where you just use your fingerprint. So over time, travel between Singapore and Malaysia would definitely be facilitated.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Would the Minister of State tell us how much it cost the Government to produce a single Restricted Passport? What was the cost per passport?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, I do not have the figure here.