HARBOURING OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Dr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether there will be some flexibility in dealing with cases related to people who had unwittingly overlooked the bona fides of tenants who were later identified by Immigration authorities to be illegal workers or overstayers.

Mr Noris Ong Chin Guan asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether his Ministry plans to review the Immigration Act that deals with the crime of harbouring and employing illegal immigrants, with the view of distinguishing the punishment to be meted out for first-time offenders who unwittingly harbour illegal immigrants and offenders who repeatedly or deliberately harbour illegal immigrants.

Mr Goh Choon Kang asked the Minister for Home Affairs if he will consider introducing amending legislation to require housing agents to ensure that tenants they introduce to landlords are not immigration offenders.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Sir, I will also be making a Ministerial Statement afterwards on the subject of illegal immigrants and harbouring of illegal immigrants. So I would ask the three MPs who asked Question Nos. 13, 14 and 15 to also wait patiently for me to make a statement, after which they can ask questions.