MATCHMAKING AGENCIES (Laws to regulate activities)

Column No : 2002

MATCHMAKING AGENCIES:

(Laws to regulate activities): 22.

Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports whether his Ministry will introduce laws to regulate the activities of matchmaking agencies which bring in foreign brides for marriage to local men so that there are safeguards to protect these women from exploitation or abuse or falling prey to bogus or scam marriages.

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon (for the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports): Sir, there is existing legislation such as the Penal Code to protect persons against exploitation or abuse or falling prey to scams. The Women's Charter also has provisions to protect women against trafficking, prostitution and family violence. If any matchmaking agencies or individuals break any of these laws, the Government will not hesitate to take them to task.

In many countries, including the US, UK and Japan, the provision of matchmaking services is treated as a business arrangement between willing parties. They are not regulated by the Government. We have adopted a similar approach in Singapore. There is, however, scope for matchmaking agencies to put in place certain good practices, so as to raise their standard of service. For example, agencies could conduct background checks on their clients. This could include checking their clients' particulars against the marriage databases maintained by the Registry of Marriages (ROM) and Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM). Matchmaking agencies dealing in foreign brides could also request for the marriage certificate to be produced, before allowing the bride to follow the man home. I would like to encourage matchmaking agencies in Singapore to seriously consider putting in place such best practices.

As matchmaking is an activity that singles, whether Singaporean or foreigner, voluntarily take part in, participating individuals must play their part to prevent being exploited or abused. They should exercise care in selecting the matchmaking agency that they use. It is also prudent to get to know your partner well, before entering into any engagement or marriage.

Mr Speaker: Mdm Halimah, you have one minute.

Mdm Halimah Yacob: Sir, I would like to ask the Minister of State whether she agrees that the current laissez-faire approach in dealing with such issues is sufficient in the light of the recent high profile case where a person was convicted for luring a young Vietnamese girl into marriage when it was a sham one. Would the Minister of State please comment on that?

Mr Speaker: Mrs Yu-Foo, you have half a minute.

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon: Sir, we do not take a laissez-faire approach. Like I have mentioned, there is existing legislation, such as the Penal Code and the Women's Charter, to protect persons against criminal offences or abuse. Like the hon. Member mentioned about the recent case, such an example is a case of a marriage and sex scam, perpetrated by a 64-year-old cobbler who was charged and convicted for cheating by personation under sections 417 and 419 respectively of the Penal Code. I think he was sentenced to jail for 18 months.

3.00 pm

Mr Speaker: **** Order. End of Question time.

[Pursuant to Standing Order No. 22(3), Written Answers to Question Nos. 21, 24-29 and 31 on the Order Paper are reproduced in the Appendix*. Questions Nos. 23, 30 and 32-33 have been postponed to the sitting of Parliament on 17th January 2006.]

• Cols. 2107-2118.