MFA Press Release: Transcript of Minister for Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam’s reply to the Parliamentary Question No.23 (21 Oct 2011)

QUESTION:

MR ANG WEI NENG: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) if he will provide an update on the results of the investigation that Singapore has received on the case involving two Singaporean women detained in Malaysia in June this year for alleged immigration offences and who were made to perform nude squats; (b) what is the number of Singaporeans caught by Malaysian authorities for not having their passports 'stamped' by Malaysian immigration officers at the Malaysian side of the Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints in the last three years.

REPLY:

Mr Speaker, Sir,

1 I understand and share the concerns Singaporeans have over the treatment of the two Singaporean women. They were detained temporarily at the Pekan Nenas Detention Depot for alleged immigration offences.

2 We have raised these concerns officially with the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on a number of occasions. They have assured us that they will investigate the allegations and that the outcome of the investigations would be conveyed to Singapore as soon as they are in. We have reminded them of this commitment, and in their last correspondence with us on the matter on 9 September 2011, the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore informed us that a thorough investigation of the case had been completed but that the report of the investigation was being finalised by the Malaysian Attorney-General's Chambers.

3 We are all aware of recent media reports that the Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs has made a statement on this case to the Malaysian Parliament. He was reported as having said that based on a probe, the female Malaysian immigration officer had carried out the body search on the two Singaporean women in an orderly manner, and that the inspection was according to that stated under the Detention Depot's Standard Operating Procedure. We have sought a clarification from both the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore and the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the statement because as far as we are aware, the investigations had not yet been concluded. The Malaysian High Commission informed us that he did not have any further information on the Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs' statement in the Malaysian Parliament and that his Ministry would be seeking an update from the Malaysian Attorney-General's Chambers on the status of the investigation. He added that the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide us with the official report of the investigation as soon as it has been finalised. That is where things stand at this point in time.

4 I know that many Singaporeans are anxious for an expeditious resolution to this case. So are we. We have registered our concerns with our Malaysian counterparts and reminded them of their commitment to conduct a thorough investigation and update us on the outcome of those investigations. We will continue to press for the official investigation report. But even as we do this, it is important to bear in mind that this matter will have to be resolved in accordance with Malaysian laws, rules and regulations.

5 Mr Ang has also asked for the number of Singaporeans whose passports were not stamped at Malaysian Immigration checkpoints and had thus encountered difficulties on exit. The ICA does not keep track of such incidents because unless they are reported to us, we will not know about them. We have received very few such reports, but certainly not all such incidents are reported to either ICA or MFA. I will take this opportunity to remind Singaporeans travelling to Malaysia, and in particular those travelling to Johor by road, to always check and ensure that their passports are stamped at entry and exit by the Malaysian Immigration authorities. Thank you, Sir.

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TRANSCRIPT OF MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS K SHANMUGAM'S REPLIES TO SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS, 21 OCT 2011

MR ANG WEI NENG (JURONG): Sir, I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. I trust the Minister will agree that this incident will not affect the good bilateral relationship that we have with Malaysia. But having said that, if a Singaporean were detained at the Causeway for not getting his passport stamped, that experience could be traumatic. It is especially so when the Singaporean just wanted to spend a holiday or conduct business in Malaysia without any intention to flout immigration rules. So my question is, how can Singaporeans obtain help from the Government when they are detained at the Causeway for not getting their passports stamped assuming that they could contact their family members or associates during their detention? Thank you.

MINISTER: This incident should not have an impact on the overall bilateral relationships between Malaysia and Singapore though we have made very clear that we want a proper investigation of the matter. We have conveyed our serious concerns when the original report came out and we have indicated that we will be looking at the report that comes to us very carefully. And that has been acknowledged by Malaysia. As regards to Mr Ang's second point as to how Singaporeans who get detained in Malaysia for these sorts of offences can get help. On the basis that the detentions take place in accordance to established rules and procedure in the first place, the detainees will have a right to notify their next-of-kin. And insofar as Ministry of Foreign Affairs, our Consulate in Johor or other authorities get to know about it, we will certainly investigate, process and take up with the Malaysian authorities. Thank you, Sir.

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