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Source:
www.ica.gov.sg |
ON THE USE OF MYKAD AND CANCELLATION OF MALAYSIAN
RESTRICTED PASSPORTS |
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This is in response to media queries and
with reference to media reports on the use of MyKad for travel between
Singapore and Malaysia and cancellation of Malaysian Restricted
Passports. |
On 6 April 2006, the Malaysian media had
quoted Malaysia's Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad
as saying that "Malaysia had agreed to Singapore's request in 2004 to
scrap the restricted passport system, although there were objections
from many people in Johor at that time." |
On 26 May 2006, Bernama reported that
"beginning July 1, Singapore will no longer accept Malaysian Restricted
Passports as a legal travel document to the country following the
decision by the Malaysian Immigration Department to stop issuing or
renewing the MRP. Singapore's decision is expected to put 100,000
Malaysian workers, commuting to and from the country, in a tight spot.
The republic is also said to have rejected Malaysia's suggestion that
the MyKad be used as a travel document." |
The facts are as follows: |
Malaysian Restricted Passports |
Singapore did not request that Malaysia do
away with Malaysian Restricted Passports (MRPs). Malaysia had, on its
own accord, stopped issuing and renewing MRPs with effect from 1 January
2005 and announced that MRPs would not be valid for travel after 31
December 2006. |
In view of this development, and in
accordance with the international practice which requires all travel
documents to have a validity of at least 6 months, Singapore¨s
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) then wrote to the Malaysian
Immigration Department on 1 February 2006 to formally state that it will
cease accepting MRP as a valid travel document to Singapore with effect
from 1 July 2006 i.e. 6 months before the dead-line of 31 Dec 2006
announced by the Malaysian authorities. A copy of this letter was also
forwarded to the High Commission of Malaysia. |
MyKad |
ICA currently has an established
electronic card-based automated clearance system. The system which
is open for use by Singaporeans, Permanent Residents and long-term
pass holders has been operational since December 1997. |
Malaysian and Singapore immigration
authorities have been meeting since April 2001 to discuss the
facilitation of immigration clearance for frequent travellers
between Singapore and Malaysia. |
Both immigration authorities had agreed
to the terms of reference for the Frequent Traveller Card Project on
21 June 2002, which specifies that frequent travellers must use the
Frequent Traveller Card together with their valid passports.
ICA last held discussions with the Malaysian Immigration Department
on 23 April 2004 in Kuala Lumpur. |
ICA has not heard from the
Malaysian Immigration Department or had any discussions with them on
this matter since then. |
In Jan 2005, ICA wrote to the Malaysian
Immigration Department to enquire on whether it was ready to proceed
with technical tests of the MyKad. |
These technical tests are a necessary
and critical part of the process in order to ensure the
inter-operability of the cards in the immigration clearance systems
of both countries. |
ICA is presently waiting for the
Malaysian Immigration Department to respond on the inter-operability
tests and will continue to work with its Malaysian counterparts to
facilitate travel between Singapore and Malaysia when it receives a
response on this issue. |
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority |
29 May 2006 |
Source:
www.ica.gov.sg Media Release 29
May 2006 |
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