Derrick Goh on Immigration (Amendment) Bill

Given the rebound of travel, it is timely for the Bill to be put before the House as the amendments will not only enable the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to strengthen immigration controls, but also help it to deliver a more seamless checkpoint experience, said MP Derrick Goh. Speaking in Parliament on Monday (Sep 18), he said he is confident that the Bill will enable ICA to keep Singapore's borders safe and secure in a dynamic operating landscape. He also sought clarifications on the Bill. He wanted to know what safeguards will be put in place to ensure system and service availability. For example, how will ICA handle the manual clearance processes if the need arises. He also wanted to know more about the measures and safeguards to protect passenger data. Mr Goh said he supports the expanded powers of ICA to collect advance passenger data across all modes of entry, including from bus operators. He pointed out that the bus operator segment is more fragmented than the airline industry. Its customer management systems are also less sophisticated. Mr Goh said there are concerns that such operators may face difficulties with compliance. He wanted to know how the Government will ensure that the information they have submitted is accurate and timely. He asked if ICA plans to start a generic portal to help such operators comply with the new regulations.