K Shanmugam on Singapore’s border security and Bangladeshi preacher Amir Hamza
About 30 visitors with legitimate passports but containing a different identity from the records of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) were detected and refused entry every month since 2022. In all, about 2,500 visitors are refused entry at Singapore’s checkpoints every month. Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam shared these statistics in reply to MPs’ questions in Parliament on Monday (Sep 9), following the undetected entry of Bangladeshi extremist preacher Amir Hamza on Aug 9. Mr Shanmugam told the House that Amir Hamza was on Singapore’s watchlist but he had used a passport with a name that was different from that in ICA’s database. As this was his first visit to Singapore, Singapore did not have his biometrics. If he tries to come back again, regardless of what other passport he uses, he will be picked up because Singapore now has his biometrics, said Mr Shanmugam. Turning to questions on border security, Mr Shanmugam said there are about 600,000 travellers every day coming and going across all of Singapore's checkpoints. He stressed the need to develop a framework for picking up some people of concern while allowing the vast majority to clear as quickly as possible. Singapore has to strike a balance between security and facilitation, he said. He gave the assurance that the majority of persons perceived to have dubious reasons or purposes for coming into Singapore are picked up but this is not always possible and a small number will get through. Updating the House on the ongoing investigations into the case of Amir Hamza, he said no arrests have yet been made. The offences that are being looked into include participation in an unlawful assembly. The dormitory operator, who is also the event organiser, is being investigated for several offences. Mr Shanmugam said the Government will continue to educate and remind dormitory operators to ensure that they obtain the relevant approvals before conducting such activities. He urged the public to stay vigilant and report such individuals and activities to the agencies.
About 30 visitors with legitimate passports but containing a different identity from the records of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) were detected and refused entry every month since 2022. In all, about 2,500 visitors are refused entry at Singapore’s checkpoints every month. Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam shared these statistics in reply to MPs’ questions in Parliament on Monday (Sep 9), following the undetected entry of Bangladeshi extremist preacher Amir Hamza on Aug 9. Mr Shanmugam told the House that Amir Hamza was on Singapore’s watchlist but he had used a passport with a name that was different from that in ICA’s database. As this was his first visit to Singapore, Singapore did not have his biometrics. If he tries to come back again, regardless of what other passport he uses, he will be picked up because Singapore now has his biometrics, said Mr Shanmugam. Turning to questions on border security, Mr Shanmugam said there are about 600,000 travellers every day coming and going across all of Singapore's checkpoints. He stressed the need to develop a framework for picking up some people of concern while allowing the vast majority to clear as quickly as possible. Singapore has to strike a balance between security and facilitation, he said. He gave the assurance that the majority of persons perceived to have dubious reasons or purposes for coming into Singapore are picked up but this is not always possible and a small number will get through. Updating the House on the ongoing investigations into the case of Amir Hamza, he said no arrests have yet been made. The offences that are being looked into include participation in an unlawful assembly. The dormitory operator, who is also the event organiser, is being investigated for several offences. Mr Shanmugam said the Government will continue to educate and remind dormitory operators to ensure that they obtain the relevant approvals before conducting such activities. He urged the public to stay vigilant and report such individuals and activities to the agencies.
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