Dr Ang Swee Chai – Hero or Villain?

Dr Ang Swee Chai – hero or villain?

 

In recent days, there has been some hype that Dr Ang Swee Chai, the widow of Francis Khoo, cannot come to Singapore in order to be inducted into the Singapore Woman’s Hall of Fame”. Dr Ang claims that unless she gets an assurance from ICA that she will not lose her Singapore citizenship, she will not come to Singapore.

 

At first glance, it would seem that the Singapore Government is the villain. However, as with all messages from self-exiled Singaporeans, we need to read between the lines.

 

Let’s look at some questions posed about the issue and the facts about the case.

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Question: Why was Dr Ang, a Singaporean, denied a Singapore travel document denied?

 

Fact:

- Dr Ang Swee Chai currently holds both Singapore and British citizenships.  Singapore does not allow Singaporeans to hold dual citizenship. Such individuals will be asked to choose one. Singaporeans cannot keep their foreign citizenship and still ask for a Singapore Travel Document.

- ICA will not issue Singapore Travel Documents to individuals who have not resolved their known dual citizenship status and ICA has applied this rule consistently to several persons over the years.

- Dr Ang’s dual citizenship status first became known to ICA in 2012. ICA nevertheless facilitated her request to travel to Singapore in February 2012 on a once-off basis, using a special travel document. This was on compassionate grounds, to allow her to bring her late husband’s ashes home. This was also done on the clear understanding that Dr Ang would resolve her dual citizenship status expeditiously.

- It has been more than 4 years and Dr Ang has not resolved her dual citizenship status, despite repeated reminders from ICA.

Question: Dr Ang mentions that she has to give up her British citizenship to be allowed to return. Why is this so? Why is she not able to return to Singapore on her British passport? 

 

Fact:
- In general, Singaporean who hold dual citizenship will not be stopped from entering Singapore using their foreign passports.  ICA has allowed this in the past.
- If Dr Ang wants to travel to Singapore using a Singapore Travel Document (as opposed to using her British passport), ICA will process her request for such a document, once she shows proof that she has started the process of renouncing her British Citizenship.

 

Question: MHA, in 2011, said there was no barrier to Dr Ang returning to Singapore. Will she be in trouble with the authorities should she return? 

 

Fact

- MHA’s comments in 2011 that there was “no barrier” to Dr Ang returning to Singapore was made without knowledge then of Dr Ang’s dual citizenship. When Dr Ang dual citizenship status became known in 2012, ICA nevertheless facilitated her request to travel to Singapore in February 2012 on a once-off basis, using a special travel document - on compassionate grounds to allow her to bring her late husband’s ashes home.

- ICA remains prepared to process Dr Ang’s request for a Singapore Travel Document, once she shows proof that she has started the process of renouncing her UK citizenship.

 

Question: Dr Ang mentioned that she started applying for a Singapore travel document in November last year. How long does it typically take for something like this to be granted?

Fact
- ICA has clarified that a Singapore Travel Document can be issued to Dr Ang in a matter of weeks. The key issue is that she needs to renounce her British citizenship. ICA has told Dr Ang that her request would be processed once she has shown proof that she had started the renunciation process. ICA does not require her to have completed the renunciation process.

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As the above facts shows, Dr Ang Swee Chai is not the victim here. She is in fact politicizing the matter when she can easily travel on her British passport, or renounce her British citizenship. The bottom-line is while we can applaud her achievement (and we do), we also believe that Dr Ang cannot expect to be treated differently or be accorded privileges. We cannot understand why she demands special treatment.