Shanmugan: Abuse of the "boyfriend/girlfriend" category for Vietnamese coming into S'pore led to its subsequent removal in March

tripleme

Arch-Supremacy Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2021
Messages
14,257
Reaction score
13,294
The abuse of a "boyfriend/girlfriend" category in applying for Vietnamese nationals to come into Singapore as partners of locals resulted in the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority scrapping the category altogether quite quickly, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam on Monday (July 26).

The first case linked to a KTV cluster uncovered on July 12 was a short-term visit pass holder from Vietnam, who had managed to enter Singapore in February via a familial ties lane, sponsored by her Singaporean boyfriend.

The KTV cluster has since grown to more than 230 cases and is linked to an outbreak at Jurong Fishery Port, which in turn has become Singapore's largest community cluster with 790 infections as at Sunday.

The large number of cases at Jurong Fishery Port led to the Government re-imposing a set of tightened restrictions last week.

Mr Shanmugam told Parliament that flexibility was introduced in October last year, to allow Singaporeans in relationships with foreign partners to be reunited after a long spell apart due to border restrictions.

In February this year, due to a deteriorating Covid-19 situation in Vietnam, the Government suspended its unilateral opening arrangement with the country and short-term travellers could no longer enter Singapore.




ICA then began receiving applications such as a Vietnamese lady with multiple sponsors claiming to be her boyfriend; Singaporean sponsors who applied for multiple girlfriends; sponsors who were already married to someone else; and sponsors who were unable to substantiate their relationship with the travellers, said Mr Shanmugam.

This abuse of the "boyfriend/girlfriend" category led to its subsequent removal in March, with ICA taking action against "dodgy" applications by rescinding approvals, barring travellers from entry into Singapore, and suspending the sponsors and travellers from future applications, he added.

"So ICA moved quite fast, right: (in) February, the unilateral opening with Vietnam was suspended," he said. "The next month, in March, the boyfriend/girlfriend category was scrapped because we took the view that this was being abused."

Mr Shanmugam had previously revealed, in response to a parliamentary question from Workers' Party MP He Ting Ru in February, that as at Jan 31, over 16,000 short-term visit and long-term pass holders had arrived in Singapore via the familial ties lane.

In contrast, as at the same date, over 3,000 of these pass holders had arrived via reciprocal green lanes, which facilitate essential business and official travel.

"We created this category (of) boyfriend/girlfriend during a pandemic, last year, October, because we wanted to be compassionate... people want their loved ones to come in, and we want to try and help," he said.

"But if the system is abused, then we have to stop it (and) unfortunately what that has meant is that many legitimate applications are now being refused."

Mr Shanmugan noted that recent police operations at nightlife outlets had led to 29 women of various nationalities being arrested for offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act and other laws. Sixteen have had their passes cancelled and have been or will be deported, while investigations into the remaining women are ongoing, said Mr Shanmugam.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...ry-to-enter-spore-led-to-its-removal-in-march
 

aromilk

Arch-Supremacy Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2008
Messages
21,290
Reaction score
3,829
Mr Shanmugam had previously revealed, in response to a parliamentary question from Workers' Party MP He Ting Ru in February, that as at Jan 31, over 16,000 short-term visit and long-term pass holders had arrived in Singapore via the familial ties lane

16k came in during COVID! WTF
 

Medicated Oil

Honorary Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2011
Messages
124,152
Reaction score
42,902
When I turned on the CNA live youtube just now, he was explaining his case for this saga.
And he used the word "COmpassion".
I puked and turned off the channel.
No compassion on sinkie being non vax and compassion in allowing FW gf and bf coming over during a pandemic.
 

snap99

Greater Supremacy Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2007
Messages
98,695
Reaction score
2,510
People abuse only when the enforcement is slack.
 

TUV2008

Great Supremacy Member
Joined
May 31, 2008
Messages
67,577
Reaction score
18,404
Just now I saw him talking this topic he keeps arm chio? Why huh? What so funny?
 

Gonjeng

Master Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2018
Messages
4,591
Reaction score
743
It was created for Elite/high SES mistresses overseas to come to sg.
No reason to add bf/gf in the 1st place.
 

footi3

Arch-Supremacy Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2008
Messages
11,960
Reaction score
5,088
Abuse detected, removed.. then never go spot check those that are approved?
 

Acetone

Great Supremacy Member
Joined
May 20, 2005
Messages
55,146
Reaction score
8,435
ownself praise ownself sia

"So ICA moved quite fast, right: (in) February, the unilateral opening with Vietnam was suspended," he said.
 
Important Forum Advisory Note
This forum is moderated by volunteer moderators who will react only to members' feedback on posts. Moderators are not employees or representatives of HWZ. Forum members and moderators are responsible for their own posts.

Please refer to our Community Guidelines and Standards, Terms of Service and Member T&Cs for more information.
Top