IMMIGRATION ACTIVITIES AT THE SINGAPORE END OF THE NEW IMMIGRATION COMPLEX.

Initials PBS/S/MGT/SGM

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Background: FOLLOWING SINGAPORE'S BREAKAWAY FROM MALAYSIA IN AUGUST, 1965, THE ISLAND REPUBLIC AT MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY (JULY 1), ENFORCED IMMIGRATION CONTROLS FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE CAUSEWAY LINKING MALAYSIA THE MILE-LONG CAUSEWAY IS THE ONLY ROAD LINK BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA.
JULY 1ST HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN AGREED BY BOTH GOVERNMENTS AS THE DATE FOR IMMIGRATION CONTROLS, BUT ON WEDNESDAY MALAYSIA DECIDED TO POSTPONE IT BY TWO MONTHS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1. HOWEVER, SINGAPORE WOULD NOT AGREE TO THE POSTPONEMENT.
ON THE FIRST MORNING OF THE NEW CONTROLS 20 MALAYSIANS WERE TURNED BACK TO JOHORE IN THE FIRST FEW HOURS FOR NOT HAVING VALID DOCUMENTS. THE TRAVEL DOCUMENT IS STAMPED FOR A SINGLE JOURNEY AND VALID FOR TWO WEEKS STAY IN SINGAPORE.
MEANWHILE, SINGAPORE RESIDENTS ENTERING WEST MALAYSIA STILL NEED ONLY TO PRODUCE IDENTITY CARDS UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
ALL NON-CITIZENS RESIDENT IN SINGAPORE WILL REQUIRE RE-ENTRY PERMITS IF THEY LEAVE SINGAPORE. CITIZENS OF MALAYSIA MUST CARRY PASSPORTS OR OTHER TRAVEL DOCUMENTS RECOGNISED BY THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT.
THE NEW CONTROLS WILL ALSO AFFECT PEOPLE ENTERING SINGAPORE BY AIR OR RAIL.