National registration for Singapore identity cards begins

The national registration for pink and blue Singapore identity cards began on 9 May 1966 with pink cards for citizens and blue ones for non-citizens who are permanent residents (PRs).^[1] The exercise was governed by the National Registration Act of 1965 that took effect on 5 May 1966, requiring all Singaporeans above 12 years of age and those with existing identity cards issued under the Registration of Persons Ordinance 1955 to re-register.^[2] Although the National Registration Act legislated two types of ICs to differentiate between citizens and non-citizens, it did not stipulate that pink was for citizens and blue for PRs.^[3]  This colour differentiation was only legislated when the National Registration (Amendment) Regulations 1969 came into operation on 28 March 1969.^[4]

The new identity cards replaced earlier identification papers that were issued during the British colonial period. Identification papers were introduced in 1938 when registration of births and deaths became compulsory under the 1937 Registration of Births and Deaths Ordinance.^[5] However, it was the 1948 Emergency Regulations (Registration) legislation that made it compulsory for all persons above 12 years old in the colony to be registered and issued with identity cards as a deterrent against communist infiltration.^[6] The emergency registration was held between October and December 1948.^[7] The Emergency (Registration) Regulations Ordinance 1948 was later repealed by the Registration of Persons Ordinance 1955.^[8] In December 1965, then Minister for Labour Jek Yeun Thong proposed the National Registration Bill to replace the 1955 ordinance and this bill eventually became the National Registration Act of 1965.^[9]

After Singapore gained independence in 1965, the People’s Action Party government implemented its population re-registration plans ^[10] in order to obtain more detailed population statistics. In the long run, the re-registration exercise would provide Singaporeans with a unique alphanumeric serial number that could be used for citizenship and birth certificates as well as Central Provident Fund accounts.^[11] The new identity cards were designed with improved security features to deter forgeries. At the time, large numbers of forged cards were being sold to illegal immigrants, which had put a strain on the country’s social services.^[12] The newly designed identity card was a laminated waterproof German-made card that made forgery and tampering of particulars and photographs difficult.^[13] With an identity card, a Singapore citizen’s rights to priorities in employment and social benefits were ensured.^[14]

References
1. Lim, B. T. (1966, May 5). All is set for registration for new S'pore cards. The Straits Times, p. 6. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; Singapore. Parliament. Parliamentary Debates: Official Report. (1965, December 22). National Registration Bill (Vol. 24, col. 460). Singapore: Government Printer. Call no.: RCLOS 328.5957 SIN.
2. Republic of Singapore. Government Gazette. Subsidiary Legislation Supplement. (1966, March 31). The National Registration Act (Commencement) Notification 1966 (S56/1966, p. 143). Singapore: Government Printing Office. Call no.: RCLOS 348.5957 SGGSLS; Government Gazette. Subsidiary Legislation Supplement, 31 Mar 1966, S58/1966, pp. 145, 150; Parliamentary Debates: Official Report, 22 Dec 1965, Vol. 24, col. 460; Ministry of Culture. (1965; December 22). Speech  by the Minister for Labour, Mr Jek Yeun Thong, in moving the second reading of the National Registration Bill, 1965 on 22.12.65 [Press release]. Retrieved November 28, 2014, from National Archives of Singapore website: http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/
3. Government Gazette. Subsidiary Legislation Supplement, 31 Mar 1966, S58/1966, p. 146.
4. Republic of Singapore. Government Gazette. Subsidiary Legislation Supplement. (1969, April 11). The National Registration (Amendment) Regulations 1969.  (S90/1969, p. 161). Singapore: Government Printing Office. Call no.: RCLOS 348.5957 SGGSLS.
5. Advertisements column 2: Registration of Births and Deaths Ordinance (Chapter 89). (1938, January 11). The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884–1942), p. 11. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
6. Teo, D., & Liew, C. (2004). Guardians of our homeland: The heritage of Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (p. 291). Singapore: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority. Call no.: RSING q353.59095957 TEO.
7. 60 registration centres in colony. (1948, September 28). The Singapore Free Press, p. 5; S'pore foiled Red Malaya coup. (1949, June 22). The Singapore Free Press, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
8. Singapore National Registration Office. (1966). Annual report (p. 1). Singapore: Government Printing Office. Call no.: RCLOS 323.615951 SNROAR.
9. Singapore. Parliament. Parliamentary Debates: Official Report. (1965, December 13). National Registration Bill (Vol. 24, col. 42). Singapore: Government Printer. Call no.: RCLOS 328.5957 SIN; Singapore. Parliament. Parliamentary Debates: Official Report. (1966, April 21). Registration for the issue of new Identity Cards. (Vol. 25, cols. 88–89). Singapore: Government Printer. Call no.: RCLOS 328.5957 SIN.
10. Teo & Liew, 2004, p. 150; Government Gazette. Subsidiary Legislation Supplement, 31 Mar 1966, S56/1966, p. 143.
11. Singapore National Registration Office, 1966, p. 1.
12. Singapore National Registration Office, 1966, p. 3; Teo & Liew, 2004, p. 165.
13. Parliamentary Debates: Official Report, 22 Dec 1965, Vol. 24, cols. 459–460.
14. Singapore. Parliament. Parliamentary Debates: Official Report. (1965, December 22). National Registration Act (Statement by the Minister for Labour). (Vol. 24, col. 764). Singapore: Government Printer. Call no.: RCLOS 328.5957 SIN.