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Response to "Do away with addresses in ICs", (The Straits Times, 16 Aug 2012)
The Straits Times
24 Aug 2012
ICA: Why it's still useful to keep addresses in ICs
WE THANK Mr Stephen Tan for his feedback ("Do away with addresses in ICs"; Aug 16).
The primary intent of registering a holder's residential address on the national registration identity card (NRIC) is to help establish the holder's current residential address in line with the provisions of the National Registration Act.
Under the Act, NRIC holders who change their residential address must report the change within 28 days, which will then be reflected in the NRIC.
We have considered suggestions to remove the NRIC's address field previously.
The current system of reflecting the NRIC holder's address continues to be relevant.
First, the information is used as a verification tool and reference information by many government agencies and key institutions for bona fide purposes.
Next, the information enables the relevant authorities to extend timely assistance to NRIC holders, particularly the elderly and illiterate, who may be unable to articulate their place of residence when in distress.
More importantly, the omission of the address on the NRIC reduces the impetus for holders to update any change of residence and leads to unintended consequences, such as the inability to contact individuals or their families in an emergency.
We regularly review our policies to ensure our procedures are relevant to current needs.
The NRIC contains personal information which should be properly safeguarded and updated.
Koh Wee Sing
Head, Public and Internal Communications
Corporate Communications Division
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
<Original Letter>
The Straits Times
16 Aug 2012
Do away with addresses in ICs
WHILE I agree with Mr Victor Gomez's suggestion to differentiate between permanent and temporary addresses ("Plug loophole with colour-coded ICs"; Forum Online, Monday), the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) should take his suggestion one step further - remove "address" as a field listed on the identity card.
All government agencies are already linked to the ICA's One-Stop Change of Address Reporting Service system.
Doing away with the "address" field would also remove the need to paste a label over the old address when a person moves house.
This has the added advantage of protecting the privacy of identity cardholders should the card get misplaced and, more importantly, avoid abuse by loan sharks.
Stephen Tan
24 Aug 2012
ICA: Why it's still useful to keep addresses in ICs
WE THANK Mr Stephen Tan for his feedback ("Do away with addresses in ICs"; Aug 16).
The primary intent of registering a holder's residential address on the national registration identity card (NRIC) is to help establish the holder's current residential address in line with the provisions of the National Registration Act.
Under the Act, NRIC holders who change their residential address must report the change within 28 days, which will then be reflected in the NRIC.
We have considered suggestions to remove the NRIC's address field previously.
The current system of reflecting the NRIC holder's address continues to be relevant.
First, the information is used as a verification tool and reference information by many government agencies and key institutions for bona fide purposes.
Next, the information enables the relevant authorities to extend timely assistance to NRIC holders, particularly the elderly and illiterate, who may be unable to articulate their place of residence when in distress.
More importantly, the omission of the address on the NRIC reduces the impetus for holders to update any change of residence and leads to unintended consequences, such as the inability to contact individuals or their families in an emergency.
We regularly review our policies to ensure our procedures are relevant to current needs.
The NRIC contains personal information which should be properly safeguarded and updated.
Koh Wee Sing
Head, Public and Internal Communications
Corporate Communications Division
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
<Original Letter>
The Straits Times
16 Aug 2012
Do away with addresses in ICs
WHILE I agree with Mr Victor Gomez's suggestion to differentiate between permanent and temporary addresses ("Plug loophole with colour-coded ICs"; Forum Online, Monday), the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) should take his suggestion one step further - remove "address" as a field listed on the identity card.
All government agencies are already linked to the ICA's One-Stop Change of Address Reporting Service system.
Doing away with the "address" field would also remove the need to paste a label over the old address when a person moves house.
This has the added advantage of protecting the privacy of identity cardholders should the card get misplaced and, more importantly, avoid abuse by loan sharks.
Stephen Tan