ICA: Sorry, but no violation of parking space

Straits Times
29 Jul 2010

WE REFER to Ms Theresa Yong's letter last Saturday ('Parking at ICA: Why is an obvious traffic violation accepted as a VIP entitlement?') on her visit to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) building with her mother on July 1.

The area by the side of the entrance of the building is part of the ICA's premises.

Two red parking spaces are clearly drawn to indicate that parking is allowed only for authorised vehicles.

It is used by emergency response vehicles like ambulances and police cars. Occasionally, this is also where ICA receives foreign dignitaries, official delegations and visiting VIPs.

On July 1, the ICA hosted an official visit by a foreign dignitary and the respective embassy car was authorised to park in the reserved space.

The ICA has been accommodating and will continue to allow the public to use the reserved area to pick up their family members or friends.

If the area is occupied by authorised vehicles, drivers can still alight or pick up passengers along the kerb of the adjacent road.

We wish to emphasise that there was no obvious traffic violation or abuse of the authorised use of the space.

Nevertheless, we wish to sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused to Ms Yong's mother.

Chia Hui Keng (Ms)
Head, Public & Internal Communications
Corporate Communications Division
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority

Parking at ICA

Straits Times
24 Jul 2010

'Why is an obvious traffic violation accepted as a VIP entitlement?'

MS THERESA YONG: 'I was at the ICA (Immigration and Checkpoints Authority) Building with my 80-year-old mother on July 7 to collect her new biometric passport. We saw a vehicle parked at the drop-off bay, obstructing other vehicles (including my car to pick up my mother) from entering the bay. I was told by staff that the car belonged to a VIP. My mother and I had to walk all the way back to my car at the carpark. Are parking privileges extended to certain cars, and why is an obvious traffic rule violation accepted as a VIP entitlement?'