Rationale for Recording Western Names with Their Surnames Listed First

Debated in Parliament on 3 Nov 2020.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Gerald Giam Yean Song questioned the rationale for recording Western names with surnames listed first on national registration records and whether this could mislead others about Singapore's awareness of global name conventions.
K Shanmugam clarified that there is no universal practice for personal name order, and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority does not register names in any specific sequence.
Names on National Registration Identity Cards are based on the registrants' birth certificates for Singapore Citizens or foreign passports for Permanent Residents, without distinguishing first, middle, or last names.
Singapore birth certificates do not specify the order of names; the sequence is determined by parents during birth registration.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Gerald Giam Yean Song

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Home Affairs with regard to national registration records (a) what is the rationale for recording western names with their surnames (last names) listed first; and (b) whether this can give the misimpression that Singapore is unaware of personal name order conventions around the world.

K Shanmugam

There are different personal name order conventions around the world and there is no universal practice. In view of this, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) does not register names in any particular sequence.

Names registered under the National Registration Act (NRA) and printed on National Registration Identity Cards (NRICs) are based on: (i) the names listed on registrants' birth certificates for Singapore Citizens (SCs), or (ii) the names listed on registrants' foreign passports for Permanent Residents (PRs). The NRIC does not specify the registrant's first, middle, or last name.

The Singapore birth certificates also do not specify the newborn's first, middle, or last name. The sequence of the name is determined by the parents during the birth registration process.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Gerald Giam Yean Song questioned the rationale for recording Western names with surnames listed first on national registration records and whether this could mislead others about Singapore's awareness of global name conventions.
K Shanmugam clarified that there is no universal practice for personal name order, and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority does not register names in any specific sequence.
Names on National Registration Identity Cards are based on the registrants' birth certificates for Singapore Citizens or foreign passports for Permanent Residents, without distinguishing first, middle, or last names.
Singapore birth certificates do not specify the order of names; the sequence is determined by parents during birth registration.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Rationale for Recording Western Names with Their Surnames Listed First | PAPERCUTS

Rationale for Recording Western Names with Their Surnames Listed First

Debated in Parliament on 3 Nov 2020.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Gerald Giam Yean Song questioned the rationale for recording Western names with surnames listed first on national registration records and whether this could mislead others about Singapore's awareness of global name conventions.
K Shanmugam clarified that there is no universal practice for personal name order, and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority does not register names in any specific sequence.
Names on National Registration Identity Cards are based on the registrants' birth certificates for Singapore Citizens or foreign passports for Permanent Residents, without distinguishing first, middle, or last names.
Singapore birth certificates do not specify the order of names; the sequence is determined by parents during birth registration.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Gerald Giam Yean Song

K Shanmugam

The Singapore birth certificates also do not specify the newborn's first, middle, or last name. The sequence of the name is determined by the parents during the birth registration process.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Gerald Giam Yean Song questioned the rationale for recording Western names with surnames listed first on national registration records and whether this could mislead others about Singapore's awareness of global name conventions.
K Shanmugam clarified that there is no universal practice for personal name order, and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority does not register names in any specific sequence.
Names on National Registration Identity Cards are based on the registrants' birth certificates for Singapore Citizens or foreign passports for Permanent Residents, without distinguishing first, middle, or last names.
Singapore birth certificates do not specify the order of names; the sequence is determined by parents during birth registration.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Rationale for Recording Western Names with Their Surnames Listed First

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Gerald Giam Yean Song

K Shanmugam

Summary

Questions Identified

Rationale for Recording Western Names with Their Surnames Listed First

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Gerald Giam Yean Song

K Shanmugam

Summary

Questions Identified