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Any more doubt the FAPee Sell Cuntry Thieves are in desperado mode to dilute Sporns' votes ahead of the elections? What's next? Set up booths in Chinatown, Geylang, Penisular Plaza, Lucky Plaza to enlist support from the PRCs, Burmese and Pinoys?
Sep 23, 2010
Indians can renounce citizenship at Mustafa
They can also go to Quoprro Global Services, which has seen more such cases recently
<!-- by line -->By Melissa Kok
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Quoprro Global Services (above) and Mustafa Air Travel are two agencies Indian nationals can go to for consular services, such as visa and passport applications. Many welcome the arrangement, as the companies' operating times are more convenient for them than the Indian High Commission's. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
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LAST January, Mr Balaji Thandavarayan made one of the biggest decisions of his life: He chose to give up his Indian citizenship to become a Singaporean.
And he did it at a place one would least expect - a travel agency owned by Little India's 24-hour shopping mecca, Mustafa Centre.
Mr Balaji, from South India, said he was referred to Mustafa Air Travel by the Indian High Commission.
The process of applying to shed his national identity for a new one was quick and painless.
'I took a queue number, waited a few minutes, went over to the counter and submitted forms and my Indian passport,' said the 40-year-old technical officer with SBS Transit.
He paid $219, which includes a $9 service charge, and waited a few days for his application to be processed.
Unlike foreigners who renounce their original citizenship at their respective embassies, high commissions or consulates here, Indian nationals can do so without going to the Indian High Commission in Grange Road.
Besides Mustafa Air Travel, they can also apply to give up their citizenship at Quoprro Global Services, an Indian passport and visa services centre in Cecil Street, The Straits Times found out.
When contacted, Mr V. K. Singh, the First Secretary at the Indian High Commission, would only say that 'renunciation of Indian citizenship follows provisions and procedures which are laid down in the Indian Citizenship Act'.
The Straits Times understands that consular services, such as visa and passport matters, have been available at Mustafa and Quoprro since early last year.
Both are listed on the Indian High Commission's website as designated agencies for providing visa, passport application and 'miscellaneous' consular services.
Reports in online media say that Indian missions, including those in Canada, Australia and the United Arab Emirates, also outsource their consular services.
When contacted, a spokesman for Mustafa Centre referred The Straits Times' queries on the renunciation of citizenship to the Indian High Commission.
Ms Ritu Anupam Mahajan, Quoprro's assistant manager, estimated that 50 to 60 Indian nationals renounce their citizenship at the company every month now, double the number four months ago. She does not have last year's figures, but said Quoprro was handling 'definitely more' cases this year.
Last year, Singapore welcomed 19,900 new citizens, down from 20,500 in 2008.
Indian nationals who have become Singapore citizens in the past year say they welcome the arrangement.
With Mustafa Air Travel open round the clock, for instance, it makes it really convenient for them to run this administrative errand.
Quoprro is open from 8.30am to 6.30pm on Monday to Friday, and between 9am and 1pm on Saturday.
Mr Balaji, whose wife and two children also renounced their citizenship at Mustafa last year, said: 'Mustafa runs 24 hours so I don't need to apply for leave to get passport or visa matters settled.
'It helps a lot of people, since the Indian High Commission operates only from Monday to Friday, and you can avoid the queue.'
As an added bonus, he said, he can even squeeze in some shopping at Mustafa, which is near his home in MacPherson.
But there are some who feel that renouncing one's citizenship in a travel agent's office trivialises what ought to be a solemn affair.
Managing consultant Kalyan Vaidya, 45, who gave up his Indian citizenship for a pink identity card three years ago at the Indian High Commission, said: 'Citizenship is a sacred thing to anyone.
'I think it should be done at the embassy or a more respectable place.'
Sep 23, 2010
Indians can renounce citizenship at Mustafa
They can also go to Quoprro Global Services, which has seen more such cases recently
<!-- by line -->By Melissa Kok
<!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar -->
<!-- story content : start -->
LAST January, Mr Balaji Thandavarayan made one of the biggest decisions of his life: He chose to give up his Indian citizenship to become a Singaporean.
And he did it at a place one would least expect - a travel agency owned by Little India's 24-hour shopping mecca, Mustafa Centre.
Mr Balaji, from South India, said he was referred to Mustafa Air Travel by the Indian High Commission.
The process of applying to shed his national identity for a new one was quick and painless.
'I took a queue number, waited a few minutes, went over to the counter and submitted forms and my Indian passport,' said the 40-year-old technical officer with SBS Transit.
He paid $219, which includes a $9 service charge, and waited a few days for his application to be processed.
Unlike foreigners who renounce their original citizenship at their respective embassies, high commissions or consulates here, Indian nationals can do so without going to the Indian High Commission in Grange Road.
Besides Mustafa Air Travel, they can also apply to give up their citizenship at Quoprro Global Services, an Indian passport and visa services centre in Cecil Street, The Straits Times found out.
When contacted, Mr V. K. Singh, the First Secretary at the Indian High Commission, would only say that 'renunciation of Indian citizenship follows provisions and procedures which are laid down in the Indian Citizenship Act'.
The Straits Times understands that consular services, such as visa and passport matters, have been available at Mustafa and Quoprro since early last year.
Both are listed on the Indian High Commission's website as designated agencies for providing visa, passport application and 'miscellaneous' consular services.
Reports in online media say that Indian missions, including those in Canada, Australia and the United Arab Emirates, also outsource their consular services.
When contacted, a spokesman for Mustafa Centre referred The Straits Times' queries on the renunciation of citizenship to the Indian High Commission.
Ms Ritu Anupam Mahajan, Quoprro's assistant manager, estimated that 50 to 60 Indian nationals renounce their citizenship at the company every month now, double the number four months ago. She does not have last year's figures, but said Quoprro was handling 'definitely more' cases this year.
Last year, Singapore welcomed 19,900 new citizens, down from 20,500 in 2008.
Indian nationals who have become Singapore citizens in the past year say they welcome the arrangement.
With Mustafa Air Travel open round the clock, for instance, it makes it really convenient for them to run this administrative errand.
Quoprro is open from 8.30am to 6.30pm on Monday to Friday, and between 9am and 1pm on Saturday.
Mr Balaji, whose wife and two children also renounced their citizenship at Mustafa last year, said: 'Mustafa runs 24 hours so I don't need to apply for leave to get passport or visa matters settled.
'It helps a lot of people, since the Indian High Commission operates only from Monday to Friday, and you can avoid the queue.'
As an added bonus, he said, he can even squeeze in some shopping at Mustafa, which is near his home in MacPherson.
But there are some who feel that renouncing one's citizenship in a travel agent's office trivialises what ought to be a solemn affair.
Managing consultant Kalyan Vaidya, 45, who gave up his Indian citizenship for a pink identity card three years ago at the Indian High Commission, said: 'Citizenship is a sacred thing to anyone.
'I think it should be done at the embassy or a more respectable place.'
