A stateless man surnamed Goh, living in Singapore for over 70 years, reveals the harsh circumstances he faces in the city-state.
Mr Goh, a ‘Stateless Singaporean,’ has resided in Singapore for more than seven decades. Born in Perak, Malaysia, in 1947, Goh migrated to Singapore with his parents when he was only five years old. Goh started attending school at the age of nine, but dropped out three years later to learn Hokkien opera. He attempted to acquire Singaporean citizenship twice but faced rejection due to his inability to read or write in English or Malay.
At the age of 25, Goh’s identification document was removed at the Malaysian immigration, leading to the revocation of his Malaysian nationality. Left stateless, he found his livelihood in singing Hokkien opera and working as a rag-and-bone man.
Currently, Mr Goh is putting up in the living room of a Housing Development Board (HDB) flat in Aljunied, for which he pays a monthly rent of S$350. He survives minimally with the S$410 in aid he receives monthly. However, he confesses struggling with the high cost of living, budgeting himself to just one meal a day.
Goh lost contact with his first wife after their divorce, and his girlfriend of 28 years died from cancer a few years ago. His two children lead lives separate from him, with one living overseas and the other demanding S$20,000 from him. All ties with his two sisters too have been severed over monetary disputes when his mother passed away.
His future seems bleak, admitting, “I have no expectations, and I would not be applying for Singapore citizenship again.” He is trapped, unable to leave Singapore since he lacks a passport and is unsure how to secure a Certificate of Identity.
Goh’s health is deteriorating. A recent car accident has affected his vision, causing his right eye to become red and swollen, worsened by his inability to afford healthcare.
The government issued Goh a Special Pass in late 2022, allowing him to stay in Singapore legally. This, however, does little to ease the fundamental issues of being stateless in Singapore, as exemplified by Goh’s difficulties in day-to-day living and access to healthcare.
Towards the future, Goh said he has no expectations, and he would not be applying for Singapore citizenship again. He has no intentions of returning to Malaysia as he had no relatives there now.
