Straits Times, 26.03.04
Ryan Goh makes PR appeal to minister
SINGAPORE Airlines pilot Ryan Goh yesterday appealed against a decision by the Controller of Immigration to revoke his permanent residency (
PR) status.
He submitted the appeal to the Home Affairs Minister, a ministry spokesman said.
'The minister is currently looking into his appeal,' she said, adding that it was inappropriate to comment further for now. There was no indication on when the minister would respond.
Captain Goh was given notice last Saturday that his
PR status had been revoked and that he had seven days to appeal.
In a text message to The Straits Times yesterday, he declined to comment on the appeal, saying it was 'premature to talk about plans'.
The 43-year-old Malaysian pilot was singled out by the Government as the 'instigator' behind last year's ouster of the executive committee of the Air Line Pilots Association-Singapore (Alpa-S).
On March 5, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) informed him of its intention to cancel his entry and re-entry permits, which are necessary for permanent residents here.
The action was initiated after the Home Affairs Minister 'decided that Mr Goh was an undesirable immigrant'.
He was given seven days to show why his permits should not be revoked. He made representations shortly after.
But it was rejected as the ICA said that he 'did not adequately show why' he could keep his permits and it revoked his
PR status.
He was then given seven days to file another appeal - this time against the revocation - to the Home Affairs Minister.
If his appeal fails, he will have to leave the country as the minister has the final say on the matter.
But it is understood that the authorities could still give him some time to settle his affairs here.
Capt Goh, who has an apartment in the East Coast, is also an Australian permanent resident and has a house in Perth. The Government has said that he had made an 'exit plan' before instigating the ouster.