In a heated parliamentary session on 14 January 2024, Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming addressed concerns regarding adoption agencies in Singapore amidst allegations of a baby trafficking syndicate operating out of Indonesia. Responding to a question from Workers’ Party chair Sylvia Lim, Goh acknowledged the ongoing investigations and emphasised the need for agencies to ensure children are brought in from a “correct background and origin”.
Allegations of Trafficking
The discourse followed reports from September 2023, where Indonesian authorities claimed a syndicate had smuggled 25 babies across borders, with 15 reportedly ending up in Singapore. Many adoptive parents are now facing delays in citizenship applications for their children due to the investigations.
Parental Responsibility
- Adoptive parents are urged to play an active role in ensuring appropriate matches.
- Agencies operate on a commercial basis, implying shared responsibility for the adoption process.
“It’s a bit of a shared responsibility,” Goh remarked, reinforcing that the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) is committed to transparency and support for affected families. However, he noted that there are guidelines in place for agencies regarding their due diligence.
Long-Term Solutions
Ms Lim raised valid concerns about the impact of such incidents on public confidence in the adoption process, questioning whether MSF officers or agencies could have identified any suspicious circumstances before approving adoptions.
Goh reassured parliament that there are established protocols that agencies must follow to ensure children come from appropriate sources. He affirmed that if agencies are found negligent, they would face serious consequences.
Next Steps for Affected Families
The Minister acknowledged the emotional toll uncertainty causes for families and stated that investigations are ongoing. He urged families to reach out to MSF for any required financial assistance due to the prolonged resolution processes. Goh underscored, “We are trying our best to work very closely with the Indonesian authorities to provide families with the clarity they need as soon as possible.”