SINGAPORE — Film producer and chief executive officer of Infinite Studios Michael Wiluan, a Singapore permanent resident (PR), has had his re-entry permit shortened after failing to declare his recent travel to Batam.

In a statement on Wednesday (March 25), the Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said Mr Wiluan, 43, had arrived in Singapore from Los Angeles on March 20, the same day that measures to issue stay-home notices to all travellers, including Singapore residents, were to kick in at 11.59pm.

However, a previous advisory on March 16 meant that his travel to Batam, Indonesia, from Feb 25 to March 7 would have required him to take a two-week stay-home notice (SHN). Mr Wiluan, the Singapore co-producer of the Hollywood hit movie Crazy Rich Asians, failed to declare this part of his travel history.

This March 16 advisory applied to all travellers from Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries, including Indonesia. It did not include the United States.

“Thus, upon Wiluan’s return to Singapore on March 20, 2020, he should have been issued with a SHN on account of his recent travel to Indonesia. However, even though he was supposed to declare this to the ICA officers at the airport, he did not do so,” said the ICA.

This is despite health alert notices put up at various locations in Changi Airport to remind travellers of this requirement, which included which countries were affected.

Said the ICA: “Wiluan would have seen one of these health alert notices. Despite this, he did not declare his relevant travel history to ICA and was thus not served with a SHN.”

On March 23, after ICA had detected the offence, Mr Wiluan was served an SHN for a 14-day period from March 20 to April 3. The ICA did not state his nationality or the duration his entry permit was shortened.

A re-entry permit is needed each time a permanent resident travels abroad and allows Singapore PRs to retain their permanent residence status while outside Singapore. Leaving Singapore without a valid permit will cause PRs to lose his permanent residence, according to ICA’s website.

Mr Wiluan is a prominent name in the Singapore film industry, having produced movies such as My Magic, Be With Me and 881 and chaired the Singapore International Film Festival, according to his profile on the websites of Infinite Studios and the Infocomm Media Development Authority.

His directorial debut in 2018, Buffalo Boys, was Singapore's submission to the Academy Awards in the Foreign Language Film category.   

According to its website, Infinite Studios is an integrated media entertainment and creative services company based in Singapore and Batam.

COMPLETE AND ACCURATE TRAVEL DECLARATIONS

​In its statement, the ICA also reminded travellers to ensure that they submit “complete and accurate travel declarations”.

As part of enhanced border control measures, from 9am on March 27, all travellers arriving in Singapore — including Singapore residents — will be required to make health and travel declarations before proceeding with immigration clearance.

Travellers will be required to provide their health status and recent travel history, as well as personal particulars and contact details, said the ICA.

Submission of the health declaration will be done through the SG Arrival Card e-service, which will be made available before March 27 so that travellers can complete the declaration before they arrive in Singapore, said the ICA in a separate statement.

The ICA will send an acknowledgement e-mail to inform these travellers on whether they are required to comply with an SHN upon their arrival, provided they submit their health declaration to the e-service before that.

The service will also tell travellers the potential penalties for breaching the SHN.

“Travellers who do not have the acknowledgement email will experience delays during immigration clearance,” said the ICA.

A false or misleading declaration could lead to a six month jail term and a S$10,000 fine, with subsequent offences carrying a heavier penalty of 12 months’ jail and a S$20,000 fine.

For non-Singaporeans, the authorities could also take other actions such as revoking or shortening the validity of any permits and passes to remain in Singapore.

“ICA will not hesitate to take strong action against those who make false declarations,” the agency added.