The author of the book that inspired the box office hit Crazy Rich Asians is wanted by officials in Singapore for failing to register for national service, the country's Ministry of Defence has said.
According to his bio, writer Kevin Kwan was born in Singapore and left when he was 11, living in the US since then.
Singaporean men are required to spend two years, in most cases, in a uniformed service as young adults.
Mr Kwan could face up to three years in jail if he returns to Singapore.
There was no immediate response on Wednesday from his publisher to a request by AAP for comment.
The government said in a statement that Mr Kwan was wanted for "defaulting on his NS (national service) obligations" for failing to register as required in 1990, and for staying abroad without a valid exit permit.
It said authorities rejected his application in 1994 to renounce his Singaporean citizenship without serving the mandatory national service.
"Mr Kwan has committed offences under the Enlistment Act and is liable to a fine of up to $US10,000 ($A13,595) and/or imprisonment of up to three years upon conviction," said the statement from Singapore's Ministry of Defence.
Mr Kwan did not travel to Singapore for Tuesday night's premiere of the hit romantic comedy, based on comments from various cast members who said they were missing him.
Much of Crazy Rich Asians, is set in Singapore. The story follows Chinese-American Rachel Chu as she travels with her boyfriend Nick Young to Singapore to meet his family and discovers they are ultra-wealthy.
The film has grossed more than $US35m since its August 15 world debut in Los Angeles and is opening in many Asian cities this week.
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