# legal_provisions

document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s63
section: 63
title: Effect of abandonment
content:
63. —(1) Where there is a valid abandonment, the insurer is entitled to take over the interest of the assured in whatever may remain of the subject‑matter insured and all proprietary rights incidental thereto. (2) Upon the abandonment of a ship, the insurer thereof is entitled to any freight in course of being earned, and which is earned by her subsequent to the casualty causing the loss, less the expenses of earning it incurred after the casualty; and, where the ship is carrying the owner’s goods, the insurer is entitled to a reasonable remuneration for the carriage of them subsequent to the casualty causing the loss.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s64
section: 64
title: Particular average loss
content:
64. —(1) A particular average loss is a partial loss of the subject‑matter insured, caused by a peril insured against, and which is not a general average loss. (2) Expenses incurred by or on behalf of the assured for the safety or preservation of the subject‑matter insured, other than general average and salvage charges, are called particular charges, and particular charges are not included in particular average.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s65
section: 65
title: Salvage charges
content:
65. —(1) Subject to any express provision in the policy, salvage charges incurred in preventing a loss by perils insured against may be recovered as a loss by those perils. (2) “Salvage charges” means the charges recoverable under maritime law by a salvor independently of contract. They do not include the expenses of services in the nature of salvage rendered by the assured or his agents, or any person employed for hire by them, for the purpose of averting a peril insured against. Such expenses, where properly incurred, may be recovered as particular charges or as a general average loss, according to the circumstances under which they were incurred.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s66
section: 66
title: General average loss
content:
66. —(1) A general average loss is a loss caused by or directly consequential on a general average act, and it includes a general average expenditure as well as a general average sacrifice. (2) There is a general average act where any extraordinary sacrifice or expenditure is voluntarily and reasonably made or incurred in time of peril for the purpose of preserving the property imperilled in the common adventure. (3) Where there is a general average loss, the party on whom it falls is entitled, subject to the conditions imposed by maritime law, to a rateable contribution from the other parties interested, and such contribution is called a general average contribution. (4) Subject to any express provision in the policy, where the assured has incurred a general average expenditure, he may recover from the insurer in respect of the proportion of the loss which falls upon him; and, in the case of a general average sacrifice, he may recover from the insurer in respect of the whole loss without having enforced his right of contribution from the other parties liable to contribute. (5) Subject to any express provision in the policy, where the assured has paid, or is liable to pay, a general average contribution in respect of the subject‑matter insured, he may recover therefor from the insurer. (6) In the absence of express stipulation, the insurer is not liable for any general average loss or contribution where the loss was not incurred for the purpose of avoiding, or in connection with the avoidance of, a peril insured against. (7) Where ship, freight, and cargo, or any 2 of those interests, are owned by the same assured, the liability of the insurer in respect of general average losses or contributions is to be determined as if those subjects were owned by different persons.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s67
section: 67
title: Extent of liability of insurer for loss
content:
67. —(1) The sum which the assured can recover in respect of a loss on a policy by which he is insured, in the case of an unvalued policy to the full extent of the insurable value, or, in the case of a valued policy to the full extent of the value fixed by the policy, is called the measure of indemnity. (2) Where there is a loss recoverable under the policy, the insurer, or each insurer if there be more than one, is liable for such proportion of the measure of indemnity as the amount of his subscription bears to the value fixed by the policy in the case of a valued policy, or to the insurable value in the case of an unvalued policy.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s68
section: 68
title: Total loss
content:
68. Subject to the provisions of this Act and to any express provision in the policy, where there is a total loss of the subject‑matter insured — ( a ) if the policy be a valued policy, the measure of indemnity is the sum fixed by the policy; ( b ) if the policy be an unvalued policy, the measure of indemnity is the insurable value of the subject‑matter insured.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s69
section: 69
title: Partial loss of ship
content:
69. Where a ship is damaged, but is not totally lost, the measure of indemnity, subject to any express provision in the policy, is as follows: ( a ) where the ship has been repaired, the assured is entitled to the reasonable cost of the repairs, less the customary deductions, but not exceeding the sum insured in respect of any one casualty; ( b ) where the ship has been only partially repaired, the assured is entitled to the reasonable cost of such repairs, computed as above, and also to be indemnified for the reasonable depreciation, if any, arising from the unrepaired damage, provided that the aggregate amount shall not exceed the cost of repairing the whole damage, computed as above; ( c ) where the ship has not been repaired, and has not been sold in her damaged state during the risk, the assured is entitled to be indemnified for the reasonable depreciation arising from the unrepaired damage, but not exceeding the reasonable cost of repairing such damage, computed as above.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s70
section: 70
title: Partial loss of freight
content:
70. Subject to any express provision in the policy, where there is a partial loss of freight, the measure of indemnity is such proportion of the sum fixed by the policy in the case of a valued policy, or of the insurable value in the case of an unvalued policy, as the proportion of freight lost by the assured bears to the whole freight at the risk of the assured under the policy.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s71
section: 71
title: Partial loss of goods, merchandise, etc.
content:
71. Where there is a partial loss of goods, merchandise, or other movables, the measure of indemnity, subject to any express provision in the policy, is as follows: ( a ) where part of the goods, merchandise or other movables insured by a valued policy is totally lost, the measure of indemnity is such proportion of the sum fixed by the policy as the insurable value of the part lost bears to the insurable value of the whole, ascertained as in the case of an unvalued policy; ( b ) where part of the goods, merchandise or other movables insured by an unvalued policy is totally lost, the measure of indemnity is the insurable value of the part lost, ascertained as in the case of total loss; ( c ) where the whole or any part of the goods or merchandise insured has been delivered damaged at its destination, the measure of indemnity is such proportion of the sum fixed by the policy in the case of a valued policy, or of the insurable value in the case of an unvalued policy, as the difference between the gross sound and damaged values at the place of arrival bears to the gross sound value; ( d ) “gross value” means the wholesale price or, if there is no such price, the estimated value, with, in either case, freight, landing charges, and duty paid beforehand; except that, in the case of goods or merchandise customarily sold in bond, the bonded price is deemed to be the gross value. “Gross proceeds” means the actual price obtained at a sale where all charges on sale are paid by the sellers.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s72
section: 72
title: Apportionment of valuation
content:
72. —(1) Where different species of property are insured under a single valuation, the valuation must be apportioned over the different species in proportion to their respective insurable values, as in the case of an unvalued policy. The insured value of any part of a species is such proportion of the total insured value of the same as the insurable value of the part bears to the insurable value of the whole, ascertained in both cases as provided by this Act. (2) Where a valuation has to be apportioned, and particulars of the prime cost of each separate species, quality, or description of goods cannot be ascertained, the division of the valuation may be made over the net arrived sound values of the different species, qualities or descriptions of goods.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s73
section: 73
title: General average contributions and salvage charges
content:
73. —(1) Subject to any express provision in the policy, where the assured has paid, or is liable for, any general average contribution, the measure of indemnity is the full amount of such contribution, if the subject‑matter liable to contribution is insured for its full contributory value; but, if such subject‑matter is not insured for its full contributory value, or if only part of it is insured, the indemnity payable by the insurer must be reduced in proportion to the under insurance, and where there has been a particular average loss which constitutes a deduction from the contributory value, and for which the insurer is liable, that amount must be deducted from the insured value in order to ascertain what the insurer is liable to contribute. (2) Where the insurer is liable for salvage charges, the extent of his liability must be determined on the like principle.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s74
section: 74
title: Liabilities to third parties
content:
74. Where the assured has effected an insurance in express terms against any liability to a third party, the measure of indemnity, subject to any express provision in the policy, is the amount paid or payable by him to such third party in respect of such liability.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s75
section: 75
title: General provisions as to measure of indemnity
content:
75. —(1) Where there has been a loss in respect of any subject‑matter not expressly provided for in the foregoing provisions of this Act, the measure of indemnity shall be ascertained, as nearly as may be, in accordance with those provisions, in so far as applicable to the particular case. (2) Nothing in the provisions of this Act relating to the measure of indemnity shall affect the rules relating to double insurance, or prohibit the insurer from disproving interest wholly or in part, or from showing that at the time of the loss the whole or any part of the subject‑matter insured was not at risk under the policy.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s76
section: 76
title: Particular average warranties
content:
76. —(1) Where the subject-matter insured is warranted free from particular average, the assured cannot recover for a loss of part, other than a loss incurred by a general average sacrifice, unless the contract contained in the policy is apportionable; but, if the contract is apportionable, the assured may recover for a total loss of any apportionable part. (2) Where the subject-matter insured is warranted free from particular average, either wholly or under a certain percentage, the insurer is nevertheless liable for salvage charges, and for particular charges and other expenses properly incurred pursuant to the provisions of the suing and labouring clause in order to avert a loss insured against. (3) Unless the policy otherwise provides, where the subject‑matter is warranted free from particular average under a specified percentage, a general average loss cannot be added to a particular average loss to make up the specified percentage. (4) For the purpose of ascertaining whether the specified percentage has been reached, regard shall be had only to the actual loss suffered by the subject-matter insured; and particular charges and the expenses of and incidental to ascertaining and proving the loss must be excluded.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s77
section: 77
title: Successive losses
content:
77. —(1) Unless the policy otherwise provides, and subject to the provisions of this Act, the insurer is liable for successive losses, even though the total amount of such losses may exceed the sum insured. (2) Where, under the same policy, a partial loss, which has not been repaired or otherwise made good, is followed by a total loss, the assured can only recover in respect of the total loss: Provided that nothing in this section shall affect the liability of the insurer under the suing and labouring clause.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s78
section: 78
title: Suing and labouring clause
content:
78. —(1) Where the policy contains a suing and labouring clause, the engagement thereby entered into is deemed to be supplementary to the contract of insurance, and the assured may recover from the insurer any expenses properly incurred pursuant to the clause, notwithstanding that the insurer may have paid for a total loss, or that the subject‑matter may have been warranted free from particular average, either wholly or under a certain percentage. (2) General average losses and contributions and salvage charges, as defined by this Act, are not recoverable under the suing and labouring clause. (3) Expenses incurred for the purpose of averting or diminishing any loss not covered by the policy are not recoverable under the suing and labouring clause. (4) It is the duty of the assured and his agents, in all cases, to take such measures as may be reasonable for the purpose of averting or minimising a loss.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s79
section: 79
title: Right of subrogation
content:
79. —(1) Where the insurer pays for a total loss, either of the whole, or in the case of goods of any apportionable part, of the subject‑matter insured, he thereupon becomes entitled to take over the interest of the assured in whatever may remain of the subject‑matter so paid for, and he is thereby subrogated to all the rights and remedies of the assured in and in respect of that subject‑matter as from the time of the casualty causing the loss. (2) Subject to subsection (1), where the insurer pays for a partial loss, he acquires no title to the subject‑matter insured, or such part of it as may remain, but he is thereupon subrogated to all rights and remedies of the assured in and in respect of the subject‑matter insured as from the time of the casualty causing the loss, in so far as the assured has been indemnified, according to this Act, by such payment for the loss.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s80
section: 80
title: Right of contribution
content:
80. —(1) Where the assured is over-insured by double insurance, each insurer is bound, as between himself and the other insurers, to contribute rateably to the loss in proportion to the amount for which he is liable under his contract. (2) If any insurer pays more than his proportion of the loss, he is entitled to maintain an action for contribution against the other insurers, and is entitled to the like remedies as a surety who has paid more than his proportion of the debt.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s81
section: 81
title: Effect of under insurance
content:
81. Where the assured is insured for an amount less than the insurable value or, in the case of a valued policy, for an amount less than the policy valuation, he is deemed to be his own insurer in respect of the uninsured balance.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s82
section: 82
title: Enforcement of return
content:
82. Where the premium or a proportionate part thereof is, by this Act, declared to be returnable — ( a ) if already paid, it may be recovered by the assured from the insurer; and ( b ) if unpaid, it may be retained by the assured or his agent.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s83
section: 83
title: Return by agreement
content:
83. Where the policy contains a stipulation for the return of the premium, or a proportionate part thereof, on the happening of a certain event, and that event happens, the premium, or, as the case may be, the proportionate part thereof, is thereupon returnable to the assured.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s84
section: 84
title: Return for failure of consideration
content:
84. —(1) Where the consideration for the payment of the premium totally fails, and there has been no fraud or illegality on the part of the assured or his agents, the premium is thereupon returnable to the assured. (2) Where the consideration for the payment of the premium is apportionable and there is a total failure of any apportionable part of the consideration, a proportionate part of the premium is, under the like conditions, thereupon returnable to the assured. (3) In particular — ( a ) where the policy is void, or is avoided by the insurer as from the commencement of the risk, the premium is returnable, provided that there has been no fraud or illegality on the part of the assured; but if the risk is not apportionable, and has once attached, the premium is not returnable; ( b ) where the subject-matter insured, or part thereof, has never been imperilled, the premium, or, as the case may be, a proportionate part thereof, is returnable: Provided that where the subject‑matter has been insured “lost or not lost” and has arrived in safety at the time when the contract is concluded, the premium is not returnable unless, at such time, the insurer knew of the safe arrival; ( c ) where the assured has no insurable interest throughout the currency of the risk, the premium is returnable, provided that this rule does not apply to a policy effected by way of gaming or wagering; ( d ) where the assured has a defeasible interest which is terminated during the currency of the risk, the premium is not returnable; ( e ) where the assured has over-insured under an unvalued policy, a proportionate part of the premium is returnable; ( f ) subject to the foregoing provisions, where the assured has over‑insured by double insurance, a proportionate part of the several premiums is returnable: Provided that, if the policies are effected at different times, and any earlier policy has at any time borne the entire risk, or if a claim has been paid on the policy in respect of the full sum insured thereby, no premium is returnable in respect of that policy, and when the double insurance is effected knowingly by the assured no premium is returnable.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s85
section: 85
title: Modification of Act in case of mutual insurance
content:
85. —(1) Where 2 or more persons mutually agree to insure each other against marine losses, there is said to be a mutual insurance. (2) The provisions of this Act relating to the premium do not apply to mutual insurance, but a guarantee, or such other arrangement as may be agreed upon, may be substituted for the premium. (3) The provisions of this Act, in so far as they may be modified by the agreement of the parties, may in the case of mutual insurance be modified by the terms of the policies issued by the association, or by the rules and regulations of the association. (4) Subject to the exceptions mentioned in this section, the provisions of this Act apply to a mutual insurance.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s86
section: 86
title: Ratification by assured
content:
86. Where a contract of marine insurance is in good faith effected by one person on behalf of another, the person on whose behalf it is effected may ratify the contract even after he is aware of a loss.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s87
section: 87
title: Implied obligations varied by agreement or usage
content:
87. —(1) Where any right, duty or liability would arise under a contract of marine insurance by implication of law, it may be negatived or varied by express agreement, or by usage, if the usage be such as to bind both parties to the contract. (2) This section extends to any right, duty or liability declared by this Act which may be lawfully modified by agreement.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s88
section: 88
title: Reasonable time, etc., a question of fact
content:
88. Where by this Act any reference is made to reasonable time, reasonable premium or reasonable diligence, the question what is reasonable is a question of fact.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s89
section: 89
title: Slip as evidence
content:
89. Where there is a duly stamped policy, reference may be made, as heretofore, to the slip or covering note, in any legal proceeding.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s90
section: 90
title: Interpretation
content:
90. In this Act, unless the context or subject‑matter otherwise requires — “action” includes counterclaim and set-off; “freight” includes the profit derivable by a shipowner from the employment of his ship to carry his own goods or movables, as well as freight payable by a third party, but does not include passage money; “movables” means any movable tangible property, other than the ship, and includes money, valuable securities, and other documents; “policy” means a marine policy.


document_id: mia-1906
provision_ref: s91
section: 91
title: Savings
content:
91. The rules of the common law including the law merchant, save in so far as they are inconsistent with the express provisions of this Act, shall continue to apply to contracts of marine insurance.


document_id: mlaa-1856
provision_ref: s1
section: 1
title: Written guarantee not to be invalid by reason that consideration does not appear in writing
content:
1. No special promise to be made by any person to answer for the debt, default, or miscarriage of another person, being in writing, and signed by the party to be charged therewith, or some other person by him thereunto lawfully authorised, shall be deemed invalid to support an action, suit, or other proceeding to charge the person by whom such promise shall have been made, by reason only that the consideration for such promise does not appear in writing, or by necessary inference from a written document.


document_id: mlaa-1856
provision_ref: s2
section: 2
title:
Surety who discharges liability to be entitled to assignment of all securities held by creditor, and to stand in place of creditor

content:
2. Every person who, being surety for the debt or duty of another, or being liable with another for any debt or duty, shall pay such debt or perform such duty, shall be entitled to have assigned to him, or to a trustee for him, every judgment, specialty, or other security which shall be held by the creditor in respect of such debt or duty, whether such judgment, specialty, or other security shall or shall not be deemed at law to have been satisfied by the payment of the debt or performance of the duty, and such person shall be entitled to stand in the place of the creditor, and to use all the remedies, and, if need be, and upon a proper indemnity, to use the name of the creditor, in any action or other proceeding, at law or in equity, in order to obtain from the principal debtor, or any co‑surety, co‑contractor, or co‑debtor, as the case may be, indemnification for the advances made and loss sustained by the person who shall have so paid such debt or performed such duty, and such payment or performance so made by such surety shall not be pleadable in bar of any such action or other proceeding by him: Provided that no co-surety, co‑contractor, or co‑debtor shall be entitled to recover from any other co‑surety, co‑contractor, or co‑debtor, by the means aforesaid, more than the just proportion to which, as between those parties themselves, such last‑mentioned person shall be justly liable.


document_id: mlmpspa-1973
provision_ref: s2
section: 2
title: Interpretation
content:
2. —(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires — “benefit” includes any gratuity, commission, cross commission, bonus, refund, discount, dividend and any other payment, service or advantage of whatever description, but does not include — ( a ) the purchase of a sample of a commodity furnished at a price not exceeding the cost of the sample and which is not for resale; and ( b ) time and effort spent in pursuit of sales, distribution or recruiting activities; “commodity” means any goods, service, right or other property, whether tangible or intangible, capable of being the subject of a sale, lease or licence; “company” means a company as defined in the Companies Act 1967 and includes a corporation as defined in that Act; “multi-level marketing scheme or arrangement” has the same meaning as “pyramid selling scheme or arrangement” in this Act; “promote” includes to manage, form, operate, carry on, engage in or otherwise to organise; “pyramid selling scheme or arrangement” means any scheme or arrangement for the distribution or the purported distribution of a commodity by which — ( a ) a person may in any manner acquire a commodity or a right or a licence to acquire the commodity for sale, lease, licence or other distribution; ( b ) that person receives any benefit, directly or indirectly, as a result of — (i) the recruitment, acquisition, action or performance of one or more additional participants in the scheme or arrangement; or (ii) the sale, lease, licence or other distribution of the commodity by one or more additional participants in the scheme or arrangement; and ( c ) any benefit is or may be received by any other person who promotes, or participates in, the scheme or arrangement (other than a person referred to in paragraph ( a ) or an additional participant referred to in paragraph ( b )). (2) In this Act, “pyramid selling scheme or arrangement” does not include any schemes or arrangements for the sale, lease, licence or other distribution of a commodity, or any class of such schemes or arrangements, that the Minister may by order prescribe, subject to any terms or conditions specified in the order. (3) Any reference in this Act to the winding up of a company includes, in the case of a foreign company, a reference to the winding up of the affairs of a foreign company so far as the assets of the foreign company within Singapore are concerned.


document_id: mlmpspa-1973
provision_ref: s3
section: 3
title:
Unlawful to promote or participate in, or hold out that person is promoting or participating in, pyramid selling scheme or arrangement

content:
3. —(1) It is unlawful for any person to promote or participate in a multi‑level marketing scheme or arrangement or a pyramid selling scheme or arrangement or to hold out that the person is promoting or participating in such a scheme or arrangement. (2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.


document_id: mlmpspa-1973
provision_ref: s4
section: 4
title: Registration of business designed to promote pyramid selling scheme or arrangement prohibited
content:
4. —(1) A person must not apply to be registered under the Business Names Registration Act 2014 under any business name in respect of any business that is designed to promote a multi‑level marketing scheme or arrangement or a pyramid selling scheme or arrangement. [29/2014] (2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both. [29/2014]


document_id: mlmpspa-1973
provision_ref: s5
section: 5
title: Registration of company which proposes to promote pyramid selling scheme or arrangement prohibited
content:
5. —(1) No company which proposes to promote a multi-level marketing scheme or arrangement or a pyramid selling scheme or arrangement is to be incorporated or registered under the Companies Act 1967. (2) Where a company which is designed to promote a multi-level marketing scheme or arrangement or a pyramid selling scheme or arrangement contravenes subsection (1) by obtaining incorporation or registration under the Companies Act 1967, that company and every officer of that company shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.


document_id: mlmpspa-1973
provision_ref: s6
section: 6
title: Offences by bodies corporate
content:
6. —(1) If the person committing an offence under this Act is a company, every individual who at the time the offence was committed was a director, general manager, manager, secretary or other officer of the company concerned in the management of the company or who was purporting to act in any such capacity, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. (2) It is a defence for the individual mentioned in subsection (1) if he or she proves that the offence was committed without his or her consent or connivance and that he or she exercised such diligence to prevent the commission of the offence as he or she ought to have exercised having regard to the nature of his or her functions and to all other circumstances. (3) For the purpose of this section, “company” includes — ( a ) any body corporate; and ( b ) a firm or other association of individuals. (4) This section is in addition to and not in derogation of any other provisions of this Act.


document_id: mlmpspa-1973
provision_ref: s7
section: 7
title: Penalty to be imposed in addition to other punishment
content:
7. —(1) Where a court convicts any person of committing an offence of promoting or participating in a multi-level marketing scheme or arrangement or a pyramid selling scheme or arrangement under section 3(2) then — ( a ) if the person has received any benefit, directly or indirectly, as a result of committing the offence; and ( b ) if the benefit received by the person is a sum of money or if the value of the benefit can be assessed, the court is, in addition to imposing on that person any other punishment, to order that person to pay as a penalty, within the time that may be specified in the order, a sum not exceeding the amount of or, in the opinion of the court, the value of the benefit received by the person, and any such penalty is recoverable as a fine. (2) In determining the amount of the penalty that a person, being a participant, is required to pay under subsection (1), the court may take into account any benefit that the person may have given for the right to participate in the multi-level marketing scheme or arrangement or the pyramid selling scheme or arrangement (as the case may be) or any loss that the person may have incurred as a result of such participation. (3) Where a person charged with any offence under section 3(2) is convicted of one or more offences under any other written law, and the outstanding offences are taken into consideration by the court under section 148 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 for the purpose of passing sentence, the court may impose the penalty mentioned in subsection (1) for any offence under this Act so taken into consideration. [15/2010] (4) Nothing in subsection (1) affects any right which any person may have under any written law or rule of law to recover damages from the person mentioned in subsection (1).


document_id: mlmpspa-1973
provision_ref: s8
section: 8
title: Jurisdiction of District Courts
content:
8. Despite the Criminal Procedure Code 2010, a District Court has jurisdiction to try any offence under this Act or any regulations made under this Act and may impose the full penalty or punishment in respect of such offence.


document_id: mlmpspa-1973
provision_ref: s9
section: 9
title: Act to prevail
content:
9. The provisions of this Act do not affect the Business Names Registration Act 2014 or the Companies Act 1967 but where there is a conflict between the Business Names Registration Act 2014 and the Companies Act 1967 and this Act, the provisions of this Act prevail. [29/2014]


document_id: mlmpspa-1973
provision_ref: s10
section: 10
title: Regulations
content:
10. The Minister may make regulations for carrying into effect the objects and purposes of this Act.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s2
chapter: PART 1 - PRELIMINARY
section: 2
title: Interpretation
content:
2. —(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires — “approved medical institution” means a medical institution that is approved under section 3A; [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] “approved medical treatment or services” means any medical treatment or medical services approved by the Minister for the purposes of section 3; “authorised person” — ( a ) for the purposes of section 27, means a person authorised by the Minister to have access to information obtained under section 27(1) for the purposes described in section 27(1)( a ) or ( b ); and ( b ) for the purposes of section 28, means a person authorised by the Minister to have access to means information obtained under section 28(1) for a purpose mentioned in section 28(1A); [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] “Board” means the Central Provident Fund Board constituted under section 3 of the CPF Act; “Central Provident Fund” means the Central Provident Fund established under section 6 of the CPF Act; “claimable medical treatment or services”, in relation to an approved medical institution, means any approved medical treatment or services — ( a ) in respect of which the approved medical institution is approved under section 3A; and ( b ) that is provided in accordance with the conditions mentioned in section 3A; [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] “Council” means the MediShield Life Council established under section 8; “CPF Act” means the Central Provident Fund Act 1953; “CPF member” means a “member of the Fund” or “member” as defined in section 2(1) of the CPF Act; “defaulter” means a person liable to pay an outstanding premium; “Fund” means the MediShield Life Fund referred to in section 7, and includes the MediShield Fund; “health declaration” means a declaration, as to whether a person has any pre‑existing medical condition, submitted to the Board for the purposes of determining whether premium loading under the Scheme applies to that person; “healthcare-related public scheme” means a public scheme, prescribed for the purposes of Part 5, that is established to provide any grant, subsidy or benefit for the payment of any healthcare expenses, and includes a relevant public scheme; “household composition” means information on the identity and particulars of the persons who comprise a household for the purposes of determining whether a member of that household satisfies the eligibility criteria for a grant, subsidy or benefit under a relevant public scheme or any tier or category within such eligibility criteria; “insured person” means a person who is insured under the Scheme; “investigator” means a public officer appointed under section 20(1) or an officer of the Board appointed under section 20(2); “IRAS” means the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore established under section 3 of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore Act 1992; “licensable healthcare service” has the meaning given by section 3(1) of the Healthcare Services Act 2020; [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] “means declaration” means a declaration, submitted to a person appointed by the Minister, for the purposes of determining a person’s household income or eligibility for a grant, subsidy or benefit under a relevant public scheme; “means information” means — ( a ) any documents, information, returns, assessment lists or copies of such lists relating to the income or items of income of any person to which section 6 of the Income Tax Act 1947 applies; ( b ) any documents, information, returns and assessments relating to the business, the value of the supply of any goods and services, or the income of any taxable person to which section 6 of the Goods and Services Tax Act 1993 applies; ( c ) information obtained under the Property Tax Act 1960, including the Valuation List; ( d ) information obtained under the Stamp Duties Act 1929; and ( e ) information relating to income or items of income of any person in the possession of any Government department or other public authority; “medical institution” means a provider of a licensable healthcare service that is licensed under the Healthcare Services Act 2020 to provide that licensable healthcare service; [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] “medisave account” means a medisave account maintained under section 13 of the CPF Act; “MediShield Fund” means the fund called the MediShield Fund referred to in section 56 of the CPF Act as in force immediately before 1 November 2015; “MediShield Scheme” means the medical insurance scheme called the MediShield Scheme referred to in section 53 of the CPF Act as in force immediately before 1 November 2015; “outstanding premium” means the amount of premium due which remains unpaid, and includes any interest imposed under section 11(1)( a ) in respect of the premium and any penalty imposed under section 17 in respect of the premium; “premium” means a premium payable for insurance cover under the Scheme; “prescribed public scheme” means a public scheme prescribed for the purposes of Part 5; “public authority” means a body established or constituted by or under a public Act to perform or discharge a public function; “public scheme” means any scheme to provide financial relief, assistance or support to citizens or permanent residents of Singapore, or any part of them, that is established — ( a ) by or under any written law and administered by a public authority; or ( b ) by the Government in any other manner; “recovery body” means any statutory body prescribed as a recovery body under section 18(1); “relevant authority” means IRAS, the Commissioner of Stamp Duties, the Comptroller of Goods and Services Tax, the Comptroller of Income Tax, the Comptroller of Property Tax, the Chief Assessor, or any Government department or public authority in possession of means information; “relevant public scheme” means a public scheme to provide any grant, subsidy or benefit for the payment of a premium payable under this Act; “relevant regulations” means any regulations made under this Act; “Scheme” means the medical insurance scheme called the MediShield Life Scheme referred to in section 3. (2) A person has a pre-existing medical condition in relation to that person’s insurance cover under the Scheme (called in this subsection the relevant insurance cover), if the person has a medical condition specified by the Minister for the purposes of premium loading under this Act immediately before — ( a ) the date that person’s relevant insurance cover begins; or ( b ) if that person has continuously had relevant insurance cover since 1 November 2015, and was continuously insured under the MediShield Scheme immediately before that date, the earliest date from which that person was so continuously insured under the MediShield Scheme. (3) For the purposes of this Act — ( a ) “premium loading” means any additional amount payable as premium, over and above the premium payable for an insurance cover under the Scheme; and ( b ) the Minister is to determine the criteria for whether and when premium loading is to apply to any person. (4) For the purposes of this Act, the following apply for the purposes of reckoning the age of an individual: ( a ) an individual is taken to have attained a particular age expressed in years on the relevant anniversary of the individual’s birth; ( b ) a reference to the anniversary of the birth of an individual in paragraph ( a ) is a reference to the day on which the anniversary occurs; ( c ) where an individual was born on 29 February in any year, then in any subsequent year that is not a leap year, the anniversary of that individual’s birth is taken to be 1 March in that subsequent year; ( d ) if the day on which an individual was born cannot be ascertained but the month of the individual’s birth can be ascertained, the individual is taken to be born on the first day of the month in which the individual was born; ( e ) if the month in which an individual was born cannot be ascertained, the individual is taken to be born in January. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] (5) A reference to a health declaration or a means declaration in this Act includes a reference to a health declaration or a means declaration (as the case may be) made before 1 November 2015, in anticipation of the establishment of the Scheme.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s3
chapter: PART 2 - MEDISHIELD LIFE SCHEME
section: 3
title: Establishment of MediShield Life Scheme
content:
3. —(1) A medical insurance scheme, known as the MediShield Life Scheme, is established for the purpose of paying the whole or part of the costs incurred by an insured person for any approved medical treatment or services that is a claimable medical treatment or services received by the insured person from an approved medical institution during the period when the insured person is insured under the Scheme. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] (2) The Board is to administer the Scheme in accordance with this Act. (3) The Scheme applies to every person who is a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s3A
chapter: PART 2 - MEDISHIELD LIFE SCHEME
section: 3A
title: Approval of medical institution in respect of approved medical treatment or services
content:
3A. —(1) A medical institution may apply to the Minister, in any form and manner that the Minister requires, to be approved in respect of any approved medical treatment or services. (2) Upon receiving an application under subsection (1), the Minister may — ( a ) approve the medical institution in respect of any approved medical treatment or services that is or is part of a licensable healthcare service that the medical institution is licensed to provide under the Healthcare Services Act 2020, subject to any conditions that the Minister thinks fit, including conditions specifying the service delivery mode by which the medical treatment or services is to be provided; or ( b ) refuse to grant the approval. (3) In addition, the Minister may grant the approval mentioned in subsection (2)( a ) on the Minister’s own initiative. (4) To avoid doubt, where — ( a ) a medical institution is licensed under the Healthcare Services Act 2020 to provide 2 or more licensable healthcare services (whether each of the same or a different type); and ( b ) the medical institution provides one or more approved medical treatments or services as part of each licensable healthcare service, then, under subsection (2)( a ) or (3) — ( c ) the Minister may, in respect of a licensable healthcare service, approve the medical institution for one or more of the approved medical treatments or services provided as part of that licensable healthcare service; ( d ) the Minister may approve different approved medical treatments or services under paragraph ( c ) for different licensable healthcare services; and ( e ) the Minister need not approve an approved medical treatment or services for the medical institution in respect of every one of its licensable healthcare services. (5) To avoid doubt, where — ( a ) a medical institution is licensed under the Healthcare Services Act 2020 to provide a licensable healthcare service by 2 or more service delivery modes (called in this section authorised service delivery modes); and ( b ) the medical institution provides one or more approved medical treatments or services as part of the licensable healthcare service, then, under subsection (2)( a ) or (3) — ( c ) the Minister may, in respect of any approved medical treatment or services, approve the medical institution for that approved medical treatment or services when provided by any authorised service delivery mode, or only when provided by one or some of those authorised service delivery modes; ( d ) the Minister may in an approval under paragraph ( c ) specify different authorised service delivery modes for different approved medical treatments or services; and ( e ) the Minister need not approve the medical institution for every one of those approved medical treatments or services. (6) The Minister may at any time modify a condition of an approval imposed under this section. (7) Where an approved medical institution ceases to be approved under the Healthcare Services Act 2020 to provide a licensable healthcare service by a service delivery mode, the Minister may, without giving the approved medical institution an opportunity to be heard, modify a condition of the approval imposed under this section for the purpose of providing that the approved medical treatment or services must not be provided by that service delivery mode. (8) In this section — “modify”, in relation to a condition of an approval, includes deleting, varying and substituting a condition, and adding a condition; “service delivery mode” has the meaning given by section 2(1) of the Healthcare Services Act 2020. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025]


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s3B
chapter: PART 2 - MEDISHIELD LIFE SCHEME
section: 3B
title:
Revocation or suspension of approval of medical institution in respect of approved medical treatment or services

content:
3B. —(1) The Minister may revoke an approval granted to a medical institution in respect of any approved medical treatment or services if — ( a ) the approval has been obtained by the medical institution by fraud, or the medical institution has, in connection with the application for the grant of the approval, made a statement or provided any information or document that is false, misleading or inaccurate in a material particular; ( b ) there is a reasonable likelihood that the medical institution is contravening or not complying with, or has contravened or failed to comply with, a condition of the approval imposed under section 3A, or any provision of this Act; ( c ) the medical institution is, or is likely to be, declared a bankrupt (if a natural person) or has gone, or is likely to go, into compulsory or voluntary liquidation other than for the purpose of amalgamation or reconstruction; ( d ) the medical institution has made any assignment to, or composition with, the medical institution’s creditors or is unable to pay its debts; ( e ) any of the following persons has been convicted, whether in Singapore or elsewhere, of an offence involving fraud or dishonesty, or of an offence the conviction for which involves a finding that the person convicted had acted fraudulently or dishonestly, whether the applicable offence is committed before, on or after the date of commencement of section 4 of the MediShield Life Scheme (Amendment) Act 2024: (i) the medical institution; (ii) any key appointment holder, Principal Officer or Clinical Governance Officer of the medical institution; (iii) any medical practitioner employed or engaged by the medical institution to provide any approved medical treatment or services; ( f ) the licence granted to the medical institution under the Healthcare Services Act 2020 authorising the medical institution to provide the licensable healthcare service that the approved medical treatment or services is or is a part of, is revoked or suspended; ( g ) all of the following conditions are satisfied: (i) the medical institution was approved under section 3A in respect of that approved medical treatment or services on the condition that the approved medical treatment or services is provided by certain authorised service delivery modes (as defined in section 3A(5)( a )); (ii) in respect of the licensable healthcare service that the approved medical treatment or services is or is a part of, the medical institution ceases to be approved under the Healthcare Services Act 2020 to provide the licensable healthcare service by every one of those authorised service delivery modes; ( h ) the Minister considers it in the public interest to do so; or ( i ) any other ground that is prescribed by the Minister is satisfied. (2) The Minister may, if the Minister considers it desirable to do so — ( a ) suspend the approval of a medical institution in respect of any approved medical treatment or services for a specified period, instead of revoking the approval under subsection (1); and ( b ) at any time — (i) extend the suspension for a specified period; or (ii) cancel the suspension. (3) The Minister must not revoke an approval under subsection (1), or suspend an approval under subsection (2), without giving the medical institution concerned written notice of the Minister’s intention to do so and a reasonable opportunity to make representations as to why the approval should not be revoked or suspended. (4) Subsection (3) does not apply where the medical institution — ( a ) if a natural person — has died or is adjudged bankrupt; or ( b ) in any other case — has been dissolved or wound up or has otherwise ceased to exist. (5) Where any approval of a medical institution for an approved medical treatment or services is revoked or suspended — ( a ) the approved medical treatment or services is not a claimable medical treatment or services in relation to that medical institution where it is provided during the period of suspension or on or after the date of revocation, unless the Minister otherwise permits; but ( b ) the revocation or suspension does not affect any claim for any such approved medical treatment or services provided before or after the period of suspension, or before the date of revocation. (6) Where the Minister revokes or suspends any approval of a medical institution in respect of any approved medical treatment or services under this section, the medical institution must immediately inform all the patients and customers that are or may be provided the licensable healthcare service that the approved medical treatment or services is or is a part of, of the revocation or suspension. (7) For the purposes of this section — ( a ) a medical institution that is a company is unable to pay its debts if it is deemed to be unable to pay its debts under section 125(2) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018; ( b ) a medical institution that is an unregistered company is unable to pay its debts if it is deemed to be unable to pay its debts under section 246(2) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018; and ( c ) a medical institution that is a limited liability partnership is unable to pay its debts if it is deemed to be unable to pay its debts under paragraph 3(2) of the Fifth Schedule to the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005. (8) In this section — “Clinical Governance Officer”, “key appointment holder” and “Principal Officer” have the meanings given by section 2(1) of the Healthcare Services Act 2020; “company” has the meaning given by section 4(1) of the Companies Act 1967; “limited liability partnership” has the meaning given by section 4(1) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005; “unregistered company” has the meaning given by section 245 of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025]


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s4
chapter: PART 2 - MEDISHIELD LIFE SCHEME
section: 4
title: Premium
content:
4. —(1) The premium for each insurance period (called in this section the relevant insurance period) is to be paid — ( a ) not later than 30 days after the beginning of the relevant insurance period, or on or before such later date as the Board may permit; ( b ) in such manner as the Board may permit; and ( c ) by all or any of the following persons, and in such proportion, as the Board may require: (i) the insured person; (ii) a parent or both parents of the insured person, subject to any provision in the relevant regulations, if the insured person has not attained 21 years of age at the beginning of the relevant insurance period. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] (1A) The premium for each relevant insurance period is the amount specified in a prescribed manner, which may include a website. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] (1B) For the purposes of subsection (1A), different rates of premiums may be specified for different classes of insured persons. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] (2) Despite anything in the CPF Act, the Board is entitled to deduct, from the amount standing to a person’s credit in that person’s medisave account, the whole or any part of the premium for the relevant insurance period (including any interest or penalty imposed under section 11(1)( a ) or 17, as the case may be, in respect of that premium) — ( a ) payable by that person under subsection (1)( c )(i) or (ii); or ( b ) payable by any other person, in the circumstances prescribed in the relevant regulations. (3) In subsection (1), “parent”, in relation to an insured person who has not attained 21 years of age, includes — ( a ) an adoptive parent of the insured person; ( b ) a step-parent of the insured person; or ( c ) a guardian, or any person who has the actual custody, of the insured person.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s5
chapter: PART 2 - MEDISHIELD LIFE SCHEME
section: 5
title: Refund
content:
5. —(1) Where the whole or any part of the premium paid by a person is liable to be refunded under this Act, the amount may be refunded — ( a ) into that person’s account in the Central Provident Fund; or ( b ) in such other manner as the Board may determine. (2) The Board is entitled to recover on behalf of the Government from any amount which is liable to be refunded under this Act — ( a ) any Government grant for the payment of the premium payable for a person’s insurance cover under the Scheme; and ( b ) any interest which the person is liable to pay the Government under the terms of the Government grant. (3) Where a person who has paid in cash any sum towards the premium for any insurance period (called in this section the relevant person), whether for the relevant person or for any other person, dies before the start of that insurance period, and the sum does not exceed such amount as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette , specify — ( a ) the Board may pay to a proper claimant the whole or any part, as the Board may determine, of the sum; and ( b ) the receipt of the proper claimant is a discharge to the Board for the payment to the proper claimant under paragraph ( a ). (4) Subsection (3) does not affect any recourse which any person may have against a proper claimant for an amount paid to the proper claimant under subsection (3)( a ). (5) In this section — “child” means a legitimate child and includes any child adopted by virtue of an order of court under any written law for the time being in force in Singapore, Malaysia or Brunei Darussalam; “parent” includes — ( a ) an adoptive parent of the relevant person; ( b ) a step-parent of the relevant person; or ( c ) a guardian, or any person who has the actual custody, of the relevant person; “proper claimant” means a person who — ( a ) claims to be entitled to a sum referred to in subsection (3) on the death of a relevant person, as personal representative of the relevant person; or ( b ) claims to be entitled (whether for the person’s own benefit or not) to a sum referred to in subsection (3) on the death of a relevant person, and is the widower, widow, child, grandchild, parent, brother, sister, nephew, niece, grandparent, uncle or aunt of the relevant person.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s6
chapter: PART 2 - MEDISHIELD LIFE SCHEME
section: 6
title: Recovery of amounts paid in excess and short payments
content:
6. —(1) If, on account of any material change in the information available to the Board or the correction of any error, or in any other circumstances prescribed in the relevant regulations, the Board finds that there is any shortfall in any premium paid in respect of any insurance period by or for any person insured or to be insured under the Scheme, the amount of the shortfall is payable, by all or any of the following persons, and in such proportion, as the Board may require: ( a ) a person by whom the premium is payable under section 4(1)( c )(i) or (ii); ( b ) a person by whom the premium is payable under section 4(2)( b ). (2) If, on account of any material change in the information available to the Board or the correction of any error, or in any other circumstances prescribed in the relevant regulations, the Board finds that any benefit under the Scheme has been paid in excess of the amount that ought to have been paid under the Scheme, the excess payment is to be repaid to the Fund in accordance with the relevant regulations — ( a ) by the insured person; or ( b ) if the excess payment has been paid by the Board directly to the credit of an approved medical institution, by that approved medical institution. (3) The Board may charge an insured person, a person by whom the premium is payable or an approved medical institution an administrative fee prescribed in the relevant regulations, if any material change, error or prescribed circumstances referred to in subsection (1) or (2) arises from incorrect information which is — ( a ) provided by the insured person, the person by whom the premium is payable or the approved medical institution, as the case may be; and ( b ) included in a health declaration, means declaration or claim application made under the Scheme. (4) Sections 4(2), 7(2), 32(2) and 34(2)( e ) and Part 3 apply, with such modifications as may be prescribed in the relevant regulations, to any amount payable under this section as they apply to a premium.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s7
chapter: PART 2 - MEDISHIELD LIFE SCHEME
section: 7
title: MediShield Life Fund
content:
7. —(1) The MediShield Fund is renamed the MediShield Life Fund and is to be administered in accordance with this Act. (2) The MediShield Life Fund comprises — ( a ) all premiums (including interest, costs and penalties under sections 11(1)( a ), 15(3) and 17, respectively) and any other sums paid under the Scheme; ( b ) all premiums under the MediShield Scheme paid on or after 1 November 2015; ( c ) all Government grants paid to the credit of the Fund for the purposes of the Scheme; ( d ) all gifts or donations given or made by any person for payment into the Fund, or to the Government or the Board for the purposes of the Scheme or for payment into the Fund; ( e ) all investments out of moneys in the Fund under subsection (5) and the proceeds of any such investments, including the net income from such investments; ( f ) all composition sums collected under section 24; and ( g ) all moneys in the MediShield Fund immediately before 1 November 2015. (3) All payments under the Scheme are to be met from the Fund. (4) Any costs or expenses incurred in the administration or enforcement of the Scheme may be met from the Fund. (5) The Board may invest the moneys in the Fund in accordance with the standard investment power of statutory boards as defined in section 33A of the Interpretation Act 1965, except that the Board is subject to any general or specific directions from the Minister (instead of the Minister charged with the responsibility for the Board). (6) Every amount paid into or out of the MediShield Fund before 1 November 2015 to defray any costs and expenses incurred for the purposes of the MediShield Scheme or the Scheme is taken to be and always to have been validly paid, and no legal proceedings are to lie or be instituted or maintained in any court of law on account of or in respect of any such payment. (7) The Board is not liable for any payment under the Scheme, or for any costs or expenses incurred in the administration or enforcement of the Scheme, by reason of anything done, purported to be done, or omitted to be done, by the Board in good faith and with reasonable care.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s8
chapter: PART 2 - MEDISHIELD LIFE SCHEME
section: 8
title: MediShield Life Council
content:
8. —(1) A MediShield Life Council is established, comprising the following members, all of whom are to be appointed by the Minister: ( a ) a Chairperson; ( b ) a Deputy Chairperson; ( c ) at least 2 and not more than 15 other individuals. (2) In addition to the functions and powers conferred on the Council by other provisions of this Act, the Council also has the following functions: ( a ) to make recommendations to the Minister on policy and scheme parameters to ensure that the Scheme provides effective protection for citizens and permanent residents of Singapore in an affordable and sustainable manner; ( b ) to review the administration of the Scheme to ensure alignment with the directions of the Council; ( c ) to advise the Minister on matters related to the investment of the Fund, and any other matters related to the Scheme or the Fund as the Minister may direct. (3) The terms and conditions of the appointment of the members of the Council are to be determined by the Minister. (4) The Council may appoint from among its own members or from other persons who are not members such number of committees as the Council thinks fit for purposes which, in the opinion of the Council, would be better managed by means of such committees. (5) Unless otherwise provided by or under this Act, the Council may determine the procedure to be adopted by the Council for the purposes of this Act.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s9
chapter: PART 2 - MEDISHIELD LIFE SCHEME
section: 9
title: Delegation of functions and powers
content:
9. —(1) The Council may in respect of a specified matter or class of matters, by writing, delegate any of its functions, duties or powers under this Act to a member of the Council or a committee appointed under section 8(4), except the power of delegation conferred by this subsection. (2) The Board may in respect of a specified matter or class of matters, by writing, delegate any of its functions, duties or powers under this Act to a member, an officer or a committee of the Board, except the power of delegation conferred by this subsection. (3) The chief executive officer of the Board may in respect of a specified matter or class of matters, by writing, delegate any of the chief executive officer’s functions, duties or powers under this Act to a member or an officer of the Board, except the power of delegation conferred by this subsection. (4) A recovery body may in respect of a specified matter or class of matters, by writing, delegate any of its powers under this Act to any officer of the recovery body, except the power of delegation conferred by this subsection. (5) Without affecting the power of delegation under section 36 of the Interpretation Act 1965, any Minister who has the power to issue an approval or a direction under Part 5 may in respect of any specified matter or class of matters, by writing, delegate that power to any public officer. (6) Every member, officer, committee or public officer purporting to act pursuant to a delegation under this section is, in the absence of proof to the contrary, presumed to be acting in accordance with the terms of the delegation. (7) A delegation under this section is revocable at will, and no such delegation prevents the exercise of any power, function or duty by the Minister, the Council, the Board, the chief executive officer of the Board or the recovery body (as the case may be) which makes the delegation.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s10
chapter: PART 2 - MEDISHIELD LIFE SCHEME
section: 10
title: Nature of rights and benefits under Scheme
content:
10. —(1) The rights and benefits of an insured person arising from the insured person’s insurance cover under the Scheme are not assignable or transferable. (2) A policy of insurance issued under the Scheme does not create any legal or equitable trust. (3) Section 73 of the Conveyancing and Law of Property Act 1886 and section 132 of the Insurance Act 1966 do not apply to any policy of insurance issued under the Scheme. (4) The Insurance Act 1966 does not apply to the Scheme or anything done under this Act.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s11
chapter: PART 3 - RECOVERY OF OUTSTANDING PREMIUMS, ETC.
section: 11
title: Demand note
content:
11. —(1) If the whole or any part of the premium payable for an insurance period remains unpaid at the expiry of such period as the Board may permit (being not less than one month) after the beginning of that insurance period — ( a ) interest may be imposed from time to time on any outstanding premium for that insurance period (excluding any penalty imposed under section 17), to run from the beginning of that insurance period or from such later period as the Board may determine at the prescribed rates; and ( b ) sections 12 to 16 may be applied to the outstanding premium. (2) A recovery body must serve a demand note on a defaulter liable to pay any outstanding premium — ( a ) if any interest or penalty is to be imposed on the defaulter under subsection (1)( a ) or section 17, as the case may be; and ( b ) before any power under section 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 is exercised to recover that outstanding premium from the defaulter. (3) A demand note must state — ( a ) the outstanding premium which is payable by the defaulter; and ( b ) any interest imposed under subsection (1)( a ) and any penalty imposed under section 17. (4) This Part applies to an outstanding premium despite any appeal pending against liability to pay the whole or any part of that outstanding premium.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s12
chapter: PART 3 - RECOVERY OF OUTSTANDING PREMIUMS, ETC.
section: 12
title: Defaulter’s agent for recovery of outstanding premiums
content:
12. —(1) A recovery body may, if it considers necessary, by written notice declare any person to be a defaulter’s agent. (2) The person declared to be the defaulter’s agent under subsection (1) is to be treated as the agent of the defaulter for the purposes of this Act, and may be required by the recovery body to pay any outstanding premium payable by the defaulter from any moneys which may be held by the defaulter’s agent for, or due from the defaulter’s agent to, the defaulter — ( a ) on or not more than 90 days after the date on which the defaulter’s agent receives the notice; or ( b ) at any time on or after the date on which the defaulter’s agent receives the notice, if the moneys are earnings and the defaulter’s agent is liable, as a principal and not as an employee or agent, to pay the earnings to the defaulter. (3) Where separate amounts of moneys come to be held by the defaulter’s agent for, or become due from the defaulter’s agent to, the defaulter at different times within the period in subsection (2)( a ) or ( b ) (as the case may be) the recovery body may require the outstanding premium to be paid in instalments of such sums as the recovery body may specify from one or more of those separate amounts. (4) Any person who is declared by a recovery body to be a defaulter’s agent under subsection (1) and is aggrieved by the declaration may object to the declaration by written notice to the recovery body within 14 days after the date of receipt of the notice, or within such longer period as the recovery body in its discretion may allow. (5) The recovery body must examine the objection and may cancel, vary or confirm the declaration. (6) An objector in subsection (4) who is aggrieved by the recovery body’s decision upon the objection in subsection (5) may appeal against that decision in accordance with the relevant regulations. (7) If the defaulter’s agent fails to make any payment under subsection (2), the outstanding premium is recoverable from the defaulter’s agent in the manner provided in section 15. (8) For the purposes of this section, a recovery body may require any person to give information as to — ( a ) any moneys, funds or other assets which may be held by that person for any defaulter; or ( b ) any moneys due from that person to any defaulter. (9) In this section, “earnings”, in relation to a defaulter, means any sum payable to the defaulter — ( a ) by way of wages or salary, including any fees, bonus, commission, overtime pay or other emoluments payable in addition to wages or salary by the person paying the wages or salary, or payable under a contract of service; or ( b ) by way of pension, including an annuity in respect of past services, whether or not the services were rendered to the person paying the annuity, and including periodical payments by way of compensation for the loss, abolition or relinquishment, or any diminution in the emoluments, of any office or employment. (10) Where a defaulter’s agent makes any payment of moneys to the recovery body under this section or section 13 — ( a ) the defaulter’s agent is deemed to have been acting under the authority of the defaulter; ( b ) the defaulter’s agent is, by this provision, indemnified in respect of the payment to the recovery body; ( c ) the outstanding premium due from the defaulter is reduced by the amount paid by the defaulter’s agent to the recovery body; and ( d ) the amount paid by the defaulter’s agent to the recovery body is deemed to have been paid to the defaulter in accordance with any law, contract or scheme governing the payment of moneys held by the defaulter’s agent for, or due from the defaulter’s agent to, the defaulter.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s13
chapter: PART 3 - RECOVERY OF OUTSTANDING PREMIUMS, ETC.
section: 13
title: Defaulter’s agent in relation to joint moneys
content:
13. —(1) This section applies where the moneys mentioned in section 12(2) are moneys in a joint account of which the defaulter is a joint account holder, or are the proceeds of sale of any immovable property of which the defaulter was a joint owner. (2) The defaulter’s agent must — ( a ) within 14 days after the date of the receipt of the notice under section 12(2), send a notice, by registered post addressed to every owner of the moneys in the bank account or the proceeds of sale (called in this section joint moneys) at the owner’s address last known to the defaulter’s agent, informing the owner of the declaration under section 12(1); ( b ) retain such amount of the joint moneys as is presumed under subsection (3) to be owned by the person from whom the outstanding premium is due; and ( c ) subject to subsections (6) and (7), within the time specified in the notice (being at least 42 days after the date of the receipt of the notice under section 12(2)) pay the outstanding premium due from the retained amount to the recovery body. (3) It is presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the joint account holders of a joint account have equal shares of the moneys in the account as at the date of the receipt of the notice under section 12(2), and that the joint owners of any immovable property share the proceeds of sale of the property equally. (4) Any owner of joint moneys who objects to the share presumed under subsection (3) may give written notice of the owner’s objection to the defaulter’s agent within 28 days after the date of the receipt of the agent’s notice under subsection (2)( a ), or within such longer period as the recovery body may allow, and furnish proof as to the owner’s share of the joint moneys together with the notice of objection. (5) Where an objection under subsection (4) is received, the defaulter’s agent must — ( a ) inform the recovery body of the objection within 7 days after the date of the receipt of the objection; and ( b ) retain the amount of the joint moneys referred to in subsection (2)( b ) until such time as the recovery body by notice under subsection (6) informs the defaulter’s agent of the recovery body’s decision on the objection. (6) The recovery body must consider the objection under subsection (4) and, by written notice, inform the objector of its decision. (7) An owner of joint moneys aggrieved by the decision of the recovery body under subsection (6) may appeal against that decision in accordance with the relevant regulations. (8) Where the recovery body has decided under subsection (6) on the amount of the defaulter’s share of the joint moneys, the defaulter’s agent must, despite any appeal under subsection (7), pay that amount, from the amount of the joint moneys retained under subsection (5)( b ), towards any outstanding premium due from the defaulter. (9) In this section, “joint account” means a bank account in the names of 2 or more persons, but excludes any partnership account, any trust account and any account where a minor is one of the joint account holders.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s14
chapter: PART 3 - RECOVERY OF OUTSTANDING PREMIUMS, ETC.
section: 14
title: Payment by Government
content:
14. —(1) Where — ( a ) any outstanding premium is due from any person under this Act other than as a defaulter’s agent under section 12 or 13; ( b ) an amount is or would be payable by the Government to the person by or under any written law, contract or scheme — (i) on or not more than 90 days after the date on which the public officer in paragraph ( c ) receives the notice in paragraph ( c ); or (ii) at any time on or after the date on which the public officer in paragraph ( c ) receives the notice in paragraph ( c ), if the amount is earnings (as defined in section 12(9)) payable to the person by the Government as a principal and not as an agent; and ( c ) before the amount mentioned in paragraph ( b ) is paid to the person, the recovery body serves a notice on any public officer by whom the payment is to be made that the outstanding premium mentioned in paragraph ( a ) is due from the person, then the public officer is, despite that or any other written law, contract or scheme, entitled to pay the whole or any part of the amount mentioned in paragraph ( b ) towards the whole or any part of the outstanding premium mentioned in paragraph ( a ). (2) If a public officer makes a payment under subsection (1) towards the outstanding premium mentioned in subsection (1)( a ) — ( a ) the amount of the outstanding premium is to be reduced by the amount of that payment; and ( b ) that payment is deemed to have been made to the person in accordance with the law, contract or scheme mentioned in subsection (1)( b ).


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s15
chapter: PART 3 - RECOVERY OF OUTSTANDING PREMIUMS, ETC.
section: 15
title: Suit for outstanding premiums
content:
15. —(1) All outstanding premiums imposed under this Act, and all sums due to the Fund, may be sued for and recovered by a recovery body in its own name by way of specially endorsed originating claim. [Act 25 of 2021 wef 01/04/2022] (2) A recovery body is entitled to all costs and interest allowed by law against the person sued. (3) All sums (including costs and interest) recovered in a suit brought under this section are to be paid into the Fund.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s16
chapter: PART 3 - RECOVERY OF OUTSTANDING PREMIUMS, ETC.
section: 16
title: Recovery from defaulter leaving Singapore
content:
16. —(1) Where a recovery body is of the opinion that any defaulter is about or likely to leave Singapore without paying all outstanding premiums payable by the defaulter, the recovery body may issue a certificate containing particulars of such outstanding premiums and a direction to the Commissioner of Police or the Controller of Immigration, or both, to prevent the defaulter from leaving Singapore without paying the outstanding premiums or furnishing security to the recovery body for the payment. (2) Subject to the provisions of any order issued or made under any law for the time being in force relating to banishment or immigration, upon receiving a direction under subsection (1), the Commissioner of Police or the Controller of Immigration, or both (as the case may be) are to take, or cause any police officer or immigration officer to take, such measures as may be necessary to prevent the defaulter from leaving Singapore until every outstanding premium has been paid or secured. (3) The measures mentioned in subsection (2) may include — ( a ) the use of such force as may be necessary; and ( b ) if appropriate, the detention of any passport, certificate of identity or travel document and any exit permit or other document authorising the defaulter to leave Singapore. (4) At the time the recovery body issues the certificate under subsection (1), the recovery body must issue to the defaulter, by personal service or registered post, a notification of the issue of the certificate; but a non‑receipt of the notification does not invalidate any proceedings under this section. (5) Payment of the outstanding premium to an officer in charge of a police station or an immigration officer, or production of a certificate issued by the recovery body stating that the outstanding premium has been paid or secured, is sufficient authority for allowing the defaulter to leave Singapore. (6) A defaulter who, knowing that a direction has been issued under this section to prevent the defaulter’s departure from Singapore, voluntarily leaves or attempts to leave Singapore without paying the outstanding premium or furnishing security to the recovery body’s satisfaction for that payment — ( a ) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both; and ( b ) may be arrested, without warrant, by any police officer or immigration officer. (7) No civil or criminal proceedings are to be instituted or maintained against the Commissioner of Police, the Controller of Immigration or any other police officer or immigration officer, in respect of anything done in good faith and with reasonable care under the authority of this section.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s17
chapter: PART 3 - RECOVERY OF OUTSTANDING PREMIUMS, ETC.
section: 17
title: Penalty for late payment of premium
content:
17. —(1) Subject to subsection (3), if the whole or any part of the premium for an insurance period, or any interest imposed under section 11(1)( a ), remains unpaid at the expiry of such period as the Board may permit (being at least one month) after the beginning of that insurance period, a penalty may be added to the premium and interest at the rates and times prescribed in the relevant regulations. (2) Subject to subsection (3), the relevant regulations may provide for penalties to be imposed at different rates for premiums and interest imposed under section 11(1)( a ) which remain unpaid for different periods. (3) The total amount of the penalties imposed on the premium and interest for an insurance period must not exceed 17% of the total amount of the premium for that insurance period and any interest imposed under section 11(1)( a ) on the outstanding premiums for that insurance period. (4) The recovery body may, subject to such terms and conditions as the recovery body may specify, extend the time limit within which payment of any penalty is to be made. (5) A recovery body may for any good cause shown remit the whole or any part of the penalty imposed by it under subsection (1).


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s18
chapter: PART 3 - RECOVERY OF OUTSTANDING PREMIUMS, ETC.
section: 18
title: Recovery body
content:
18. —(1) The Minister may prescribe one or more statutory bodies as recovery bodies for the purposes of this Part. (2) A recovery body may — ( a ) only exercise any powers under this Part which the Minister authorises it to exercise; and ( b ) must, in exercising those powers, comply with any directions of the Council. (3) Despite the provisions of any written law, a legal officer of a recovery body who is an advocate and solicitor may appear for the recovery body in any civil proceedings arising from the exercise of the recovery body’s powers under this Part, and may make and do all acts and applications in respect of such proceedings on behalf of the recovery body.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s19
chapter: PART 4 - OFFENCES
section: 19
title: False or incorrect health declaration, means declaration or claim application
content:
19. —(1) A person commits an offence if the person — ( a ) makes a health declaration, means declaration or claim application under the Scheme which is false or misleading in a material particular, knowing that the declaration or application is false or misleading in a material particular; ( b ) omits any matter or thing without which the health declaration, means declaration or claim application (as the case may be) is misleading in a material particular, knowing that the omission makes the declaration or application misleading; or ( c ) provides any information to any person which is false or misleading in a material particular, knowing that — (i) the information provided is false or misleading in a material particular; and (ii) the information provided may — (A) be included in a health declaration, means declaration or claim application made under the Scheme; (B) affect the amount of any benefit or claim to be paid under the Scheme or whether any such benefit or claim is payable; or (C) affect the amount of any grant, subsidy or benefit to be paid or given under a relevant public scheme or whether any such grant, subsidy or benefit is payable or may be given. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] (2) A person shall be liable on conviction of an offence under subsection (1) — ( a ) in any case where the person is an individual, to a penalty equal to the relevant amount; or ( b ) in any other case, to a penalty equal to 5 times the relevant amount. (3) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1), with the intention of causing any premium to be undercharged, any benefit or claim to be overpaid under the Scheme or a higher amount of any grant, subsidy or benefit to be given under a relevant public scheme, shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection and shall be liable on conviction of the offence under this subsection — ( a ) in any case where the person is an individual — (i) to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both; and (ii) in addition, to a penalty equal to 2 times the relevant amount; or ( b ) in any other case — (i) to a fine not exceeding $10,000; and (ii) in addition, to a penalty equal to 4 times the relevant amount. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] (4) In this section, “relevant amount” means — ( a ) the amount by which any premium has been undercharged as a result of the offence, or that would have been so undercharged if the false or misleading declaration, application or information (as the case may be) had been accepted as correct; ( b ) the amount of any benefit or claim under the Scheme that has been overpaid as a result of the offence, or that would have been so overpaid if the false or misleading declaration, application or information (as the case may be) had been accepted as correct; or ( c ) the amount of any grant, subsidy or benefit under a relevant public scheme that has been wrongly given as a result of the offence, or that would have been so wrongly given if the false or misleading information had been accepted as correct. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025]


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s20
chapter: PART 4 - OFFENCES
section: 20
title: Investigators
content:
20. —(1) The Minister may, in writing, appoint any public officer to investigate any offence under this Act. (2) The chief executive officer of the Board may, in writing, appoint any officer of the Board to investigate any offence under this Act. (3) An investigator, when exercising any powers and carrying out any duties under this Act, must comply with such general or special directions as may be given — ( a ) by the Minister, if the investigator is a public officer; or ( b ) by the chief executive officer of the Board, if the investigator is an officer of the Board.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s21
chapter: PART 4 - OFFENCES
section: 21
title: Power to obtain information
content:
21. —(1) An investigator who has a reasonable suspicion that any person has committed an offence under this Act may — ( a ) by written notice require any person to attend at such reasonable time and at such place as may be specified by the investigator to answer any question or to provide a signed statement in writing concerning the suspected offence; ( b ) require any person — (i) to furnish any information within the person’s knowledge; or (ii) to produce for inspection any document or record in the person’s possession, that the investigator believes on reasonable grounds to be connected with the suspected offence; and ( c ) retain the original copy of any document or record that the investigator believes on reasonable grounds to be connected with the suspected offence, or make or cause to be made, without payment, copies of or extracts from that document or record. (2) Where any document or record required by an investigator is kept in electronic form, then — ( a ) the power of an investigator to require that document or record to be produced for inspection under subsection (1)( b )(ii) includes the power to require a copy of that document or record to be made available for inspection in legible form; and ( b ) subsection (1)( c ) applies to any copy so made available. (3) Any copy of or extract from any document or record made under subsection (1)( c ) and certified as such by the investigator is admissible as evidence in any proceedings under this Act. (4) Any person who, when required by an investigator to furnish under subsection (1)( b ) any information or produce any document or record, refuses or fails, without reasonable excuse, to furnish the information or to produce the document or record within the time allowed by the investigator shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s22
chapter: PART 4 - OFFENCES
section: 22
title: Obstructing investigators in execution of their duties
content:
22. Any person who, without reasonable excuse, obstructs, hinders or impedes any investigator in the performance or execution of a duty or anything which the investigator is authorised, empowered or required to do under this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s23
chapter: PART 4 - OFFENCES
section: 23
title: Offences by bodies corporate, etc.
content:
23. —(1) Where an offence under this Act committed by a body corporate is proved — ( a ) to have been committed with the consent or connivance of an officer; or ( b ) to be attributable to any neglect on the officer’s part, the officer as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. (2) Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (1) is to apply in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with the member’s functions of management as if the member were a director of the body corporate. (3) Where an offence under this Act committed by a partnership is proved — ( a ) to have been committed with the consent or connivance of a partner; or ( b ) to be attributable to any neglect on the partner’s part, the partner as well as the partnership shall be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. (4) Where an offence under this Act committed by an unincorporated association (other than a partnership) is proved — ( a ) to have been committed with the consent or connivance of an officer of the unincorporated association or a member of its governing body; or ( b ) to be attributable to any neglect on the part of such an officer or a member, the officer or member as well as the unincorporated association shall be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. (5) In this section — “body corporate” includes a limited liability partnership as defined in section 2(1) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005; “officer” — ( a ) in relation to a body corporate, means any director, partner, member of the board of management, chief executive, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate and includes any person purporting to act in any such capacity; or ( b ) in relation to an unincorporated association (other than a partnership), means the president, the secretary, or any member of the committee of the unincorporated association, or any person holding a position analogous to that of president, secretary or member of such a committee and includes any person purporting to act in any such capacity; “partner” includes a person purporting to act as a partner.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s24
chapter: PART 4 - OFFENCES
section: 24
title: Composition of offences
content:
24. —(1) A public officer authorised by the Minister, or an officer of the Board authorised by the chief executive officer of the Board, may compound any offence under this Act that is prescribed as a compoundable offence by collecting from a person reasonably suspected of having committed the offence a sum not exceeding the lower of the following: ( a ) one half of the amount of the maximum fine that is prescribed for the offence; ( b ) $1,000. (2) On payment of the sum of money, no further proceedings are to be taken against that person in respect of the offence. (3) All sums collected under this section must be paid into the Fund.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s25
chapter: PART 4 - OFFENCES
section: 25
title: Conduct of prosecutions
content:
25. Proceedings in respect of any offence under this Act may, with the authorisation of the Public Prosecutor, be conducted — ( a ) by any public officer appointed by the Minister to conduct such proceedings; or ( b ) by any officer of the Board appointed by the chief executive officer of the Board to conduct such proceedings.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s26
chapter: PART 5 - DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
section: 26
title: Confidential information
content:
26. —(1) Where the Minister certifies, under the Minister’s hand, that a public officer, a public authority or any other organisation or person (called in this subsection the recipient organisation) requires any particular class of confidential information about a person (called in this subsection the person concerned), which is in the possession of a Government department or another public authority, for the administration or enforcement of the Scheme or in order to disburse or facilitate the disbursement of any grant, subsidy or benefit under a healthcare‑related public scheme, in relation to the person concerned — ( a ) the Minister charged with the responsibility for that Government department or other public authority may, in addition to any other power conferred by any written law, direct that Government department or other public authority to provide so much of the confidential information to the recipient organisation as the recipient organisation requires for that purpose; and ( b ) that Government department or other public authority is to comply with the direction under paragraph ( a ). (2) The Board may use so much of the confidential information about a person, obtained by the Board before, on or after 10 March 2015 in the course of performing the Board’s functions or duties under the CPF Act, to administer or enforce the Scheme in relation to that person as — ( a ) the Minister certifies, under the Minister’s hand, to be required by the Board for that purpose; and ( b ) the Minister charged with the responsibility for the Board approves to be used for that purpose. (3) The Board may use so much of the confidential information about a person obtained by the Board in the course of performing its functions or duties under this Act to perform the Board’s functions and duties under the CPF Act in relation to that person as the Minister approves to be used for that purpose. (4) A person who had consented, before 10 March 2015, to the Board disclosing information about that person in the Board’s possession to an insurer to administer or operate an insurance scheme referred to in section 77(1)( k ) of the CPF Act in relation to that person, or that person’s dependant, is deemed to consent to the Board disclosing information, obtained by the Board on or after that date in the course of administering or enforcing the CPF Act or this Act, to that insurer to administer or operate that insurance scheme (whether pursuant to regulations made under section 77(1)( k ) of the CPF Act or regulations made under section 34(2)( j )), until the deemed consent is withdrawn. (5) Subsections (1), (2) and (3) do not apply to — ( a ) confidential information about a person obtained directly or indirectly from a medical institution or a medical practitioner employed or engaged by that medical institution, who attended to that person; and [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] ( b ) means information.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s27
chapter: PART 5 - DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
section: 27
title: Health information
content:
27. —(1) Where the Minister certifies, under the Minister’s hand, that an authorised person requires confidential information about a person (called in this section a person concerned) which is in the possession of a medical institution or a medical practitioner employed or engaged by that medical institution, who attended to the person concerned, in order to — ( a ) assess whether premium loading under the Scheme applies to the person concerned on account of a pre‑existing medical condition; or ( b ) assess a claim for benefits under the Scheme by the person concerned, the authorised person may request that medical institution or medical practitioner to provide so much of the confidential information to the authorised person as the authorised person needs for that purpose. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] (2) Where any confidential information about a person concerned has been obtained under subsection (1), an authorised person may — ( a ) access or use, or disclose to another authorised person, such confidential information for the purposes certified by the Minister under subsection (1); or ( b ) disclose such confidential information to any person for the administration or enforcement of the Scheme, or to an insurer to administer or operate an insurance scheme referred to in section 77(1)( k ) of the CPF Act or section 34(2)( j ) in relation to the person concerned but only if the information is disclosed — (i) with the approval of the Minister; and (ii) in the form of a report stating whether that person concerned has any pre‑existing medical condition (without identifying the pre‑existing medical condition) and the amount of premium loading applicable to the premium payable by that person. (3) If a person concerned opts out, in the manner determined by the Minister, from the provision of information about the person concerned for the purposes of subsection (1)( a ), an authorised person must not, from the time the authorised person is notified that the person concerned has opted out, except with the consent of the person concerned — ( a ) request a medical institution or a medical practitioner to provide the information under subsection (1)( a ); or ( b ) access or use any information obtained under subsection (1)( a ). (4) A person who has not attained 21 years of age (called in this subsection the minor) may opt out from the provision of information about the minor for the purposes of subsection (1)( a ) only if — ( a ) the minor has attained 16 years of age; and ( b ) any other person who is liable to pay the minor’s premium under section 4(1)( c )(ii) does not object to the opting out by the minor.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s28
chapter: PART 5 - DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
section: 28
title: Means information, household composition, etc.
content:
28. —(1) Where an authorised person requests for means information about a person (called in this section the person concerned), which is in the possession of a relevant authority, for any purpose mentioned in subsection (1A), the relevant authority is to provide to the authorised person so much of that means information as — ( a ) the Minister certifies, under the Minister’s hand, to be required by the authorised person for that purpose; and ( b ) the Minister charged with the responsibility for the relevant authority approves to be provided for that purpose. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] (1A) The purpose mentioned in subsection (1) is any of the following: ( a ) to assess the eligibility of any person for any grant, subsidy or benefit under a relevant public scheme; ( b ) to determine if any of the powers in Part 3 should be exercised in relation to any person. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] (2) An authorised person may access or use, or disclose to another authorised person, any means information provided under subsection (1) for the purposes for which the information was provided. (3) An authorised person may provide means information about a person concerned obtained under subsection (1) for the purpose mentioned in subsection (1A)( a ) to any public authority or other organisation or person that is responsible for a prescribed public scheme (called in this subsection a recipient organisation) or any officer, employee or agent of the recipient organisation, for the recipient organisation to disburse, or facilitate the disbursement of, a grant, subsidy or benefit under the prescribed public scheme, only — ( a ) in the form of a report derived from such means information stating whether any person satisfies the eligibility criteria for a grant, subsidy or benefit under a relevant public scheme or any tier or category within such eligibility criteria (whether or not the report includes any information other than means information); ( b ) at the request of the recipient organisation; and ( c ) with the approval of the Minister. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] (4) If a person concerned opts out, in the manner determined by the Minister, from the provision of means information about the person concerned for the purpose mentioned in subsection (1A)( a ), an authorised person must not, from the time the authorised person is notified that the person concerned has opted out, except with the consent of the person concerned — ( a ) request the information under subsection (1) for that purpose; or [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] ( b ) access or use any information obtained under subsection (1) for that purpose. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] (5) If a person concerned opts out, in the manner determined by the Minister, from the provision of information about the person concerned under subsection (3) for the disbursement, or for facilitating the disbursement, of all grants, subsidies or benefits under all prescribed public schemes, an authorised person must not from the time the authorised person is notified that the person concerned has opted out, disclose the information under subsection (3), except with the consent of the person concerned. (6) A person who has not attained 21 years of age (called in this subsection the minor) may opt out from the provision of means information about the minor under subsection (1) (for the purpose mentioned in subsection (1A)( a )) or (3) only if — ( a ) the minor has attained 16 years of age; and ( b ) any other person who is liable to pay the minor’s premium under section 4(1)( c )(ii) does not object to the opting out by the minor. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] (7) Information on a person’s household composition and whether that person satisfies the eligibility criteria for a grant, subsidy or benefit under a relevant public scheme or any tier or category within such eligibility criteria, derived from information obtained under this section may be disclosed to that person. (8) IRAS may, if it is prescribed as a recovery body, use to enforce the Scheme so much of the means information or other confidential information obtained by it (whether before, on or after 10 March 2015) in the course of performing its functions under section 6 of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore Act 1992 as the Minister charged with the responsibility for finance approves to be used for such purpose.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s29
chapter: PART 5 - DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
section: 29
title: Offence and immunity relating to disclosure
content:
29. —(1) Subject to subsections (2), (3) and (4), any person who, knowing that any information about any other person was provided or obtained under any provision of section 26, 27 or 28, accesses, uses or discloses the information, without the written consent of that other person, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both. (2) No person or organisation shall be guilty of an offence under any written law or of any breach of confidence, shall incur any civil liability or shall be liable to any disciplinary action by a professional body, by virtue merely of doing any of the following in good faith and with reasonable care: ( a ) complying with a direction under section 26(1)( a ) or a request under section 27(1) or 28(1); ( b ) providing or disclosing information in accordance with any provision of section 26, 27 or 28; ( c ) accessing or using information provided or obtained under any provision of section 26, 27 or 28 in accordance with the requirements of such provision and any terms and conditions imposed under section 30(1); ( d ) with the approval of the Minister — (i) disclosing any information obtained under section 26, 27 or 28 to the Council for the exercise of the Council’s functions and powers under this Act; or (ii) where the organisation is the Council, using that information to exercise its functions and powers under this Act. (3) Sections 26, 27 and 28 and subsection (2) apply — ( a ) despite any other written law; and ( b ) whether or not any person accessing, using or disclosing information under those provisions is under any obligation (imposed by any written law or otherwise) not to access, use or disclose such information. (4) Sections 26, 27 and 28 do not affect the exercise of any right or authority under any other written law or rule of law to access, use or disclose confidential information.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s30
chapter: PART 5 - DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
section: 30
title: General
content:
30. —(1) An approval under section 26(2)( b ) or (3), 27(2)( b )(i), 28(1)( b ), (3)( c ) or (8) or 29(2)( d ) or a direction under section 26(1)( a ) may be given on such terms and conditions, as the Minister giving the approval or direction considers appropriate, regarding access to the information provided or disclosed pursuant to the approval or direction, as the case may be. (2) A certification, an approval or a direction by a Minister under this Part may be given in relation to a particular class of confidential information about persons within a class of persons specified in the certification, approval or direction. (3) References in this Part to the Scheme and to other provisions of this Act are to apply, before the commencement of the provisions establishing the Scheme and the commencement of those other provisions of this Act, respectively, as if those provisions were already in force.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s31
chapter: PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS
section: 31
title: Change of address
content:
31. —(1) Subject to subsection (2), every person who is liable to pay any premium under section 4(1)( c )(i) or (ii) must inform the Board in writing of any change in that person’s residential address. (2) If a person has changed that person’s residential address and has made a report of the change under section 10 of the National Registration Act 1965, that person is taken to have informed the Board of the change of that residential address in accordance with subsection (1).


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s32
chapter: PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS
section: 32
title: Certificate of officer authorised by Board to be evidence
content:
32. —(1) In any legal proceedings, a copy of an entry in the accounts of the Fund duly certified under the hand of an officer of the Board authorised by the Board to sign the certification is prima facie evidence of the entry having been made and of the truth of the contents of the entry. (2) In any suit under section 15, the production of a certificate signed by an officer of the Board authorised by the Board to sign the certification stating the following is sufficient evidence of the amount due and sufficient authority for the court to give judgment for that amount: ( a ) the name and address of the defaulter; and ( b ) the amount of the outstanding premium payable by the defaulter.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s33
chapter: PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS
section: 33
title: Protection from personal liability
content:
33. No liability is incurred by any public officer, any member of the Council or of any committee appointed under section 8(4), any member, officer or employee of the Board or a recovery body, or any other person acting under the direction of the Council or the Board, for anything which is done or purported to be done, or omitted to be done, in good faith and with reasonable care in — ( a ) the exercise or purported exercise of any power under this Act; or ( b ) the performance or purported performance of any function or duty under this Act.


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s33A
chapter: PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS
section: 33A
title: Service of documents
content:
33A. —(1) A document (other than a demand note mentioned in section 11(2)) that is permitted or required by or under this Act to be served on a person may be served as described in this section. (2) A document may be served on an individual — ( a ) by giving it to the individual personally; ( b ) by sending it by prepaid registered post to the address specified by the individual for the service of documents or, if no address is so specified, the individual’s residential address or business address; ( c ) by leaving it at the individual’s residential address with an adult person apparently residing there, or at the individual’s business address with an adult person apparently employed there; ( d ) by affixing a copy of the document in a conspicuous place at the individual’s residential address or business address; ( e ) by sending it by fax to the fax number given by the individual as the fax number for the service of documents under this Act; or ( f ) by sending it by email to the individual’s email address. (3) A document may be served on a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership) — ( a ) by giving it to any partner or other similar officer of the partnership; ( b ) by leaving it at, or by sending it by prepaid registered post to, the partnership’s business address; ( c ) by sending it by fax to the fax number used at the partnership’s business address; or ( d ) by sending it by email to the partnership’s email address. (4) A document may be served on a body corporate (including a limited liability partnership) or an unincorporated association — ( a ) by giving it to the secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or unincorporated association or the limited liability partnership’s manager; ( b ) by leaving it at, or by sending it by prepaid registered post to, the body corporate’s or unincorporated association’s registered office or principal office in Singapore; ( c ) by sending it by fax to the fax number used at the body corporate’s or unincorporated association’s registered office or principal office in Singapore; or ( d ) by sending it by email to the body corporate’s or unincorporated association’s email address. (5) Service of a document under this section takes effect — ( a ) if the document is sent by fax and a notification of successful transmission is received, on the day of the transmission; ( b ) if the document is sent by email, at the time that the email becomes capable of being retrieved by the person; and ( c ) if the document is sent by prepaid registered post, 2 days after the day the document was posted (even if it is returned undelivered). (6) A document may be served on a person under this Act by email only with that person’s prior written consent. (7) This section does not apply to documents to be served in proceedings in court or whose manner of service is otherwise provided by or under this Act. (8) In this section — “business address” means — ( a ) in the case of an individual, the individual’s usual or last known place of business in Singapore; and ( b ) in the case of a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership), the partnership’s principal or last known place of business in Singapore; “email address” means the last email address given by the addressee concerned as the email address for the service of documents under this Act; “residential address” means an individual’s usual or last known place of residence in Singapore and includes an address provided in accordance with section 31. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025]


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s33B
chapter: PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS
section: 33B
title: Service of demand notes
content:
33B. —(1) A demand note may be served as described in this section. (2) A demand note may be served on a person — ( a ) by giving it to the person personally; ( b ) by sending it by prepaid registered post to the address specified by the person generally for the service of documents permitted or required by or under this Act to be served or specifically for demand notes; ( c ) if no address mentioned in paragraph ( b ) is so specified, by sending it by prepaid registered post to — (i) the person’s residential address; (ii) the person’s business address; (iii) any correspondence address provided by the person — (A) in relation to the administration of this Act; or (B) in accordance with regulations made under section 34; or (iv) if the person is an insured person who has not attained 21 years of age — (A) the residential address of the insured person’s parent; (B) the business address of the insured person’s parent; or (C) any correspondence address mentioned in sub-paragraph (iii) provided by the insured person’s parent; ( d ) by leaving it at the person’s residential address with an adult person apparently residing there, or at the person’s business address with an adult person apparently employed there; ( e ) by affixing a copy of the demand note in a conspicuous place at the person’s residential address or business address; ( f ) by sending it by fax to the fax number given by the person generally for the service of documents permitted or required by or under this Act to be served or specifically for demand notes; or ( g ) by sending it by email in any manner provided in subsection (3). (3) For the purposes of subsection (2)( g ), a demand note may be served on a person ( A ) — ( a ) by sending it by email to the last email address given by A to the recovery body, as the email address for the service of demand notes under this Act, if A has given prior written consent to service in this manner; or ( b ) by sending it by email to an email address of A , if — (i) the recovery body sends A an email at that email address; (ii) the email contains a prominent notice stating — (A) that if A sends any reply to the recovery body from that email address, A is treated as consenting to service of any demand note on A , by sending it by email to that email address; and (B) that A may, at any time, give the recovery body a notice in writing — (BA) refusing service on A by email at that email address; and (BB) specifying a valid address or valid email address at which A may be served with a demand note; (iii) A sends a reply to the recovery body from that email address and does not give the recovery body the notice mentioned in sub-paragraph (ii)(B) in that reply; and (iv) in the period between the date A sends the reply and the date immediately before the day the demand note is served (both dates inclusive), A does not give the recovery body the notice mentioned in sub-paragraph (ii)(B). (4) Service of a demand note on a person under this section takes effect — ( a ) if the demand note is sent by fax and a notification of successful transmission is received, on the day of the transmission; ( b ) if the demand note is sent by email, at the time that the email becomes capable of being retrieved by the person; and ( c ) if the demand note is sent by prepaid registered post, 2 days after the day the demand note was posted (even if it is returned undelivered). (5) In addition, the Minister may by regulations made under section 34 prescribe, in relation to an electronic service of a recovery body, that despite anything in the relevant written law, the provisions of the relevant written law (so far as relevant) apply in relation to the service by the recovery body of a demand note under this Act using the electronic service as they apply to the service of documents permitted or required to be served by the electronic service under the relevant written law, with any exceptions, modifications and adaptations that may be prescribed. (6) Service of a demand note in accordance with any relevant written law as applied by regulations made for the purpose of subsection (5) takes effect at the time when an electronic record of it enters the person’s account with the electronic service. (7) This section does not affect the service of a demand note in accordance with any other written law or in any manner agreed by the person to be served. (8) In this section — “business address” has the meaning given by section 33A(8); “demand note” means a demand note mentioned in section 11(2); “electronic service”, in relation to a recovery body, means any prescribed system established under any written law that enables the recovery body to serve any document, and includes — ( a ) if the Board is prescribed as a recovery body, the electronic service platform provided under section 74(1) of the CPF Act; and ( b ) if IRAS is prescribed as a recovery body, the system established under section 29(1) of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore Act 1992; “parent”, in relation to an insured person, means any parent of an insured person who is required under section 4(1)( c )(ii) to pay any premium for the insured person; “relevant written law”, in relation to an electronic service, means — ( a ) the written law under which the electronic service is established; and ( b ) any written law that provides for the procedure for the use of the electronic service, the circumstances in which a document may be served through the electronic service, and the manner in which a person who has been served a document through the electronic service is to be notified of such service, and includes — ( c ) if the electronic service platform provided under section 74(1) of the CPF Act is prescribed as an electronic service, the CPF Act and any subsidiary legislation mentioned in section 74(4) or (5) of that Act; and ( d ) if the system established under section 29(1) of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore Act 1992 is prescribed as an electronic service, any provision or subsidiary legislation mentioned in paragraph ( a ) or ( c ) of the definition of “relevant tax legislation” (for any document or information permitted or required under such legislation to be served or given) in section 29(7) of that Act; “residential address” means a person’s usual or last known place of residence in Singapore and includes an address provided in accordance with section 31. [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025]


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s34
chapter: PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS
section: 34
title: Regulations
content:
34. —(1) The Minister may make regulations for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act. (2) Without limiting subsection (1), such regulations may — ( a ) despite section 3(3), provide for the circumstances in which a person ceases to be an insured person or may be reinstated as an insured person, including — (i) refunds and payments to be made to adjust for such changes; and (ii) interest paid into that person’s medisave account to be deducted and paid to the general moneys of the Central Provident Fund; ( b ) impose premium loading for insured persons who do not satisfy the Board that they have no pre‑existing medical conditions; [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] ( c ) prescribe the benefits payable under the Scheme (which may differ for different classes of insured persons) and make provision for claims for such benefits, including — (i) the circumstances in which an insured person is entitled to claim such benefits, including limiting benefits to any approved medical treatment or services which are assessed by the Council or a committee appointed under section 8(4) to be appropriate in the circumstances of any particular case; (ii) the form and manner of submitting claims under the Scheme, including provision for direct submission of such claims by approved medical institutions; and (iii) providing for any payments which an insured person is liable to make under this Act to be deducted from the benefits payable to that person; ( d ) prescribe the circumstances for imposing and the manner of computing premiums (which may be at different rates for different classes of insured persons), interest (including compound interest) under section 11(1)( a ) and penalties imposed under section 17, and the order in which payments are applied to such premiums, interest and penalties; [Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025] ( e ) prescribe the circumstances in which premiums, interest under section 11(1)( a ) and penalties imposed under section 17 are payable by a person (other than an insured person) and may be deducted from that person’s medisave account under section 4(2)( b ); ( f ) provide for any payment under this Act to be deducted from the medisave account of the person liable to make that payment; ( g ) provide for the refund of any premium, interest under section 11(1)( a ), penalty under section 17 or other payment made under this Act (called in this paragraph the refunded payment), including — (i) the rate, manner or circumstances for the refund to be made; (ii) for any payments which the insured person is liable to make under this Act to be deducted from the amount to be refunded; and (iii) if the refunded payment was deducted from an account of a CPF member in the Central Provident Fund, the refund, to that or any other account of that CPF member in the Central Provident Fund, of the whole or such part of the interest which would have been payable if the refunded payment had not been so deducted; ( h ) prescribe the fees and charges for the purposes of this Act; ( i ) provide in respect of any offence under the regulations — (i) in a case where the offender is an individual, for a penalty not exceeding a fine of $5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both for each offence; or (ii) in any other case, for a penalty not exceeding a fine of $10,000 for each offence; ( j ) provide, in any case where a CPF member or the CPF member’s dependant is insured under a medical insurance scheme or other insurance scheme approved by the Minister, for — (i) the withdrawal of money from the CPF member’s medisave account for the payment of any premium payable by the CPF member or the dependant in respect of the medical insurance scheme or other insurance scheme; (ii) the refund of any premium paid by the CPF member or the dependant in respect of the medical insurance scheme or other insurance scheme, the circumstances under which any such refund is to be made, and the determination of the manner in which any such refund will be made (including the person who will make any such determination); (iii) the payment of any rebate given in respect of the medical insurance scheme or other insurance scheme, the circumstances under which any such payment will be made, and the determination of the manner in which any such payment will be made (including the person who will make any such determination); (iv) the insurer to pay administrative fees to the Board for any material change or error in relation to any withdrawal, refund or payment by the Board arising from incorrect information provided by the insurer or from such other circumstances as may be prescribed; and (v) transitional provisions for a medical insurance scheme or other insurance scheme approved by the Minister for the purposes of this paragraph, if regulations made under section 77(1)( k ) of the CPF Act applying to that medical insurance scheme or other insurance scheme are revoked; ( k ) [ Deleted by Act 40 of 2024 wef 01/04/2025 ] ( l ) exempt any person or class of persons from the Scheme or any provision of this Act, or modify the application of this Act in relation to any person insured under the Scheme by virtue of section 35(1) or any other class of persons; ( m ) prescribe the circumstances for the termination of insurance cover under the Scheme in relation to any person or class of persons insured under the Scheme by virtue of section 35(1); ( n ) make transitional and saving provisions for the MediShield Fund and MediShield Scheme, including for the payment of benefits, the recovery of premiums payable and the refund of payments made under that Scheme on or after 1 November 2015; ( o ) make financial provisions in relation to the Fund and the Scheme, including the audit of the Fund and the Scheme and the submission of reports on the administration and enforcement of the Fund or the Scheme; and ( p ) prescribe anything that is required or permitted to be prescribed under this Act. (3) The regulations made under this Act may make different provisions for different classes of persons. (4) All regulations made under this Act are to be presented to Parliament as soon as possible after publication in the Gazette .


document_id: mlsa-2015
provision_ref: s35
chapter: PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS
section: 35
title: Transitional and saving provisions
content:
35. —(1) Every person who, not being a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore, is an insured person under the MediShield Scheme immediately before 1 November 2015 continues to be insured under the Scheme — ( a ) with such modifications as may be prescribed in the relevant regulations; and ( b ) until that insurance cover is terminated under the relevant regulations. (2) Except as provided in subsection (1), the Scheme does not apply to any person who is not a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore. (3) Section 13(1)( b ) of the CPF Act in force before 1 November 2015 continues to apply to withdrawals from a person’s medisave account for the payment of premiums payable for insurance cover under the MediShield Scheme as if that section was not amended by this Act. (4) Section 16A of the CPF Act in force before 1 November 2015 continues to apply to premiums payable for a person’s insurance cover under the MediShield Scheme as if that section was not amended by this Act. (5) Section 53A of the CPF Act in force immediately before 1 November 2015 continues to apply to any thing done before that date by any person who was below the age of 16 years or 21 years (as the case may be) when that thing was done.


document_id: mma-1905
provision_ref: s2
section: 2
title: Notice of manoeuvres
content:
2. —(1) Whenever the number of troops to be engaged in military manoeuvres exceeds 500, notice in writing shall be given to the secretary to the Armed Forces Council at least one month before the date on which it is proposed to execute such manoeuvres, specifying — ( a ) the date of the commencement of the manoeuvres, the period not exceeding 3 months during which and approximately the limits within which the manoeuvres are to be executed; and ( b ) a date not earlier than one month from the conclusion of the manoeuvres within which claims for compensation arising from the putting in force of the provisions of this Act shall be sent to the secretary to the Armed Forces Council. Publication of notice (2) The secretary to the Armed Forces Council shall cause copies of such notice to be posted in every village and at other convenient places within the limits mentioned in the notice at least 14 days before the day named for the commencement of the manoeuvres. When no notice necessary (3) Whenever the number of troops to be engaged in the manoeuvres does not exceed 500 no such notice as mentioned in subsection (1) shall be necessary; and if no such notice is given, the manoeuvres shall not extend beyond a period of 48 hours.


document_id: mma-1905
provision_ref: s3
section: 3
title: Powers of persons engaged in manoeuvres
content:
3. —(1) When any military manoeuvres are being executed under this Act, such persons as are engaged in the manoeuvres may within the limits specified in the notice, if any, as aforesaid and during the specified period — ( a ) pass over and encamp, construct military works not of a permanent character and execute military manoeuvres on any land; and ( b ) supply themselves with water from any sources of water, public or private, and for that purpose dam up any running water, provided that such damming under paragraph ( b ) does not interfere with any trade or industry and that nothing in this Act shall authorise the taking of water from any source of supply belonging to a private owner or public authority except subject to the supply shown to be required by those entitled to use the water supply. (2) Nothing in this Act shall authorise entry on or interference with any dwelling house, place of worship, school, factory, store or premises used for the carrying on of any business or manufacture or any ground attached to any place of worship or school or any premises enclosed within the curtilage of or attached to any dwelling house.


document_id: mma-1905
provision_ref: s4
section: 4
title: Compensation for damage
content:
4. —(1) Full compensation shall be paid for any injury or damage to persons or property or interference with rights or privileges arising from putting in force any of the provisions of this Act, whether or not occasioned by the acts or defaults of the forces engaged in the manoeuvres, including therein all expenses reasonably incurred in the protection of persons, property, rights and privileges, and any damage by reason of excessive weight or extraordinary traffic caused to any highway for the repair of which any public body or any individual is responsible. (2) The compensation shall be paid to all persons who send in their claims to the secretary to the Armed Forces Council within the period named in the notice or, if there is no such notice, to the secretary within one month from the conclusion of the manoeuvres.


document_id: mma-1905
provision_ref: s5
section: 5
title: Assessment of compensation
content:
5. —(1) If the amount of compensation is not settled by agreement between the Armed Forces Council and the claimant, the difference between them shall be referred to arbitration, and the sending in of a claim for compensation shall be treated as a submission to arbitration under the Arbitration Act. (2) The reference shall be to 2 arbitrators having power to appoint an umpire under the Arbitration Act.


document_id: mma-1905
provision_ref: s6
section: 6
title: Offences
content:
6. —(1) If within a manoeuvring ground and during the continuance of any military manoeuvres under this Act, any person — ( a ) wilfully and unlawfully interferes with the execution of the manoeuvres; ( b ) without due authority enters or remains in any camp; ( c ) without due authority moves any flag or other mark distinguishing for the purposes of the manoeuvres any lands; or ( d ) maliciously cuts or damages any telegraph or telephone wire laid down by or for the use of the forces engaged in the manoeuvres, he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both. (2) Such person may be arrested without a warrant and any animal or vehicle under his charge may be removed by any police officer or by order of any commissioned officer of the forces engaged in the manoeuvres.


document_id: mma-1905
provision_ref: s7
section: 7
title: Manoeuvres not to be held in catchment area of waterworks
content:
7. Except with the Public Utilities Board’s approval, no military manoeuvres shall be executed and no military encampment made on any land forming part of the catchment area in connection with the impounding reservoir of any public waterworks or on any land set apart for the collection of water for the supply of any public waterworks. [Act 24 of 2022 wef 28/10/2022]


document_id: mma-1905
provision_ref: s8
section: 8
title: Manoeuvring and firing grounds
content:
8. —(1) It shall be lawful for the Minister from time to time by proclamation to declare — ( a ) that any area specified in the proclamation shall be a manoeuvring ground; or ( b ) that any area specified in the proclamation shall be a firing ground, and from time to time in the like manner to declare that any such area or part of that area shall cease to be a manoeuvring ground or a firing ground, as the case may be. (2) A manoeuvring ground may include any land, sea, tidal water or shore on which or over which aircraft can manoeuvre or from which they can take off or on which they can alight. (3) A firing ground may include any land, sea, tidal water or shore on which or over which artillery or rifle practices, air firing, bomb dropping or torpedo dropping practices can be carried out, whether from weapons on the ground or from aircraft in flight.


document_id: mma-1905
provision_ref: s9
section: 9
title: Powers of Armed Forces Council with respect to manoeuvring ground
content:
9. —(1) The Armed Forces Council shall have the following powers in respect of any manoeuvring ground so declared under this Act: ( a ) it may at any time direct military or air force manoeuvres to be carried on within the manoeuvring ground without giving the notice required by section 2; ( b ) it may exercise with respect to the performance of manoeuvres within the manoeuvring ground all the powers for the purpose of military manoeuvres as set out in section 3. (2) All the provisions in this Act with regard to — ( a ) the powers exercisable for the purpose of military manoeuvres; ( b ) compensation for damage and assessment of compensation; and ( c ) offences, shall be applicable to all manoeuvres carried on, in and over the manoeuvring ground.


document_id: mma-1905
provision_ref: s10
section: 10
title: Powers of Armed Forces Council in respect of firing ground
content:
10. —(1) The Armed Forces Council shall have the following powers in respect of any firing ground so declared under this Act: ( a ) it may at any time cause firing exercises, either on the ground or from the air, or experiments in gunnery, or any act or practice incidental to such exercises or experiments, or bombing or torpedo practices, or any other military or air force exercises to be carried out in or over the firing ground, giving not less than 24 hours’ notice thereof to the occupiers of land in or over which such exercises, experiments, acts or practices are to take place, by the hoisting of a red flag in a conspicuous position within the firing area; ( b ) it may cause to be removed all or any buildings within the firing ground or any trees or other things which may hinder or interfere with the full exercise of the rights given by this Act and may prohibit the erection of any new building within the firing ground. (2) All the provisions in this Act with regard to — ( a ) the powers exercisable with regard to military manoeuvres; ( b ) compensation for damage and assessment of compensation; and ( c ) offences, shall be applicable to any military or air force exercises carried on, in and over the firing ground.


document_id: mma-1905
provision_ref: s11
section: 11
title: Rules for firing grounds
content:
11. —(1) The Armed Forces Council may make rules for securing the safety of the public during the use of any firing ground for the purposes of military or air force exercises, and may, by those rules, among other things — ( a ) exclude all persons not engaged in the military or air force exercises from the whole or any part of the firing ground; ( b ) regulate the conduct of any persons permitted to be within the firing ground while the exercises are being carried on; and ( c ) prescribe a penalty not exceeding $2,000 or 6 months’ imprisonment or both for any contravention of any rule. (2) All such rules shall be published in the Gazette , and copies of the rules in Malay, Chinese, Tamil and English shall be posted in at least 3 conspicuous places within or near the firing ground. (3) If any such rules injuriously affect or obstruct the exercise of any private right of any person in or over any sea, tidal water or shore, that person shall be entitled to compensation, and the compensation shall, in case of dispute, be ascertained in the manner provided by section 13. (4) Any such rules which affect any public right shall be presented to Parliament and shall not come into force until approved, with or without amendment, by a resolution of Parliament. For the purposes of this subsection, “public right” means any right of navigation, anchoring or fishing. (5) Where an area to which rules made under this section apply consists of any sea or tidal water, or the shore thereof, and the boundaries of the area cannot, in the opinion of the Armed Forces Council, be conveniently marked by permanent marks, those boundaries shall be deemed to be sufficiently marked for the purposes of this Act if sufficient means are taken to warn the public from entering the area. (6) Any officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or military policeman of the Singapore Armed Forces or any police officer may arrest without warrant any person found in any firing ground in contravention of the rules made under this section and may remove him and any animal or vehicle under his charge.


document_id: mma-1905
provision_ref: s12
section: 12
title: Compensation
content:
12. Compensation shall be paid to the owners or occupiers or both of land within any firing ground for any loss or damage arising from the land owned or occupied by them being proclaimed a firing ground under this Act, such compensation to be independent of and in addition to any compensation in respect of damage for which compensation may be awarded to them under section 4.


document_id: mma-1905
provision_ref: s13
section: 13
title: Form and assessment of compensation
content:
13. —(1) Such compensation, unless otherwise agreed, shall be in the form of an annual rent payable to every person entitled to the compensation so long as the land in respect of which it is paid continues to be a firing ground. (2) The amount of such compensation shall be such as is agreed upon between the Armed Forces Council and the claimant, and if the amount of the compensation cannot be settled by agreement, the difference between the parties shall be referred to arbitration, and the sending in of a claim for compensation shall be treated as a submission to arbitration under the Arbitration Act. (3) The reference shall be to 2 arbitrators having power to appoint an umpire under the Arbitration Act.


document_id: mma-1905
provision_ref: s14
section: 14
title: Time limit for claim to compensation
content:
14. —(1) Every claim for compensation under section 11(3) or 12 shall be made in writing to the secretary to the Armed Forces Council, within 2 months after the land, sea, tidal water or shore, as the case may be, in respect of which the claim is made has been used as a firing ground for the purposes of military or air force exercises by virtue of a declaration under this Act. (2) No compensation shall be granted for any building erected or commenced after the posting of the rules as provided in section 11(2).


document_id: moa-2003
provision_ref: s2
section: 2
title: Interpretation
content:
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires — “act of violence” means — ( a ) any act done in Singapore which constitutes the offence of murder, attempted murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, voluntarily causing grievous hurt, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, or which constitutes an offence under — (i) section 4 of the Arms Offences Act 1973; (ii) section 3 or 4 of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958; or [Act 3 of 2021 wef 01/07/2025] (iii) [ Deleted by Act 3 of 2021 wef 01/07/2025 ] (iv) section 3 of the Kidnapping Act 1961; or ( b ) any act done outside Singapore which, if done in Singapore, would constitute an offence mentioned in paragraph ( a ); “Convention” means the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation done in Rome on 10 March 1988; “Convention country” means a country in respect of which the Convention is in force; “country” includes any territory; “fixed platform” means any artificial island, installation or structure permanently attached to the seabed for the purpose of exploration or exploitation of resources or for any other economic purpose; “naval service” includes military and air force services; “Protocol” means the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms located on the Continental Shelf done in Rome on 10 March 1988; “Protocol country” means a Convention country in respect of which the Protocol is in force; “relevant fixed platform offence” means — ( a ) an offence under section 8, 9 or 10; ( b ) conspiracy to commit any of those offences; ( c ) inciting another to commit any of those offences; ( d ) attempting to commit any of those offences; or ( e ) aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of any of those offences; “relevant maritime offence” means — ( a ) an offence under section 3, 4, 5 or 6; ( b ) conspiracy to commit any of those offences; ( c ) inciting another to commit any of those offences; ( d ) attempting to commit any of those offences; or ( e ) aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of any of those offences; “ship” means any vessel (including hovercraft, submersible craft and other floating craft) other than one which — ( a ) permanently rests on, or is permanently attached to, the seabed; or ( b ) has been withdrawn from navigation or laid up; “unlawfully” means, in relation to the commission of an act — ( a ) in Singapore — so as to constitute an offence under any written law (apart from this Act) in force in Singapore; and ( b ) outside Singapore — so that the commission of the act, if it had been committed in Singapore, would have been an offence under any written law (apart from this Act) in force in Singapore if it had been committed in Singapore. [22/2015]


document_id: moa-2003
provision_ref: s3
section: 3
title: Hijacking of ships
content:
3. —(1) Subject to subsection (2), any person who unlawfully, by the use of force or by threats of any kind, seizes a ship or exercises control of a ship shall be guilty of an offence, whatever his or her nationality or citizenship, whatever the state in which the ship is registered and whether the ship is in Singapore or elsewhere. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any act committed in relation to a warship, or any other ship used as a naval auxiliary or in customs or law enforcement service, unless — ( a ) the person seizing or exercising control of the ship is a citizen of Singapore; ( b ) the act is committed in Singapore; or ( c ) the ship is used in the naval, customs or law enforcement service of Singapore.


document_id: moa-2003
provision_ref: s4
section: 4
title: Destroying or damaging ships, etc.
content:
4. —(1) Subject to subsection (5), any person who unlawfully and intentionally — ( a ) destroys a ship; ( b ) damages a ship or its cargo so as to endanger, or to be likely to endanger, the safe navigation of the ship; or ( c ) commits on board a ship an act of violence which is likely to endanger the safe navigation of the ship, shall be guilty of an offence. (2) Subject to subsection (5), any person who unlawfully and intentionally places, or causes to be placed, on a ship any device or substance which is likely to destroy the ship or is likely to so damage it or its cargo as to endanger its safe navigation shall be guilty of an offence. (3) Nothing in subsection (2) is to be construed as limiting the circumstances in which the commission of any act may — ( a ) constitute an offence under subsection (1); or ( b ) constitute attempting or conspiring to commit or aiding, abetting, counselling, procuring or inciting the commission of the offence. (4) Except as provided in subsection (5), subsections (1) and (2) apply whether any act mentioned in those subsections is committed in Singapore or elsewhere, whatever the nationality or citizenship of the person committing the act and whatever the state in which the ship is registered. (5) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to any act committed in relation to a warship, or any other ship used as a naval auxiliary or in customs or law enforcement service, unless — ( a ) the person committing the act is a citizen of Singapore; ( b ) the act is committed in Singapore; or ( c ) the ship is used in the naval, customs or law enforcement service of Singapore.


document_id: moa-2003
provision_ref: s5
section: 5
title: Other acts endangering or likely to endanger safe navigation
content:
5. —(1) Subject to subsection (6), any person who unlawfully and intentionally — ( a ) destroys or damages any property to which this section applies; or ( b ) seriously interferes with the operation of that property, where the destruction, damage or interference is likely to endanger the safe navigation of a ship, shall be guilty of an offence. (2) Subsection (1) applies to any property used for the provision of maritime navigation facilities, including any land, building or ship so used, and including any apparatus or equipment so used, whether the property is on board a ship or elsewhere. (3) Subject to subsection (6), any person who intentionally communicates any information which is false in a material particular, where the communication of the information endangers the safe navigation of a ship, shall be guilty of an offence. (4) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (3) to prove that — ( a ) he or she believed, and had reasonable grounds for believing, that the information was true; or ( b ) when he or she communicated the information, he or she was lawfully employed to perform duties which consisted of or included the communication of information and that he or she communicated the information in good faith in the performance of those duties. (5) Except as provided in subsection (6), subsections (1) and (3) apply whether any act mentioned in those subsections is committed in Singapore or elsewhere, whatever the nationality or citizenship of the person committing the act and whatever the state in which the ship is registered. (6) Subsections (1) and (3) do not apply to any act committed in relation to a warship, or any other ship used as a naval auxiliary or in customs or law enforcement service, unless — ( a ) the person committing the act is a citizen of Singapore; ( b ) the act is committed in Singapore; or ( c ) the ship is used in the naval, customs or law enforcement service of Singapore.


document_id: moa-2003
provision_ref: s6
section: 6
title: Offences involving threats in relation to ships or safe navigation
content:
6. —(1) A person shall be guilty of an offence if — ( a ) in order to compel any other person to do or abstain from doing any act, the person threatens that he or she or some other person will do in relation to any ship an act which is an offence under section 4(1); and ( b ) the making of that threat is likely to endanger the safe navigation of the ship. [22/2015] (2) Subject to subsection (4), a person shall be guilty of an offence if — ( a ) in order to compel any other person to do or abstain from doing any act, the person threatens that he or she or some other person will do an act which is an offence under section 5(1); and ( b ) the making of that threat is likely to endanger the safe navigation of any ship. (3) Except as provided in subsection (4), subsections (1) and (2) apply whether any act mentioned in those subsections is committed in Singapore or elsewhere, whatever the nationality or citizenship of the person committing the act and whatever the state in which the ship is registered. (4) Section 4(5) applies for the purposes of subsection (1) as it applies for the purposes of section 4(1); and section 5(6) applies for the purposes of subsection (2) as it applies for the purposes of section 5(1).


document_id: moa-2003
provision_ref: s7
section: 7
title: Ancillary offences in relation to ships or safe navigation
content:
7. —(1) Any act of violence done by any person in connection with an offence under section 3, 4 or 5 committed or attempted to be committed by him or her is deemed to have been committed in Singapore and constitutes an offence punishable under the law in force in Singapore applicable to it, wherever the act of violence was committed, whatever the state in which the ship concerned is registered (if any), and whatever the nationality or citizenship of the person committing or attempting to commit the act. [22/2015] (2) Subsection (1) is without prejudice to section 180 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. (3) Any person in Singapore who abets the commission elsewhere of any act which would — ( a ) but for section 3(2), be an offence under that section; ( b ) but for section 4(5), be an offence under that section; ( c ) but for section 5(6), be an offence under that section; or ( d ) but for section 6(4), be an offence under that section, shall be guilty of an offence. (4) Any person (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) who abets the commission (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) of any act which is an offence under section 3, 4, 5 or 6 shall be guilty of an offence. [22/2015] (5) Any person (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) who attempts to commit an offence under section 3, 4, 5 or 6, and in such attempt does any act towards the commission of the offence, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 years. [22/2015]


document_id: moa-2003
provision_ref: s8
section: 8
title: Hijacking of fixed platforms
content:
8. —(1) Subject to subsection (2), any person who unlawfully, by the use of force or by threats of any kind, seizes a fixed platform or exercises control of a fixed platform, shall be guilty of an offence, whatever the nationality or citizenship of that person, and whether the fixed platform is in Singapore or elsewhere. [22/2015] (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any act committed in relation to a fixed platform used as a naval auxiliary or in customs or law enforcement service, unless — ( a ) the person seizing or exercising control of the fixed platform is a citizen of Singapore; ( b ) the act is committed in Singapore; or ( c ) the fixed platform is used in the naval, customs or law enforcement service of Singapore. [7A [22/2015]


document_id: moa-2003
provision_ref: s9
section: 9
title: Destroying or damaging fixed platforms, etc.
content:
9. —(1) Subject to subsection (5), any person who unlawfully and intentionally does any of the following shall be guilty of an offence: ( a ) destroys a fixed platform; ( b ) damages a fixed platform so as to endanger, or to be likely to endanger, the safety of the fixed platform; ( c ) commits on board a fixed platform an act of violence which is likely to endanger the safety of the fixed platform. [22/2015] (2) Subject to subsection (5), any person who unlawfully and intentionally places, or causes to be placed, on a fixed platform any device or substance which is likely to destroy the fixed platform or is likely so to damage the fixed platform as to endanger the safety of the fixed platform shall be guilty of an offence. [22/2015] (3) Nothing in subsection (2) is to be construed as limiting the circumstances in which the commission of any act may — ( a ) constitute an offence under subsection (1); or ( b ) constitute attempting or conspiring to commit or aiding, abetting, counselling, procuring or inciting the commission of the offence. [22/2015] (4) Except as provided in subsection (5), subsections (1) and (2) apply whether any act mentioned in those subsections is committed in Singapore or elsewhere, and whatever the nationality or citizenship of the person committing the act. [22/2015] (5) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to any act committed in relation to a fixed platform used as a naval auxiliary or in customs or law enforcement service, unless — ( a ) the person committing the act is a citizen of Singapore; ( b ) the act is committed in Singapore; or ( c ) the fixed platform is used in the naval, customs or law enforcement service of Singapore. [7B [22/2015]


document_id: moa-2003
provision_ref: s10
section: 10
title: Offences involving threats in relation to fixed platforms
content:
10. —(1) A person ( A ) shall be guilty of an offence if — ( a ) in order to compel any other person to do or abstain from doing any act, A threatens that A or some other person will do in relation to any fixed platform an act which is an offence under section 9(1); and ( b ) the making of that threat is likely to endanger the safety of the fixed platform. [22/2015] (2) Except as provided in subsection (3), subsection (1) applies whether any act mentioned in subsection (1) is committed in Singapore or elsewhere, and whatever the nationality or citizenship of the person committing the act. [22/2015] (3) Section 9(5) applies for the purposes of subsection (1) as it applies for the purposes of section 9(1). [7C [22/2015]


document_id: moa-2003
provision_ref: s11
section: 11
title: Ancillary offences in relation to fixed platforms
content:
11. —(1) Any act of violence done by any person in connection with an offence under section 8 or 9 committed or attempted to be committed by that person is deemed to have been committed in Singapore and constitutes an offence punishable under the law in force in Singapore applicable to it, wherever the act of violence was committed, and whatever the nationality or citizenship of the person committing or attempting to commit the act. [22/2015] (2) A person in Singapore shall be guilty of an offence if the person abets the commission elsewhere of any act which would — ( a ) but for section 8(2), be an offence under section 8; ( b ) but for section 9(5), be an offence under section 9; or ( c ) but for section 10(3), be an offence under section 10. [22/2015] (3) Any person (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) who abets the commission (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) of any act which is an offence under section 8, 9 or 10 shall be guilty of an offence. [22/2015] (4) Any person (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) who attempts to commit an offence under section 8, 9 or 10, and in such attempt does any act towards the commission of the offence, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 years. [7D [22/2015]


document_id: moa-2003
provision_ref: s12
section: 12
title: Master’s power of delivery
content:
12. —(1) This section has effect for the purposes of any proceedings before any court in Singapore. (2) If the master of a ship, wherever that ship may be, and whatever the state in which it is registered, has reasonable grounds to believe that any person on board the ship has committed any relevant maritime offence in relation to any ship other than a warship or other ship used as a naval auxiliary or in customs or law enforcement service, he or she may deliver that person to an appropriate officer in Singapore. (3) The master of a ship registered in Singapore may, in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (2), also deliver the person concerned to an appropriate officer of any other Convention country. (4) Where the master of a ship intends to deliver any person under subsection (2) or (3), he or she must give notification in the prescribed form to an appropriate officer in that country — ( a ) of his or her intention to deliver that person to an appropriate officer in that country; and ( b ) of his or her reasons for intending to do so. (5) Any notification under subsection (4) must be given — ( a ) before the ship in question enters the territorial waters of that country; or ( b ) if in the circumstances it is not reasonably practicable to comply with paragraph ( a ), as soon as reasonably practicable after the ship has entered the territorial waters of that country. (6) Where the master of a ship delivers any person to an appropriate officer in Singapore under subsection (2) or any other Convention country under subsection (3), he or she must — ( a ) make to an appropriate officer in that country such oral or written statements relating to the alleged offence as that officer may reasonably require; and ( b ) deliver to an appropriate officer in that country such other evidence relating to the alleged offence as is in the master’s possession. (7) The master of a ship who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (4) or (6) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. (8) It is a defence for the master of a ship charged with an offence under subsection (7) for a contravention of subsection (4) to show that — ( a ) he or she believed on reasonable grounds that the giving of a notification would endanger the safety of the ship; and ( b ) except where the country concerned is Singapore — (i) he or she had notified some other competent authority in the country concerned within the time required by subsection (5); or (ii) he or she had believed on reasonable grounds that the giving of a notification to any competent authority in that country would endanger the safety of the ship. (9) In this section — “appropriate officer” means — ( a ) in relation to Singapore — (i) for the purpose of subsection (2) or (6), such public officer as the Minister may by order prescribe; or (ii) for the purpose of receiving a notification mentioned in subsection (4), the Port Master within the meaning of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Act 1996; or ( b ) in relation to any other Convention country, an officer designated by that country to carry out the relevant duty of an appropriate officer under this section; “master” has the meaning given by the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. [8


document_id: moa-2003
provision_ref: s13
section: 13
title: General penalties
content:
13. —(1) Any person guilty of an offence under this Act for which no penalty is expressly provided shall be liable on conviction to be punished with imprisonment for life. (2) To avoid doubt, subsection (1) does not apply to any act which constitutes an offence punishable under the law in force in Singapore applicable to it by virtue of section 7(1) or 11(1). [9 [22/2015]


document_id: moa-2003
provision_ref: s14
section: 14
title: Consent for prosecution
content:
14. —(1) No prosecution is to be instituted under this Act without the written consent of the Public Prosecutor. (2) Even though consent has not been given in relation to the offence in accordance with subsection (1) — ( a ) a person may be arrested for an offence under this Act; ( b ) a warrant for the arrest of any person in respect of any offence under this Act may be issued and executed; ( c ) a person may be charged with an offence under this Act; and ( d ) a person charged with any offence under this Act may be remanded in custody or granted bail, but no further steps in the proceedings relating to the offence are to be taken until the consent of the Public Prosecutor has been obtained. [10


document_id: moa-2003
provision_ref: s15
section: 15
title: Extradition
content:
15. —(1) Every relevant maritime offence and every relevant fixed platform offence are deemed to be extradition offences under the Extradition Act 1968. [Act 17 of 2022 wef 01/07/2022] (2) Where no extradition treaty is in force between Singapore and a Protocol country — ( a ) a notification in the Gazette under section 4 of the Extradition Act 1968 may be made applying that Act as if there were an extradition treaty between Singapore and that Protocol country; but ( b ) subject to subsection (4), where the Extradition Act 1968 is applied under paragraph ( a ), that Act has effect as if the only extradition offences within the meaning of that Act were relevant maritime offences and relevant fixed platform offences. [22/2015] [Act 17 of 2022 wef 01/07/2022] (3) Where no extradition treaty is in force between Singapore and a Convention country that is not a Protocol country — ( a ) a notification in the Gazette under section 4 of the Extradition Act 1968 may be made applying that Act as if there were an extradition treaty between Singapore and that Convention country; but ( b ) subject to subsection (4), where the Extradition Act 1968 is applied under paragraph ( a ), that Act has effect as if the only extradition offences within the meaning of that Act were relevant maritime offences. [22/2015] [Act 17 of 2022 wef 01/07/2022] (4) Subsections (2) and (3) are without prejudice to any other notification made under section 4 of the Extradition Act 1968. [22/2015] (5) For the purposes of the Extradition Act 1968 — ( a ) any act, wherever committed, is deemed to be an offence within the jurisdiction of a Protocol country in relation to which the Extradition Act 1968 has been applied by a notification in the Gazette made under section 4 of that Act, if that act — (i) is a relevant maritime offence or relevant fixed platform offence, or would be such an offence but for section 3(2), 4(5), 5(6), 6(4), 8(2), 9(5) or 10(3) of this Act; and (ii) is an offence against the law of that Protocol country; and ( b ) any act, wherever committed, is deemed to be an offence within the jurisdiction of a Convention country that is not a Protocol country in relation to which the Extradition Act 1968 has been applied by a notification in the Gazette made under section 4 of that Act, if that act — (i) is a relevant maritime offence, or would be such an offence but for section 3(2), 4(5), 5(6) or 6(4) of this Act; and (ii) is an offence against the law of that Convention country. [11 [22/2015]


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s2
chapter: PART 1 - PRELIMINARY
section: 2
title: Interpretation
content:
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires — “article” includes any device, contrivance, machine or equipment; “authorised officer” means any officer appointed by the Minister under section 3(1); “licence” means a licence granted under section 7(1), and “licensee” is to be construed accordingly; “licensed premises”, in relation to a licence, means any premises specified in the licence in which optical discs are authorised to be manufactured in accordance with this Act; “manufacture” means the processes and activities involved in the making of optical discs, including (where applicable) mastering or replicating or both; “manufacturer’s code” means the manufacturer’s code assigned to a licensee under section 7(3)( a ); “optical disc” means any medium or article specified in the Schedule; “place” means any area on land or water and includes any building, structure or enclosure, whether moveable or not; “register” means the register established and maintained by the Registrar under section 12; “Registrar” means the Registrar of Optical Discs appointed under section 3(1).


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s3
chapter: PART 1 - PRELIMINARY
section: 3
title: Appointment of Registrar and other officers
content:
3. —(1) The Minister may appoint a Registrar of Optical Discs, and such Deputy Registrars of Optical Discs and Assistant Registrars of Optical Discs and other officers as the Minister considers necessary for the purposes of this Act. (2) The Registrar is responsible for the administration of this Act, subject to the general or special directions of the Minister. (3) The Deputy Registrars of Optical Discs and the Assistant Registrars of Optical Discs have and may exercise, subject to the general direction and supervision of the Registrar, all the powers conferred on the Registrar by this Act. (4) All officers appointed under subsection (1) are deemed to be public servants for the purposes of the Penal Code 1871.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s4
chapter: PART 2 - LICENSING, ETC.
section: 4
title: Need for licence to manufacture optical discs
content:
4. —(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person must not engage in the manufacture for sale or other commercial purpose of any optical disc in any place except under the authority, and in accordance with the terms and conditions, of a licence. (2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence. (3) For the purpose of subsection (1), any person who owns, directs, manages or otherwise has control of a business which undertakes the manufacture of optical discs is deemed to engage in the manufacture of optical discs for a commercial purpose.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s5
chapter: PART 2 - LICENSING, ETC.
section: 5
title: Unlicensed premises
content:
5. Any licensee who manufactures for sale or other commercial purpose any optical disc in a place other than the licensed premises shall be guilty of an offence.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s6
chapter: PART 2 - LICENSING, ETC.
section: 6
title: Application for licence
content:
6. —(1) An application for the grant or renewal of a licence must be made to the Registrar in such form and manner as the Registrar may determine. (2) The Registrar may, at any time after receiving the application under subsection (1), by written notice require the applicant to provide such additional documents or information as the Registrar considers necessary. (3) Where any additional document or information required under subsection (2) is not provided by the applicant within the time specified in the notice or any longer period granted by the Registrar, the application is deemed to be withdrawn.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s7
chapter: PART 2 - LICENSING, ETC.
section: 7
title: Grant or renewal of licence
content:
7. —(1) The Registrar may, upon receipt of an application together with the documents and information required under section 6, grant or renew a licence (as the case may be) or refuse to do so. (2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Registrar may refuse to grant or renew a licence if he or she is satisfied that — ( a ) the applicant, or any individual who is or is to be a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the applicant, has been convicted of an offence under this Act; ( b ) the applicant, or any individual who is or is to be a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the applicant, has provided to the Registrar any false or misleading information; or ( c ) the applicant is, for any other reason, not a fit and proper person to hold a licence. (3) If the Registrar grants a licence under subsection (1) — ( a ) the Registrar must assign to the licensee a manufacturer’s code which must consist of — (i) one or more letters or numbers; (ii) a mark, sign, symbol or device; or (iii) any combination of letters, numbers, marks, signs, symbols or devices, as may be prescribed or determined by the Registrar; and ( b ) the Registrar may impose any terms or conditions that he or she thinks fit.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s8
chapter: PART 2 - LICENSING, ETC.
section: 8
title: Form and duration of licence
content:
8. Every licence is to be in such form as may be determined by the Registrar and, unless sooner cancelled, is valid for such period as may be specified in the licence.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s9
chapter: PART 2 - LICENSING, ETC.
section: 9
title: Power to vary terms and conditions
content:
9. —(1) The Registrar may, at any time after a licence is granted or renewed, by written notice add to, vary or revoke any term or condition of the licence. (2) The Registrar must, before taking any action under subsection (1) — ( a ) give the licensee written notice of the Registrar’s intention to do so; and ( b ) give the licensee an opportunity to make written representations, within the time specified in the notice or any longer period granted by the Registrar, as to why the term or condition should not be added to, varied or revoked, as the case may be.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s10
chapter: PART 2 - LICENSING, ETC.
section: 10
title: Suspension or cancellation of licence
content:
10. —(1) The Registrar may, by written notice, suspend or cancel a licence if he or she is satisfied that — ( a ) there exists a ground on which he or she may refuse to grant or renew a licence under section 7; ( b ) the licensee has contravened any term or condition of the licence or any provision of this Act; ( c ) the licensee has ceased to carry on the business of manufacturing optical discs in the licensed premises; or ( d ) there exists such other circumstances as may be prescribed. (2) The Registrar must, before suspending or cancelling a licence under subsection (1) — ( a ) give the licensee written notice of the Registrar’s intention to do so; and ( b ) give the licensee an opportunity to make written representations, within the time specified in the notice or any longer period granted by the Registrar, as to why the licence should not be suspended or cancelled, as the case may be. (3) Any suspension or cancellation of a licence under subsection (1) takes effect — ( a ) where there is no appeal against the suspension or cancellation under section 14, on the expiry of 14 days from the date on which the notice of suspension or cancellation (as the case may be) is served on the licensee; or ( b ) where there is an appeal against the suspension or cancellation under section 14, when the suspension or cancellation (as the case may be) is confirmed by the Minister.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s11
chapter: PART 2 - LICENSING, ETC.
section: 11
title: Surrender of licence
content:
11. —(1) A licensee may surrender the licensee’s licence by forwarding it to the Registrar with a written notice of its surrender. (2) The surrender takes effect on the date the Registrar receives the licence and the notice under subsection (1) or, where a later date is specified in the notice, on that later date.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s12
chapter: PART 2 - LICENSING, ETC.
section: 12
title: Register
content:
12. —(1) The Registrar must establish and maintain a register of the licences granted under this Act in the form and manner that he or she thinks fit. (2) The Registrar must make the register available for public inspection subject to any terms or conditions that he or she considers appropriate.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s13
chapter: PART 2 - LICENSING, ETC.
section: 13
title: Maintenance of records
content:
13. —(1) A licensee must keep and maintain complete and accurate records in such form and manner, and containing such information, as may be prescribed. (2) The records mentioned in subsection (1) must be — ( a ) kept up-to-date and in good order and condition; and ( b ) available at all times for examination by any authorised officer or police officer. (3) A licensee must submit any records, or provide any other documents or information, required by the Registrar within the time specified by the Registrar. (4) Any licensee who contravenes subsection (1), (2) or (3) shall be guilty of an offence.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s14
chapter: PART 2 - LICENSING, ETC.
section: 14
title: Appeal to Minister
content:
14. —(1) Any person who is aggrieved by a decision of the Registrar under this Part may appeal to the Minister within 14 days after the date on which the person is notified of the decision or any longer period allowed by the Minister. (2) The Minister may confirm, vary or reverse the Registrar’s decision appealed against, or give any directions in the matter that the Minister thinks fit. (3) The Minister’s decision under subsection (2) is final.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s15
chapter: PART 3 - MANUFACTURER’S CODE
section: 15
title: Optical discs to be marked with manufacturer’s code
content:
15. —(1) Subject to subsection (2), every licensee must mark, or cause to be marked, each optical disc manufactured by the licensee with the manufacturer’s code assigned to the licensee under section 7(3)( a ) and in accordance with the standards prescribed under section 16. (2) A licensee need not comply with subsection (1) in relation to any optical disc if, and only if, a person who owns or is a licensee of the right to reproduce the content in the optical disc, which the licensee has verified, has requested the licensee not to mark the optical disc with the manufacturer’s code. (3) Any licensee who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s16
chapter: PART 3 - MANUFACTURER’S CODE
section: 16
title: Marking standards
content:
16. —(1) The Minister may prescribe standards for the marking of manufacturer’s codes on optical discs. (2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Minister may — ( a ) prescribe different standards in relation to different classes or descriptions of optical discs; ( b ) prescribe standards relating to the manner in which, and the means by which, manufacturer’s codes are to be marked on optical discs generally or on optical discs of any class or description; or ( c ) adopt or incorporate by reference standards that have been published by any body or authority in Singapore or elsewhere, with or without modification, and either as in effect on a particular date specified or as amended from time to time.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s17
chapter: PART 3 - MANUFACTURER’S CODE
section: 17
title: Applying false manufacturer’s code
content:
17. —(1) Any person who falsely applies, or causes to be falsely applied, to an optical disc a manufacturer’s code or any mark so resembling a manufacturer’s code as to be calculated to deceive shall be guilty of an offence. (2) In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1), it is a defence for the person charged to prove that the person acted without intent to deceive or defraud.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s18
chapter: PART 4 - ENFORCEMENT
section: 18
title: Powers of arrest and investigation
content:
18. —(1) Any authorised officer or police officer may arrest without warrant any person whom he or she reasonably believes has committed an offence under this Act. (2) An authorised officer who is not a police officer may exercise all or any of the powers in relation to investigations into an arrestable offence conferred on a police officer by the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 in any case relating to the commission of an offence under this Act. (3) Every offence under this Act is deemed to be an arrestable offence within the meaning of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s19
chapter: PART 4 - ENFORCEMENT
section: 19
title: Inspection of licensed premises, etc.
content:
19. —(1) Any authorised officer or police officer may, for the purposes of this Act, do all or any of the following: ( a ) enter and inspect or search, with or without notice, any licensed premises or place and any person at the licensed premises or place; ( b ) require the provision of specified information or the production of records, books, accounts or documents kept by any licensee or person and inspect, copy, seize or detain any of such records, books, accounts or documents; ( c ) require the production of any identification document from any person in relation to an offence under this Act; ( d ) examine, seize or detain any optical disc, or any article or thing, found in the licensed premises or place, which appears to him or her to be or to contain, or to be likely to be or to contain, evidence of an offence under this Act; ( e ) make any examination or inquiry that may be necessary to ascertain whether the provisions of this Act have been complied with; ( f ) exercise any other power that may be reasonable and necessary for giving effect to the provisions of this Act. (2) A licensee must, when required in writing by any authorised officer or police officer, on such terms or conditions as may be specified by the authorised officer or police officer or as may be prescribed, provide any exemplars of optical discs that may be required to the authorised officer or police officer, or any right‑holder organisation. (3) Any licensee who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes a requirement made under subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction — ( a ) in the case of a body corporate — to a fine not exceeding $100,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $200,000; and ( b ) in any other case — to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both. (4) In this section, “right-holder organisation” means an organisation or other body which is — ( a ) established for the purpose of representing the interests of 2 or more owners of copyright; and ( b ) recognised by the Registrar as such in the circumstances of the particular case.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s20
chapter: PART 4 - ENFORCEMENT
section: 20
title: Access to computers and data
content:
20. —(1) When conducting a search or an examination under this Act, an authorised officer or a police officer — ( a ) has access to, and may inspect and check the operation of, any computer system and any associated apparatus or material which he or she has reasonable cause to suspect is or has been in use in connection with any offence under this Act; and ( b ) may use or cause to be used any such computer system to search any data contained in or available to such computer system. (2) The authorised officer or police officer may require — ( a ) the person by whom or on whose behalf the authorised officer or police officer has reasonable cause to suspect the computer is or has been so used; or ( b ) any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material, to provide him or her with any reasonable technical and other assistance that he or she may require for the purposes of subsection (1). (3) Any person who contravenes a requirement made under subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both. (4) In this section, “computer” has the meaning given by section 2(1) of the Computer Misuse Act 1993. [3/2013; 9/2018]


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s21
chapter: PART 4 - ENFORCEMENT
section: 21
title: Forfeiture of optical discs, etc.
content:
21. —(1) Where any person has been convicted of an offence under this Act, the court must, unless it is of the view that the offence is minor or that there are exceptional circumstances for deciding otherwise, order the person to forfeit to the Government any optical disc, article or thing in relation to which, or by means of which, the offence was committed. (2) Any forfeiture of optical discs, articles or things under subsection (1) is in addition to any penalty or punishment that the court may impose for the offence committed.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s22
chapter: PART 5 - OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
section: 22
title: Penalty for offences under Parts 2 and 3
content:
22. Any person who is guilty of an offence under Part 2 or 3 shall be liable on conviction — ( a ) in the case of a body corporate — to a fine not exceeding $200,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $400,000; and ( b ) in any other case — to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s23
chapter: PART 5 - OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
section: 23
title: Offences with respect to information
content:
23. —(1) Any person who provides or causes to be provided any false or misleading information in any application, record or other document for any purpose under this Act shall be guilty of an offence. (2) Any person who — ( a ) provides or causes to be provided to any authorised officer or police officer any false or misleading particulars, information or statement in respect of any matter which such officer requires to be given under this Act; ( b ) refuses to answer or gives a false answer to any question put to the person by any authorised officer or police officer for the purpose of obtaining any particulars, information or statement under this Act; or ( c ) fails or refuses to provide or produce any record, book, accounts or document as may be required by any authorised officer or police officer, shall be guilty of an offence. (3) Any person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (2) shall be liable on conviction — ( a ) in the case of a body corporate — to a fine not exceeding $100,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $200,000; and ( b ) in any other case — to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s24
chapter: PART 5 - OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
section: 24
title: Obstruction, etc., of officers
content:
24. Any person who obstructs, impedes, assaults or interferes with any authorised officer or police officer in the performance of his or her duties under this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction — ( a ) in the case of a body corporate — to a fine not exceeding $100,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $200,000; and ( b ) in any other case — to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s25
chapter: PART 5 - OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
section: 25
title: Offences by bodies corporate, etc.
content:
25. —(1) Where an offence under this Act committed by a body corporate is proved — ( a ) to have been committed with the consent or connivance of an officer; or ( b ) to be attributable to any neglect on his or her part, the officer as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. (2) Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (1) applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with the member’s functions of management as if the member were a director of the body corporate. (3) Where an offence under this Act committed by a partnership is proved — ( a ) to have been committed with the consent or connivance of a partner; or ( b ) to be attributable to any neglect on the partner’s part, the partner as well as the partnership shall be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. (4) Where an offence under this Act committed by an unincorporated association (other than a partnership) is proved — ( a ) to have been committed with the consent or connivance of an officer of the unincorporated association or a member of its governing body; or ( b ) to be attributable to any neglect on the part of such an officer or member, the officer or member as well as the unincorporated association shall be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. (5) In this section — “officer” — ( a ) in relation to a body corporate, means any director, member of the committee of management, chief executive, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate and includes any person purporting to act in any such capacity; or ( b ) in relation to an unincorporated association (other than a partnership), means the president, the secretary, or any member of the committee of the unincorporated association, or any person holding a position analogous to that of president, secretary or member of a committee and includes any person purporting to act in any such capacity; “partner” includes a person purporting to act as a partner. (6) Without limiting section 31(1), the Minister may make regulations for the application of any provision of this section, with any modifications that the Minister considers appropriate, to any body corporate or unincorporated association formed or recognised under the law of a territory outside Singapore.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s26
chapter: PART 5 - OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
section: 26
title: Composition of offences
content:
26. The Registrar may, in his or her discretion, compound any offence under this Act which is prescribed as a compoundable offence by collecting from a person reasonably suspected of having committed the offence a sum not exceeding $10,000.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s27
chapter: PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS
section: 27
title: Protection from personal liability
content:
27. No suit or other legal proceedings shall lie personally against any authorised officer, police officer or other person acting under the direction of any authorised officer or police officer for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in the execution or purported execution of this Act.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s28
chapter: PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS
section: 28
title: Jurisdiction of court
content:
28. Despite any provision to the contrary in the Criminal Procedure Code 2010, a District Court has jurisdiction to try any offence under this Act and has power to impose the full penalty or punishment in respect of the offence.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s29
chapter: PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS
section: 29
title: General exemption
content:
29. —(1) The Minister may, by order in the Gazette , exempt any person or class of persons from all or any of the provisions of this Act, subject to any terms or conditions that the Minister may impose. (2) An exemption granted under subsection (1) may be revoked at any time.


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s30
chapter: PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS
section: 30
title: Amendment of Schedule
content:
30. —(1) The Minister may by order in the Gazette , add to, vary or amend the whole or any part of the Schedule. (2) Any order made under subsection (1) must be presented to Parliament as soon as possible after publication in the Gazette .


document_id: moda-2004
provision_ref: s31
chapter: PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS
section: 31
title: Regulations
content:
31. —(1) The Minister may make regulations for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act. (2) Without limiting subsection (1), regulations may be made — ( a ) to prescribe the forms to be used and the information or documents to be furnished for any of the purposes of this Act; ( b ) to prescribe the procedure for making applications for the grant or renewal of licences, the terms or conditions to be attached to the licences and the procedure in connection with appeals; ( c ) for or with respect to the grant, renewal, surrender, suspension and cancellation of licences; ( d ) to prescribe the fees to be paid under this Act and the manner of payment of such fees; ( e ) to prescribe the form of the register to be kept by the Registrar, and the procedure and other matters relating to the establishment and maintenance of the register and to the inspection of and taking of extracts from the register; ( f ) to prescribe the form of records to be kept and maintained by the licensee, the information to be recorded and the submission of such records; ( g ) for or with respect to the conduct of any person connected with the business of manufacturing optical discs; and ( h ) to provide for any matter which is required or permitted to be prescribed under this Act, or which is necessary or expedient to be prescribed to give effect to this Act.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s2
chapter: PART 1 - PRELIMINARY
section: 2
title: Interpretation
content:
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires — “cattle” includes bulls, cows, bullocks and buffaloes; “horse” includes mules and asses; “in or near any public road” includes all places in the public road, and all places within 9 metres of it not being effectually separated from and hidden from the road by a wall or otherwise; “public place” means any place or premises to which at the material time the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission; “public road” includes every road, street, passage, footway or square over which the public has a right of way.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s3
chapter: PART 1 - PRELIMINARY
section: 3
title: Verandah public roads
content:
3. The open verandahs of houses abutting on the public roads are public roads for foot passengers subject to all rights of property of the owners of those houses.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s4
chapter: PART 1 - PRELIMINARY
section: 4
title: Offences how punishable
content:
4. All offences under this Act are to be tried by a Magistrate’s Court or a District Court; and despite the provisions of any other written law, a Magistrate’s Court or a District Court has the power to impose the maximum penalty prescribed for any such offence.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s6
chapter: PART 2 - OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE
section: 6
title: Burning material or discharging firearm in public road
content:
6. —(1) Any person who sets fire to or burns any material to the annoyance, inconvenience or danger of the public, or negligently or wilfully discharges any firearm or airgun, or throws or discharges any stone or other missile, or sends up any fire balloon or rocket in or near any public road shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000. (2) It is not an offence under subsection (1) for any person to discharge a firearm or airgun in or near a public road in the exercise of the person’s duty under any written law relating to the destruction of dogs.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s7
chapter: PART 2 - OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE
section: 7
title: Duty of police officers as to dangerous animals
content:
7. —(1) Every police officer must secure any animal reasonably suspected to be mad or dangerous, and any wild animal found at large in or near any public road under circumstances of danger to the public. (2) If there is reasonable ground to believe that any such mad, dangerous or wild animal cannot be secured without risk of personal injury to the police officer attempting to secure the animal, the police officer may shoot or otherwise destroy the animal.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s8
chapter: PART 2 - OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE
section: 8
title: Dog running at persons, etc.
content:
8. If it is proved to the satisfaction of a Magistrate’s Court that any dog is in the habit of running at persons or at vehicles or bicycles passing along a public road, the owner of the dog shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s9
chapter: PART 2 - OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE
section: 9
title: Ferocious dog at large
content:
9. Any person who negligently suffers to be at large any ferocious dog without a muzzle shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000, and if the dog has bitten, or attempted to bite any person, the dog may be killed by order of a Magistrate’s Court.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s10
chapter: PART 2 - OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE
section: 10
title: Liability of dog owner
content:
10. —(1) Any owner of a dog which causes injury to any person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. (2) In addition to any fine imposed under subsection (1), compensation not exceeding $2,000 is payable to the person injured in respect of any such injury. (3) Such compensation is to be assessed by the Magistrate’s Court and is recoverable from the owner of the dog in the manner provided by law for the recovery of fines before Magistrates’ Courts. (4) In any prosecution relating to any dog under subsection (1), it is not necessary to show a previous vicious propensity in the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such previous propensity or that the injury was attributable to neglect on the part of the owner. (5) The occupier of any house or premises where any dog was kept or permitted to live or remain at the time of causing any such injury mentioned in subsection (1) is deemed to be the owner of the dog and shall be liable as such unless the occupier can prove that — ( a ) he or she was not the owner of the dog at the time the injury complained of was committed; and ( b ) the dog was kept or permitted to live or remain in the house or premises without his or her sanction or knowledge. (6) Where there are 2 or more occupiers in any house or premises let in separate apartments or lodgings or otherwise, the occupier of that particular part of the premises in which the dog was kept or permitted to live or remain at the time of the injury is deemed to be the owner of the dog. (7) No compensation is payable to any person under this section in respect of injury sustained in any house or premises except upon proof that the person entered the house or premises in the ordinary course of the person’s duties or with the express or implied permission of the occupier. (8) No criminal liability arises under this section in respect of any injury sustained by any person in any house or premises unless the person entered the house or premises in the ordinary course of the person’s duties or with the express or implied permission of the occupier. (9) The owner shall not be liable under this section for any injury sustained by any person where the injury was attributable to any wrongful act of that person.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s11
chapter: PART 2 - OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE
section: 11
title: Nuisances
content:
11. —(1) Any person who commits any of the following offences shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000: ( a ) without authority in the case of public property, or without the consent of the owner or occupier in the case of private property, affixes or causes to be affixed any advertisement, bill or notice, or any paper against or upon any building, wall or fence, or writes upon, defaces or marks any such building, wall or fence with chalk or paint, or in any other way; ( b ) bathes or washes himself or herself, or any other person, animal or thing on any public road, or in, upon or by the side of any public tank, reservoir, watercourse or stream; ( c ) obstructs or causes trouble or inconvenience to a person bathing at any place set apart as a bathing place by wilful intrusion, or by washing any animal at or near that place, or in any other way; ( d ) being the owner or person in charge of any animal does not, if the animal dies, dispose of its carcase in such a way as not to be a common nuisance; ( e ) places any dead animal on or near any public road; ( f ) spits in any coffee shop, market, eating house, school house, theatre or public building, or in any omnibus, railway carriage or other public conveyance, or on any wharf or jetty, or in any public road, or on any five‑foot way or sidewalk of any public road, or in any other place to which the public has or may have access; ( g ) suffers to be at large any unmuzzled ferocious dog or other animal, or sets on or urges any dog or other animal to attack, worry or put in fear any person or animal. (2) Any person who commits an offence under subsection (1)( f ), after having been previously convicted for an offence under that subsection, shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s12
chapter: PART 2 - OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE
section: 12
title: Offences relating to animals
content:
12. —(1) Any person who commits any of the following offences shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000: ( a ) being the owner or person in charge of any animal allows the animal to injure any tree or plant, or fence round any tree or plant, in or at the side of any public road, or to graze on the side of any public road; ( b ) allows any horse, cattle, goat, sheep or pig to stray upon, or tethers or pickets any such animal upon, any public road or State land or land in the possession of any local authority or public institution or land in the possession of any private person, without the permission of the owner or lawful occupier thereof; ( c ) leads or drives any horse, cattle, goat, sheep or pig in or near any public road without having them under proper control. (2) All damage done by an animal mentioned in subsection (1)( a ) is to be assessed by a Magistrate’s Court and is recoverable in the manner provided by law for the recovery of fines before Magistrates’ Courts from the owner of the animal, together with any amounts to be levied as fines.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s13
chapter: PART 2 - OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE
section: 13
title: Other offences relating to public road
content:
13. —(1) Any person who commits any of the following offences shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000: ( a ) lays any stone, brick or other article on any public road so as to cause an obstruction thereto, or so as to make the use of the road less convenient; ( b ) allows to remain on any public road any article which has fallen from any vehicle of which the person is in charge; ( c ) deposits or causes or allows any article or thing to be deposited on any public road or otherwise causes or allows that article or thing to create obstruction or inconvenience to the passage of the public for a longer period than is absolutely necessary for loading or unloading the article or thing; ( d ) causes or permits any cart, wheelbarrow, bicycle, tricycle or other vehicle to stand on any public road so as to create or to be likely to create obstruction or inconvenience to the passage of the public in that public road; ( e ) flies any kite, or plays at any game, or does any act which obstructs or interferes with the traffic in any public road, or the use of the wires of any telephone; ( f ) places any blind, shade, covering, awning or other projection over or along any public road if any part thereof is less than 2&#189; metres above the surface of that public road. (2) If it is proved that any article or thing has been deposited on any public road from any building or land in contravention of subsection (1)( c ), it is presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the occupier of the building or land has caused or allowed it to be so deposited.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s14
chapter: PART 2 - OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE
section: 14
title: Excessive noise
content:
14. —(1) Any person who makes any noise by any instrument or other means in such a manner as to cause or be likely to cause annoyance or inconvenience to the occupier of any premises in the vicinity or to any person lawfully using any public road or in any public place shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000. (2) Any police officer, on any complaint that any person in any premises or in any public place is making such noise as to cause annoyance or inconvenience to the complainant, may enter upon the premises or proceed to the public place and, after warning the person reasonably suspected of making the noise, stop the making of such noise whether by the removal of any instrument or object or in some other appropriate manner.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s14A
chapter: PART 2 - OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE
section: 14A
title: Making of harassing or obscene telephone calls to emergency telephone numbers
content:
14A. —(1) Any person who makes a telephone call to an emergency telephone number with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person who answers the telephone call shall be guilty of an offence and, subject to subsection (3), shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both. (2) Any person who makes a telephone call to an emergency telephone number and, upon the call being answered, makes or solicits any comment, request, suggestion, proposal or other comment, request, suggestion, proposal or other communication or sound which is obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy or indecent, shall be guilty of an offence and, subject to subsection (3), shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both. (3) Any person who uses a public telephone to commit an offence — ( a ) under subsection (1) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both; and ( b ) under subsection (2) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both. (4) For the purposes of this section — ( a ) “emergency telephone number” means any telephone number which the Minister may, by order in the Gazette , declare to be an emergency telephone number; and ( b ) a person who makes a telephone call to an emergency telephone number and, upon the telephone call being answered, refuses to speak or immediately hangs up is presumed until the contrary is proved to have intent to annoy any person answering the telephone call. (5) In this section and section 14B, “public telephone” means a telephone which is available for use by any member of the public with or without payment.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s14B
chapter: PART 2 - OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE
section: 14B
title: Liability of subscriber
content:
14B. —(1) Any person being the subscriber to a telephone service which has been used to commit an offence under section 14A shall, unless the person proves to the satisfaction of the court that the person had exercised due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence, be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the subscriber of a public telephone service.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s14C
chapter: PART 2 - OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE
section: 14C
title: Providing of information
content:
14C. —(1) A police officer may, for the purpose of investigating into an offence under section 14A or 14B, by written notice require any person to provide, within such period as may be specified in the notice, any document or information as may be — ( a ) required by the police officer for the purpose of the investigation; and ( b ) within the knowledge, or in the custody or under the control, of such person. (2) No action, suit or proceedings lies against any person who has provided any document or information to a police officer pursuant to subsection (1). (3) Any person who, on being required by a notice under subsection (1) to provide any document or information, fails to comply with the notice shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s14D
chapter: PART 2 - OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE
section: 14D
title: Communicating false message
content:
14D. —(1) Any person who transmits or causes to be transmitted a message which the person knows to be false or fabricated shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both. [15/2019] (1A) However, a person is not guilty of an offence under subsection (1) if the person proves, on a balance of probabilities, that the transmission of the message has a legitimate purpose related to public order, public safety or national security, or the prevention, investigation or prosecution of offences. Illustration As part of a campaign to raise public awareness against phishing scams, a government agency sends an email to various members of the public which contains a false message that entices its recipient to click on a link which would purportedly give free shopping vouchers. The link leads to a pop‑up message informing the recipient that the message was a simulated phishing attempt, and had it been genuine, the recipient could have activated malware to allow a fraudster to steal money from his or her online account. The sending of the false message has a legitimate purpose related to the prevention of offences. [Act 16 of 2024 wef 17/06/2024] (2) In subsection (1) — “message” means any sign, signal, writing, image, sound, intelligence or information of any nature transmitted by telecommunications; “telecommunications” means a transmission, emission or reception of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds or intelligence of any nature by wire, radio, optical or other electromagnetic systems whether or not such signs, signals, writing, images, sounds or intelligence have been subjected to rearrangement, computation or other processes by any means in the course of their transmission, emission or reception. [15/2019]


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s15
chapter: PART 2 - OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE
section: 15
title: Relief for occupier of premises from nuisance
content:
15. —(1) A Magistrate’s Court may act under this section on a complaint made by the occupier of any premises on the ground that the occupier of the premises is aggrieved by noise amounting to a nuisance. (2) If the Magistrate’s Court is satisfied that the alleged nuisance exists, or that although abated it is likely to recur on the same premises, the Court is to make an order for either or both of the following purposes: ( a ) requiring the defendant to abate the nuisance, within a time specified in the order and to execute any works necessary for that purpose; ( b ) prohibiting a recurrence of the nuisance, and requiring the defendant, within a time specified in the order, to execute any works necessary to prevent the recurrence. (3) Proceedings under this section are to be brought against the person responsible for the nuisance or, if that person cannot be found, against the owner or occupier of the premises from which the noise is emitted or would be emitted. (4) A person who without reasonable excuse contravenes any requirement of an order under subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000. (5) In any proceedings for an offence under this section in respect of noise caused in the course of a trade or business, it is a defence to prove that the best practicable means have been used for preventing, or for counteracting the effect of, the noise. (6) In this section — “noise” includes vibration; “person responsible”, in relation to the emission of noise, means the person to whose act, default or sufferance the noise is attributable; and where more than one person is responsible for the noise, this section applies to each of those persons whether or not what any one of them is responsible for would by itself amount to a nuisance, or would result in a level of noise justifying any proceedings under this section; “practicable” means reasonably practicable having regard among other things to local conditions and circumstances, to the current state of technical knowledge and to the financial implications.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s16
chapter: PART 2 - OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE
section: 16
title: Obstruction in canals, etc.
content:
16. —(1) Any person who in any river or canal in which the public has a right of navigation, without the written permission of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, the Director of Marine or the Deputy Director of Marine — ( a ) leaves any boat or vessel at any place for a longer time than is necessary for loading and unloading; ( b ) refuses to move the person’s boat or vessel away from that place when so directed by any police officer; ( c ) leaves any raft or log or piece of timber or plank in any such river or canal more than one day after its arrival therein; or ( d ) erects in any such river or canal any stage or scaffolding, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $25. (2) Such boat, vessel, raft, timber or plank may be removed by the police. (3) The expense of such removal is recoverable as a fine from the owner or person in charge of the same, and if not paid by the owner or person may be recovered by distress and sale of the property of such owner or person and of such boat, vessel, raft, timber or plank.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s17
chapter: PART 2 - OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE
section: 17
title: Penalty for depositing corpse or dying person
content:
17. Any person who deposits or causes to be deposited any corpse or any dying person in any public place or in any private place without the consent of the owner shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s19
chapter: PART 3 - OTHER OFFENCES
section: 19
title: Soliciting in public place
content:
19. Every person who in any public road or public place persistently loiters or solicits for the purpose of prostitution or for any other immoral purpose shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s20
chapter: PART 3 - OTHER OFFENCES
section: 20
title: Riotous, disorderly or indecent behaviour in, or in immediate vicinity of, certain places
content:
20. Any person who is found guilty of any riotous, disorderly or indecent behaviour in any public road or in any public place or place of public amusement or resort, or in the immediate vicinity of, or in, any court, public office, police station or place of worship, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both. [5/2015]


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s21
chapter: PART 3 - OTHER OFFENCES
section: 21
title: Wilful trespass on property
content:
21. —(1) Any person who without satisfactory excuse wilfully trespasses on any ground belonging to the Government or appropriated to public purposes, or in or on any dwelling house or premises or any land or ground attached thereto, or on any boat or vessel, not thereby in any of such cases causing any actual damage, or not causing in the opinion of the Magistrate’s Court more than nominal damage, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000. (2) Any officer or non-commissioned officer of the Singapore Armed Forces or of any visiting forces lawfully present in Singapore may, with or without warrant, arrest any person offending in his or her view against the provisions of this section, and that person may be brought before a Magistrate’s Court to be dealt with according to law. [Act 24 of 2022 wef 28/10/2022]


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s22
chapter: PART 3 - OTHER OFFENCES
section: 22
title: Loitering in place, vessel, etc., without satisfactory explanation
content:
22. —(1) Any person who — ( a ) is a reputed thief, is found on board any vessel or boat, or loitering in any street, road, yard or other place and does not give a satisfactory account of himself or herself; or ( b ) is found in any dwelling house or other building without being able satisfactorily to account for his or her presence therein, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months. [15/2019] (2) Any offence under this section is deemed to be an arrestable offence within the meaning of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010. [15/2019]


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s22A
chapter: PART 3 - OTHER OFFENCES
section: 22A
title: Carrying truncheons, etc., in public places
content:
22A. —(1) Except as provided in this section or any other written law, a person must not, in any public place, carry or have in his or her possession or under his or her control (whether or not in the performance of his or her functions as a private investigator, security officer or security service provider licensed under the Private Security Industry Act 2007) any truncheon, handcuffs, or such other weapon or equipment as may from time to time be specified by the Minister by notification in the Gazette . [38/2007; 2/2012] (1A) A gun, an explosive or a weapon within the meaning of the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 must not be specified under subsection (1). [Act 3 of 2021 wef 01/07/2025] (2) Any private investigator, security officer or security service provider licensed under the Private Security Industry Act 2007, or any other person, who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or to both. [38/2007; 2/2012] (3) Nothing in this section prohibits or prevents the carrying of any truncheon, handcuffs or specified weapon or equipment by a police officer, an auxiliary police officer or a forensic specialist acting in the course of his or her duty as such in accordance with the Police Force Act 2004, or a member of the Singapore Armed Forces or of any visiting force lawfully present in Singapore under any law relating to visiting forces. [38/2007; 2/2012; 10/2015] [Act 43 of 2024 wef 24/03/2025] (4) A private investigator, security officer or security service provider who is licensed under the Private Security Industry Act 2007 may be authorised to carry or have in his or her possession in any public place any truncheon, handcuffs or specified weapon or equipment if, and only if — ( a ) the licensing officer under that Act is satisfied that it is necessary for the performance of his or her functions as a private investigator, security officer or security service provider, and it is appropriate for permission to be given for such carrying or possession; ( b ) the private investigator’s licence, the security officer’s licence or the security service provider’s licence (as the case may be) is endorsed (with or without conditions) by the licensing officer to permit such carrying or possession; and ( c ) the truncheon, handcuffs, weapon or equipment is of the type approved by that licensing officer. [38/2007; 2/2012] (5) The Commissioner of Police may authorise, subject to such conditions of authorisation as he or she thinks fit to impose, any person, or every person belonging to a class of persons, to carry or have in the person’s possession or under the person’s control in any public place any truncheon, handcuffs or specified weapon or equipment, if — ( a ) the Commissioner of Police is satisfied that such carrying, possession or control is necessary in the circumstances, and it is appropriate for permission to be given for such carrying, possession or control; and ( b ) the truncheon, handcuffs, weapon or equipment is of the type approved by the Commissioner of Police. [2/2012] (6) The Commissioner of Police may at any time — ( a ) revoke any authorisation under subsection (5); or ( b ) add to, vary or revoke any condition of authorisation imposed under subsection (5). [2/2012] (7) In this section — “public place” includes any premises or place to which the public has or is permitted to have access, whether on the invitation of the owners or occupiers thereof or on payment or otherwise; “specified weapon or equipment” means any weapon or equipment specified by the Minister under subsection (1). [2/2012]


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s23
chapter: PART 3 - OTHER OFFENCES
section: 23
title: Penalty for taking intoxicant, etc., into public hospital
content:
23. Any person who takes or attempts to take without due permission into any public hospital any intoxicating liquor, drug or preparation shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 months, and such liquor, drug or preparation and the vessels containing the same are to be forfeited.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s24
chapter: PART 3 - OTHER OFFENCES
section: 24
title: Improper management of house of public resort
content:
24. Any person who being the keeper of any house licensed under any written law as a public house or as a retail liquor shop or which is used as a place of public entertainment or public resort — ( a ) knowingly permits any unlawful games or gaming therein; ( b ) knowingly permits prostitutes or persons of notoriously bad character or drunken and disorderly persons to assemble or continue in or upon the person’s premises; ( c ) knowingly allows the deposit therein of goods having reasonable cause to believe them to be stolen; or ( d ) does or permits any act in contravention of the person’s licence, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, and to the forfeiture of the person’s licence, if any.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s25
chapter: PART 4 - VAGRANCY
section: 25
title: Interpretation of this Part
content:
25. For the purposes of this Part, “place of public resort”, “public place” and expressions of similar meaning are deemed to include every estate, factory or place in which 10 or more workmen are employed.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s26
chapter: PART 4 - VAGRANCY
section: 26
title: Disorderly or indecent behaviour by prostitutes
content:
26. Every common prostitute wandering in any public road or place of public resort and behaving in a disorderly or indecent manner is deemed to be an idle and disorderly person within the meaning of this Part and shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s27
chapter: PART 4 - VAGRANCY
section: 27
title: Rogues and vagabonds
content:
27. —(1) Every person — ( a ) committing an offence under section 26, after having been previously convicted as an idle and disorderly person; ( b ) pretending or professing to tell fortunes in any manner which causes or is likely to cause a public nuisance, or using any subtle craft, means or device, by palmistry or otherwise, to deceive and impose upon any person; ( c ) wilfully exposing to view, in any street, road, highway or public place, any obscene print, picture or other indecent exhibition; ( d ) wilfully, openly, lewdly and obscenely exposing his or her person in any street, road or public highway, or in the view thereof, or in any place of public resort, with intent to insult any female; ( e ) going about as a gatherer or collector of alms, or endeavouring to procure charitable contributions of any nature or kind, under any false or fraudulent pretence; ( f ) having in his or her possession without lawful excuse any instrument or material with intent to commit any offence; ( g ) being found in or upon any dwelling house, or premises for the custody of property, or in any enclosed yard, garden or area, for any unlawful purpose; or ( h ) arrested as an idle and disorderly person who violently resists arrest and being subsequently convicted of the offence for which he or she was arrested, is deemed to be a rogue and vagabond within the meaning of this Part and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both. (2) Every suspected person or reputed thief, frequenting or loitering in or about any river, canal or navigable stream, dock or basin, or any quay, wharf or warehouse near or adjoining thereto, or any street, highway or avenue leading thereto, or any place of public resort, or any avenue leading thereto, or any street, highway or place adjacent thereto, or in any highway or any place adjacent to a street or highway, with intent to commit an arrestable and non‑bailable offence, is deemed to be a rogue and vagabond within the meaning of this Part and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both. (3) In proving the intent mentioned in subsection (2), it is not necessary to show that the person suspected was guilty of any particular act or acts tending to show his or her purpose or intent, and the person may be convicted if, from the circumstances of the case, and from his or her known character as proved to the court, it appears that his or her intent was to commit an arrestable and non‑bailable offence.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s27A
chapter: PART 4 - VAGRANCY
section: 27A
title: Appearing nude in public or private place
content:
27A. —(1) Any person who appears nude — ( a ) in a public place; or ( b ) in a private place and is exposed to public view, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both. (2) For the purpose of this section, the reference to a person appearing nude includes a person who is clad in such a manner as to offend against public decency or order. (3) Where an offence under this section is committed in a private place, it is lawful for a police officer to enter the private place without the authority of the owner or occupier of the private place to effect the arrest of the offender. (4) In effecting entry under subsection (3), it is lawful for a police officer to use such force as may be necessary to enter the private place.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s28
chapter: PART 4 - VAGRANCY
section: 28
title: Any person may arrest offender
content:
28. It is lawful for any person whatsoever to arrest any person found offending against this Part and to deliver him or her to any police officer.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s29
chapter: PART 4 - VAGRANCY
section: 29
title: Search of conveyance or goods of person arrested
content:
29. Any police officer or other person arresting any person charged with being an idle and disorderly person, or a rogue and vagabond, may take any vehicle or goods in the possession of that person as well as that person before a police officer to be searched in the presence of the police officer.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s30
chapter: PART 4 - VAGRANCY
section: 30
title: Search of premises for idle and disorderly person and rogue and vagabond
content:
30. A Magistrate before whom information has been duly sworn that any person described to be an idle and disorderly person, or a rogue and vagabond, is or is reasonably suspected to be harboured or concealed in any hotel, boarding house, lodging house or eating house, may authorise any police officer to enter at any time into any such hotel, boarding house, lodging house or eating house and to arrest every such idle and disorderly person, rogue and vagabond found therein.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s31
chapter: PART 4 - VAGRANCY
section: 31
title: Magistrate may take recognisances for good behaviour in certain cases
content:
31. It is lawful for any Magistrate before whom any person is convicted under this Part to call upon the person convicted to execute a bond with sureties for the person’s good behaviour in lieu of being punished but the Magistrate must not so call upon any person who has been convicted for the second time of being a rogue and vagabond.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s32
chapter: PART 5 - TOUTING
section: 32
title: Touting for business
content:
32. Any person in any public road, public place, place of public resort or vehicle on a public road who, in connection with any trade or business (whether or not carried on by that person), solicits any other person persistently or in any manner as to cause or be likely to cause annoyance to that other person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine of not less than $2,000 and not more than $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s33
chapter: PART 5 - TOUTING
section: 33
title: Touting in public offices
content:
33. —(1) Any person who in any public office, or in the vicinity thereof, solicits to offer or loiters for the purpose of offering in connection with the public office his or her services to any one or more persons having business at that public office or any other public office (whether or not the services so offered relate to the business) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to — ( a ) any officer specifically appointed to advise the public on the business carried on in a public office; and ( b ) any person who is licensed under any written law or is otherwise authorised to act as a petition writer. (3) In this section, “public office” means any court and Government office or department.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s34
chapter: PART 5 - TOUTING
section: 34
title: Arrestable offence
content:
34. Every offence under this Part is deemed to be an arrestable offence within the meaning of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s35
chapter: PART 6 - FRAUDULENT POSSESSION OF PROPERTY
section: 35
title: Fraudulent possession of property
content:
35. —(1) Any person who has in his or her possession or conveys in any manner anything which may be reasonably suspected of being stolen or fraudulently obtained shall, if the person fails to account satisfactorily how he or she came by the same, be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $3,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both. (2) If any person charged with having or conveying anything stolen or fraudulently obtained declares that he or she received the same from some other person, or that he or she was employed as a carrier, agent or servant to convey the same for some other person, the court may cause every such other person, and also (if necessary) every former or pretended purchaser or other person through whose possession the same has passed (if such other person is alleged to have had possession of the same within the jurisdiction of that court) to be brought before it and examined, and is to examine witnesses upon oath touching the same. (3) If it appears to the court that any person so brought before it had possession of such thing and had reasonable cause to believe the same to have been stolen or fraudulently obtained, that person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both. (4) In this section, “possession” includes possession in a house, building, ship, vessel, boat or other place as well as possession in a public road or place. (5) Any person who — ( a ) having been convicted of an offence punishable under this section or under Chapter 12 or 17 of the Penal Code 1871; or ( b ) having been convicted in Malaysia or in Brunei Darussalam of an offence of a nature similar to any of those offences, is subsequently convicted of an offence punishable under this section shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both. (6) If information is given on oath to a Magistrate’s Court that there is cause to suspect that any property which may be reasonably suspected of being stolen or fraudulently obtained is within any house, building, ship, vessel, boat or other place, the Court may, by warrant directed to any police officer, cause the house, building, ship, vessel, boat or other place to be entered and searched at any hour of the day or night. (7) The information mentioned in subsection (6) must describe the property which it is reasonably suspected has been stolen or fraudulently obtained, and must also describe the house, building, ship, vessel, boat or other place in which the property is suspected to be. (8) If upon the making of the search any property, such as that described in the information, is found in the house, building, ship, vessel, boat or other place, the police officer making the search or some other police officer must convey the property before a Magistrate’s Court or guard the property on the spot or otherwise dispose thereof in some place of safety. (9) The police officer making the search or some other police officer must also take into custody and bring before a Magistrate’s Court every person in such house, building, ship, vessel, boat or other place in whose possession or under whose control such property is found. (10) Sections 31 and 37 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 apply to searches made under subsections (6), (7), (8) and (9). [15/2010]


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s36
chapter: PART 6 - FRAUDULENT POSSESSION OF PROPERTY
section: 36
title: Secondhand dealers and money changers to report property stolen or fraudulently obtained
content:
36. —(1) When any property has been stolen or fraudulently obtained, and a written description of the property has been given by any police officer to any dealer in secondhand goods or money changer, and property answering the description of the property is in the possession of such dealer or money changer or afterwards comes into the dealer’s or money changer’s possession or is offered to the dealer or money changer for sale or exchange, the dealer or money changer must without undue delay give information of the property to any police officer or at a police station, and must at the same time state the name and address given by the person from whom the dealer or money changer received that property or by whom it was offered to the dealer or money changer for sale or exchange. (2) Any person who fails to give such information as the person is required to give by this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000. (3) When, in the opinion of the court, the property is of such a nature as to be difficult to identify no fine is to be imposed under this section unless the court is of the opinion that the property has been wilfully concealed by the accused.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s37
chapter: PART 6 - FRAUDULENT POSSESSION OF PROPERTY
section: 37
title: Melting or defacing metals, etc., within 3 days of receipt
content:
37. If any pawnbroker or any dealer in secondhand goods or any worker in platinum, gold or silver, or any dealer in platinum, gold or silver articles, within 3 days of receipt of any goods or any such metals or articles, or after receiving information from a police officer that any specified goods, metals or articles, have been stolen or fraudulently obtained, melts, alters, defaces, or puts away the same or causes the same to be melted, altered, defaced, or put away, without the previous permission of the Director, Criminal Investigation Department, and it is found that such goods, metals or articles were stolen or fraudulently obtained, such pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, worker or dealer shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s38
chapter: PART 6 - FRAUDULENT POSSESSION OF PROPERTY
section: 38
title: Register of workers and dealers in metals
content:
38. Every worker in platinum, gold or silver and every dealer in platinum, gold or silver articles must be registered by the Director, Criminal Investigation Department in a register to be maintained by him or her for the purpose and any such worker or dealer who carries on business as such without being so registered shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s39
chapter: PART 6 - FRAUDULENT POSSESSION OF PROPERTY
section: 39
title: Employees not affected
content:
39. Nothing in sections 37 and 38 applies to any person employed by any worker in platinum, gold or silver, or by any dealer in platinum, gold or silver articles, for the purposes of the person’s business on the premises in respect of which the worker or dealer is registered under section 38.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s39A
chapter: PART 6A - OFFENCES RELATING TO MISUSE OF SIM CARDS
section: 39A
title: Interpretation of this Part
content:
39A. —(1) In this Part — “compromised SIM card” means a SIM card that has been used either — ( a ) to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a criminal offence; or ( b ) to cause, or to facilitate the causing of, wrongful gain or wrongful loss to any person; “personal information” means any information, whether true or not, about a person of a type that is commonly used alone or in combination with other information to identify or purport to identify a person, including (but not limited to) biometric data, name, address, date of birth, unique identification number, a written, electronic or digital signature, user authentication code, credit card or debit card number, and password; “retailer” means a person who, in the course of trade or business, provides the service of registering SIM cards for consumers; “scam offence” means any offence specified in the Schedule; [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] “SIM card” means a prepaid or postpaid subscriber identification module (SIM) card (whether in physical or digital form) issued with a Singapore telephone number, but does not include a SIM card that is expired or that has been terminated; “telecommunication licensee” has the meaning given by section 2 of the Telecommunications Act 1999; “unique identification number” means — ( a ) in relation to an individual — an identity card number, passport number or the number of any other similar document of identity issued by a government authority as evidence of the individual’s nationality or place of residence, and includes a foreign identification number; and ( b ) in relation to an entity — (i) if incorporated or registered in Singapore, its Unique Entity Number (UEN); or (ii) if not incorporated or registered in Singapore, its foreign incorporation or registration number; “unregistered SIM card” means a SIM card that has not been registered with a telecommunication licensee using a person’s personal information. (2) In this Part, a reference to a person doing an act for any gain is a reference to the person doing the act for any gain — ( a ) whether or not the gain is a wrongful gain; ( b ) whether or not the gain is realised; and ( c ) whether the gain is to that person or to another person. (3) For the purposes of this Part — ( a ) a reference to a person ( A ) buying, renting, borrowing or receiving a SIM card from another person ( B ) includes a reference to A buying, renting, borrowing or receiving from B — (i) a mobile telephone or any other device containing the SIM card; or (ii) a means (such as an application, a code or a link) through which the SIM card in digital form can be downloaded; and ( b ) a reference to A providing, selling, renting, lending or supplying a SIM card to B includes a reference to A providing, selling, renting, lending or supplying to B — (i) a mobile telephone or any other device containing the SIM card; or (ii) a means (such as an application, a code or a link) through which the SIM card in digital form can be downloaded. Illustration A registers for an eSIM using A ’s personal information, and obtains a QR code which A can use to download the eSIM onto A ’s phone. A provides the QR code to B for B to download the eSIM onto B ’s phone. A has provided the eSIM to B . [Act 16 of 2024 wef 01/01/2025]


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s39B
chapter: PART 6A - OFFENCES RELATING TO MISUSE OF SIM CARDS
section: 39B
title: Unlawful provision of SIM card registered using person’s personal information
content:
39B. —(1) A person shall be guilty of an offence if the person — ( a ) provides, or offers to provide, a SIM card registered using the person’s personal information to another person; and ( b ) does so knowing, or having reasonable grounds to believe, that the provision of the SIM card is for any person — (i) to commit, or to facilitate the commission by any person of, any offence under any written law; or (ii) to cause, or to facilitate the causing by any person of, wrongful gain or wrongful loss to any person. (2) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) involving the fault element mentioned in subsection (1)( b )(i), a person ( A ) who does an act mentioned in subsection (1)( a ) is presumed, until the contrary is proved, to have reasonable grounds to believe that the purpose of the provision of the SIM card is for a person to commit, or to facilitate the commission by a person of, an offence under any written law, if — ( a ) A does the act for any gain; or ( b ) at the time A does the act, A fails to take reasonable steps to ascertain — (i) the identity and physical location of the person to whom the SIM card is provided; or (ii) the purpose for which the person obtains the SIM card from A . (3) For the purpose of proving a person’s state of mind under subsection (1)( b ), it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that the SIM card was used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a specific offence. (4) Subject to subsection (5), a person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on conviction — ( a ) in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both; or ( b ) in any other case, to a fine not exceeding $20,000. [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] (5) Where an individual is convicted of an offence under subsection (1) involving the fault element mentioned in subsection (1)( b )(i), the individual shall, in addition to the punishment under subsection (4)( a ), be liable to caning of not more than 12 strokes — ( a ) if the individual knew that the provision or offer of the SIM card was for any person to commit, or to facilitate the commission by any person of, any scam offence; or ( b ) if — (i) it is proved, to the satisfaction of the court, that the SIM card was used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a scam offence; and (ii) the individual is not able to prove, to the satisfaction of the court, that he or she had, at any time, taken reasonable steps to ensure that the SIM card would not be used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a scam offence. [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] (6) For the purposes of subsection (5)( a ), it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that the commission, or facilitation of the commission, of a scam offence was carried out. [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] (7) For the purposes of subsection (5)( b )(i), it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that any person was convicted of the scam offence. [Act 16 of 2024 wef 01/01/2025] [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025]


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s39C
chapter: PART 6A - OFFENCES RELATING TO MISUSE OF SIM CARDS
section: 39C
title: Unlawful provision, etc., of person’s personal information for purpose of registering SIM card
content:
39C. —(1) A person shall be guilty of an offence if — ( a ) the person — (i) provides, or offers to provide, the person’s personal information to be used by another person; or (ii) consents to, or offers to consent to, the person’s personal information being used by another person; and ( b ) the person does so knowing, or having reasonable grounds to believe — (i) that the person’s personal information will be used to register a SIM card; and (ii) that the SIM card will be used — (A) to commit, or to facilitate the commission by any person of, any offence under any written law; or (B) to cause, or to facilitate the causing by any person of, wrongful gain or wrongful loss to any person. (2) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) involving the fault element mentioned in subsection (1)( b )(ii)(A), a person ( A ) who does an act mentioned in subsection (1)( a ) is presumed, until the contrary is proved, to have reasonable grounds to believe that the SIM card will be used to commit, or to facilitate the commission by a person of, an offence under any written law, if — ( a ) A does the act for any gain; or ( b ) at the time A does the act, A fails to take reasonable steps to ascertain — (i) the identity and physical location of the person who uses A ’s personal information to register the SIM card; or (ii) the purpose for which the person uses A ’s personal information to register the SIM card. (3) For the purpose of proving a person’s state of mind under subsection (1)( b ), it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that the SIM card was used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a specific offence. (4) Subject to subsection (5), a person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on conviction — ( a ) in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both; or ( b ) in any other case, to a fine not exceeding $20,000. [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] (5) Where an individual is convicted of an offence under subsection (1) involving the fault element mentioned in subsection (1)( b )(ii)(A), the individual shall, in addition to the punishment under subsection (4)( a ), be liable to caning of not more than 12 strokes — ( a ) if the individual knew that the personal information will be used to register a SIM card that will be used to commit, or to facilitate the commission by any person of, any scam offence; or ( b ) if — (i) it is proved, to the satisfaction of the court, that a SIM card registered using the personal information was used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a scam offence; and (ii) the individual is not able to prove, to the satisfaction of the court, that he or she had, at any time, taken reasonable steps to ensure that, the SIM card would not be used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a scam offence. [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] (6) For the purposes of subsection (5)( a ), it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that the commission, or facilitation of the commission, of a scam offence was carried out. [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] (7) For the purposes of subsection (5)( b )(i), it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that any person was convicted of the scam offence. [Act 16 of 2024 wef 01/01/2025] [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025]


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s39D
chapter: PART 6A - OFFENCES RELATING TO MISUSE OF SIM CARDS
section: 39D
title:
Transacting of SIM card registered using another person’s personal information for criminal activity

content:
39D. —(1) A person shall be guilty of an offence if — ( a ) the person buys, rents, borrows or otherwise receives, or offers to buy, rent, borrow or otherwise receive — (i) a SIM card registered using another person’s personal information; or (ii) an unregistered SIM card; and ( b ) the person does so intending to use the SIM card, or to supply the SIM card to any other person — (i) to commit, or to facilitate the commission by any person of, any offence under any written law; or (ii) to cause, or to facilitate the causing by any person of, wrongful gain or wrongful loss to any person. (2) A person shall be guilty of an offence if — ( a ) the person sells, rents, lends or otherwise supplies, or offers to sell, rent, lend or otherwise supply, to another person — (i) a SIM card registered using any other person’s personal information; or (ii) an unregistered SIM card; and ( b ) the person does so knowing, or having reasonable grounds to believe, that the SIM card will be used — (i) to commit, or to facilitate the commission by any person of, any offence under any written law; or (ii) to cause, or to facilitate the causing by any person of, wrongful gain or wrongful loss to any person. (3) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) or (2) involving a SIM card registered using another person’s personal information, it is a defence for the accused to prove that the accused did not know, and had no reason to believe, that the SIM card was registered using another person’s personal information. (4) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) involving the fault element mentioned in subsection (1)( b )(i), a person ( A ) who does an act mentioned in subsection (1)( a ) is presumed, until the contrary is proved, to have the intent to use or supply (as the case may be) the SIM card to commit, or to facilitate the commission by a person of, an offence under any written law, if — ( a ) where the SIM card is a SIM card registered using another person’s personal information — A does the act for any gain; or ( b ) it is proved that the SIM card is a compromised SIM card at the time A does the act. (5) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (2) involving the fault element mentioned in subsection (2)( b )(i), a person ( A ) who does an act mentioned in subsection (2)( a ) is presumed, until the contrary is proved, to have reasonable grounds to believe that the SIM card will be used to commit, or to facilitate the commission by a person of, an offence under any written law, if — ( a ) where the SIM card is a SIM card registered using another person’s personal information — A does the act for any gain; ( b ) it is proved that the SIM card is a compromised SIM card at the time A does the act; or ( c ) where the SIM card is registered using another person’s personal information — at the time A does the act, A fails to take reasonable steps to ascertain — (i) the identity and physical location of the person to whom the SIM card is supplied; or (ii) the purpose for which the person receives the SIM card from A . (6) In addition to subsection (4), in proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) involving the fault element mentioned in subsection (1)( b )(i) where the charge is amalgamated or involves more than one SIM card, a person ( A ) who does an act mentioned in subsection (1)( a ) is presumed, until the contrary is proved, to have the intent to use or supply (as the case may be) the SIM card to commit, or to facilitate the commission by a person of, an offence under any written law, if the act concerns more than a total of 10 SIM cards registered using another person’s personal information or unregistered SIM cards, or a combination of both. (7) In addition to subsection (5), in proceedings for an offence under subsection (2) involving the fault element mentioned in subsection (2)( b )(i) where the charge is amalgamated or involves more than one SIM card, a person ( A ) who does an act mentioned in subsection (2)( a ) is presumed, until the contrary is proved, to have reasonable grounds to believe that the SIM card will be used to commit, or to facilitate the commission by a person of, an offence under any written law, if the act concerns more than a total of 10 SIM cards registered using another person’s personal information or unregistered SIM cards, or a combination of both. (8) For the purpose of proving whether a SIM card was used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, an offence, it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that a specific offence occurred. (9) Subject to subsections (10) and (11), a person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (2) shall be liable on conviction — ( a ) in the case of an individual — (i) to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both; and (ii) in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both; or ( b ) in any other case — (i) to a fine not exceeding $20,000; and (ii) in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $40,000. [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] (10) Where an individual is convicted of an offence under subsection (1) involving the fault element mentioned in subsection (1)( b )(i), the individual shall, in addition to the punishment under subsection (9)( a ), be liable to caning of not more than 12 strokes — ( a ) if the individual intended to use the SIM card or to supply the SIM card to any other person, to commit, or to facilitate the commission by any person of, any scam offence; or ( b ) if — (i) it is proved, to the satisfaction of the court, that the SIM card was used, or was supplied to another person, to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a scam offence; and (ii) the individual is not able to prove, to the satisfaction of the court, that he or she had, at any time, taken reasonable steps to ensure that, the SIM card would not be used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a scam offence. [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] (11) Where an individual is convicted of an offence under subsection (2) involving the fault element mentioned in subsection (2)( b )(i), the individual shall, in addition to the punishment under subsection (9)( a ), be liable to caning of not more than 12 strokes — ( a ) if the individual knew that the SIM card will be used to commit, or to facilitate the commission by any person of, any scam offence; or ( b ) if — (i) it is proved, to the satisfaction of the court, that the SIM card was used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a scam offence; and (ii) the individual is not able to prove, to the satisfaction of the court, that he or she had, at any time, taken reasonable steps to ensure that the SIM card would not be used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a scam offence. [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] (12) For the purposes of subsections (10)( a ) and (11)( a ), it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that the commission, or facilitation of the commission, of a scam offence was carried out. [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] (13) For the purposes of subsections (10)( b )(i) and (11)( b )(i), it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that any person was convicted of the scam offence. [Act 16 of 2024 wef 01/01/2025] [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025]


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s39E
chapter: PART 6A - OFFENCES RELATING TO MISUSE OF SIM CARDS
section: 39E
title: Transacting of SIM card registered using another person’s personal information for consideration
content:
39E. —(1) A person shall be guilty of an offence if the person, in exchange for any consideration — ( a ) buys or rents, or offers to buy or rent, a SIM card registered using another person’s personal information; or ( b ) sells or rents, or offers to sell or rent, a SIM card registered using another person’s personal information to any other person. (2) However, a person is not guilty of an offence under subsection (1) if the person proves, on a balance of probabilities, that — ( a ) the person did not know, and had no reason to believe, that the SIM card was registered using another person’s personal information; ( b ) in the case of an offence under subsection (1)( a ), the person bought or rented the SIM card for a lawful purpose; or ( c ) in the case of an offence under subsection (1)( b ), the person did not know, and had no reason to believe, that the SIM card would be used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, any offence. (3) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on conviction — ( a ) in the case of an individual — (i) to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both; and (ii) in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both; or ( b ) in any other case — (i) to a fine not exceeding $20,000; and (ii) in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $40,000. [Act 16 of 2024 wef 01/01/2025]


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s39F
chapter: PART 6A - OFFENCES RELATING TO MISUSE OF SIM CARDS
section: 39F
title: Possession of SIM card registered using another person’s personal information for criminal activity
content:
39F. —(1) A person shall be guilty of an offence if — ( a ) the person possesses — (i) a SIM card registered using another person’s personal information; or (ii) an unregistered SIM card; and ( b ) the person intends to use the SIM card, or to supply the SIM card to any other person — (i) to commit, or to facilitate the commission by any person of, any offence under any written law; or (ii) to cause, or to facilitate the causing by any person of, wrongful gain or wrongful loss to any person. (2) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) involving a SIM card registered using another person’s personal information, it is a defence for the accused to prove that the accused did not know, and had no reason to believe, that the SIM card was registered using another person’s personal information. (3) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) involving the fault element mentioned in subsection (1)( b )(i), a person ( A ) who does an act mentioned in subsection (1)( a ) is presumed, until the contrary is proved, to have the intent to use or supply (as the case may be) a SIM card for the purpose of committing, or facilitating the commission by a person of, an offence under any written law, if it is proved that the SIM card in A ’s possession is a compromised SIM card. (4) In addition to subsection (3), in proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) involving the fault element mentioned in subsection (1)( b )(i) where the charge is amalgamated or involves more than one SIM card, a person ( A ) who does an act mentioned in subsection (1)( a ) is presumed, until the contrary is proved, to have the intent to use or supply (as the case may be) a SIM card for the purpose of committing, or facilitating the commission by a person of, an offence under any written law, if A has in A ’s possession more than a total of 10 SIM cards registered using another person’s personal information or unregistered SIM cards, or a combination of both. (5) For the purpose of proving whether a SIM card was used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, an offence, it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that a specific offence occurred. (6) Subject to subsection (7), a person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on conviction — ( a ) in the case of an individual — (i) to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both; and (ii) in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both; or ( b ) in any other case — (i) to a fine not exceeding $20,000; and (ii) in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $40,000. [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] (7) Where an individual is convicted of an offence under subsection (1) involving the fault element mentioned in subsection (1)( b )(i), the individual shall, in addition to the punishment under subsection (6)( a ), be liable to caning of not more than 12 strokes — ( a ) if the individual intended to use the SIM card, or to supply the SIM card to any other person, to commit, or to facilitate the commission by any person of, any scam offence; or ( b ) if — (i) it is proved, to the satisfaction of the court, that the SIM card was used, or was supplied to another person, to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a scam offence; and (ii) the individual is not able to prove, to the satisfaction of the court, that he or she had, at any time, taken reasonable steps to ensure that the SIM card would not be used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a scam offence. [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] (8) For the purposes of subsection (7)( a ), it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that the commission, or facilitation of the commission, of a scam offence was carried out. [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] (9) For the purposes of subsection (7)( b ), it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that any person was convicted of the scam offence. [Act 16 of 2024 wef 01/01/2025] [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025]


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s39G
chapter: PART 6A - OFFENCES RELATING TO MISUSE OF SIM CARDS
section: 39G
title: Facilitation of fraudulent registration of SIM card that facilitates criminal activity
content:
39G. —(1) A retailer or telecommunication licensee shall be guilty of an offence if — ( a ) the retailer or telecommunication licensee registers a SIM card using any person’s personal information; ( b ) the retailer or telecommunication licensee does so knowing, or having reasonable grounds to believe — (i) that there was no authorisation given by the person whose personal information is being used to register the SIM card; or (ii) that the personal information given by the person seeking to register the SIM card is false or misleading; and ( c ) either of the following applies: (i) the retailer or telecommunication licensee does the act mentioned in paragraph ( a ) knowing, or having reasonable grounds to believe, that the SIM card will be used — (A) to commit, or to facilitate the commission by any person of, any offence under any written law; or (B) to cause, or to facilitate the causing by any person of, wrongful gain or wrongful loss to any person; (ii) the SIM card is used by any person — (A) to commit, or to facilitate the commission by any person of, any offence under any written law; or (B) to cause, or to facilitate the causing by any person of, wrongful gain or wrongful loss to any person. (2) Subject to subsection (3), a person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on conviction — ( a ) in the case of an individual — (i) to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both; and (ii) in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both; or ( b ) in any other case — (i) to a fine not exceeding $20,000; and (ii) in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $40,000. [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] (3) Where an individual is convicted of an offence under subsection (1) involving the fault element mentioned in subsection (1)( c )(i)(A), the individual shall, in addition to the punishment under subsection (2)( a ), be liable to caning of not more than 12 strokes — ( a ) if the individual knew that the SIM card will be used to commit, or to facilitate the commission by any person of, any scam offence; or ( b ) if — (i) it is proved, to the satisfaction of the court, that the SIM card was used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a scam offence; and (ii) the individual is not able to prove, to the satisfaction of the court, that he or she had, at any time, taken reasonable steps to ensure that the SIM card would not be used to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a scam offence. [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] (4) For the purposes of subsection (3)( a ), it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that the commission, or facilitation of the commission, of a scam offence was carried out. [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] (5) For the purposes of subsection (3)( b )(i), it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that any person was convicted of the scam offence. [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025] (6) For the purposes of this section, a reference to a retailer or telecommunication licensee includes a reference to an employee of the retailer or telecommunication licensee (as the case may be) acting in the course of the employee’s employment. [Act 16 of 2024 wef 01/01/2025] [Act 21 of 2025 wef 30/12/2025]


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s39H
chapter: PART 6A - OFFENCES RELATING TO MISUSE OF SIM CARDS
section: 39H
title: Offences under this Part committed outside Singapore
content:
39H. An offence under section 39B(1), 39C(1), 39D(1) or (2), 39F(1) or 39G(1) committed wholly or partly outside Singapore may be dealt with as if the offence had been committed wholly within Singapore, if — ( a ) the accused was in Singapore at the time the offence was committed; or ( b ) the offence causes, or creates a significant risk of, direct and reasonably foreseeable harm in Singapore. [Act 16 of 2024 wef 01/01/2025]


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s39I
chapter: PART 6A - OFFENCES RELATING TO MISUSE OF SIM CARDS
section: 39I
title: Arrestable offence
content:
39I. Every offence under this Part is deemed to be an arrestable offence within the meaning of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010. [Act 16 of 2024 wef 01/01/2025]


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s40
chapter: PART 7 - MISCELLANEOUS
section: 40
title: Power of arrest
content:
40. —(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, any police officer may arrest without warrant any person offending in the police officer’s view against any of the provisions of this Act, and take the person before a Magistrate’s Court to be dealt with according to law. (2) Any animal, conveyance or article concerning by or for which an offence has been committed may be seized and taken to a pound or police station unless given up sooner by order of a Magistrate’s Court, until the charge is decided in due course of law.


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s40A
chapter: PART 7 - MISCELLANEOUS
section: 40A
title: Offences by corporations
content:
40A. —(1) Where, in a proceeding for an offence under this Act, it is necessary to prove the state of mind of a corporation in relation to a particular conduct, evidence that — ( a ) an officer, employee or agent of the corporation engaged in that conduct within the scope of his or her actual or apparent authority; and ( b ) the officer, employee or agent had that state of mind, is evidence that the corporation had that state of mind. (2) Where a corporation commits an offence under this Act, a person — ( a ) who is — (i) an officer of the corporation; or (ii) an individual involved in the management of the corporation and in a position to influence the conduct of the corporation in relation to the commission of the offence; and ( b ) who — (i) consented or connived, or conspired with others, to effect the commission of the offence; (ii) is in any other way, whether by act or omission, knowingly concerned in, or is party to, the commission of the offence by the corporation; or (iii) knew or ought reasonably to have known that the offence by the corporation (or an offence of the same type) would be or is being committed, and failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent or stop the commission of that offence, shall be guilty of the same offence as is the corporation, and shall be liable on conviction to be punished accordingly. (3) A person mentioned in subsection (2) may rely on a defence that would be available to the corporation if it were charged with the offence with which the person is charged and, in doing so, the person bears the same burden of proof that the corporation would bear. (4) To avoid doubt, this section does not affect the application of — ( a ) Chapters 5 and 5A of the Penal Code 1871; ( b ) the Evidence Act 1893 or any other law or practice regarding the admissibility of evidence; or ( c ) section 39. (5) To avoid doubt, subsection (2) also does not affect the liability of the corporation for an offence under this Act, and applies whether or not the corporation is convicted of the offence. (6) In this section — “corporation” includes a limited liability partnership; “officer”, in relation to a corporation, means any director, partner, chief executive, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the corporation, and includes — ( a ) any person purporting to act in any such capacity; and ( b ) for a corporation whose affairs are managed by its members, any of those members as if the member were a director of the corporation; “state of mind” of a person includes — ( a ) the knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose of the person; and ( b ) the person’s reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or purpose. [Act 16 of 2024 wef 17/06/2024]


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s40B
chapter: PART 7 - MISCELLANEOUS
section: 40B
title: Offences by unincorporated associations or partnerships
content:
40B. —(1) Where, in a proceeding for an offence under this Act, it is necessary to prove the state of mind of an unincorporated association or a partnership in relation to a particular conduct, evidence that — ( a ) an employee or agent of the unincorporated association or partnership engaged in that conduct within the scope of his or her actual or apparent authority; and ( b ) the employee or agent had that state of mind, is evidence that the unincorporated association or partnership (as the case may be) had that state of mind. (2) Where an unincorporated association or a partnership commits an offence under this Act, a person — ( a ) who is — (i) an officer of the unincorporated association or a member of its governing body; (ii) a partner in the partnership; or (iii) an individual involved in the management of the unincorporated association or partnership and in a position to influence the conduct of the unincorporated association or partnership in relation to the commission of the offence; and ( b ) who — (i) consented or connived, or conspired with others, to effect the commission of the offence; (ii) is in any other way, whether by act or omission, knowingly concerned in, or is party to, the commission of the offence by the unincorporated association or partnership; or (iii) knew or ought reasonably to have known that the offence by the unincorporated association or partnership (or an offence of the same type) would be or is being committed, and failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent or stop the commission of that offence, shall be guilty of the same offence as is the unincorporated association or partnership (as the case may be), and shall be liable on conviction to be punished accordingly. (3) A person mentioned in subsection (2) may rely on a defence that would be available to the unincorporated association or partnership if it were charged with the offence with which the person is charged and, in doing so, the person bears the same burden of proof that the unincorporated association or partnership would bear. (4) To avoid doubt, this section does not affect the application of — ( a ) Chapters 5 and 5A of the Penal Code 1871; ( b ) the Evidence Act 1893 or any other law or practice regarding the admissibility of evidence; or ( c ) section 39. (5) To avoid doubt, subsection (2) does not affect the liability of an unincorporated association or a partnership for an offence under this Act, and applies whether or not the unincorporated association or partnership is convicted of the offence. (6) In this section — “officer”, in relation to an unincorporated association (other than a partnership), means the president, the secretary, or any member of the committee of the unincorporated association, and includes — ( a ) any person holding a position analogous to that of president, secretary or member of a committee of the unincorporated association; and ( b ) any person purporting to act in any such capacity; “partner” includes a person purporting to act as a partner; “state of mind” of a person includes — ( a ) the knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose of the person; and ( b ) the person’s reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or purpose. [Act 16 of 2024 wef 17/06/2024]


document_id: mopona-1906
provision_ref: s41
chapter: PART 7 - MISCELLANEOUS
section: 41
title: Regulations
content:
41. The Minister may make regulations for anything that is required, permitted, expedient or necessary for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act, including prescribing any offences under this Act as offences that may be compounded if not so prescribed by section 241 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010. [10/2015]


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s2
chapter: PART 1 - PRELIMINARY
section: 2
title: Interpretation
content:
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires — “affiliation order” means an order (however described) adjudging, finding or declaring a person to be the father of a child, whether or not it also provides for the maintenance of the child; “certificate of arrears”, in relation to a maintenance order, means a certificate certifying that the sums specified in the certificate is to the best of the information or belief of the officer giving the certificate the amount of the arrears due under the order at the date of the certificate or (as the case may be) that to the best of the officer’s information or belief there are no arrears due under the order at that date; “certified copy”, in relation to an order of court, means a copy of the order certified by the proper officer of the court to be a true copy; “court” includes any tribunal or person having power to make, confirm, enforce, vary or revoke a maintenance order that is enforceable by a civil court of competent jurisdiction; “maintenance order” means an order (however described) of the following descriptions: ( a ) an order (including an affiliation order or order consequent upon an affiliation order) which provides for the payment of a lump sum or the making of periodical payments — (i) by a man towards the maintenance of his wife or former wife; or (ii) by a person towards the maintenance of the person’s child; and ( b ) an affiliation order or order consequent upon an affiliation order, being an order which provides for the payment by a person adjudged, found or declared to be a child’s father of expenses incidental to the child’s birth or, where the child had died, of the child’s funeral expenses, and in the case of a maintenance order which has been varied, means that order as varied; “payee”, in relation to a maintenance order, means the person entitled to the payments for which the order provides; “payer”, in relation to a maintenance order, means the person liable to make payments under the order; “provisional order” means (according to the context) — ( a ) an order made by a court in Singapore which is provisional only and has no effect unless confirmed, with or without alteration, by a competent court in a reciprocating country; or ( b ) an order made by a court in a reciprocating country which is provisional only and has no effect unless confirmed with or without alteration, by a court in Singapore having power under this Act to confirm it; “reciprocating country” has the meaning given by section 17; “registered order” means a maintenance order which is for the time being registered in a court in Singapore under this Act; “registering court”, in relation to a registered order, means the court in which that order is for the time being registered under this Act; “responsible authority”, in relation to a reciprocating country, means any person who in that country has functions similar to those of the Minister under this Act. [2/2012]


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s3
chapter: PART 2 - ORDERS MADE BY COURTS IN SINGAPORE
section: 3
title: Transmission of maintenance order made in Singapore for enforcement in reciprocating country
content:
3. —(1) Where the payer under a maintenance order made, whether before or after 3 May 1976, by a court in Singapore is residing in a reciprocating country, the payee under the order may apply for the order to be sent to that country for enforcement. (2) Every application under this section must be made in the prescribed manner to the prescribed officer of the court which made the maintenance order to which the application relates. (3) If, on an application duly made under this section to the prescribed officer of a court in Singapore, that officer is satisfied that the payer under the maintenance order to which the application relates is residing in a reciprocating country, the following documents: ( a ) a certified copy of the maintenance order; ( b ) a certificate signed by that officer certifying that the order is enforceable in Singapore; ( c ) a certificate of arrears so signed; ( d ) a statement giving such information as the officer possesses as to the whereabouts of the payer; ( e ) a statement giving such information as the officer possesses for facilitating the identification of the payer; and ( f ) where available, a photograph of the payer, must be sent by that officer to the Minister with a view to their being transmitted by the Minister to the responsible authority in the reciprocating country if the Minister is satisfied that the statement relating to the whereabouts of the payer gives sufficient information to justify that being done. (4) Nothing in this section is to be taken as affecting any jurisdiction of a court in Singapore with respect to a maintenance order to which this section applies, and any such order may be enforced, varied or revoked accordingly.


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s4
chapter: PART 2 - ORDERS MADE BY COURTS IN SINGAPORE
section: 4
title: Power to make provisional maintenance order against person residing in reciprocating country
content:
4. —(1) Where a complaint is made to a Family Court against a person residing in a reciprocating country and the complaint is one on which such court would have jurisdiction by virtue of any enactment to make a maintenance order if — ( a ) that person were residing in Singapore; and ( b ) a summons to appear before such court to answer to the complaint had been duly served on that person, the court has jurisdiction to hear the complaint and may, subject to subsection (2), make a maintenance order on the complaint. [27/2014] (2) A maintenance order made by virtue of this section is a provisional order. (3) No enactment empowering a Family Court to refuse to make an order on a complaint on the ground that the matter in question is one which would be more conveniently dealt with by the General Division of the High Court applies in relation to a complaint to which subsection (1) applies. [27/2014; 40/2019] (4) Where a Family Court makes a maintenance order which is by virtue of this section a provisional order, the following documents: ( a ) a certified copy of the maintenance order; ( b ) a document, authenticated in the prescribed manner, setting out or summarising the evidence given in the proceedings; ( c ) a certificate signed by the prescribed officer of the court certifying that the grounds stated in the certificate are the grounds on which the making of the order might have been opposed by the payer under the order; ( d ) a statement giving such information as was available to the court as to the whereabouts of the payer; ( e ) a statement giving such information as the officer possesses for facilitating the identification of the payer; and ( f ) where available, a photograph of the payer, must be sent by that officer to the Minister with a view to their being transmitted by the Minister to the responsible authority in the reciprocating country in which the payer is residing if the Minister is satisfied that the statement relating to the whereabouts of the payer gives sufficient information to justify that being done. [27/2014] (5) A maintenance order made by virtue of this section which has been confirmed by a competent court in a reciprocating country is treated for all purposes as if the Family Court which made the order had made it in the form in which it was confirmed and as if the order had never been a provisional order, and subject to section 5, any such order may be enforced, varied or revoked accordingly. [27/2014]


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s5
chapter: PART 2 - ORDERS MADE BY COURTS IN SINGAPORE
section: 5
title: Variation and revocation of maintenance order made in Singapore
content:
5. —(1) This section applies to a maintenance order a certified copy of which has been sent to a reciprocating country pursuant to section 3 and to a maintenance order made by virtue of section 4 which has been confirmed by a competent court in such a country. (2) A court in Singapore having power to vary a maintenance order to which this section applies has power to vary that order by a provisional order. (3) Where the court hearing an application for the variation of a maintenance order to which this section applies proposes to vary it by increasing the rate of the payments under the order, the order varying that order is a provisional order unless either — ( a ) both the payer and the payee under the order appear in the proceedings; or ( b ) the applicant appears and the appropriate process has been duly served on the other party. (4) Where a court in Singapore makes a provisional order varying a maintenance order to which this section applies, the prescribed officer of the court must send in the prescribed manner to the court in a reciprocating country having power to confirm the provisional order a certified copy of the provisional order together with a document, authenticated in the prescribed manner, setting out or summarising the evidence given in the proceedings. (5) Where a certified copy of a provisional order made by a court in a reciprocating country, being an order varying or revoking a maintenance order to which this section applies, together with a document, duly authenticated, setting out or summarising the evidence given in the proceedings in which the provisional order was made, is received by the court in Singapore which made the maintenance order, that court may — ( a ) confirm or refuse to confirm the provisional order; and ( b ) if that order is an order varying the maintenance order, confirm it either without alteration or with such alterations as it thinks reasonable. (6) For the purpose of determining whether a provisional order should be confirmed under subsection (5), the court is to proceed as if an application for the variation or revocation (as the case may be) of the maintenance order in question had been made to it. (7) Where a maintenance order to which this section applies has been varied by an order (including a provisional order which has been confirmed) made by a court in Singapore or by a competent court in a reciprocating country, the maintenance order has, as from the date on which under the provisions of the order the variation is to take effect, effect as varied by that order and, where that order was a provisional order, as if that order had been made in the form in which it was confirmed and as if it had never been a provisional order. [2/2012] (8) Where a maintenance order to which this section applies has been revoked by an order made by a court in Singapore or by a competent court in a reciprocating country, including a provisional order made by the last mentioned court which has been confirmed by a court in Singapore, the maintenance order is, as from the date on which under the provisions of the order the revocation is to take effect, deemed to have ceased to have effect except as respects any arrears due under the maintenance order at that date. [2/2012] (9) Where before a maintenance order made by virtue of section 4 is confirmed, a document, duly authenticated, setting out or summarising evidence taken in a reciprocating country for the purpose of proceedings relating to the confirmation of the order is received by the court in Singapore which made the order, or that court, in compliance with a request made to it by a court in such a country, takes the evidence of a person residing in Singapore for the purpose of those proceedings, the court in Singapore which made the order is to consider that evidence and if, having done so, it appears to it that the order ought not to have been made — ( a ) it shall, in such manner as may be prescribed, give to the person on whose application the maintenance order was made an opportunity to consider that evidence, to make representations with respect to it and to adduce further evidence; and ( b ) after considering all the evidence and any representations made by that person, it may revoke the maintenance order.


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s6
chapter: PART 3 - ORDERS MADE BY COURTS IN
section: 6
title: Registration in Singapore court of maintenance order made in reciprocating country
content:
6. —(1) This section applies to a maintenance order made, whether before or after 3 May 1976, by a court in a reciprocating country, including such an order made by such a court which has been confirmed by a court in another reciprocating country but excluding a provisional order which has not been confirmed. (2) Where a certified copy of an order to which this section applies is received by the Minister from the responsible authority in a reciprocating country, and it appears to the Minister that the payer under the order is residing in Singapore, the Minister must send the copy of the order to the prescribed officer of the appropriate court. (3) Where the prescribed officer of the appropriate court receives from the Minister a certified copy of an order to which this section applies, the prescribed officer must, subject to subsection (4), register the order in the prescribed manner in that court. (4) Before registering an order under this section, an officer of a court must take such steps as the officer thinks fit to ascertain whether the payer under the order is residing within the jurisdiction of the court, and if after taking those steps the officer is satisfied that the payer is not so residing, the officer must return the certified copy of the order to the Minister with a statement giving such information as the officer possesses as to the whereabouts of the payer.


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s7
chapter: PART 3 - ORDERS MADE BY COURTS IN
section: 7
title: Confirmation by Singapore court of provisional maintenance order made in reciprocating country
content:
7. —(1) This section applies to a maintenance order made, whether before or after 3 May 1976, by a court in a reciprocating country being a provisional order. (2) Where a certified copy of an order to which this section applies, together with — ( a ) a document, duly authenticated, setting out or summarising the evidence given in the proceedings in which the order was made; and ( b ) a statement of the grounds on which the making of the order might have been opposed by the payer under the order, is received by the Minister from the responsible authority in a reciprocating country, and it appears to the Minister that the payer under the order is residing in Singapore, the Minister must send the copy of the order and documents which accompanied it to the prescribed officer of the appropriate court, and that court is to — ( c ) if the payer under the order establishes any grounds on which the payer might have opposed the making of the order in the proceedings in which the order was made — refuse to confirm the order; and ( d ) in any other case — confirm the order either without alteration or with such alterations as it thinks reasonable. [2/2012] (3) In any proceedings for the confirmation under this section of a provisional order, the statement received from the court which made the order of the grounds on which the making of the order might have been opposed by the payer under the order is conclusive evidence that the payer might have opposed the making of the order on any of those grounds in the proceedings in which the order was made. [2/2012] (4) For the purpose of determining whether a provisional order should be confirmed under this section, the court is to proceed as if an application for a maintenance order against the payer under the provisional order had been made to it. (5) The prescribed officer of a court having power under this section to confirm a provisional order must, if the court confirms the order, register the order in the prescribed manner in that court, and must, if the court refuses to confirm the order, return the certified copy of the order and the documents which accompanied it to the Minister. (6) If a summons to appear in the proceedings for the confirmation of the provisional order cannot be duly served on the payer under that order, the officer by whom the certified copy of the order was received must return that copy and the documents which accompanied it to the Minister with a statement giving such information as the officer possesses as to the whereabouts of the payer.


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s8
chapter: PART 3 - ORDERS MADE BY COURTS IN
section: 8
title: Enforcement of maintenance order registered in Singapore court
content:
8. —(1) A registered order may be enforced in Singapore as if it had been made by the registering court and as if that court had had jurisdiction to make it; and proceedings for or with respect to the enforcement of any such order may be taken accordingly. (2) [ Deleted by Act 18 of 2023 wef 16/01/2025 ] (3) [ Deleted by Act 18 of 2023 wef 16/01/2025 ] (4) Any person for the time being under an obligation to make payments pursuant to a registered order must give notice of any change of address to the clerk of the registering court, and any person failing without reasonable excuse to give such a notice shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $500. (5) The Family Court by which an order is enforceable by virtue of this section, and the officers of that Family Court, are to take all such steps for enforcing the order as may be prescribed. [27/2014] (6) In any proceedings for or with respect to the enforcement of an order which is for the time being registered in any court under this Act, a certificate of arrears sent to the prescribed officer of the court is evidence of the facts stated in the certificate. (7) Subject to subsection (8), sums of money payable under a registered order are payable in accordance with the order as from the date on which the order was made. (8) The court having power under section 7 to confirm a provisional order may, if it decides to confirm the order, direct that the sums of money payable under the order are deemed to have been payable in accordance with the order as from such date (being a date later than the date on which the order was made) as it may specify; and subject to any such direction, a maintenance order registered under that section is to be treated as if it had been made in the form in which it was confirmed and as if it had never been a provisional order.


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s9
chapter: PART 3 - ORDERS MADE BY COURTS IN
section: 9
title: Variation and revocation of maintenance order registered in Singapore court
content:
9. —(1) Subject to this section, the registering court — ( a ) has the like power, on an application made by the payer or payee under a registered order, to vary or revoke the order as if that court had had jurisdiction to make it; and ( b ) has power to vary or revoke a registered order by a provisional order. (2) The registering court is not to vary a registered order otherwise than by a provisional order unless — ( a ) both the payer and the payee under the registered order are for the time being residing in Singapore; ( b ) the application is made by the payee under the registered order; or ( c ) the variation consists of a reduction in the rate of the payments under the registered order and is made solely on the ground that there has been a change in the financial circumstances of the payer since the registered order was made or, in the case of an order registered under section 7, since the registered order was confirmed, and the courts in the reciprocating country in which the maintenance order in question was made do not have power, according to the law in force in that country, to confirm provisional orders varying maintenance orders. (3) The registering court is not to revoke a registered order otherwise than by a provisional order unless both the payer and the payee under the registered order are for the time being residing in Singapore. (4) On an application for the revocation of a registered order, the registering court, unless both the payer and the payee under the registered order are for the time being residing in Singapore, is to apply the law applied by the reciprocating country in which the registered order was made; but where by virtue of this subsection the registering court is required to apply that law, that court may make a provisional order if it has reason to believe that the ground on which the application is made is a ground on which the order could be revoked according to the law applied by the reciprocating country, even though it has not been established that it is such a ground. (5) Where the registering court makes a provisional order varying or revoking a registered order, the prescribed officer of the court must send in the prescribed manner to the court in the reciprocating country which made the registered order a certified copy of the provisional order together with a document, authenticated in the prescribed manner, setting out or summarising the evidence given in the proceedings. (6) Where a certified copy of a provisional order made by a court in a reciprocating country, being an order varying a registered order, together with a document, duly authenticated, setting out or summarising the evidence given in the proceedings in which the provisional order was made, is received by the registering court, that court may confirm the order either without alteration or with such alterations as it thinks reasonable or refuse to confirm the order. (7) For the purpose of determining whether a provisional order should be confirmed under subsection (6), the court is to proceed as if an application for the variation of the registered order had been made to it. (8) Where a registered order has been varied by an order (including a provisional order which has been confirmed) made by a court in Singapore or by a competent court in a reciprocating country, the registered order has, as from the date on which under the provisions of the order the variation is to take effect, effect as varied by that order and, where that order was a provisional order, as if that order had been made in the form in which it was confirmed and as if it had never been a provisional order. [2/2012] (9) Where a registered order has been revoked by an order made by a court in Singapore or by a competent court in a reciprocating country, including a provisional order made by the firstmentioned court which has been confirmed by a competent court in a reciprocating country, the registered order is deemed, as from the date on which under the provisions of the order the revocation is to take effect, to have ceased to have effect except as respects any arrears due under the registered order at that date. [2/2012] (10) The prescribed officer of the registering court must register in the prescribed manner any order varying a registered order other than a provisional order which is not confirmed.


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s10
chapter: PART 3 - ORDERS MADE BY COURTS IN
section: 10
title: Cancellation of registration of order
content:
10. —(1) Where a registered order is revoked by — ( a ) an order made by the registering court; ( b ) a provisional order made by that court which has been confirmed by a court in a reciprocating country and notice of the confirmation is received by the registering court; or ( c ) an order made by a court in such a country and notice of the revocation is received by the registering court, the prescribed officer of the registering court must cancel the registration; but any arrears due under the registered order at the date when its registration is cancelled by virtue of this subsection continue to be recoverable as if the registration had not been cancelled. (2) Where the prescribed officer of the registering court is of the opinion that the payer under a registered order has ceased to reside within the jurisdiction of that court, the prescribed officer must cancel the registration of the order and send the certified copy of the order to the Minister.


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s11
chapter: PART 3 - ORDERS MADE BY COURTS IN
section: 11
title: Steps to be taken by the Minister where payer under certain orders is not residing in Singapore
content:
11. If at any time it appears to the Minister that the payer under a maintenance order, a certified copy of which has been received by the Minister from a reciprocating country, is not residing in Singapore or, in the case of an order which subsequently became a registered order, has ceased to reside in Singapore, the Minister must send to the responsible authority in that country — ( a ) the certified copy of the order in question and a certified copy of any order varying that order; ( b ) if the order has at any time been a registered order, a certificate of arrears signed by the prescribed officer; ( c ) a statement giving such information as the Minister possesses as to the whereabouts of the payer; and ( d ) any other relevant documents in the Minister’s possession relating to the case. [2/2012]


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s12
chapter: PART 4 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
section: 12
title: Appeals
content:
12. —(1) An applicant has the same right of appeal (if any) against a refusal by a court in Singapore to make a provisional order under any provision of this Act as the applicant would have had against a refusal to make the order had a summons been duly served on the person against whom the order is sought to be made. (2) Where pursuant to any such provision any such court confirms or refuses to confirm a provisional order made by a court in a reciprocating country, whether a maintenance order or an order varying or revoking a maintenance order, the payer or payee under the maintenance order has the like right of appeal (if any) from the confirmation of, or refusal to confirm, the provisional order as the payer or payee would have if that order were not a provisional order and the court which confirmed or refused to confirm it had (as the case may be) made or refused to make it. (3) Where pursuant to any such provision any such court makes, or refuses to make, an order varying or revoking a maintenance order made by a court in a reciprocating country, then, subject to subsection (1), the payer or payee under the maintenance order has the like right of appeal (if any) from that order or from the refusal to make it as the payer or payee would have had if the maintenance order had been made by the firstmentioned court. (4) Nothing in this section (except subsection (1)) is to be construed as affecting any right of appeal conferred by any other written law.


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s13
chapter: PART 4 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
section: 13
title: Admissibility of evidence given in reciprocating country
content:
13. —(1) A statement contained in — ( a ) a document, duly authenticated, which purports to set out or summarise evidence given in proceedings in a court in a reciprocating country; ( b ) a document, duly authenticated, which purports to set out or summarise evidence taken in such a country for the purpose of proceedings in a court in Singapore under this Act, whether in response to a request made by such a court or otherwise; or ( c ) a document, duly authenticated, which purports to have been received in evidence in proceedings in a court in such a country or to be a copy of a document so received, is, in any proceedings in a court in Singapore relating to a maintenance order to which this Act applies, admissible as evidence of any fact stated therein to the same extent as oral evidence of that fact is admissible in those proceedings. (2) A document purporting to set out or summarise evidence given as mentioned in subsection (1)( a ), or taken as mentioned in subsection (1)( b ), is deemed to be duly authenticated for the purposes of that subsection if the document purports to be certified by the judge, magistrate or other person before whom the evidence was given or by whom it was taken (as the case may be), to be the original document containing or recording, or summarising (as the case may be), that evidence or a true copy of that document. (3) A document purporting to have been received in evidence as mentioned in subsection (1)( c ), or to be a copy of a document so received, is deemed to be duly authenticated for the purposes of that subsection if the document purports to be certified by a judge, magistrate or an officer of the court in question to have been, or to be a true copy of a document which has been, so received. (4) It is not necessary in any such proceedings to prove the signature or official position of the person appearing to have given such a certificate. (5) Nothing in this section affects the admission in evidence of any document which is admissible in evidence apart from this section.


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s14
chapter: PART 4 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
section: 14
title: Obtaining of evidence needed for purpose of certain proceedings
content:
14. —(1) Where, for the purpose of any proceedings in a court in a reciprocating country relating to a maintenance order to which this Act applies, a request is made by or on behalf of that court for the taking in Singapore of the evidence of a person residing in Singapore relating to matters specified in the request, such court in Singapore as may be prescribed has power to take that evidence and, after giving notice of the time and place at which the evidence is to be taken to such persons and in such manner as it thinks fit, is to take the evidence in such manner as may be prescribed. (2) Evidence taken in compliance with such a request must be sent in the prescribed manner by the prescribed officer of the court to the court in the reciprocating country by or on behalf of which the request was made. (3) Where any person, not being the payer or the payee under the maintenance order to which the proceedings in question relate, is required by virtue of this section to give evidence before a court in Singapore, the court may order that there must be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament such sums as appear to the court reasonably sufficient to compensate that person for the expense, trouble or loss of time properly incurred in or incidental to that person’s attendance. (4) A court in Singapore may, for the purpose of any proceedings in that court under this Act relating to a maintenance order to which this Act applies, request a court in a reciprocating country to take or provide evidence relating to such matters as may be specified in the request and may remit the case to that court for that purpose.


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s15
chapter: PART 4 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
section: 15
title: Order, etc., made abroad need not be proved
content:
15. For the purposes of this Act, unless the contrary is shown — ( a ) any order made by a court in a reciprocating country purporting to bear the seal of that court or to be signed by any person in the person’s capacity as a judge, magistrate or officer of the court, is deemed without further proof to have been duly sealed or signed by that person, as the case may be; ( b ) the person by whom the order was signed is deemed without further proof to have been a judge, magistrate or officer (as the case may be) of that court when the person signed it and, in the case of an officer, to have been authorised to sign it; and ( c ) a document purporting to be a certified copy of an order made by a court in a reciprocating country is deemed without further proof to be such a copy.


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s16
chapter: PART 4 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
section: 16
title: Payment of sums under orders made abroad; conversion of currency
content:
16. —(1) Payments of sums due under a registered order are, while the order is registered in a court in Singapore, to be made in such manner and to such person as may be prescribed. (2) Where the sums required to be paid under a registered order are expressed in a currency other than the currency of Singapore, then, as from the relevant date, the order is to be treated as if it were an order requiring the payment of such sums in the currency of Singapore as, on the basis of the rate of exchange prevailing at that date, are equivalent to the sums so required to be paid. (3) Where the sum specified in any statement (being a statement of the amount of any arrears due under a maintenance order made by a court in a reciprocating country) is expressed in a currency other than the currency of Singapore, that sum is deemed to be such sum in the currency of Singapore as, on the basis of the rate of exchange prevailing at the relevant date, is equivalent to the sum so specified. (4) For the purposes of this section, a written certificate purporting to be signed by an officer of any bank in Singapore certifying that a specified rate of exchange prevailed between currencies at a specified date and that at such rate a specified sum in the currency of Singapore is equivalent to a specified sum in another specified currency is evidence of the rate of exchange so prevailing on that date and of the equivalent sums in terms of the respective currencies. (5) In this section, “the relevant date” means — ( a ) in relation to a registered order or to a statement of arrears due under a maintenance order made by a court in a reciprocating country — the date on which the order first becomes a registered order or (if earlier) the date on which it is confirmed by a court in Singapore; and ( b ) in relation to a registered order which has been varied — the date on which the last order varying that order is registered in a court in Singapore or (if earlier) the date on which the last order varying that order is confirmed by such a court.


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s17
chapter: PART 4 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
section: 17
title: Minister may designate country to be reciprocating country
content:
17. —(1) Where the Minister is satisfied that, in the event of the benefits conferred by this Act being applied to, or to particular classes of, maintenance orders made by the court of any country or territory outside Singapore, similar benefits will in that country or territory be applied to, or to those classes of, maintenance orders made by the courts of Singapore, the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette , designate that country or territory as a reciprocating country for the purposes of this Act, and subject to subsection (2), “reciprocating country” means a country or territory that is for the time being so designated. (2) A country or territory may be designated under subsection (1) as a reciprocating country either as regards maintenance orders generally, or as regards maintenance orders other than those of any specified class, or as regards maintenance orders of one or more specified classes only; and a country or territory which is for the time being so designated otherwise than as regards maintenance orders generally is, for the purposes of this Act, taken to be a reciprocating country only as regards maintenance orders of the class to which the designation extends.


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s18
chapter: PART 4 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
section: 18
title: Family Justice Rules
content:
18. —(1) The Family Justice Rules Committee constituted under section 46(1) of the Family Justice Act 2014 may make Family Justice Rules to regulate and prescribe the procedure and practice to be followed in proceedings under this Act and any matters incidental to or relating to any such procedure or practice. [16/2016] (2) Without limiting subsection (1), Family Justice Rules may be made to prescribe — ( a ) the manner in which any application under this Act is to be made; and ( b ) the fees payable in relation to proceedings under this Act. [16/2016] (3) The Family Justice Rules may, instead of providing for any matter, refer to any provision made or to be made about that matter by practice directions issued for the time being by the registrar of the Family Justice Courts. [16/2016] (4) All Family Justice Rules made under this section must be presented to Parliament as soon as possible after publication in the Gazette . [16/2016]


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s18A
chapter: PART 4 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
section: 18A
title: Regulations
content:
18A. —(1) The Minister may make regulations for giving effect to the provisions and purposes of this Act and for the due administration of this Act. [16/2016] (2) The powers conferred by this section do not extend to any matter for which the Family Justice Rules mentioned in section 18 may be made. [16/2016]


document_id: morea-1975
provision_ref: s19
chapter: PART 4 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
section: 19
title: Transitional provisions
content:
19. Where the Minister proposes by a notification in the Gazette under section 17 to designate as a reciprocating country a country or territory to which at the commencement of that section the Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act (Cap. 168, 1985 Revised Edition) (called in this section the repealed Act) extended, that notification may contain such provisions as the Minister considers expedient for the purposes of securing — ( a ) that the provisions of this Act applied, subject to such modifications as may be specified in the notification, to maintenance orders, or maintenance orders of a specified class — (i) made by a court in Singapore against a person residing in that country or territory; or (ii) made by a court in that country or territory against a person residing in Singapore, being orders to which immediately before the date of the commencement of the notification the repealed Act applied; ( b ) that any maintenance order, or maintenance order of a specified class, made by a court in that country or territory which has been confirmed by a court in Singapore under section 6 of the repealed Act and is in force immediately before that date is registered under section 7 of this Act; and ( c ) that any proceedings brought under or by virtue of a provision under the repealed Act in a court in Singapore which are pending at that date, being proceedings affecting a person resident in that country or territory, are continued as if they had been brought under or by virtue of the corresponding provision of this Act.


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s2
section: 2
title: Interpretation
content:
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires — “applicant” includes a person in whose favour a maintenance order has been made under this Act; “approved person or organisation” means a person or an organisation that the Minister has approved in writing for the purposes of this Act; “child”, for a person, includes an illegitimate child, an adopted child or a stepchild of the person; [Act 19 of 2025 wef 05/12/2025] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] “Commissioner” means the Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents appointed under section 12(1) and includes a Deputy Commissioner and an Assistant Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents; “conciliation officer” means — ( a ) where the Commissioner conducts any conciliation under this Act — the Commissioner; or ( b ) any person designated by the Commissioner to conduct any conciliation under this Act; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] “destitute person” means a destitute person, as defined in section 2(1) of the Destitute Persons Act 1989, who is admitted, or temporarily admitted, into a welfare home under that Act; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] “mediator” means any person appointed as a mediator under section 13(12); [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] “protector” has the meaning given by section 2(1) of the Vulnerable Adults Act 2018; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] “record or purported record of abandonment, abuse or neglect”, for a person, means any record against or relating to the person that is prescribed to be a record or purported record of the person’s abandonment, abuse or neglect of a child of the person; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] “respondent” includes a person against whom a maintenance order has been made under this Act; “Tribunal” means the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents established under section 13; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] “vulnerable adult” has the meaning given by section 2(1) of the Vulnerable Adults Act 2018; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] “welfare home” has the meaning given by section 2(1) of the Destitute Persons Act 1989. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s3
section: 3
title: Applications for maintenance orders
content:
3. —(1) Subject to section 3B(1), any person domiciled and resident in Singapore who is of or above 60 years of age and who is unable to maintain himself or herself adequately (called in this section the parent) may apply to the Tribunal for an order that one or more of the person’s children pay him or her a monthly allowance or any other periodical payment or a lump sum for his or her maintenance. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (2) Subject to section 3B(1), an approved person or organisation in whose care a parent resides may apply to the Tribunal for an order that one or more of the parent’s children pay the approved person or organisation a monthly allowance or any other periodical payment or a lump sum for the purpose of defraying the costs and expenses of maintaining the parent. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (3) Any person (except the Commissioner) who wishes to make an application under this section, whether on the person’s own behalf or on behalf of a parent, in respect of any claim for which no application had previously been made under this section must, before making the application, refer the claim to the Commissioner for the purposes of section 12(5). [37/2010] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (4) Where the parent ceases to be in the care of the approved person or organisation, any part of the monthly allowance, other periodical payment or lump sum remaining, after deducting the reasonable costs and expenses of maintaining the parent, must be held in trust for the parent. (5) For the purposes of this section, a parent is unable to maintain himself or herself if the parent’s total or expected income and other financial resources are inadequate to provide the parent with basic amenities and basic physical needs including (but not limited to) shelter, food, medical costs and clothing. [37/2010] (6) Even though a person is below the minimum age specified in subsection (1), this Act applies to that person if the Tribunal is satisfied that the person is suffering from infirmity of mind or body which prevents the person from maintaining or makes it difficult for the person to maintain himself or herself or that there is any other special reason. (7) The president or a deputy president of the Tribunal may dismiss any application made under this section, if he or she is of the opinion that the application is frivolous or vexatious, or if the applicant has failed to comply with subsection (3) or section 3A or 3B, and give the reasons for the dismissal. [37/2010] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (8) An applicant who is aggrieved by any decision made under subsection (7) may, within 14 days of the decision, appeal in writing to the Tribunal. [37/2010] (9) The president or deputy president (as the case may be) who made the decision under subsection (7) that is under appeal must not participate in the proceedings or determination of the appeal. [37/2010] (10) The president or a deputy president of the Tribunal may dismiss an application under subsection (7), and the Tribunal may determine an appeal made under subsection (8), without informing or involving the respondent. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s3AA
section: 3AA
title: Child below 21 years of age
content:
3AA. —(1) A child who is below 21 years of age is not liable to maintain the child’s parent. (2) If a child is below 21 years of age — ( a ) a claim must not be referred to the Commissioner under section 3(3) against the child; and ( b ) the child must not be named or joined as a respondent in any proceedings under this Act. (3) Nothing in subsection (1) or (2) affects the application or operation of regulation 10(1) of the Maintenance of Parents (Amendment) Act 2023 (Saving and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2024 (G.N. No. S 563/2024). [Act 19 of 2025 wef 05/12/2025]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s3A
section: 3A
title:
Claim under section 3(3) — declaration about record or purported record of abandonment, abuse or neglect of child

content:
3A. —(1) When a claim is referred to the Commissioner under section 3(3) for the maintenance of a parent by any child of the parent, the claim must be accompanied by a declaration, in the form and manner that the Commissioner specifies, from the appropriate person mentioned in subsection (2) stating (to the best of the appropriate person’s knowledge and belief) whether the parent has any record or purported record of abandonment, abuse or neglect of the child. (2) For the purpose of subsection (1), the appropriate person is — ( a ) for a claim referred (in respect of an application to be made under section 3(1)) by the parent — the parent; ( b ) for a claim referred (in respect of an application to be made under section 3(1)) on behalf of the parent — (i) where the claim is referred by any person mentioned in section 11(1) (other than the Director-General of Social Welfare or a protector) — (A) in the case where the parent is unable to refer the claim by reason of mental infirmity — the person who refers the claim on behalf of the parent; or (B) in any other case — the parent; or (ii) where the claim is referred by the Director-General of Social Welfare or a protector — the Director-General of Social Welfare or the protector, as the case may be; or ( c ) for a claim referred (in respect of an application to be made under section 3(2)) by an approved person or organisation mentioned in that provision — the approved person or organisation. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s3B
section: 3B
title:
Record or purported record of abandonment, abuse or neglect of child — permission required for application under section 3

content:
3B. —(1) Any person who intends to make an application under section 3 for the maintenance of a parent by a child of the parent (called in this section the intended application) must first obtain permission under this section to make the intended application if — ( a ) the declaration made under section 3A in respect of the parent states that the parent has a record or purported record of abandonment, abuse or neglect of the child; ( b ) the Commissioner notifies the person (or where the Commissioner is the person, the Commissioner ascertains) that the parent has a record or purported record of abandonment, abuse or neglect of the child; or ( c ) a conciliation officer discontinues under section 12A(2) any conciliation in respect of the child’s maintenance of the parent. (2) The application for permission must be made to the Tribunal and must be dealt with and disposed of under this section without informing or involving the child, except where — ( a ) the child was involved in any conciliation (for the maintenance of the parent) that is discontinued under section 12A(2); and ( b ) the child informs the conciliation officer or the Commissioner that the child wishes, or is willing, to participate in the proceedings on the application for permission. (3) After the application for permission is made to the Tribunal, the president or a deputy president of the Tribunal may — ( a ) grant permission for the intended application to be made; or ( b ) refer the application to the Tribunal for decision. (4) If the application is referred to the Tribunal under subsection (3)( b ), the Tribunal may grant permission for the intended application to be made or refuse such permission. (5) The members of the Tribunal required to form a quorum under section 13(5) (for the hearing and determination of the application for permission) may include the president or deputy president of the Tribunal who referred the application to the Tribunal under subsection (3)( b ). (6) Subject to subsection (2), section 14 applies to the Tribunal’s hearing and determination of the application for permission. (7) Permission may be granted under this section for the intended application to be made if there is a good arguable case that — ( a ) the parent did not abandon, abuse or neglect the child; or ( b ) the child should maintain the parent on just and equitable grounds. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s4
section: 4
title: Joinder of respondents
content:
4. A respondent may serve notice in the prescribed form on other persons liable to maintain the respondent’s parent, joining them as respondents in the action. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s5
section: 5
title: Maintenance orders
content:
5. —(1) The Tribunal may make a maintenance order against a respondent in respect of the respondent’s parent if it considers that it is just and equitable that the respondent should maintain the parent and that — ( a ) the respondent is able to provide maintenance to the parent after the respondent’s own requirements and those of his or her spouse and his or her children have been supplied; and ( b ) the parent is unable, in spite of efforts on his or her part, to maintain himself or herself through work or from his or her property or from any other source. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (2) When ordering maintenance, the Tribunal must have regard to all the circumstances of the case including (but not limited to) the following matters: ( a ) the financial needs of the parent, taking into account reasonable expenses for housing and medical costs; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( b ) the income, earning capacity, property and other financial resources of the parent, and the manner in which the parent has spent his or her savings or dissipated his or her financial resources; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( c ) any physical or mental disability of the parent; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( d ) the income, earning capacity, property and other financial resources of the respondent; ( e ) the expenses incurred by the respondent in supporting his or her spouse or children; ( f ) the contributions and provisions, whether financial or otherwise, which the respondent has made for the maintenance of the parent. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (3) Without prejudice to the Tribunal’s powers under the Act, the president or a deputy president of the Tribunal may, with the consent of the applicant and the respondent, make a maintenance order reflecting the terms of any agreement reached between the parties in respect of a claim, and the order is deemed to be a maintenance order made by the Tribunal under this Act and enforceable in accordance with its terms. [37/2010] (4) If the Tribunal is satisfied upon due proof that the parent abandoned, abused or neglected the respondent, it may dismiss the application or may reduce the quantum of maintenance ordered by an amount determined by the Tribunal to be just. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (5) The onus of proving abandonment, abuse or neglect is on the respondent alleging it. (6) Where there is more than one respondent, the Tribunal may apportion the maintenance among the various respondents in a manner determined by the Tribunal to be just. (7) The Tribunal must, before hearing an application under this section, refer the differences between the parties to a mediator for mediation between the parties. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s6
section: 6
title: Power of Tribunal to order security for maintenance, give directions, etc.
content:
6. —(1) A maintenance order made against a respondent in respect of the respondent’s parent may provide for the payment of a lump sum, or a monthly allowance or periodical payment for a period determined by the Tribunal. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (2) The Tribunal may, in its discretion, when awarding maintenance, order the respondent to secure the whole or any part of the maintenance by vesting any property in trustees upon trust to pay the whole or any part of the maintenance out of the income from that property. (3) The Tribunal may, in awarding maintenance, order the applicant to — ( a ) deposit with a bank a minimum sum determined by the Tribunal; or ( b ) purchase an annuity with an insurer with the minimum sum. (4) The Tribunal may, in awarding maintenance, give directions as to the manner or method of payment. (5) The Tribunal may, in awarding maintenance, also give directions for all or any of the purposes specified in subsection (6), if the Tribunal is of the opinion that this would — ( a ) reduce the need for the respondent to apply for a variation or rescission of the maintenance order; or ( b ) otherwise promote the respondent’s compliance with the maintenance order. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (6) The purposes mentioned in subsection (5) are — ( a ) the exercise of financial responsibility by the parent or the respondent; ( b ) the management or resolution of conflicts (whether actual or potential) between — (i) the parent (or the applicant) and the respondent; or (ii) where there is more than one respondent — the respondents; and ( c ) any other purpose that may be prescribed. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (7) The management or resolution of conflicts mentioned in subsection (6)( b ) includes, without limiting that provision, matters relating to — ( a ) the respondent’s access to the parent; and ( b ) the shielding of the respondent (or any of the respondent’s immediate family members) from any act by the parent (or the applicant), or another respondent, that may cause or is likely to cause the firstmentioned respondent (or his or her immediate family member) physical injury or suffering or emotional harm. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (8) The Tribunal may, in awarding maintenance, order that the payment of the maintenance (or any part of the maintenance) is subject to compliance by the parent (or the applicant) with any direction given by the Tribunal under subsection (5), and may make any other order necessary for, or incidental to, the proper carrying into effect of the firstmentioned order. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (9) Where the applicant is the parent, a reference to the applicant in subsection (6)( b )(i), (7)( b ) or (8) includes a reference to a related person. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (10) In this section — “immediate family member”, for a respondent, means — ( a ) the respondent’s spouse, child or parent (including a step-parent); or ( b ) any other family member of the respondent who resides with the respondent; “related person”, for an applicant, means — ( a ) a person mentioned in section 11 who made the application for maintenance on behalf of the applicant; or ( b ) a person in whose care the applicant resides. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s7
section: 7
title: Duration of maintenance orders
content:
7. —(1) Except where a maintenance order is expressed to be for any shorter period or where a maintenance order has been rescinded, a maintenance order made against a respondent in respect of the respondent’s parent expires — ( a ) if the maintenance was unsecured — on the death of the parent or the respondent, whichever is the earlier; or [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( b ) if the maintenance was secured — on the death of the parent. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (2) Where a maintenance order was made against more than one respondent, the death of a respondent does not affect the liability of the others to continue paying maintenance to the applicant. (3) The applicant may apply to the Tribunal to re-apportion the liability among the surviving respondents on the death of a respondent.


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s8
section: 8
title: Variation or rescission of maintenance orders, directions, etc.
content:
8. —(1) The Tribunal may vary or rescind any subsisting maintenance order (whether secured or unsecured), in respect of a parent, or any direction given under section 6(5) or order made under section 6(8) — ( a ) where it is satisfied that the order or direction (as the case may be) was based on any misrepresentation or mistake of fact; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( aa ) without limiting paragraph ( a ), where the parent has a record or purported record of abandonment, abuse or neglect of the respondent but this was not considered by or made available to the Tribunal at the time of making of the maintenance order; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( b ) where there has been any material change in the circumstances of the parent or respondents; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( c ) where another person is joined as a respondent; or ( d ) for other good cause shown to the satisfaction of the Tribunal. [37/2010] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (2) An application for variation or rescission of a maintenance order, a direction given under section 6(5) or an order made under section 6(8), may be made by — ( a ) the applicant; ( b ) a respondent; ( c ) the Commissioner; or [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( d ) [ Deleted by Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024 ] ( e ) in respect of secured maintenance, the legal personal representatives of a respondent. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (2A) The Tribunal may — ( a ) in an application made under subsection (2) for variation or rescission of a maintenance order — in addition to or instead of varying, or instead of rescinding, the maintenance order, give directions for all or any of the purposes specified in section 6(6), if the Tribunal is of the opinion mentioned in section 6(5)( a ) or ( b ); ( b ) in an application made under subsection (2) for variation or rescission of a direction given under section 6(5) — in addition to or instead of varying, or instead of rescinding, the direction, give other or further directions for all or any of the purposes specified in section 6(6), if the Tribunal is of the opinion mentioned in section 6(5)( a ) or ( b ); or ( c ) in any application made under subsection (2) — (i) order that the payment of the maintenance (or any part of the maintenance) is subject to compliance by a person mentioned in section 6(8) with any direction given under section 6(5); or (ii) make any order necessary for, or incidental to, the proper carrying into effect of an order made under section 6(8). [Act 19 of 2025 wef 05/12/2025] (2B) In subsections (1), (2) and (2A) — ( a ) a reference to a direction given under section 6(5) includes a reference to a direction given under subsection (2A)( a ) or ( b ); and ( b ) a reference to an order made under section 6(8) includes a reference to an order made under subsection (2A)( c )(i) or (ii). [Act 19 of 2025 wef 05/12/2025] (3) Where a maintenance order was made against more than one respondent or another respondent is joined, the Tribunal may re‑apportion the maintenance in a manner that it considers just upon an application to vary the maintenance order. (4) The Tribunal may, before hearing an application under this section and where it considers it necessary or desirable to do so, refer the differences between the parties to a mediator for mediation. [37/2010] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (5) The president or a deputy president of the Tribunal may dismiss any application made under subsection (2) if he or she is of the opinion that the application is frivolous or vexatious, and give the reasons for the dismissal. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (6) Any person who is aggrieved by a decision made under subsection (5) may, within 14 days after the decision, appeal in writing to the Tribunal. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (7) The president or deputy president of the Tribunal (as the case may be) who made the decision under subsection (5) that is under appeal must not participate in the proceedings or determination of the appeal. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (8) The president or a deputy president of the Tribunal may dismiss an application under subsection (5), and the Tribunal may determine an appeal made under subsection (6), without informing or involving the respondent. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (9) To avoid doubt, a reference to a maintenance order in this section includes a reference to a maintenance order made under section 5(3) with the consent of the applicant and respondent. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s9
section: 9
title: Maintenance payable under order of Tribunal to be inalienable
content:
9. Maintenance payable to any person under this Act is not assignable or transferable or liable to be attached, sequestered or levied upon for, or in respect of, any debt or claim.


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s10
section: 10
title: Enforcement of maintenance orders
content:
10. —(1) Maintenance orders made under this Act are deemed to be orders made by a Family Court and may be enforced in the same manner as maintenance orders for wives and children are enforced under the Women’s Charter 1961, and the provisions of that Act apply, with the necessary modifications, to the enforcement of orders made under this Act. [27/2014] (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Family Court may adopt any measures that it deems relevant or appropriate for the enforcement of maintenance orders made under this Act. [37/2010; 27/2014]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s11
section: 11
title: Applications on behalf of incapacitated parents
content:
11. —(1) Where a parent is unable to make an application under this Act (whether by reason of physical or mental infirmity or for any other reason), the application may be made on the parent’s behalf by — ( a ) any family member of the parent; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( b ) any person in whose care the parent resides; or [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( c ) any other person whom the parent has authorised to make the application. [27/2018] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (2) Without affecting subsection (1), if the parent is a vulnerable adult in respect of whom — ( a ) there is an order made by a court under section 14 or 15 of the Vulnerable Adults Act 2018; or ( b ) the Director‑General of Social Welfare or a protector has exercised any power under Division 1 or 2 of Part 2 of that Act, the application may be made on the parent’s behalf by the Director‑General of Social Welfare or a protector. [27/2018; 30/2019] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (3) [ Deleted by Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024 ]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s12
section: 12
title: Appointment of and applications by Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents
content:
12. —(1) The Minister may appoint — ( a ) a Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents; and ( b ) any number of Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners for the Maintenance of Parents that the Minister may consider necessary, on the terms and conditions determined by the Minister. (2) The Commissioner may make an application under this Act on behalf of a parent of or above 60 years of age (whether or not the parent is able to do so) or represent the parent in any proceedings or appeal under this Act. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (3) [ Deleted by Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024 ] (4) Even though a parent is below the minimum age specified in subsection (2), the Commissioner may make an application on the parent’s behalf or represent the parent if the Commissioner is satisfied that the parent is suffering from infirmity of mind or body which prevents the parent from maintaining or makes it difficult for the parent to maintain himself or herself or if there is any other special reason. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (5) Subject to section 12A, where a claim in respect of a parent is referred to the Commissioner under section 3(3), or before the Commissioner makes an application under section 3(1) on behalf of the parent, the Commissioner may do all or any of the following: ( a ) refer the parent to any relevant Government or other agency for assistance; ( b ) refer the differences between the parent (or, where the claim is referred by an approved person or organisation, the approved person or organisation) and the parent’s children for conciliation; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( c ) take any other measure that the Commissioner thinks fit. [37/2010] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (6) If a claim has not been settled after referral to the relevant Government or other agency or for conciliation or any other measure taken under subsection (5), an application may be made to the Tribunal under section 3. [37/2010] (7) The Commissioner may, by written notice, require any person to appear at any reasonable time and at any convenient place for the purposes of conciliation under subsection (5)( b ). [37/2010] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (7A) If a person does not attend any session of conciliation for a claim as required under subsection (7), the Tribunal may (when determining an application made under section 3 in respect of the claim) take that into account in deciding whether to — ( a ) give a direction under section 6(5); or ( b ) order costs under section 20(1)( a ). [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (8) The Commissioner may generally do all things incidental to or consequential upon the discharge of his or her functions or the exercise of his or her powers under this Act. [37/2010]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s12A
section: 12A
content:
12A. —(1) The Commissioner must not refer any matter (in respect of the maintenance of a parent by any child of the parent) for conciliation under section 12(5)( b ) if — ( a ) the declaration made under section 3A in respect of the parent states that the parent has a record or purported record of abandonment, abuse or neglect of the child; or ( b ) the Commissioner ascertains that the parent has a record or purported record of abandonment, abuse or neglect of the child, unless permission is granted under section 3B for an application to be made under section 3 against the child for the maintenance of the parent. (2) A conciliation officer conducting any conciliation mentioned in section 12(5)( b ) (in respect of the maintenance of a parent by any child of the parent) must discontinue the conciliation if the conciliation officer ascertains (whether from the child or otherwise) that the parent has a record or purported record of abandonment, abuse or neglect of the child. (3) Subsection (2) does not apply if, before the conciliation mentioned in that subsection commences, permission is granted under section 3B for an application to be made under section 3 against the child for the maintenance of the parent. (4) If permission is granted under section 3B for an application to be made under section 3 in a matter, the Commissioner may — ( a ) in the case mentioned in subsection (1) — refer the matter for conciliation under section 12(5)( b ); or ( b ) in the case mentioned in subsection (2) — (i) require the conciliation officer mentioned in that subsection to continue with conciliation; or (ii) refer the matter for conciliation again under section 12(5)( b ). [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s12B
section: 12B
title: Conciliation for destitute person
content:
12B. —(1) This section applies when a destitute person is brought to the attention of the Commissioner, but a claim for the maintenance of the destitute person is not referred to the Commissioner under section 3(3). (2) The Commissioner may invite a child of the destitute person, the destitute person and any other relevant person for conciliation, and make the necessary arrangements for, or facilitate, the conciliation, for the purpose of an agreement being reached with the child as regards the maintenance of the destitute person if — ( a ) the Commissioner reasonably believes that the child is able to provide maintenance for the destitute person; ( b ) the Commissioner ascertains that the destitute person does not have any record or purported record of abandonment, abuse or neglect of the child; and ( c ) the destitute person — (i) meets the criteria mentioned in section 3(1); or (ii) is below 60 years of age but meets the other criteria mentioned in section 3(1) and the Commissioner is satisfied that — (A) the destitute person is suffering from infirmity of mind or body which prevents the destitute person from maintaining, or makes it difficult for the destitute person to maintain, himself or herself; or (B) there exists any other special reason for the conciliation. (3) If a person does not attend any session of conciliation mentioned in subsection (2) in respect of a destitute person, the Tribunal may (when determining an application made under section 3 in respect of the destitute person) take that into account in deciding whether to — ( a ) give a direction under section 6(5); or ( b ) order costs under section 20(1)( a ). [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s12C
section: 12C
title: Conduct of conciliation or mediation
content:
12C. —(1) Every conciliation and every mediation under this Act must be conducted in private. (2) Subject to subsection (3), no party to any conciliation or mediation conducted under this Act may be represented in the conciliation or mediation (as the case may be) by an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court. (3) The Commissioner may, despite being an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court, represent a parent in any conciliation or mediation conducted under this Act. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s13
section: 13
title: Establishment of Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents
content:
13. —(1) For the purposes of this Act, there is established a Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents consisting of a president, up to 4 deputy presidents, and such number of members (not being less than 2), as the Minister may think fit. [37/2010] (2) The president, every deputy president and every member of the Tribunal is to be appointed by the Minister and upon appointment the names of the president, every deputy president and every member of the Tribunal must be published in the Gazette . [37/2010] (3) The president and every deputy president of the Tribunal must possess the qualifications required for a District Judge under section 9(3) of the State Courts Act 1970 or be a District Judge appointed under section 9(1) of that Act. [37/2010; 5/2014] (4) A deputy president of the Tribunal has and may exercise and perform all the powers, duties and functions of the president of the Tribunal conferred by this Act, subject to any limitation imposed by the president. [37/2010] (5) Three members of the Tribunal, one of whom must be the president or a deputy president, form a quorum, and the opinion of the majority of the Tribunal present is decisive upon any matter, except that in the case of an equality the president or a deputy president is to decide which opinion prevails. [37/2010] (6) The president, every deputy president and every member of the Tribunal holds office for a period of 3 years or for a shorter period determined by the Minister and is eligible for re‑appointment. [37/2010] (7) The president, a deputy president or a member of the Tribunal must vacate his or her office where — ( a ) he or she resigns; or ( b ) the Minister has revoked his or her appointment on the ground of his or her unfitness to continue in office or incapacity to perform the duties of the office. [37/2010] (8) Where a person ceases to be the president, a deputy president or a member of the Tribunal, the Minister must (as soon as is reasonably practicable) take steps to fill the vacancy, but the existence of any vacancy in the Tribunal does not invalidate the acts of the Tribunal. [37/2010] (9) If the president, a deputy president or any member of the Tribunal is for the time being unable to perform the duties of his or her office, either generally or in relation to any particular proceedings, the Minister may appoint another person to discharge the duties of the president, a deputy president or that member for any period, not exceeding 6 months at one time, or (as the case may be) in relation to those proceedings; and a person so appointed has, during that period or in relation to those proceedings, the same powers as the person in whose place he or she is appointed. [37/2010] (10) The president, every deputy president and every member of the Tribunal is deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of the Penal Code 1871 and the proceedings of the Tribunal are deemed to be judicial proceedings. [37/2010] (11) The president, every deputy president and the members of the Tribunal are to be paid the salaries, fees and allowances determined by the Minister. [37/2010] (12) The Minister may appoint a Secretary to the Tribunal, mediators and any other officers and employees of the Tribunal that may be necessary. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (13) The exercise of the powers of the Tribunal is not affected by any vacancy in the membership of the Tribunal if a quorum is present at the commencement of the proceedings.


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s14
section: 14
title: Tribunal to hear and determine applications
content:
14. —(1) The Tribunal has jurisdiction to hear and determine in accordance with this Act all applications made under this Act. (2) Sittings of the Tribunal are to be held at such places and times as determined by the president of the Tribunal. (3) Any interested party may be represented before the Tribunal — ( a ) by an agent acting without fee, gain, reward or any expectation thereof, in any case in which the Tribunal may at the party’s request and for good reason permit; ( b ) if the party is the parent (as applicant), by the Commissioner; or [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( c ) if the party is an approved person or organisation, by an employee or officer of the approved person or organisation. (4) No party to any proceedings before the Tribunal may be represented by an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court except that the Commissioner may represent the applicant before the Tribunal although he or she may be an advocate and solicitor. (5) Every summons and notice issued under the hand of the Secretary to the Tribunal to any person is deemed to be issued by the Tribunal and may be served on that person — ( a ) by delivering the summons or notice to the person or to some adult member of his or her family at his or her last known place of residence; ( b ) by leaving the summons or notice at his or her usual or last known place of residence or business in an envelope addressed to the person; ( c ) by sending the summons or notice by registered post addressed to the person at his or her usual or last known place of residence or business; or ( d ) where the person is a body of persons or a company — (i) by delivering the summons or notice to the secretary or other like officer of the body of persons or company at its registered office or principal place of business; or (ii) by sending the summons or notice by registered post addressed to the body of persons or company at its registered office or principal place of business. (6) Any summons or notice sent by registered post to any person in accordance with subsection (5) is deemed to be duly served on the person to whom the letter is addressed at the time when the letter would in the ordinary course of post be delivered, and in proving service of the summons or notice, it is sufficient to prove that the envelope containing the summons or notice was properly addressed, stamped and posted by registered post. (7) The Tribunal has the following powers: ( a ) to dismiss a frivolous or vexatious application at a preliminary stage on the basis of affidavits or other documentary evidence, and without informing or involving the respondent; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( b ) to summon any person to appear before a mediator for the purpose of mediation; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( c ) to summon any person whom it considers able to give evidence to attend at the hearing of an application; ( d ) to examine such person as a witness either on oath or otherwise, and to require the person to produce any records, documents or articles that the Tribunal thinks necessary for the purposes of the proceedings; ( e ) to allow any person attending the proceedings to be paid any reasonable expenses necessarily incurred by the person in so attending by a party determined by the Tribunal; ( f ) to make an order by consent of the parties; ( g ) all the powers of a Family Court with regard to the enforcement of attendance of witnesses and hearing evidence on oath. [37/2010; 27/2014] (8) Every person examined as a witness by or before the Tribunal, whether on oath or otherwise, is legally bound to state the truth and to produce the records, documents or articles that the Tribunal may require. (9) The Tribunal is not bound by the strict rules of evidence and may determine the conduct of its proceedings. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s14A
section: 14A
title: Information required by Tribunal or Commissioner
content:
14A. —(1) Subject to subsection (1A), the Tribunal or the Commissioner may, in discharging their respective functions under this Act, obtain any information, record, document or article from a prescribed officer, as the Tribunal or the Commissioner (as the case may be) may consider necessary or desirable for the purposes set out in subsection (2). [37/2010] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (1A) Where any court order or written law prohibits the publication of any information (or the doing of any other act) that is likely to lead to the identification of a person — ( a ) the Tribunal or the Commissioner may, despite that court order or written law, obtain from a prescribed officer under subsection (1) any information, record, document or article that identifies (or is likely to lead to the identification of) that person, but only for the purpose mentioned in subsection (2)( aa ); and ( b ) the prescribed officer, in providing that information, record, document or article to the Tribunal or the Commissioner (as the case may be), does not contravene that court order or written law if that information, record, document or article is provided only for that purpose. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (2) Subject to subsection (1A), any information, record, document or article obtained under subsection (1) may be used by the Tribunal or the Commissioner (as the case may be) for any of the following purposes: ( a ) identifying and locating the children of the parent; ( aa ) ascertaining whether the parent has any record or purported record of abandonment, abuse or neglect of a child of the parent; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( b ) assessing the veracity of or supplementing the information provided by the parent, applicant, respondent or children of the parent; ( c ) assessing the ability of the parent to maintain himself or herself, and each of the children of the parent to maintain the parent, including but not limited to their respective incomes, earning capacity, property and other financial resources, expenses and liabilities. [37/2010] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (3) Each member of the Tribunal and the Commissioner must, in respect of any information, record, document or article obtained under subsection (1) and which has been disclosed to him or her — ( a ) take reasonable steps to ensure that the information, record, document or article is kept confidential to the Tribunal or the Commissioner, as the case may be; ( b ) not use the information, record, document or article except — (i) in the case where subsection (1A) applies — for the purpose mentioned in subsection (2)( aa ); or (ii) in any other case — for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2); [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( c ) subject to subsection (4), disclose the information, record, document or article only — (i) as between the Commissioner and the Tribunal and any officer of the Tribunal, or any person acting for or under the direction of the Tribunal, for the purposes stated in subsection (2); (i a ) where permission is required under this Act for the filing of an application under section 3 in respect of the parent to whom the information, record, document or article relates — (A) to the parent, or any person mentioned in section 11 who intends to make the application on the parent’s behalf; or (B) to an approved person or organisation mentioned in section 3(2) who intends to make the application; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (ii) with the written permission of the prescribed officer who provided the information, record, document or article, or the public authority that the prescribed officer is a public officer of at the time the information, record, document or article is provided, to the Tribunal or the Commissioner, as the case may be; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (iii) when required to do so by any court or under any written law; or (iv) for the purposes of any criminal proceedings or for any other purpose the disclosure of which is required or authorised by or under any written law. [37/2010] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (4) Subject to subsection (5), a member of the Tribunal or the Commissioner must not disclose any information, record, document or article mentioned in subsection (1A), or any part of it, except — ( a ) only to — (i) a person mentioned in subsection (3)( c )(i); (ii) where permission is required under this Act for the filing of an application under section 3 in respect of a parent to whom that information, record, document or article relates — (A) the parent, or any person mentioned in section 11 who intends to make the application on the parent’s behalf; or (B) an approved person or organisation mentioned in section 3(2) who intends to make the application; or (iii) where required by a court mentioned in section 16, 17 or 18 — that court; and ( b ) only to the extent necessary to show that a parent has a record or purported record of abandonment, abuse or neglect of a child of the parent and the date of the record. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (5) Before disclosing any information, record, document or article, or any part of it, to a person (called in this subsection the recipient) under subsection (4), the member of the Tribunal or the Commissioner (as the case may be) must inform the recipient — ( a ) that the information, record, document or article is subject to a court order or written law (as the case may be) that prohibits the publication of any information (or the doing of any other act) that is likely to lead to the identification of a person mentioned in that court order or written law; and ( b ) where the recipient is a person mentioned in subsection (4)( a )(i) or (ii) — that the recipient must not disclose the information, record, document or article, or any part of it, or do any other act, in contravention of that court order or written law. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (6) Any member of the Tribunal or the Commissioner who discloses any information, record, document or article mentioned in subsection (1A), or any part of it, does not contravene the court order or written law mentioned in subsection (1A) if the disclosure is made in accordance with subsection (4). [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (7) In this section — “prescribed officer” means — ( a ) any officer of a public authority; or ( b ) any person performing or discharging a public function under a public Act, who is specified by the Minister, by notification in the Gazette , to be a prescribed officer; “public authority” means any of the following that is specified by the Minister, by notification in the Gazette , to be a public authority: ( a ) a ministry or department of the Government; ( b ) an organ of State; ( c ) a body that is established or constituted by or under a public Act to perform or discharge a public function. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s15
section: 15
title: Contempt of Tribunal
content:
15. —(1) Any person who — ( a ) assaults, wilfully insults or obstructs the president, a deputy president, a member or an officer of the Tribunal or any witness during a sitting of the Tribunal or while the president, deputy president, member, officer or witness is on his or her way to or from the sitting; ( b ) assaults or wilfully insults or obstructs any person in attendance at a sitting of the Tribunal; ( c ) wilfully interrupts or otherwise misbehaves at a sitting of the Tribunal; or ( d ) without lawful excuse disobeys any order or direction of the Tribunal during a sitting of the Tribunal, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months. [37/2010] (2) A Tribunal may by oral order exclude from a sitting of the Tribunal any person whose behaviour in the opinion of the president constitutes an offence under subsection (1) whether or not the person is charged with the offence, and the member or officer under the president’s control or any police officer may take any step that is reasonably necessary to enforce the exclusion.


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s16
section: 16
title: Power of Tribunal to state special case for decision of General Division of High Court
content:
16. —(1) The Tribunal may, at any stage of any application or proceeding before it, reserve for the consideration of the General Division of the High Court any question of law arising in the application or proceeding in the form of a special case which must be — ( a ) drawn up by the president and must set out briefly the facts on which the law is to be applied and the question or questions of law to be determined; ( b ) sent by the president to the registrar of the Family Justice Courts; and ( c ) set down for argument in the manner directed by the General Division of the High Court. [27/2014; 40/2019] (2) The General Division of the High Court is to hear and determine the question or questions of law arising on the special case and then remit the matter to the president with the opinion of the General Division of the High Court thereon and that opinion is binding on the Tribunal. [40/2019] (3) Nothing in this section is to be construed as preventing the Tribunal from determining any question of law arising in the application or proceeding before it.


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s17
section: 17
title: General Division of High Court may call for proceedings of Tribunal
content:
17. —(1) The General Division of the High Court, either on its own motion or on the application within 14 days of any party aggrieved by a decision of the Tribunal on the ground that it is wrong in law, may call for the proceedings and the grounds of the award and give any order thereon, either by directing a fresh hearing or otherwise, as seems necessary to secure that substantial justice is done. [40/2019] (2) The powers of revision conferred upon the General Division of the High Court in this section do not extend to a decision of the Tribunal as to the quantum of maintenance awarded or apportioned under this Act. [40/2019]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s18
section: 18
title: Appeals to General Division of High Court
content:
18. —(1) Except as provided in this section and sections 16 and 17, the decision of the Tribunal is final. (2) The applicant, the Commissioner on behalf of the parent (as applicant), a respondent or any other affected party may appeal to the General Division of the High Court from the decision of the Tribunal upon any question of law or of mixed law and fact except in any case where the Tribunal has made the order with the consent of the parties, including a maintenance order made by the president or deputy president and deemed to be a maintenance order made by the Tribunal under section 5(3), unless it is alleged that the consent was obtained by means of fraud, duress, threat or misrepresentation. [37/2010; 40/2019] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (3) Subject to subsection (3A), the procedure governing any appeal to the General Division of the High Court is as provided for in the Family Justice Rules. [2/2012; 27/2014; 40/2019] [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (3A) Where the decision of the Tribunal being appealed against under subsection (2) is the Tribunal’s refusal of permission under section 3B(4) to make an application under section 3 against a child — ( a ) service of the appeal documents on the child is dispensed with; and ( b ) the appeal is to be heard and determined without informing or involving the child, unless the General Division of the High Court directs otherwise. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] (4) The General Division of the High Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine any appeal and may confirm, vary or annul the decision of the Tribunal on appeal and make such further or other order on such appeal, whether as to costs or otherwise, as the General Division of the High Court may consider fit. [40/2019] (5) An appeal against the decision of the General Division of the High Court on an appeal under subsection (2) may only be brought with the permission of the General Division of the High Court, and permission must not be granted unless — ( a ) a question of law of public interest has arisen in the appeal under subsection (2); and ( b ) the determination of the question by the General Division of the High Court has affected the outcome of the appeal under subsection (2). [40/2019] [Act 25 of 2021 wef 01/04/2022]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s19
section: 19
title: Proceedings in private
content:
19. —(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), all proceedings under this Act are to be heard in private. [40/2019] [Act 25 of 2021 wef 01/04/2022] (2) In any proceeding under this Act, the Tribunal or court hearing the proceeding may direct that the proceeding be heard in public despite any objections from any other party to the proceeding. [40/2019] (3) The Tribunal or court may, if it considers that any proceeding heard in private by it ought to be reported, publish or authorise the publication of the facts, arguments and decision in the proceedings without disclosing the identities of the party concerned. [40/2019] [Act 25 of 2021 wef 01/04/2022]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s20
section: 20
title: Costs
content:
20. —(1) Subject to subsection (2), the costs of — ( a ) an application under this Act are in the discretion of the Tribunal; ( b ) an appeal are in the discretion of the court hearing the appeal; ( c ) any proceedings in the General Division of the High Court on a case stated are in the discretion of the General Division of the High Court and may be dealt with by the order of the General Division of the High Court. [40/2019] (2) In all proceedings under this Act including a case stated and an appeal from the decision of the Tribunal or the General Division of the High Court (as the case may be) — ( a ) the remuneration a solicitor is entitled to receive in respect of such proceedings must not exceed the maximum amount prescribed in rules made under section 21 and any agreement for costs which exceeds the maximum amount so prescribed is void; ( b ) the costs of the Commissioner are at the discretion of the Tribunal or the court (as the case may be) but the Commissioner must not be ordered to pay the costs of any of the other parties; and ( c ) no member of the Tribunal shall be personally liable to any costs in respect of a case stated or an appeal from the decision of the Tribunal. [40/2019]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s20A
section: 20A
title: Protection from personal liability
content:
20A. No liability shall lie personally against the president, a deputy president or a member of the Tribunal, or the Commissioner, a mediator or a conciliation officer, for anything which is done or purported to be done, or omitted to be done, in good faith and with reasonable care in the discharge or purported discharge of his or her functions or duties under this Act. [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024]


document_id: mpa-1995
provision_ref: s21
section: 21
title: Rules
content:
21. —(1) The Minister may make rules generally for carrying out the provisions of this Act and for prescribing anything which may be prescribed under this Act. (2) Without limiting subsection (1), such rules may make provisions for — ( a ) regulating and prescribing the procedure for applications, appeals to the Tribunal and the conduct of proceedings under this Act; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( b ) regulating the means by which particular facts may be proved, and the mode in which evidence thereof may be given including but not limited to affidavits; ( c ) the manner in which frivolous or vexatious applications may be dismissed at a preliminary stage on the basis of the affidavits and other documentary evidence; [Act 22 of 2023 wef 01/07/2024] ( d ) the discovery of documents and other evidence and public records; ( e ) the manner and method of payment of maintenance awarded under this Act; and ( f ) the costs of any proceedings under this Act.


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s2
chapter: PART 1 - PRELIMINARY
section: 2
title: Interpretation
content:
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires — “appointed officer” means a person authorised or appointed as an appointed officer under section 89A(1); “authorised pilot” means any person employed or authorised by the Authority to pilot vessels under section 62; “Authority” means the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore established under section 4; “beacon” means a prominent specially‑constructed object forming a conspicuous mark as a fixed aid to navigation; “berthing master” means any person authorised under section 62(2)( b ) to act as a berthing master; “buoy” includes a floating object of any size, shape and colour which is moored to the seabed and serves as an aid to navigation or for other specific purposes; “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Authority and includes any acting Chairperson of the Authority; “Chief Executive” means the Chief Executive of the Authority, and includes any individual acting in that capacity; “container” means a receptacle 6.1 metres or more in length equipped with corner castings to facilitate handling by mechanical equipment; “dangerous cargoes” means such cargoes, whether packaged, carried in bulk packagings or in bulk, as may be prescribed; “Deputy Chairperson” means the Deputy Chairperson of the Authority and includes any acting Deputy Chairperson of the Authority; “Director of Marine” means the Director of Marine appointed under section 4 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995; “dock” means an artificial excavation or construction in which vessels can be placed for loading, unloading, fitting out or repairing and includes gridirons, slips, keel blocks, inclined planes and all machinery, works, fixtures and anything attached or pertaining thereto; “dues” includes port dues, goods dues and pilotage dues levied under this Act but does not include rates; “equipment” includes any appliance, apparatus, machinery, system or accessory used or intended to be used for the purposes of providing marine or port services and facilities; “goods” includes dangerous cargoes, animals, carcases, baggage, containers and any other movable property of any kind and whether in a refrigerated form or otherwise; “harbour craft” means any vessel which is used in the port for any purpose; “lighthouse” means a distinctive structure on or off a coast exhibiting a major light designed to serve as an aid to navigation; “marine services and facilities” means the towage and pilotage of vessels and the supply of water to vessels; “master” includes every person, except a pilot, having command or charge of any vessel; “member” means a member of the Authority; “National Maritime Board” means the National Maritime Board established under the repealed National Maritime Board Act (Cap. 198, 1985 Revised Edition) in force immediately before 2 February 1996; “owner”, in relation to any vessel, includes any part‑owner, charterer, operator, consignee or mortgagee in possession of the vessel or any duly authorised agent of any such person; “passenger” has the meaning given by the Merchant Shipping Act 1995; “pilot” means any person not belonging to a vessel who has the conduct of it; “Pilotage Committee” means the Pilotage Committee appointed under section 66; “pilotage district” means any area in the port declared under section 59 to be a pilotage district; “port” means any place in Singapore and any navigable river or channel leading into a place declared to be a port under section 3; “port dues” means dues levied in respect of a vessel for entering, using, leaving or plying in the port; “Port Master” means the Port Master appointed under section 15 and includes any Deputy Port Master appointed under that section; “Port of Singapore Authority” means the Port of Singapore Authority established under the Port of Singapore Authority Act (Cap. 236, 1985 Revised Edition) in force immediately before 1 October 1997; “port services and facilities” means port terminal services and facilities for the handling, storage and transportation of goods on land adjoining the foreshore of Singapore and for the handling of passengers carried by vessels; “premises” includes messuages, houses, buildings, structures, lands, tenements, easements and hereditaments of any tenure, whether open or enclosed, whether built on or not, whether public or private, and whether maintained or not under statutory authority; “public licence” means a licence granted under section 81 and “public licensee” is construed accordingly; “rates” means any rates or charges leviable by the Authority under this Act and includes any toll or rent but does not include dues; “regulations” means regulations made under this Act; “seaman” means any person normally engaged on ship’s articles on any vessel going beyond the limits of the port, but does not include — ( a ) masters, mates, engineers, radio officers, pursers, cadets, laundrymen and stevedores; ( b ) probationer deckhands, probationer engine‑room hands and probationer catering hands under any training scheme approved by the Authority; and ( c ) any other person employed on board the vessel who is engaged in duties which are not normally the duties of seamen; “vehicle” has the meaning given by the Road Traffic Act 1961; “vessel” includes any ship or boat or air‑cushioned vehicle or floating rig or platform used in any form of operations at sea; “wharf” includes a quay, pier, jetty, ramp or other landing place. [40/2017; 5/2018]


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s3
chapter: PART 1 - PRELIMINARY
section: 3
title: Declaration of ports by Minister
content:
3. —(1) The Minister may, after consultation with the Authority and by notification in the Gazette , declare any place in Singapore and any navigable river or waters leading into such place to be a port for the purposes of this Act. (2) Every declaration under subsection (1) must define the limits of the port.


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s4
chapter: PART 2 - ESTABLISHMENT, INCORPORATION AND
section: 4
title: Establishment and incorporation of Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
content:
4. A body called the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore is established, which is a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and is by that name capable of — ( a ) suing and being sued; ( b ) acquiring, owning, holding and developing or disposing of property, both movable and immovable; and ( c ) doing and suffering any other acts or things that bodies corporate may lawfully do and suffer.


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s5
chapter: PART 2 - ESTABLISHMENT, INCORPORATION AND
section: 5
title: Common seal
content:
5. —(1) All deeds and other documents requiring the seal of the Authority must be sealed with the common seal of the Authority and any instruments to which the common seal is affixed must be signed — ( a ) by any 2 officers generally or specially authorised by the Chief Executive for the purpose; or ( b ) by one officer and the Chief Executive. (2) All courts, judges and persons acting judicially are to take judicial notice of the common seal of the Authority affixed to any document and presume that it was duly affixed.


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s6
chapter: PART 2 - ESTABLISHMENT, INCORPORATION AND
section: 6
title: Constitution of Authority
content:
6. —(1) The Authority consists of — ( a ) a Chairperson; and ( b ) not fewer than 3 other members as the Minister may determine. [16/2016; 40/2017] (2) The First Schedule has effect with respect to the Authority, its members and proceedings.


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s7
chapter: PART 3 - FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND POWERS OF AUTHORITY
section: 7
title: Functions and duties of Authority
content:
7. —(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, it is the function and duty of the Authority — ( a ) to promote the use, improvement and development of the port; ( b ) to regulate and control navigation within the limits of the port and the approaches to the port; ( c ) to provide and maintain adequate and efficient lighthouses, beacons, buoys and other aids to navigation in the territorial waters of Singapore and the approaches thereto, at Pedra Branca (Horsburgh), at Pulau Pisang and at any other places that the Authority thinks fit; ( d ) to disseminate navigational information; ( e ) to exercise licensing and regulatory functions in respect of marine and port services and facilities; ( f ) to secure that there are provided in the port (whether by itself or by any public licensee), adequate and efficient marine and port services and facilities on any terms that the Authority thinks expedient; ( g ) to secure that any person by whom any marine or port services and facilities fall to be provided in the port is able to provide the services and facilities efficiently while maintaining independent financial viability; ( h ) to promote efficiency, reliability and economy on the part of public licensees in accordance with, as far as practicable, recognised international standards and public demand; ( i ) to create an economic regulatory framework in respect of the provision of marine and port services and facilities which promotes and safeguards competition and fair and efficient market conduct or, in the absence of a competitive market, which prevents the misuse of monopoly or market power; ( j ) to promote, provide and administer training schemes for members of the mercantile marine and the shipping and port industries; ( k ) to develop, promote and regulate employment among members of the mercantile marine; ( l ) to exercise regulatory functions in respect of merchant shipping and particularly in respect of safety at sea, the manning of vessels and the prevention of pollution at sea; ( la ) to cooperate with the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau of Singapore in relation to investigations under the Transport Safety Investigations Act 2018; [Act 36 of 2018 wef 01/01/2024] ( m ) to promote the development of merchant shipping; ( n ) to advise the Government on all matters relating to sea transport and the provision of marine and port services and facilities; ( o ) to act internationally as the national body representative of Singapore in respect of sea transport, marine and port matters; ( p ) to discharge or facilitate the discharge of international obligations of the Government in respect of sea transport; and ( q ) to perform any other functions that are conferred on the Authority by this Act or any other written law. (2) In discharging the functions and duties imposed on it by subsection (1), the Authority must have regard to — ( a ) satisfying all reasonable demands for marine and port services and facilities; ( b ) fostering the development and expansion of marine and port services and facilities in the world in collaboration with other countries and international organisations; ( c ) enabling persons providing marine and port services and facilities in Singapore to compete effectively in the provision of those services and facilities outside Singapore; ( d ) the promotion of measures for the safety of life in the port; ( e ) the promotion of research and development in the fields of marine and port services and facilities; ( f ) collaboration with educational institutions for the promotion of technical education in the fields of marine and port services and facilities; ( g ) the promotion of energy efficiency within the port services and facilities sector; and ( h ) environmental protection and the sustainable development of sea transport. [11/2012] (3) Nothing in this section imposes on the Authority, directly or indirectly, any form of duty or liability enforceable by proceedings before any court. (4) In addition to the functions and duties imposed by this section, the Authority may undertake any other functions that the Minister may assign to the Authority and the Authority is deemed to be fulfilling the purposes of this Act and the provisions of this Act apply to the Authority in respect of those functions. (5) Despite the provisions of this Act, the Authority may, until such time as the licences granted under Part 12 come into effect, continue to provide any marine or port services and facilities that the Port of Singapore Authority was providing immediately before 2 February 1996. (6) Without affecting the provisions of Part 12, the Authority may provide any marine or port services and facilities in any of the following circumstances even though it has granted a public licence to any person: ( a ) if the Authority is of the opinion that the person has failed to discharge or is not discharging to the Authority’s satisfaction the obligations imposed by the Authority on the person in the public licence; or ( b ) to give effect to any direction of the Minister under section 9. (7) The Authority must provide the Minister with information with respect to its property and activities in such manner and at such times as the Minister may require. (8) Nothing in this Act permits the Authority to create an economic regulatory framework to regulate persons operating cruise terminals with respect to any matter pertaining to the efficient, reliable and economical operation of cruise terminals, including (but not limited to) the following: ( a ) berthing allocations at cruise terminals; ( b ) the price charged by such persons for any cruise port services and facilities; ( c ) the operational efficiency of, and the quality of the experience of users and visitors at, cruise terminals including through the timely and seamless delivery or provision of cruise port services and facilities. [Act 28 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023] (9) In subsection (8), “cruise port services and facilities” and “cruise terminal” have the meanings given by section 2 of the Singapore Tourism Board Act 1963. [Act 28 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023]


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s8
chapter: PART 3 - FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND POWERS OF AUTHORITY
section: 8
title: Powers of Authority
content:
8. —(1) Subject to this Act, the Authority may carry on any activities that appear to the Authority to be advantageous, necessary or convenient for it to carry on for or in connection with the discharge of its functions and duties under this Act or any other written law, and in particular, may exercise any of the powers specified in the Second Schedule. (2) This section does not limit any power of the Authority conferred by or under any other written law.


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s9
chapter: PART 3 - FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND POWERS OF AUTHORITY
section: 9
title: Directions by Minister
content:
9. —(1) The Minister may, after consultation with a person to whom this section applies, give — ( a ) if the person is the Authority, to the Authority any direction under section 5 of the Public Sector (Governance) Act 2018; or ( b ) if the person is a public licensee, any directions as the Minister thinks fit as to the exercise by that licensee of the licensee’s functions under this Act. [5/2018] (2) In addition to the power mentioned in subsection (1), if it appears to the Minister to be requisite or expedient to do so — ( a ) on the occurrence of any public emergency, in the public interest or in the interests of public security, national defence, or relations with the government of another country; or ( b ) in order to — (i) discharge or facilitate the discharge of an obligation binding on the Government by virtue of its being a member of an international organisation or a party to an international agreement; (ii) attain or facilitate the attainment of any other object the attainment of which is in the opinion of the Minister requisite or expedient in view of the Government being a member of an international organisation or a party to an international agreement; or (iii) enable the Government to become a member of an international organisation or a party to an international agreement, the Minister may, after consultation with a person to whom this section applies, give such directions to that person as are necessary in the circumstances of the case. [5/2018] (3) Any direction given under subsection (1) or (2) may include provisions for — ( a ) the prohibition or regulation of any marine or port services and facilities; ( b ) the taking of, the control of, or the usage for official purposes of, any marine or port services and facilities and all or any system and equipment relating to the marine or port services and facilities; and ( c ) the carrying out of any other purposes which the Minister thinks necessary. (4) A person to whom this section applies must give effect to any direction given to that person under subsection (1) or (2) despite any other duty imposed on that person by or under this Act or any other written law. (5) A person to whom this section applies must not disclose any direction given to that person under subsection (1) or (2) if the Minister notifies that person that the Minister is of the opinion that the disclosure of the direction is against the public interest. (6) The Minister may — ( a ) pay compensation for any damage caused to a public licensee by reason of its compliance with the directions of the Minister under subsection (3)( b ); ( b ) make grants to public licensees for defraying or contributing towards any losses which they may sustain by reason of their compliance with the directions of the Minister under any other provision of this section. (7) Any sum required by the Minister for paying compensation or making grants under subsection (6) must be paid out of the Consolidated Fund. (8) This section applies to the Authority and to every public licensee. (9) If any doubt arises as to the existence of a public emergency or as to whether any act done under this section was in the public interest or in the interests of public security, national defence or relations with the government of another country, a certificate signed by the Minister is conclusive evidence of the matters stated in the certificate.


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s10
chapter: PART 3 - FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND POWERS OF AUTHORITY
section: 10
title: Furnishing of information
content:
10. —(1) The Authority or any person authorised by the Authority in that behalf may by notice require any person to furnish to the Authority or the person so authorised, within such period as specified in the notice, all such documents or information relating to such matters as may be required by the Authority for the purposes of this Act and as are within the knowledge, in the custody or under the control of that person. (2) Any person who, on being required by notice under subsection (1) to furnish any document or information, fails to comply with any requirement of the notice shall be guilty of an offence. (3) A person who — ( a ) intentionally alters, suppresses or destroys any document which the person has been required by any notice under subsection (1) to furnish; or ( b ) in furnishing any estimate, return or other information required of the person under any notice under subsection (1), makes any statement which the person knows to be false in any material particular, shall be guilty of an offence. 11. [ Repealed by Act 5 of 2018 ]


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s12
chapter: PART 3 - FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND POWERS OF AUTHORITY
section: 12
title: Appointment of committees and delegation of powers
content:
12. —(1) The Authority may appoint from among its own members or other persons who are not members any number of committees that it thinks fit consisting of members or other persons or members and other persons for purposes which, in the opinion of the Authority, would be better regulated and managed by means of those committees. (2) The Authority may, subject to any conditions or restrictions that it thinks fit, delegate to any such committee all or any of the powers, functions and duties vested in the Authority by this Act or any other written law, except the powers to prescribe or levy dues and rates and borrow money, and any power, function or duty so delegated may be exercised or performed by the committee in the name and on behalf of the Authority. [5/2018] (3) The Authority may, subject to any conditions or restrictions that it thinks fit, delegate to any member or employee of the Authority or any person all or any of its powers, functions and duties vested in the Authority by this Act or any other written law, except the powers to prescribe or levy dues and rates and borrow money; and any power, function or duty so delegated may be exercised or performed by the member, employee or person in the name and on behalf of the Authority. [5/2018]


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s13
chapter: PART 3 - FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND POWERS OF AUTHORITY
section: 13
title: Symbol, design or representation of Authority
content:
13. —(1) The Authority has the exclusive right to the use of any symbol, design or representation that it may select or devise and to display or exhibit the symbol, design or representation in connection with its activities or affairs. (2) Any person who uses a symbol, design or representation identical with that of the Authority or which so resembles the symbol, design or representation thereof as to deceive or cause confusion or to be likely to deceive or cause confusion shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s14
chapter: PART 4 - PROVISIONS RELATING TO STAFF
section: 14
title: Chief Executive
content:
14. —(1) There must be a Chief Executive of the Authority, whose appointment, removal, discipline and promotion must be in accordance with the Public Sector (Governance) Act 2018. [5/2018] (2) The Authority may, subject to the Public Sector (Governance) Act 2018, appoint an individual to act temporarily as the Chief Executive during any period, or during all periods, when the Chief Executive — ( a ) is absent from duty or Singapore; or ( b ) is, for any reason, unable to perform the duties of the office. [5/2018]


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s15
chapter: PART 4 - PROVISIONS RELATING TO STAFF
section: 15
title: Appointment of Port Master
content:
15. The Authority must appoint a Port Master and may appoint such number of Deputy Port Masters as it thinks fit for the purposes of carrying out all or any of the functions and duties vested in the Authority by or under this Act or any other written law.


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s16
chapter: PART 4 - PROVISIONS RELATING TO STAFF
section: 16
title: Execution of orders, etc., of Port Master
content:
16. All acts, orders or directions authorised to be done or given by the Port Master may be done or given by any employee of the Authority subject to the control and authorisation of the Port Master.


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s17
chapter: PART 4 - PROVISIONS RELATING TO STAFF
section: 17
title: Appointment of employees and agents
content:
17. The Authority may, subject to the Public Sector (Governance) Act 2018, appoint and employ on such terms and conditions as the Authority may determine any other employees and agents necessary for the effective performance of its functions. [5/2018]


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s18
chapter: PART 4 - PROVISIONS RELATING TO STAFF
section: 18
title: Protection from personal liability
content:
18. No liability shall lie personally against any member, officer or employee of the Authority, any appointed officer or any other person acting under the direction of the Authority who, acting in good faith and with reasonable care, does or omits to do anything in the execution or purported execution of this Act. [40/2017] 19. [ Repealed by Act 5 of 2018 ]


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s20
chapter: PART 5 - FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
section: 20
title: Power to borrow
content:
20. The Authority may, with the approval of the Minister, raise capital from banks and other financial institutions whether in Singapore or elsewhere by way of mortgage, overdraft or otherwise, with or without security, as it may require for the discharge of its functions under this Act.


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s20A
chapter: PART 5 - FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
section: 20A
title: Issue of shares, etc.
content:
20A. As a consequence of — ( a ) the vesting of any property, rights or liabilities of the Government in the Authority under this Act; or ( b ) any capital injection or other investment by the Government in the Authority in accordance with any written law, the Authority must issue such shares or other securities to the Minister for Finance as that Minister may direct. [5/2002]


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s21
chapter: PART 5 - FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
section: 21
title: Duty of Authority in financial matters
content:
21. It is the duty of the Authority to exercise and perform its functions under this Act so as to secure that the total revenues of the Authority are sufficient, taking one financial year with another, to meet its total outgoings properly chargeable to revenue account, including depreciation and interest on capital and to meet a reasonable proportion of the cost of the development of the services of the Authority.


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s22
chapter: PART 5 - FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
section: 22
title: Application of revenue
content:
22. —(1) The revenue of the Authority for any financial year must be applied in defraying the following charges: ( a ) the remuneration, fees and allowances of the members of the Authority; ( b ) the salaries, fees, remuneration, pensions, superannuation allowances and gratuities of the officers, agents, employees, advisers and former employees of the Authority; ( c ) working and establishment expenses and expenditure on, or provision for, the maintenance of any of the property of the Authority, and the discharge of the functions of the Authority properly chargeable to revenue account; ( d ) interest on any loan raised by the Authority; ( e ) sums required to be paid to the Government towards repayment of any loan made by the Government to the Authority; ( f ) sums required to be transferred to a sinking fund or otherwise set aside for the purpose of making provision for the repayment of borrowed money; ( g ) such sums as may be deemed appropriate to be set aside in respect of depreciation or renewal of the property of the Authority, having regard to the amounts set aside out of revenue under paragraphs ( c ) and ( f ); ( h ) the cost, or any portion of the cost, of any new works, plants, vessels, vehicles, machinery, equipment or appliances not being a renewal of the property of the Authority, which the Authority may determine to charge to revenue; ( i ) such sums by way of contribution, for the purposes associated with the objects of this Act as the Authority may determine, to the public or for charities; and ( j ) any other expenditure authorised by the Authority and properly chargeable to revenue account. (2) The balance of the revenue of the Authority must be applied to the creation of a general reserve and any other reserves that the Authority may think fit.


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s23
chapter: PART 5 - FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
section: 23
title: Annual estimates
content:
23. A summary of the annual estimates and supplementary estimates adopted by the Authority must be published in the Gazette .


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s24
chapter: PART 5 - FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
section: 24
title: Bank accounts and application of revenue
content:
24. The Authority must open and maintain one or more accounts with such bank or banks as the Authority thinks fit and every such account must be operated as far as practicable by cheque signed by such person or persons authorised to do so by the Authority.


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s25
chapter: PART 5 - FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
section: 25
title: Power of investment
content:
25. The Authority may invest its moneys in accordance with the standard investment power of statutory bodies as defined in section 33A of the Interpretation Act 1965. [45/2004]


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s26
chapter: PART 5 - FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
section: 26
title: Financial year
content:
26. The financial year of the Authority begins on 1 January of each year and ends on 31 December of the same year. [5/2018]


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s27
chapter: PART 5 - FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
section: 27
title: Rates, charges, dues, etc., payable to Authority
content:
27. —(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Authority may levy such rates, charges and fees as the Authority may, with the approval of the Minister and by notification in the Gazette , prescribe for the use of services and facilities provided by the Authority. (1A) Where any fee is prescribed under subsection (1) for the use of a deposit site described in section 79(11A) — ( a ) the fee may take into account the cost of any of the matters specified in the Fourth Schedule, and may further be of an amount to encourage the deposit of objects and materials appropriately and responsibly, and in a sustainable manner; ( b ) different fees may be prescribed in relation to different objects or materials being deposited at different deposit sites; ( c ) the amount of the fee may be prescribed on a per unit volume basis; and ( d ) for the purposes of calculating the fee, the quantity or volume of objects or materials being deposited may be determined by the Authority in such manner as it thinks fit. [Act 17 of 2025 wef 01/02/2026] (2) The Authority may make such charges as it thinks fit for services or facilities provided or goods supplied by it pursuant to the power conferred by this Act or any other written law in respect of which no rates, charges or fees have been prescribed under subsection (1). (3) The Authority may require any person to furnish any security that the Authority thinks fit for the payment of any rates, charges, dues and fees payable under this Act or for any other purpose of this Act. (4) The Authority may determine the fees to be paid in respect of the issue or renewal of any licence or permit issued under this Act or the regulations. (5) The Authority may, if it thinks fit, remit or waive the whole or any part of any rates, charges, dues and fees paid or payable under this Act. (6) The owner, agent or master of every vessel which calls at the port of Singapore must pay to the Authority or any person authorised by the Authority such maritime welfare fee as the Authority may, with the approval of the Minister and by notification in the Gazette , prescribe. (7) The owner, agent or master of every vessel which enters, leaves, uses or plies within the port or calls at Singapore must pay to the Authority such port dues and pilotage dues as the Authority may, with the approval of the Minister and by notification in the Gazette , prescribe. (8) The Authority may, with the approval of the Minister and by notification in the Gazette , levy such goods dues as are prescribed on goods brought into or taken out of such private wharf or premises (by any means of transportation) as may be specified in the notification. (9) Goods dues must be paid by — ( a ) the owner or occupier of the wharf or premises; ( b ) the owner of the vehicle or vessel used in the carriage of the goods into or out of the wharf or premises or otherwise; or ( c ) any other person authorised to act as agent for the owner of the vehicle or vessel in the carriage of such goods into or out of the wharf or premises or otherwise. (10) The Authority may recover the goods dues from any of the persons mentioned in subsection (9). (11) A due, charge, fee or rate exigible by virtue of this section may be recovered by the Authority in any court of competent jurisdiction as if it were a simple contract debt. (12) Maritime welfare fees under this section are not payable in respect of — ( a ) any ship of war; ( b ) any vessel belonging to or for the time being in the service or employment of the Government unless the vessel is carrying or habitually carries goods or passengers for freight or fares; and ( c ) any vessel or class of vessels which has been exempted from the operation of this section by the Minister. (13) The rates, charges, dues and fees applied by the Marine Department, the National Maritime Board or the Port of Singapore Authority immediately before 2 February 1996 continue to be valid as though determined by the Authority under this section until rescinded, varied or otherwise determined by the Authority.


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s28
chapter: PART 5 - FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
section: 28
title: Power of entry into vessels
content:
28. —(1) Any duly authorised officer of the Authority may enter into any vessel within the limits of the port or the approaches to the port in order to ascertain the amount of the rates, charges, dues and fees payable in respect of the vessel or on or in respect of any goods carried on the vessel and to obtain any other information required for, or in connection with, the assessment and collection of the rates, charges, dues and fees. (2) A master of a vessel who fails to comply with a reasonable request made by an authorised officer who has entered the vessel pursuant to subsection (1) for information or for the production of a document shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $500 for every day or part of a day during which the master continues to fail to comply with the request.


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s29
chapter: PART 5 - FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
section: 29
title: Power to distrain for non-payment of dues, rates, etc.
content:
29. —(1) If the master or owner of any vessel in respect of which any rates, charges, dues, fees, damages or penalties or other sums are payable under this Act or the regulations refuses or neglects to pay the same or any part thereof on demand, the Authority may, in addition to any other remedy which it may be entitled to use, distrain or arrest of its own authority the vessel and the bunkers, tackle, apparel or furniture belonging to the vessel or any part thereof, and detain the same until the amount due is paid. (2) If any part of the rates, charges, dues, fees, damages or penalties or other sums, or of the costs of the distraint or arrest, or of the keeping of the vessel, bunkers, tackle, apparel or furniture belonging to the vessel remains unpaid for 14 days, the Authority may cause the vessel and the bunkers, tackle, apparel or furniture so distrained or arrested to be sold or disposed of in any manner that it thinks fit and may recover, as a debt in any court of competent jurisdiction from the master or owner of the vessel, the expenses of the distraint, arrest, sale or disposal or attempted sale or disposal of the vessel and the bunkers, tackle, apparel or furniture distrained or arrested. (3) The proceeds of sale of the vessel and bunkers, tackle, apparel or furniture distrained or arrested may be used by the Authority to satisfy those rates, charges, dues, fees, damages or penalties or other sums and costs, including costs of sale remaining unpaid. (4) The Authority must — ( a ) render the surplus (if any) from the proceeds of sale to the master or owner of the vessel on demand; and ( b ) in case no demand is made within one year from the date of the disposal of the vessel and bunkers, tackle, apparel or furniture, pay the surplus to the account of the Authority, upon which all rights to the same by the master or owner are extinguished. (5) If the Authority gives to the Port Master a notice stating that an amount specified in the notice is due in respect of rates, charges, dues, fees, damages or penalties or other sums payable under this Act or the regulations against the vessel or the owner, agent or master of the vessel, the Port Master must not grant port clearance until the amount so chargeable has been paid or security has been given to the satisfaction of the Authority for that amount.


document_id: mpasa-1996
provision_ref: s30
chapter: PART 6 - TRANSFER OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND EMPLOYEES
section: 30
title: Transfer to Authority of property, assets and liabilities
content:
30. —(1) As from 2 February 1996, such property, rights and liabilities vested in the National Maritime Board, the Port of Singapore Authority and the Government relating to the Marine Department as may be determined by the Minister for Finance become, by virtue of this section and without further assurance, the property, rights and liabilities of the Authority. (2) If any question arises as to whether any particular property, right or liability has been transferred to or vested in the Authority under subsection (1), a certificate under the hand of the Minister for Finance is conclusive evidence that the property, right or liability was or was not so transferred or vested. (3) Any immovable property to be transferred to and vested in the Authority under subsection (1) must be held by the Authority upon such tenure and subject to such terms and conditions as the President may determine. 31. [ Omitted as spent ] 32. [ Omitted as spent ] 33. [ Omitted as spent ] 34. [ Omitted as spent ] 35. [ Omitted as spent ] 36. [ Omitted as spent ]


