What is Interpretation Act 1965?

Interpretation Act 1965 is Singapore Act, cited as Act IA 1965, currently marked in force and first recorded in 1965.

Is Interpretation Act 1965 still in force?

Yes — Interpretation Act 1965 is currently in force.

When did Interpretation Act 1965 take effect?

Interpretation Act 1965 was first recorded in 1965.

How many sections does Interpretation Act 1965 have?

Interpretation Act 1965 contains 67 sections.

What amends Interpretation Act 1965?

Interpretation Act 1965 has been amended by Act 11 of 1993, Act 28 of 2000, Act 22 of 1998, Act 42 of 2005, and Act 11 of 1991, and 18 others.

Where can I read the official version of Interpretation Act 1965?

The official text of Interpretation Act 1965 is published at sso.agc.gov.sg.

ActIn force

Interpretation Act 1965

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Enacted: 1965
Last amended: 2021
Sections: 67
Cited in: 202 decisions

Cited in court decisions

202

Court decisions that cite this act, detected automatically from judgment text and linked to the judgment we hold.

Referred to[2026] SGYC 7Case
“(c) The third line concern involves s 16(1)(d) and (e) of the Interpretation Act 1965 (2020 Rev Ed), which is reproduced below.”
Referred to[2026] SGSCT 22Case
“not define the expression, I began with its ordinary meaning in context, before considering which reading better advanced the purpose of the legislation. That is the approach required by s 9A of the Interpretation Act 1965 (the “Interpretation Act”) (see Tan Cheng Bock v Attorney-General [2017] 2 SLR 850 (“Tan Cheng Bo”
Referred to[2026] SGHC 180Case
“f “receiv[ing] notice” of the foreign proceedings for the purposes of s 5(1)(a)(iii) of the REFJA is essentially a matter of statutory interpretation. It is well-established that under s 9A(1) of the Interpretation Act 1965 (2020 Rev Ed), a purposive approach to statutory interpretation must be adopted. This requires c”

Show 47 more

Referred to[2026] SGECT 9Case
“To answer that, we must look at the Interpretation Act 1965 (Act 10 of 1965) (“Interpretation Act”). Section 9A of the Interpretation Act requires an interpretation which promotes the purpose or object underlying the written law, and regulates the considerati”
Referred to[2026] SGCA 35Case
“It is trite that courts adopt a purposive approach to statutory interpretation, preferring an interpretation which promotes the purpose or object underlying a statutory provision: see s 9A(1) of the Interpretation Act 1965 (2020 Rev Ed) (“Interpretation Act”). This involves the following three steps (Tan Cheng Bock v A”
Referred to[2026] SGHCR 23Case
“the nature of the qualification on standing is (or should be) under s 43(1) of the IRDA. I therefore turn to extraneous material to ascertain the proper meaning of s 43(1): see s 9A(2)(b)(ii) of the Interpretation Act 1965 (2020 Rev Ed) (“Interpretation Act”) and Tan Cheng Bock at [38] and [47]. In this regard, I find”
Referred to[2026] SGFC 72Case
“n itself and the surrounding context of the written law as a whole. The court may refer to extraneous material capable of giving assistance in certain circumstances as set out in section 9A(2) of the Interpretation Act 1965; and such extraneous material can only be used to place on the provision a meaning that its text”
Referred to[2026] SGHC 135Case
“The approach to statutory interpretation in Singapore law is that of purposive interpretation, which is enshrined in s 9A of the Interpretation Act 1965 (2020 Rev Ed) (“Interpretation Act”):”
Referred to[2026] SGHC 131Case
“1990 Regulations, for the purposes of an appeal under s 35 of the PTA, the time for appeal runs “from the date of the written decision or such other day as the [VRB] decides”. Further, s 50(a) of the Interpretation Act 1965 (2020 Rev Ed) (“IA”) provides that in computing time for the purposes of any written law, unless”
Referred to[2026] SGMC 18Case
“Pursuant to section 9A of the Interpretation Act, an interpretation that would promote the purpose or object underlying the written law (whether that purpose or object is expressly stated in the written law or not) is to be preferred to an interpre”
Referred to[2016] SGCA 23Case
“Section 21 of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) states that the expressions used in subsidiary legislation “shall, unless the contrary intention appears”, “have the same respective meanings as in the [empowering] Act”. The amb”
Referred to[2016] SGHC 61Case
“Criminal Law] — [Statutory offences] — [Penal Code; Statutory Interpretation] — [Construction of statute] — [Literal; Statutory Interpretation] — [Interpretation Act] — [Purposive approach”
Referred to[2016] SGCA 25Case
“If one simply applied s 2(1) of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) (“the Interpretation Act”), then a “person” referred to in s 28(1) of the TMA may properly be regarded as including a corporate entity. The English courts have not relied on thei”
Referred to[2016] SGHC 84Case
“titlement to direct the manner in which the goods are to be dealt with. In deciding what meaning should be ascribed to the expression “control” in s 2(2)(c) of the ESA, I was mindful that s 9A of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) mandates that an interpretation favouring the underlying legislative purpose of”
Referred to[2016] SGCA 33Case
“In determining the scope of s 200 of the Copyright Act, we are bound to apply a purposive approach as mandated by s 9A of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed). Thus, in deciding the scope of impermissible conduct, we take reference from the legislative intention, which, as mentioned, was to prevent the making of”
Referred to[2016] SGCA 34Case
“ies Act, a “society” is defined in s 2 as “any club, company, partnership or association of 10 or more persons, whatever its nature or object” [emphasis added]. A “person” is defined in s 2(1) of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) as including “any company or association or body of persons, corporate or incorp”
Referred to[2016] SGHC 119Case
“At the outset, it should be remembered that the courts are mandated by s 9A of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) to prefer a statutory interpretation that would promote the purpose or object of the written law. As was stated by V K Rajah JA (sitting in the High Court) in Public Prosecutor v”
Referred to[2016] SGCA 42Case
“(a) Section 9A of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) enjoins the courts to interpret statutes purposively, irrespective of whether it is a penal or civil statute. The purposive approach towards statutory interpretation takes preced”
Referred to[2016] SGHC 133Case
“In the United Kingdom (“UK”), rules on computation of time are not statutorily provided for. The Interpretation Act 1889 (c 63) (UK) and its successor Interpretation Act 1978 (c 30) (UK) do not have provisions equivalent to s 50 of Singapore’s Interpretation Act. As such, guidance on the computation of time periods pro”
Referred to[2016] SGHC 247Case
“e meaning to be ascribed to the phrase “fittings that form, or are to form, part of the land” in limb (c) had to be determined with reference to the purpose of the Act. In this regard, s 9A(1) of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) states as follows:”
Referred to[2016] SGHC 267Case
“Criminal Law] – [Offences] – [Kidnapping; Statutory Interpretation] – [Interpretation Act] – [Purposive approach”
Referred to[2016] SGHC 272Case
“Section 2 of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 1997 Rev Ed) defines “import” as “to bring or caused to be brought into Singapore by land, sea or air.””
Referred to[2017] SGCA 02Case
“the conclusion that s 376A(1)(b) applies only to male offenders, we turn to the legislative history behind the provision to try to determine the intention of Parliament. As is mandated by s 9A of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 1997 Rev Ed), an interpretation which promotes the purpose of the provision is to be preferre”
Referred to[2017] SGCA 6Case
“to be discerned is that at or around the time the law is passed: see the High Court decision of BFC v Comptroller of Income Tax [2013] 4 SLR 741 at [46]. It is also well-established that s 9A of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) (“the IA”) mandates that the purposive approach be preferred over all other statu”
Referred to[2017] SGHC 26Case
“For the above reasons, I answered the Legal Question (see [2] and also [19] above) in the affirmative. Although s 28 of the current MLA is a penal provision, s 9A of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) requires the rule of purposive interpretation to trump all other common law principles of interpretation, incl”
Referred to[2017] SGHC(I) 2Case
“ught to gain comfort from the italicised words. The defendants relied on the words “written law” in the Explanatory Statement which they said, through the definition of “written law” in s 2(1) of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 1997 Rev Ed), meant Singapore legislation; thus, it was said, “law” in s 55B(2), meant a Sing”
Referred to[2017] SGHC 34Case
“It is also true that s 2(1) of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1 2002 Rev Ed) provides that “unless there is something in the subject or context inconsistent with such construction…words in the singular include the plural…” Section 2(1) does not operate, in”
Referred to[2017] SGHC 69Case
“The term “bets or wagers” is not defined in s 2(1) of the Betting Act or in the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed). The appellant’s submission purports to limit the scope of the natural and ordinary meaning of the term “bet”.”
Referred to[2017] SGHC 71Case
“equires the court to interpret the scope of the CBT offences under the Penal Code which in turn would further require the court to consider how the purposive interpretation mandated in s 9A(1) of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) should be applied in relation thereto.”
Referred to[2017] SGHC 105Case
“ue Law] — [Stamp duties] — [Additional buyer’s stamp duties; Trusts] — [Purpose trusts] — [Charitable purpose trusts] [Trusts] — [Beneficiaries] — [Beneficiary principle; Statutory interpretation] — [Interpretation Act] — [Extrinsic aids”
Referred to[2017] SGCA(I) 01Case
“The words “under any law” stand in contrast to “any written law”. The words “written law” refer to the Constitution and to Singapore legislation: s 2(1) of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed). The words “any law” can refer to any law in the world.”
Referred to[2017] SGHC 120Case
“hat under O 62 r 6(3) of the Rules, service by fax was invalid. As regards the fact that the defendant’s solicitors had sent the Draft Order to the plaintiff’s solicitors by post, under s 2(5) of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed), service of the Draft Order was deemed to have been effected “at the time at whi”
Referred to[2017] SGHC 129Case
“s, and canons that inform this legal exercise (see Oliver Jones, Bennion on Statutory Interpretation (LexisNexis, 6th Ed, 2012) at p 4). Chief among these is the requirement, contained in s 9A of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) (“IA”), that the court must prefer an interpretation that advances the objects o”
Referred to[2017] SGCA 39Case
“In Public Prosecutor v Adnan bin Kadir [2013] 3 SLR 1052 at [5] and [22], this court held that the word “import” in s 7 of the MDA had the meaning defined in s 2(1) of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) which was “to bring or cause to be brought into Singapore by land, sea or air”. It did not matter that the d”
Referred to[2017] SGHC 141Case
“official duties and were thus relevant and admissible (see s 37 of the Evidence Act). A “public officer” refers to all holders of offices of emolument in the service of the Government (see s 2 of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed)), and includes DJs. Public documents include documents that are records of the a”
Referred to[2017] SGHC 160Case
“It is trite, and is common ground in this case (see [30(b)] above), that a court must adopt a purposive approach in interpreting the Constitution. Article 2(9) of the Constitution provides that the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) (“the Interpretation Act”) “shall apply for the purpose of interpreting this Const”
Referred to[2017] SGHC 159Case
“These terms, ie, excessive, unconscionable and substantially unfair, are not defined under the MLA or the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed). Therefore we have to rely on the plain and simple dictionary meaning of these terms. The Longman Dictionary of the English Language 6th Ed (“the Longman Dictionary”) defines”
Referred to[2017] SGHC 161Case
“d’s assistance rendered to the bookie, through either deciding or publishing the results of the lottery (see also Lim Yong Meng at [35], cited above at [22]). The title of the section (see s 6 of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 1997 Rev Ed)) expressly provides that the section concerns “assisting in carrying on a public”
Referred to[2017] SGHC 171Case
“process, which derives its legitimacy from the SOP Act. This was necessary not only as a matter of common sense, but also because the principle of purposive interpretation enshrined in s 9A(1) of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) mandates the court to prefer “an interpretation that would promote the purpose o”
Referred to[2017] SGHC 179Case
“e proceedings, I would like to state the purpose of the SOP Act so as to place the issue in its proper context. This is necessary not only as a matter of common sense, but also because s 9A(1) of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) mandates the court to prefer “an interpretation that would promote the purpose o”
Referred to[2017] SGCA 50Case
“idents elected directly by the citizens of Singapore, as the Appellant contends. This has to be answered by interpreting the relevant constitutional provisions purposively, as mandated by s 9A of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) (“IA”).”
Referred to[2017] SGHC 224Case
“tered by the offender would comport with the etymological underpinnings of the word “vandalism” and prevent an overly-broad and absurd range of potential application. She pointed to s 9A(4)(a) of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) which recognises the “desirability of persons being able to rely on the ordinary”
Referred to[2017] SGHCF 22Case
“d at different levels of generality. Having analysed the text, the court may then refer to extraneous materials, if they assist the court to ascertain the meaning of the provision: see s 9A(2) of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) (“IA”) and Tan Cheng Bock v Attorney-General [2017] SGCA 50 (“Tan Cheng Bock (CA”
Referred to[2017] SGHC 239Case
“that if any inconsistency emerges between the substantive provision and the illustrations, the substantive provision “will prevail”: see Yeo, Morgan and Chan at paras 1.39–1.40; see also s 7A of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed). With respect to the role of explanations, it is “to shed light on the constructi”
Referred to[2017] SGCA 60Case
“Finally, we noted that the Applicant included multiple references in the application to s 9A of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) (“the IA”). Section 9A(1) of the IA states that in interpreting a provision of a written law, an interpretation that would promote the purpose or object underlying the written la”
Referred to[2017] SGHC 305Case
“of the Counterfeit Goods amounted to “import[ing]” them, relying for this purpose on the decision of Trade Facilities Pte Ltd and others v PP [1995] 2 SLR(R) 7 (“Trade Facilities”), and s 2(1) of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed).”
Referred to[2018] SGHC 10Case
“While “import” is not defined in the MDA, it is defined in s 2(1) of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) to mean “to bring or cause to be brought into Singapore by land, sea or air”, and I adopted the meaning accordingly.”
Referred to[2018] SGCA 4Case
“Building and construction law] — [Dispute resolution; Contract] — [Waiver; Equity] — [Estoppel] — [Promissory estoppel; Statutory interpretation] — [Interpretation Act”
Referred to[2018] SGCA 7Case
“of the aforementioned issues are inextricably connected with each other given that the historical materials will serve either to clarify or to confirm the meaning of s 409, pursuant to s 9A(2) of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) (“the IA”).”
Referred to[2018] SGCA 8Case
“al [2017] 1 SLR 373 (“Ting Choon Meng”) and Tan Cheng Bock v Attorney-General [2017] 2 SLR 850 (“Tan Cheng Bock”). The governing provision on the interpretation of statutes is, of course, s 9A of the Interpretation Act (Cap 1, 2002 Rev Ed) (“the IA”), which establishes that the court should prefer an interpretation tha”

Showing 50 of 202

Part 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS OF INTERPRETATION

Section 2

Interpretation of certain words and expressions

Amended by9/200342/200527/201441/201442/201419/201840/2019

(1)

In this Act, and in every written law enacted before or after 28 December 1965, the following words and expressions shall, without prejudice to anything done before that date, have the meanings respectively assigned to them unless there is something in the subject or context inconsistent with such construction or unless it is therein otherwise expressly provided:

Amended by9/200342/200527/201441/201442/201419/201840/2019

Definition

“abet”, with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, has the meaning given by the Penal Code 1871;

Definition

“Accountant-General” means the Accountant‑General of Singapore;

Definition

“act”, in relation to an offence or civil wrong, includes a series of acts, and words which refer to acts done are to be construed as extending to illegal omissions;

Definition

“Act” or “Act of Parliament” means an Act of the Parliament of Singapore and includes any Ordinance or Act of Singapore or Malaysia having the force of law in Singapore; and “Act”, when used in any subsidiary legislation, means the Act under the authority of which the subsidiary legislation was made;

Definition

“advocate” and “advocate and solicitor” mean an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court;

Definition

“animal” includes bird, reptile, fish and every kind of vertebrate animal and the young thereof;

Definition

“appoint” includes re-appoint;

Definition

“Attorney‑General” means the Attorney‑General of Singapore and in relation to any function, power or duty of the Attorney‑General, includes a Deputy Attorney‑General so assigned by the Attorney‑General to perform that function, power or duty;

Definition

“Auditor-General” means the Auditor-General of Singapore;

Definition

“Cabinet” means the Cabinet constituted under the Constitution;

Definition

“Chief Justice” means the Chief Justice of Singapore;

Definition

“citizen of Singapore” means any person who, under the provisions of the Constitution, has the status of a citizen of Singapore;

Definition

“civil list” means the provision made under the Constitution for the maintenance of the President;

Definition

“commencement”, in relation to an Act, means the time at which the Act comes into operation in Singapore;

Definition

“common law” means the common law insofar as it is in operation in Singapore and any custom or usage having the force of law in Singapore;

Definition

“Commonwealth” means collectively the Commonwealth countries and includes any colony, protectorate or protected state or any other territory administered by any Commonwealth country;

Definition

“Commonwealth country” means any country recognised by the President to be a Commonwealth country, and “part of the Commonwealth” means any Commonwealth country, any colony, protectorate or protected state or any other territory administered by the government of any Commonwealth country;

Definition

“Consolidated Fund” means the Consolidated Fund established by the Constitution;

Definition

“Constitution” means the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore;

Definition

“consular officer” means consul‑general, consul, vice‑consul, consular agent and any person for the time being authorised to discharge the duties of consul‑general, consul, vice‑consul or consular agent;

Definition

“contravene”, in relation to a provision of a written law, includes a failure to comply with a requirement or condition in that provision;

Definition

“court” means any court of competent jurisdiction in Singapore;

Definition

“Criminal Procedure Rules” —

(a)

means the Criminal Procedure Rules made under the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 and any other written law by the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee constituted under section 428A of that Code; and

(b)

includes any subsidiary legislation deemed under section 428A(15) of that Code to be Criminal Procedure Rules;

Definition

“Crown Agents” means the persons for the time being acting as Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations in the United Kingdom;

Definition

“Deputy Attorney-General” means a Deputy Attorney‑General appointed under Article 35A of the Constitution;

Definition

“Deputy Speaker” means the Deputy Speaker of Parliament elected under the Constitution;

Definition

“District Court” means any District Court constituted under any written law for the time being in force relating to the courts;

Definition

“District Judge” means a District Judge appointed as such under any written law for the time being in force relating to the courts;

Definition

“export”, with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, means to take or cause to be taken out of Singapore by land, sea or air;

Definition

“Family Court” means a Family Court constituted under section 5 of the Family Justice Act 2014;

Definition

“Family Justice Rules” means the Family Justice Rules made under the Family Justice Act 2014 and any other written law by the Family Justice Rules Committee constituted under section 46(1) of that Act;

Definition

“Gazette” or “Government Gazette” means the Gazette published in electronic or other form by order of the Government and includes any supplement thereto and any Gazette Extraordinary so published;

Definition

“Government” means the Government of Singapore;

Definition

“Government Printer” includes any printer purporting to be the printer authorised to print Acts and other documents of the Government;

Definition

“High Court” means the High Court established by the Constitution;

Definition

“immovable property” includes land, benefits to arise out of land and things attached to the earth or permanently fastened to anything attached to the earth;

Definition

“import”, with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, means to bring or cause to be brought into Singapore by land, sea or air;

Definition

“Judge” means a Supreme Court Judge, a Judicial Commissioner or a Senior Judge sitting in the General Division of the High Court or Appellate Division of the High Court, or the Court of Appeal, in accordance with the Constitution and the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1969, or an International Judge sitting in the Singapore International Commercial Court, the Appellate Division of the High Court, or the Court of Appeal, in accordance with the Constitution and that Act;

Definition

“legislature”, in relation to any part of the Commonwealth, means the authority competent to make laws for that part of the Commonwealth;

Definition

“Magistrate” means a Magistrate appointed under any written law for the time being in force relating to the courts;

Definition

“Malaya” means Singapore and the States of Malaya;

Definition

“Malaysia” means the Federation known as Malaysia;

Definition

“Malaysian citizen” or “Federal citizen” means any person who is a citizen of Malaysia by virtue of the provisions of any law for the time being in force, or any instrument for the time being having the force of law, in Malaysia;

Definition

“master”, in relation to a ship, means any person, except a pilot or harbour master, having for the time being control or charge of the ship;

Definition

“Minister” means the Minister for the time being charged with the responsibility for the department or subject to which the context refers;

Definition

“monogamous marriage” means a marriage which is recognised by the law of the place where it is contracted as a voluntary union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others during the continuance of the marriage;

Definition

“month” means calendar month;

Definition

“movable property” means property of every description except immovable property;

Definition

“national language” means the Malay language;

Definition

“oath” and “affidavit”, in the case of persons for the time being allowed by law to affirm or declare instead of swearing, include affirmation and declaration, and “swear” in the like case includes affirm and declare;

Definition

“Ordinance” means any Ordinance of Singapore, and includes any Ordinance of the Colony of the Straits Settlements, any Ordinance of the Colony of Singapore or of the State of Singapore and any Proclamation having the force of law in Singapore; and “Ordinance” when used in any subsidiary legislation means the Ordinance under the authority of which the subsidiary legislation was made;

Definition

“Parliament” means the Parliament of Singapore;

Definition

“person” and “party” include any company or association or body of persons, corporate or unincorporate;

Definition

“police officer” means any member of the Singapore Police Force;

Definition

“prescribed” means prescribed by the Act in which the word occurs or by any subsidiary legislation made thereunder and, in relation to forms, includes being set out in electronic form on an electronically accessible server (such as an internet website) that is specified in the Act or subsidiary legislation in which the word occurs;

Definition

“President” means the President of Singapore and includes any person for the time being performing the functions of the President under the provisions of the Constitution;

Definition

“public holiday” means any day which is declared to be or proclaimed as a public holiday or which under any written law is to be observed as a public holiday in Singapore;

Definition

“public officer” means the holder of any office of emolument in the service of the Government;

Definition

“public seal” means the public seal of Singapore;

Definition

“public service” means service under the Government;

Definition

“Public Service Commission” means the Public Service Commission constituted under the provisions of the Constitution;

Definition

“registered”, in relation to a document, means registered under the provisions of any written law for the time being applicable to the registration of such document;

Definition

“repeal” includes rescind, revoke, cancel or replace;

Definition

“Rules of Court” means the Rules of Court made under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1969 and any other written law by the Rules Committee constituted under section 80(3) of that Act;

Definition

“Secretary to the Cabinet” means the Secretary to the Cabinet appointed in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution;

Definition

“ship” includes every description of vessel used in navigation not exclusively propelled by oars or paddles;

Definition

“sign”, with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, with reference to a person who is unable to write his or her name, includes “mark” with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions;

Definition

“Singapore” means the Republic of Singapore and is deemed to include the Island of Singapore and all islands and places which on 2 June 1959 were administered as part of Singapore and all territorial waters adjacent thereto;

Definition

“Solicitor-General” means the Solicitor-General of Singapore;

Definition

“Speaker” means the Speaker of Parliament elected in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution;

Definition

“States of Malaya” means —

(a)

the States of Johore, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor and Trengganu; and

(b)

every Federal Territory which before its establishment was part of the territory of any State mentioned in paragraph (a),which constitute part of Malaysia;

Definition

“statutory declaration”, if made —

(a)

in Singapore, means a declaration made under the Oaths and Declarations Act 2000;

(b)

in the United Kingdom or any part of the Commonwealth other than in Singapore, means a declaration made before a justice of the peace, notary public or other person having authority therein under any law for the time being in force to take or receive a declaration;

(c)

in any other place, means a declaration made before a consul or vice‑consul or before any person having authority under any law for the time being in force to take or receive a declaration;

Definition

“subsidiary legislation” means any order in council, proclamation, rule, regulation, order, notification, by‑law or other instrument made under any Act, Ordinance or other lawful authority and having legislative effect;

Definition

“Supreme Court” means the Supreme Court established by the Constitution;

Definition

“Supreme Court Judge” means the Chief Justice, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, a Judge of the Appellate Division or a Judge of the High Court;

Definition

“United Kingdom” means Great Britain and Northern Ireland;

Definition

“value”, in relation to a suit, means the value of the subject matter of the suit;

Definition

“vessel” includes floating craft of every description;

Definition

“will” includes a codicil; words importing the masculine gender include females; words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;

Definition

“writing” and expressions referring to writing include printing, lithography, typewriting, photography and other modes of representing or reproducing words or figures in visible form;

Definition

“written law” means the Constitution and all previous Constitutions having application to Singapore and all Acts, Ordinances and enactments by whatever name called and subsidiary legislation made thereunder for the time being in force in Singapore;

Definition

“Yang di-Pertuan Agong” means the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or Supreme Head of Malaysia and includes the Deputy Supreme Head of Malaysia or a Ruler of a Malay State, whenever he is lawfully exercising the functions of the Yang di‑Pertuan Agong;

Definition

“year” means a year reckoned according to the Gregorian calendar;

Definition

“Youth Court” means a Youth Court constituted under section 5 of the Family Justice Act 2014.

Amended by9/200342/200527/201441/201442/201419/201840/2019

(2)

Where a word or expression is defined in a written law, then, unless the contrary intention appears, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of that word or expression, and cognate expressions, have corresponding meanings in that law.

(3)

In every written law enacted before 28 December 1965 —

(a)

references to the Colony of the Straits Settlements, the Settlement of Singapore, the Colony of Singapore, the Colony, the State of Singapore or the State, are to be construed as references to Singapore;

(b)

references to the Federated Malay States are, unless the context otherwise requires, to be construed as references to the States of Malaya;

(c)

references to the Governor of the Malayan Union are to be construed as references to the Yang di‑Pertuan Agong;

(d)

references to the Malayan Union are to be construed as references to Malaysia or the territories comprised therein, as the case may require;

(e)

references to the Chief Justice or to any court, judge or magistrate of the Malayan Union or of the Federated Malay States or of any of the Malay States are to be construed as references to the Chief Justice or to the corresponding court, judge or magistrate of Malaysia or the territories comprised therein, as the case may require;

(f)

references to any officer of, or authority or body constituted in or for, the Federated Malay States, any Malay State or the Malayan Union are to be construed as references to the corresponding officer of, or authority or body constituted in or for, Malaysia or the territories comprised therein, as the case may require;

(g)

references to the Assembly or the Legislative Assembly are to be construed as references to the Parliament;

(h)

references to the Yang di-Pertuan Negara are to be construed as references to the President;

(i)

references to the Federal Minister are to be construed as references to the appropriate Minister of Singapore;

(j)

references to the State Advocate‑General are to be construed as references to the Attorney‑General;

(k)

references to the High Court in Singapore are to be construed as references to the High Court of Singapore; and

(l)

references to a Judge of the High Court and the Registrar of the High Court are to be construed as references to a Judge of the Supreme Court and the Registrar of the Supreme Court, respectively.

(4)

[Deleted by Act 5 of 2014]

(5)

Where an Act authorises or requires any document to be served by post, whether the word “serve”, “give” or “send” or any other word is used, then, unless a contrary intention appears, the service is deemed to be effected by properly addressing, prepaying and posting a letter containing the document, and, unless the contrary is proved, is deemed to have been effected at the time at which the letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.

(6)

Where a Gazette is published in more than one form, the date of publication of that Gazette is deemed to be the date on which that Gazette is first published in any form.

Section 2A

Criteria for determining death

Amended by42/2005

(1)

For all purposes, a person has died when there has occurred either —

(a)

irreversible cessation of circulation of blood and respiration in the body of the person; or

(b)

total and irreversible cessation of all functions of the brain of the person.

(2)

The determination of the irreversible cessation of circulation of blood and respiration in the body of a person must, subject to subsection (5), be made in accordance with the ordinary standards of current medical practice.

(3)

The determination of the total and irreversible cessation of all functions of the brain of a person must, subject to subsections (4) and (6), be made in accordance with the prescribed criteria.

(4)

Except in the circumstances referred to in subsection (6), the determination of the total and irreversible cessation of all functions of the brain of a person must be certified in the prescribed form by 2 medical practitioners —

(a)

at least one of whom has not been involved in the care or treatment of the person so certified; and

(b)

who possess the prescribed postgraduate medical qualifications.

(5)

If the death of a person from whose body an organ is to be removed after his or her death as authorised under the Human Organ Transplant Act 1987 or the Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act 1972 is determined by the irreversible cessation of circulation of blood and respiration in the body of that person, the person’s death must be certified in the prescribed form by 2 medical practitioners —

(a)

who have not been involved in the care or treatment of the person so certified;

(b)

who do not belong to the team of medical practitioners that will effect the removal of the organ from the body;

(c)

who have not been involved in the selection of the proposed recipient of the organ; and

(d)

who will not be involved in the care or treatment of the proposed recipient of the organ during his or her hospitalisation for the purpose of the transplant.

(6)

If the death of a person from whose body an organ is to be removed after his or her death as authorised under the Human Organ Transplant Act 1987 or the Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act 1972 is determined by the total and irreversible cessation of all functions of the brain of that person, the person’s death must be certified in the prescribed form by 2 medical practitioners —

(a)

who have not been involved in the care or treatment of the person so certified;

(b)

who do not belong to the team of medical practitioners that will effect the removal of the organ from the body;

(c)

who have not been involved in the selection of the proposed recipient of the organ;

(d)

who will not be involved in the care or treatment of the proposed recipient of the organ during his or her hospitalisation for the purpose of the transplant; and

(e)

who possess the prescribed postgraduate medical qualifications.

(7)

The Minister may, for the purposes of all laws or any specified written law, by regulations prescribe —

(a)

the criteria for determining the total and irreversible cessation of all functions of the brain of a person mentioned in subsections (1)(b) and (3); and

(b)

the postgraduate medical qualifications and form of the death certificate for the purposes of subsection (4), (5) or (6).

(8)

Nothing in this section —

(a)

affects the operation of section 110 of the Evidence Act 1893 (burden of proving that a person is alive who has not been heard of for 7 years), section 100 of the Women’s Charter 1961 (proceedings for interim judgment of presumption of death and divorce) or any other written law relating to the presumption of death;

(b)

prevents the certification or determination of death in a case where the body of a person is not found or recovered.

Amended by42/2005

(9)

In this section, “medical practitioner” means a person who is registered, or deemed to be registered, as a medical practitioner under the Medical Registration Act 1997.

Part 2

GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING WRITTEN LAW

Section 3

Acts to be public Acts

Every Act is a public Act, and is to be judicially noticed as such unless the contrary is expressly provided by the Act.

Section 4

Acts to be divided into sections without introductory words

All Acts are to be divided into sections, if there be more enactments than one, which sections are deemed to be substantive enactments without any introductory words.

Section 5

Schedules

Every Schedule to an Act, together with any note thereto, is to be construed and has effect as part of the Act.

Section 6

Subdivisions of Acts

When an Act is divided into Parts, Chapters, titles or other subdivisions, the fact and particulars of the division are, with or without express mention thereof in the Act, to be taken notice of in all courts and for all purposes.

Section 7

Forms

Except as is otherwise expressly provided, whenever forms are prescribed, slight deviations therefrom, not affecting the substance or calculated to mislead, do not invalidate them.

Section 7A

Examples and illustrations

Where an Act includes an example or illustration of the operation of a provision —

(a)

the example or illustration is not to be taken as exhaustive; and

(b)

if the example or illustration is inconsistent with the provision, the provision prevails.

Section 8

Mode of referring to written laws

Amended by4/20214/20214/20214/2021

(1)

It is sufficient for all purposes to refer to a written law —

(a)

in the case of an Act —

(i)

by the year of its enactment and its number among the Acts enacted in that year;

(ii)

where the Act, as enacted or revised, provides that it may be cited by a short title — by that short title; and

(iii)

where the Act is a revised edition published before 1 March 2021 under any law providing for a revised edition — by its chapter number and the year of the revised edition; and

(b)

in the case of a piece of subsidiary legislation that, as made or revised, provides for the manner of its citation — by that citation.

Amended by4/2021

(2)

A reference for the purposes of subsection (1) may be made according to copies of written laws printed by the Government Printer.

Amended by4/2021

(3)

Unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to a written law in accordance with subsection (1) is to be read as a reference to the written law as amended from time to time by any other written law.

Amended by4/2021

(4)

Where —

(a)

a written law is referred to by its short title or citation, whether in any other written law or in any document; and

(b)

the short title or citation is subsequently changed,the reference is to be read, unless the contrary intention appears, as a reference to the changed short title or citation.

Amended by4/2021

Section 9

Construction in an Act of references to sections, etc.

(1)

Where in any Act there is a reference to a section, Part, Chapter or Schedule by number or letter only, and not in conjunction with the title or number of an Act, the reference is to be construed as a reference to the section, Part, Chapter or Schedule of that number or letter contained in the Act in which the reference occurs.

(2)

Where in any section of an Act there is a reference to a subsection, paragraph or sub‑paragraph by number or letter only, the reference is to be construed as a reference to the subsection, paragraph or sub-paragraph of that number or letter contained in the section in which the reference occurs.

(3)

This section applies, with suitable modification, to subsidiary legislation.

Section 9A

Purposive interpretation of written law and use of extrinsic materials

(1)

In the interpretation of a provision of a written law, an interpretation that would promote the purpose or object underlying the written law (whether that purpose or object is expressly stated in the written law or not) is to be preferred to an interpretation that would not promote that purpose or object.

(2)

Subject to subsection (4), in the interpretation of a provision of a written law, if any material not forming part of the written law is capable of assisting in the ascertainment of the meaning of the provision, consideration may be given to that material —

(a)

to confirm that the meaning of the provision is the ordinary meaning conveyed by the text of the provision taking into account its context in the written law and the purpose or object underlying the written law; or

(b)

to ascertain the meaning of the provision when —

(i)

the provision is ambiguous or obscure; or

(ii)

the ordinary meaning conveyed by the text of the provision taking into account its context in the written law and the purpose or object underlying the written law leads to a result that is manifestly absurd or unreasonable.

(3)

Without limiting subsection (2), the material that may be considered in accordance with that subsection in the interpretation of a provision of a written law includes —

(a)

all matters not forming part of the written law that are set out in the document containing the text of the written law as printed by the Government Printer;

(b)

any explanatory statement relating to the Bill containing the provision;

(c)

the speech made in Parliament by a Minister on the occasion of the moving by that Minister of a motion that the Bill containing the provision be read a second time in Parliament;

(d)

any relevant material in any official record of debates in Parliament;

(e)

any treaty or other international agreement that is referred to in the written law; and

(f)

any document that is declared by the written law to be a relevant document for the purposes of this section.

(4)

In determining whether consideration should be given to any material in accordance with subsection (2), or in determining the weight to be given to any such material, regard must be had, in addition to any other relevant matters, to —

(a)

the desirability of persons being able to rely on the ordinary meaning conveyed by the text of the provision taking into account its context in the written law and the purpose or object underlying the written law; and

(b)

the need to avoid prolonging legal or other proceedings without compensating advantage.

Section 9B

Changes to style not to affect meaning

Amended by4/2021

Where —

(a)

a provision of an Act has expressed an idea in a particular form of words; and

(b)

a revised edition or a later provision of that Act, or a later Act, appears to have expressed the same idea in a different form of words for the purpose of using a clearer style,the ideas are not to be taken to be different merely because different forms of words were used.

Section 10

Time of commencement of written law

(1)

A written law or a provision of a written law comes into operation —

(a)

where a particular day for its coming into operation is specified by the written law or by a notification made under the written law — on the expiration of the previous day; or

(b)

where the day of its coming into operation is the date of its publication in the Gazette — on the expiration of the previous day.

(2)

Where a written law is to come into operation on a day specified by a notification made under the written law, the notification may specify different days for different provisions of the written law to come into operation.

Section 11

Effect of repeal of Act on subsidiary legislation made thereunder

Where any Act or part of an Act is repealed, subsidiary legislation issued under or made in virtue thereof remains in force so far as it is not inconsistent with the repealing Act and unless the contrary intention appears until it has been revoked or replaced by subsidiary legislation issued or made under the provisions of the repealing Act.

Section 12

Repeal of repealing laws

Where any written law repealing in whole or in part any former written law is itself repealed, the last repeal does not revive the written law or the provisions previously repealed, unless words are added reviving that written law or those provisions.

Section 13

Repeal of amended law to include amendments

Where any written law which has been amended by any other written law is itself repealed, the repeal is deemed to include the repeal of all written laws or parts of written laws by which the firstmentioned written law has been amended.

Section 14

Repeal and substitution

Where a written law repeals wholly or in part any former written law and substitutes other provision therefor, the repealed written law remains in force until the substituted provision comes into operation.

Section 15

References to amended and re-enacted provisions

(1)

Where in any written law a reference is made to another written law, the reference is, except where the context otherwise requires, deemed to include a reference to the last mentioned written law as the same may from time to time be amended.

(2)

Where any written law repeals and re-enacts, with or without modification, any provision of a former written law, then, unless the contrary intention appears —

(a)

any reference in any other written law to the provision so repealed is to be construed as a reference to the provision so re‑enacted;

(b)

insofar as any subsidiary legislation made or other thing done under the provision so repealed, or having effect as if so made or done, could have been made or done under the provision so re‑enacted, it has effect as if made or done under that provision.

Section 16

Effect of repeal

(1)

Where a written law repeals in whole or in part any other written law, then, unless the contrary intention appears, the repeal does not —

(a)

revive anything not in force or existing at the time at which the repeal takes effect;

(b)

affect the previous operation of any written law so repealed or anything duly done or suffered under any written law so repealed;

(c)

affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred under any written law so repealed;

(d)

affect any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of any offence committed against any written law so repealed; or

(e)

affect any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment as aforesaid; and any such investigation, legal proceeding or remedy may be instituted, continued or enforced, and any such penalty, forfeiture or punishment may be imposed, as if the repealing law had not been passed.

(2)

A reference in this section to the repeal of a written law in whole or in part includes a reference to —

(a)

a repeal effected by implication;

(b)

the abrogation or limitation of the effect of the written law or part; and

(c)

the exclusion of the application of the written law or part to any person, subject matter or circumstance.

(3)

Where a written law expires, lapses or otherwise ceases to have effect, this section applies as if the written law had been repealed by another written law.

(4)

A reference in this section to a part of a written law includes a reference to any provision of, or words, figures, drawings or symbols in, the written law.

Section 17

Construction of amending Act

Where an Act amends or adds to any Act, the amending Act is, so far as is consistent with the tenor thereof, and unless the contrary intention appears, to be construed as one with the amended Act and as part thereof.

Section 18

Effect of expiration of written law

The expiration of a written law does not affect any civil or criminal proceeding previously commenced under the written law, but every such proceeding may be continued and everything in relation thereto may be done in all respects as if the written law continued in force.

Part 3

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

Section 19

General provisions with respect to power given to any authority to make subsidiary legislation

When any Act confers powers on any authority to make subsidiary legislation, the following provisions have effect with reference to the making and operation of the subsidiary legislation unless the contrary intention appears:

(a)

subsidiary legislation may at any time be amended, varied, rescinded or revoked by the same authority and in the same manner by and in which it was made subject to the following provisions:

(i)

where any Act is to come into operation on a date to be fixed by subsidiary legislation, the power to make the subsidiary legislation does not include the power of amending, revoking or suspending the same; and

(ii)

where the authority has been replaced wholly or partially by another authority, the power conferred herein upon the original authority may be exercised by the replacing authority concerning all matters or things within its jurisdiction as if it were the original authority;

(b)

when any Act confers powers on any authority to make subsidiary legislation for any general purpose, and also for any special purpose incidental thereto, the enumeration of the special purposes does not derogate from the generality of the powers conferred with reference to the general purpose; and

(c)

subsidiary legislation made under an Act must not be inconsistent with the provisions of any Act.

Section 20

Additional provisions as to subsidiary legislation

The following provisions also apply to subsidiary legislation:

(a)

authority to make subsidiary legislation includes —

(i)

authority to provide that a contravention thereof shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding $2,000 or with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both as may be specified in the subsidiary legislation;

(ii)

authority to amend any forms prescribed by the written law under which the subsidiary legislation was made;

(iii)

authority to prescribe new forms for the purpose thereof and for the purpose of the subsidiary legislation; and

(iv)

authority to provide for the manner and method in which any document, record, application, permit, approval or licence may be submitted, issued or served by electronic means, or for the authentication thereof;

(b)

authority to provide for fees and charges includes authority to provide for the determination of the manner and method of payment and the reduction, waiver or refund thereof, either generally or in any particular event or case or class of cases or in the discretion of any person; and

(c)

a reference in a written law to another written law includes a reference to any subsidiary legislation made thereunder.

Section 21

Use of defined terms in subsidiary legislation

Where any Act confers powers to make any subsidiary legislation, expressions used in the subsidiary legislation have the same meanings as in the Act conferring the power, unless the contrary intention appears.

Section 22

Anticipatory exercise of powers

Amended by4/2021

Where an Act or any part thereof does not come into operation immediately on its passing and the Act or that part confers power (or amends another Act to confer power) to make subsidiary legislation or to make appointments or to issue notifications or to prescribe forms or to do any other thing for the purposes of the Act or that part (or the Act being amended), then, unless the contrary intention appears, the power may be exercised and any subsidiary legislation, appointment, form or thing made, issued, prescribed or done under the power may be made, issued, prescribed or done so as to take effect at any time after the passing of the Act so far as may be necessary or expedient for the purpose of —

(a)

bringing the Act or that part into operation; or

(b)

giving full effect to the Act or that part (or the other Act as amended) on or after the day on which it comes into operation.

Section 23

Commencement of subsidiary legislation

(1)

Subsidiary legislation made under any Act or other lawful authority —

(a)

unless it is otherwise expressly provided in any Act, must be published in the Gazette; and

(b)

unless it is otherwise provided in the subsidiary legislation, takes effect and comes into operation on the date of its publication.

(2)

Any such subsidiary legislation may be made to operate retrospectively to any date not being a date earlier than the commencement of the Act or the establishment of the authority by or under which the subsidiary legislation is made.

Section 24

Judicial notice of subsidiary legislation

Judicial notice is to be taken of all subsidiary legislation made or purporting to be made under any Act or other lawful authority.

Section 25

Construction of amending subsidiary legislation

Where subsidiary legislation amends other subsidiary legislation, the amending subsidiary legislation is, so far as is consistent with the tenor thereof and unless the contrary intention appears, to be construed as one with the amended subsidiary legislation.

Section 26

Acts done under subsidiary legislation to be deemed to be done under Act

An act is deemed to be done under any Act or by virtue of the powers conferred by any Act or in pursuance or execution of the powers of, or under the authority of any Act, if it is done under, or by virtue of, or in pursuance of, subsidiary legislation made under any power contained in the Act.

Section 26A

Reference to Act to include subsidiary legislation

Amended by28/2000

Unless the contrary intention appears, a reference in any written law to an Act is to be construed so as to include a reference to any subsidiary legislation made under that Act.

Part 4

POWERS AND APPOINTMENTS

Section 27

Construction of provisions as to exercise of powers and duties

(1)

Where a written law confers a power or imposes a duty, then, unless the contrary intention appears, the power may be exercised and the duty must be performed from time to time as occasion requires.

(2)

Where a written law confers a power or imposes a duty on the holder of an office as such, then, unless the contrary intention appears, the power may be exercised and the duty must be performed by the holder of the office for the time being or by a person duly appointed to act for him or her.

(3)

Where any Act confers a power to make subsidiary legislation, to issue any order or to do any act, the power is, unless the contrary intention appears, to be construed as including the power exercisable in like manner and subject to the like consent and conditions (if any) to amend, vary, rescind, revoke or suspend the subsidiary legislation made or order issued or any part thereof or to abstain from doing the act.

Section 28

Power to appoint includes power to dismiss

(1)

Where a written law confers upon any person or authority a power to make appointments to any office or place, the power is, unless the contrary intention appears, to be construed as including a power to dismiss or suspend any person appointed and to appoint another person temporarily in the place of any person so suspended or in place of any sick or absent holder of the office or place.

(2)

Where the power of the person or authority to make appointments is only exercisable upon the recommendation or subject to the approval or consent of some other person or authority, the power of dismissal is, unless the contrary intention appears, only exercisable upon the recommendation or subject to the approval or consent of that other person or authority.

Section 29

Construction of enabling words

(1)

Where a written law confers powers on any person to do or enforce the doing of any act or thing, such powers are to be understood to be also conferred as are reasonably necessary to enable the person to do or enforce the doing of the act or thing.

(2)

Without limiting subsection (1) —

(a)

a power to prohibit or to control or to regulate any matter includes power to provide for the same by the licensing thereof and power to prohibit acts whereby the prohibitions, control or regulations affecting the matter might be evaded;

(b)

a power to grant a licence, permit, authority, approval or exemption includes power to impose reasonable conditions subject to which the licence, permit, authority, approval or exemption may be granted.

Section 30

Appointment of officers by name or office

(1)

Where by or under any Act, the President, a Minister or any public officer or body is empowered to appoint or name a person to have and exercise any powers or perform any duties, the President, Minister, public officer or body may either appoint a person by name or direct the person for the time being holding the office designated by the President, Minister, public officer or body to have and exercise those powers and perform those duties.

(2)

Thereupon, or from the date specified by the President, Minister, public officer or body, the person appointed by name or the person holding the office as mentioned in subsection (1) has and may exercise those powers or perform those duties accordingly.

(3)

Any such appointment may be made with retrospective effect to any date not being a date earlier than the commencement of the Act under which the appointment is made.

Section 31

Official designation to include officer executing duties

When reference is made in any written law, instrument, warrant or process of any kind made or issued by the President, a Minister, any public officer or body or person having authority under any written law to make or to issue the same to any public officer by the term designating his or her office, such public officer includes the officer for the time being executing the duties of that office or any portion of those duties.

Section 32

Appointments having retrospective effect

Any appointment may be declared to have effect as from the date upon which the appointee commenced to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of his or her appointment, not being a date earlier than the date of the commencement of the written law under which the appointment is made.

Section 32A

Power of majority, quorum, etc., of board, etc.

(1)

Where a written law confers a power or function or imposes a duty upon a statutory body consisting of 3 or more persons, the power may be exercised, or the function or duty may be performed, by a majority of those persons.

(2)

Where a statutory body consists of 3 or more persons —

(a)

a quorum is constituted at a meeting of the body by a number of members of the body equal to —

(i)

if the written law establishing the body fixes the number of members of the body — at least half of that number of members; and

(ii)

if the number of persons is not so fixed but is within a range having a maximum or minimum — at least half of the number of members in office; and

(b)

an act or thing done by a majority of the members of the body present at the meeting, if those members constitute a quorum, is to be regarded as having been done by the body.

(3)

At a meeting of a statutory body, the chairperson or other member presiding has a casting as well as a deliberative vote in all matters in which a decision is taken by vote.

(4)

This section is subject to any provision to the contrary in any written law.

(5)

In this section, “statutory body” means a board, commission, committee or similar body, whether corporate or unincorporate, established under a written law.

Section 33

Powers of board, etc., not affected by vacancy, etc.

Where by or under any Act, any board, commission, committee or similar body, whether corporate or unincorporate, is established, then, unless the contrary intention appears, the powers of such board, commission, committee or similar body are not affected by —

(a)

any vacancy in the membership thereof;

(b)

the fact that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment or qualification of a person purporting to be a member thereof; or

(c)

the fact that there was any minor irregularity in the convening of any meeting thereof.

Section 33A

Standard investment power of statutory bodies

Amended by45/2004

Where any written law confers on a statutory body the power to invest any moneys in accordance with the standard investment power of statutory bodies, then, subject to any general or special directions as the Minister charged with responsibility for that statutory body may issue, that statutory body may —

(a)

invest those moneys in the manner it thinks fit; and

(b)

engage in any financial activity or participate in any financial arrangement for the purpose of managing or hedging against any financial risk that arises or is likely to arise from such investment.

Section 34

Signification of orders, etc., of President

(1)

Where any power is conferred upon the President to make any subsidiary legislation or appointment, give any direction, issue any order, authorise any thing or matter to be done, grant any exemption, remit any fee or penalty or exercise any other power under any written law, it is sufficient if the exercise of such power by the President is signified under the hand of any Minister or the Secretary to the Cabinet.

(2)

Subsection (1) does not apply to the power of the President to make or issue any warrants or proclamations which may be made or issued only under the hand of the President himself or herself.

Section 35

Signification of orders, etc., of Minister

Where any written law confers upon a Minister power to make any subsidiary legislation or appointment, give any direction, issue any order, authorise any thing or matter to be done, grant any exemption, remit any fee or penalty or exercise any other power, it is sufficient, unless in the written law it is otherwise provided, if the exercise of such power by the Minister is signified under the hand of the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry for which the Minister is responsible or of any public officer duly authorised in writing by the Minister.

Section 35A

Subsidiary legislation by statutory body, etc.

Amended by5/20185/2018

(1)

Where a statutory body is permitted by any written law to delegate the performance of any of the statutory body’s functions or the exercise of any of the statutory body’s powers, that power to delegate does not extend to the power to make any subsidiary legislation.

Amended by5/2018

(2)

Where any Act confers upon a statutory body power to make subsidiary legislation, it is sufficient, unless in such Act it is otherwise provided, if the exercise of that power by the statutory body is signified under the hand of —

(a)

the chairperson of the statutory body; or

(b)

a member of the statutory body duly authorised by that body to do so in place of the chairperson.

Amended by5/2018

Section 36

Delegation of powers of Minister

(1)

Where in any written law a Minister is empowered to exercise any power or perform any duty, the Minister may, in the absence of any provision of law to the contrary, with the approval of the President and by notification in the Gazette, depute any person by name or the person for the time being discharging the duties of an office designated by the Minister to exercise that power or perform that duty on behalf of the Minister subject to such conditions, exceptions and qualifications as the President may determine.

(2)

Thereupon or from the date specified by the President, the person so deputed has and may exercise that power and perform that duty.

(3)

Nothing in subsection (1) authorises a Minister to depute any person to make subsidiary legislation under the power in that behalf conferred upon the Minister by any Act.

(4)

The Minister may exercise any power or perform any duty conferred upon him or her by an Act despite the delegation by the Minister of that power or duty.

Section 37

Signing of documents

Where in any written law any document is required to be under the hand of or countersigned by a Minister in exercise of any powers conferred thereby, it is sufficient for the document to be under the hand of or signed or countersigned by the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry for which the Minister is responsible or by any public officer duly authorised in writing by the Minister.

Part 5

PENAL PROVISIONS

Section 38

Attempt to commit an offence to be deemed an offence

A provision which constitutes an offence is, unless the contrary intention appears, deemed to provide also that an attempt to commit that offence shall be an offence against the provision, punishable as if the offence itself had been committed.

Section 39

Imposition of penalty not a bar to civil action

The imposition of a penalty by any written law, in the absence of express provision to the contrary, does not relieve any person from liability to answer for damages to a person injured.

Section 40

Provisions as to offences under 2 or more laws

Where any act or omission constitutes an offence under 2 or more written laws, the offender shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be liable to be prosecuted and punished under any one of those written laws but shall not be liable to be punished twice for the same offence.

Section 41

Penalties prescribed to be deemed maximum penalties

Whenever in any written law a penalty is provided for an offence, such provision implies that the offence shall be punishable upon conviction by a penalty not exceeding (except as may be otherwise expressly mentioned in the written law) the penalty provided.

Part 5A

PROVISIONS RELATING TO COURT PROCEEDINGS

Section 41A

Process for making applications to Court in civil proceedings

Amended by42/200542/200542/200542/200542/200542/200542/201440/201942/2005

(1)

Where any written law that provides for an application in any civil proceedings to be made to a Court —

(a)

does not prescribe the process by which the application is to be made; or

(b)

prescribes that the application is to be made by way of a petition, a motion, an originating motion or a summons in chambers,that written law is, in relation to any such application that is made thereunder on or after 1st January 2006, deemed to require that the application must be made —

(c)

by way of an originating summons, if it commences the proceedings; or

(d)

by way of a summons, if it is made in proceedings that are pending.

Amended by42/2005

(2)

Where pursuant to subsection (1) an application is made to a Court under any written law by way of an originating summons or a summons —

(a)

the application must be made in accordance with the Rules of Court;

(b)

the Court may give to the parties to the application any directions that the Court thinks just and expedient for the purpose of facilitating the progress of the application as an application made by originating summons or summons, as the case may be; and

(c)

any provision in that written law that relates to the practice and procedure for making such an application and which is inconsistent with this section or with the Rules of Court has, to the extent of the inconsistency, no effect in relation to that application.

Amended by42/2005

(3)

Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to —

(a)

petitions of appeal; or

(b)

such other class or classes of applications to or proceedings in the Court as may be prescribed under subsection (7).

Amended by42/2005

(4)

Nothing in this section prevents any relief obtainable by way of an application to a Court under any written law from being included as one of the reliefs sought in a writ of summons by which an action is commenced before the Court.

Amended by42/2005

(5)

To avoid doubt, any application that —

(a)

was made to a Court before 1 January 2006 under any written law to which subsection (1) applies; and

(b)

is pending before the Court on or after that date,continues, unless otherwise ordered by the Court, to proceed in accordance with the provisions of the relevant written law and the practice and procedure as were in force and applicable in relation to that application immediately before that date, until the application is finally disposed of by the Court.

Amended by42/2005

(6)

In this section, “Court” means —

(a)

the Court of Appeal or a judge sitting in that Court;

(b)

the Appellate Division of the High Court or a judge sitting in that Division;

(ba)the General Division of the High Court or a judge sitting in that Division;

(c)

a District Court;

(d)

a Magistrate’s Court; and

(e)

such other court as may be prescribed.

Amended by42/200542/201440/2019

(7)

The Minister charged with the responsibility for law may, by order in the Gazette, prescribe —

(a)

the class or classes of applications to or proceedings in the Court to which this section does not apply; and

(b)

any other court in relation to which this section applies.

Amended by42/2005

Section 41B

Renaming of prerogative orders or writs

Amended by42/2005

As from 1 January 2006, the prerogative orders or writs issuable by the High Court as listed in the first column below are to be referred to by the corresponding expressions as set out in the second column and, in all written laws, the expressions as set out in the second column are to be construed accordingly:First column Second column(a)mandamus Mandatory Order(b)certiorari Quashing Order(c)prohibition Prohibiting Order(d)writ of habeas corpus Order for Review of Detention.

Section 41C

References to High Court before 2 January 2021

Amended by40/2019

In any written law enacted or made before 2 January 2021 —

(a)

a provision that confers any jurisdiction or power on the High Court is, on or after that date, to be read as conferring that jurisdiction or power on the General Division of the High Court;

(b)

a reference to an appeal or other process to or from the High Court is, on or after that date, to be read as a reference to an appeal to or from the General Division of the High Court; and

(c)

a power to make subsidiary legislation in relation to proceedings in the High Court is, on or after that date, to be read as a power to make subsidiary legislation in relation to proceedings in both the General Division of the High Court and Appellate Division of the High Court.

Part 6

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 42

Powers of President, Minister or other authority to appoint public officer to serve on board and to appoint chairperson

(1)

Where under the provisions of any Act power is given to the President, a Minister or any other authority to appoint any person to be a member of any board, commission, committee or similar body, it is lawful for the President, Minister or other authority, in the absence of any provision to the contrary, to appoint, by his or her official designation, any public officer.

(2)

On such appointment and until the appointment is cancelled or otherwise determined, the person for the time being holding or carrying out the duties of the office in question is a member of that board, commission, committee or similar body.

(3)

Where under the provisions of any Act power is given to the President, a Minister or any other authority to appoint any board, commission, committee or similar body, it is lawful for the President, Minister or other authority, in the absence of any provision to the contrary, to appoint a chairperson of that board, commission, committee or similar body.

Section 43

Prima facie evidence of signature

Amended by41/2014

Where the fiat, authorisation or sanction of the President, a Minister, the Attorney‑General, a Deputy Attorney‑General, the Solicitor‑General, the Public Prosecutor, a Deputy Public Prosecutor or any public officer is necessary before any prosecution or action is commenced or for any purpose in connection with any proceeding, any document purporting to bear the fiat, authorisation or sanction of the President, Minister, Attorney‑General, Deputy Attorney‑General, Solicitor‑General, Public Prosecutor, Deputy Public Prosecutor or public officer (as the case may be) is to be received as prima facie evidence in any proceeding without proof being given that the signature to such fiat, authorisation or sanction is that of the President, Minister, Attorney‑General, Deputy Attorney‑General, Solicitor‑General, Public Prosecutor, Deputy Public Prosecutor or public officer, as the case may be.

Section 44

Public officers

A reference in any written law to any public officer by the usual or common title of his or her office is, if there is such an office customarily in Singapore and unless the contrary intention appears, to be read and construed as referring to the person for the time being holding or carrying out the duties of that office in Singapore.

Section 45

Act for which payment is required need not be performed until payment is made

(1)

Where any person, public officer, public department or statutory authority is required to do anything for which a fee is to be paid or a charge made under any written law, the person, public officer, public department or statutory authority may decline to do that thing —

(a)

until the fee is paid or payment is made; and

(b)

where the precise amount of the payment to be made cannot be ascertained until the thing is done, until there is paid an amount that may be estimated to be the correct amount by the person, public officer, public department or statutory authority required to do that thing.

(2)

Where a thing has been done for which an estimated amount has been paid, the amount must be adjusted to the correct amount either by means of a further payment or by a refund of the amount overpaid.

Section 46

Fees or charges may be prescribed and may be reduced, varied, remitted or refunded

(1)

Where any act requires to be done or a service performed by a public body, statutory authority or public officer under or in connection with any written law, and no special provision is made thereby or thereunder for making a charge in respect of the act or service, the Minister may, by order in the Gazette, provide for the imposition of any fees or charges that the Minister considers proper.

(2)

Any fee or charge under any written law made payable to the Government or to any public body, statutory authority or public officer, not being a fee or charge which is regulated by Rules of Court, may by order of the Minister be reduced, remitted or refunded, in whole or in part in the circumstances of any particular case.

Section 47

Proceedings not to abate on death, etc., of official

Any civil or criminal proceedings taken by or against any person by virtue of his or her office are not discontinued or abated by his or her death, resignation, absence or removal from office, but may be carried on by or against (as the case may be) the person appointed to perform the duties of the office.

Section 48

Gazette to be evidence of matters therein

All printed copies of the Gazette, purporting to be published by authority and to be printed by the Government Printer, are to be —

(a)

admitted in evidence by all courts and in all legal proceedings without any proof being given that those copies were so published and printed; and

(b)

taken and accepted as prima facie evidence of subsidiary legislation, appointments, notifications and other publications therein printed and of the matters and things contained in such subsidiary legislation, appointments, notifications and publications, respectively.

Section 48A

Service of documents

(1)

Where a written law authorises or requires a document to be served on a person, whether the expression “serve”, “give” or “send” or any other expression is used, then, unless the contrary intention appears, the document may be served —

(a)

in the case of an individual —

(i)

by delivering it to the individual personally; or

(ii)

by leaving it at, or by sending it by prepaid post to, the usual or last known address of the place of residence or business of the individual;

(b)

in the case of a partnership —

(i)

by delivering it to the secretary or other like officer of the partnership; or

(ii)

by leaving it at, or by sending it by prepaid post to, the principal or last known place of business of the partnership in Singapore;

(c)

in the case of a body corporate —

(i)

by delivering it to the secretary or other like officer of the body corporate; or

(ii)

by leaving it at, or by sending it by prepaid post to, the registered office or a principal office of the body corporate in Singapore.

(2)

Nothing in subsection (1) —

(a)

affects the operation of any written law that authorises the service of a document otherwise than as provided in that subsection; or

(b)

affects the power of a court to authorise service of a document otherwise than as provided in that subsection.

Section 49

Measurement of distance

In the measurement of any distance for the purposes of any written law, that distance must, unless the contrary intention appears, be measured in a straight line on a horizontal plane.

Section 50

Computation of time

In computing time for the purposes of any written law, unless the contrary intention appears —

(a)

a period of days from the happening of an event or the doing of any act or thing is deemed to be exclusive of the day on which the event happens or the act or thing is done;

(b)

if the last day of the period is a Sunday or a public holiday (which days are called in this section excluded days) the period includes the next following day not being an excluded day; (c)when any act or proceeding is directed or allowed to be done or taken on a certain day, then, if that day happens to be an excluded day, the act or proceeding is considered as done or taken in due time if it is done or taken on the next day afterwards, not being an excluded day; (d)when any act or proceeding is directed or allowed to be done or taken within any time not exceeding 6 days, excluded days must not be reckoned in the computation of the time.

Section 51

Standard time

(1)

Where any expression of time occurs in any written law or in any instrument and whenever the doing or not doing anything at a certain time of the day or night or during a certain part of the day or night has an effect in law, that time is, unless it is otherwise specifically stated, held to be standard time as declared by this section.

(2)

“Standard time” means standard time as used in Singapore, namely, 8 hours, or such other period as may from time to time be determined by the President by notification in the Gazette, in advance of Coordinated Universal Time.

Section 52

Provision when no time prescribed

Where no time is prescribed or allowed within which anything is to be done, that thing is to be done with all convenient speed and as often as the prescribed occasion arises.

Section 53

Construction of power of extending time

Where in any written law a time is prescribed for doing any act or taking any proceeding and power is given to a court or other authority to extend the time, unless the contrary intention appears, the power may be exercised by the court or other authority although the application for the extension is not made until after the expiration of the time prescribed.

Section 54

Saving of rights of Government

No Act affects in any manner the rights of the Government unless it is therein expressly provided, or unless it appears by necessary implication, that the Government is bound thereby.

Section 55

Act to bind Government

This Act binds the Government.

Section 1

Short title

This Act is the Interpretation Act 1965.

Common questions

What is Interpretation Act 1965?: Interpretation Act 1965 is Singapore Act, cited as Act IA 1965, currently marked in force and first recorded in 1965.
Is Interpretation Act 1965 still in force?: Yes — Interpretation Act 1965 is currently in force.
When did Interpretation Act 1965 take effect?: Interpretation Act 1965 was first recorded in 1965.
How many sections does Interpretation Act 1965 have?: Interpretation Act 1965 contains 67 sections.
What amends Interpretation Act 1965?: Interpretation Act 1965 has been amended by Act 11 of 1993, Act 28 of 2000, Act 22 of 1998, Act 42 of 2005, and Act 11 of 1991, and 18 others.
Where can I read the official version of Interpretation Act 1965?: The official text of Interpretation Act 1965 is published at sso.agc.gov.sg.

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Singapore law

Reference: Act IA 1965
Version shown: English, as at 2020
Status of this text: Official text

Legislative history

You are reading the rev_ed_2020 text. It does not yet incorporate Act 4 of 2021 — read it alongside this text for the current wording.

Enacted 1965. Current status: In force

Amendment history of Interpretation Act 1965
Amending instrument	Year
Act 14 of 1969	1969
Act 11 of 1991	1991
Act 11 of 1993	1993
Act 16 of 1993	1993
Act 4 of 1996	1996
Act 7 of 1997	1997
Act 22 of 1998	1998
Act 25 of 1998	1998
Act 28 of 2000	2000
Act 26 of 2001	2001
Act 9 of 2003	2003
Act 45 of 2004	2004
Act 42 of 2005	2005
Act 42 of 2014	2014
Act 41 of 2014	2014
Act 27 of 2014	2014
Act 19 of 2018	2018
Act 5 of 2018	2018
Act 40 of 2019	2019
Act 4 of 2021	2021
7/97,25/98	—
Cap. 1, N 1	—
S 392/81	—

Primary source

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Structured from sso.agc.gov.sg. Last updated 1 Aug 2026. How we source & verify