Singapore legislation
Section 13
Section 13
Existing laws
(1)
Subject to the provisions of this section, all existing laws shall continue in force on and after Singapore Day, but all such laws shall be construed as from Singapore Day with such modifications, adaptations, qualifications and exceptions as may be necessary to bring them into conformity with this Act and with the independent status of Singapore upon separation from Malaysia.
(2)
Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), in any existing law which continues in force after Singapore Day, unless the context otherwise requires —
any reference to the Colony or to the State of Singapore shall be construed as a reference to the Republic of Singapore;
any reference to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall be construed as a reference to the President;
any reference to the Yang di-Pertuan Negara shall be construed as a reference to the President;
any reference to the Cabinet or to the Prime Minister or a Minister of Malaysia shall be construed as a reference to the Cabinet or to the Prime Minister or the appropriate Minister of Singapore;
any reference to the Parliament or to the House of Representatives of Malaysia shall be construed as a reference to the Parliament of Singapore;
any reference to the Legislative Assembly shall be construed as a reference to the Parliament of Singapore;
any reference to the Attorney-General of Malaysia shall be construed as a reference to the Attorney-General of Singapore;
any reference to the State Advocate-General of Singapore shall be construed as a reference to the Attorney-General of Singapore; and
any reference to any person holding a public office under the Government of Malaysia or to any other authority or body constituted under the Constitution of Malaysia or any written law of Malaysia shall be construed as a reference to the corresponding public officer or corresponding authority or body of Singapore.
(3)
The President may, by order made at any time during the period of 3 years after the coming into operation of this Act and published in the Gazette, make such modifications in any written law as appear to him to be necessary or expedient in consequence of the enactment of this Act and in consequence of the independence of Singapore upon separation from Malaysia.
(b)
Any order made under this subsection may be amended or repealed by a further order so made.
(c)
An order made under this subsection shall have effect from such date, not being earlier than Singapore Day, as may be specified therein.
(d)
An order made under this subsection shall be presented to Parliament as soon as possible after it is made.
(4)
Without prejudice to the generality of the powers contained in subsection (3), the President may by order make such modifications in any written law as appear to him to be necessary or expedient in consequence of the abolition of the City Council and of the Rural Board and of the assumption of the powers of the local authorities by the Government.
(5)
The Prime Minister may by order declare which Minister is the appropriate Minister for the purpose of subsection (2)(d) and may similarly declare who is the corresponding public officer or which is the corresponding authority or body referred to in subsection (2)(i).
(6)
In subsection (3), “modification” includes amendment, adaptation and repeal and in relation to any law of Malaysia or of the United Kingdom for the time being in force in Singapore includes power to declare that such law shall cease to apply to Singapore.
(7)
In this section —
Definition
“existing law” means any law including written law having effect as part of the law of Singapore prior to Singapore Day; and
Definition
“written law” includes the Constitution of Malaysia and the Constitution of Singapore and all Acts, Ordinances and enactments by whatever name called and subsidiary legislation made thereunder for the time being in force in Singapore.