Singapore legislation

Clause 4

Registration of societies and refusal to register

(1)

Subject to the provisions of this section the Registrar shall upon application by any society and on payment of the prescribed fee register such society.

(2)

The Registrar shall refuse to register a society if he is satisfied that —

(a)

the rules of the society are insufficient to provide for its proper management and control;

(b)

the society is likely to be used for unlawful purposes or for purposes prejudicial to public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore;

(c)

the application for registration does not comply with the provisions of this Act or any regulations made thereunder;

(d)

it would be contrary to the national interest for the society to be registered; or

(e)

in the case of any society which is a political association, its rules do not provide for its membership to be confined to citizens of Singapore or it has such affiliation or connection with any organisation outside Singapore as is considered by the Registrar to be contrary to the national interest.

(3)

The Registrar may refuse to register a society if —

(a)

he is satisfied that such a society is a branch of or is affiliated to or connected with any society which has been dissolved under section 24 of this Act or under the provisions of any previous written law relating to societies or which has been previously refused registration;

(b)

a dispute exists among the members of such a society as to the persons who are to be officers or to hold or to administer any property of the society; or

(c)

it appears to him that the name under which the society is to be registered —

(i)

is likely to mislead members of the public as to the true character or purpose of the society or so nearly resembles the name of some other society as is likely to deceive the members of the public or members of either society;

(ii)

is identical to that of any other existing society; or

(iii)

is in the opinion of the Registrar undesirable.

(4)

Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Registrar under this section may within thirty days from the date of the decision appeal to the Minister whose decision shall be final.

(5)

Every registration effected in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be notified in the Gazette.

Read in full context — Societies Bill →