Clause 17

by deleting subsection (1) and substituting the following subsection:“(1) For the purpose of determining —

whether a citizen referred to in section 12(2) is a Pioneer for the purposes of this Act; or

whether a citizen referred to in section 12A(2) is a Merdeka Generation Senior for the purposes of this Act,the Appeals Panel must have regard to, and give such weight as the Panel considers appropriate to, all of such matters as are prescribed by regulations.”;

by inserting, immediately after the words “section 12(2)” in subsection (2), the words “or 12A(2)”;

by inserting, immediately after the words “a Pioneer” in subsection (2), the words “or Merdeka Generation Senior (as the case may be)”;

by deleting the words “Pioneer Generation” in subsections (2), (6) and (8);

by inserting, immediately after the words “a Pioneer” in subsections (3)(a) and (6) and in the section heading, the words “or Merdeka Generation Senior”;

by deleting subsection (4) and substituting the following subsection:“(4) However, a verification application must be made no later than —

in the case of a verification application for a determination to be a Pioneer, the closing date specified by the Minister under subsection (5) for this type of verification applications; or

in the case of a verification application for a determination to be a Merdeka Generation Senior, the closing date specified by the Minister under subsection (5) for this type of verification applications,and the Appeals Panel must reject any verification application made after the applicable closing date.”;

by deleting the words “the closing date” in subsection (5) and substituting the words “a closing date”; and

by deleting subsection (7) and substituting the following subsection:“(7) If the Appeals Panel determines that —

a citizen of Singapore referred to in section 12(2) is a Pioneer for the purposes of this Act; or

a citizen of Singapore referred to in section 12A(2) is a Merdeka Generation Senior for the purposes of this Act,the Panel may, where suitable, state that the citizen of Singapore is a Pioneer or a Merdeka Generation Senior (as the case may be) with effect from a date before the date of its decision, but not a date earlier than when the verification application (if made) for that citizen of Singapore was received by the Panel.”.