Singapore legislation
Clause 3
of COVID-19 (Temporary Measures for Solemnization and Registration of Marriages) Bill
Clause 3
Marriages and revocation of divorces under Administration of Muslim Law Act using remote communication technology
(1)
Despite anything in section 95(2)(b) or (4), 101(6) or (8), 102(1)(a) or (2)(a) or 103(1), (3) or (5) of the Administration of Muslim Law Act (Cap. 3) requiring, or relating to, the presence or appearance of any person to perform any act, or to witness or attest the doing of anything under any of those provisions, such person is taken to be present or to appear for that purpose during the specified period if —
the person, with the permission of the Registrar, attends and performs that act, or witnesses or attests the doing of that thing, through the use of a live video or live television link that is created using a remote communication technology approved by the Registrar;
the person complies with such conditions that the Registrar considers necessary or expedient to impose relating to the use of the remote communication technology;
the Registrar is satisfied that there are sufficient administrative and technical facilities and arrangements made at the place where the person is located; and
the following persons are all in Singapore:
in relation to a marriage to which Part VI of the Administration of Muslim Law Act applies — both parties to the marriage, the witnesses (if required) and the wali (if any) of the woman to be wedded;
in relation to a revocation of divorce to which Part VI of the Administration of Muslim Law Act applies — both parties to the revocation of divorce and the witnesses (if required).
(2)
Despite section 102(1)(b) of the Administration of Muslim Law Act requiring any registration, or solemnization and registration, of a marriage to be conducted at any place mentioned in that provision, such registration, or solemnization and registration, may be conducted during the specified period using a remote communication technology in accordance with this section.
(3)
Despite section 103(3) of the Administration of Muslim Law Act, the requirement for an entry in the Register of Marriages, certificate of marriage, Register of Revocation of Divorces or certificate of revocation of divorce (as the case may be) to be signed by the persons mentioned in that provision is deemed to be satisfied if the persons each sign on such document as is required by the Registrar, when communicating with one another using a remote communication technology in accordance with this section.
(4)
The Minister may, by order in the Gazette, declare that this section ceases to apply in relation to all or any matter under this section.
(5)
In this section —
Definition
“control measure” and “COVID‑19” have the meanings given by section 2(6);
Definition
“Minister” means the Minister charged with the responsibility for the registration of Muslim marriages;
Definition
“Registrar” has the meaning given by section 2 of the Administration of Muslim Law Act;
Definition
“specified period” means —
any period a control measure is in force; or
any further period that the Minister, having determined that it is necessary or expedient for the purposes of conducting any matter under this section in a safe and efficient manner and to prevent the spread of COVID‑19, prescribes by order in the Gazette.