Constitution of the Republic of Singapore · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 12 · Special Powers Against Subversion and Emergency Powers
151. Restrictions on preventive detention
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2019. 2 amendments in all.
Where any law or ordinance made or promulgated in pursuance of this Part provides for preventive detention —
law
“law” includes written law and any legislation of the United Kingdom or other enactment or instrument whatsoever which is in operation in Singapore and the common law in so far as it is in operation in Singapore and any custom or usage having the force of law in Singapore;
the authority on whose order any person is detained under that law or ordinance shall as soon as may be, inform him of the grounds for his detention and, subject to clause (3), the allegations of fact on which the order is based, and shall give him the opportunity of making representations against the order as soon as may be; and
no citizen of Singapore shall be detained under that law or ordinance for a period exceeding 3 months unless an advisory board constituted as mentioned in clause (2) has considered any representations made by him under paragraph (a) and made recommendations thereon to the President.
An advisory board constituted for the purposes of this Article shall consist of a chairman, who shall be appointed by the President and who shall be or have been, or be qualified to be, a Supreme Court Judge, and 2 other members, who shall be appointed by the President after consultation with the Chief Justice.
This Article does not require any authority to disclose facts the disclosure of which would, in its opinion, be against the national interest.
Where an advisory board constituted for the purposes of this Article recommends the release of any person under any law or ordinance made or promulgated in pursuance of this Part, the person shall not be detained or further detained without the concurrence of the President, acting in his discretion, if the recommendations of the advisory board are not accepted by the authority on whose advice or order the person is detained.
President
“President” means the President of Singapore elected under this Constitution and includes any person for the time being exercising the functions of the office of President;