126. Amendment of Societies Act 1966

The Societies Act 1966 is amended —

by inserting, immediately before the words “includes any” in the definition of “political association” in section 2, the words “means a political party and”;

by deleting the words “the national interest” in section 4(2)(d) and substituting the words “Singapore’s national security or interest”;

by inserting, immediately after the words “concerning the society” in section 10(1), the words “(such as but not limited to the patron of the society and every person managing or assisting in the management, of that society in Singapore)”; (d)by inserting, immediately after the words “in Singapore” in section 24(1)(a), the words “or against Singapore’s national security or interest”; (e)by deleting the words “the national interest” in section 24(1)(e) and substituting the words “Singapore’s national security or interest”; and

by inserting, immediately after subsection (1) of section 24, the following subsection:“(1A) For the purpose of subsection (1)(a), a certificate issued by the Minister charged with the responsibility for internal security stating that the Minister is satisfied that the society referred to in the certificate is being used for purposes against Singapore’s national security or interest is conclusive evidence that the society is being used for such purposes.”.