Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act 1990 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 3 · Restraining Orders
9. Restraining orders against other persons
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Where the Minister is satisfied that —
any person is inciting, instigating or encouraging any religious group or religious institution or any person mentioned in subsection (1) of section 8 to commit any of the acts specified in that subsection;
any person, other than persons mentioned in subsection (1) of section 8, has committed or is committing, or is likely to commit, or has attempted or is attempting to commit any of the acts specified in paragraph (a) of that subsection,the Minister may make a restraining order against the person.
Without limiting subsection (1), an order made under this section may restrain the person named in the order from addressing or advising any religious group or religious institution or any member thereof, or requiring the person named in the order to stop undertaking any communications activity involving information or material, concerning or affecting the relations between that religious group or religious institution and the Government or any other religious group or religious institution.
religious group
“religious group” includes —(a)any company or other body corporate incorporated under the Companies Act 1967 or any other written law for the purpose of promoting any religion, religious worship or dealing with religious affairs or practising, conducting, teaching or propagating any religious belief; and(b)any body of persons, whether or not registered as a society under the Societies Act 1966, whose object is the promotion of any religion, religious worship or the practice, conduct, teaching or propagating of any religious belief.
Subject to section 12, a restraining order made under this section has effect for such period, not exceeding 2 years, as may be specified in the order.
Before making an order under subsection (1), the Minister is not required to give any person notice of, or consult any person on, the Minister’s intention to make that order.
After making an order under subsection (1) against a person, the Minister must immediately give, or cause to be given, a copy of the order, and the grounds, facts and documents supporting the order, to —
that person; and
the head or governing body of the religious group or religious institution named in the order.
The order made under subsection (1) against a person takes effect on the date it is given to the person, who must comply with the order.