Section 13

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 the individual who wants to be determined to be a Pioneer or Merdeka Generation Senior;

with the approval of the individual, by another person on behalf of that individual; or

where the individual is unable, by reason of physical or mental incapacity, to approve a person to make the verification application, by a donee under a lasting power of attorney executed by the individual but only to the extent permitted by the Mental Capacity Act 2008.

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.

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.