SINGAPORE LEGISLATION

• Citation: (2003) 15 SAcLJ 167
• Author: EMILY TEO AND ANDREW ABRAHAM
• Published date: 01 December 2003
• Date: 01 December 2003

Digest of Acts passed between 1st September 2002 and 28th February 2003

(correct as at 1st April 2003)

Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act 2002

Act No. 29 of 2002

Long Title: An Act to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act (Chapter 241 of the 1993 Revised Edition) and to make related amendments to the Home Affairs Uniformed Services Superannuation Act (Chapter 126B of the 2002 Revised Edition) and the Pension Fund Act (Chapter 224A of the 1996 Revised Edition).

Passed by Parliament on: 31 October 2002

Assented to by President on: 12 November 2002

Publication date: 20 November 2002

Commencement date: 30 January 2003

Summary: This Act seeks to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act (Cap. 241) for the purpose of establishing an Occupational Superannuation Scheme (the “Scheme”) for public officers in the Corrupt Practices Investigation Schemes of Service, and to make related amendments to the Home Affairs Uniformed Services Superannuation Act (Cap. 126B) and the Pension Fund Act (Cap. 224A).

New sections 4A to 4F are inserted in connection with the Scheme. The Minister is empowered to make regulations establishing the Scheme and providing for payments of any gratuity, allowance, superannuation or other like benefit to members of the Scheme or to their legal personal representatives or dependants on the death of the member in the service of or on the resignation, retirement or discharge of the person from the service as a CPIB officer. The Scheme will also provide for compensation or other benefits in respect of the death of or injuries received by any member and post-retirement benefits for former members.

Related Legislation: Home Affairs Uniformed Services Superannuation Act (Cap. 126B), Pension Fund Act (Cap. 224A)

Arms and Explosives (Amendment) Act 2002

Act No. 30 of 2002

Long Title: An Act to amend the Arms and Explosives Act (Chapter 13 of the 1985 Revised Edition) to give effect to the Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives for the Purpose of Detection concluded in Montreal on 1st March 1991 and for other miscellaneous purposes.

Passed by Parliament on: 31 October 2002

Assented to by President on: 12 November 2002

Publication date: 18 November 2002

Commencement date: 21 March 2003

Summary: This Act seeks to make several amendments to the Arms and Explosives Act (Cap. 13). New sections 3A to 3D are introduced and these sections deal with the prohibition on the manufacture, possession, transfer of possession, importation and exportation of unmarked plastic explosives. Section 9 is repealed and re-enacted to enable the Minister to appoint a Licensing Officer and such number of Assistant Licensing Officers as he may consider necessary for the purposes of the Act and to empower the Licensing Officer to issue licences on payment of prescribed fees and charges. The penalties for offences under sections 20, 21, 23 and 32(2) have been substantially increased.

Housing and Development (Amendment) Act 2002

Act No. 31 of 2002

Long Title: An Act to amend the Housing and Development Act (Chapter 129 of the 1997 Revised Edition).

Passed by Parliament on: 31 October 2002

Assented to by President on: 12 November 2002

Publication date: 18 December 2002

Commencement date: 1 January 2003

Summary: This Act seeks to amend the Housing and Development Act (Cap. 129) for the following purposes:

1. (a) to enable a poll to be conducted for lift upgrading and other special upgrading works among lessees of HDB flats who benefit from the works;

2. (b) to require a lessee of an HDB flat to seek the prior written approval of the Housing and Development Board (HDB) before using or allowing his flat to be used for a purpose that is not for the purpose permitted by the lease, a breach of which entitles the HDB to forfeit or compulsorily acquire the flat;

1. (c) to allow an approved mortgagee or statutory chargee to attach an HDB flat in exercise of its powers under the mortgage or charge, as the case may be;

2. (d) to allow the Minister to make rules with respect to the terms and conditions which may be imposed by the HDB when the HDB consents to a sale, lease, mortgage or disposal of an HDB flat; and

3. (e) to make improvements for the better administration of the Act.

Estate Duty (Amendment) Act 2002

Act No. 32 of 2002

Long Title: An Act to amend the Estate Duty Act (Chapter 96 of the 2001 Revised Edition).

Passed by Parliament on: 31 October 2002

Assented to by President on: 12 November 2002

Publication date: 18 November 2002

Commencement date: 18 November 2002

Summary: This Act seeks to amend the Estate Duty Act (Cap. 96) to provide that no estate duty shall be payable —

1. (a) in respect of any movable property passing on the death of a person dying on or after 1 January 2002 who is not domiciled in Singapore at the time of his death;

2. (b) in respect of any gift of any property passing on the death of a person to the Government or any institution of a public character within the meaning of section 37(9) of the Income Tax Act (Cap. 134) if the gift —

   1. (i) is made on or after 1 January 2002 but before the issue of a notice of assessment by the Commissioner of Estate Duty under section 37;

   2. (ii) is not a property which is deemed as property passing under section 7(1)(c); and

   3. (iii) has been accepted by the Government or the institution of a public character, as the case may be;

3. (c) in respect of any gift of money or any other gift approved by the Minister or a person appointed by him, made on or after 1

1. April 1987 to any museum approved by the Minister or a person appointed by him.

Property Tax (Amendment) Act 2002

Act No. 33 of 2002

Long Title: An Act to amend the Property Tax Act (Chapter 254 of the 1997 Revised Edition).

Passed by Parliament on: 31 October 2002

Assented to by President on: 12 November 2002

Publication date: 9 December 2002

Commencement date: 1 January 2003

Summary: This Act seeks to amend the Property Tax Act (Cap. 254) for the following main purposes:

1. (a) to change the payment of property tax from twice a year to once a year in January;

2. (b) to abolish the public inspection of and objection to the Valuation List for the following year in the month of August;

3. (c) to allow taxpayers to lodge objections to the annual values of their properties at any time during the current year;

4. (d) to allow the Comptroller to impose a penalty not exceeding 5% of the unpaid tax immediately upon the expiration of the time period stipulated for payment and to dispense with the need to issue a notice of demand before the penalty can be imposed; and

5. (e) to establish a Street and Building Names Board to determine or alter the name of any building, estate or street.

Media Development Authority of Singapore Act 2002

Act No. 34 of 2002

Long Title: An Act to establish and incorporate the Media Development Authority of Singapore, to provide for its functions and powers, and for matters connected therewith, to amend...