Co-operative Societies Act 1979
Table of Contents
Long Title
Part 1 PRELIMINARY
1 Short title
2 Interpretation
3 Appointment of Registrar, etc.
Part 2 FORMATION AND REGISTRATION OF SOCIETIES
4 Characteristics required for registration, etc.
5 Conditions of registration
6 Name of society
7 Application for registration
8 Requirements before registration
9 Registration
9A Modifying of terms and conditions of registration
10 Evidence of registration
10A Registers
Part 3 PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES OF SOCIETIES
11 Societies to be bodies corporate
12 Acts of societies not to be invalidated by certain defects
13 Power to federate
14 Power to make by-laws
15 Amendment and registration of by-laws
16 By-laws to bind members
16A Conversion from non-credit society to credit society
16B Control of credit societies
16BA Conversion from credit society to non-credit society on application
16BB Modifying of terms and conditions of written approval
16C Change of name of society
17 Address of society
18 Register of members and shares
19 Relevant particulars of officers of society
20 Copy of this Act, Rules, by-laws and list of members open to inspection
21 Contracts with members
22 Imposition of fines upon members
23 Creation of charges in favour of societies
24 Charge and set-off in respect of shares or interest of members
25 Shares or interest not liable to attachment or sale
26 Transfer of shares or interest where member dies or lacks capacity
27 Deposits by or on behalf of minors
28 Contracts with members of society who are minors
29 Proof of entries in books of society
30 (Repealed)
31 (Repealed)
32 Submission of minutes, returns and statements
32A Documents, etc., to be in English
32B Keeping of records and documents, etc.
32C Duty to inform Registrar of certain developments, etc.
33 Audit of societies
33A Special audit of societies
34 Annual reports, accounts and financial statements
35 Duties of auditor
36 Audit committees
37 (Repealed)
Part 4 RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF MEMBERS
38 Original members
39 Qualifications for membership
40 Members not to exercise rights until due payment made
41 (Repealed)
42 Votes of members
42A Statement of account
43 Restriction on shareholding
44 Restriction on transfer of shares or interest
45 Nomination
46 Liability of member limited by shares or by guarantee
47 Liability of past member and of estate of deceased member for debts of society
48 Right of member to withdraw from society
49 Expulsion of member
Part 5 ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SOCIETIES
50 General meeting
51 Meeting of delegates
52 First meeting
53 Annual general meeting
54 Functions of annual general meeting
55 Extraordinary general meeting
56 Quorum at general meeting
57 Voting at general meeting
58 Minutes of general meeting
59 Constitution of committee of management of society
59A Registrar may appoint individuals to committee of management
59B Officers to be appointed for prescribed societies
60 Eligibility for membership of committee of management, or to be key employee
61 Functions of committee of management
62 Meetings of committee of management
63 Liability of members of committee of management of society
64 Disclosure of interests in transactions, property, offices, etc.
65 Restrictions relating to honoraria, etc., of members of committee of management and employees
65A Suspension of officers
Part 6 PROPERTY AND FUNDS OF SOCIETIES
66 Capital
66A Ordinary shares
66B Permanent shares
67 Restrictions on loans
68 Restrictions on borrowing
69 Investment of funds
70 (Repealed)
71 Contributions to Central Co-operative Fund and Singapore Labour Foundation
72 Distribution of net surplus
72A Allocation, distribution and payment of reserves
73 Bonus certificates and bonus shares
Part 7 AMALGAMATION AND TRANSFER
74 Amalgamation of societies
75 Transfer of societies
Part 8 DUTIES AND POWERS OF REGISTRAR
76 (Repealed)
77 Power to inspect materials, etc.
78 (Repealed)
79 Inquiry by Registrar
80 Examination of materials of indebted society on creditor’s application
81 Communication of findings on working of societies
82 Costs of special audit, inquiry and examination
83 Dissolution of societies
84 Powers of liquidator
85 Powers of Registrar to control liquidation
86 Enforcement of order
87 Limitation of jurisdiction of civil court
88 Disposal of assets on liquidation
89 Cancellation of registration
90 Surcharge and attachment
91 Settlement of disputes
92 Case stated on question of law
93 Miscellaneous powers of Registrar
93A Conversion of credit society to non-credit society, etc., on failure to comply with prudential requirements
93B Codes, guidelines, etc., by Registrar
94 Powers of Registrar where committee of management of society not performing duties properly, etc.
94A Powers of Registrar to protect interests of members or property of society
Part 9 MISCELLANEOUS
95 Power of Minister to make rules
95A Foreign co-operative societies
96 Special power of Minister to grant exemption from requirements as to registration
97 Special power of Minister to exempt societies from provisions of this Act
97A General exemption
97B Amendment of Schedule
97C Power to freeze bank accounts
98 Recovery of sums due to Government
99 Prohibition on use of word "co-operative"
100 General penalty
100A False reports made by officer to member of committee of management, auditor or member of society
100AA Wilful falsification of book, etc., of society
100AB Unlawful alteration, suppression, etc., of documents
100B Fraudulently inducing persons to invest or deposit money with society
100BA False or misleading statement or information to induce person to join society, etc.
100C Fraud by officers against creditors of societies
100D Offences by bodies corporate, etc.
100E Jurisdiction of court
100F Composition of offences
101 Certain Acts not to apply
Legislative History
Abbreviations
Comparative Table