Societies Act 1966
2020 REVISED EDITION
This revised edition incorporates all amendments up to and including 1 December 2021 and comes into operation on 31 December 2021
An Act relating to societies.
[27 January 1967]
Short title
1.  This Act is the Societies Act 1966.
Interpretation
2.  In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —
“Assistant Registrar” means an Assistant Registrar of Societies appointed under section 3;
“officer” means the president, the secretary and members of the committee of a society and includes persons holding positions analogous to those of president, secretary or member of a committee;
[Deleted by Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
“political association” means a political party and includes any society which the Minister may by order declare to be a political association;
[Act 28 of 2021 wef 07/07/2022]
“registered address”, in relation to a registered society, means the address of the society that is kept and maintained with the Registrar as the registered address of the society;
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
“registered society” means a society registered or deemed to be registered under this Act;
“Registrar” means the Registrar of Societies appointed under section 3;
“regulations” means regulations made under this Act;
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
“rules”, in relation to a society, includes —
(a)the aims and objects for which a society is formed, or which it may pursue, or for which its funds may be applied;
(b)the qualifications for membership and for the holding of any office;
(c)the method of appointment or election to any office;
(d)the rules by which the society is to be governed; and
(e)the method and manner by and in which any of the above matters may be amended;
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
“society” includes any club, company, partnership or association of 10 or more persons, whatever its nature or object, but does not include —
(a)any company registered under any written law relating to companies for the time being in force in Singapore;
(b)any company or association constituted under any written law;
(c)any limited liability partnership registered under the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005;
(d)any trade union registered or required to be registered under any written law relating to trade unions for the time being in force in Singapore;
(da)any platform work association registered or required to be registered under the Platform Workers Act 2024;
[Act 30 of 2024 wef 01/11/2024]
(e)any cooperative society registered as such under any written law;
(f)any mutual benefit organisation registered as such under any written law relating to mutual benefit organisations for the time being in force in Singapore;
(g)any company, association or partnership, consisting of not more than 20 persons, formed for the sole purpose of carrying on any lawful business that has for its object the acquisition of gain by the company, association or partnership, or the individual members thereof;
(h)any class, society or association of foreign insurers carrying on insurance business in Singapore under any foreign insurer scheme established under Part 2A of the Insurance Act 1966; or
(i)any school or management committee of a school constituted under any law regulating schools for the time being in force in Singapore.
Appointment of Registrar and Assistant Registrars
3.  The Minister may appoint by name or office a Registrar of Societies and such Assistant Registrars as may be necessary.
Registration of specified societies and refusal to register
4.—(1)  Subject to this section, the Registrar may, upon the application of a society specified in the Schedule (called in this Act a specified society) and on payment of the fee prescribed for an application under this section, register the society under this section.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(2)  The Registrar shall refuse to register a specified society if he is satisfied that —
(a)the rules of the specified society are insufficient to provide for its proper management and control;
(b)the specified society is likely to be used for unlawful purposes or for purposes prejudicial to public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore;
(c)the application for registration does not comply with the provisions of this Act or any regulations made thereunder;
(d)it would be contrary to Singapore’s national security or interest for the specified society to be registered; or
[Act 28 of 2021 wef 07/07/2022]
(e)in the case of any specified society which is a political association, its rules do not provide for its membership to be confined to citizens of Singapore or it has such affiliation or connection with any organisation outside Singapore as is considered by the Registrar to be contrary to Singapore’s national security or interest.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(3)  The Registrar may refuse to register a specified society if —
(a)he is satisfied that the specified society is a branch of or is affiliated to or connected with any society which has been dissolved under section 24 or under any previous written law relating to societies or which has been previously refused registration;
(b)a dispute exists among the members of the specified society as to the persons who are to be officers or to hold or to administer any property of the specified society; or
(c)it appears to him that the name under which the specified society is to be registered —
(i)is likely to mislead members of the public as to the true character or purpose of the specified society or so nearly resembles the name of some other society as is likely to deceive the members of the public or members of either society;
(ii)is identical to that of any other existing society; or
(iii)is in the opinion of the Registrar undesirable.
(3A)  The Registrar may also refuse to register a specified society under this section unless the rules of the society include such provisions or exclude such provisions (as the case may be) as the Registrar may direct.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(4)  Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Registrar under this section may within 30 days from the date of the decision appeal to the Minister whose decision shall be final.
(5)  The Registrar shall, by notification in the Gazette, publish such particulars as he thinks fit in respect of every specified society registered under this section.
Registration of societies not specified in Schedule
4A.—(1)  A society may apply to be registered under this section if it is not a specified society.
(2)  An application for registration under this section shall be accompanied by —
(a)the fee prescribed for an application under this section;
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(b)a copy of the proposed rules of the society;
(c)a declaration in such form as the Registrar may require as to the object, purpose or activity of the society; and
(d)such other documents and duly completed forms as the Registrar may require.
(3)  Upon an application under subsection (1), the Registrar —
(a)may, subject to subsection (3A), register the society; and
(b)upon the registration, must inform the applicant —
(i)that the society has been registered; and
(ii)of the date of the registration of the society.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(3A)  The Registrar must refuse to register a society under this section if the Registrar is satisfied that —
(a)the society is likely to be used for unlawful purposes or for purposes prejudicial to public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore; or
(b)it would be contrary to Singapore’s national security or interest for the society to be registered.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(4)  The Registrar shall, by notification in the Gazette, publish such particulars as he thinks fit in respect of every society registered under this section.
(5)  Despite subsection (3), where the Registrar considers —
(a)that any society registered under this section ought to have been registered under section 4 by reason that it is a specified society; and
(b)that the society qualifies to be registered, and could have been registered, under section 4,
the Registrar may determine that the society be treated as being registered under section 4.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(6)  Where the Registrar makes a determination under subsection (5) that a society be treated as being registered under section 4 —
(a)the Registrar must inform the society of the Registrar’s determination;
(b)the Registrar may recover from the society as a debt due to the Government any difference in the fee mentioned in subsection (2)(a) and the fee mentioned in section 4(1); and
(c)the society is deemed to have been registered under section 4 as on the date of its registration.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(7)  Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Registrar not to, or to refuse to, register a society under this section may within 30 days after the date of the decision appeal to the Minister whose decision is final.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(8)  Nothing in subsection (6)(c) prevents the Minister from exercising, in respect of any society mentioned in that provision, any power under section 24.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
Annual registers to be published
5.  The Registrar shall as soon as may be after 1 April every year prepare and publish in the Gazette a list of all registered societies.
Cessation of existence of society
6.—(1)  If the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar has reason to believe that any registered society has ceased to exist, he may publish in the Gazette a notification calling upon the society to furnish him with proof of its existence within 3 months from the date of the notification.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(1A)  The Registrar or an Assistant Registrar must send a copy of the notification under subsection (1) to the society —
(a)by delivery or post to its registered address; or
(b)by email to the email address given by the society to the Registrar as the email address for the service of documents from the Registrar or Assistant Registrar under this Act.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(2)  If at the expiration of the 3 months the Registrar is satisfied that the society has ceased to exist, a notification to that effect shall be published in the Gazette, and the society shall be deemed to have ceased to exist from the date of the publication.
Voluntary dissolution of society
7.—(1)  Any registered society which proposes to dissolve itself voluntarily in accordance with its rules shall inform the Registrar in writing, and a certificate of dissolution, signed by the president, the secretary and the treasurer or officers of the society holding analogous positions, shall be sent to the Registrar within one week of the society’s dissolution.
(2)  On receiving the certificate of dissolution, the Registrar shall, if he is satisfied that the society has been dissolved in accordance with its rules, publish a notification in the Gazette declaring that the society has ceased to exist.
Inspection and certified copies of documents
8.—(1)  Subject to subsection (3), any person may on payment of the prescribed fees inspect any document in the possession of the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar received from any registered society and be supplied with a copy of or an extract from any such document.
(2)  A copy of or an extract from any such document certified to be a true copy or extract by the Registrar or Assistant Registrar in writing shall be admissible in evidence in any proceedings.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(3)  No person shall be allowed to inspect the accounts of a registered society or be supplied with a copy of or an extract from those accounts unless the Registrar is satisfied that the person is a member of the society.
Branch of society
9.—(1)  No registered society shall establish a branch without the prior approval of the Registrar.
(2)  The Registrar may refuse to approve the establishment of a branch of the registered society if —
(a)the rules of the society do not provide for the establishment of a branch of the society; or
(b)the rules of the branch of the society are such as to make it an independent society not adequately under the control of the society.
(3)  Where a registered society establishes a branch without the prior approval of the Registrar, the branch so established shall be deemed to be an unlawful society.
(4)  Any person who is aggrieved by the decision of the Registrar under this section may within 30 days from the date of the decision appeal to the Minister whose decision shall be final.
Information to be furnished by societies and persons responsible for supplying information
10.—(1)  The Registrar or an Assistant Registrar may at any time by written notice order any registered society to furnish him with any such information as he may require concerning the society (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) or any documents, accounts and books relating to the society.
[Act 28 of 2021 wef 07/07/2022]
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(2)  The obligations imposed upon a registered society by subsection (1) shall be binding upon every officer, and upon every person managing or assisting in the management, of that society in Singapore.
(3)  If any registered society fails to comply with the whole or part of any order given under this section, each of the persons mentioned in subsection (2) who has been served with the order shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 unless he establishes to the satisfaction of the court that he has exercised due diligence and has failed to comply with the order for reasons beyond his control.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(4)  A person who, in response to any order mentioned in subsection (1) —
(a)intentionally alters, suppresses or destroys —
(i)any information concerning a registered society; or
(ii)any document, account or book of a registered society,
that is required under the order to be furnished to the Registrar or Assistant Registrar; or
(b)in providing any document, account or book of a registered society, makes any statement which the person knows or ought reasonably to know is, or is reckless as to whether it is, false or misleading in a material particular,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
Change of name and rules of society
11.—(1)  No registered society shall —
(a)change its name; or
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(b)amend its rules,
without the prior approval in writing of the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar.
(1A)  Without limiting subsection (1), the grounds on which the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar may refuse to approve a change by a registered society of its name include where it appears to the Registrar or Assistant Registrar that the name to which the registered society is to be changed —
(a)is likely to mislead members of the public as to the true character or purpose of the registered society or so nearly resembles the name of some other society as is likely to deceive the members of the public or members of either society;
(b)is undesirable or offensive;
(c)is identical to that of any other existing society; or
(d)is likely to give the impression that the registered society is connected in some way with the Government or a public authority, or with any other body of persons or any individual, when it is not so connected.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(1B)  Without limiting subsection (1), the grounds on which the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar may refuse to approve an amendment by a registered society of its rules include where it appears to the Registrar or Assistant Registrar that the amendment of the rules would be —
(a)contrary to Singapore’s national security or interest;
(b)prejudicial to public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore; or
(c)contrary to the provisions of this Act or any regulations.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(2)  If a registered society fails to comply with the requirement of subsection (1), the society and every officer of the society shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $6,000.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(3)  For the purposes of this section, “amend” includes making a new rule and rescinding an existing rule.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(4)  Any person aggrieved by the refusal of the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar to approve the change of name of a registered society or to amend its rules may within 30 days from the date of the decision appeal to the Minister whose decision shall be final.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
Registrar may order change of name or rules of society registered under section 4A
11A.—(1)  If the Registrar is of the opinion that the name of any society registered under section 4A —
(a)is likely to mislead members of the public as to the true character or purpose of the society or so nearly resembles the name of some other society as is likely to deceive members of the public or members of either society;
(b)is undesirable or offensive;
(c)is identical to that of any existing society; or
(d)is likely to give the impression that the society is connected in some way with the Government or any public authority, or with any other body of persons or any individual, when it is not so connected,
the Registrar may, at any time, by written notice, order the society to change its name, within such time as is specified in the notice, to such other name as he may approve.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(2)  The Registrar may, at any time, by written notice, order any society registered under section 4A to amend its rules, within such time as is specified in the notice, in such manner as he may direct, if he is of the opinion that the rules of the society, if unchanged, would be —
(a)contrary to Singapore’s national security or interest;
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(b)prejudicial to public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore; or
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(c)contrary to the provisions of this Act or any regulations.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(3)  A society registered under section 4A and every officer of that society shall comply with any notice given under this section.
(4)  If a society registered under section 4A fails to comply with any notice given under this section, the society and every officer of that society shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $6,000.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(5)  If an officer of a society registered under section 4A is charged with an offence under subsection (4), it shall be a defence for him to establish to the satisfaction of the court that he has exercised due diligence and has failed to comply with the notice for reasons beyond his control.
(6)  In this section, “amend” has the meaning given by section 11(3).
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
Persons who shall not act as officers of society
12.—(1)  Subject to subsection (1B), no person shall act as an officer of a registered society or a branch thereof if —
(a)he has, while being a member of a society, been convicted for an offence involving the unlawful expenditure of the funds of the society; or
(b)he has been declared, in writing, by the Registrar to be unfit to act as an officer of a society by reason of any conviction for a criminal offence other than that specified in paragraph (a).
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(1A)  A person who is prohibited from acting as an officer of a registered society or a branch of the registered society under subsection (1) may apply to the Minister for permission to act as an officer of the registered society or a branch of the registered society.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(1B)  An application under subsection (1A) may be granted by the Minister if the Minister thinks fit to do so.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(2)  Any person who acts in contravention of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
Use of flag, symbol, etc.
13.—(1)  No registered society shall use any flag, symbol, emblem, badge or other insignia without the consent in writing of the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar.
(2)  Any person aggrieved by the refusal of the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar to the use of a flag, symbol, emblem, badge or other insignia may appeal against that decision to the Minister whose decision shall be final.
(3)  In any case where a registered society uses a flag, symbol, emblem, badge or other insignia in contravention of subsection (1) —
(a)the officers of the society; and
(b)all persons managing or assisting in the management of the society,
shall be deemed to be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $6,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
Unlawful societies
14.—(1)  Every society, not being a registered society, shall be deemed to be an unlawful society; but no society shall be deemed to be unlawful under this section if and so long as the Registrar is satisfied that ––
(a)it is organised wholly outside Singapore; and
(b)does not carry on any activity in Singapore.
(2)  Any person who manages or assists in the management of any unlawful society shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(3)  Any person who is or acts as a member of an unlawful society, or attends a meeting of an unlawful society, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(4)  Every offence under subsection (3) shall be deemed to be a non‑bailable offence and an arrestable case within the meaning of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010.
Persons allowing unlawful assembly in their premises
15.—(1)  Any person who knowingly allows a meeting of an unlawful society, or of members of an unlawful society to be held in any house, building or place belonging to or occupied by him, or over which he has control, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(2)  Every offence under subsection (1) shall be deemed to be a non‑bailable offence and an arrestable case within the meaning of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010.
Penalty for inciting, etc., person to become member of unlawful society
16.—(1)  Any person who incites, induces or invites another person to become a member of, or to assist in the management of, an unlawful society shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(2)  Any person who uses any violence, threat or intimidation towards any person in order to induce him to become a member of, or to assist in the management of, an unlawful society shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 4 years or to both.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
Penalty for procuring subscription or aid for unlawful society
17.  Any person who procures or attempts to procure from any other person any subscription or aid for the purposes of an unlawful society shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
Publishing, etc., propaganda of unlawful society
18.  Any person who prints, publishes, displays, sells or exposes for sale, or transmits through the post or who, without lawful authority or excuse, has in his possession any placard, newspaper, book, circular, pictorial representation or any other document or writing whatsoever which is issued or appears to be issued by or on behalf of or in the interests of an unlawful society shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both, and any book, periodical, pamphlet, poster, proclamation, newspaper, letter or any other document or writing in respect of which the person is convicted shall be forfeited.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
Penalty for misuse of money or property of registered society
19.—(1)  Where on complaint made by a member of a registered society or by the Registrar it is shown to the satisfaction of a District Court or a Magistrate’s Court that any officer or member of that society has in his possession or control any property of the society otherwise than in accordance with the rules of the society, or has unlawfully withheld any money of the society or wilfully applied such money to purposes other than those expressed or directed in the rules of the society and authorised by this Act, the Court shall, if it considers the justice of the case so requires, order the officer or member to deliver all such property to the trustees of the society or such other persons as the Court may appoint and to pay to them the money so unlawfully withheld or improperly applied.
(2)  A complaint made under subsection (1) other than a complaint made by the Registrar shall not be entertained unless the Court is satisfied that the complainant is, on the date of the complaint, a member of the registered society in respect of whose property the complaint is so made.
(3)  Any person who, bound by an order made under subsection (1), fails to comply with the terms of the order and the directions in the order within a time to be specified in the order shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(4)  An order made under subsection (1) shall not affect or prevent a prosecution of, or civil proceedings against, any such officer or member.
Punishment of fraud, false declaration and misappropriation
20.  Any person who with intent to mislead or defraud any other person gives to the other person a copy of any rules, regulations or other documents, other than the rules of a registered society, on the pretence that they are the existing rules of the society or that there are no other rules of the society or gives to the other person a copy of any rules on the pretence that those rules are the rules of a registered society when the society is not registered, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
Presumptive proof of existence of society
21.—(1)  In any prosecution for an offence under this Act where it is proved that a club, company, partnership or association exists —
(a)it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the club, company, partnership or association is a society within the meaning of this Act;
(b)it shall not be necessary to prove that the society possesses a name or that it has been constituted or is usually known under a particular name; and
(c)it shall be presumed until the contrary is proved that it consists of and has at all material times consisted of 10 or more persons.
(2)  Notwithstanding any other written law in any prosecution for an offence under this Act, for the purpose of proving the existence of a society, evidence may be adduced and shall be admitted which shows that —
(a)any person is reputed to be a member of the society;
(b)any announcement has been made, whether by the person charged or by any other person by any means whatever, that the society has been formed or is in existence; or
(c)by repute the society is in existence.
Presumptive proof of membership, etc., of society
22.—(1)  Where any books, accounts, writings, seals, banners or insignia of or relating to or purporting to relate to any society are found in the possession of any person, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that that person is a member of the society, and the society shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, to be in existence at the time the books, accounts, writings, seals, banners or insignia are so found.
(2)  When any books, accounts, lists of members or seals of or relating to any society are found in the possession of any person, it shall be further presumed, until the contrary is proved, that that person assists in the management of the society.
Society using triad ritual to be deemed unlawful society
23.—(1)  Every society, whether it is registered or not, which uses a triad ritual shall be deemed to be an unlawful society.
(2)  Any person found in possession of or having the custody or control of any books, accounts, writings, seals, banners or insignia of or relating to any triad society or branch of a triad society, whether the society or branch is established in Singapore or not, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(3)  Every offence under subsection (2) shall be deemed to be a non‑bailable offence and an arrestable case within the meaning of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010.
Minister may order dissolution of any society
24.—(1)  Whenever it appears to the Minister that —
(a)any registered society is being used for unlawful purposes or for purposes prejudicial to public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore or against Singapore’s national security or interest;
[Act 28 of 2021 wef 07/07/2022]
(b)the registration of any society has been procured by fraud or misrepresentation;
(c)any registered society is being used for purposes incompatible with the objects and rules of the society;
(d)the rules of any registered society are or have been inadequate for its proper management and control and the registered society has failed without reasonable cause to amend its rules within 3 months of, and in accordance with, a direction from the Registrar to amend its rules for those purposes;
(e)the rules of any registered society which is a political association do not provide for its membership to be confined to Singapore citizens, and the society has failed without reasonable cause to amend its rules within 3 months of, and in accordance with, a direction from the Registrar to amend its rules for those purposes;
(f)any registered society which is a political association has such an affiliation or connection with any organisation outside Singapore as is considered by the Registrar to be contrary to Singapore’s national security or interest, and has failed to satisfy the Registrar that it has taken appropriate action to sever that affiliation or connection within 3 months of, and in accordance with, a direction from the Registrar to take such action; or
[Act 28 of 2021 wef 07/07/2022]
(g)any registered society has wilfully contravened any provision of this Act or of any regulations made thereunder, or of any of the rules of the society,
the Minister may order that the society shall be dissolved.
(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.
[Act 28 of 2021 wef 07/07/2022]
(2)  Notification of every such order shall be published in the Gazette, and shall be sent to the address or email address given by the society to the Registrar as the registered address or email address for the service of documents from the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar under this Act or any regulations.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(3)  Every society against which an order for dissolution is made shall from then on be deemed to be an unlawful society.
(4)  Where an order of dissolution has been made against any society every person who on the date on which the order was made was an officer of that society shall, during the period of 3 years from the date on which the order was made, be ineligible, except with the written permission of the Minister, to act or be elected as an officer of any other society.
(5)  Any person who acts without the written permission of the Minister as an officer of a society while he is ineligible under subsection (4) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(6)  The fact that a political association uses a name or symbol which is the same as that of an organisation outside Singapore shall be deemed to be sufficient evidence that the political association has an affiliation or connection with that organisation.
Consequences upon order of Minister under section 24
25.—(1)  Upon the making of an order of dissolution against any society under section 24 —
(a)the property of the society shall forthwith vest either in the Official Receiver or, if any other officer is appointed for the purpose of winding up by the Minister in the notification of the order, then in that officer; and
(b)the Official Receiver or that other officer shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the society and, after satisfying and providing for all debts and liabilities of the society and the costs of winding up, shall pay the surplus assets, if any, of the society —
(i)where the Minister so directs, into the Consolidated Fund; and
(ii)in the absence of a direction by the Minister, to the members of the society according to the rules of the society.
(2)  For the purposes of the winding up of the affairs of the society, the Official Receiver or that other officer shall have all the powers vested in the Official Receiver under the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 for the purpose of the discovery and realisation of the property of a debtor, and the provisions of that Act shall apply, with the necessary modifications, to the winding up of the affairs of the society under this Act.
[40/2018]
(3)  The Minister may, for the purpose of enabling a society to wind up its own affairs, suspend the operation of this section for such period as to him seems expedient.
Power of Magistrate, etc., to enter place kept as place of meeting, business, etc.
26.  The Registrar or an Assistant Registrar or a Magistrate or any police officer authorised in writing by the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar or a Magistrate may at any time enter any place which he has reason to believe is kept or used by any registered society or any of its members as a place of meeting, business or other activity of the society.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
Power to enter and search in special cases
27.  The Registrar or an Assistant Registrar or a Magistrate, who has reason to believe that any registered society is being used for purposes prejudicial to public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore or incompatible with the rules and objects of the society as entered in the Register of Societies or furnished to the Registrar or to an Assistant Registrar under this Act, may enter or may in writing authorise a police officer to enter, with or without assistance and using force for that purpose, if necessary, any place which he has reason to believe is used as the place of meeting, business or other activity of the society, and may search or may in writing authorise a police officer to search that place and any person found in or escaping from that place for evidence that the society is being used for such purposes.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
Magistrate, etc., may enter house, etc., where unlawful meeting held, or books, accounts, etc., kept, may arrest and seize persons and property found
28.—(1)  Any Magistrate or Justice of the Peace or police officer not below the rank of assistant superintendent may enter, with or without assistance, or may by warrant under his hand or by writing under his hand, as the case may be, authorise any other police officer to enter, with or without assistance, using force in either case, if necessary, any dwelling house or other building, or any place in which he has reasonable ground to believe that a meeting of an unlawful society, or of persons who are members of an unlawful society, is being held, or that any books, accounts, writings, banners or insignia belonging to an unlawful society are concealed, kept or deposited, and to arrest or cause to be arrested all persons found in the house and to search that house, building or place, and seize or cause to be seized all books, accounts, writings, banners, documents, flags, insignia, arms and other articles which he has reasonable cause to believe belong to any unlawful society, or to be in any way connected therewith.
(2)  All persons so arrested and all articles so seized may be detained in custody till they can conveniently be brought before a District Court or Magistrate’s Court to be dealt with according to law.
Purposes for which powers of investigation exercisable
29.  The Registrar or an Assistant Registrar may exercise the powers specified in section 29A for all or any of the following purposes:
(a)to investigate into the operations of any registered society to determine compliance with this Act and any regulations, including whether an offence under this Act or any regulations has been committed;
(b)to investigate into the existence or operations of any unlawful society or suspected unlawful society;
(c)to determine whether information provided to the Registrar or Assistant Registrar is correct.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
Powers of investigation
29A.—(1)  The Registrar or an Assistant Registrar may do all or any of the following:
(a)where the Registrar or Assistant Registrar reasonably believes a person to have committed an offence under this Act or any regulations or contravened any provision of this Act or any regulations — require that person to provide evidence of that person’s identity;
(b)require any person whom the Registrar or Assistant Registrar reasonably believes has —
(i)any information; or
(ii)any document or article in the person’s possession, custody or control,
that the Registrar or Assistant Registrar reasonably requires for any of the purposes of section 29, to provide, within a reasonable period specified by the Registrar or Assistant Registrar, that information or produce that document or article, and to provide an explanation of the information, document or article;
(c)issue a written notice requiring any person within the limits of Singapore, who appears to be acquainted with the facts or circumstances of a matter that is relevant to any of the purposes of section 29, to attend before the Registrar or Assistant Registrar;
(d)examine orally any person who appears to be acquainted with the facts or circumstances of a matter that is relevant to any of the purposes of section 29 —
(i)whether before or after that person or anyone else is charged with an offence in connection with the matter; and
(ii)whether or not that person is to be called as a witness in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding in connection with the matter.
(2)  In addition, if the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar is satisfied, after due inquiry, that a person examined under subsection (1)(d) is a member of an unlawful society or has refused to give information or has given false information as to the existence or operations of an unlawful society or suspected unlawful society, the Registrar or Assistant Registrar may, if he considers it advisable to identify that person, order that a photograph and finger impressions of that person be taken at such time and in such place and manner as the Registrar or Assistant Registrar thinks fit.
(3)  The power to require a person to provide any information or produce any document or article under subsection (1)(b) includes the power —
(a)if the information, document or article is not provided or produced, to require the person to state, to the best of the person’s knowledge and belief, where it is; and
(b)if the information is recorded otherwise than in legible form, to require the information to be made available to the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar in legible form.
(4)  Any person examined under this section is bound to state truly what the person knows of the facts and circumstances of the matter, except that the person need not say anything that might expose the person to a criminal charge, penalty or forfeiture.
(5)  A statement made by any person examined under this section must —
(a)be reduced to writing;
(b)be read over to the person;
(c)if the person does not understand English, be interpreted in a language that the person understands; and
(d)after correction (if necessary), be signed by the person.
(6)  If any person fails to comply with a written notice issued to the person under subsection (1)(c), the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar may report the failure to a Magistrate who may then, in the Magistrate’s discretion, issue a warrant ordering that person to comply with the written notice.
(7)  The Registrar or an Assistant Registrar may make copies of any document or article produced under subsection (1)(b) for further investigation.
(8)  The Registrar or an Assistant Registrar may take possession of any document or article produced under subsection (1)(b) for further investigation.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
Offences
29B.—(1)  A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to do anything required of the person by the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar under section 29A(1)(a) or (b), or by written notice under section 29A(1)(c), or by order under section 29A(2), shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
(2)  A person —
(a)who intentionally alters, suppresses or destroys any information, document or article which the person has been required by the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar under section 29A(1)(b) to provide or produce; or
(b)who, in providing any information or producing any document or article required by the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar under section 29A(1)(b), makes any statement which the person knows or ought reasonably to know is, or is reckless as to whether it is, false or misleading in a material particular,
shall be guilty of an offence.
(3)  A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (2) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
(4)  In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1), it is a defence for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that the person —
(a)does not possess the information, document or article required; or
(b)has taken all reasonable steps available to the person to obtain the information, document or article required and has been unable to obtain it.
(5)  To avoid doubt, for the purposes of subsection (1), it is a reasonable excuse for a person to refuse or fail to provide any information, produce any document or article or answer any question if doing so might tend to incriminate that person.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
Charges
30.—(1)  Except in the case of persons arrested under section 28, no person shall be charged with an offence under this Act or any regulations made thereunder unless the sanction in writing of the Registrar or of an Assistant Registrar has been first obtained.
(2)  Prosecutions in a District Court or in a Magistrate’s Court under this Act or any regulations made thereunder may, with the authorisation of the Public Prosecutor, be conducted by the Registrar or by an Assistant Registrar or by some person authorised in writing by the Registrar or by an Assistant Registrar to appear on his behalf.
Composition of offences
30A.—(1)  The Registrar or an Assistant Registrar may compound any offence under this Act or any regulations that is prescribed as a compoundable offence by collecting from a person reasonably suspected of having committed the offence a sum not exceeding one half of the amount of the maximum fine that is prescribed for the offence.
(2)  On payment of the sum of money under subsection (1), no further proceedings are to be taken against that person in respect of the offence.
(3)  All sums collected under this section must be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
Jurisdiction
31.—(1)  Any offence under section 14(2) may be tried by a District Court which may pass the sentence specified in that section.
(2)  Any offence under any other section of this Act or any regulations made thereunder may be tried by a District Court or by a Magistrate’s Court.
Forfeiture
32.  Any books, accounts, writings, banners, insignia or other property belonging to any unlawful society shall be forfeited and given to the Registrar or to an Assistant Registrar.
Service of documents
33.—(1)  A document that is permitted or required by this Act or any regulations to be served on a person may be served as described in this section.
(2)  This section does not apply to documents to be served in relation to proceedings in court or any other document mentioned in section 35(1)(c).
(3)  A document permitted or required by this Act or any regulations to be served on an individual may be served —
(a)by giving it to the individual personally;
(b)by sending it by prepaid registered post to the address specified by the individual for the service of documents or, if no address is so specified, the individual’s residential address or business address;
(c)by leaving it at the individual’s residential address with an adult apparently resident there, or at the individual’s business address with an adult apparently employed there;
(d)by affixing a copy of the document in a conspicuous place at the individual’s residential address or business address; or
(e)by sending it by email to the individual’s last email address.
(4)  A document permitted or required by this Act or any regulations to be served on a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership) may be served —
(a)by giving it to any partner, secretary or other similar officer of the partnership;
(b)by leaving it at, or by sending it by prepaid registered post to, the partnership’s business address; or
(c)by sending it by email to the partnership’s last email address.
(5)  A document permitted or required by this Act or any regulations to be served on a body corporate (including a limited liability partnership) or an unincorporated association may be served —
(a)by giving it to the secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or unincorporated association, or the limited liability partnership’s manager;
(b)by leaving it at, or by sending it by prepaid registered post to, the registered office or principal office in Singapore of the body corporate or unincorporated association; or
(c)by sending it by email to the last email address of the body corporate or unincorporated association.
(6)  Service of a document takes effect —
(a)if the document is sent by email — at the time that the email becomes capable of being retrieved by the person to whom it is sent; or
(b)if the document is sent by prepaid registered post — 2 days after the day the document was posted (even if it is returned undelivered).
(7)  However, service of any document on a person by email may be effected only with the person’s prior consent (express or implied) to service in that way.
(8)  In this section —
“business address” means —
(a)in the case of an individual, the individual’s usual or last known place of business in Singapore; or
(b)in the case of a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership), the partnership’s principal or last known place of business in Singapore;
“document” includes a notice permitted or required to be served;
“last email address” means the last email address given by the addressee concerned to the person giving or serving the document as the email address for the service of documents;
“residential address” means an individual’s usual or last known place of residence in Singapore.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
Amendment of Schedule
33A.  The Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, amend the Schedule.
Regulations
34.—(1)  The Minister may from time to time make regulations for or with respect to all or any of the following matters:
(a)to prescribe the manner of registration of societies under this Act;
(b)to regulate or restrict changes of the name of registered societies;
(c)to regulate or restrict changes of the registered address or place of meeting or of the registered rules or objects of registered societies;
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(d)to prescribe the manner and conditions in and under which the powers conferred by this Act shall be exercised by the persons on whom the powers are conferred;
(e)to prescribe the fees which may be charged and taken under this Act;
(f)to prescribe the forms which may be used for carrying out the provisions of this Act;
(g)to require the accounts and financial statements of registered societies to be in compliance with —
(i)accounting standards that are made or formulated by the Accounting Standards Committee under Part 3 of the Accounting Standards Act 2007 and applicable to societies; or
[Act 36 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023]
(ii)other requirements substituted by the Minister in lieu of compliance with the accounting standards applicable to societies;
(h)to provide for relief from the requirements of such accounting standards applicable to societies;
(i)to provide that the regulations made under paragraph (g) shall not apply to any society that is registered as a charity or approved as an institution of a public character under the Charities Act 1994 to the extent that that Act requires the society’s accounts and financial statements for any financial year to comply with the accounting standards applicable to charities to the exclusion of other accounting standards;
(ia)to require registered societies to prepare annual returns in such form, and file the annual returns in such manner, as the Registrar may determine;
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(ib)to prescribe the offences under this Act or any regulations that may be compounded;
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(j)generally for carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.
(1A)  Regulations made under subsection (1)(ia) may empower the Registrar to determine that different forms of annual returns be prepared by different classes of registered societies.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(2)  The Minister in making any regulations under this Act may direct that a person committing a breach of such regulations shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and, where the breach is a continuing one, to a fine not exceeding $100 for every day after the first day during which the breach continues.
[Act 34 of 2023 wef 02/05/2024]
(3)  All such regulations shall be published in the Gazette and shall be presented to Parliament as soon as possible after publication.
Provisions applicable to registered societies
35.—(1)  The following provisions shall apply to all registered societies:
(a)the movable property of a society, if not vested in trustees, shall be deemed to be vested for the time being in the governing body of the society, and in all proceedings civil and criminal may be described as the property of the governing body of the society by their proper title;
(b)every such society may sue or be sued in the name in which it was registered under this Act;
(c)an originating claim or other legal process may be served on a society by serving it on an officer of the society, or by leaving it at, or sending it by registered post to, the registered address of the society;
[Act 25 of 2021 wef 01/04/2022]
(d)except as otherwise provided in section 36, no judgment in any suit against a registered society shall be put into force against the person or property of any officer or member of the society but only against the property of the society;
(e)any member who is in arrears of subscriptions which, according to the rules of the society, he is bound to pay, or who takes possession or detains any property of the society contrary to those rules, or who injures or destroys any property of the society, may be sued for the arrears or for the damage accruing from his wrongful possession, detention, injury or destruction of that property by and in the name of the society;
(f)any member of the society who steals, purloins or embezzles any money or other property, or wilfully and maliciously destroys or injures any property of the society, or forges any deed, bond, security for money, receipt or other instrument whereby the funds of the society may be exposed to loss, shall be subject to the same prosecution, and, if convicted, shall be liable to be punished in like manner as any person, being not a member, would be subject and liable to in respect of the like offence;
(g)subject to subsection (2), in the absence of any specific provision in the rules of a society, any number not less than three-fifths of the members of the society for the time being resident in Singapore may determine that it shall be dissolved forthwith, or at a time agreed upon, and all necessary steps shall be taken for the disposal and settlement of the property of the society and its claims and liabilities according to the rules of the society applicable thereto, and if none, then as the governing body finds expedient;
(h)no society shall be dissolved unless three-fifths of the members so resident as mentioned in paragraph (g) have expressed a wish for such dissolution by their votes delivered in person or by proxy at a general meeting convened for the purpose.
(2)  In the event of any dispute arising among the members of the governing body or the members of the society, the adjustment of its affairs shall be referred to the General Division of the High Court, and the General Division of the High Court shall make such order in the matter as it thinks fit.
[40/2019]
Security for costs and liability of officers
36.—(1)  Where a registered society or any of its officers purporting to act on its behalf is claimant in any action or other legal proceeding, the court having jurisdiction in the matter may, if it appears by credible testimony that there is reason to believe that the society or the officer will be unable to pay the costs of the defendant if successful in his defence, require sufficient security to be given for those costs and stay all proceedings until the security is given.
[Act 25 of 2021 wef 01/04/2022]
(2)  Where a society is required to give security for costs under subsection (1) and the amount of the security is not sufficient to pay the costs of the defendant —
(a)the officers of the society who approved the institution of the action or legal proceeding; and
(b)any person who, on subsequently becoming an officer of the society, does not take any reasonable measure for the purpose of seeking the discontinuance of the action or legal proceeding,
shall be jointly and severally liable for any part of the costs awarded against the society which, after deducting the amount of the security, remains unsatisfied after one month from the date the costs became payable.
(3)  This section shall apply to any action or legal proceeding whether instituted before or after 10 September 1982.
Power to exempt
37.  The Minister may at his discretion in writing exempt any society registered under this Act from all or any of the provisions of this Act.
Transitional provision
38.  Any society which immediately before 27 January 1967 was registered under the provisions of the Societies Ordinance (Cap. 228, 1955 Revised Edition) shall be deemed to be registered under this Act.
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Last updated 25 Nov 2024
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