Administration of Muslim Law (Amendment) Bill

Bill No. 22/2005

Read the first time on 15th August 2005.
An Act to amend the Administration of Muslim Law Act (Chapter 3 of the 1999 Revised Edition).
Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows:
Short title and commencement
1.  This Act may be cited as the Administration of Muslim Law (Amendment) Act 2005 and shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.
Amendment of section 2
2.  Section 2 of the Administration of Muslim Law Act (referred to in this Act as the principal Act) is amended by inserting, immediately after the definition of “Appeal Board”, the following definition:
“ “Chief Executive” means the Chief Executive of the Majlis appointed under section 7A, and includes any person acting in that capacity;”.
Amendment of section 7
3.  Section 7 of the principal Act is amended —
(a)by deleting paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and substituting the following paragraph:
(b)the Chief Executive, if he has been appointed to be a member under subsection (6);”;
(b)by deleting the words “5 members” in subsection (1)(d) and substituting the words “7 members”; and
(c)by deleting subsection (6) and substituting the following subsection:
(6)  The President of Singapore may appoint the Chief Executive to be a member of the Majlis.”.
New section 7A
4.  The principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately after section 7, the following section:
Chief Executive
7A.—(1)  The Minister may appoint a Chief Executive on such terms and conditions as the Minister may determine.
(2)  The Chief Executive shall —
(a)be known by such designation as the Majlis may determine;
(b)be responsible to the Majlis for the proper administration and management of the functions and affairs of the Majlis in accordance with the policies laid down by the Majlis; and
(c)not be removed from office without the consent of the Minister.
(3)  In the event of the temporary absence or incapacity of the Chief Executive, the Minister may appoint a person to act temporarily on his behalf.”.
Amendment of section 8
5.  Section 8 of the principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately after subsection (2), the following subsection:
(3)  In the event of the temporary absence or incapacity of the Secretary, the Minister may appoint a person to act temporarily on his behalf.”.
Amendment of section 11
6.  Section 11(1) of the principal Act is amended by deleting the words “or the Secretary”.
Amendment of section 19
7.  Section 19 of the principal Act is amended —
(a)by deleting the words “14 consecutive days” in subsection (2) and substituting the words “the specified days”; and
(b)by inserting, immediately after subsection (2), the following subsection:
(3)  In subsection (2), “specified days” means such number of days as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, specify.”.
Amendment of section 25
8.  Section 25 of the principal Act is amended —
(a)by inserting, immediately after the word “Mufti” in subsection (1), the words “, the Chief Executive”; and
(b)by deleting the words “President of Singapore” in subsection (2) and substituting the word ”Minister”.
Amendment of section 65
9.  Section 65(5) of the principal Act is amended by deleting the words “, the Vice-President”.
Repeal of section 136
10.  Section 136 of the principal Act is repealed.
Amendment of section 146
11.  Section 146 of the principal Act is amended by inserting, immediately after the word “to”, the words “the Minister or”.
Amendment of First Schedule
12.  Paragraph 11 of the First Schedule to the principal Act is amended by deleting the word “Vice-President” and substituting the words “Chief Executive”.