Martial Arts Instruction Bill

Bill No. 3/1974

Read the first time on 4th March 1974.

An Act to provide for the registration and control of martial art associations and instructors and trainees in martial arts and for matters connected therewith.

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 Martial Arts Instruction Act, 1974, and shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —

“Controller” means the Controller of Martial Arts appointed under section 3 and includes an Assistant Controller of Martial Arts appointed under that section;

“firm” has the same meaning as in the Business Registration Act, 1973 (Act 36 of 1973);

“identity card” has the same meaning as in the National Registration Act (Cap. 45);

“instructor” means a person who instructs another person in any form of martial art;

“instructor’s certificate” means a certificate issued to an instructor under the provisions of subsection (4) of section 25;

“martial art” includes akido, bersilat, jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, kendo, kung-fu, taekwon-do or a combination or variation thereof;

“martial art association” means any association, club, society, company or firm —

(a)	which is established or formed with the principal or ancillary object of providing instruction in any form of martial art; or
(b)	whose officers, employees or members provide instruction in any form of martial art as such officers, employees or members;

“officer” means the president, secretary, treasurer or a partner of a martial art association and includes a member of a committee or sub-committee thereof concerned with the provision of instruction in any form of martial art by such association or by any officer, employee or member thereof, and also includes persons holding positions analogous to those of the president, secretary or treasurer of the association;

“place of business” means the place where the records and books of account of a martial art association are kept;

“place of instruction” means any place or premises at which an instructor instructs any other person in any form of martial art;

“society” has the same meaning as in the Societies Act (Cap. 262);

“trainee” means a person who receives instruction in any form of martial art.

(2) The Minister may from time to time by notification in the Gazette declare any other art of pugilism, fighting, boxing or self-defence to be a martial art for the purposes of this Act.

Appointment of Controller and Assistant Controllers of Martial Arts

3.—(1) For the purposes of this Act, the Minister may appoint a Controller of Martial Arts and such number of Assistant Controllers of Martial Arts as he may consider necessary for the purposes of this Act.

(2) The Controller shall have the superintendence of all matters relating to this Act subject to the general or special directions of the Minister.

(3) The Assistant Controllers of Martial Arts may exercise all the powers conferred on the Controller under this Act subject to such limitations as the Controller may deem fit to impose.

(4) The Controller and the Assistant Controllers of Martial Arts shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of the Penal Code (Cap. 103).

Registration of a martial art association and refusal to register

4.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this section the Controller shall, upon application by a martial art association and on payment of the prescribed fee, register the association.

(2) Every registration effected in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be notified in the Gazette.

(3) The Controller shall refuse to register a martial art association if he is satisfied that —

(a)	any rules of the association are insufficient to provide for its proper management and control in respect of the provision of instruction in any form of martial art by any officer, employee or member thereof as such officer, employee or member;
(b)	the provision of instruction in any form of martial art by such officer, employee or member is likely to be for unlawful purpose or 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; or
(d)	it would be contrary to the public interest for the association to be registered.

(4) The Controller may refuse to register a martial art association if —

(a)

he is satisfied that the association is a branch of or is affiliated to or connected with any association whose registration has been cancelled under section 20 or under the provisions of any other written law or which has been refused registration previously under this Act;

(b)

it appears to him that the name under which the association is to be registered is —

(i)	undesirable;
(ii)	identical with or so nearly resembles that of any other existing association as is likely to deceive the members of the public as to its nature or identity; or
(iii)	likely to mislead members of the public as to the true character and purpose of the association; or

(c)

no satisfactory evidence has been produced of the good character of every officer of the association.

(5) Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Controller under this section may, within thirty days from the date of the decision, appeal to the Minister whose decision thereon shall be final.

Unlawful martial art association

5.—(1) Every martial art association, not being registered under this Act, shall be deemed to be an unlawful martial art association.

(2) No martial art association shall be deemed to be unlawful under this section if and so long as the Controller is satisfied that —

(a)	it is organised or carries on business wholly outside Singapore; and
(b)	its officers, members or employees provide no instruction in any form of martial art in Singapore.

(3) A person who manages or assists in the management of an unlawful martial art association shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding four thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(4) A person who is or acts as an officer of an unlawful martial art association or attends a meeting of an unlawful martial art association shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding three thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

Presumptive proof of existence of a martial art association

6.—(1) In any prosecution for an offence under this Act where it is proved that a club, company, association, society or firm exists —

(a)	it shall be presumed until the contrary is proved that the club, company, association, society or firm is a martial art association within the meaning of this Act;
(b)	it shall not be necessary to prove that the martial art association possesses a name or that it has been constituted or is usually known under a particular name.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other written law in a prosecution for an offence under this Act, for the purposes of proving the existence of a martial art association evidence may be adduced and shall be admitted which shows that —

(a)	any person is reputed to be an officer or employee or a member of the martial art association;
(b)	an announcement has been made, whether by the person charged or by another person by any means that the martial art association has been established or formed or is in existence; or
(c)	by repute the martial art association is in existence.

Presumptive proof of membership, partnership, etc., of a martial art association

7.—(1) Where any books, accounts, writings, seals, banners or insignia of or relating to or purporting to relate to a martial art association are found in the possession of a person it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the person is an officer or employee or a member of the association, and the association 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 partners or seals of or relating to a martial art association are found in the possession of a person it shall be further presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the person assists in the management of the association.

Branch of a registered martial art association

8. Every registered martial art association which establishes a branch for the main or ancillary purpose of providing instruction in any form of martial art at such branch shall inform the Controller, in writing, of the address of the branch and of every change therein.

Change of name or place of business or place of instruction of a registered martial art association

9.—(1) No registered martial art association shall change its name or place of business or any place of instruction provided by the association without the prior approval in writing of the Controller.

(2) If a registered martial art association fails to comply with the requirements of subsection (1), the association and every officer thereof shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars.

(3) A person aggrieved by the refusal of the Controller to approve such change of name, place of business or place of instruction under subsection (1) may, within thirty days from the date of being notified of the decision of the Controller, appeal against his decision to the Minister whose decision thereon shall be final.

Registered place of business

10. Every registered martial art association shall have a registered place of business to which all communications and notices may be addressed and shall inform the Controller, in writing, of the address of that place.

Information to be furnished by a registered martial art association

11.—(1) The Controller may at any time by notice under his hand order a registered martial art association to furnish him with such information as he may require concerning the provision of instruction in any form of martial art at a place of instruction provided by the association or with any document, account or book of the association relating thereto.

(2) Upon a request being made therefor by the Controller, a martial art association shall submit such particulars, as the Controller may require, of all instructors and trainees providing or receiving instruction, as the case may be, in any form of martial art at any place of instruction of the association.

Persons responsible for complying with sections 8, 10 and 11

12.—(1) The obligations imposed upon a registered martial art association by sections 8, 10 and 11 shall be binding upon every officer thereof, and upon every person managing or assisting in the management of such association.

(2) If a registered martial art association fails to comply with section 8 or 10 or with the whole or part of an order given under subsection (1) of section 11, each of the persons mentioned in subsection (1) who is bound by the rules thereof to fulfil any duty whereof the offence is a breach or, if there is no such person, every person mentioned in subsection (1), as the case may be, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars 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.

(3) If any information supplied to the Controller in compliance with section 8 or 10 or an order given under subsection (1) of section 11 is false, incorrect or incomplete in any material particular, the person who supplied the information shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment unless he establishes to the satisfaction of the court that he had good reason to believe that the information was true, correct and complete.

Cessation of existence of a registered martial art association

13.—(1) If the Controller has reason to believe that any registered martial art association has ceased to exist, he may publish in the Gazette a notification calling upon the association to furnish him with proof of its existence within three months from the date of the notification. A copy of the notification shall be sent by registered post to the place of business of the association.

(2) If at the expiration of the three months the Controller is satisfied that the association has ceased to exist, a notification to that effect shall be published in the Gazette by the Controller, and the association shall be deemed to have ceased to exist from the date of the publication.

Voluntary dissolution of a registered martial art association

14.—(1) Any registered martial art association which proposes to dissolve itself voluntarily in accordance with its rules and objects or any other written law shall inform the Controller in writing, and a certificate of dissolution signed by the president, secretary and treasurer or the officers of the association holding analogous positions, shall be sent to the Controller within one week of the association’s dissolution.

(2) On receiving the certificate of dissolution, the Controller shall, if he is satisfied that the association has been dissolved in accordance with its rules and objects or any other written law, publish a notification in the Gazette declaring that the association has ceased to exist.

Penalty for inciting, etc., a person to become a member of an unlawful martial art association

15.—(1) A person who incites, induces or invites another person to become a member of, or to assist in the management of, an unlawful martial art association shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding three thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(2) A 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 martial art association shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding four thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding four years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

Penalty for procuring subscription or aid for an unlawful martial art association

16. A person who procures or attempts to procure from any other person any subscription or aid for the purposes of an unlawful martial art association shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

Publishing etc., propaganda of an unlawful martial art association

17. A 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 book, placard, newspaper, periodical, pamphlet, poster, proclamation, circular, pictorial representation, letter 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 martial art association shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment; and any such book, placard, newspaper, periodical, pamphlet, poster, proclamation, circular, pictorial representation, letter or any other document or writing in respect of which the person is convicted shall be forfeited.

Martial art association using a triad ritual to be deemed an unlawful martial art association

18.—(1) Every martial art association, whether it is registered or not, which uses a triad ritual shall be deemed to be an unlawful martial art association.

(2) Any person found in possession of or having the custody or control of any book, account, writing, seal, flag, banner, symbol, emblem, badge or insignia of or relating to any triad martial art association or branch of a triad martial art association, whether the association 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 three thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(3) Every offence under the provisions of subsection (2) shall be deemed to be a non-bailable offence within the meaning of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 113).

Persons who shall not act as officers of a registered martial art association

19.—(1) The Controller may, in writing, declare any person to be unfit to act as an officer of a registered martial art association —

(a)

if he is satisfied that the person —

(i)	is not a fit and proper person to act as an officer of a martial art association;
(ii)	is contravening or has contravened any of the provisions of this Act; or
(iii)	has been convicted of an offence under this Act or the regulations made thereunder or under any other written law; or

(b)

if he considers it in the public interest to do so.

(2) The Controller shall, before making any declaration under the provisions of subsection (1), give the person concerned notice in writing of his intention to do so, specifying a date, not less than fourteen days after the date of the notice, upon which such declaration shall be made and calling upon the person concerned to show cause to the Controller why such declaration should not be made.

(3) Where the Controller has made a declaration under the provisions of subsection (1) he shall forthwith inform the person concerned by notice in writing of such declaration.

(4) The person, referred to in subsection (3), may, within fourteen days of the receipt of the notice referred to in that subsection, appeal in writing against such declaration to the Minister whose decision thereon shall be final.

(5) A declaration made under subsection (1) shall not take effect until the expiration of a period of fourteen days after the Controller has informed the person concerned of the declaration.

(6) If within that period the person concerned appeals to the Minister the declaration shall not take effect unless the order is confirmed by the Minister or the appeal is for any reason dismissed by the Minister.

(7) No person, who has been declared by the Controller to be unfit to act as an officer of a martial art association under subsection (1), shall act as such officer after the declaration takes effect unless he has appealed to the Minister under subsection (4) and the Minister has allowed the appeal or reversed the declaration of the Controller.

(8) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (7) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.

Minister may order cancellation of registration of a martial art association

20.—(1) Whenever it appears to the Minister that —

(a)	any officer, employee or member of a registered martial art association is providing instruction in any form of martial art at a place of instruction provided by the association in an unlawful manner or for an unlawful purpose or for purposes prejudicial to public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore; or
(b)	a registered martial art association has wilfully contravened any provision of this Act or of any regulations made thereunder,

the Minister may order that the registration of the association shall be cancelled.

(2) Notification of every such order shall be published in the Gazette by the Minister, and shall be affixed in a conspicuous manner on a building occupied by the association.

(3) Every martial art association against which an order for cancellation of registration is made under subsection (1) shall thenceforth be deemed to be an unlawful martial art association.

(4) Where such order has been made against a martial art association, every person who on the date on which the order was made was an officer of that association shall, during a period of three years from the date on which the order was made, be ineligible, except with the written permission of the Minister, to act, to be elected or to become an officer of any other martial art association.

(5) A person who acts as or becomes, without the written permission of the Minister, an officer of a martial art association while he is ineligible under the provisions of subsection (4) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both such fine and imprisonment.

No person to act as instructor without a certificate

21.—(1) No person, except an instructor who is in possession of an instructor’s certificate issued under section 25, shall instruct any person in any form of martial art.

(2) No person shall advertise or otherwise hold himself out as an instructor unless he holds an instructor’s certificate.

(3) A person who contravenes any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.

Application for registration as a trainee

22.—(1) No person shall receive instruction in any form of martial art from an instructor unless such person is registered as a trainee under this Act.

(2) Any person may apply to the Controller for registration as a trainee.

(3) Applications for registration under this section shall be made in such manner or form and shall be accompanied by such documents and particulars as may be prescribed.

(4) In considering an application for registration as a trainee under this section the Controller may require to be satisfied as to —

(a)	whether the applicant is a fit and proper person to be registered as a trainee; and
(b)	whether the public interest will be served by the registration of the applicant as a trainee.

(5) Upon an application being made under subsection (2) the Controller may register a person as a trainee with or without conditions, or refuse to register such person.

(6) The Controller may at any time vary or revoke one or more of the existing conditions imposed under subsection (5) or impose conditions or additional conditions in respect of the registration of a trainee.

(7) Where the registration of a trainee under this section is subject to conditions, the trainee shall comply with those conditions.

(8) A trainee who fails to comply with the conditions of his registration shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars or to imprisonment to a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine of five hundred dollars for every day during which the offence is continued after conviction.

Penalty for furnishing false particulars in an application for registration as trainee

23. A person who —

(a)	in an application for registration as a trainee under section 22, furnishes or supplies any particulars which he knows or has reasonable cause to believe are false; or
(b)	receives instruction in any form of martial art from another person who is not the holder of a valid instructor’s certificate,

shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.

Power of Controller to revoke, cancel or suspend registration of a trainee

24.—(1) The Controller may revoke, cancel or suspend the registration of a trainee —

(a)

if he is satisfied that the trainee —

(i)	has ceased to receive instruction in any form of martial art to which the registration relates;
(ii)	has improperly obtained his registration contrary to the provisions of this Act;
(iii)	is no longer a fit and proper person to be registered as a trainee under this Act; or
(iv)	is contravening or has contravened any of the provisions of this Act or the regulations made thereunder; or

(b)

if he considers it in the public interest to do so.

(2) The Controller shall, before revoking, cancelling or suspending the registration of a trainee under the provisions of subsection (1), give the trainee concerned notice in writing of his intention to do so, specifying a date, not less than fourteen days after the date of the notice, upon which such revocation, cancellation or suspension shall be made and calling upon the trainee to show cause to the Controller why such registration should not be revoked, cancelled or suspended.

(3) When the Controller has revoked, cancelled or suspended the registration of a trainee under the provisions of subsection (1) he shall forthwith inform the trainee by notice in writing of such revocation, cancellation or suspension.

(4) A trainee may within fourteen days of the receipt of the notice referred to in subsection (3) appeal in writing against such revocation, cancellation or suspension to the Minister whose decision thereon shall be final.

(5) An order of revocation, cancellation or suspension shall not take effect until the expiration of a period of fourteen days after the Controller has informed the trainee concerned of the order.

(6) If within that period the trainee concerned appeals to the Minister the order shall not take effect unless the order is confirmed by the Minister or the appeal is for any reason dismissed by the Minister.

(7) Where an order of revocation, cancellation or suspension becomes effective under subsection (5) or (6), the trainee shall, as from the date when the order becomes effective, cease to receive instruction in any form of martial art from any instructor.

Application for an instructor’s certificate

25.—(1) A person who desires to be an instructor in any martial art shall apply in writing to the Controller for an instructor’s certificate.

(2) Where an instructor provides instruction in any form of martial art at a place of instruction provided by a martial art association, such application shall be made for and on behalf of the instructor by the association.

(3) In considering an application for an instructor’s certificate, the Controller may require to be satisfied as to —

(a)	whether the applicant is a fit and proper person to be issued with an instructor’s certificate; and
(b)	whether the public interest will be served by the granting of such certificate.

(4) The Controller may grant an instructor’s certificate to an applicant with or without conditions, or refuse to grant such certificate.

(5) A person may at the same time hold an instructor’s certificate and be registered as a trainee under this Act.

(6) The Controller may at any time vary or revoke one or more of the existing conditions of an instructor’s certificate or impose conditions or additional conditions thereto.

(7) Where an instructor’s certificate is subject to conditions, the instructor to whom such certificate was issued shall comply with those conditions.

(8) An instructor who fails to comply with the conditions of his instructor’s certificate shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine of five hundred dollars for every day during which the offence is continued after conviction.

Power of Controller to revoke, cancel or suspend an instructor’s certificate

26.—(1) The Controller may revoke, cancel or suspend an instructor’s certificate —

(a)

if he is satisfied that the instructor —

(i)	has ceased to provide instruction in any form of martial art to which the certificate relates;
(ii)	has improperly obtained his instructor’s certificate contrary to the provisions of this Act;
(iii)	is no longer a fit and proper person to continue to hold an instructor’s certificate; or
(iv)	is contravening or has contravened any of the provisions of this Act or the regulations made thereunder; or

(b)

if he considers it in the public interest to do so.

(2) The Controller shall, before revoking, cancelling or suspending an instructor’s certificate under the provisions of subsection (1), give the instructor concerned notice in writing of his intention to do so, specifying a date, not less than fourteen days after the date of the notice, upon which such revocation, cancellation or suspension shall be made and calling upon the instructor to show cause to the Controller why such certificate should not be revoked, cancelled or suspended.

(3) When the Controller has revoked, cancelled or suspended an instructor’s certificate under the provisions of subsection (1) he shall forthwith inform the instructor by notice in writing of such revocation, cancellation or suspension.

(4) An instructor may within fourteen days of the receipt of the notice referred to in subsection (3) appeal in writing against such revocation, cancellation or suspension to the Minister whose decision thereon shall be final.

(5) An order of revocation, cancellation or suspension shall not take effect until the expiration of a period of fourteen days after the Controller has informed the instructor concerned of the order.

(6) If within that period the instructor concerned appeals to the Minister the order shall not take effect unless the order is confirmed by the Minister or the appeal is for any reason dismissed by the Minister.

Effect of revocation, cancellation or suspension of certificate

27. Where an order of revocation, cancellation or suspension becomes effective under section 26 —

(a)	the instructor shall, as from the date when the order becomes effective, cease to instruct any person in any martial art; and
(b)	the instructor shall forthwith surrender his instructor’s certificate to the Controller.

Exhibition of certificate

28. An instructor’s certificate or a certified copy thereof shall, so long as it remains valid, be exhibited by the instructor to whom such a certificate has been issued in a conspicuous position at every place of instruction at which he instructs any other person in any form of martial art.

Instructor to notify change of place of instruction

29. No instructor shall without the written consent of the Controller change any place of instruction at which he instructs any other person in any form of martial art.

Penalty for furnishing false particulars or instructing martial art to person not registered under this Act

30. A person who —

(a)	in an application for an instructor’s certificate under subsection (1) of section 25, furnishes or supplies any particulars which he knows or has reasonable cause to believe are false; or
(b)	instructs another person, who is not registered as a trainee under this Act, in any form of martial art,

Powers of search and arrest

31.—(1) The Controller or a police officer may without warrant and with or without assistance enter by force, if necessary, and search any place or premises or person found thereat if he has reason to believe that any evidence of the commission of an offence under this Act or any regulations made thereunder is likely to be found on such place or premises or person and may seize any evidence so found.

(2) No female shall be searched under this section except by a woman.

(3) The Controller or a police officer may arrest without warrant a person whom he reasonably believes has committed an offence under this Act or any regulations made thereunder.

(4) Where a person is arrested by the Controller under the provisions of subsection (3) the Controller shall comply with the provisions of sections 34 and 35 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 113) as if he were a police officer.

Powers of the Controller

32.—(1) The Controller shall, for the purposes of this Act, have power —

(a)	to enter, inspect or examine by day or by night any place or premises which he has reasonable cause to believe to be a place of instruction or a place of business or a branch of a martial art association and to exercise such powers as may be necessary to inspect and examine any appliance, instrument or thing therein;
(b)	to take with him a police officer if he has reasonable cause to apprehend any serious obstruction in the execution of his duty;
(c)	to require the production of the identity card of any person found at such place, and of records, certificates and documents kept in connection with such instruction at such place and to inspect, examine and copy any of them;
(d)	to make such inquiry as may be necessary to ascertain whether the provisions of this Act or any regulations made thereunder are complied with;
(e)	to examine orally any person supposed to be acquainted with the facts and circumstances with respect to matters under this Act, and to reduce into writing any statement made by the person so examined; and such person shall state truly the facts and circumstances with which he is acquainted with respect to matters under this Act, save only that he may decline to make with regard to any fact or circumstance a statement which would have a tendency to expose him to a criminal charge, or to a penalty or forfeiture; and a statement made as aforesaid by any person shall be read over to him and shall, after correction, if necessary, be signed by him; and
(f)	to require by order in writing the attendance before himself of any person, being within the limits of Singapore, who, from information given or otherwise, appears to be acquainted with the facts and circumstances with respect to matters under this Act, and that person shall attend as so required; and if any person fails to attend as so required, to report such failure to a Magistrate who may thereupon issue a warrant to secure the attendance of that person as required by such order.

(2) Every owner or occupier of any place of instruction and every instructor and trainee who provides or receives instruction, as the case may be, in any form of martial art at such place shall furnish the means required by the Controller as necessary for an entry, inspection, examination, inquiry or otherwise for the exercise of his powers under this Act in relation to such instruction at such place.

Obstruction of search, etc.

33. A person who —

(a)	refuses the Controller or a police officer accompanying the Controller under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 32 access to a place of training;
(b)	assaults, obstructs, hinders or delays the Controller in the execution of his duty imposed or power conferred by this Act;
(c)	fails to comply with a lawful demand of the Controller or a police officer in the execution of his duty or the exercise of his power; or
(d)	refuses or neglects to give information which may reasonably be required of him and which he has in his power to give,

shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —

(i)	in the case of an offence under paragraph (a), (c) or (d), to a fine not exceeding four thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both such fine and imprisonment; and
(ii)	in the case of an offence under paragraph (b), to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

Exemption

34. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Act, the Minister may exempt any organisation, person or class of persons from any or all of the provisions of this Act.

Operation of Act not to affect other written law

35.—(1) The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of any other written law.

(2) Nothing in this Act shall, unless it is expressly provided to the contrary, affect the operation of any other written law relating to societies, education or the registration of businesses under any such law.

General penalty

36. A person who contravenes or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this Act or any regulations made thereunder for which no penalty is expressly provided shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars.

Indemnity

37. The Government and every statutory body, including an officer or employee of the Government or the statutory body, and the Controller shall not be liable to any person in respect of any act done or decision made in good faith in the course of administering this Act.

Consent of Public Prosecutor

38. No prosecution in respect of an offence under this Act or any regulations made thereunder shall be instituted except by or with the consent of the Public Prosecutor.

Regulations

39.—(1) The Minister may make regulations for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act and for prescribing any matter which is authorised or required under this Act to be so prescribed.

(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred by subsection (1) the Minister may, by such regulations —

(a)	prescribe the manner of registration of martial art associations under this Act;
(b)	regulate or restrict changes of the names or place of businesses of registered martial art associations;
(c)	regulate or restrict changes of any place of instruction provided by such associations;
(d)	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)	prescribe the particulars and documents to be furnished or supplied by martial art associations, trainees for registration and applicants for instructors’ certificates under this Act;
(f)	prescribe the fees to be charged for the issue of an instructor’s certificate and for registration as a trainee and any other fees to be charged and payable under this Act;
(g)	regulate the registration of martial art associations and trainees under this Act;
(h)	prescribe separate registers to be kept of every registered martial art association, instructor holding an instructor’s certificate and trainee registered under this Act and the particulars to be entered in such registers;
(i)	prescribe the form of the instructor’s certificate;
(j)	prescribe for the taking and recording of photographs and finger prints of every officer of a martial art association which has applied for registration or is registered, an instructor applying for an instructor’s certificate, and a person who wishes to be registered as a trainee, under this Act; and
(k)	regulate the activities of instructors and trainees under this Act.

Application of this Act

40. Where a person would, but for this section, be liable to a penalty for not being the holder of an instructor’s certificate or for not being registered as a trainee under this Act, he shall not be so liable —

(a)

until the expiration of the period of three months next succeeding the date of commencement of this Act; or

(b)

where, before the expiration of that period, he applies for such certificate or registration, until —

(i)	he is issued with such certificate or is so registered; or
(ii)	his application is finally refused.

Transitional provisions

41.—(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Act, any association, club, society, company or firm which immediately before the date of commencement of this Act was a martial art association and is not disqualified from being registered under this Act if an application was made in respect thereof, may continue to be the same without being so registered —

(a)	until the expiration of a period of three months from the date of commencement of this Act; or
(b)	if before the expiration of that period the association applies for such registration, until the registration is effected or finally refused or the application withdrawn.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 30 an instructor who immediately before the date of commencement of this Act was instructing a trainee, who is not registered under this Act, in any form of martial art shall, three months after the date of commencement of this Act, cease to provide such instruction unless such trainee is so registered.

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