Statute Details
- Title: Co-operative Societies (Modification under Section 97) Order 2015
- Act Code: CSA1979-S74-2015
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Co-operative Societies Act (Chapter 62)
- Authorising Provision: Section 97 of the Co-operative Societies Act
- Enacting Date: Made on 10 February 2015
- Commencement Date: 13 February 2015
- Legislative Instrument Number: S 74/2015
- Key Operative Provision: Modification of section 60(1)(a) as applied to the Co-operative Society of Nanyang Technological University Limited
- Current Version Reference: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per legislation status)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Co-operative Societies (Modification under Section 97) Order 2015 is a targeted legal instrument that makes a narrow change to how a specific rule in the Co-operative Societies Act applies to one particular co-operative society: the Co-operative Society of Nanyang Technological University Limited.
In plain terms, the Order adjusts the eligibility requirements for membership of the committee of management for that society. The modification concerns the minimum age of a person who may be eligible to sit on the society’s committee of management. Rather than applying the general statutory rule in the Act in the usual way, the Order “modifies” the Act for this society to a limited extent.
This kind of subsidiary legislation is commonly used in Singapore to ensure that the statutory framework can accommodate particular circumstances of a society, without rewriting the entire primary Act. The legal mechanism is important: the Order does not replace the Co-operative Societies Act; it alters the Act’s application to a defined entity, and only to the extent stated.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation and commencement (Order, section 1)
Section 1 provides the formal citation and commencement. The Order is cited as the “Co-operative Societies (Modification under Section 97) Order 2015” and comes into operation on 13 February 2015. For practitioners, this matters because eligibility rules for committee membership become enforceable from the commencement date, and any governance decisions taken after that date should be assessed against the modified rule.
2. Modification of section 60(1)(a) of the Co-operative Societies Act (Order, section 2)
The operative substance is in section 2. The Order states that section 60(1)(a) of the Co-operative Societies Act, as applied to the Co-operative Society of Nanyang Technological University Limited, is modified to the extent that a person is eligible for membership of the committee of management if that person is 18 years of age or older.
Although the extract does not reproduce the original wording of section 60(1)(a), the structure of the modification indicates that the general rule in the Act sets a different age threshold (or otherwise imposes an eligibility condition that is being adjusted). The Order therefore creates a specific exception/adjustment for this society: the committee of management may include persons aged 18 and above.
3. Scope is limited: “to the extent” of the modification
Practically, the phrase “modified to the extent that” is crucial. It signals that the modification is not a wholesale rewrite of section 60(1)(a). Instead, only the relevant eligibility aspect—here, the age requirement for committee membership—is altered. All other eligibility criteria and governance requirements in the Act (and any other applicable subsidiary legislation or the society’s own rules) continue to apply unless expressly modified.
4. Made under section 97: ministerial power to tailor application
The Order is made “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 97 of the Co-operative Societies Act.” This is not merely a formal recital; it is the legal foundation for the modification. For legal analysis, it confirms that the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth has statutory authority to modify the application of provisions of the Act to particular societies, subject to the conditions and limits in section 97.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is structured as a short instrument with a conventional format for subsidiary legislation:
(a) Enacting formula: It states that the Minister makes the Order under section 97 of the Co-operative Societies Act.
(b) Section 1 (Citation and commencement): Provides the name and the date it comes into operation.
(c) Section 2 (Modification of section 60(1)(a) of Act): Sets out the specific modification and identifies the specific society to which the modified rule applies.
Notably, there are no additional parts or schedules in the extract. The entire regulatory effect of the instrument is contained in section 2, and it is narrowly focused on committee eligibility by age.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies specifically to the Co-operative Society of Nanyang Technological University Limited. It does not create a general rule for all co-operative societies in Singapore. Instead, it modifies the application of section 60(1)(a) of the Co-operative Societies Act only in relation to that society.
Accordingly, the practical beneficiaries of the modification are persons who are 18 years of age or older and who seek eligibility for membership of the society’s committee of management. Conversely, the modification may also affect how the society’s governance bodies and nominating processes assess candidates’ eligibility. For other co-operative societies, the general statutory rule in section 60(1)(a) remains unchanged unless another modification order applies.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is brief, it can have meaningful governance consequences. Committee of management membership is often central to a co-operative society’s decision-making, including oversight of operations, compliance, and the implementation of members’ resolutions. By adjusting the age eligibility threshold, the Order can expand or clarify the pool of eligible candidates for the committee.
From a compliance perspective, the modification reduces uncertainty for the named society. Without the Order, the society would have to apply the unmodified statutory eligibility rule in section 60(1)(a), which likely required a higher age threshold. The Order therefore provides a clear legal basis for appointing or electing committee members who are at least 18 years old.
For practitioners advising the society, the Order should be treated as a governance compliance document. It should be reflected in internal procedures for nominations, eligibility checks, and committee formation. It may also be relevant in disputes about the validity of committee appointments—particularly where a person’s age is challenged. If the appointment occurred after the commencement date (13 February 2015) and concerns the committee of management of the named society, the modified eligibility rule should be applied.
Finally, the Order illustrates the broader regulatory approach in Singapore: rather than amending the primary Act for a single case, the law permits targeted modifications under a ministerial power. This can be efficient and proportionate, but it also means lawyers must pay close attention to whether a statutory provision is modified for a particular entity.
Related Legislation
- Co-operative Societies Act (Chapter 62) — in particular, section 60(1)(a) (committee of management eligibility) and section 97 (power to modify application)
- Co-operative Societies (Modification under Section 97) Order 2015 — this instrument (S 74/2015)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Co-operative Societies (Modification under Section 97) Order 2015 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.