Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order 2019
- Act Code: RRA1985-S114-2019
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273)
- Enacting authority: Minister for Defence
- Enacting formula (power used): Powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act
- Made date: 15 January 2019
- Citation / SL number: SL 114/2019
- Commencement / operational date (key): Part III of the Act to come into and remain in operation on 23 February 2019
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per the legislation portal)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order 2019 is a short but legally significant instrument. In substance, it activates a particular portion of the Requisition of Resources Act—specifically, Part III—for a defined period beginning on 23 February 2019. The Order does not itself create a new regulatory scheme from scratch; rather, it is a “switch-on” mechanism that brings existing statutory powers into operation.
In plain language, the Act provides the Government with legal authority to requisition (that is, take or require the use of) resources in situations where national needs require it—such as during emergencies or other circumstances contemplated by the Act. The Order is part of the legal machinery that ensures those powers are available when needed. By bringing Part III into operation, the Minister for Defence effectively signals that the operational provisions in Part III should be treated as live law from the commencement date.
Because the Order is made under section 2 of the Act, it is best understood as an administrative/legal activation order. Practitioners should therefore read it together with the Requisition of Resources Act (Cap. 273), focusing on what Part III authorises, who may exercise those powers, the procedural steps required, and the consequences for affected persons.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) identifies the instrument as the “Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order 2019.” While this is standard drafting, it matters for legal referencing, especially when advising on which order is relevant to a particular requisition event or administrative action.
Section 2 (Date of requisition / commencement of Part III) is the core operative provision. It states that “the provisions of Part III of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 23 February 2019.” Two practical legal points flow from this wording:
- Commencement: Part III becomes operative on 23 February 2019. Any reliance on Part III powers should generally be assessed with that date in mind.
- Continuing operation: the phrase “come into and remain in operation” indicates that Part III is not merely temporarily activated for a single day; it is intended to remain in force (at least until further legal action changes the position, such as a subsequent order or repeal/amendment of the relevant provisions).
Enacting formula / enabling power (the introductory paragraph) confirms that the Minister for Defence acts under section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act. For practitioners, this is important for validity and for any challenge. If a requisition action is later taken under Part III, the legal foundation will typically be traced to the Act and the activation order. A party disputing the requisition may examine whether the correct authority was used, whether the correct Part was activated, and whether the activation date aligns with the action taken.
Although the extract provided contains only Sections 1 and 2, the legal impact is still substantial because Part III of the Act is where the operative requisition powers likely sit. In practice, counsel should not treat this Order as “procedural only.” Instead, it should be treated as the jurisdictional trigger for the exercise of Part III powers. The absence of further provisions in the Order means that the detailed rights, duties, procedural steps, and enforcement mechanisms will be found in the Act itself.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is structured in a conventional two-section format:
- Section 1 provides the short title/citation.
- Section 2 sets the key date and states that Part III of the Act is to come into and remain in operation on 23 February 2019.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the “structure” that matters most is not the Order’s internal layout (which is brief), but the relationship between the Order and the Act. The Order is a subsidiary instrument that activates a defined part of the Act. Therefore, the legal architecture is best described as:
- Primary legislation: Requisition of Resources Act (Cap. 273)
- Activation instrument: Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order 2019
- Operational content: Part III of the Act (the provisions that become operative)
Accordingly, when advising clients, lawyers should read the Order alongside Part III and any related provisions (including definitions, interpretation sections, and any general procedural or compensation provisions that may apply to requisitions).
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order itself is directed at the legal operation of Part III of the Act. It does not specify categories of persons in the extract. However, the underlying Act’s Part III provisions will determine the affected persons—typically those who control or supply “resources” that may be requisitioned (for example, goods, services, or other resources relevant to national needs).
In practical terms, the Order may affect a wide range of stakeholders, including businesses, asset owners, service providers, and potentially individuals, depending on how “resources” and the requisition targets are defined in the Act. Because the Order activates Part III, any requisition notices, directions, or enforcement actions taken under Part III would be expected to bind the relevant persons subject to the Act’s requisition framework.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order 2019 is brief, it is legally important because it determines when the Government can rely on the specific powers in Part III of the Act. In administrative law and in disputes over requisition actions, timing and legal authority are often central. If a requisition action is taken outside the period when Part III is operative, affected persons may have grounds to challenge the legality of the action.
For practitioners, the Order also matters for compliance and risk management. Businesses and resource providers may need to understand whether Part III is active at the relevant time, because that status may affect contractual arrangements, operational planning, and obligations to comply with requisition demands. Where requisitioning is contemplated, counsel may advise on how to respond to notices, how to document resource availability, and how to preserve rights relating to compensation or procedural fairness (as provided in the Act).
Finally, the Order illustrates a common legislative technique in Singapore: using subsidiary legislation to activate or operationalise parts of a broader statutory framework. This means that legal advice must be dynamic—lawyers should check the current status and relevant versions (as the portal indicates “current version as at 27 Mar 2026” and provides a timeline). A practitioner should not assume that Part III is always operative; it may be activated by orders and potentially altered by subsequent instruments.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273) (including Part III and section 2, which empowers the Minister for Defence to make activation orders)
- Legislation timeline / related instruments (as referenced in the portal; practitioners should check for other “Requisition of Resources” orders that may activate or modify the operation of different parts)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order 2019 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.