Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order 2024
- Act Code: RRA1985-S728-2024
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act 1985
- Enacting Authority: Minister for Defence (via Permanent Secretary, Defence Development, Ministry of Defence)
- Key Enabling Provision: Powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985
- Commencement / Operational Date: 19 September 2024 (for Part 3 of the Act)
- Made Date: 26 July 2024
- Legislation Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Legislative Identifier: SL 728/2024 (No. S 728)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order 2024 is a Singapore subsidiary instrument made under the Requisition of Resources Act 1985 (“RRA”). In plain terms, it is an administrative/legal mechanism that activates a specific part of the main Act—namely Part 3—for a defined period.
Although the Order itself is brief, its legal significance is substantial. Requisition legislation is typically designed to ensure that, during national emergencies or other circumstances contemplated by the parent statute, the Government can secure access to resources (such as property, services, or other capabilities) needed for defence and public purposes. This Order does not itself describe the requisition powers in detail; instead, it brings Part 3 of the Act into operation from a specified date.
Accordingly, the practical effect of the Order is to determine when the requisition framework in Part 3 becomes legally operative. For practitioners, the key task is to understand how this activation interacts with the parent Act’s conditions, procedures, and safeguards, and how it affects rights and obligations of relevant persons and entities.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal name of the instrument: “Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order 2024.” This is standard drafting, but it matters for proper legal referencing in notices, submissions, and compliance documentation.
Section 2 (Date of requisition) is the core operative provision. It states that the “provisions of Part 3 of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 19 September 2024.” In other words, the Order functions as a commencement/activation order for Part 3.
Two legal points flow from the wording of section 2:
- Timing: Part 3 becomes operative on 19 September 2024. This is the date from which the Government may rely on the Part 3 powers and procedures (subject to any additional conditions within Part 3 or the Act).
- Continuing operation: the phrase “come into and remain in operation” indicates that Part 3 is not merely activated for a single day or event; rather, it remains operative unless and until it is later amended, revoked, or otherwise brought to an end through subsequent legislative action.
Enacting formula and authority confirm that the Minister for Defence makes the Order in exercise of powers under section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985. This is important for validity and for understanding the constitutional/administrative basis of the activation. Practitioners should note that the enabling provision typically sets out what the Minister may do (for example, to bring parts of the Act into force when required). If a challenge were ever mounted, the first question would likely be whether the Minister acted within the scope of section 2 of the parent Act.
Made date versus operational date: the Order was “Made on 26 July 2024,” but Part 3 is to operate from 19 September 2024. This gap is common in commencement orders: it allows time for administrative preparation and for affected parties to adjust their compliance posture. For legal practitioners, this also helps in determining whether actions taken between 26 July 2024 and 19 September 2024 could lawfully rely on Part 3 (they generally would not, because Part 3 is not yet in operation).
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order 2024 is structured as a short subsidiary instrument with only two substantive provisions:
- Section 1: Citation (title of the Order).
- Section 2: Date of requisition / activation of Part 3 of the Act.
There are no Parts or schedules within the Order itself. Instead, the Order is designed to “point” to the parent statute and activate a particular portion of it. The detailed requisition regime—definitions, requisition powers, procedural steps, compensation mechanisms, and enforcement—will be found in Part 3 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985, not in this Order.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the structure means the Order should be read together with the parent Act. The Order answers the “when” question (when Part 3 is in force), while the Act answers the “what” and “how” questions (what requisition can be done, by whom, under what conditions, and with what legal consequences).
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Because this Order activates Part 3 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985, its practical reach extends to persons and entities that may be subject to requisition under Part 3. While the extract provided does not list categories, requisition legislation typically targets those who control or provide relevant resources—such as owners of property, operators of facilities, providers of services, or holders of capabilities needed for defence or national purposes.
In practice, the Order itself does not identify specific classes of affected parties. Instead, the scope is determined by the parent Act’s definitions and operative provisions in Part 3. Therefore, lawyers advising clients should start by mapping the client’s role against the Part 3 triggers (for example, whether the client holds resources that could be requisitioned, and whether any procedural protections or compensation rights apply).
Additionally, the Order is directed at the Government’s exercise of power. It is the Minister for Defence (and, through administration, relevant departments and officers) who gains the legal authority to operate Part 3. Affected parties will typically encounter the consequences through formal requisition notices, directions, or related administrative actions issued under the activated provisions.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order 2024 is brief, it is legally consequential because it determines the operational status of Part 3 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985. In requisition regimes, timing is not a technicality: it affects whether the Government can lawfully invoke requisition powers at a given time, and it affects the rights and obligations of those who may be requisitioned.
For practitioners, the importance lies in three practical areas:
- Compliance and risk management: Businesses and asset holders should treat the activation of Part 3 as a signal that requisition powers may be exercised. This may require internal readiness planning, review of contracts and operational dependencies, and ensuring that relevant documentation and points of contact are in place.
- Legal advice on rights and remedies: Requisition laws often include compensation or procedural safeguards. Once Part 3 is in operation, affected parties may need to understand how to claim compensation, how to respond to requisition notices, and what timelines or evidentiary requirements apply.
- Validity and challenge considerations: If a requisition action is taken, parties may scrutinise whether the statutory prerequisites were met and whether the correct part of the Act was in force. This Order provides the commencement anchor for Part 3, which can be central in any dispute.
Finally, the Order illustrates a broader governance approach: rather than keeping all requisition powers permanently active, the legislature authorises the Minister to bring specific parts of the Act into operation. This can be seen as a balance between preparedness and legal restraint. For lawyers, it underscores the need to always check the current status of the relevant parts of the parent Act when advising on requisition-related matters.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act 1985 (authorising Act; particularly Part 3)
- Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order 2024 (SL 728/2024) — current activation instrument
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (No. 2) Order 2024 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.