Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2018
- Act Code: RRA1985-S221-2018
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273)
- Authorising Provision: Powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act
- Enacting Date / Made On: 17 April 2018
- Commencement / Operational Date: Part III of the Act to come into and remain in operation on 24 April 2018
- Legislative Citation: No. S 221 (SL 221/2018)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per the extract)
- Key Provisions (from extract): Sections 1 (Citation) and 2 (Date of requisition)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2018 is a short, targeted Singapore subsidiary legislation instrument. In substance, it does not create a new regulatory scheme from scratch. Instead, it activates an existing statutory framework contained in the Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273) by bringing Part III of that Act into operation for a specified date.
In plain language, the Order is a formal legal “switch” that tells the government and affected parties that the powers and mechanisms in Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act are now legally available and effective. Such requisition powers are typically associated with national defence and emergency preparedness—allowing the State to secure resources (such as services, materials, or other relevant assets) when required.
Because the Order is numbered “(No. 4)”, it forms part of a series of similar activation orders. Each order generally corresponds to a particular requisition cycle or administrative decision to bring the relevant Part of the Act into force. The legal effect is therefore time-specific and procedural: it determines when Part III becomes operative and continues to operate from that point.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) is the standard citation provision. It confirms the formal name of the instrument: “Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2018”. While this section is not operational by itself, it is important for legal certainty, referencing, and proper identification in legal documents, notices, and correspondence.
Section 2 (Date of requisition) 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 24 April 2018.” This language is significant. It does not merely indicate a temporary commencement; it provides that Part III is to “come into and remain in operation” from that date. Practitioners should read this as a commencement and continuing effect clause, meaning that once the date is reached, Part III is legally active and remains so unless later amended, revoked, or superseded by subsequent legislation or orders.
The Order is made under the authority of section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act. The extract’s enacting formula indicates that the Minister for Defence makes the Order. This matters for administrative law and constitutional structure: it confirms the statutory delegation of power and identifies the decision-maker. For counsel advising government agencies or regulated parties, it provides the legal basis for why the Minister can activate Part III and why the Order is valid on its face.
Finally, the extract includes the “Made on 17 April 2018” date and the signature block of NEO KIAN HONG, Permanent Secretary (Defence Development), Ministry of Defence. While the signature is not a substantive legal requirement in the same way as the operative clause, it is relevant to formal validity and evidences that the instrument was properly executed by the authorised official in accordance with the enabling framework.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is extremely concise and, based on the extract, contains only two sections:
(1) Section 1: Citation.
(2) Section 2: Date of requisition—bringing Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act into operation on a specified date.
Although the Order itself has only these provisions, its practical legal effect depends on the content of Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act. In other words, the Order is best understood as an activation instrument rather than a self-contained code. The “structure” therefore operates on two levels:
- Instrument level: the Order sets the commencement date for Part III.
- Statutory level: Part III contains the substantive requisition powers, procedures, and consequences.
For legal work, this means that reading the Order alone is insufficient. A practitioner must cross-reference the Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273), particularly Part III, to determine what rights and obligations are triggered on 24 April 2018.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to persons and entities that fall within the scope of Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act once it is in operation. While the extract does not specify categories (e.g., whether it targets particular industries, types of resources, or classes of providers), requisition legislation typically affects resource holders and service providers whose resources may be required by the State.
In practical terms, the Order is relevant to:
- Government and defence-related agencies that may exercise requisition powers under Part III;
- Private sector entities that may be subject to requisition directions, orders, or administrative actions under Part III;
- Legal advisers supporting affected parties in responding to requisition notices, compliance demands, or disputes concerning scope, valuation, or procedural fairness (as applicable under Part III).
Because the Order is time-linked (“come into and remain in operation on 24 April 2018”), its applicability is also temporal. Parties should consider whether any requisition actions were taken before or after that date, and whether later orders altered the operational status of Part III.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2018 is brief, it is legally important because it determines when the State’s requisition powers under Part III become effective. For practitioners, the key issue is not the length of the instrument but the consequences that flow from activation of the underlying statutory provisions.
From a compliance and risk perspective, once Part III is in operation, affected parties may face obligations to provide resources or comply with requisition-related directions. Even if the Order itself does not describe those obligations, it is the legal mechanism that authorises the government to proceed under the Act. Counsel should therefore treat the Order as a trigger document: it may be cited in notices, internal memoranda, and legal submissions to establish the legal basis for requisition actions.
From an enforcement and dispute perspective, the Order also supports arguments about validity and timing. If a requisition action is challenged, parties may examine whether Part III was properly in operation at the relevant time. The Order’s clear commencement date (“24 April 2018”) provides a factual and legal anchor for such arguments.
Finally, the “No. 4” numbering and the existence of a timeline (as indicated in the extract) suggest that requisition activation may be periodic or responsive to changing circumstances. This reinforces the need for practitioners to check the current version and the relevant historical versions. A party’s rights and obligations can depend on which activation order was in force at the time of the requisition event.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273) — in particular, Part III
- Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2018 — activation instrument for Part III
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2018 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.