Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2019
- Act Code: RRA1985-S560-2019
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273)
- Enacting Formula / Power Source: Powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act
- Legislation Number: SL 560/2019
- Date Made: 7 August 2019
- Commencement / Operational Date (as stated): Provisions of Part III of the Act to come into and remain in operation on 24 August 2019
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Parts: Not specified in the extract (Order contains provisions on citation and commencement of Part III)
- Key Provisions (from extract): Sections 1 (citation) and 2 (date of requisition/operation of Part III)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2019 is a Singapore subsidiary legislation instrument made under the Requisition of Resources Act (Cap. 273). In practical terms, the Order does not itself create a full set of operational rules. Instead, it activates a specific portion of the parent Act—namely Part III—for a defined period starting on a specified date.
Under the Requisition of Resources Act, the Government is empowered to requisition (that is, take or control) certain resources in circumstances where national defence or related public needs require it. The Act’s structure contemplates that the most operational and intrusive powers are not necessarily permanent in effect at all times. Rather, they can be brought into force when needed. This Order is one such “activation” instrument.
Accordingly, the scope of this Order is narrow: it provides the date on which the provisions of Part III of the Act are to come into and remain in operation. For lawyers, the key is to read this Order together with the Requisition of Resources Act, because the substantive requisitioning powers, procedures, and safeguards are contained in the Act’s Part III, not in the Order itself.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) is a standard provision. It states that the instrument may be cited as the Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2019. While this is not substantive, it is important for legal referencing in pleadings, correspondence, and compliance documentation.
Section 2 (Date of requisition / activation of Part III) is the operative clause. It provides that “Part III of the Act” is to come into and remain in operation on 24 August 2019. The wording “come into and remain in operation” indicates that once Part III is activated on that date, it continues to apply (subject to any later orders, amendments, or expiry mechanisms in the parent Act). In other words, the Order functions as a formal trigger for the commencement of the Act’s Part III regime.
Because the extract does not reproduce Part III itself, practitioners should treat this Order as a gateway to the substantive legal framework. Once Part III is in operation, the requisitioning powers, administrative processes, and any related offences or enforcement mechanisms that are located in Part III become legally available to the competent authorities under the Act.
From a compliance and litigation perspective, the legal significance of Section 2 is that it establishes the temporal scope of Part III’s applicability. If a requisition action, notice, or enforcement step is taken, counsel will typically need to determine whether the action occurred after 24 August 2019 (and whether Part III remained in force at the relevant time). This can affect the lawfulness of administrative decisions, the validity of notices, and the availability of defences or remedies.
It is also relevant that the Order is made by the Minister for Defence (or, as shown in the extract, by the Permanent Secretary acting under the ministerial authority). This aligns with the defence-oriented purpose of the parent Act and underscores that the activation of Part III is a policy and operational decision within the defence portfolio.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is structured in a conventional subsidiary-legislation format, with a short enacting formula and a small number of provisions. In the extract, the Order contains:
(1) Section 1: the citation provision.
(2) Section 2: the operational commencement provision, specifying the date on which Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act is to come into and remain in operation.
There are no “Parts” within the Order itself (as indicated by the metadata). Instead, the Order is best understood as a procedural instrument that activates a particular part of the parent Act. The substantive legal architecture—definitions, requisition powers, procedural requirements, and any compensation or review mechanisms—resides in the parent Act, particularly in Part III.
For practitioners, the structure implies a reading approach: first, confirm the Order number and date; second, confirm the version status (here, “current version as at 27 March 2026”); and third, locate and analyse Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act as it stood at the relevant time. If there were amendments to Part III after 2019, the “current version” status may not reflect the exact text applicable in 2019 unless the legislation platform provides version history for Part III itself.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the Order itself is brief, it applies indirectly to persons and entities that may be subject to the requisitioning regime under the Requisition of Resources Act once Part III is in operation. In general terms, such legislation is aimed at ensuring that the State can secure resources needed for national defence and related public purposes. Practically, this can include owners, operators, suppliers, and other stakeholders who control relevant resources.
Because the Order activates Part III, its effect is not limited to a particular class of persons named in the Order. Instead, the categories of affected persons will be determined by the definitions and operative provisions in Part III of the parent Act. Therefore, the correct legal analysis requires reviewing Part III to identify: (i) what “resources” are covered; (ii) who may be required to provide or make available those resources; and (iii) what procedural steps are required before or during requisition.
In addition, the Order is directed at the competent authorities empowered by the Act. Once Part III is in operation, those authorities may exercise the powers conferred by Part III. For lawyers advising government agencies, this means ensuring that internal decision-making, documentation, and notices comply with the procedural requirements in Part III.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2019 is short, it is legally significant because it determines when a powerful statutory regime becomes active. Requisition powers are typically intrusive: they can affect property rights, contractual arrangements, and operational control of resources. As a result, the timing and validity of activation orders can be central to disputes about legality, compensation, and administrative fairness.
For practitioners, the Order’s importance lies in its role in establishing jurisdictional and temporal authority. If a requisition action is challenged, one of the first questions is whether the relevant statutory provisions were in force at the time the action was taken. Section 2 provides a clear date—24 August 2019—that can be used to assess whether the authority to act under Part III existed at the material time.
From an enforcement and risk-management perspective, businesses and resource holders should treat activation orders as compliance triggers. Once Part III is in operation, affected parties may need to prepare for possible notices, directions, or other administrative steps. Even if the Order does not specify particular requisition targets, it signals that the legal machinery for requisition is available and may be deployed depending on circumstances.
Finally, the Order illustrates a broader legislative technique used in Singapore: the parent Act provides the substantive framework, while subsidiary orders manage the activation of particular parts. This can be crucial for lawyers tracking regulatory change over time, especially when advising on historical events, disputes, or the interpretation of administrative actions taken during periods when Part III was active.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273) — particularly Part III
- Requisition of Resources subsidiary orders (e.g., other “(No. …) Orders”) that may activate or modify the operation of relevant parts
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2019 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.