Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (No. 5) Order 2018
- Act Code: RRA1985-S485-2018
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273)
- Enacting Authority: Minister for Defence
- Enacting Formula (Key Power): Powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act
- SL Citation: SL 485/2018
- Date Made: 27 July 2018
- Date of Requisition / Commencement Trigger: Provisions of Part III of the Act to come into and remain in operation on 7 August 2018
- Current Version Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per the legislation portal)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (No. 5) Order 2018 is a Singapore subsidiary legislation instrument made under the Requisition of Resources Act (Cap. 273). Its core function is not to create a new regulatory scheme from scratch, but to activate an existing statutory mechanism—specifically, to bring Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act into operation on a specified date.
In plain terms, the Order is a formal “turning on” of the Act’s Part III powers. Those powers are typically relevant to national security and emergency preparedness contexts, where the Government may need to secure resources (such as services, materials, or other capabilities) quickly and effectively. By issuing this Order, the Minister for Defence ensures that the legal framework for requisition under Part III is available and enforceable from 7 August 2018.
Because this is a numbered “(No. 5)” Order, it forms part of a series of similar activation orders. Practitioners should therefore read it together with the parent Act and any other related Orders, as the legal effect depends on which “Part” of the Act is being activated and when.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the short title of the instrument: Requisition of Resources (No. 5) Order 2018. While this may appear procedural, citation provisions matter for legal certainty—especially when multiple Orders exist and parties need to identify the precise instrument relied upon.
Section 2 (Date of requisition) is the substantive provision. It states that the provisions of Part III of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 7 August 2018. The wording “come into and remain in operation” indicates that the activation is not merely temporary for a single day; rather, Part III is intended to be operative from that date onward (subject to how the parent Act itself governs duration, termination, or further orders).
From a practitioner’s perspective, the practical legal consequence is that, once Part III is in operation, the Government (through the relevant authorities under the Act) can exercise the requisition powers contained in Part III. Those powers may involve issuing requisition directions or notices, requiring persons or entities to provide specified resources, and imposing legal obligations on affected parties. The Order itself does not detail the requisition mechanics; it activates the machinery already set out in the Act.
Enacting formula and authority also matter. The Order is made “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act.” This signals that the Act contains a delegation or activation mechanism: section 2 of the Act authorises the Minister for Defence to determine when Part III should be brought into operation. Lawyers should therefore treat the Order as a legally valid exercise of delegated authority, and any challenge would likely need to focus on compliance with the enabling Act (for example, whether the Minister acted within the statutory power and whether the activation conditions—if any—were satisfied).
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is extremely concise and contains only two operative provisions. Structurally, it follows a common pattern for activation orders in Singapore: (1) a citation provision and (2) a commencement/activation provision.
Although the Order itself has no “Parts” or “sections” beyond the two provisions shown in the extract, it is designed to operate by reference to the Requisition of Resources Act. The Order’s structure is therefore best understood as a “switch” that activates Part III of the parent Act. The detailed rights, duties, procedures, and enforcement consequences are located in the Act, not in the Order.
Accordingly, a practitioner should read the Order alongside:
- Section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act (the enabling provision for activation); and
- Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act (the substantive requisition regime that becomes operative on 7 August 2018).
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order itself is addressed to the legal system generally, but its operative effect is felt by persons and entities who may be subject to requisition under Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act. In practice, that can include businesses, service providers, and other resource holders whose assets, services, or capabilities may be required by the Government during the relevant operational context contemplated by the Act.
Because the Order activates Part III, the scope of who is affected depends on how Part III defines or targets requisitionable resources and the persons who can be required to provide them. The Order does not specify categories of affected parties; it defers that detail to the parent Act. Therefore, lawyers advising clients should not rely solely on the Order’s text; they must consult Part III to determine whether a particular client’s resources fall within the requisition framework and what obligations, notice requirements, and potential remedies or compensation provisions apply.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is brief, it is legally significant because it determines whether the Government can invoke the requisition powers under Part III of the Act. In emergency or defence-related planning, the ability to secure resources quickly is often time-sensitive. Activation orders like this one ensure that the legal authority is available without delay when needed.
For practitioners, the importance lies in compliance and risk management. Once Part III is in operation, affected parties may face obligations to respond to requisition directions, provide resources, or otherwise cooperate. Failure to comply (depending on the parent Act’s enforcement provisions) could expose parties to legal consequences. Conversely, the activation also creates a structured legal basis for requisition, which may include procedural safeguards and, in some regimes, compensation mechanisms.
From an advisory standpoint, the Order’s date—7 August 2018—is a key timeline marker. It may be relevant for determining when obligations commenced, when notices were validly issued, and whether particular actions taken by the Government or by affected parties occurred during a period when Part III was operative. Lawyers dealing with disputes, claims, or regulatory compliance should therefore treat the activation date as central to the factual and legal chronology.
Finally, because the portal indicates the Order is “current version as at 27 Mar 2026,” practitioners should also consider whether there have been amendments, repeals, or consolidation changes affecting the parent Act or the operation of Part III. Even if the Order itself remains unchanged, the broader legal environment may evolve through amendments to the Requisition of Resources Act or through subsequent activation orders.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273) — including:
- Section 2 (enabling power for the Minister for Defence to bring Part III into operation); and
- Part III (the substantive requisition regime activated by this Order).
- Requisition of Resources Orders (numbered series, including “(No. 5)”) — to be reviewed for the relevant activation periods and any changes in operational scope.
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (No. 5) Order 2018 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.