Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (No. 5) Order 2019
- Act Code: RRA1985-S612-2019
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Singapore Statute Reference: SL 612/2019
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273)
- Enacting Formula / Power: Made under section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act
- Date Made: 7 August 2019
- Citation: “Requisition of Resources (No. 5) Order 2019”
- Commencement / Operational Date: 7 September 2019 (for Part III of the Act)
- Current Version Status (as provided): Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (No. 5) Order 2019 is a Singapore subsidiary legislation instrument that activates specific provisions of the Requisition of Resources Act (Cap. 273). In practical terms, it is not a standalone “requisition regime” with detailed rules; rather, it is a mechanism used by the Minister for Defence to bring the Act’s Part III into force for a defined period.
Under the Requisition of Resources Act, the Government is empowered to requisition (that is, take or require the use of) resources that may be needed for national defence or other specified public purposes. The Act’s structure typically separates the legal framework from the timing of when certain powers become operational. This Order is one of several “No. X” orders that sequentially or periodically activate the relevant part of the Act.
As reflected in the text, this Order provides that the provisions of Part III of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 7 September 2019. The Order therefore functions as an “activation” instrument—turning on the operational legal machinery in Part III—rather than creating new substantive requisition powers from scratch.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) is a standard provision confirming the short title of the instrument. It ensures that the Order can be cited correctly in legal documents, correspondence, and enforcement actions.
Section 2 (Date of requisition) is the substantive operative clause. It states that the provisions of Part III of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 7 September 2019. This language is important: it indicates both (i) the commencement date and (ii) that the activated provisions are intended to remain in operation (i.e., not merely for a single day or a limited short term), subject to the broader scheme of the Act and any subsequent orders or amendments.
Although the extract does not reproduce Part III itself, a practitioner would understand that Part III contains the operational requisition powers and related procedural and enforcement provisions. The Order’s effect is to make those powers legally usable by the relevant authorities from the specified date. In other words, once Part III is in operation, the Government can rely on the Part III mechanisms to requisition resources in accordance with the Act.
Enacting formula and making authority also matter for validity. The Order states that it is made by the Minister for Defence in exercise of powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act. This confirms the correct constitutional and statutory delegation: the Minister has been specifically authorised by Parliament to issue orders that bring Part III into operation. For legal work, this is often relevant when assessing whether an enforcement action is ultra vires (beyond power) or procedurally defective.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is extremely short and consists of two sections. The structure is typical of “activation orders” under a parent Act:
(1) Section 1 provides the citation (short title).
(2) Section 2 sets the date when the activated provisions take effect—here, the coming into operation of Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act on 7 September 2019.
There are no schedules, definitions, or detailed procedural rules in the extract because those are located in the Requisition of Resources Act itself. The Order’s role is therefore temporal and enabling: it “turns on” Part III rather than re-stating its content.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order itself is directed at the legal operation of Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act. As a result, its practical impact is felt by persons and entities whose resources may be requisitioned under Part III—such as owners, operators, suppliers, or custodians of relevant resources within Singapore, depending on how Part III defines “resources” and the requisition process.
In terms of legal applicability, the Order does not specify categories of affected parties. Instead, it activates the provisions of the Act that apply to requisitioned resources and the persons who control them. Therefore, for advising clients, the key question is not only whether the Order is in force, but also what Part III authorises and what procedural safeguards or obligations it imposes on affected persons.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Requisition of Resources (No. 5) Order 2019 is brief, it is legally significant because it determines when the Government can exercise the requisition powers in Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act. For practitioners, the timing of activation can be crucial in disputes about legality, compensation, compliance, and the validity of requisition notices or directions issued during the operational period.
From a compliance perspective, once Part III is in operation, affected stakeholders may face obligations to provide resources, comply with directions, or facilitate requisition arrangements. Failure to comply (depending on Part III’s enforcement provisions) could expose parties to legal consequences. Accordingly, lawyers advising businesses—particularly those in logistics, utilities, manufacturing, transport, or other sectors that may hold strategic resources—should monitor such orders and understand how they interact with contractual and operational planning.
From an enforcement and litigation perspective, the Order also provides a clear statutory anchor for the Government’s authority. Because it specifies the date on which Part III comes into operation, it can be used to establish whether a requisition action was taken when the relevant legal powers were active. In challenges to requisition actions, parties often scrutinise: (i) whether the correct part of the Act was activated; (ii) whether the activation date aligns with the action date; and (iii) whether the Minister had the statutory authority to make the order.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273)
- Requisition of Resources (Timeline / Legislation timeline) (as referenced in the provided extract)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (No. 5) Order 2019 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.