Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (No. 6) Order 2018
- Act Code: RRA1985-S693-2018
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273)
- Enacting Formula / Power Used: Powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act
- Order Date (Made): 17 October 2018
- Commencement / Operative Date: 23 October 2018
- Operational Period: Part III of the Act “come into and remain in operation” from 23 October 2018 (as stated in the Order)
- Legislative Citation: SL 693/2018
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026 (per the legislation portal)
- Key Provisions (from extract): Sections 1 and 2
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (No. 6) Order 2018 is a short but legally significant instrument made under Singapore’s Requisition of Resources Act (Cap. 273). In plain terms, it is an administrative/legal “activation” order. It does not itself create a new set of requisition powers; rather, it determines when a particular part of the main Act—Part III—is to be brought into force and kept in operation.
Under the Requisition of Resources Act, the Government is empowered to requisition resources in situations where national needs require it (for example, during emergencies or periods of heightened defence-related requirements). However, the Act’s provisions are not necessarily automatically active at all times. Instead, the Act’s structure contemplates that certain parts may be activated by ministerial order. This Order is one such activation instrument.
Specifically, the Order states that the provisions of Part III of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 23 October 2018. The Order therefore functions as the legal trigger for Part III’s operative effect from that date. For practitioners, the practical consequence is that the legal framework for requisition under Part III becomes enforceable and actionable from the specified date, subject to the conditions and procedures set out in the main Act.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal name of the instrument: “Requisition of Resources (No. 6) Order 2018.” This is standard drafting, but it matters for legal referencing, reporting, and compliance documentation.
Section 2 (Date of requisition / Activation of Part III) is the substantive provision in the extract. It provides that “The provisions of Part III of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 23 October 2018.” This language is crucial. It indicates both (i) the commencement of Part III’s operation and (ii) that Part III is intended to remain operative (i.e., not merely for a short one-off period) unless and until superseded or otherwise affected by later orders or legal changes.
From a legal practitioner’s perspective, the key interpretive point is that this Order does not spell out the requisition mechanics. Those mechanics are contained in the Requisition of Resources Act itself—particularly in Part III. Therefore, the Order should be read together with the Act. The Order answers the “when” question (when Part III becomes active), while the Act answers the “what” and “how” questions (what can be requisitioned, who can requisition, what procedures apply, and what rights/compensation mechanisms exist).
The enacting formula confirms that the Minister for Defence makes the Order “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act.” This matters for validity and administrative law analysis. If a party challenges the requisition regime’s applicability, one likely line of inquiry is whether the Minister had the statutory authority to activate Part III and whether the activation was done in the manner contemplated by section 2 of the Act. The Order’s express reliance on section 2 supports the legality of the activation.
Finally, the Order includes the “Made on 17 October 2018” date and is signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence (CHAN YENG KIT). While the signature block is not itself a substantive rule, it provides evidence of proper execution and the responsible office-holder. In practice, such details can be relevant when verifying the authenticity of the instrument or when assembling a compliance record for affected parties.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is structured as a very brief subsidiary instrument with a conventional format: a citation provision and an operative provision. In the extract, it contains:
(1) Section 1: Citation (title of the Order).
(2) Section 2: Date of requisition / activation of Part III of the Act.
There are no additional parts, schedules, or detailed procedural requirements within the Order itself. Instead, the Order is designed to operate as a “switch” for the main Act’s Part III provisions. Accordingly, the effective legal framework for requisition will be found by consulting the Requisition of Resources Act (Cap. 273), and specifically Part III, which will set out the substantive requisition powers and processes.
In terms of legislative hierarchy, this is a subsidiary legislation instrument. It derives its authority from the parent Act and is intended to be read in conjunction with it. For practitioners, this means that legal advice or litigation analysis should not treat the Order as self-contained; rather, it should be treated as an activation/commencement instrument that activates a defined portion of the parent statute.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order itself is addressed to the legal effect of Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act. While the Order does not list categories of persons, the practical scope is determined by the parent Act. In general, requisition regimes under defence-related legislation typically apply to persons and entities who control or possess “resources” that may be requisitioned for national needs—such as goods, services, or other resources relevant to defence or emergency preparedness.
Therefore, the Order’s applicability is best understood indirectly: it applies to those who are subject to the requisition powers in Part III of the Act once that Part is in operation. The Order’s role is to establish that Part III is operative from 23 October 2018. Any person potentially affected by requisition actions after that date would need to consider the requirements, safeguards, and consequences set out in Part III and the Act as a whole.
Because the Order is dated 2018, practitioners should also consider the temporal dimension. The Order states that Part III is to come into and remain in operation on 23 October 2018. Whether it remains operative indefinitely or is later curtailed would depend on subsequent orders, amendments, or statutory provisions governing duration. The portal status indicates “current version as at 27 March 2026,” but that does not necessarily mean Part III is still active; it means the Order document itself is maintained as part of the current legislative database. The operative question for a given case is whether Part III was active at the relevant time, which may require checking the timeline and any later “Requisition of Resources (No. …) Orders.”
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Requisition of Resources (No. 6) Order 2018 is brief, it is important because it determines the legal availability of requisition powers under Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act. In practical terms, once Part III is activated, the Government may be able to take steps that affect private parties—such as requisitioning resources, imposing obligations, or triggering compensation and procedural rights—depending on the detailed provisions in Part III.
For lawyers advising businesses, logistics providers, contractors, or other resource holders, the Order is a key piece of the compliance puzzle. Even if the Order itself does not describe the requisition process, it signals that the legal regime under Part III is in force from the stated date. This can affect contract performance, risk assessments, and the handling of government requests. It may also affect how parties respond to notices or directions issued under the Act.
From an enforcement and litigation standpoint, the Order can be central to establishing whether the requisition authority was properly engaged at the relevant time. If a party disputes the legality of a requisition action, one of the first factual/legal questions is whether the relevant provisions of the Act were active. The Order provides documentary evidence of activation and the date from which Part III was operational.
Finally, the Order illustrates how Singapore’s requisition framework is designed to be flexible and time-bound. Rather than having all requisition powers permanently active, the system allows the Minister for Defence to activate specific parts of the Act when needed. This structure supports both operational readiness and legal certainty, because affected parties can consult subsidiary legislation to determine whether the requisition regime is currently in force.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273) (including Part III)
- Requisition of Resources Orders (other “No. …” Orders) (to determine which parts are activated and during which periods)
- Legislation Timeline / Resources Act – Authorising Act (for version control and activation history)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (No. 6) Order 2018 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.