Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources Order 2025
- Act Code: RRA1985-S26-2025
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act 1985
- Enacting formula / power: Made in exercise of powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985
- Order citation: No. S 26
- SL number: SL 26/2025
- Date of requisition: Provisions of Part 3 of the Act to operate from 18 January 2025
- Made date: 8 January 2025
- Maker: Permanent Secretary (Defence Development), Ministry of Defence (MELVYN ONG SU KIAT)
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Key operative provisions (from extract): Sections 1 (citation) and 2 (commencement/operation of Part 3)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources Order 2025 is a short piece of Singapore subsidiary legislation that activates a specific part of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985. In practical terms, it is a “turn-on” instrument: it brings Part 3 of the parent Act into operation for a defined period, starting on a particular date.
Although the Order itself contains only two operative provisions in the extract provided, its legal significance lies in what it does to the underlying statutory framework. The Requisition of Resources Act 1985 is designed to provide the Government with legal powers to requisition (that is, take or control) certain resources in situations where national needs require it—typically in circumstances connected to defence, emergencies, or other serious public contingencies. By specifying that Part 3 of the Act “come into and remain in operation” from a particular date, the Order determines when those requisition powers become available for use.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the key point is that the Order does not itself describe the requisition mechanics. Instead, it determines the temporal activation of the relevant statutory machinery. Lawyers advising agencies, affected parties, or potential claimants must therefore read the Order together with the provisions of Part 3 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal name of the instrument: “This Order is the Requisition of Resources Order 2025.” This is standard drafting, but it matters for legal referencing, publication, and ensuring that the correct subsidiary legislation is identified in correspondence, submissions, and litigation documents.
Section 2 (Date of requisition / commencement of Part 3) is the operative core of the Order. It states that “the provisions of Part 3 of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 18 January 2025.” The phrase “come into and remain in operation” indicates that Part 3 is not merely temporarily activated for a single day; rather, it is brought into effect and continues to operate (subject to any later amendments, revocations, or subsequent orders that may change the legal status).
Legally, this provision performs two functions. First, it establishes the commencement date—18 January 2025—when Part 3 becomes legally effective. Second, it addresses continuing operation, meaning that once Part 3 is activated by this Order, the relevant powers and procedures in Part 3 are available for use during the period in which Part 3 remains in operation.
Because the extract does not reproduce the text of Part 3 itself, a lawyer must consult the parent Act to understand what Part 3 authorises. Typically, in requisition legislation, Part 3 would set out the substantive requisition regime: who may requisition, what categories of resources may be requisitioned, the process for issuing requisition notices, the rights of affected persons, and any compensation or review mechanisms. The Order’s legal effect is to make those Part 3 provisions enforceable from the specified date.
Finally, the enacting formula confirms that the Minister for Defence (or, as shown by the maker’s signature, the Permanent Secretary (Defence Development) acting under the relevant authority) makes the Order under section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985. This matters for validity: if the parent Act confers the power to make such an order, then the Order’s activation of Part 3 is grounded in statutory authority. Practitioners should still verify that the correct decision-maker and procedural requirements were satisfied under the parent Act and any subsidiary rules.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Requisition of Resources Order 2025 is structured as a very concise subsidiary instrument. In the extract, it contains:
(1) Enacting formula—identifies the statutory power relied upon (section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985) and confirms the Minister for Defence’s authority to make the Order.
(2) Section 1—citation provision.
(3) Section 2—date of requisition / commencement and continuing operation of Part 3 of the Act.
There are no schedules or detailed procedural steps in the Order itself. Instead, the Order functions as a gateway to the substantive regime in the parent Act. In other words, the “structure” is not about internal complexity; it is about legislative linkage—the Order points to Part 3 and determines when it is operative.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to the extent that Part 3 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985 applies once it is in operation. While the Order itself does not specify categories of persons, requisition legislation generally affects:
(a) Government and authorised officers who exercise requisition powers under the Act; and
(b) Persons who own, control, or have possession of relevant resources that may fall within the scope of Part 3 (for example, resources needed for defence or other national requirements).
Accordingly, the practical “applicability” is twofold. First, it governs the Government’s ability to invoke Part 3 powers from 18 January 2025. Second, it governs the legal position of affected private parties from that date—meaning that any requisition notices, directions, or other actions taken under Part 3 would be legally anchored in the activated regime.
Lawyers should also consider that the Order’s effect is time-dependent. If Part 3 is later deactivated or replaced by another order, the legal basis for actions taken after the change may differ. Therefore, practitioners advising on disputes or compliance should confirm the operative status of Part 3 at the relevant dates.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Requisition of Resources Order 2025 is brief, it is legally consequential because it determines when the Government can rely on the substantive requisition powers in Part 3 of the Requisition of Resources Act 1985. In requisition contexts, timing can be decisive: the legality of requisition actions, the availability of statutory remedies, and the assessment of compensation (if Part 3 provides for it) may all depend on whether Part 3 was in operation at the time the relevant notice or direction was issued.
From an enforcement and compliance standpoint, the Order signals that the requisition framework is active. Government agencies and authorised officers must ensure that any exercise of powers complies with the procedural and substantive requirements in Part 3. Conversely, affected parties should be alert to the possibility that resources they control may be subject to requisition-related processes once Part 3 is operative.
From a dispute-resolution perspective, the Order is also important for evidential and legal basis questions. In any challenge to a requisition action, parties will typically scrutinise:
- whether the correct statutory provisions were in force at the time;
- whether the requisition was made by the correct authority;
- whether the resource fell within the scope of the Act;
- whether statutory procedures (including notice requirements and any review or compensation mechanisms) were followed.
The Requisition of Resources Order 2025 is the document that answers the first of these questions—at least for the commencement and continuing operation of Part 3 from 18 January 2025.
Finally, the Order illustrates a broader legislative technique used in Singapore: rather than having all requisition powers automatically in force at all times, the Act can be selectively activated through subsidiary orders. This approach can be designed to balance preparedness with legal restraint, ensuring that extraordinary powers are available when needed but not necessarily continuously exercised.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act 1985 (including Part 3)
- Requisition of Resources Act 1985 (authorising provision: section 2)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources Order 2025 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.