Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act 1990

Source: Singapore Statutes Online | Archived by Legal Wires

Maintenance of Religious
Harmony Act 1990
2020 REVISED EDITION
This revised edition incorporates all amendments up to and including 1 December 2021 and comes into operation on 31 December 2021
An Act to provide for the maintenance of religious harmony and for establishing a Presidential Council for Religious Harmony and for matters connected therewith.
[31 March 1992]
PART 1
PRELIMINARY
Short title
1.  This Act is the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act 1990.
Interpretation
2.  In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —
“anonymous donation”, for a religious group, means a donation which the religious group accepting the donation is (whether because the donation is offered anonymously or by reason of deception or concealment) unable to ascertain the identity of the donor giving the donation, but excludes the following:
(a)a donation deposited in a box, receptacle or other container in a publicly accessible location within a place of worship in Singapore for the same religion or religious denomination as the religious group;
(b)any proceeds from a collection by the religious group, the conduct of which is authorised by the House to House and Street Collections Act 1947*;
(c)a cash donation collected during an act of collective worship or a religious ceremony or rite conducted by the religious group;
(d)a donation which is declared not to be an anonymous donation by regulations made under section 19;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“communications activity”, in relation to any information or material, means communicating or distributing the information or material to the general public in Singapore, whether or not in the course of business, and includes doing any of the following whether or not in the course of business:
(a)placing the information or material, or something that contains the information or material, somewhere it can be accessed by the general public in Singapore;
(b)giving the information or material, or something that contains the information or material, to an intermediary to give to an intended recipient in the general public in Singapore;
(c)describing to the general public in Singapore —
(i)how to obtain access to the information or material, or something that contains the information or material; or
(ii)methods that are likely to facilitate access to the information or material, or something that contains the information or material;
(d)displaying, screening or playing the information or material, or something that contains the information or material, so that it can be seen or heard in or from a public place in Singapore,
but does not include communicating or distributing, in the course of business, information or material produced entirely by another person and without altering the information or material or only altering the information or material to the extent to fit time, space or format constraints;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“community remedial initiative” has the meaning given by section 16H;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“competent authority”, in relation to any provision of this Act, means the competent authority appointed under section 2B to exercise powers under that provision;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“conduct”, in relation to engaging in conduct, means —
(a)an act or omission on a single occasion; or
(b)a series of acts or omissions, or both, on a number of occasions over a period of time,
such as (but not limited to) communications activity, and may include conduct occurring outside Singapore;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“Council” means the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony constituted under section 3;
“donation”, for a religious group, means any of the following:
(a)any bequest or gift of money to the religious group or any religious institution affiliated or associated with the religious group;
(b)any money to pay or reimburse any expenditure incurred (whether directly or indirectly) by the religious group or any religious institution affiliated or associated with the religious group;
(c)any money lent to the religious group or any religious institution affiliated or associated with the religious group, otherwise than on commercial terms;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“donation report” has the meaning given by section 16A;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“donor” means an individual or entity that makes a donation;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“entity” includes any of the following, whether or not a religious group or religious institution:
(a)a sole proprietorship;
(b)a partnership (including a limited partnership);
(c)a limited liability partnership;
(d)a corporation within the meaning given by the Companies Act 1967*;
(e)a trustee of an express trust or other similar arrangement;
(f)an unincorporated association;
(g)a co-operative society;
(h)a trade union;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(i)a platform work association;
[Act 30 of 2024 wef 01/11/2024]
“foreign affiliations report” has the meaning given by section 16B;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“foreign country” means a country or territory other than Singapore, and includes part of such a country or territory;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“foreign principal” means —
(a)if an individual, an individual who is not a citizen of Singapore and is not a Singapore permanent resident; or
(b)if not an individual, an entity which —
(i)is constituted or organised under a law of a foreign country and is not registered in Singapore under any written law;
(ii)has its principal place of business in a foreign country, even if incorporated or registered under any written law; or
(iii)is the government of a foreign country or an authority of the government of a foreign country;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“general public” includes a section of the general public in Singapore;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“gift”, for a religious group, includes —
(a)a bequest or disposition by will to the religious group or any religious institution affiliated or associated with the religious group;
(b)an amount paid by a person as a contribution or entry fee or other payment to entitle that or another person to participate or otherwise obtain any benefit from a fund-raising venture or similar function organised by the religious group or any religious institution affiliated or associated with the religious group (being an amount that forms part of the gross proceeds of the venture or function);
(c)an annual or other subscription paid to the religious group or any religious institution by a member of that group or institution or an entity for affiliation with that religious group or religious institution; and
(d)any other contribution of money given to the religious group or any religious institution affiliated or associated with the religious group, by a person, or in circumstances, prescribed,
but does not include any zakat or fitrah or any other prescribed sum of money (whether or not of a similar kind);
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“governing body”, for a religious group, means the group of individuals (whether or not each an employee or a responsible officer or religious leader of the religious group) who —
(a)is directly involved in the management of the properties (including donations) belonging to the religious group; and
(b)has the capacity, on behalf (as the case may be) of the religious group, to influence the appointment of the religious leaders of the religious group or any institutions affiliated or associated with the religious group;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“information or material” means information or material in any form, and includes —
(a)oral, written, electronic or digital form; and
(b)visual, pictorial or graphic form (such as but not limited to an anthropomorphic or humanlike depiction);
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“key management report” has the meaning given by section 16C;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“Presidential Council for Minority Rights” means the Presidential Council for Minority Rights constituted under Part 7 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore;
“publication” includes any newsletter, journal, periodical, book, film, videotape, audiotape or any written, pictorial, aural or printed matter containing any audio or visible representation which by its images, form, shape or sound or in any other manner is capable of suggesting words or ideas, and every copy and reproduction or substantial reproduction of any publication;
“relevant donor”, for a religious group, means a person who makes a religious donation to the religious group and who, at the time the donation is accepted by the religious group —
(a)if the donor is an individual, is —
(i)not a citizen of Singapore;
(ii)not a Singapore permanent resident; and
(iii)not a resident of Singapore who is prescribed as a permissible donor; or
(b)if the donor is not an individual, is —
(i)not an entity which is registered in Singapore (even if incorporated outside Singapore);
(ii)not incorporated under any written law; and
(iii)not a corporation sole or corporation aggregate established under a private Act for religious purposes;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“religious donation”, for a religious group, means a donation made to or for the benefit of the religious group, the whole or part of which was used or is intended to be used by the religious group solely or substantially —
(a)to incur expenditure for carrying out a religious or charitable purpose of the religious group wholly or partly in Singapore; or
(b)to enable the religious group to make, directly or indirectly, a religious donation;
 
Examples of religious or charitable purpose
 
(a)Religious worship, rite or ceremony carried out wholly or partly in Singapore.
 
(b)The provision of healthcare services wholly or partly in Singapore.
 
(c)The acquisition or maintenance of, or the construction or other building works relating to, a medical clinic or healthcare facility in Singapore.
 
(d)The acquisition or maintenance of, or the construction or other building works relating to, a school or an educational institution in Singapore which is used or to be used wholly or substantially to provide training or courses of instruction about or according to the tenets of the religion or religious denomination of a religious group.
 
(e)The acquisition or maintenance of, or the construction or other building works relating to, a place of worship in Singapore which is used or to be used by members of a religious group.
 
(f)The acquisition or maintenance of, or the construction or other building works relating to, a place of residence for one or more ministers of the religious group whose duties consist of performing the rites or rituals of the faith or in preaching the tenets of the religion or religious denomination, or for missionaries directly engaged in spreading religious doctrine in Singapore and whose work is not in essence administrative or clerical.
 
(g)The acquisition or maintenance of, or the construction or other building works relating to, a place of residence for aged or infirm individuals mentioned above.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“religious institution” includes the congregation, assembly of worshippers, parishioners or other group of followers who attend religious services or activities held in Singapore by or at a church, cathedral, chapel, sanctuary, mosque, surau, temple, synagogue or other place of worship;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“religious group” includes —
(a)any company or other body corporate incorporated under the Companies Act 1967 or any other written law for the purpose of promoting any religion, religious worship or dealing with religious affairs or practising, conducting, teaching or propagating any religious belief; and
(b)any body of persons, whether or not registered as a society under the Societies Act 1966, whose object is the promotion of any religion, religious worship or the practice, conduct, teaching or propagating of any religious belief;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“religious leader” means —
(a)a priest, monk, pastor, mufti, imam, rabbi, elder or similar office-bearer in a religious group or religious institution; or
(b)any other person who is in a position of authority in any religious group or religious institution in relation to the religious practice or worship, or the tenets of the religion or religious denomination, of that group or institution,
but a person is not a religious leader by reason only that the person is a responsible officer of the religious group or a member of the governing body of the religious group;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“reportable donation”, for a religious group, means —
(a)a religious donation given by a relevant donor to and accepted by the religious group, which is of or exceeding $10,000 on any one occasion, without aggregating any earlier donation by the same relevant donor to the same religious group; or
(b)an anonymous donation given to and accepted by the religious group, which is of or exceeding $10,000;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“responsible officer”, for a religious group, means —
(a)where the religious group is a body corporate, the person for the time being holding the office of chairman, managing director or company secretary of, or any position analogous to any of those offices in, the religious group;
(b)where the religious group is an unincorporated body of persons, the person for the time being holding the office of president, secretary or treasurer of the governing body or a committee (or an equivalent body) of, or any position analogous to any of those offices, in the body of persons; or
(c)where the religious group is a partnership (including a limited partnership), a partner of the partnership,
and includes any person carrying out the duties of any such office mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) if that office is vacant;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“restraining order” means an order made under section 8 or 9, as the case may be;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
“Singapore permanent resident” means a permanent resident of Singapore as defined by section 2 of the Immigration Act 1959.
[Act 31 of 2023 wef 01/12/2025]
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
Supplementary interpretative provisions for donations, etc.
2A.—(1)  Subject to the provisions of this Act, a donation is accepted by a religious group if it is received and retained by or on behalf of the religious group for its use and benefit.
(2)  For the purposes of this Act, anything given or transferred —
(a)to any branch of a religious group (which may be a religious institution); or
(b)to any responsible officer of a religious group, member of the governing body of a religious group, or to a religious leader of a religious group, in his capacity as such (and not solely for his own use or benefit),
is to be regarded as given or transferred to the religious group, and references to donations received by a religious group accordingly include references to donations so given or transferred.
(3)  For the purposes of this Act, any information or material in electronic or digital form which did not originate in Singapore, or the origin of which cannot be determined, is deemed to be communicated or distributed to the general public in Singapore if —
(a)the information or material is communicated or distributed or caused to be communicated or distributed by a Singapore-connected person or the Singapore-connected person takes part in that communication or distribution; and
(b)the information or material is accessible by persons physically present in Singapore.
(4)  For the purposes of subsection (3), a Singapore-connected person means —
(a)a citizen of Singapore;
(b)a Singapore permanent resident;
(c)a person in Singapore;
(d)an entity which is registered in Singapore (even if incorporated outside Singapore), or is incorporated under any written law; or
(e)a corporation sole or corporation aggregate established under a private Act.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Competent authority
2B.—(1)  The Minister may appoint —
(a)a public officer to be the competent authority for the administration of Part 4, 5 or 6* generally; or
(b)one or more public officers to be each a competent authority responsible for the administration of a particular provision in Part 4, 5 or 6*.
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
(2)  A competent authority is, subject to any general or special directions of the Minister, responsible for the administration of Part 4, 5, 6 or 7* or any provision in that Part (as the case may be) and may perform such duties as are imposed and may exercise such powers as are conferred upon the competent authority by this Act.
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
(3)  The Minister may from time to time give a competent authority directions of a general character, and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as to the exercise of the powers and discretions conferred on the competent authority by, and the duties required to be discharged by the competent authority under, this Act; and the competent authority must give effect to those directions given.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
PART 2
ESTABLISHMENT OF
PRESIDENTIAL COUNCIL
FOR RELIGIOUS HARMONY
Establishment of Council
3.—(1)  A Presidential Council for Religious Harmony is constituted, comprising a chairperson and at least 6 and not more than 15 other members.
(2)  At least two-thirds of the members of the Council must be representatives of the major religions in Singapore and the other members must be individuals who, in the opinion of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, have distinguished themselves in public service or community relations in Singapore.
(3)  The chairperson and every member of the Council are to be appointed by the President, on the advice of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, for a period of 3 years all of whom are eligible for re‑appointment.
(4)  Despite subsection (3), a member, other than the chairperson, may be appointed for any shorter period of at least one year.
(5)  The President may, after consultation with the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, at any time revoke the appointment of the chairperson or any member of the Council and may, on the advice of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, appoint any individual to fill any vacancy which may arise in the Council for any reason whatsoever.
(6)  The President may, acting in the President’s discretion, refuse to appoint any individual as chairperson or member of the Council or to revoke any such appointment if the President does not concur with the advice or recommendation of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights.
(7)  No individual is qualified to be appointed as a member of the Council unless the individual is —
(a)a citizen of Singapore;
(b)at least 35 years of age;
(c)resident in Singapore; and
(d)not liable to any of the disqualifications provided in subsection (8).
(8)  An individual is disqualified for appointment as a member of the Council if the individual —
(a)has a mental disorder and is incapable of managing oneself or the individual’s affairs;
(b)is insolvent or an undischarged bankrupt;
(c)has been convicted of an offence by a court in Singapore or Malaysia and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year or to a fine of not less than $2,000 and has not received a free pardon, except that where the conviction is by a court in Malaysia, the individual is not so disqualified unless the offence is also one which, had it been committed in Singapore, would have been punishable by a court in Singapore; or
(d)has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of, or exercised the rights of citizenship in, a foreign country or has made a declaration of allegiance to a foreign country.
[21/2008]
(9)  A member must vacate the member’s seat in the Council if —
(a)the member ceases to be a citizen of Singapore;
(b)by writing under the hand of the member addressed to the chairperson the member resigns the member’s seat; or
(c)the member becomes subject to any of the disqualifications provided in subsection (8).
Functions of Council
4.—(1)  The functions of the Council are —
(a)to consider and report to the Minister on matters affecting the maintenance of religious harmony in Singapore which are referred to the Council by the Minister or by Parliament; and
(b)to consider and make recommendations to the President on restraining orders and directions to extend given to the Council by the Minister under sections 11 and 13, respectively.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(2)  The Council has the power to appoint a Secretary to the Council and any other officers as may be required to enable the Council to carry out its functions under this Act.
(3)  The Council may, subject to the provisions of this Act, regulate its own procedure.
(4)  The Council must not transact any business unless a quorum of at least half of its members, including the chairperson or member presiding, is present.
(5)  The chairperson, if present, presides at all meetings of the Council.
(6)  Whenever the office of chairperson is vacant or the chairperson for any reason is unable to attend a meeting, any other member that the members present elect presides at the meeting.
Validity of Council’s actions
5.—(1)  The Council may, subject to section 4(4), transact its business despite any vacancy among its members.
(2)  The proceedings or any decision of the Council are valid despite any defect in the appointment of its members or that some person who was not entitled to do so took part in its proceedings.
Members are public servants and protected from legal action
6.—(1)  Every member or officer of the Council is deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of the Penal Code 1871.
(2)  Nothing done by any member or officer of the Council in good faith and in the discharge of the powers and functions of the Council renders the member or officer liable to any suit or action.
Secrecy
7.—(1)  Except as provided under section 15, the proceedings of the Council are secret.
(2)  A member or officer of the Council must not disclose or divulge to any person, other than the President, the Minister, the Secretary or any member of the Council, any matter which has arisen at any meeting of the Council unless the member or officer is expressly authorised to do so by the Minister.
PART 3
RESTRAINING ORDERS
Restraining orders against officials or members of religious group or religious institution
8.—(1)  The Minister may make a restraining order against any religious leader of any religious group or religious institution or any member thereof for the purposes specified in subsection (2) where the Minister is satisfied that that person has committed or is committing, or is likely to commit, or has attempted or is attempting to commit any of the following acts:
(a)causing feelings of enmity, hatred, ill will or hostility between different religious groups;
(b)carrying out activities to promote a political cause, or a cause of any political party while, or under the guise of, propagating or practising any religious belief;
(c)carrying out subversive activities under the guise of propagating or practising any religious belief; or
(d)exciting disaffection against the President or the Government while, or under the guise of, propagating or practising any religious belief.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(1A)  The Minister may make a restraining order against any religious group for the purposes specified in subsection (2A) if the Minister is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient so as to pre-empt, prevent or reduce any foreign influence affecting the religious group which may —
(a)undermine religious tolerance between different religious groups in Singapore; and
(b)present a threat to the public peace and public order in Singapore.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(2)  An order made under subsection (1) may be made against the person named in the order for the following purposes:
(a)restraining the person from addressing orally or in writing any congregation, parish or group of worshippers or members of any religious group or religious institution on any subject, topic or theme as may be specified in the order without the prior permission of the Minister;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(b)requiring the person —
(i)to stop undertaking any communications activity involving the information or material specified or described in the order, immediately or within the period specified in the order, and absolutely or except with the prior permission of the Minister; or
(ii)to stop printing or editing, or assisting or contributing to, any publication produced by any religious group or religious institution without the prior permission of the Minister;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(c)restraining the person from holding office in an editorial board or a committee of a publication of any religious group without the prior permission of the Minister.
(2A)  A restraining order made under subsection (1A) may be made against a religious group named in the order requiring the religious group —
(a)to not accept any anonymous donation on or after a date specified in the restraining order;
(b)to not accept any religious donation on or after a date specified in the restraining order from a foreign principal specified in the order;
(c)to return any religious donation received, on or after a date specified in the restraining order, from a foreign principal specified in the order;
(d)to dispose of any anonymous donation received, on or after a date specified in the restraining order;
(e)to ensure that on or after a date specified in the restraining order, every member of the governing body of the religious group is a citizen of Singapore; or
(f)to remove a member of the governing body of the religious group specified in the restraining order, being an individual who is not a citizen of Singapore.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(2B)  A restraining order under subsection (1A) of the effect in subsection (2A)(b) or (c) may specify the manner in which, and must specify the period within which, the religious donations concerned must be sent back to the person who made the donation or any other person appearing to be acting on the donor’s behalf.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(2C)  A restraining order under subsection (1A) of the effect in subsection (2A)(d) may require —
(a)if the donation was transmitted by a person (other than the donor) and the identity of that person is apparent, that the whole donation must be returned to that person;
(b)if paragraph (a) does not apply but it is apparent that the donor has, in connection with the donation, used any facility provided by an identifiable financial institution, that the whole donation must be returned to that financial institution; or
(c)in all other cases, that the whole donation must be sent to a competent authority; and all anonymous donations so sent must be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(2D)  A restraining order under subsection (1A) of the effect in subsection (2A)(f) may also require the religious group concerned to suspend (for no longer than 24 continuous months) a member of the governing body of the religious group who is not a citizen of Singapore from the exercise of his office as a member of the governing body pending consideration being given to his removal under a restraining order under subsection (1A).
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(3)  Subject to section 12(2), a restraining order made under this section has effect for such period, not exceeding 2 years, as may be specified in the order.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(4)  Before making a restraining order, the Minister is not required to give any person notice of, or consult any person on, the Minister’s intention to make that order.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(5)  After making a restraining order, the Minister must immediately give, or cause to be given, a copy of the order, and the grounds, facts and documents supporting the order, to the following:
(a)for a restraining order under subsection (1) —
(i)the religious leader of a religious group or religious institution or a member thereof against whom the order is made; and
(ii)the head or governing body of that religious group or religious institution;
(b)for a restraining order under subsection (1A) —
(i)the religious group against whom the order is made; and
(ii)the head or governing body of that religious group.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(6)  A restraining order takes effect on the date a copy of it is given to the religious leader of a religious group or religious institution or a member thereof mentioned in subsection (5)(a)(i), and the religious group mentioned in subsection (5)(b)(i), respectively; and that religious leader or member of the religious group or religious institution or that religious group (as the case may be) must comply with the order.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(7)  A reference in subsection (2)(b) and section 9(2) to stop undertaking any communications activity involving the information or material includes a reference to taking all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that the information or material is no longer available on or through the Internet to end users in Singapore, such as (if necessary) the removal of the information or material from an online location.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Restraining orders against other persons
9.—(1)  Where the Minister is satisfied that —
(a)any person is inciting, instigating or encouraging any religious group or religious institution or any person mentioned in subsection (1) of section 8 to commit any of the acts specified in that subsection;
(b)any person, other than persons mentioned in subsection (1) of section 8, has committed or is committing, or is likely to commit, or has attempted or is attempting to commit any of the acts specified in paragraph (a) of that subsection,
the Minister may make a restraining order against the person.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(2)  Without limiting subsection (1), an order made under this section may restrain the person named in the order from addressing or advising any religious group or religious institution or any member thereof, or requiring the person named in the order to stop undertaking any communications activity involving information or material, concerning or affecting the relations between that religious group or religious institution and the Government or any other religious group or religious institution.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(3)  Subject to section 12(2), a restraining order made under this section has effect for such period, not exceeding 2 years, as may be specified in the order.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(4)  Before making an order under subsection (1), the Minister is not required to give any person notice of, or consult any person on, the Minister’s intention to make that order.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(5)  After making an order under subsection (1) against a person, the Minister must immediately give, or cause to be given, a copy of the order, and the grounds, facts and documents supporting the order, to —
(a)that person; and
(b)the head or governing body of the religious group or religious institution named in the order.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(6)  The order made under subsection (1) against a person takes effect on the date it is given to the person, who must comply with the order.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Relation to other laws
10.  Except as provided in section 16F, nothing in this Act or any restraining order, direction or community remedial initiative derogates from the effect of any other written law for the time being in force.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Restraining orders to be referred to Council
11.—(1)  After making a restraining order, the Minister must immediately give, or cause to be given, to the Council —
(a)a copy of the restraining order; and
(b)the grounds, facts and documents supporting the restraining order.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(1A)  The following persons may, in accordance with subsection (1B), make representations to the Council against a restraining order:
(a)the person against whom the restraining order is made;
(b)the head or governing body of the religious group or religious institution named in the restraining order.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(1B)  Any representation under subsection (1A) against a restraining order must be in writing and must be made within 14 days after the restraining order is given to the person against whom the restraining order is made.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(2)  The Council must consider the order together with the grounds and all facts or documents tendered by the Minister in support of making of the order, and the representations (if any) received by the Council under subsection (1A).
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(3)  Where the Council considers it necessary for its deliberations, the Council may invite a person against whom an order is made to be present for oral examination by the Council at a meeting convened for this purpose.
(3A)  The Council may, if it considers it necessary for its deliberations under this section, invite any other person to attend before the Council and be examined on the matter.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(4)  The Council must, within 30 days after the end of the period mentioned in subsection (1B), make its recommendations to the President.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(5)  The Council may recommend that the order be confirmed, cancelled or varied in any manner.
Restraining orders to be confirmed by President
12.—(1)  Every restraining order ceases to have effect unless it is confirmed by the President within 30 days from the date the Council’s recommendations are received by the President.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(2)  The President must consider the recommendations of the Council and may cancel or confirm the order and in confirming the order may make such variations as the President thinks fit.
(3)  In the exercise of functions under this section, the President must act on the advice of the Cabinet except where the Constitution provides that the President may act in the President’s discretion when the advice of the Cabinet is contrary to the Council’s recommendations.
Extension of restraining order
13.—(1)  The Minister may, before the expiry of a restraining order as confirmed or as varied, direct that the period of the order be extended for a further period or periods not exceeding 2 years at a time.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(2)  Subject to subsection (3), sections 11 and 12 apply to any direction under this section to extend as if a reference in those sections to a restraining order includes a reference to a direction to extend.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(3)  The Council may recommend that a direction to extend be confirmed or cancelled only.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Review of restraining order
14.—(1)  Every order made or extended under this Part must, so long as it remains in force, be reviewed by the Minister at intervals of not more than 12 months and the first of such reviews must take place not more than 12 months after the date the order was made or extended.
(2)  The Minister may at any time revoke a restraining order, including an order as confirmed, varied or extended under this Part.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Publication
15.  The Minister must cause an order made under section 8 or 9, any revocation, variation, extension or confirmation of the order or any recommendations of the Council to be published in the Gazette.
Penalty for breach of restraining order
16.—(1)  Any person who contravenes any provision of a restraining order (including one as confirmed, varied or extended) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(2)  [Deleted by Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
PART 4
COUNTERING FOREIGN INFLUENCE: GENERAL*
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
Reporting of reportable donations
16A.—(1)  Subject to this Act, every reportable donation accepted by any religious group during each reporting period must be disclosed to a competent authority in accordance with this section.
(2)  Disclosure to a competent authority of reportable donations received during a reporting period and accepted by a religious group must be in a donation report relating to the reporting period that —
(a)is in the form required by the competent authority;
(b)is given to the competent authority within the time delimited by subsection (3) and in the manner prescribed in regulations made under section 19 or, subject to those regulations, as approved by the competent authority;
(c)contains the prescribed details of every reportable donation accepted by the religious group during the reporting period, and the prescribed particulars of each donor;
(d)is signed by every responsible officer of the religious group; and
(e)is accompanied by a declaration in subsection (4) made by every responsible officer of the religious group.
(3)  Subject to subsection (5), disclosure of reportable donations accepted by a religious group during a reporting period must be given to a competent authority no later than 1 April of the year following the year in which the reportable donation was accepted.
(4)  The declaration required by subsection (2)(e) to accompany a donation report of a religious group must contain a statement that, to the knowledge and belief of every responsible officer of the religious group —
(a)no other reportable donation has been accepted by the religious group during the reporting period to which the donation report relates; and
(b)if the religious group is one to whom a restraining order under section 8(1A) is given, no religious donation which is prohibited by that order has been accepted by the religious group during the reporting period to which the donation report relates.
(5)  Regulations made under section 19 may prescribe a longer period for the purposes of subsection (3).
(6)  In this section —
“appointed day” means the date of commencement of section 13 of the Maintenance of Religious Harmony (Amendment) Act 2019;
“initial reporting period” means —
(a)the period starting on the appointed day and ending on 31 December of the same year that appointed day falls, unless paragraph (b) applies; or
(b)the period starting on the day the religious group is incorporated or formed (being after the appointed day), and ending on 31 December of the same year the day the religious group is incorporated or formed falls;
“reporting period” means the period of 12 months starting 1 January and ending 31 December in any year, and includes an initial reporting period.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Disclosure of foreign affiliations
16B.—(1)  Subject to this Act, every arrangement or agreement to which a religious group is party during a reporting period, being an arrangement or agreement —
(a)which is with a foreign principal; and
(b)under which —
(i)the religious group is accustomed, or under an obligation (whether formal or informal), to act in accordance with the directions, instructions or wishes of the foreign principal or, where the foreign principal is an entity, of the governing body of the foreign principal; or
(ii)the foreign principal is in a position to exercise, in any other way, total or substantial control over the religious group’s activities in Singapore,
must be disclosed to a competent authority in accordance with this section.
(2)  Disclosure to a competent authority of every arrangement or agreement described in subsection (1) to which a religious group is party during a reporting period must be in a foreign affiliations report relating to the reporting period that —
(a)is in the form required by the competent authority;
(b)is given to the competent authority within the time delimited by subsection (3) and in the manner prescribed in regulations made under section 19 or, subject to those regulations, as approved by the competent authority;
(c)contains the prescribed details or description of every such arrangement or agreement with a foreign principal during the reporting period, and the identity and other prescribed particulars of the foreign principal;
(d)is signed by every responsible officer of the religious group; and
(e)is accompanied by a declaration in subsection (4) made by every responsible officer of the religious group.
(3)  Subject to subsection (5), disclosure of every arrangement or agreement described in subsection (1) to which a religious group is party during a reporting period must be given to a competent authority no later than 1 April of the year following the year in which the reporting period ends.
(4)  The declaration required by subsection (2)(e) to accompany a foreign affiliations report of a religious group must contain a statement that, to the knowledge and belief of every responsible officer of the religious group, there is no other arrangement or agreement described in subsection (1) to which the religious group is party during the reporting period to which the foreign affiliations report relates.
(5)  Regulations made under section 19 may prescribe a longer period for the purposes of subsection (3).
(6)  In this section —
“appointed day” means the date of commencement of section 13 of the Maintenance of Religious Harmony (Amendment) Act 2019;
“arrangement” includes any formal or informal scheme, arrangement or understanding, and any trust whether express or implied;
“initial reporting period” means —
(a)the period starting on the appointed day and ending on 31 December of the same year that appointed day falls, unless paragraph (b) applies; or
(b)the period starting on the day the religious group is incorporated or formed (being after the appointed day), and ending on 31 December of the same year the day the religious group is incorporated or formed falls;
“reporting period” means the period of 12 months starting 1 January and ending 31 December in any year, and includes an initial reporting period.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Disclosure of governing body composition
16C.—(1)  Subject to this Act, the particulars of —
(a)every individual who —
(i)is a member of the governing body of any religious group on the appointed day; or
(ii)is or becomes (whether by appointment or election or otherwise) a member of the governing body of any religious group at any subsequent time;
(b)every individual who, for any reason, stops acting as a member of the governing body of a religious group;
(c)the constitution, memorandum or articles of association, trust deed or equivalent instrument of a religious group as in effect on the appointed day; and
(d)every change (after the appointed day) to the constitution, memorandum or articles of association, trust deed or equivalent instrument mentioned in paragraph (c), being a change affecting (directly or indirectly) the size or composition of its governing body,
must be disclosed to a competent authority in accordance with this section.
(2)  Disclosure to a competent authority of every individual or matter described in subsection (1) must be in a key management report relating to the religious group that —
(a)is in the form required by the competent authority;
(b)is given to the competent authority within the time delimited by subsection (3) and in the manner prescribed in regulations made under section 19 or, subject to those regulations, as approved by the competent authority;
(c)contains —
(i)the prescribed details of the identity, nationality and other particulars of every such individual who is or becomes a member of the governing body of the religious group;
(ii)the identity and nationality of every responsible officer of the religious group; and
(iii)the prescribed details and description of any change (on or after the appointed day) to the constitution, memorandum or articles of association, trust deed or equivalent instrument of a religious group affecting the size or composition (or both) of its governing body; and
(d)is signed by every responsible officer of the religious group.
(3)  Subject to subsection (4), disclosure of every individual or matter described in subsection (1) must be given to a competent authority —
(a)in relation to the circumstance in subsection (1)(a)(i) or (c), not later than 60 days after the appointed day, or such extended period as the competent authority may allow in any particular case; and
(b)in relation to the circumstance in subsection (1)(a)(ii), (b) or (d), no later than 30 days after —
(i)the individual is or becomes, or stops acting (as the case may be) as, a member of the governing body of the religious group; or
(ii)the change to the constitution, memorandum or articles of association, trust deed or equivalent instrument mentioned in subsection (1)(c) takes effect.
(4)  Regulations made under section 19 may prescribe a longer period for the purposes of subsection (3)(a) or (b).
(5)  In this section —
“appointed day” means the date of commencement of section 13 of the Maintenance of Religious Harmony (Amendment) Act 2019;
“appointment” includes re-appointment.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Restrictions on responsible officers’ nationality
16D.—(1)  This section applies to and in relation to every religious group only from a date declared by the Minister by order in the Gazette.
(2)  Subject to this Act, a religious group in Singapore —
(a)must not appoint or re-appoint as a responsible officer of the religious group, an individual who is not a citizen of Singapore and not a Singapore permanent resident; and
(b)must not permit an individual who is not a citizen of Singapore and not a Singapore permanent resident to act as a responsible officer of the religious group,
except in accordance with the approval of the Minister granted after taking into account the circumstances for the religious observance or practices of the religious group and its community bonding among the people of Singapore.
(3)  Where a competent authority is satisfied that a religious group in Singapore has, in contravention of subsection (2) —
(a)appointed or re-appointed as a responsible officer of the religious group, an individual who is not a citizen of Singapore and not a Singapore permanent resident; or
(b)permitted an individual who is not a citizen of Singapore and not a Singapore permanent resident to act as a responsible officer of the religious group,
the competent authority may, by written notice to the religious group, direct the religious group to remove the responsible officer from his office or employment within the period specified in the notice, and the religious group must comply with that direction.
(4)  A competent authority is not required to give any person notice of, or consult any person on, the competent authority’s intention to direct under subsection (3) a religious group to remove an individual from his office or employment.
(5)  If a religious group which is directed, or the individual required to be removed in a direction, under subsection (3) is aggrieved by the direction, the religious group or the individual (as the case may be) may, within 14 days after the notice under subsection (3) of the direction is given to the religious group or individual (as the case may be), appeal against the direction to the Minister.
(6)  Unless otherwise ordered by the Minister, the direction of the competent authority appealed against must be complied with until the determination of the appeal.
(7)  The Minister’s decision on an appeal is final.
(8)  Subject to this Act, in the event that for any reason (such as by resignation, death or otherwise), a responsible officer of a religious group ceases to be either a citizen of Singapore or a Singapore permanent resident, the religious group must give written notice of that event to the competent authority, within 30 days after the religious group first becomes aware of that event.
(9)  An order under subsection (1) cannot be revoked by another such order.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Nationality of religious group governing body
16E.—(1)  This section applies to and in relation to every religious group only from a date declared by the Minister by order in the Gazette.
(2)  Subject to this Act, a religious group in Singapore must ensure that more than half of the total number of seats in its governing body are occupied or held by individuals who are citizens of Singapore unless the religious group is expressly allowed by the Minister to do otherwise after taking into account the circumstances for the religious observance or practices of the religious group and its community bonding among the people of Singapore.
(3)  Where a competent authority is satisfied that a religious group in Singapore has, in contravention of subsection (2), permitted half or more than half of the total number of seats in its governing body to be occupied or held by individuals who are not citizens of Singapore —
(a)the competent authority may, by written notice to the religious group, direct the religious group to remove such number of members of the governing body who are not citizens of Singapore from their office within the period specified in the notice; and
(b)the religious group must comply with that direction.
(4)  A competent authority is not required to give any person notice of, or consult any person on, the competent authority’s intention to direct under subsection (3) a religious group to remove an individual from his office.
(5)  If a religious group directed, or the individual required to be removed in a direction, under this section is aggrieved by the direction, the religious group or the individual (as the case may be) may, within 14 days after the notice under subsection (3) of the direction is given to the religious group or individual (as the case may be), appeal against the direction to the Minister.
(6)  Unless otherwise ordered by the Minister, the direction of the competent authority appealed against must be complied with until the determination of the appeal.
(7)  The Minister’s decision on an appeal is final.
(8)  Subject to this Act, in the event that for any reason (such as by resignation, death or otherwise), half or more than half of the total number of seats in the governing body of a religious group is occupied or held by individuals who are not citizens of Singapore, the religious group must give written notice of the event to the competent authority, within 30 days after the religious group first becomes aware of that event.
(9)  An order under subsection (1) cannot be revoked by another such order.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
PART 5
SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS*
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
Overriding memorandum and articles of association, etc.
16F.—(1)  A restraining order under section 8(1A) has effect despite the provisions of —
(a)any other written law in force; and
(b)the constitution, memorandum or articles of association, trust deed or equivalent instrument of a religious group.
(2)  A requirement or notice under section 16D(2) or (3) or 16E(2) or (3) has effect despite the provisions of —
(a)any other written law in force on the date declared under sections 16D(1) and 16E(1), respectively; and
(b)the constitution, memorandum or articles of association, trust deed or equivalent instrument of a religious group.
(3)  No criminal or civil liability shall be incurred by a religious group in Singapore, or any person acting on behalf of the religious group, in respect of anything done or omitted to be done with reasonable care and in good faith in the discharge or purported discharge of the obligations of the religious group under a restraining order or a requirement or notice under section 16D(2) or (3) or 16E(2) or (3).
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Power to obtain information
16G.—(1)  A competent authority may by written notice require any religious group to provide, within a reasonable period specified in the notice, and in such form and manner as may be specified in the notice, all documents or all information or material (or both) which —
(a)relate to any matter which the competent authority considers necessary for any of the following purposes:
(i)to determine whether any information or material provided to a competent authority under a provision of this Act or its subsidiary legislation is correct;
(ii)to determine whether there are grounds for any direction or restraining order to be given under this Act against a religious group; and
(b)are —
(i)within the knowledge of that religious group; or
(ii)in the custody or under the control of the religious group.
(2)  The power to require a religious group to provide any document or any information or material under subsection (1) includes the power —
(a)to require that religious group, or any individual who is or was a responsible officer or agent or a member of the governing body of that religious group (as the case may be), to provide an explanation of the document or the information or material;
(b)if the document or the information or material is not provided, to require that religious group or individual to state, to the best of the knowledge and belief of that religious group or individual (as the case may be), where it is; and
(c)if the information or material is recorded otherwise than in legible form, to require the information or material to be made available to the competent authority in legible form.
(3)  A competent authority is entitled without payment to keep any document or any information or material, or any copy or extract thereof, provided to the competent authority under subsection (1).
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Community remedial initiative
16H.—(1)  Subject to this section, the Minister may offer under this section to a person (called in this section an alleged offender) an opportunity to take one or more remedial actions, participate in one or more activities, or do any other thing, to promote religious harmony in Singapore (called in this section a community remedial initiative) if, in the opinion of the Minister, the alleged offender is attempting to engage in conduct, is engaging or has engaged in conduct, or is likely to engage in conduct —
(a)that causes, or the alleged offender knows is likely to incite, feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility against, or contempt for or ridicule of, a person or a group in Singapore, being a person or group distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity within the meaning of section 17E(6); or
(b)on the ground of religion or religious belief or activity and that the alleged offender knows is likely to insult the religion or religious belief or activity (within the meaning of section 17F(5)), or wounds the religious feelings, of another person in Singapore.
(2)  However, no offer under this section may be made with respect to any engaging in conduct or attempt to engage in conduct occurring before the date of commencement of section 13 of the Maintenance of Religious Harmony (Amendment) Act 2019.
(3)  A person may choose whether to enter into a community remedial initiative with the Minister.
(4)  One community remedial initiative may be entered into for 2 or more different conduct or attempts to engage in conduct mentioned in subsection (1) which constitute an offence under this Act or any other written law (called in this section an alleged offence).
(5)  In addition to subsection (4), a community remedial initiative in respect of an alleged offence —
(a)may be entered into before, on or after the date on which an alleged offender is charged with the alleged offence; but
(b)cannot be entered into after the commencement of the trial for that alleged offence.
(6)  While a community remedial initiative in respect of an alleged offence is in force —
(a)if the alleged offender has been charged with the alleged offence, the alleged offender is deemed to have been granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal in relation to that alleged offence, when the community remedial initiative comes into force; and
(b)the alleged offender cannot be prosecuted for that alleged offence under this Act or any other written law in any criminal proceedings.
(7)  If the Minister believes that an alleged offender who entered into a community remedial initiative for an alleged offence has failed to comply with the terms of that agreement, the Minister may terminate the community remedial initiative and refer the alleged offence to the Public Prosecutor.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
PART 6
OFFENCES*
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
Division 1 — General
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Consent of Public Prosecutor
17.  A court is not to try any offence under this Act except with the consent of the Public Prosecutor.
[15/2010]
Offences by corporations
17A.—(1)  Where, in a proceeding for an offence under this Act, it is necessary to prove the state of mind of a corporation in relation to a particular conduct, evidence that —
(a)an officer, employee or agent of the corporation engaged in that conduct within the scope of his actual or apparent authority; and
(b)the officer, employee or agent had that state of mind,
is evidence that the corporation had that state of mind.
(2)  Where a corporation commits an offence under this Act, a person —
(a)who is —
(i)an officer of the corporation; or
(ii)an individual involved in the management of the corporation and in a position to influence the conduct of the corporation in relation to the commission of the offence; and
(b)who —
(i)consented or connived, or conspired with others, to effect the commission of the offence;
(ii)is in any other way, whether by act or omission, knowingly concerned in, or is party to, the commission of the offence by the corporation; or
(iii)knew or ought reasonably to have known that the offence by the corporation (or an offence of the same type) would be or is being committed, and failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent or stop the commission of that offence,
shall be guilty of that same offence as is the corporation, and shall be liable on conviction to be punished accordingly.
(3)  A person mentioned in subsection (2) may rely on a defence that would be available to the corporation if it were charged with the offence with which the person is charged and, in doing so, the person bears the same burden of proof that the corporation would bear.
(4)  To avoid doubt, this section does not affect the application of —
(a)Chapters 5 and 5A* of the Penal Code 1871*; or
(b)the Evidence Act 1893* or any other law or practice regarding the admissibility of evidence.
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
(5)  To avoid doubt, subsection (2) also does not affect the liability of the corporation for an offence under this Act, and applies whether or not the corporation is convicted of the offence.
(6)  In this section —
“corporation” includes a limited liability partnership within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005*;
“officer”, in relation to a corporation, means any director, partner, chief executive, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the corporation, and includes —
(a)any person purporting to act in any such capacity; or
(b)for a corporation whose affairs are managed by its members, any of those members as if the member were a director of the corporation;
“reasonable steps”, in relation to the commission of an offence, includes, but is not limited to, such action (if any) of the following kinds as is reasonable in all the circumstances:
(a)action towards —
(i)assessing the corporation’s compliance with the provision creating the offence; and
(ii)ensuring that the corporation arranged regular professional assessments of its compliance with the provision;
(b)action towards ensuring that the corporation’s employees, agents and contractors are provided with information, training, instruction and supervision appropriate to them to enable them to comply with the provision creating the offence so far as the provision is relevant to them;
(c)action towards ensuring that —
(i)the equipment and other resources; and
(ii)the structures, work systems and other processes,
relevant to compliance with the provision creating the offence are appropriate in all the circumstances;
(d)action towards creating and maintaining a corporate culture that does not direct, encourage, tolerate or lead to non-compliance with the provision creating the offence;
“state of mind” of a person includes —
(a)the knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose of the person; and
(b)the person’s reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or purpose.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
Offences by unincorporated associations or partnerships
17B.—(1)  Where, in a proceeding for an offence under this Act, it is necessary to prove the state of mind of an unincorporated association or a partnership in relation to a particular conduct, evidence that —
(a)an employee or agent of the unincorporated association or the partnership engaged in that conduct within the scope of his actual or apparent authority; and
(b)the employee or agent had that state of mind,
is evidence that the unincorporated association or partnership had that state of mind.
(2)  Where an unincorporated association or a partnership commits an offence under this Act, a person —
(a)who is —
(i)an officer of the unincorporated association or a member of its governing body;
(ii)a partner in the partnership; or
(iii)an individual involved in the management of the unincorporated association or partnership and in a position to influence the conduct of the unincorporated association or partnership (as the case may be) in relation to the commission of the offence; and
(b)who —
(i)consented or connived, or conspired with others, to effect the commission of the offence;
(ii)is in any other way, whether by act or omission, knowingly concerned in, or is party to, the commission of the offence by the unincorporated association or partnership; or
(iii)knew or ought reasonably to have known that the offence by the unincorporated association or partnership (or an offence of the same type) would be or is being committed, and failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent or stop the commission of that offence,
shall be guilty of the same offence as is the unincorporated association or partnership (as the case may be), and shall be liable on conviction to be punished accordingly.
(3)  A person mentioned in subsection (2) may rely on a defence that would be available to the unincorporated association or partnership if it were charged with the offence with which the person is charged and, in doing so, the person bears the same burden of proof that the unincorporated association or partnership would bear.
(4)  To avoid doubt, this section does not affect the application of —
(a)Chapters 5 and 5A* of the Penal Code 1871*; or
(b)the Evidence Act 1893* or any other law or practice regarding the admissibility of evidence.
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
(5)  To avoid doubt, subsection (2) also does not affect the liability of an unincorporated association or a partnership for an offence under this Act, and applies whether or not the unincorporated association or partnership is convicted of the offence.
(6)  In this section —
“officer”, in relation to an unincorporated association (other than a partnership), means the president, the secretary, or any member of the committee of the unincorporated association, and includes —
(a)any person holding a position analogous to that of president, secretary or member of a committee of the unincorporated association; and
(b)any person purporting to act in any such capacity;
“partner” includes a person purporting to act as a partner;
“reasonable steps” has the meaning given by section 17A(6);
“state of mind” of a person includes —
(a)the knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose of the person; and
(b)the person’s reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or purpose.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Jurisdiction of court
17C.—(1)  Despite the Criminal Procedure Code 2010*, a District Court has jurisdiction to try any offence under this Act and has power to impose the full punishment for any such offence.
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
(2)  Where an offence under section 17E or 17F is committed by a person outside Singapore, the person may be dealt with in respect of that offence as if it had been committed in Singapore.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Composition of offences
17D.—(1)  A competent authority may compound any offence under this Act that is prescribed as a compoundable offence by collecting from a person reasonably suspected of having committed the offence a sum not exceeding the lower of the following:
(a)one half of the amount of the maximum fine that is prescribed for the offence;
(b)$5,000.
(2)  On payment of such sum of money, no further proceedings are to be taken against that person in respect of the offence.
(3)  All sums collected under this section must be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Division 2 — Serious offences
Offence of urging violence on religious grounds or against religious group, etc.
17E.—(1)  A person commits an offence if —
(a)the person, on the ground of religion or religious belief or activity, knowingly engages in conduct urging another person, or a group of persons, to use force or violence against a person in Singapore (called in this subsection the target person);
(b)the person does so knowing that force or violence is likely to occur;
(c)the person does so because of the person’s belief that the target person is a member of a group (called in this subsection a target group); and
(d)the target group is distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity, ethnicity, descent, nationality, language, political opinion or by any other characteristic, whether or not of a similar kind.
(2)  A person commits an offence if —
(a)the person, on the ground of religion or religious belief or activity, knowingly engages in conduct urging another person, or a group of persons, to use force or violence against a group in Singapore (called in this subsection the target group);
(b)the person does so knowing that force or violence is likely to occur; and
(c)the target group is distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity, ethnicity, descent, nationality, language, political opinion or by any other characteristic, whether or not of a similar kind.
(3)  A person commits an offence if —
(a)the person knowingly engages in conduct urging another person, or a group of persons, to use force or violence against a person in Singapore (called in this subsection the target person);
(b)the person does so knowing that force or violence is likely to occur;
(c)the person does so because of the person’s belief that the target person is a member of a group (called in this subsection a target group); and
(d)the target group is distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity.
(4)  A person commits an offence if —
(a)the person knowingly engages in conduct urging another person, or a group of persons, to use force or violence against a group in Singapore (called in this subsection the target group);
(b)the person does so knowing that force or violence is likely to occur; and
(c)the target group is distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity.
(5)  For the purposes of subsection (1)(c) or (3)(c), it does not matter whether the target person in that subsection actually is a member of a target group.
(6)  In subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4), “religious belief or activity” means —
(a)holding a religious belief or view; or
(b)engaging in religious activity.
(7)  A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4) shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to a fine, or to both.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Offence of inciting hatred, ill-will, etc.
17F.—(1)  A person commits an offence if —
(a)the person knowingly engages in conduct that incites feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility against, or contempt for or ridicule of, a group in Singapore (called in this subsection a target group);
(b)the target group is distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity;
(c)the person does so knowing that feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility against, or contempt for or ridicule of, the target group is likely to occur; and
(d)the person is a religious leader when the person engages in the conduct.
(2)  A person commits an offence if —
(a)the person knowingly engages in conduct that —
(i)insults the religion or religious belief or activity of another person in Singapore (called in this subsection a target person); or
(ii)wounds the religious feelings of a person in Singapore (called in this subsection a target person) who holds a religious belief or view;
(b)the target person is distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity;
(c)the person does so knowing that the religion or religious belief or activity of the target person is likely to be insulted or the religious feelings of the target person are likely to be wounded; and
(d)the person is a religious leader when the person engages in the conduct.
(3)  A person commits an offence if —
(a)the person knowingly engages in conduct that incites feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility against, or contempt for or ridicule of, a group in Singapore (called in this subsection a target group);
(b)the target group is distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity;
(c)the person does so knowing that feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility against, or contempt for or ridicule of, the target group is likely to occur; and
(d)the feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility against, or contempt for or ridicule of, the target group would threaten the public peace or public order in Singapore or any part of Singapore.
(4)  A person commits an offence if —
(a)the person knowingly engages in conduct that —
(i)insults the religion or religious belief or activity of another person in Singapore (called in this subsection a target person); or
(ii)wounds the religious feelings of a person in Singapore (called in this subsection a target person) who holds a religious belief or view;
(b)the target person is distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity;
(c)the person does so knowing that the religion or religious belief or activity of the target person is likely to be insulted or the religious feelings of the target person are likely to be wounded; and
(d)the insult or wounding mentioned in paragraph (c) (as the case may be) would threaten the public peace or public order in Singapore or any part of Singapore.
(5)  In subsection (1)(b), (2), (3)(b), (4) or (10)(b), “religious belief or activity” means —
(a)holding a religious belief or view; or
(b)engaging in religious activity.
(6)  A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4) shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to a fine, or to both.
(7)  In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) or (2), it is a defence for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that the conduct the accused engaged in —
(a)was a domestic communication; and
(b)was in circumstances that may reasonably be taken to indicate that the parties to the communication desire it to be heard or seen only by themselves.
(8)  In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (3) or (4), it is a defence for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that the accused engaged in the conduct in circumstances that may reasonably be taken to indicate that the parties to the conduct desire it to be heard or seen only by themselves.
(9)  However, subsections (7) and (8) do not apply in relation to conduct in any circumstances in which the parties to the conduct ought reasonably to expect that it may be heard or seen by someone else.
(10)  In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4), it is also a defence for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that the accused was pointing out in good faith any matters that —
(a)are producing or have a tendency to produce feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility between different religious groups; or
(b)are insulting the religion or religious belief or activity or wounding the religious feelings of a person or persons distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity,
in order to bring about a removal of those matters.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Interpretative provisions for serious offences
17G.—(1)  In determining whether a person commits an offence under section 17E or 17F, the person’s motive for engaging in the conduct is irrelevant.
(2)  In determining whether a person has committed an offence under section 17E, the following are irrelevant:
(a)whether or not the religion or religious belief or activity (as defined in section 17E), or the ethnicity, descent, nationality, language, political opinion or any other characteristic (whether or not of a similar kind) of another person or group of persons is the only or dominant ground for the conduct, so long as it is a substantial ground;
(b)whether or not the person made an assumption about the religion or religious belief or activity (as defined in section 17E), or the ethnicity, descent, nationality, language, political opinion or any other characteristic (whether or not of a similar kind), of another person or group of persons that was incorrect at the time that the offence is alleged to have taken place.
(3)  In determining whether a person has committed an offence under section 17F, the following are irrelevant:
(a)whether or not the religion or religious belief or activity (as defined in section 17F) of another person or group of persons is the only or dominant ground for the conduct, so long as it is a substantial ground;
(b)whether or not the person made an assumption about the religion or religious belief or activity (as defined in section 17F) of another person or group of persons that was incorrect at the time that the offence is alleged to have taken place.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Division 3 — Other offences
Offences relating to reports
17H.—(1)  Where —
(a)any donation report, foreign affiliations report or key management report which is required under Part 4* in respect of a religious group; or
(b)any declaration relating to any report mentioned in paragraph (a), which is required under Part 4* in respect of a religious group,
is not given to a competent authority in accordance with the requirements of that Part, every responsible officer of the religious group shall be guilty of an offence and shall each be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $200 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
(2)  Where a responsible officer of a religious group, with an intent to deceive, makes —
(a)in a donation report, foreign affiliations report or key management report which is required to be given under Part 4* in respect of the religious group —
(i)a statement that is false or misleading in a material particular; or
(ii)an omission of any matter or thing without which such a report is misleading in a material particular; or
(b)a false declaration required to be given under Part 4* in respect of a donation report, foreign affiliations report or key management report of the religious group,
the responsible officer shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $20,000.
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
(3)  Where in a donation report, foreign affiliations report or key management report, or a declaration relating to such a report, which is required to be given under Part 4* in respect of a religious group, there is —
(a)a statement that is false or misleading in a material particular; or
(b)an omission of any matter or thing without which the donation report or declaration is misleading in a material particular,
and the report or declaration is given to a competent authority, every responsible officer of the religious group shall be guilty of an offence and shall each be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
(4)  In proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) in relation to a donation report, foreign affiliations report or key management report, or a declaration relating to any such report, it is a defence to the charge for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that the accused took all reasonable steps, and exercised all due diligence, to ensure that a requirement in Part 4* has been complied with in relation to the report or declaration.
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
(5)  In proceedings for an offence under subsection (3) in relation to a donation report, foreign affiliations report or key management report, or a declaration relating to any such report, which is required under Part 4*, it is a defence to the charge for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that the accused took all reasonable steps, and exercised all due diligence, to ensure that —
(a)a statement in the report or declaration (as the case may be) was not false or misleading in a material particular; or
(b)the report or declaration did not contain any omission which would have made the report or declaration misleading in a material particular.
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
(6)  An offence under subsection (1) or (3) is a strict liability offence.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Offences relating to reportable donations
17I.—(1)  A person commits an offence if the person —
(a)with intent to deceive, withholds from a religious group any material information relating to the identity of a donor of a religious donation or the amount of a religious donation to the religious group; or
(b)intentionally or knowingly gives, in relation to the identity of a donor of a religious donation or the amount of a religious donation to a religious group, any information to the religious group which is false or misleading in a material particular.
(2)  A person commits an offence if the person —
(a)enters into; or
(b)knowingly does any act in furtherance of,
any arrangement which facilitates or is likely to facilitate, whether by means of any concealment or disguise or otherwise, the making of a donation to a religious group by a person prohibited by a restraining order under section 8(1A).
(3)  A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (2) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $20,000.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Offence relating to nationality of governing body members, etc.
17J.—(1)  A religious group commits an offence if —
(a)by the end of the period specified in section 16D(8), the religious group fails to give the notice required under section 16D(8); and
(b)the religious group permits an individual who is not a citizen of Singapore and not a Singapore permanent resident to act as a responsible officer of the religious group in contravention of section 16D(2).
(2)  A religious group commits an offence if —
(a)by the end of the period specified in section 16E(8), the religious group fails to give the notice required under section 16E(8); and
(b)the religious group permits half or more than half of the total number of seats in its governing body to be occupied or held by individuals who are not citizens of Singapore in contravention of section 16E(2).
(3)  A religious group who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (2) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $500 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.
(4)  In proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) or (2) in relation to a requirement to give a notice under section 16D(8) or 16E(8), it is a defence to the charge for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that the accused took all reasonable steps, and exercised all due diligence, to ensure that the requirement has been complied with.
(5)  An offence under subsection (1) or (2) is a strict liability offence.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Offence of giving false information
17K.—(1)  A person commits an offence if —
(a)the person gives information or material or produces a document to a competent authority;
(b)the person does so in response to a notice given to the person under section 16G;
(c)either —
(i)the information or material or the document is false or misleading in a material particular; or
(ii)the information or material omits any matter or thing without which the information or material is misleading in a material particular; and
(d)the person knew that —
(i)the information or document is false or misleading in a material particular; or
(ii)the information omits any matter or thing without which the information is misleading in a material particular.
(2)  A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $20,000.
(3)  A person commits an offence if —
(a)the person gives information or material or produces a document to a competent authority;
(b)the person does so in response to a notice given to the person under section 16G; and
(c)either —
(i)the information or material or the document is false or misleading in a material particular; or
(ii)the information or material omits any matter or thing without which the information or material is misleading in a material particular.
(4)  A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (3) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
(5)  In proceedings for an offence under subsection (3) in relation to any information or material which is required by a notice under section 16G to be given, it is a defence to the charge for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that the accused took all reasonable steps, and exercised all due diligence, to ensure that —
(a)the information or material was not false or misleading in a material particular; or
(b)the information or material did not contain any omission which would have made the report or declaration misleading in a material particular.
(6)  The offence under subsection (3) is a strict liability offence.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Offence of not giving information
17L.—(1)  Subject to subsection (3), a person commits an offence if —
(a)the person is required by a notice given to the person under section 16G to provide a document or information or material to a competent authority; and
(b)the person —
(i)fails to provide the document or the information or material to the competent authority; or
(ii)alters, suppresses or destroys any document or any information or material which the person has been required by the notice to provide.
(2)  A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $500 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.
(3)  In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1), it is a defence for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that —
(a)the person does not possess the document or the information or material required; or
(b)the person has taken all reasonable steps available to the person to obtain the document or the information or material required and has been unable to obtain it.
(4)  The offence under subsection (1) is a strict liability offence.
(5)  To avoid doubt, for the purposes of subsection (1), it is not a defence for a person to refuse or fail to provide any document or any information or material if doing so might tend to incriminate that person.
(6)  Where a person claims, before producing any document or giving any information or material that the person is required by section 16G to produce or give, that the production of the document or the giving of the information or material might tend to incriminate him —
(a)that document or information or material;
(b)the production of that document or the provision of that information or material; or
(c)any information, document or thing obtained as a direct or an indirect consequence of the production of the document or giving of the information or material,
is not admissible in evidence against the person in any criminal proceedings other than proceedings for an offence under this Act or any written law in respect of the falsity of the document or the information or material.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
PART 7
MISCELLANEOUS*
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
Decisions under Act not justiciable
18.  All orders and decisions of the President and the Minister and recommendations of the Council made under this Act are final and shall not be called in question in any court.
Regulations
19.  The Minister may make any regulations that appear to the Minister necessary or expedient for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this Act and may, in particular, provide for —
(a)the procedures, conduct and meetings of the Council;
(b)the publication of any notice, order or the extension, revocation, variation or confirmation thereof, or any recommendation of the Council, or any other document made under this Act;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(c)the procedures for and manner of making representations to the Minister or the Council;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(d)prescribing the procedure to be followed by the Council on receiving representations about restraining orders and when making recommendations to the President;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(e)requiring the making, keeping and auditing of records of religious donations and anonymous donations received and accepted by religious groups, and requiring and otherwise providing for the production, examination and copying of those records;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(f)requiring the making and keeping of records of affiliations, and the responsible officers and governing bodies of religious groups, and requiring and otherwise providing for the production, examination and copying of those records;
(g)the creation of offences which shall be punishable with a fine not exceeding $5,000 or with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or with both;
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(h)for any matter necessary, permitted or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act; or
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
(i)matters of a saving or transitional nature consequent on amendments to the regulations.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Service of documents
20.—(1)  A document that is permitted or required by this Act to be served on a person may be served as described in this section.
(2)  A document permitted or required by this Act to be served on an individual may be served —
(a)by giving it to the individual personally;
(b)by sending it by post to the address specified by the individual for the service of documents or, if no address is so specified, the individual’s residential address or business address;
(c)by leaving it at the individual’s residential address with an adult apparently resident there, or at the individual’s business address with an adult apparently employed there;
(d)by affixing a copy of the document in a conspicuous place at the individual’s residential address or business address;
(e)by sending it by fax to the fax number last known to the person giving or serving the document as the fax number for the service of documents on the individual; or
(f)by sending it by email to the individual’s last email address.
(3)  A document permitted or required by this Act to be served on a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership) may be served —
(a)by giving it to any partner or other similar officer of the partnership;
(b)by leaving it at, or by sending it by post to, the partnership’s business address;
(c)by sending it by fax to the fax number used at the partnership’s business address; or
(d)by sending it by email to the partnership’s last email address.
(4)  A document permitted or required by this Act to be served on a body corporate (including a limited liability partnership) or an unincorporated association may be served —
(a)by giving it to the secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or unincorporated association, or the limited liability partnership’s manager;
(b)by leaving it at, or by sending it by post to, the registered office or principal office in Singapore of the body corporate or unincorporated association;
(c)by sending it by fax to the fax number used at the registered office or principal office in Singapore of the body corporate or unincorporated association; or
(d)by sending it by email to the last email address of the body corporate or unincorporated association.
(5)  In addition, a document (other than a summons) permitted or required by this Act to be served on an individual, a partnership, a body corporate or an unincorporated association may be served —
(a)by giving an electronic notice to the individual, partnership, body corporate or unincorporated association (called in this section an addressee) by the addressee’s chosen means of notification, stating that the document is available and how the addressee may use the addressee’s chosen means of access to access the document’s contents;
(b)where by the exercise of reasonable diligence, the name of the addressee to whom the document is to be served cannot be ascertained, by sending an electronic communication of that document —
(i)to an Internet location address or a website associated with that addressee; or
(ii)to an account on social media associated with that addressee, if the account provides a mechanism for that addressee to receive electronic communications in that account; or
(c)by any other method authorised by regulations made under section 19 for the service of documents of that kind if the addressee consents (expressly or impliedly) to service of a document of that kind in that way.
(6)  Service of a document takes effect —
(a)if the document is sent by fax and a notification of successful transmission is received, on the day of transmission;
(b)if the document is sent by email, at the time that the email becomes capable of being retrieved by the person to whom it is sent;
(c)if the document is sent by post, 2 days after the day the document was posted (even if it is returned undelivered); and
(d)if the document is posted on a website mentioned in subsection (5)(b), at the beginning of the day after the date on which subsection (5)(b) has been complied with.
(7)  However, service of any document under this Act on a person by email or by an electronic notice at the person’s chosen means of notification, may be effected only with the person’s prior consent (express or implied) to service in that way.
(8)  In this section —
“business address” means —
(a)in the case of an individual, the individual’s usual or last known place of business in Singapore; or
(b)in the case of a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership), the partnership’s principal or last known place of business in Singapore;
“chosen means of access”, for an addressee on whom is or is to be served a document permitted or required by this Act, means an electronic means the addressee agrees with the person giving or serving the document as the means by which the addressee may access that document’s contents;
“chosen means of notification”, for an addressee on whom is or is to be served a document permitted or required by this Act, means an electronic means that the addressee nominates to the person giving or serving the document as the means by which the addressee may be notified that such a document has been served on the addressee;
“document” includes a notice or order permitted or required by this Act to be served but not a document to be served in proceedings in court;
“last email address” means the last email address given by the addressee concerned to the person giving or serving the document as the email address for the service of documents under this Act;
“residential address” means an individual’s usual or last known place of residence in Singapore.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]
Exemption
21.—(1)  The Minister may, by order in the Gazette, exempt any class of persons from the operation of all or any of the provisions of Part 4* or the regulations made for the purpose of that Part.
[*Updated to be consisted with the 2020 Revised Edition]
(2)  All orders made under this section must be presented to Parliament as soon as possible after publication in the Gazette.
[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act 1990

 

This Legislative History is a service provided by the Law Revision Commission on a best-efforts basis. It is not part of the Act.
1.  
Act 26 of 1990—Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act 1990
Bill
:
14/1990
First Reading
:
12 June 1990
Second Reading
:
18 July 1990
Select Committee Report
:
Parl. 7 of 1990
Third Reading
:
9 November 1990
Commencement
:
31 March 1992
Note: This Act was amended by the Statutes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1991 (Act 11 of 1991) before it came into force. It was brought into force after it was revised in 1991.
2.  
2001 Revised Edition—Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (Chapter 167A)
Operation
:
31 July 2001
3.  
Act 21 of 2008—Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act
(Amendments made by section 33 read with item 1(28) of the Second Schedule to the above Act)
Bill
:
11/2008
First Reading
:
21 July 2008
Second and Third Readings
:
15 September 2008
Commencement
:
1 March 2010 (section 33 read with item 1(28) of the Second Schedule)
4.  
Act 15 of 2010—Criminal Procedure Code 2010
(Amendments made by section 430 read with item 59 of the Sixth Schedule to the above Act)
Bill
:
11/2010
First Reading
:
26 April 2010
Second Reading
:
18 May 2010
Third Reading
:
19 May 2010
Commencement
:
2 January 2011 (section 430 read with item 59 of the Sixth Schedule)
5.  
2020 Revised Edition—Maintenance of Religious
Harmony Act 1990
Operation
:
31 December 2021
6.  
Act 31 of 2019—Maintenance of Religious Harmony (Amendment) Act 2019
Bill
:
25/2019
First Reading
:
2 September 2019
Second and Third Readings
:
7 October 2019
Commencement
:
1 November 2022
7.  
Act 30 of 2024—Platform Workers Act 2024
Bill
:
26/2024
First Reading
:
6 August 2024
Second and Third Readings
:
10 September 2024
Commencement
:
1 November 2024
8.  
Act 31 of 2023—Immigration (Amendment) Act 2023
(Amendments made by the above Act)
Bill
:
26/2023
First Reading
:
2 August 2023
Second and Third Readings
:
18 September 2023
Commencement
:
1 December 2025
 

Archived for legal research. Authoritative version at sso.agc.gov.sg.