Requested version was 16 Aug 2006; Closest available version is 15 Aug 2006; Generated on 16 Aug 2006 11:41:24(GMT+8).

[1st August 1970]

Arrangement of Provisions

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PART I
PRELIMINARY
1 SHORT TITLE.
2 INTERPRETATION.

PART II
REGISTRATION
3 PERSONS REQUIRED TO REGISTER.
4 REGISTRATION.
5 FITNESS EXAMINATION.
6 INFORMATION.
7 FITNESS FOR SERVICE.
8 MEDICAL EXAMINATION.
9 FURTHER REPORTING.

PART III
NATIONAL SERVICE
10 DUTY TO REPORT FOR ENLISTMENT.
11 LIABILITY TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE SERVICE TO ANOTHER.
12 LIABILITY TO RENDER FULL-TIME SERVICE.
13 DUTY TO RENDER OPERATIONALLY READY NATIONAL SERVICE.
14 OPERATIONALLY READY NATIONAL SERVICE LIABILITY.
15 COMPUTATION OF OPERATIONALLY READY NATIONAL SERVICE.

PART IV
MOBILISED SERVICE
16 PROCLAMATION BY PRESIDENT.
17 MOBILISED SERVICE LIABILITY.
18 LIABILITY TO RENDER MOBILISED SERVICE.

PART V
REGULAR SERVICE
19 REGULAR SERVICE.
20 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF REGULAR SERVICE.

PART VI
DUTY OF EMPLOYER
21 REINSTATEMENT OF SERVICEMEN IN EMPLOYMENT.
22 PROHIBITION AGAINST DISMISSAL.
23 LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
24 LOSS OF SALARIES AND WAGES.
25 DIRECT PAYMENT BY EMPLOYER

PART VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
26 APPLICATION OF MILITARY LAW.
27 RELEASE AND UNACCOUNTABLE PERIODS.
28 POSTPONEMENT.
29 EXEMPTION.
30 ORDERS, NOTICES, PERMITS AND APPOINTMENTS.
31 CALCULATION OF AGE.
32 EXIT PERMITS.
33 OFFENCES.
34 COMPOSITION OF OFFENCES
35 ENLISTMENT INSPECTORS
36 POWERS OF ENLISTMENT INSPECTORS AND POLICE OFFICERS
37 REGULATIONS.

LEGISLATION HISTORY

COMPARATIVE TABLE

[1st August 1970]

PART I

PRELIMINARY

Short title.
1. This Act may be cited as the Enlistment Act.

Interpretation.
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —

"annually” and “year" mean the period from 1st April of each year to 31st March of the following year;

"armed forces" means any force constituted under the Singapore Armed Forces Act (Cap. 295), the Police Force Act (Cap. 235) or the Vigilante Corps Act (Cap. 343), and such other force as may be constituted under any written law;

"duty" includes training;

"employer" means any person who employs another person under a contract of service and includes the person who owns or is carrying on or is for the time being responsible for the management of a profession, business, trade or work in which other persons are employed;

"fitness examination" means any examination which is considered by the proper authority to be necessary for the purpose of determining the fitness of a person for service;

"full-time service" means service under section 12;

"medical examination" includes any dental examination, blood test, any X-ray examination and any other examination or test that a medical board may consider necessary;

"mobilised service" means service under section 18;

"national service" means service under Part III in the armed forces and service in such other force, body or organisation as the Minister may designate for this purpose by notification in the Gazette;

"national serviceman" means a person in national service;

"operationally ready national service" means service under section 14;

"permanent resident" means any person who is not subject to any restriction as to his period of residence imposed under the provisions of any written law relating to immigration for the time being in force in Singapore;

"person subject to this Act" means a person who is a citizen of Singapore or a permanent resident thereof and who is not less than 16 years and 6 months of age and not more than 40 years of age or, in the case of a person who —

(a) is an officer of the armed forces; or

(b) is skilled in an occupation which the Minister by notification in the Gazette designates as an occupation required to meet the needs of the armed forces,

not more than 50 years of age;

"proper authority" means the Armed Forces Council established under section 8 of the Singapore Armed Forces Act (Cap. 295) and any person or body appointed by it by name or by office for the purposes of the whole or any Part of this Act;

"registered medical practitioner" has the same meaning as in the Medical Registration Act (Cap. 174);

"regular service" means service under section 19;

"regular serviceman" means a person in regular service;

"service" means national service and regular service;

"Singapore Armed Forces" means the Singapore Armed Forces constituted under the Singapore Armed Forces Act;

"Special Constabulary" means the Special Constabulary constituted under Part VIII of the Police Force Act (Cap. 235);

"subordinate military court" has the same meaning as in the Singapore Armed Forces Act.

[7/72; 21/74; 19/94]

PART II

REGISTRATION

Persons required to register.
3. —(1) The proper authority may from time to time by notice require a person subject to this Act to report for registration and for fitness examination for the purposes of service under this Act.

(2) A person required to report for registration and fitness examination under subsection (1) shall report to the proper authority at such date, time and place as may be specified in the notice and shall attend from day to day until duly registered and examined.

Registration.
4. —(1) A person required to report for registration shall —

(a) furnish such particulars about himself as may be prescribed;

(b) submit for inspection to the proper authority such certificates or documents as may be prescribed;

(c) carry on his person such certificate or document as may be issued by the proper authority and present that document or certificate on demand to the proper authority or to any military policeman, police officer or to any person acting on his behalf; and

(d) submit to the taking of his photograph and finger impressions.

(2) Any person affected by a notice given under section 3 (1) who, without lawful excuse, fails to present himself for registration in accordance with the notice 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 3 years or to both.

(3) The court before which a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (2) may also order that person to present himself for registration for national service on or before a specified date and any person who, without lawful excuse, fails to present himself for registration in accordance with such an order shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50 for every day during which he fails to register himself after the specified date.

Fitness examination.
5. A person required to report for a fitness examination shall —

(a) undergo or submit himself to that examination; and

(b) furnish the proper authority with correct and complete information in respect of any matter which the proper authority considers to be material for the purpose of determining his fitness for service or fitness for any duty in service.

Information.
6. The proper authority may, in accordance with regulations made under this Act, order any person to furnish information in respect of a person subject to this Act.

Fitness for service.
7. —(1) The fitness for service of a person subject to this Act shall be determined, from time to time, by the proper authority in accordance with the fitness examination and the needs of the armed forces.

(2) No person who is not medically fit shall be found fit for service.

Medical examination.
8. —(1) The proper authority shall appoint medical boards for the purpose of determining the medical fitness of persons required to report for a fitness examination.

(2) Every medical board shall consist of one or more members who shall be registered medical practitioners.

(3) In the case of a medical board consisting of more than one member, the proper authority shall nominate one of the members to be chairman.

(4) Where a medical board consists of more than one member, it shall determine whether a person is medically fit or not by a majority vote.

(5) In the case of an equality of votes, the chairman of the medical board shall have a second or casting vote.

(6) Every medical board shall act for and on behalf of the proper authority and may subject a person required to report for a fitness examination to a medical examination.

(7) For the purpose of conducting a medical examination, a medical board may require a person subject to this Act who is liable to report for a fitness examination to be examined by a person who is not a member of the medical board.

Further reporting.
9. The proper authority may, at any time, require a person subject to this Act who is liable to report for registration or a fitness examination to report again on such other occasions as may be considered necessary.

PART III

NATIONAL SERVICE

Duty to report for enlistment.
10. —(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the proper authority may by notice require a person subject to this Act not below the age of 18 years to report for enlistment for national service.

(2) A person required to report for enlistment for national service shall report to the proper authority on such date and at such time and place as may be specified in the notice and shall attend from day to day until duly enlisted.

(3) Enlistment for national service shall be in the manner approved by the proper authority.

(4) No duty of any kind shall be imposed on a person required to report for enlistment or service unless he is found fit for service.

Liability to be transferred from one service to another.
11. A person required under section 10 to report for enlistment for national service shall be liable to render any form of national service and may at any time, at the discretion of the proper authority, be transferred from one form of service to another, from one force to another or from one unit to another.

Liability to render full-time service.
12. —(1) Every person subject to this Act who is fit for national service and enlisted on or after 1st January 1971 shall be liable to render full-time service for a period not exceeding 2 years except that where a person —

(a) is, during the period of service, promoted to a rank above the rank of Lance-Corporal in the Singapore Armed Forces or, where such service is in any of the other armed forces or in a force, body or organisation which is designated by the Minister for the purposes of national service, to such rank as may be regarded by the proper authority as equal to a rank above the rank of Lance-Corporal in the Singapore Armed Forces;

(b) holds, during the period of service in a force, body or organisation which is designated by the Minister for the purposes of national service and in which there is no classification of the members of the force, body or organisation into ranks similar to those in any of the armed forces, such position or has, during the period of service in such force, body or organisation, such status as may be regarded by the proper authority as equal to the position or status, as the case may be, of a national serviceman in the Singapore Armed Forces who holds a rank above the rank of Lance-Corporal in the Singapore Armed Forces;

(c) is, during the period of service, selected by the proper authority for officer training in the Singapore Armed Forces or, where such service is in any of the other armed forces or in a force, body or organisation which is designated by the Minister for the purposes of national service, is selected for training or a course intended to qualify him for such rank, position or status as may be regarded by the proper authority as equal to the rank, position or status, as the case may be, of an officer in the Singapore Armed Forces; or

(d) having been so selected as referred to in paragraph (c), is currently undergoing such officer training or other training or attending the course,

such person shall be liable to serve for a period not exceeding 2 years and 6 months.

[18/78]

(2) A reduction or reversion in rank or the loss of a position or status referred to in subsection (1) shall not affect the liability of a person incurred under that subsection.

[18/78]

Duty to render operationally ready national service.
13. Every person subject to this Act, who is fit for national service, shall be liable, while not in any full-time service under this Act, to render operationally ready national service.

[19/94]

Operationally ready national service liability.
14. —(1) Every person who is liable for operationally ready national service shall —

(a) report for service, in accordance with this Act, whenever he is required to do so by the proper authority on the date and at the time appointed by the proper authority for him to report for operationally ready national service; and

(b) serve, while fit for national service, for one but not both, of the following sets of periods:

(i) for a period of 14 days and 8 hours per week during the first 6 months of service, and for a period of 7 days annually and 3 hours per week or 6 hours per fortnight or 12 hours per month after the first 6 months of service; or

(ii) for periods not exceeding in the aggregate 40 days annually.

[25/89;19/94]

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) shall preclude any person who is liable for operationally ready national service from serving for a period or periods longer than the period or periods specified in subsection (1) (b) (i) or (ii) if authorised by the proper authority.

[25/89; 19/94]

Computation of operationally ready national service.
15. —(1) In computing the periods of operationally ready national service required under section 14 (1) (b) (ii) or (2), the following provisions shall apply:

(a) where a period of continuous operationally ready national service falls within 2 years, the whole period shall be deemed to fall within the first year;

(b) a period of operationally ready national service not exceeding 4 hours shall be deemed to be half a day of service;

(c) a period of operationally ready national service between 4 and 24 hours shall be deemed to be one day of service; and

(d) where a person serves for a period exceeding 24 hours, every calendar day on which he serves, including the first and the last day, shall be deemed to be one day of service though the latter periods might be of less than 24 hours duration.

[25/89; 19/94]

(2) For the purposes of subsections (1) (c), where a period of operationally ready national service between 18 and 24 hours falls within 2 calendar days it shall be deemed to be 2 days of service.

[19/94]

PART IV

MOBILISED SERVICE

Proclamation by President.
16. Where the interests of Singapore so require, the President may, by proclamation, empower the proper authority to call out persons liable to render full-time service, operationally ready national service or regular service for mobilised service.

[19/94]

Mobilised service liability.
17. Where a proclamation under section 16 is issued, the proper authority may order —

(a) that a person shall not be released at the end of his period of full-time service, operationally ready national service or regular service and that the person shall continue to render mobilised service; and

(b) that a person liable for operationally ready national service shall report for mobilised service.

[19/94]

Liability to render mobilised service.
18. Every person liable for mobilised service shall upon a proclamation being issued under section 16 report for mobilised service and remain in mobilised service until discharged or released by the proper authority.

PART V

REGULAR SERVICE

Regular service.
19. —(1) Any person may apply to the proper authority to be enlisted for regular service in the Singapore Armed Forces.

[7/72]

(2) Where a person applies to be enlisted for such regular service, the proper authority may require him to report for registration and fitness examination.

(3) Where the proper authority approves and accepts the application of any person for regular service, the proper authority shall notify the person of that acceptance and may require him to report for enlistment and service.

Terms and conditions of regular service.
20. —(1) A person required to report under section 19 shall be liable to render regular service for the period approved by the proper authority and under such terms and conditions as may be provided for from time to time in regulations made under any written law relating to the armed forces.

(2) No person shall be liable to render regular service in excess of the period for which he has applied to serve.

(3) The proper authority may at any time order the discharge of a person from regular service before the expiry of his period of service for any reason provided for in regulations made under any written law relating to the armed forces.

(4)   Subject to subsection (5), where a regular serviceman is sentenced by a subordinate military court to a discharge with ignominy or dismissal, he shall be deemed to be discharged from regular service on the occurrence of any of the following events:

(a) where no petition of review or appeal has been lodged, the expiration of the time limited for the lodging of such petition; or

(b) where a petition of review or appeal has been lodged, the confirmation of the sentence by the reviewing authority or the Military Court of Appeal, as the case may be.

(5)   The discharge of a regular serviceman under subsection (4) shall take effect from the date of the sentence by reason of which he is discharged or from such other date as may be specified by the subordinate military court.

(6)   In this section —

"Military Court of Appeal" means the Court established under Part VII of the Singapore Armed Forces Act (Cap. 295);

"reviewing authority" means the reviewing authority referred to in section 116 (1) of the Singapore Armed Forces Act.

PART VI
DUTY OF EMPLOYER

Reinstatement of servicemen in employment.
21. —(1) Every employer, who has had in his employment a person subject to this Act for a continuous period of at least 6 months immediately preceding the date on which that person was ordered—

(a) to report for or actually perform full-time service, operationally ready national service or mobilised service; or

(b) to report for mobilised service under section 73 or 97 of the Police Force Act 2004,

shall reinstate that person in his employment at the termination of such service.

[21/74; 19/94]

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), where the person referred to in that subsection has been required to perform further operationally ready national service under section 118 (16) of the Singapore Armed Forces Act (Cap. 295) the employer may, in his discretion, reinstate that person.

[21/74; 19/94]

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) shall not apply to an employer if the person subject to this Act whom he has had in his employment was called up for full-time service and would have remained in that employment only for an agreed definite or certain period of time had that person not been ordered to perform full-time service.

[18/78]

(4) Where a person subject to this Act is reinstated under subsection (1) or (2), the employer shall whenever practicable reinstate him in an occupation and under conditions not less favourable than those which would have been applicable to him had he not been in service.

(5) Any employer who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both, and the court by which he is convicted may order the employer to pay to the person whom he has failed to reinstate a sum not exceeding an amount equal to 3 months remuneration at the rate at which remuneration was last payable to him by the employer.

(6) In any proceedings under this section, it shall be a defence for the employer to prove that the person formerly employed by him did not, before the expiration of 3 months after termination of the service for which that person was called up, apply to the employer for reinstatement.

Prohibition against dismissal.
22. —(1) No employer shall dismiss a person subject to this Act solely or mainly by reason of any duty or liability which that person is, or may become, liable to perform or discharge by reason of his being, or being liable to be, called up for —

(a) service under this Act;

(b) mobilised service under section 73 of the Police Force Act 2004; or

(c) voluntary service in the division of the Singapore Armed Forces known as the People’s Defence Force under the Singapore Armed Forces Act (Cap. 295) or in the Special Constabulary under the Police Force Act,

unless that person —

(i) has assumed duty or liability in connection with additional operationally ready national service under a punishment imposed by a court undersection 118 (16) of the Singapore Armed Forces Act; or

(ii) is called up for full-time service and is employed only for an agreed definite or certain period of time.

[21/74;18/78;19/94]

(2) An employer may, in his discretion, dismiss any person to whom subsection (1) (i) or (ii) applies.

[21/74]

(3) For the purpose of this section where any duty or liability of service under this Act caused or contributed to the dismissal of a person subject to this Act, he shall be deemed to have been dismissed by reason of that duty or liability, unless the employer proves that the dismissal was for a reason unconnected therewith.

(4) Any employer who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both, and the court by which he is convicted may order the employer to pay to the dismissed person as compensation a sum not exceeding an amount equal to 3 months remuneration at the rate at which remuneration was last payable to him by the employer.

Leave of absence.
23. —(1) The employer of a person required to report for —

(a) national service;

(b) mobilised service under section 73 of the Police Force Act 2004; or

(c) voluntary service in the division of the Singapore Armed Forces known as the People’s Defence Force under the Singapore Armed Forces Act (Cap. 295) or in the Special Constabulary under the Police Force Act (Cap. 235),

shall grant that person leave of absence during his period of service.

[21/74]

(2) Any person who contravenes this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.

[21/74]

Loss of salaries and wages.
24. —(1) Subject to such conditions, restrictions or limitations as the Minister may by regulations provide, a person who is performing any —

(a) operationally ready national service in the Special Constabulary or in the division of the Singapore Armed Forces known as the People’s Defence Force or in the Vigilante Corps under section 14 (1) (b) (ii);

(b) operationally ready national service under section 14 (1) (b) (ii) or (2);

(c) voluntary service in the division of the Singapore Armed Forces known as the People’s Defence Force under the Singapore Armed Forces Act or in the Special Constabulary under the Police Force Act; or

(d) mobilised service,

and who, immediately prior to the performance of such service, was or is —

(i)self-employed;

(ii)self-employed as well as gainfully employed under a contract of service; or

(iii)gainfully employed by one or more employers,

shall be entitled to claim reimbursement of an amount by which his civilian remuneration is reduced as a result of being required to perform such service, less any service remuneration to which he is entitled in respect of that service.

[18/78;1/87;25/89;19/94]

(2) The designated authority may pay the claims under subsection (1) from moneys to be provided by Parliament.

[18/78]

(3) If a dispute arises between the designated authority and a person subject to this Act as to the amount that such person may claim by way of reimbursement under subsection (1), the matter shall be referred to the Minister whose decision shall be final.

[18/78]

(4) Where a person subject to this Act is required to perform further operationally ready national service under section 118 (16) of the Singapore Armed Forces Act (Cap. 295), his employer shall, subject to subsection (5), be liable to pay that person at a rate equal to his usual rate of civilian remuneration, less the amount of any remuneration due to him in respect of such further operationally ready national service, except that —

(a) where that person is gainfully employed under a contract of service by 2 or more employers, each of the employers concerned shall be liable to pay the difference between his civilian remuneration and his service remuneration in the proportion that the civilian remuneration paid by each of the employers bears to the total civilian remuneration that the operationally ready national serviceman receives from all his employers; or

(b) where that person is self-employed as well as gainfully employed under a contract of service, his employer shall only be liable to pay the difference between his civilian remuneration and his service remuneration in the proportion that the civilian remuneration paid by his employer bears to his total civilian remuneration.

[18/78;19/94]

(5) An employer who has paid any sum under subsection (4) shall not be entitled to claim reimbursement thereof from the designated authority.

[18/78]

(6) Where under the Central Provident Fund Act (Cap. 36) an employer pays contributions in respect of his employee, the employer shall continue to pay the same amount of contributions and at the same rate notwithstanding that his employee is performing —

(a) any service under section 14 of this Act or section 118 (16) of the Singapore Armed Forces Act, unless the employee has been dismissed under section 22 of this Act on account of his further service under section 118 (16) of the Singapore Armed Forces Act;

(b) any voluntary service in the division of the Singapore Armed Forces known as the People’s Defence Force under the Singapore Armed Forces Act or in the Special Constabulary under the Police Force Act (Cap. 235); or

(c) any mobilised service.

[18/78]

(7) In this section and section 25 —

"civilian remuneration," in respect of any person, means the following moneys which the person would have received had he not been required to perform any relevant service —

(a) remuneration derived from gainful employment; and

(b) any other pay component —

(i) that is provided to be paid to the person under his contract of employment or service;

(ii) that is, immediately before the date of the commencement of relevant service, received by the person on a regular basis for such period as may be prescribed by regulations;

(iii) in respect of which the employer is liable to pay contributions under section 7 of the Central Provident Fund Act (Cap. 36), unless exempted under that Act; and

(iv) that falls within the definition of “gains or profits from any employment” in section 10 (2) of the Income Tax Act (Cap. 134),

but does not include ex gratia payments or allowances paid to reimburse the person for expenses incurred by him in the course of employment;

"designated authority" means any person designated by the Minister for the purposes of this Act;

"mobilised service" includes mobilised service under section 73 or 97 of the Police Force Act 2004;

"relevant service" means —

(a) service under section 14 or 18 of this Act or section 118 (16) of the Singapore Armed Forces Act (Cap. 295);

(b) voluntary service under the Singapore Armed Forces Act or the Police Force Act; or

(c) mobilised service;

"service" includes any voluntary service with the Singapore Armed Forces or the Special Constabulary;

"service remuneration" means any remuneration payable by the Government for any service before any deduction is made under any written law or with any order or instruction of the Government or the armed forces.

[18/78; 16/2001]

Direct payment by employer
25. —(1)   Subject to the designated authority’s consent and to such conditions, restrictions and limitations as may be prescribed in regulations made under this Act, the employer of a person who is entitled to claim reimbursement in respect of the performance of any relevant service under section 24 (1) may pay the person his civilian remuneration in respect of the period of service and claim that amount from the designated authority.

[16/2001]

(2)   A person shall not be entitled to claim reimbursement in respect of the performance of any relevant service under section 24 (1) if he has been paid his civilian remuneration by his employer under subsection (1).

[16/2001]

(3)   If a dispute arises between the designated authority and the employer as to the amount that the employer may claim under subsection (1), the matter shall be referred to the Minister whose decision shall be final.

[24A

[16/2001]

PART VII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Application of military law.
26. —(1) Any person required under this Act to report for enlistment or service in the Singapore Army established under the repealed Singapore Army Act 1965 (Act 13 of 1965) or the People’s Defence Force as constituted under the repealed People’s Defence Force Act (Cap. 234, 1970 Ed.), shall, from such date and time as may be specified, be subject to military law.

(2) The repealed Singapore Army Act 1965 (Act 13 of 1965) or any other Act relating to the armed forces shall apply to the person referred to in subsection (1) notwithstanding that he has not complied with the order.

[25

Release and unaccountable periods.
27. —(1) Subject to this Act, a national serviceman or a regular serviceman shall be released by the proper authority at the end of the period which he is liable to serve.

(2) In computing the period of service of any person referred to in subsection (1), no account shall be taken of —

(a) any period before the day on which he reported for enlistment or for national service;

(b) any period of absence from duty without leave or desertion where he was convicted therefor;

(c) any period during which he was serving or would have been serving, if he were not unlawfully at large, a term of imprisonment, special detention, detention or reformative training; or

(d) any period during which he was under close arrest on a charge for an offence of which he was subsequently convicted by a subordinate military court, a disciplinary officer or a Senior Disciplinary Committee.

(3)   In this section —

"disciplinary officer" has the same meaning as in the Singapore Armed Forces Act (Cap. 295);

"Senior Disciplinary Committee" means a Senior Disciplinary Committee appointed under section 72 of the Singapore Armed Forces Act.

[26

[18/78]

Postponement.
28. The proper authority may by notice postpone for such period as it may consider appropriate all or any part of the liability of any person under this Act.

[27

Exemption.
29. The proper authority may by notice exempt any person from all or any part of the liability of that person under this Act.

[28

Orders, notices, permits and appointments.
30. —(1) Orders, notices, permits and appointments issued or made under this Act may be of a general nature or may refer to a class of persons or to one person or to any number of persons.

[25/89]

(2) An order or notice issued under this Act may be served on any person —

Personal delivery and telephone conversation
(a) by delivering it personally, or reading the contents of the order or notice over the telephone personally, to that person;

Publication in newspapers and Gazette
(b) by publishing it in the daily newspapers circulating in Singapore in all the official languages or in the Gazette ;

Broadcast over radio and television
(c) by broadcasting it over the radio and television in the prescribed manner;

Public-address system or siren
(d) by audible signals given in the prescribed manner over a public-address system or through a siren where such signals are audible from the usual or last known place of residence, business and employment of the person to be served;

Registered post
(e) by sending it by registered post to the person to be served at the usual or last known place of residence or business of that person;

Delivery to member of family or household at residence
(f) by leaving it at the usual or last known place of residence of the person to be served with a member of his family or household who is apparently above the age of 16 years and apparently residing at that place;

Telephone conversation with member of family or household
(g) by reading the contents of the order or notice over the telephone to a member of the family or household of the person to be served who is apparently above the age of 16 years and apparently residing at the usual or last known place of residence of the person to be served;

Delivery to employee or person in charge of working place
(h) by leaving it at the usual or last known place of business or employment of the person to be served with a person apparently above the age of 16 years and apparently in charge of or employed at that place;

Telephone conversation with employee or person in charge of working place
(i) by reading the contents of the order or notice over the telephone to a person apparently above the age of 16 years and apparently in charge of or is employed at the usual or last known place of business or employment of the person to be served;

Pager
(j) by sending it by radio-communications pager transmission in the prescribed manner; or

Facsimile transmission, telex and other means of telecommunication
(k) by sending it by facsimile transmission, telex or any other prescribed means of telecommunication to the person to be served at the usual or last known place of residence, business or employment of that person where there is an acknowledgment by electronic or any other means to the effect that the order or notice has been received at that place.

[25/89]

Knowledge of order or notice
(3) Where an order or notice is served on any person under—

(a) subsection (2) (b), it shall be deemed to have been read by the person to whom it applies by noon on the day following the date of publication;

(b) subsection (2) (c) or (d), it shall be deemed to have been seen or heard by the person to whom it applies on the expiry of 6 hours from the commencement of the first broadcast or audible signal, as the case may be;

(c) subsection (2) (e), it shall be deemed to have been received and read by the person to whom it applies on the expiry of 48 hours from the time at which it was delivered to the post office for despatch;

(d) subsection (2) (f) or (g), it shall be deemed to have been conveyed or read to the person to whom it applies at the time of delivery or telephone conversation, as the case may be;

(e) subsection (2) (h) or (i), it shall be —

(i) presumed, until the contrary is proved, to have been conveyed or read to the person to whom it applies at the time of delivery or telephone conversation, as the case may be; and

(ii) deemed to have been conveyed or read to the person to whom it applies on the expiry of 6 hours from the time of delivery or telephone conversation, as the case may be; or

(f) subsection (2) (j) or (k), it shall be —

(i) presumed, until the contrary is proved, to have been received and read or heard by the person to whom it applies at the time of the first transmission; and

(ii) deemed to have been received and read or heard by the person to whom it applies on the expiry of 6 hours from the time of the first transmission.

[25/89]

Order or notice to remain in force until compliance or revocation
(4) An order or notice issued under this Act shall remain in force until it is complied with or revoked and a person not complying with such an order or notice at the specified time shall be liable to comply with it as soon as possible.

[25/89]

Conditions and revocation
(5) An order, notice, permit or appointment, issued or made under this Act, may be subject to conditions and may be revoked at any time.

[25/89]

Ignorance of order or notice not an excuse
(6) Where a person has under subsection (3) been deemed to have knowledge of an order or notice issued under this Act, ignorance of the fact that the order or notice has been duly served on him under subsection (2) shall not be an excuse for failing to comply with that order or notice.

[29

[25/89]

Calculation of age.
31. For the purpose of calculation of age under this Act, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) where the month in which a person was born is not entered in his identity card, he shall be deemed to be born on 1st July;

(b) where the day of the month on which a person was born is not entered in his identity card, he shall be deemed to be born on the first day of the month; and

(c) where the year in which a person was born is not entered in his identity card, the proper authority may order him to undergo medical examinations and produce evidence in respect of his age and shall decide on his year of birth.

[30

Exit permits.
32. —(1) A person subject to this Act who has been registered under section 3 or is deemed to be registered or is liable to register under this Act, or a relevant child, shall not leave Singapore or remain outside Singapore unless he is in possession of a valid permit (referred to in this Act as exit permit) issued by the proper authority permitting him to do so.

(2) A person to whom an exit permit under subsection (1) is granted shall return to Singapore before the expiry of the period for which he was allowed to stay outside Singapore.

[31

(3)   Any relevant child within or outside Singapore who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000.

(4)   Where any relevant child contravenes subsection (1) or (2), each parent within or outside Singapore of the relevant child shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000.

(5)   In this section —

"parent" , in relation to a relevant child, includes a guardian and any person having the actual custody of the relevant child;

"relevant child" means a person who is a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore and who is not less than 13 years of age but less than 16 years and 6 months of age.

Offences.
33. Except as provided in section 32 (3) and (4), any person within or outside Singapore who —

(a) fails to comply with any order or notice issued under this Act;

(b) fails to fulfil any liability imposed on him under this Act;

(c) fraudulently obtains or attempts to obtain postponement, release, discharge or exemption from any duty under this Act;

(d) does any act with the intention of unlawfully evading service;

(e) gives the proper authority or any person acting on his behalf false or misleading information; or

(f) aids, abets or counsels any other person to act in the manner laid down in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e),

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 3 years or to both.

[32

Composition of offences
34. —(1)   The proper authority may, in its discretion, compound any offence under this Act as may be prescribed as being an offence which may be compounded which is prescribed to be a compoundable offence by collecting from a person reasonably suspected of having committed the offence —

(a) a sum not exceeding $1,000 in the case of an offence under this Act; or

(b) a sum not exceeding $500 in the case of an offence under the regulations.

[16/2001]

(2)   On payment of such sum, no further proceedings shall be taken against that person in respect of the offence.

[16/2001]

(3)   The Minister may make regulations to prescribe the offences which may be compounded and the method and procedure by which those offences may be compounded under this section.

[32A

[16/2001]

Enlistment inspectors
35.   The proper authority may appoint one or more public officers as enlistment inspectors to investigate the commission of any offence under this Act.

[32B

[16/2001]

Powers of enlistment inspectors and police officers
36. —(1)   Any enlistment inspector may, without warrant, arrest any person who he reasonably believes has committed an offence under this Act.

[16/2001]

(2)   Where a person is arrested by an enlistment inspector under this section, the enlistment inspector shall comply with sections 35 and 36 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68) as if he were a police officer.

[16/2001]

(3)   In any case relating to the commission of an offence under this Act, any enlistment inspector shall have the power to do all or any of the following:

(a) to require by order any person who the enlistment inspector has reason to believe has any article, document or information relevant to the carrying out of the provisions of this Act to produce any such article or document, or give such information, and to retain the article or document, or make copies of such documents;

(b) to examine orally any person supposed to be acquainted with the facts and circumstances relevant to the carrying out of the provisions of this Act, and to reduce into writing the answer given or statement made by that person who shall be bound to state truly the facts and circumstances with which he is acquainted, and the statement made by that person shall be read over to him and shall, after correction, be signed by him;

(c) to require by order in writing the attendance before him of any person who, from information given or otherwise, appears to be acquainted with the facts and circumstances relevant to the carrying out of the provisions of this Act, and that person shall so attend as required and if he fails to attend as so required, to report such failure to a Magistrate who may thereupon issue a warrant to secure the attendance of that person as required by the order.

[16/2001]

(4)   Any enlistment inspector specially authorised in writing by the proper authority may, with a warrant issued by the proper authority and with or without assistance, enter and search any premises, if he has reasonable cause to believe —

(a) that evidence of the commission of an offence under this Act can be found therein; and

(b) that a person to whom an order under subsection (3) (a) has been or might be issued will not or would not produce the article, document or information as directed in the order or that the article, document or information is not in the possession of any person,

and may seize any evidence so found.

[16/2001]

(5)   In addition to any other power conferred by written law, any police officer may exercise the powers conferred upon an enlistment inspector under subsections (1) and (3).

[32C

[16/2001]

Regulations.
37. —(1) The Minister may make such regulations as may be necessary or expedient to carry out the provisions of this Act.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Minister may make regulations relating to —

(a) payment of remuneration to persons in national service;

(b) duties of persons liable for service;

(c) duties of employers in respect of national servicemen;

(d) appointment of advisory boards;

(e) registration, fitness examination and enlistment;

(f) postponement, exemption, release and discharge;

(g) exit permits; and

(h) leave.

(3) Any regulations made under this section may prescribe that any act or omission in contravention of any regulation shall be an offence and may provide for the imposition of penalties for such offence which penalties shall not exceed a fine of $2,000 and imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months.

[33

LEGISLATION HISTORY 1. Act 25 of 1970 — Enlistment Act 1970

Date of First Reading	:	7.5.70 (Bill No. 17/70 published on 11.5.70)
Date of Second and Third Readings	:	21.5.70
Date of commencement	:	1.8.70

2. Act 54 of 1970 — Enlistment (Amendment) Act 1970

Date of First Reading	:	4.11.70 (Bill No. 42/70 published on 9.11.70)
Date of Second and Third Readings	:	30.12.70
Date of commencement	:	1.1.71

3. Act 7 of 1972 — Singapore Armed Forces Act 1972
(Consequential amendments made by)

Date of First Reading	:	7.3.72 (Bill No. 2/72 published on 9.3.72)
Date of Second and Third Readings	:	23.3.72
Date of commencement	:	15.6.72

4. Act 34 of 1973 — Statutes of the Republic of Singapore (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Act 1973

Date of First Reading	:	11.7.73 (Bill No. 27/73 published on 14.7.73)
Date of Second and Third Readings	:	25.7.73
Date of commencement	:	24.8.73

5. Act 21 of 1974 — Enlistment (Amendment) Act 1974

Date of First Reading	:	23.10.74 (Bill No. 27/74 published on 25.10.74)
Date of Second and Third Readings	:	6.11.74
Date of commencement	:	1.3.75

6. Act 21 of 1975 — Enlistment (Amendment) Act 1975

Date of First Reading	:	24.3.75 (Bill No. 23/75 published on 27.3.75)
Date of Second and Third Readings	:	29.7.75
Date of commencement	:	5.9.75

7. Act 18 of 1978 — Enlistment (Amendment) Act 1978

Date of First Reading	:	17.2.78 (Bill No. 7/78 published on 22.2.78)
Date of Second and Third Readings	:	23.3.78
Date of commencement	:	28.4.78

8. Act 1 of 1987 — Enlistment (Amendment) Act 1987

Date of First Reading	:	9.12.86 (Bill No. 27/86 published on 10.12.86)
Date of Second and Third Readings	:	26.1.87
Date of commencement	:	13.2.87

9. Act 25 of 1989 — Enlistment (Amendment) Act 1989

Date of First Reading	:	7.4.89 (Bill No. 27/89 published on 8.4.89)
Date of Second and Third Readings	:	29.5.89
Date of commencement	:	15.6.89

10. Act 19 of 1994 — Enlistment (Amendment) Act 1994

Date of First Reading	:	25.7.94 (Bill No. 21/94 published on 29.7.94)
Date of Second and Third Readings	:	31.10.94
Date of commencement	:	1.12.94

11. Act 16 of 2001— Enlistment (Amendment) Act 2001

Date of First Reading	:	22.2.2001 (Bill No. 4/2001 published on 23.2.2001)
Date of Second and Third Readings	:	19.4.2001
Date of commencement	:	15.5.2001

COMPARATIVE TABLE

The following provisions in the 1995 Revised Edition of the Enlistment Act have been renumbered by the Law Revision Commissioners in this 2001 Revised Edition.

This Comparative Table is provided for the convenience of users. It is not part of the Enlistment Act.

2001 Ed.		1995 Ed
PART I — PRELIMINARY		PART I
PART II — REGISTRATION		PART II
8—(2) and (3)		8—(2)
(4) and (5)		(3)
(6)		(4)
(7)		(5)
PART III — NATIONAL SERVICE PART IV — MOBILISED SERVICE		PART III
Obsolete		12—(3)
15—(1) and (2)		15
PART V — REGULAR SERVICE		PART IV
PART VI — DUTY OF EMPLOYER		PART V
21 — (1) and (2)		21 — (1)
(3)		(2)
(4)		(3)
(5) and (6)		(4)
22 — (1) and (2)		22 — (1)
(3)		(2)
(4)		(3)
24—(1) and (2)		24—(1)
(3)		(2)
(4)		(3)
(5)		(4)
(6)		(5)
(7)		(6)
25		24A
PART VII — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS		PART VI
26—(1) and (2)		25
27—(1) and (2)		26
28		27
29		28
30		29
31		30
32		31
33		32
34		32A
35		32B
36		32C
37		33
Obsolete		34