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Full-Text Articles in Law

Re-Examining Judicial Review Of Delegated Legislation, Wei Yao, Kenny Chng Feb 2023

Re-Examining Judicial Review Of Delegated Legislation, Wei Yao, Kenny Chng

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The usage of delegated legislation as a means of governance deserves significant attention, in view of the enormous impact that it is capable of having on the lives of citizens. While reforms to the process of parliamentary scrutiny are an important means of minimising the inappropriate usage of delegated legislation, this paper explores the possibility of drawing more fruitfully upon judicial review as an additional control mechanism. It undertakes a theoretical analysis of what makes delegated legislation distinct from primary legislation and other types of executive action for the purposes of judicial review, with a view towards identifying the proper …


Symposium On Pofma: Parliamentary Debates About Pofma – Hansard Beyond Statutory Interpretation?, Benjamin Joshua Ong Nov 2019

Symposium On Pofma: Parliamentary Debates About Pofma – Hansard Beyond Statutory Interpretation?, Benjamin Joshua Ong

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The issue of a legislative response to falsehoods first drew public attention when the Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods held its public hearings. This public attention was renewed when the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (“POFMA”), in Bill form, was unveiled. Questions arose among both the public and MPs about whether POFMA would grant the Government power to stifle academic research, journalism, or the expression of opinion, as well as whether it would be difficult for an individual to seek recourse against an allegedly wrongly made Direction.This post focuses not with the substance of these issues (important …


Unjust Enrichment: Revolution And Evolution In The Asia-Pacific, Tiong Min Yeo Apr 2018

Unjust Enrichment: Revolution And Evolution In The Asia-Pacific, Tiong Min Yeo

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

This article contrasts two approaches to the development of the law of unjust enrichment in Malaysia and Singapore, as evidenced by recent case law. While the Malaysian Federal Court has taken the bold step of steering Malaysian common law into the somewhat uncharted territory of "absence of basis" as a general justification for claims to reverse unjust enrichment, the Singapore Court of Appeal has been more cautious in taking incremental steps to build on the "unjust factor" approach.


The Doctrine Of Severability In Constitutional Review: A Perspective From Singapore, Benjamin Joshua Ong Jan 2018

The Doctrine Of Severability In Constitutional Review: A Perspective From Singapore, Benjamin Joshua Ong

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The Singapore Court of Appeal’s decision in Prabagaran a/l Srivijayan v Public Prosecutor represents a substantial development in Singapore’s law on the doctrine of severability in constitutional review. An examination of Prabagaran reveals rich theoretical underpinnings relating to the nature of legislative intent. The case rightly locates the crux of the severability inquiry in secondary legislative intention, i.e. the legislature’s intention, at the time a statute was enacted, as to what should happen in the event that part of the statute is later held to be unconstitutional. This approach is preferable to the approach of asking whether excision of unconstitutional …


Parliament Hearing A Chance To Bring Closure To 38 Oxley Rd, Tan K. B. Eugene Jul 2017

Parliament Hearing A Chance To Bring Closure To 38 Oxley Rd, Tan K. B. Eugene

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

In Parliament on Monday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will attempt to rebut the grave allegations on the conduct of his office and the integrity of the Government levelled by his younger siblings, Mr Lee Hsien Yang and Dr Lee Wei Ling.


The English Reformulation Of The Penalty Rule: Relevance In Singapore?, Yihan Goh, Man Yip Mar 2017

The English Reformulation Of The Penalty Rule: Relevance In Singapore?, Yihan Goh, Man Yip

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

English law on the rule against penalty clauses (“penalty rule”) has had a stable if unsatisfactory formulation for a while. The courts have long distinguished between liquidated damages and a penalty, on the basis that the former is a genuine pre-estimate of loss and that the latter is an unjustifiable tool used to coerce the performance of a contract. These long-standing principles have now to be re-evaluated in the light of the much-anticipated joint appeals of Cavendish Square Holding BV v Makdessi and ParkingEye Ltd v Beavis (collectively “Cavendish”). The purpose of this case note is to discuss Cavendish and …


Towards A Harmonised Approach To Mediation Legislation In Asia?, Nadja Alexander Mar 2017

Towards A Harmonised Approach To Mediation Legislation In Asia?, Nadja Alexander

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

In the past few years Singapore has been busy revising, refining and extending its dispute resolution offerings in cross-border litigation, arbitration and mediation. In 2017 Singapore offers international parties a full suite of dispute resolution services for commercial cross-border disputes.


Where Judicial And Legislative Powers Conflict: Dealing With Legislative Gaps (And Non-Gaps) In Singapore, Yihan Goh May 2016

Where Judicial And Legislative Powers Conflict: Dealing With Legislative Gaps (And Non-Gaps) In Singapore, Yihan Goh

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

This article is concerned with the resolution of legislative gaps in Singapore. Legislative gaps can arise obviously, such as when the draftsman mistakenly omitted an obvious word in a legislative provision. Gaps can also arise more ambiguously, such as where an old statute has not kept pace with modern development, thereby leaving a gap between the statute’s broad objects and particular application. Beyond the presence of gaps, the courts also have to consider how much weight, if at all, is to be placed on the absence of gaps. This article will propose a framework for dealing with legislative gaps (and …


Much On The Agenda In New Term Of Parliament, Tan K. B. Eugene Jan 2016

Much On The Agenda In New Term Of Parliament, Tan K. B. Eugene

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan highlighted several key issues as President Tony Tan Keng Yam opens the 13th Parliament’s five-year term tomorrow, which include the challenges facing the fourth generation (4G) leaders, the role of the Worker’s Party, as well as the critical issues for Parliament to tackle. Associate Prof Tan said that the 4G leaders will have to develop individual and collective identities and be able to win the confidence and trust of Singaporeans as the leadership transition substantially progresses further in the next few years. He noted that the critical issues for Parliament …


The Law Of Remedies – The Importance Of Comparative And Integrated Analysis, Andrew B.L. Phang Jan 2016

The Law Of Remedies – The Importance Of Comparative And Integrated Analysis, Andrew B.L. Phang

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Two simple – and related – theses are advanced in this essay. The first is that, in the search for principle (whether in the law of remedies in particular or in the law in general), comparative analysis is extremely important. Secondly, this essay seeks to explain as well as demonstrate the importance of integrating academic scholarship with practical analysis. While both these theses are deceptively simple, they are by no means easy to accomplish and (perhaps as, if not more) importantly, might even entail a change in one’s mindset.


Singapore Law Ready To Influence The Development Of Law Elsewhere, Yihan Goh, Paul Tan Jan 2015

Singapore Law Ready To Influence The Development Of Law Elsewhere, Yihan Goh, Paul Tan

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Change is here. If this was not evident from the speech of Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon at his welcome ceremony three years ago, it is now. In three short years, Singapore is leading Asia - possibly the world - in the provision of not only legal services but also intellectual capital and resources. The speed of these developments should not be surprising. As Attorney-General V.K. Rajah observed at the Opening of the Legal Year this month, Singapore's law and legal system has come a long way in a short time. The story of the Singapore legal system thus far can …


The Protection From Harassment Act 2014: Legislative Comment, Yihan Goh, Man Yip Sep 2014

The Protection From Harassment Act 2014: Legislative Comment, Yihan Goh, Man Yip

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The Protection from Harassment Act 2014 (“Act”) was passed by Parliament on 13 March 2014 following its Second Reading. The Act is a culmination of a concerted ministerial effort to bring about legislative change to the laws governing harassment. Bringing together the background to the Act, its general structure and its specific provisions, this article aims to add to the undoubted long list of commentaries on the Act and, it is hoped, contribute to the understanding and enforcement of the Act.


Streamlining Procedures For Judicial Review: Legislative Amendments To The Singapore Rules Of Court To Enhance Access To Justice, Denise Huiwen Wong Feb 2014

Streamlining Procedures For Judicial Review: Legislative Amendments To The Singapore Rules Of Court To Enhance Access To Justice, Denise Huiwen Wong

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Judicial review cannot serve as an effective check on administrative action unless aggrieved applicants have a real way to access the courts to obtain relief. In an admirable, albeit belated move, significant amendments were made to the Singapore Rules of Court to remove the procedural strictures inherited from the pre-1977 UK system. The amendments allow an applicant to seek a declaration in addition to the traditional prerogative orders and recover damages within the same proceedings if the applicant can prove that he/she would have had a valid claim in a private law action. This article examines the mischief that the …


An Institutional Alchemy: India’S Two Parliaments In Comparative Perspective, Shubhankar Dam Jan 2014

An Institutional Alchemy: India’S Two Parliaments In Comparative Perspective, Shubhankar Dam

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

India has a parliamentary system. But articled in India’s Constitution is a provision that authorizes the President to occasionally enact legislation without involving Parliament. Such presidential legislation are called ordinances, not Acts; and rather than enact, the President promulgates them. Textually, ordinances are bounded by several ‘controls’. They are limited to circumstances when at least one House of Parliament is not in session, and the President is satisfied that the circumstances are such that immediate action is necessary. And without such formal parliamentary approval after a specified duration, they cease to exist. But after sixty years of constitutional practice these …


A Court For The Next Decade, Yihan Goh, Paul Tan Nov 2012

A Court For The Next Decade, Yihan Goh, Paul Tan

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Discusses the impact of Mr Sundaresh Menon as Singapore's fourth post-independence Chief Justice.


The Prosecution's Duty Of Disclosure In Singapore: Muhammad Bin Kadar V Public Prosecutor [2011] 3 Slr 1205, Siyuan Chen Dec 2011

The Prosecution's Duty Of Disclosure In Singapore: Muhammad Bin Kadar V Public Prosecutor [2011] 3 Slr 1205, Siyuan Chen

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The Court of Appeal (CA) judgment in Muhammad bin Kadar v Public Prosecutor created quite a stir in Singapore. The case pertained to a murder involving two suspects, and its resolution took almost six years, with many twists and turns as to the actual facts. The CA attributed the confusion in part to questionable practices adopted by the police and the prosecution at various points in the proceedings, and reserved strong words for them in its judgment. It also established new requirements for the prosecution regarding its duty to the court to disclose relevant material not favourable to the case …


Codification, Macaulay And The Indian Penal Code [Book Review], Siyuan Chen Jan 2011

Codification, Macaulay And The Indian Penal Code [Book Review], Siyuan Chen

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

As noted (at vii) by the contributors to this book, the Indian Penal Code 1860 (Central Act 45 of 1860) (“IPC”), largely the work of Thomas Macaulay, “was the first codification of criminal law in the British Empire and is the longest serving code in the common law world.” Upon its enactment, the influential IPC was adopted in various British colonies, such as Singapore. The continuing use of legislation of such pedigree, however, brings about several problems. Any legislative inertia to update the statute from time to time will put the judiciary in a dilemma, whenever the latter is asked …


Two Contrasting Approaches In The Interpretation Of Outdated Statutory Provisions, Yihan Goh Dec 2010

Two Contrasting Approaches In The Interpretation Of Outdated Statutory Provisions, Yihan Goh

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Some statutes in operation today were passed a long time ago. Inevitably, through the passage of time, social norms at the time of enactment may now be unrecognizable. Two recent cases show contrasting approaches towards the interpretation of outdated statutory provisions. The first approach is seen in the Singapore High Court case of WX v.WW. That case concerned the interpretation of section 114 of the Evidence Act, a decidedly ancient statutory provision. The second approach was adopted by the Singapore Court of Appeal in AAG v. Estate of AAH, deceased. In that case, the Court of Appeal had to interpret …


Constitutional Fiats: Presidential Legislation In India's Parliamentary Democracy, Shubhankar Dam Oct 2010

Constitutional Fiats: Presidential Legislation In India's Parliamentary Democracy, Shubhankar Dam

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The article presents information on the presidential legislation of the parliamentary democracies, India and Pakistan. It discusses the role of the President acting as the Council of Ministers for the enactment of legislations as ordinances without the consent of the Parliament. Information on the legal interpretation of the ordinances and its interaction with the principles of the parliamentary system of the government is also presented.


Imbree V Mcneilly: A View From Singapore, Yihan Goh Jul 2009

Imbree V Mcneilly: A View From Singapore, Yihan Goh

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

In Imbree v. McNeilly, the High Court of Australia ruled that a learner driver is no longer to be held to the standard of a reasonable but unqualified (and inexperienced) driver in negligence claims. It is the modest aim of this case note to show that Imbree, while a decision on a narrow point, in fact hints at a larger difficulty in the ascertainment of the standard of care in individual cases. It is in this context that it will be suggested that, when the time comes for Singapore courts to consider the applicability of Imbree, this difficulty should be …


A Comparative Account Of Statutory Interpretation In Singapore, Yihan Goh Oct 2008

A Comparative Account Of Statutory Interpretation In Singapore, Yihan Goh

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

In 1993, the Singapore Parliament enacted legislative provisions adapted from Australian legislation directing, inter alia, that the courts apply the purposive approach in statutory interpretation. Those provisions also allowed for the extended use of extrinsic materials in the interpretative process. Fifteen years on, there is now a considerable body of Singapore case law to which a meaningful analysis may be undertaken. Indeed, from an initially cautious application of the enacted legislation, the courts began to read the enactments expansively, eventually providing for a statutory interpretation regime that is largely free of the confines of old. Nonetheless, the Singapore position does …


The First Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Legislative Council Elections, James T. H. Tang Mar 1999

The First Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Legislative Council Elections, James T. H. Tang

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

The Legislative Council (Legco) Elections in Hong Kong on May 24, 1998, isthe first open multiparty electoral competition in the People's Republic of China(PRC). Since Chinese leaders have repeatedly rejected Western-style democracyor multiparty competition for China, the extent to which the Hong Kong experiencewould serve as a model for political developments on the mainland isclearly limited. Nonetheless, political changes in Hong Kong has to be seen aspart of China's experience following their reunion. Under the "one country, twosystems" formula, Hong Kong is given the freedom to conduct its own internalaffairs as a Special Administrative Region (SAR), but the formation of …


Beyond Pepper V. Hart: The Legislative Reform Of Statutory Interpretation In Singapore, Andrew B.L. Phang, Andrew Phang Jan 1994

Beyond Pepper V. Hart: The Legislative Reform Of Statutory Interpretation In Singapore, Andrew B.L. Phang, Andrew Phang

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

One of the major controversies in the area of statutory interpretation has centred on the use of parliamentary materials as extrinsic aids by courts in interpreting legislation. The English courts long prohibited any reference to parliamentary materials.' Legislation was passed in Australia in the 1980s to allow liberal reference to parliamentary materials in the courts.2 More recently, a seminal decision of the House of Lords in 1992 in Pepper (Inspector of Taxes) v. Hart' introduced significant flexibility into the hitherto rigid proscription followed in the English courts, although it did not go as far as the legislative reforms in Australia. …


Cementing The Foundations: The Singapore Application Of English Law Act 1993, Andrew B.L. Phang Jan 1993

Cementing The Foundations: The Singapore Application Of English Law Act 1993, Andrew B.L. Phang

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

After almost one hundred and seventy-five years since the founding of modern Singapore in 1819,' the Singapore Legislature2 has finally passed the Application ofEnglish LawAct i9933 to clarify the application of English law in the island republic. Prior to the AELA, there were numerous areas of uncertainty with regard to both the general as well as the specific reception of English law that led to a plethora of literature but little else.


The Law Of Assembly In The People's Republic Of China: Implications Of The Retreat To Formal Legalism For The Legislative Process In China, Mark Findlay, Thomas Chor-Wing Chiu Sep 1991

The Law Of Assembly In The People's Republic Of China: Implications Of The Retreat To Formal Legalism For The Legislative Process In China, Mark Findlay, Thomas Chor-Wing Chiu

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Under the most current constitution, written in 1982, the citizens of the PRC are guaranteed freedom of the press, speech, assembly, association, procession, and demonstration; furthermore, all citizens enjoy the rights and assume the responsibilities prescribed by the constitution and the law. In 1989, following the student democracy demonstrations in the PRC, the government circulated a draft of the law concerning assemblies, processions, and demonstrations for public comment. While the 24 articles of the draft legislation effectively removed the right to free public protest by interposing a variety of administrative procedures governing proscription of venue, application, approval, and review, the …


Federal Antibias Legislation And Academic Freedom: Some Problems With Enforcement Procedures, Howard Hunter Jan 1978

Federal Antibias Legislation And Academic Freedom: Some Problems With Enforcement Procedures, Howard Hunter

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Since World War II, changes and developments in various policies of the American government have given rise to a vast array of complex regulations applicable to institutions of higher learning that receive federal financial support.' Before World War II the federal government was not wholly divorced from matters of higher education, but financial support came principally from state or local governments and from private sources. The shift to a more active federal role has profoundly affected the nation's private colleges and universities.' While state schools have always had a close relationship with their supporting governments, the increased federal role has …