The Singapore Currency Acts says that coins are “legal tender up to their face value for the payment of an amount not exceeding 20 times the face value of a coin of that denomination”. When making payment using coins you can use up to only 20 coins per denomination per transaction. This means that a shop or seller can reject your payment if you use more than 20 coins of the same denomination in a transaction.

A shop or seller can also choose to lower the limit on the quantity of coins they will accept in a transaction. A written notice of the lower limit must be put up. Otherwise, all denominations of coins given by a customer as payment up to the legal limits must be accepted.

The legal tender limit for coins in Singapore is as follows:

• five-cents X 20 pieces = S$1
• 10-cents X 20 pieces = S$2
• 20-cents X 20 pieces = S$4
• 50-cents X 20 pieces = S$10
• S$1 x 20 pieces = S$20

In each payment you are limited to a cap of 100 coins across all 5 denominations. This means you could pay up to $37 in coins.

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The full text of the Minister’s answer:

1. Legal costs for proceedings at the Small Claims Tribunals are kept low as the process is straightforward and parties appear in person. A Money Order issued by the Tribunals is deemed to be a Magistrates’ Court Order, and can be enforced through a Writ of Seizure and Sale.

2. The filing fee for a Writ of Seizure and Sale to enforce the Tribunals’ order is to be paid by the claimant unless the Court orders otherwise. Currently, the filing fee is $80, which is about half the fee for a case filed under the Magistrates’ Court. In addition, there are other associated and ancillary fees, which may bring the total cost of enforcing the Tribunals’ Money Order to about $400 to $600. The claimant can recover these enforcement costs from the judgment debtor if the judgment debtor’s personal property is successfully seized and sold, and the proceeds of sale are sufficient to cover the costs incurred.

3. The claimant may also apply to the Registrar of the State Courts to waive or defer the payment of such costs. The Registrar will consider all the relevant facts in the specific case, including the claimant’s financial circumstances, in deciding whether to waive or defer such fees. The claimant will not be charged a fee for making a waiver or deferment application.

4. The Legal Aid Bureau may also provide legal aid for the execution of a Writ of Seizure and Sale, provided that the applicant satisfies the requisite means and merits tests.

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The amended Planning Act now specifically regulates the use of a dwelling house (or residential property) to provide short term accommodation. Essentially the new law says that it is illegal to use a dwelling house (or residential property) to provide short term accommodation (with or without other services) in return for the payment of rent other form of consideration. The accommodation is considered short term if it is less than a period of 6 consecutive months. The new law also give URA officers new enforcement powers to investigate breaches of the Planning Act.

The Minister for National Development explained in Parliament that “private residential properties should not be used for other purposes without planning approval, as there is a need to safeguard the living environment of residents in the neighbourhood. Where private residential properties are rented or subletted, URA has existing guidelines in place to ensure that these properties are not used to accommodate excessive numbers of occupants, and to make it clear that such properties are intended for long-term or permanent residence of at least 6 months”.

The new law means that short-term rentals, which cater mainly to tourists, like Airbnb-style rentals, are now illegal in Singapore unless permission is first obtained from URA.

The Government is currently considering two proposals: a new category of homes for short-term rentals; and lowering the minimum rental period of residences from the current six months. Until the new rules are finalised, the URA is not expected to approve short term rentals for less than six months.

for further reference:

URA Guildelines  – Renting out private residential properties

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Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are collective investment schemes. A trust is set up to invest in a portfolio of income generating real estate assets such as shopping malls, offices, hotels or serviced apartments. Investors hold units in the trust. The assets are held by a trustee for the benefit of unit holders. The REIT is managed by a REIT manager.

Who can be Manager of listed REITs?

The manager of a listed property fund should be a corporation with a physical office in Singapore, and have minimum shareholders’ funds of S$1 million.

The manager, as well as its chief executive officer, directors and professional employees should meet the fit and proper criteria as set out in the Guidelines on Fit and Proper Criteria issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

In addition, the manager should: a) have at least five years of experience in managing property funds; b) appoint, with the approval of the trustee, an adviser who has at least five years of experience in investing in or advising on real estate; or c) employ persons who have at least five years of experience in investing in or advising on real estate.

Removal of Manager

A REIT manager may be removed by way of a resolution passed by a simple majority of participants present and voting at a general meeting.

The manager and related parties can vote in respect of the resolution to remove the manager.

The manager may choose to enter into a management agreement with the REIT at the time of listing of the REIT. If there is a management agreement, the agreement may
contain compensation provisions for early termination of the management agreement. The compensation provisions must comply with the requirements of the Code of Collective Investments Schemes issued by the MAS.

Reference : Appendix 6 of Code on Collective Investment Schemes

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Mediation is a way of resolving disputes without the need to go through a trial in court. It involves an independent third party, a mediator, who helps both sides come to an agreement. It can be a cost effective way of resolving conflicts compared to fighting the matter out in court.

Mediation can be used to settle disputes in a whole range of situations such as business disputes, contract disputes, family disputes as well as disputes between a shop and a consumer or disputes between neighbours.

Mediation is a flexible process in which the neutral mediator helps the parties to negotiate and find solutions that the parties can accept. The mediator will not take sides or make a decision concerning who is at fault in the dispute.

Mediation is a voluntary process and can only take place if both parties to the dispute agree.

It is a confidential process so the terms of discussion are not disclosed to any party outside the mediation hearing.

The parties share the costs of the mediation.

Are Mediation settlements binding?

Yes. A signed settlement agreement is as enforceable as any other contractual agreement.

Will I lose my chance to sue in court if I participate in Mediation?

No. Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process. If your mediation session does not result in a settlement and you have the right to pursue legal remedies through the courts.

What happens if the parties don’t reach an agreement?

If parties are unable to reach agreement, they can still go to court. Details about what went on at the mediation will not be disclosed or used at a court hearing.
Further information –
State Court’s An Overview of Mediation
Community Mediation Centre

This is a general overview – for more specific matters always seek the advice of a qualified lawyer.

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The general answer is that in Singapore there is no law that specifically says that consent from an individual is necessary before before capturing a photograph containing the person’s likeness in public places. If that is not the case, it will be almost impossible to take photographs in public or at public events and street photography cannot exist.

The Personal Data Protection Act

The Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) of Singapore may be thought to have placed restrictions on photography in public places. An image of an identifiable individual captured in a photograph or video recording is personal data about that individual for the purposes of the PDPA. However, the PDPA mainly regulates the collection of data by organisations and employees of organisations. Therefore, even when the PDPA requires consent from the individual to be obtained for the purposes of the collection, use or disclosure of the person’s personal data, the requirement is not applicable when the photographer is acting in his personal or domestic capacity.

Advisory Guidelines on the PDPA for Selected Topics

In the Advisory Guidelines on the PDPA for Selected Topics (revised 20 December 2016), the following example was given of photo-taking by an individual acting in a personal or domestic capacity:

Diana, an employee of Organisation XYZ, attends Organisation XYZ’s corporate social responsibility event. At the event, she meets her friend Dawn. During a break in the programme, they have a personal chat and catch up on each other’s personal lives. During the chat, Diana takes a photograph of the two of them to update her friends of the encounter via social media. Diana then uploads the photograph and displays it on her personal social media page.
In this instance, Diana would likely be considered to be an individual acting in a personal or domestic capacity, and would not be required to comply with the Data Protection Provisions in respect of the photo-taking and subsequent disclosure of the photograph via her social media account. 

Public Places

The Advisory Guidelines further explain that even an organisation or an employee of an organisation taking a photograph of an individual in a location that is open to the public will not need to obtain an individual’s consent to take the photograph. The Advisory Guidelines say a location would be considered “open to the public” if  members of the public can enter or access the location with few or no restrictions.

Other Considerations

A photographer should however be aware that there can be other legal issues relating to manner of taking photographs in public, the course of conduct and the use and publication of the photographs. The general rules still apply to conduct intended to cause “harassment, alarm or distress”, publication of photos with “threatening, abusive or insulting words” or publication of photos in a context which can amount to defamation.

Further information – The Advisory Guidelines for Selected Topics issued by the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC)

This is a general overview – for more specific matters always seek the advice of a qualified lawyer.

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What is Stalking?

Stalking is a course of conduct or a series of actions intended, or which would be reasonably likely, to cause harassment, alarm or distress to the victim.

Section 7 of the Protection from Harassment Act provides examples of acts associated with stalking:
(a) following the victim;

(b) making any communication, or attempting to make any communication, by any means —
(i) to the victim;
(ii) relating or purporting to relate to the victim; or
(iii) purporting to originate from the victim;

(c) entering or loitering in any place (whether public or private) outside or near the victim’s place of residence or place of business or any other place frequented by the victim;

(d)interfering with property in the possession of the victim (whether or not the accused person has an interest in the property);

(e) giving or sending material to the victim, or leaving it where it will be found by, given to or brought to the attention of, the victim;

(f) keeping the victim under surveillance.

Stalking is also committed if any of the forms of behaviour specified are done to a person related to the victim, defined as “a person about whose safety or well‑being the victim would reasonably be expected to be seriously concerned”.

Illustrations

Section 7 of the Protection from Harassment Act provides helpful illustrations.

These acts are acts associated with stalking of X by Y:
(a) Y repeatedly sends emails to Y’s subordinate (X) with suggestive comments about X’s body.
(b) Y sends flowers to X daily even though X has asked Y to stop doing so.
(c) Y repeatedly circulates revealing photographs of a classmate (X) to other classmates.
(d) Y surreptitiously plants a camera in X’s apartment. Unknown to X, the camera continuously transmits live videos of X in X’s apartment and Y watches the videos continually over several days. Y’s conduct is protracted.

Further information –

Singapore Statutes Online​ for the Protection from Harassment Act (Chapter 256A).

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The Maintenance of Parents Act of Singapore allows a parent to claim maintenance from his or her children who are capable of supporting that parent if the parent is
• 60 and above;
• domiciled and resident in Singapore; and
• unable to maintain himself/herself financially.

Parents can claim maintenance in the form of monthly allowances or a lump-sum payment.

The claim is made by an application to the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents (Tribunal).

Must refer Claim to Commissioner

However, before an application in respect of any claim can be made to the Tribunal, the claim must be referred to to the Commissioner of the Maintenance of Parents (CMP) for review. The Commissioner will try to facilitate the resolution of the issue by conciliation.  If no conciliation can be achieved, as a last resort, the Commissioner will advise the parent to file his claim and redirect his case to the Tribunal.

Further information –

Family Justice Court Page on maintenance Proceedings

Singapore Statutes Online​ for the Maintenance of Parents Act (Chapter 167B).

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Generally, the proxy can do anything which the owner can do at the meeting himself – such as asking questions and voting.

Anyone can be appointed a proxy. The appointment of proxy must be made in writing. The form appointing the proxy must be deposited at the registered address of the MC at least
48 hours before the time fixed for the meeting.

Reference – 1st Schedule of the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act (BMSMA)

see also Guide to Strata Living In Singapore

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A Deed of Separation, or sometimes called a Separation Agreement, is a contract entered into between a husband and wife, where they agree to live separately. The deed or agreement deals with all other issues arising from their separation, such as living and financial arrangements, sale or transfer of property, custody of children, support and maintenance etc.

A Deed of Separation is possible only if you and your spouse can agree on the terms. The parties must enter into the deed voluntarily. You cannot force a Deed of Separation upon your spouse.

Ground for Divorce

In Singapore a divorce is possible only if a Judge of the Family Justice Courts agrees that your marriage has effectively ended or, in legal terms, your marriage has irretrievably broken down. One of the ways to prove that your marriage has irretrievably broken down is to show the Court that you and your spouse have been separated for at least three years (or four years if your spouse does not agree to the divorce).

A Deed of Separation can be used by a party who wish to apply to court for a divorce on the basis of three years separation. The signing of the Deed of Separation may be taken as the ‘point of separation’ for any future divorce petition based on separation.

Deed of Separation does not always lead to Divorce

Having a Deed of Separation does not mean that a divorce is inevitable. Separation can result in reconciliation or divorce. Parties can also continue to live separately indefinitely without getting a divorce.

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