This Country Profile provides a basic overview of the legal history and institutional structures of the Republic of Singapore, based on research produced by GlobaLex at NYU Law School and the Library of Congress. Under Singapore's Constitution, Islamic law (sharīʿa or fiqh) has some legal status.
Country Background
Singapore is a series of islands located in Southeastern Asia. The country is located between Malaysia to the north and Indonesia to the south. The largest of the islands that make up Singapore is called Singapore Island/Pulau Ujong. Pulau Ujong is by far the most populous of the islands, and over 90% of Singapore's population lives there. The capital of Singapore is Singapore (city). The official languages are Mandarin (spoken by about 36% of the population), English (30%), Malay (12%), and Tamil (3%). The country's population in 2017 was approximately 5.9 million. A 2014 Pew study described Singapore as the most religiously diverse country in the world. According to the 2015 census, the population is 34% Buddhist, 18% Christian, 16% non-religious, 14% Muslim, 11% Taoist, and 5% Hindu.
A Brief Modern History
After gaining partial independence from Great Britain in 1959 (in which Singapore operated as self-governing state, but the British retained control over the military and foreign relations), the citizens of Singapore voted to join Malaysia, Borneo, and Sarawak to form the Federation of Malaysia in the 1962 Merger Referendum. This merger was proposed by Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman and his predecessor Lee Kuan Yewin in an effort to contain the growing communist movement in the country. However, Singapore's union with the Malaysia Federation was rather short-lived. In 1965, Singapore separated from the Federation, becoming a sovereign, democratic, and independent nation and part of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Constitution & Legal Structure
Singapore is referred to as a parliamentary republic, in which sovereignty belongs to the people and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The Constitution was adopted in 1963 and was most recently amended in 2015. Singapore's Constitution grants certain fundamental rights, such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and equal rights. The system of government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legal system of Singapore is based upon the English common law system.
Constitutional Status of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no constitutional status in Singapore. However, Article 153 states that "the Legislature shall by law make provision for regulating Muslim religious affairs and for constituting a Council to advise the President in matters relating to the Muslim religion."
Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law
Islamic law has some official jurisdiction of operation in Singapore. In 1966, the Parliament passed the Administration of the Muslim Law Act (AMLA). The Act came into effect in 1968 and defined the powers and jurisdiction of three key Muslim institutions: the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, the "Syariah Court," and the Registry of Muslim Marriages. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (also known as the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura) is a statutory board in Singapore. Its role is to look after the administration and interests of Singapore's Muslim community. The Syariah Court and the Registry of Muslim Marriages are considered to be part of the Ministry of Social and Family Development. Both these institutions deal with matters of personal status for Muslims in Singapore, such as marriage, inheritance, etc.
Dominant School of Islamic Law
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore includes the Fatwa Legal Committee, which is authorized to operate within the Shāfiʿī school. Members of the Fatwa Committee are appointed by the President.
Sources of Law for Legal Research
Official Publications
Unofficial Databases
References:
For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].