On 19 May this year, Parliament passed the Societies (Amendment) Bill to introduce an Automatic Registration scheme for societies. The Automatic Registration regime will take effect from 1^st Sept 2004 .

Under this scheme, groups can be granted immediate registration as long as their application is accompanied by:

(a)       A declaration that the society’s objects, purpose or activities are not those specified in the Schedule (see Annex);

(b)       A copy of the proposed rules of the society; and

(c)       Payment of the registration fee of $200.

To prevent abuse of the scheme, the Societies Act was also amended to empower the Minister to dissolve a society if it had obtained automatic registration through false declarations in its registration. In addition, the Registrar of Societies Act may also order a society to change its name or rules.

For categories of societies listed in the Schedule, these groups can continue to apply for registration through the normal process, as it is done now.

Any group wishing to register their society can do so online via the Registry of Societies Electronic System (ROSES) at http://www.mha.gov.sg/ros or http://www.safetyandsecuritytown.gov.sg or over-the-counter at the Registry of Societies.

Annex.....

Source: Registry of Societies Press Release 27 Aug 2004