Acts to be public Acts
s 3
Open ↗3. Every Act is a public Act, and is to be judicially noticed as such unless the contrary is expressly provided by the Act.
Source
Interpretation Act 1965 PART 2 — GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING WRITTEN LAW
Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. · Read the official text ↗
Acts to be divided into sections without introductory words
s 4
Open ↗4. All Acts are to be divided into sections, if there be more enactments than one, which sections are deemed to be substantive enactments without any introductory words.
Schedules
s 5
Open ↗5. Every Schedule to an Act, together with any note thereto, is to be construed and has effect as part of the Act.
Subdivisions of Acts
s 6
Open ↗6. When an Act is divided into Parts, Chapters, titles or other subdivisions, the fact and particulars of the division are, with or without express mention thereof in the Act, to be taken notice of in all courts and for all purposes.
Forms
s 7
Open ↗7. Except as is otherwise expressly provided, whenever forms are prescribed, slight deviations therefrom, not affecting the substance or calculated to mislead, do not invalidate them.
Examples and illustrations
s 7A
Open ↗7A. Where an Act includes an example or illustration of the operation of a provision —(a) the example or illustration is not to be taken as exhaustive; and (b) if the example or illustration is inconsistent with the provision, the provision prevails.
Mode of referring to written laws
s 8
Open ↗8.—(1) It is sufficient for all purposes to refer to a written law —(a) in the case of an Act —(i) by the year of its enactment and its number among the Acts enacted in that year; (ii) where the Act, as enacted or revised, provides that it may be cited by a short title — by that short title; and (iii) where the Act is a revised edition published before 1 March 2021 under any law providing for a revised edition — by its chapter number and the year of the revised edition; and (b) in the case of a piece of subsidiary legislation that, as made or revised, provides for the manner of its citation — by that citation.[4/2021] (2) A reference for the purposes of subsection (1) may be made according to copies of written laws purporting to be printed or published by the Government Printer.[4/2021] [Act 5 of 2025 wef 09/03/2025] (3) Unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to a written law in accordance with subsection (1) is to be read as a reference to the written law as amended from time to time by any other written law.[4/2021] (4) Where —(a) a written law is referred to by its short title or citation, whether in any other written law or in any document; and (b) the short title or citation is subsequently changed, the reference is to be read, unless the contrary intention appears, as a reference to the changed short title or citation. [4/2021]
Construction in an Act of references to sections, etc.
s 9
Open ↗9.—(1) Where in any Act there is a reference to a section, Part, Chapter or Schedule by number or letter only, and not in conjunction with the title or number of an Act, the reference is to be construed as a reference to the section, Part, Chapter or Schedule of that number or letter contained in the Act in which the reference occurs. (2) Where in any section of an Act there is a reference to a subsection, paragraph or sub‑paragraph by number or letter only, the reference is to be construed as a reference to the subsection, paragraph or sub-paragraph of that number or letter contained in the section in which the reference occurs. (3) This section applies, with suitable modification, to subsidiary legislation.
Purposive interpretation of written law and use of extrinsic materials
s 9A
Open ↗9A.—(1) In the interpretation of a provision of a written law, an interpretation that would promote the purpose or object underlying the written law (whether that purpose or object is expressly stated in the written law or not) is to be preferred to an interpretation that would not promote that purpose or object. (2) Subject to subsection (4), in the interpretation of a provision of a written law, if any material not forming part of the written law is capable of assisting in the ascertainment of the meaning of the provision, consideration may be given to that material —(a) to confirm that the meaning of the provision is the ordinary meaning conveyed by the text of the provision taking into account its context in the written law and the purpose or object underlying the written law; or (b) to ascertain the meaning of the provision when —(i) the provision is ambiguous or obscure; or (ii) the ordinary meaning conveyed by the text of the provision taking into account its context in the written law and the purpose or object underlying the written law leads to a result that is manifestly absurd or unreasonable. (3) Without limiting subsection (2), the material that may be considered in accordance with that subsection in the interpretation of a provision of a written law includes —(a) all matters not forming part of the written law that are set out in the document containing the text of the written law as purporting to be printed or published by the Government Printer;[Act 5 of 2025 wef 09/03/2025] (b) any explanatory statement relating to the Bill containing the provision; (c) the speech made in Parliament by a Minister on the occasion of the moving by that Minister of a motion that the Bill containing the provision be read a second time in Parliament; (d) any relevant material in any official record of debates in Parliament; (e) any treaty or other international agreement that is referred to in the written law; and (f) any document that is declared by the written law to be a relevant document for the purposes of this section. (4) In determining whether consideration should be given to any material in accordance with subsection (2), or in determining the weight to be given to any such material, regard must be had, in addition to any other relevant matters, to —(a) the desirability of persons being able to rely on the ordinary meaning conveyed by the text of the provision taking into account its context in the written law and the purpose or object underlying the written law; and (b) the need to avoid prolonging legal or other proceedings without compensating advantage.
Changes to style not to affect meaning
s 9B
Open ↗9B. Where —(a) a provision of an Act has expressed an idea in a particular form of words; and (b) a revised edition or a later provision of that Act, or a later Act, appears to have expressed the same idea in a different form of words for the purpose of using a clearer style, the ideas are not to be taken to be different merely because different forms of words were used. [4/2021]
Time of commencement of written law
s 10
Open ↗10.—(1) A written law or a provision of a written law comes into operation —(a) where a particular day for its coming into operation is specified by the written law or by a notification made under the written law — on the expiration of the previous day; or (b) where the day of its coming into operation is the date of its publication in the Gazette — on the expiration of the previous day. (2) Where a written law is to come into operation on a day specified by a notification made under the written law, the notification may specify different days for different provisions of the written law to come into operation.
Effect of repeal of Act on subsidiary legislation made thereunder
s 11
Open ↗11. Where any Act or part of an Act is repealed, subsidiary legislation issued under or made in virtue thereof remains in force so far as it is not inconsistent with the repealing Act and unless the contrary intention appears until it has been revoked or replaced by subsidiary legislation issued or made under the provisions of the repealing Act.
Repeal of repealing laws
s 12
Open ↗12. Where any written law repealing in whole or in part any former written law is itself repealed, the last repeal does not revive the written law or the provisions previously repealed, unless words are added reviving that written law or those provisions.
Repeal of amended law to include amendments
s 13
Open ↗13. Where any written law which has been amended by any other written law is itself repealed, the repeal is deemed to include the repeal of all written laws or parts of written laws by which the firstmentioned written law has been amended.
Repeal and substitution
s 14
Open ↗14. Where a written law repeals wholly or in part any former written law and substitutes other provision therefor, the repealed written law remains in force until the substituted provision comes into operation.
References to amended and re-enacted provisions
s 15
Open ↗15.—(1) Where in any written law a reference is made to another written law, the reference is, except where the context otherwise requires, deemed to include a reference to the last mentioned written law as the same may from time to time be amended. (2) Where any written law repeals and re-enacts, with or without modification, any provision of a former written law, then, unless the contrary intention appears —(a) any reference in any other written law to the provision so repealed is to be construed as a reference to the provision so re‑enacted; (b) insofar as any subsidiary legislation made or other thing done under the provision so repealed, or having effect as if so made or done, could have been made or done under the provision so re‑enacted, it has effect as if made or done under that provision.
Effect of repeal
s 16
Open ↗16.—(1) Where a written law repeals in whole or in part any other written law, then, unless the contrary intention appears, the repeal does not —(a) revive anything not in force or existing at the time at which the repeal takes effect; (b) affect the previous operation of any written law so repealed or anything duly done or suffered under any written law so repealed; (c) affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred under any written law so repealed; (d) affect any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of any offence committed against any written law so repealed; or (e) affect any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment as aforesaid; and any such investigation, legal proceeding or remedy may be instituted, continued or enforced, and any such penalty, forfeiture or punishment may be imposed, as if the repealing law had not been passed. (2) A reference in this section to the repeal of a written law in whole or in part includes a reference to —(a) a repeal effected by implication; (b) the abrogation or limitation of the effect of the written law or part; and (c) the exclusion of the application of the written law or part to any person, subject matter or circumstance. (3) Where a written law expires, lapses or otherwise ceases to have effect, this section applies as if the written law had been repealed by another written law. (4) A reference in this section to a part of a written law includes a reference to any provision of, or words, figures, drawings or symbols in, the written law.
Construction of amending Act
s 17
Open ↗17. Where an Act amends or adds to any Act, the amending Act is, so far as is consistent with the tenor thereof, and unless the contrary intention appears, to be construed as one with the amended Act and as part thereof.
Effect of expiration of written law
s 18
Open ↗18. The expiration of a written law does not affect any civil or criminal proceeding previously commenced under the written law, but every such proceeding may be continued and everything in relation thereto may be done in all respects as if the written law continued in force.
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