s 18 Abatement of overcrowding
18. —(1) If, in the opinion of the Director-General of Health, a building is so overcrowded as to expose its occupants to the risk of infection by an infectious disease, the Director-General of Health may, by written notice, direct the owner or occupier of the building to abate the overcrowding or to close the building or part of the building, and carry out any other measure relating to the abatement or closure, in the manner and within the time specified in the notice. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (2) Any owner or occupier who fails to comply with a notice given to the owner or occupier by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (3) When a building or any part of the building has been directed to be closed under subsection (1), any person who enters the building or any part of it without the permission of the Director-General of Health shall be guilty of an offence. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (4) Without affecting any proceedings under subsection (2), where a notice issued by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) has not been complied with, the Director-General of Health, a Health Officer or a police officer may, without warrant and with such force as may be necessary, enter the building and take or cause to be taken such measures as are necessary to abate the overcrowding or to close the building or any part of the building, as specified in the notice. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (5) The costs and expenses incurred by the Director-General of Health or a Health Officer under subsection (4) must be paid by the owner or occupier in default and may be recovered as a debt due to the Government. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (6) Any person who is aggrieved by any direction of the Director-General of Health as contained in a notice given to the person under subsection (1) may, within 7 days from the date of the notice, appeal to the appropriate Minister whose decision is final. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (7) Even though an appeal under subsection (6) is pending, a notice issued by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) takes effect from the date specified by the Director-General of Health, unless the appropriate Minister otherwise directs. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] —(1) If, in the opinion of the Director-General of Health, a building is so overcrowded as to expose its occupants to the risk of infection by an infectious disease, the Director-General of Health may, by written notice, direct the owner or occupier of the building to abate the overcrowding or to close the building or part of the building, and carry out any other measure relating to the abatement or closure, in the manner and within the time specified in the notice. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (2) Any owner or occupier who fails to comply with a notice given to the owner or occupier by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (3) When a building or any part of the building has been directed to be closed under subsection (1), any person who enters the building or any part of it without the permission of the Director-General of Health shall be guilty of an offence. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (4) Without affecting any proceedings under subsection (2), where a notice issued by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) has not been complied with, the Director-General of Health, a Health Officer or a police officer may, without warrant and with such force as may be necessary, enter the building and take or cause to be taken such measures as are necessary to abate the overcrowding or to close the building or any part of the building, as specified in the notice. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (5) The costs and expenses incurred by the Director-General of Health or a Health Officer under subsection (4) must be paid by the owner or occupier in default and may be recovered as a debt due to the Government. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (6) Any person who is aggrieved by any direction of the Director-General of Health as contained in a notice given to the person under subsection (1) may, within 7 days from the date of the notice, appeal to the appropriate Minister whose decision is final. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (7) Even though an appeal under subsection (6) is pending, a notice issued by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) takes effect from the date specified by the Director-General of Health, unless the appropriate Minister otherwise directs. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023]