Oaths, Declarations and Notarisations (Remote Methods) Bill
Ministry of LawBill Summary
Purpose: The Bill, which is linked to the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, seeks to amend the Oaths and Declarations Act, the Notaries Public Act, and other legislation to enable and clarify that statutory declarations, oaths, affirmations, and notarisations can be performed remotely through electronic means such as live video or television links.
Responses: Senior Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu Mahzam highlighted that the Bill establishes a framework designed to maintain the integrity of these legal processes and ensure a high degree of security against fraud.
Members Involved
Transcripts
First Reading (3 July 2023)
"to amend the Oaths and Declarations Act 2000, the Notaries Public Act 1959 and certain other Acts to enable statutory declarations and certain oaths and affirmations to be taken, and certain powers or functions of a notary public to be exercised, remotely through live video link, live television link or other electronic means of communication, and to clarify that certain oaths and affirmations can be taken remotely through live video link or live television link",
presented by the Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Law (Ms Rahayu Mahzam) (on behalf of the Minister for Law) read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available Sitting of Parliament on or after 1 August 2023, and to be printed.
Second Reading (2 August 2023)
Order for Second Reading read.
5.32 pm
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Law (Ms Rahayu Mahzam) (for the Minister for Law): Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Minister for Law, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time".
This Bill amends the Oaths and Declarations Act, the Notaries Public Act and other Acts, to enact a framework that will enable statutory declarations, oaths and affirmations, and notarisations to be done through electronic means, while ensuring the integrity of these processes and maintaining a high degree of security against fraud.
This Bill is linked to the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, which we had earlier debated. In that debate, I have already explained the amendments proposed in both Bills. Members have already raised their questions and expressed their views on both Bills during the earlier debate, although they are still welcome to do so now, if they have any. Mr Speaker, I beg to move.
Question proposed.
Mr Speaker: Any Member who wishes for his or her dissent, or abstention to be recorded or claim a division before I declare the results? No?
Question put, and agreed to.
Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.
The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Ms Rahayu Mahzam].
Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.