To safeguard our religious groups[1] against malicious foreign influence that affect religious harmony, religious groups will be required to comply with the following requirements:
Leadership Composition
Key administrative leadership positions[2] must be held by a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident, and the majority of the governing body has to be Singapore Citizens. The requirement does not apply to spiritual leaders who are foreigners, and do not hold key administrative leadership positions. MHA will consider request for exemptions on a case-by-case basis.
[1] Religious groups include registered societies, companies, partnerships, or any other body of persons that promotes religion or religious worship, or deals with religious affairs of the practice, conduct, teaching or propagation of any religious beliefs.
[2] If the religious group is a company, the key leadership requirements will be imposed on the persons in the entity that hold positions analogous to the President, Secretary, and Treasurer, such as the Chairman, Managing Director, and Company Secretary. If a religious group is a partnership, they would be the partners of the partnership.
Donations and Foreign Affliations
Religious groups can still accept donations from foreign sources. However, there will be disclosure requirements. Single monetary donations of S$10,000 or more from foreign sources must be declared.
Donations from the following foreign sources do not need to be declared, even if it is S$10,000 or more:
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Singapore Permanent Residents;
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Foreigners residing in Singapore on valid Employment passes or Immigration Passes issued by the relevant authorities in Singapore;
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Anonymous donations received through donation boxes placed at religious sites;
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Proceeds collected during collective worship or religious rites/ceremonies;
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Non-cash donations (such as statues or ritual items); and
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Zakat and Fitrah.
Where there is foreign influence in the religious group which undermines religious harmony and is a threat to Singapore’s peace, Restraining Orders (ROs) can be issued to religious groups to stop them from receiving donations from foreign sources, or impose further leadership requirements.
Religious groups must declare any affiliations to foreign persons or organisations in a position of control or power over the local religious group. This is purely disclosure, and the RO will not be able to compel religious groups to dissociate from their foreign affiliations.
