Public survey on AGC project to simplify language, presentation of Singapore's laws

A project by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) is underway to simplify almost 6,000 laws here and make them more accessible to the public. -- ST FILE PHOTO: DESMOND LUI FOR ST 
A project by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) is underway to simplify almost 6,000 laws here and make them more accessible to the public. -- ST FILE PHOTO: DESMOND LUI FOR ST 

Replace 'shall' with 'must', use gender neutral words and italicise defined terms for easier reference. These are some of the possible changes being considered, under a project by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) to simplify almost 6,000 laws here and make them more accessible to the public.

Members of the public are invited to give feedback for the project entitled 'Plain Laws Understandable by Singaporeans'. Depending on the outcome of the online survey, focus group discussions may be conducted for further views. Besides existing laws here, the feedback will also be considered to draft future laws.

The project follows some three million visits to Singapore Statutes Online in the past year. "Singaporeans are more highly educated and seek information on the laws which apply to them, We want to make the laws more readable and accessible," said chief legislative counsel of the AGC's legislation and law reform division. Mrs Owi Beng Ki.

The survey is accessible at https://research.com.sg/agc/login.php and will run from Nov 12 to Dec 12.

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