What is AMLA?

What Is AMLA?
AMLA is the acronym for Administration of Muslim Law Act. This Act is a component in the Singapore Legal System.
AMLA was introduced in 1966 by the Singapore Government to replace and repeal the old legislations inherited from the colonial British system such as the Muslims’ Ordinance and to enhance the system of administration of Islamic Law within the Singapore Legal System.

Background
Prior to Singapore’s independence, the British colonial government has already established the Mohammedan Advisory Board. This Board serves to advise the colonial authorities on matters concerning the Islamic religion and customs.
Upon becoming independence, the Singapore government introduced the AMLA to address the legal and other management issues relating to the muslim religous entities. Some years later AMLA was further refined and improved to enhance the system of administration of Islamic Law for muslims in Singapore.

Purpose of AMLA
AMLA addresses the functions and jurisdiction of three key Muslim institutions in Singapore:

1. (MUIS) The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore – The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore is a statutory body to advise the President of Singapore on all matters relating to Islam in Singapore. It also has the role to see that the many and varied interests of Singapore’s Muslim community are looked after in accordance with the principles and traditions of Islam as enshrined in the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

2. The Syariah Court – The Syariah Court administers Muslim personal law in legal matters governing marriages, divorces, the nullity of marriages and inheritance.

3. The Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM) – The ROMM spells out the rules and regulations pertaining to the Muslim marriage registration and divorces where both parties are Muslim.

Conclusion
With the AMLA passed in parliament and enacted in 1968, all the previous legislations governing and related to the muslim entities are put in proper order. The advisory function of the Mohammedan Advisory Board is replaced by the MUIS. Matters regarding the governance of muslim personal laws and marriages are covered under the Syariah Court and ROMM respectively.

Unlike MUIS, the Syariah Court and ROMM are not statutory boards but constitute a part of MCYS (Ministry of Community Development, Youth & Sports).