Maintenance of Parents Act The Maintenance of Parents Bill was first moved by nominated member of Parliament Walter Woon in 1994. It was the first private member’s Bill (i.e. legislation emanating from the backbenches) to be introduced since 1965. Through this measure, Woon proposed that children should be legally required to take care of their elderly parents.

The Bill was passed into law on 2 November 1995, coming into operation on 1 June 1996. A Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents was established. This three- person tribunal is chaired by a president, and is empowered to make and review maintenance orders. Its first president was former judicial commissioner, K.S. Rajah.

Under the Act, parents above the age of 60 who are unable to support themselves have the right to claim maintenance from their children. Any person disregarding or disobeying an order by the tribunal may be fined up to $5,000 and/or jailed for up to six months. In the first three years after the Act came into force, more than 400 elderly Singaporeans sought aid from the tribunal.