Public Consultation on Amendments to Maintenance of Parent Act ("MPA")

Workgroup for the Review of the Maintenance of Parents Act

Consultation Period: 14 Nov 2022 - 09 Dec 2022

Status: Closed

Detailed Description

Public Consultation on Amendments to the Maintenance of Parents Act ("MPA")

Aim

The Workgroup for the Review of the Maintenance of Parents Act (“MPA”) invites public feedback on the proposed amendments to the MPA. The MPA enables elderly parents to seek maintenance from their children.

Focus groups and stakeholder consultation

2. In Oct 2021, Mr Seah Kian Peng, Chairman of the MSF Government Parliamentary Committee formed a Workgroup with 8 other Members of Parliament to review and update the MPA as relevant. 

3. The Workgroup, in partnership with the Alliance for Action to Strengthen Marriages and Family Relationships (“AFAM”), has since engaged over 200 citizens from all walks of life, and representatives from self-help groups, social support agencies, and lawyers through 13 Focus Group Discussion sessions (“FGDs”). The Workgroup and AFAM also conducted a survey with 1,000 respondents, and consulted the Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents (“CMP”) and Members of the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents (“Tribunal”). The composition of the Workgroup and the Members of AFAM who contributed to the review of the MPA can be found in Annex A.

Key thrust of the amendments

4. Following the consultations, the Workgroup saw the need to strike the right balance to protect the parents and at the same time, protect children from a parent’s wrongful use of the MPA. Together with AFAM and key stakeholders, the Workgroup identified four key amendments, found in Annex B.

Operational amendments

5. The Workgroup, after consulting stakeholders including the Commissioner and members of the Tribunal, further recommends five operational amendments to improve efficacy of the MPA. Details are in Annex C.

Providing feedback

6. The Workgroup for the Review of the MPA invites members of the public to share your views on the proposals above to improve the Maintenance of Parents Act. You may do so via this link from 14 Nov to 9 Dec 2022. We regret that comments received after 9 Dec 2022 will not be considered.

About MPA

The MPA enables elderly parents to seek maintenance from their children. It was tabled as a Private Member’s Bill in 1994 by Associate Professor Walter Woon, then Nominated Member of Parliament. It was amended in 2010 through another Private Member’s Bill tabled by Member of Parliament Mr Seah Kian Peng.

Annex A - Workgroup and AFAM Representatives [PDF, 153 KB]

Annex B - Key Amendments [PDF, 223 KB]

Annex C - Operational Amendments [PDF, 125 KB]