Parliament in brief: Muslim law amendments passed and other highlights from Nov 4

Parliament passed amendments to Singapore’s Administration of Muslim Law Act, including measures to streamline Muslim divorce proceedings once legal and religious requirements are met. The debate also addressed safeguards for fair outcomes and child welfare, while ministers discussed how to build trust in AI agents.

The changes do not alter the religious grounds for divorce, and the Syariah Court must still be satisfied that each case meets Muslim law requirements. The court will also be able to make orders preventing or allowing children under custody arrangements to be relocated overseas. Separately, the government plans to work with industry on AI safeguards: existing efforts include checks on agents’ identity and authority in financial services, and a GovTech registry for agents used by public agencies.