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Singapore Rifle Association expelled from national governing body

SINGAPORE — The local shooting fraternity was rocked on Saturday (Dec 10) by an announcement from the Singapore Shooting Association (SSA) that it is expelling the Singapore Rifle Association (SRA) — a constituent ordinary member — from the association.

SRA argues that Mr Vaz (pictured) had alleged that it is guilty of criminal misconduct by contravening armoury licensing rules and security requirements, and that SRA is ‘entirely to blame’ for the closure of the NSC. TODAY file photo

SRA argues that Mr Vaz (pictured) had alleged that it is guilty of criminal misconduct by contravening armoury licensing rules and security requirements, and that SRA is ‘entirely to blame’ for the closure of the NSC. TODAY file photo

SINGAPORE —  The local shooting fraternity was rocked on Saturday (Dec 10) by an announcement from the Singapore Shooting Association (SSA) that it is expelling the Singapore Rifle Association (SRA) —  a constituent ordinary member — from the association.

The SSA said in a media release that it had voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting (EOGM) held on Saturday to expel the SRA, stating that "the SSA has concluded that the SRA no longer has the best interest of the shooting fraternity at heart and adjudges it as an organisation that is not in good standing with SSA".

The SSA and SRA have been embroiled in a number of legal disputes in the last two years. In February this year, Sport Singapore had closed the National Shooting Centre after an arms audit by the Police Licensing & Regulatory Department (PLRD) at the SGC and SRA armouries. A probe was launched after the Police seized more than 70 weapons for serious licensing irregularities.

A legal tussle subsequently ensued between the SSA and SRA over the armoury. In May, the SRA filed a suit in High Court against the national governing body for allegedly breaching the Constitution and attempting to suspend the SRA's privileges. A month later, the rifle association sued SSA president Michael Vaz for alleged defamation, seeking damages for remarks made by the Singapore Gun Club (SGC) — Vaz is also president of the club — in two statements via email and on its website. The statements had allegedly blamed the SRA for the closure of National Shooting Centre in Old Choa Chu Kang Road.

Now, the SSA has decided to throw out the SRA, leaving the national sports association with two member clubs — SGC and Safra Shooting Club — and three associate clubs. The SSA said in its statement that SRA has been offered an option within the next 14 days to be considered readmittance as an associate member with no voting rights, with the condition that the association ceases all legal actions against SSA and settle its dues immediately.

In his presentation at the EOGM on Saturday, Vaz cited a number of reasons for putting the expulsion of SRA to the vote. These included the SSA losing its Institute of Public Character Status due to the publicity from the investigation into unlicensed guns from the armoury as well as the lawsuits between both parties, and the SRA's alleged refusal to comply with PLRD's security requirements that made the shooting centre a non-compliant security zone at the time of its closure.

"Over the past few years, the Singapore Rifle Association has demonstrated its contempt for the Shooting Association by consistently challenging its authority," said Vaz.

"When a member no longer shares the mission of the Shooting Association by consistently rejecting resolutions passed by the Council, that member should have the conviction to leave the association on its own accord to find another like-minded group to relate to.

"It is evident that SRA no longer shares the same goals and mission as the members of the SSA."

SSA said that SRA members can choose to join the SSA's other constituent members in order to continue enjoying the associated rights and privileges. Weapons and ammunition belonging to SRA and its members are currently locked in one of the centre's armouries under the direction of the Police and Sport Singapore, and will remain so until further notice by the authorities. Investigations into the unlicensed weapons at the armouries are on-going. 

When contacted by TODAY, a spokesman from the SRA said: "It is a rather unfortunate turn of events. We are disappointed with the manner the expulsion was conducted. 

"We believe that it was unconstitutional and goes against the grain of natural justice. Nevertheless, we are confident that the due process before the courts (for the on-going court cases) will vindicate us eventually."

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