Singapore Management University Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University Research Collection School Of Law School of Law 12-2010 Two Contrasting Approaches in the Interpretation of Outdated Statutory Provisions Yihan GOH Singapore Management University,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sol_research Part of the Asian Studies Commons, Courts Commons, and the Legislation Commons Citation GOH, Yihan. Two Contrasting Approaches in the Interpretation of Outdated Statutory Provisions. (2010). Singapore Journal of Legal Studies. [2010], 530-545. Research Collection School Of Law. Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sol_research/1415 This Journal Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Law at Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Research Collection School Of Law by an authorized administrator of Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University. For more information, please email
[email protected]. Singapore Journal of Legal Studies [2010] 530-545 Published in Singapore Journal of Legal Studies, [2010] pp 530-545. TWO CONTRASTING APPROACHES IN THE INTERPRETATION OF OUTDATED STATUTORY PROVISIONS WX v. WW' AAG v. Estate ofAAH, deceased2 GOH YIHAN* I. INTRODUCTION Some statutes in operation today were passed a long time ago. Inevitably, through the passage of time, social norms at the time of enactment may now be unrecognis- able. The legislative intent at the time of enactment may also seem outdated in more modem times. Judges interpreting specific provisions of these statutes may therefore encounter problems in ensuring a 'just' result in an instant case.