2025年4月8日，新加坡律政部兼內政部政務部長穆仁理在國會口頭答覆武吉班讓單選區議員連榮華有關協助索賠人向無視小額索償法庭執行令的零售商追討賠償的問題。 以下內容為新加坡眼根據國會英文資料翻譯整理：
連榮華（武吉班讓單選區議員）提問律政部長：
（一）對於無視並拒絕遵守小額索償法庭（SCT）執行令的零售商，律政部能否為索賠人提供追討協助？
（二）小額索償法庭是否具備直接執行裁決的權限？
穆仁里（律政部兼內政部政務部長，代表律政部長）：議長先生，小額索償法庭的裁決與其他法庭命令具有同等法律效力，需通過國家法院系統執行。自2021年《法庭規則》修訂後，執行令申請流程已簡化，索賠人現僅需向地方法院提交單一申請即可啟動執行程序。
針對索賠人的具體需求，政府提供以下支持措施：
法律援助：經濟困難者可向法律援助局（LAB）申請法律諮詢與援助，資格條件詳見律政部官網的「LAB電子服務門戶」；
司法指導：國家法院內設的社區司法中心（Community Justice Centre）可為不熟悉程序的當事人提供指引；
公益法律服務：律政部支持的律師公會公益服務新加坡法律義務辦事處（Pro Bono SG）等機構提供個案協助，詳情可參考律政部官網「公眾可獲取的法律支持資源」專頁(Legal Support Resources Available to Members of the Public)。
此外，正如律政部第二部長在今年初國會供應委員會的辯論中提到的那樣，律政部正在與利益相關者合作，進一步改革民事裁決（含小額索償令）執的執行機制，包括特別法庭命令的執行。
議長：有請連榮華議員。
連榮華（武吉班讓區）：感謝政務部長答覆。他提供了很多資料，我必須說，其中有些資料我可能不知道。我相信許多新加坡人可能不知道還有許多其他途徑可以尋找。
我在接見選民時遇到一宗案例：事主雖獲小額法庭裁決勝訴，但零售商拒不履行賠償，事主被告知需另行尋求法律途徑，這顯然違背小額法庭設立的初衷。建議政府加強對手無寸鐵的長者等弱勢群體的執行協助，確保其權益切實落地。
穆仁理（律政部兼內政部政務部長，代表律政部長）：議長先生，我完全理解連議員反映的個案困境。正如我在答覆中所說，我們有多項援助措施，問題可能在於市民的意識。現有援助渠道的關鍵在於提高公眾認知度，望議員協助向選民宣傳這些資源，確保其獲得所需支持。
以下是英文質詢內容：
ASSISTING CLAIMANTS TO SEEK RECOURSE FROM RETAILERS WHO IGNORE ENFORCEMENT ORDERS OF SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL
17 Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Law (a) whether the Ministry can provide assistance to claimants to seek recourse from retailers who ignore and refuse to comply with the enforcement order of the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT); and (b) whether the SCT has the means to carry out enforcement actions.
The Minister of State for Law (Mr Murali Pillai) (for the Minister for Law): Sir, orders of the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) are like any other Court orders and are enforced through the State Courts. The process of applying for enforcement orders has been simplified with the introduction of the revised Rules of Court in 2021. It is now only necessary to file a single application for an enforcement order in the District Court.
Claimants who wish to enforce an order of the SCT also have the following means of assistance. Individuals with limited means may apply for legal advice and legal aid from the Legal Aid Bureau (LAB). More information on the eligibility criteria can be found at the LAB E-Services Portal on the Ministry of Law’s (MinLaw's) website. Parties who are unclear about the process can also seek advice from the Community Justice Centre, which is located on-site at the State Courts.
There are also legal clinics, like those organised by the Law Society Pro Bono SG and supported by MinLaw, which provide assistance and advice in specific cases. More information on legal assistance can be found on MinLaw’s website link to 「Legal Support Resources Available to Members of the Public」.
MinLaw is working with stakeholders on further changes to make the enforcement of civil judgments, including SCT orders, as was mentioned by the hon Second Minister for Law at the Committee of Supply debates earlier this year.
Mr Speaker: Mr Liang Eng Hwa.
Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Bukit Panjang): Sir, I thank the Minister of State for the reply, which provided a lot of information, some of which I must say I may not be aware of. I am sure many Singaporeans may not be aware that there are so many other avenues that they can look for.
I had a case in my Meet-the-People Session, which I had sent to MinLaw as well, where the claimant got an order from SCT for the retailer to pay up, but the retailer just refused to pay. She felt helpless and was told that she had to go and seek legal advice, which defeats the purpose of why we have the SCT for small claims. So, whether can there be more of this hand-holding, especially for the seniors, to be able to ultimately get their claims back, which is what the whole effort is all about.
Mr Murali Pillai: Sir, I completely appreciate the hon Member Mr Liang's views on behalf of his resident. As mentioned in my answer, there are a number of help measures and the issue perhaps is awareness. We seek his cooperation to bring to the attention of the resident these avenues and hopefully, through this, she will get the assistance that she needs.
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