8. The Planning Act (Cap. 232, 1998 Ed.) is amended —
(a)
by deleting subsection (4) of section 5 and substituting the following subsections:
“(3A) Without prejudice to subsections (2) and (3), the competent authority may, with the approval of the Minister, authorise generally or specially any person to perform any or all of the functions conferred on the competent authority by sections 27 and 31, subject to the direction and control of the competent authority.
(4) Any officer or person who is authorised (whether generally or specially) under subsection (2) or (3A) to perform the functions of the competent authority under this Act shall be deemed to be —
(a)
a public officer for the purposes of this Act; and
(b)
a public servant within the meaning of the Penal Code (Cap. 224).”;
(b)
by inserting, immediately after the words “The competent authority may,” in section 27(1), the words “with such assistants and workmen as are necessary,”;
(c)
by inserting, immediately after the words “the competent authority may” in the 12th line of section 31(1), the words “, with such assistants and workmen as are necessary,”;
(d)
by deleting the words “an officer authorised under section 5(2)” in section 51(1)(a) and substituting the words “any officer or person authorised under section 5(2) or (3A)”; and
(e)
by deleting the words “officer authorised under section 5(2)” in section 55 and substituting the words “officer or person authorised under section 5(2) or (3A)”.