The President has also appointed Mr Lim Chee Onn and Mr Stephen Lee Ching Yen as alternate members of the CPA, for a term of four years with effect from 2 Jan 2008.

The CPA continues to be chaired by Mr J Y Pillay, Chairman of the Singapore Exchange Limited.  The other members are Mr S Dhanabalan, Professor Cham Tao Soon, Mr Po’ad Bin Shaik Abu Bakar Mattar and Mr Yong Pung How.

Dr Cheong Siew Keong has retired as a member of the CPA upon the expiry of his term on 1 Jan 2008.  Dr Cheong has served on the Council since its inception in Jan 1992.  The President deeply appreciates Dr Cheong’s 16 years of invaluable service on the Council.

PRESIDENT’S OFFICE
9 January 2008

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The Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA)

The Constitution was amended in 1991 to give the Elected President custodial and discretionary powers to safeguard the reserves of the Government which were not accumulated by the Government during its current term of office.  The Constitutional amendments, which came into effect on 30 November 1991, also provided for a Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA) to advise the President in the exercise of his custodial and discretionary powers.

The CPA was formed in 1992.  It comprises six members and two alternate members who are appointed by the President under Article 37B and Article 37C, respectively, of the Constitution.  Two members are appointed entirely at the President’s discretion; two others on the advice of the Prime Minister; and one each on the advice of the Chairman of the Public Service Commission and the Chief Justice.  A Council member is appointed for six years on his first appointment and is eligible for re-appointment for further terms of four years each.  An alternate member is appointed for a term of four years.

It is obligatory for the President to consult the Council before he considers the budgets of the Government and key government-linked bodies (listed in the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution), and the appointments of government nominees to key posts.

Mr J Y Pillay, Chairman of the Singapore Exchange Limited, is the current Chairman of the Council.  As Chairman of the CPA, Mr Pillay exercises the functions of the office of the President in the absence of the President.  If he is unavailable, this duty then falls on the Speaker of Parliament.