The Constitution of Singapore 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.  It is obligatory for the President to consult the Council before he vetoes the budgets of the Government and key government-linked bodies and the appointments of government nominees to key posts.

The Council comprises six members and two alternate members.  Two members are appointed by the President at his discretion; two are the Prime Minister's nominees; one is the Chief Justice's nominee; and one is the nominee of the Chairman of the Public Service Commission.  One alternate member is appointed by the President at his discretion while the other is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister, in consultation with the Chief Justice and Chairman of Public Service Commission.

Members are appointed on a six-year term on their first appointment. They are eligible for re-appointment for further terms of four years each.  Alternate members are appointed on a four-year term.

The present Chairman of the CPA is Mr J Y Pillay.  The other members are Mr S Dhanabalan, Mr Po’ad Bin Shaik Abu Bakar Mattar, Mr Yong Pung How, Mr Goh Joon Seng and Mr Bobby Chin Yoke Choong.  The two alternate members are Mr Lim Chee Onn and Mr Stephen Lee Ching Yen.  

As Chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers, 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.

Role of the CPA

The CPA advises the President in the exercise of his discretionary veto powers.  The President must consult the CPA in the exercise of any of his discretionary powers in connection with appointments and the reserves. It is optional for the President to consult the CPA as regards other areas where he has discretionary powers.
 
CPA proceedings are private.  The CPA may ask public officers to furnish information.  Should any public officer appear before the CPA, the officer is prohibited by the Constitution from disclosing his discussions before the CPA with anyone else.