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The Istana
News Releases

Appointment of Members to the Inaugural Presidential Council for Racial and Religious Harmony

14 September 2026

Under the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act (“Act”), a new Presidential Council for Racial and Religious Harmony (“PCRRH”) will be established. The PCRRH will begin its inaugural three-year term on 15 September 2026, replacing the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony that ended its term on 14 September 2026.

The PCRRH comprises representatives from Singapore’s major racial and religious communities, and persons who have distinguished themselves in public service or community relations in Singapore. This ensures that the Council benefits from diverse perspectives and experiences. Once appointed, their responsibility is to exercise independent judgement and work collectively with other members in advising on matters affecting the maintenance of racial and religious harmony in Singapore.

The President has appointed the following Chairman and members of the new Council.

Chairman

Justice (Ret.) Choo Han Teck, Retired Supreme Court judge

Members

  1. Venerable Seck Kwang Phing, President, Singapore Buddhist Federation – Representative of the Buddhist community

  2. Mr K Sengkuttuvan, Chairman of the Hindu Advisory Board, President of the Inter-Religious Organisation – Representative of the Hindu community

  3. Mufti Dr Nazirudin bin Mohd Nasir, Mufti of Singapore – Representative of the Muslim community

  4. Bishop Philip Lim Kian Leong, President, National Council of Churches of Singapore – Representative of the Protestant community

  5. His Eminence Cardinal William Goh, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Singapore – Representative of the Roman Catholic community

  6. Mr Sarbjit Singh s/o Tahil Singh, President Defence Aerospace, ST Engineering – Representative of the Sikh community

  7. A/Prof Lee Cheuk Yin, Academic Adviser, Taoist Federation and Taoist Mission – Representative of the Taoist community

  8. Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng, President, Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations – Representative of the Chinese community

  9. Mr Ishak Bin Ismail, Singapore Non-Resident High Commissioner to Pakistan – Representative of the Malay community

  10. Mr Bala Reddy, Former Deputy Chairman, Hindu Endowments Board – Representative of the Indian community

  11. Ms Sandra Theseira, Former President, the Eurasian Association – Representative of the Eurasian community

Details of the PCRRH may be found in the Annex.


PRESIDENT’S OFFICE
ISTANA
14 SEPTEMBER 2026

Annex – Presidential Council for Racial and Religious Harmony (PCRRH)

The establishment of the Presidential Council for Racial and Religious Harmony (“PCRRH”) is provided under the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act (“Act”), which was passed by Parliament on 4 February 2025 and will come into effect on 15 September 2026. For more information on the Act, please refer to the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) Press Release on the Commencement of the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act 2025 and Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Act 2025.

The Chairman and members are appointed by the President of the Republic of Singapore on the advice of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights. The PCRRH will consider and report to the Minister or Parliament on matters affecting the maintenance of racial or religious harmony in Singapore that are referred to it by the Minister or Parliament, and makes recommendations to the President on restraining orders made under the Act or the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act.