Swearing-in and Appointment of Members of the Council of Presidential Advisers

        The President has appointed Mr Lee Tzu Yang (李 子 揚) as a member of the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA), on the advice of the Chief Justice, under article 37B(1)(c) read with Article 37B(3) of the Constitution, for a period of six years with effect from 6 January 2013.

        The President has also reappointed Mr Po’ad Bin Shaik Abu Bakar Mattar as a member of the CPA, acting in his discretion under Article 37B(1)(a) read with Article 37B(3) of the Constitution, for a further period of four years with effect from 2 January 2013. Mr Po’ad Mattar was first appointed to the CPA on 2 January 2007 by the President acting in his discretion.

        Mr Yong Pung How, who was appointed as a member of CPA on the advice of the Chief Justice on 6 January 2007, has stepped down on 5 January 2013.

        The present Chairman of the CPA is Mr J Y Pillay.  The other members are Mr S Dhanabalan, Mr Goh Joon Seng and Mr Bobby Chin Yoke Choong. 

        The current two alternate members are Mr Lim Chee Onn and Mr Stephen Lee Ching Yen.  

PRESIDENT’S OFFICE
7 January 2013

The Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA)

        The Constitution of Singapore gives the Elected President custodial and discretionary powers in the safeguarding of the reserves of the Government which were not accumulated by the Government during its current term of office, and in the appointments of key personnel in the public service and key Government-linked bodies; namely Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation Pte Ltd (GIC). 

        The Constitution also provides for a Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA) to advise the President in the exercise of these custodial and discretionary powers.  It is obligatory for the President to consult the CPA before he vetoes the budgets of the Government and key government-linked bodies and the appointments of key personnel in the public service and the key Government-linked bodies. 

        The CPA, which was formed in 1992, 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.