Singapore legislation
Section 3
Section 3
Establishment of Council
(1)
A Presidential Council for Religious Harmony is constituted, comprising a chairperson and at least 6 and not more than 15 other members.
(2)
At least two-thirds of the members of the Council must be representatives of the major religions in Singapore and the other members must be individuals who, in the opinion of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, have distinguished themselves in public service or community relations in Singapore.
(3)
The chairperson and every member of the Council are to be appointed by the President, on the advice of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, for a period of 3 years all of whom are eligible for re‑appointment.
(4)
Despite subsection (3), a member, other than the chairperson, may be appointed for any shorter period of at least one year.
(5)
The President may, after consultation with the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, at any time revoke the appointment of the chairperson or any member of the Council and may, on the advice of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, appoint any individual to fill any vacancy which may arise in the Council for any reason whatsoever.
(6)
The President may, acting in the President’s discretion, refuse to appoint any individual as chairperson or member of the Council or to revoke any such appointment if the President does not concur with the advice or recommendation of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights.
(7)
No individual is qualified to be appointed as a member of the Council unless the individual is —
a citizen of Singapore;
at least 35 years of age;
resident in Singapore; and
not liable to any of the disqualifications provided in subsection (8).
(8)
An individual is disqualified for appointment as a member of the Council if the individual —
has a mental disorder and is incapable of managing oneself or the individual’s affairs;
is insolvent or an undischarged bankrupt;
has been convicted of an offence by a court in Singapore or Malaysia and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year or to a fine of not less than $2,000 and has not received a free pardon, except that where the conviction is by a court in Malaysia, the individual is not so disqualified unless the offence is also one which, had it been committed in Singapore, would have been punishable by a court in Singapore; or
has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of, or exercised the rights of citizenship in, a foreign country or has made a declaration of allegiance to a foreign country.
(9)
A member must vacate the member’s seat in the Council if —
the member ceases to be a citizen of Singapore;
by writing under the hand of the member addressed to the chairperson the member resigns the member’s seat; or
the member becomes subject to any of the disqualifications provided in subsection (8).