Daughter of former Singapore president SR Nathan appointed as member of Presidential Council for Religious Harmony

Daughter of former President of Singapore SR Nathan and chief executive in the office of chief justice of Supreme Court Juthika Ramanathan has been appointed as the member of Presidential Council for Religious Harmony. The announcement was made through a press release issued by President’s office today.Ramanathan has been appointed as the member of Presidential Council for Religious Harmony. The announcement was made through a press release issued by President’s office today.

Juthika Ramanathan appointed as the member of Presidential Council for Religious Harmony. Photo courtesy: Singapore International Foundation
Juthika Ramanathan appointed as the member of Presidential Council for Religious Harmony. Photo courtesy: Singapore International FoundationRamanathan appointed as the member of Presidential Council for Religious Harmony. Photo courtesy: Singapore International Foundation

In addition to this, the previous president of the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) M Rajaram will also be the new member of the Council.

The new chairman of the Council will be Eddie Teo who is presently heading the Public Service Commission of Singapore. He will replace the existing chairman, Mr Goh Joon Seng, a retired Supreme Court judge and a member of the Council of Presidential Advisers.

Juthika Ramanathan is the Chief Executive of the Supreme Court of Singapore since 1 February 2013.  She oversees the administration and operations of the Supreme Court.  She is a former solicitor in commercial practice.Ramanathan is the Chief Executive of the Supreme Court of Singapore since 1 February 2013.  She oversees the administration and operations of the Supreme Court.  She is a former solicitor in commercial practice.

A new member of the council M Rajaram is actively involved in social work at the grassroots level and is a

Murugiah Rajaram, Executive Chairman at Straits Law Practice LLC Photo courtesy: M Rajaram's LinkedIn Profile
Murugiah Rajaram, Executive Chairman at Straits Law Practice LLC Photo courtesy: M Rajaram's LinkedIn Profile

patron of the Taman Jurong Citizenship Consultative Committee, having served as a Member of the Taman Jurong CCC for many years. He also assists in running the legal clinic at Jurong MPS on a weekly basis

The term of the new Presidential Council for Religious Harmony will start from September 15 this year and continue till three years.

Other new members of the Council are Bishop Emeritus Wee Boon Hup, past president of the National Council of Churches of Singapore and Professor Lily Kong, the provost and Lee Kong Chian chair professor of social sciences at Singapore Management University.

The council advises the Minister for Home Affairs on matters affecting the maintenance of religious harmony in Singapore which are referred to it by the minister or by Parliament. Various religions existing harmoniously in Singapore have been given representation in the Council.

Re-appointed members include Venerable Seck Kwang Phing, president of the Singapore Buddhist Federation, Archbishop William Goh, archbishop of the Catholic church in Singapore, Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram, Mufti of Singapore, Mr Surjit Singh, former chairman of the Sikh Advisory Board and Associate Professor Lee Cheuk Yin, academic adviser to the Taoist Federation and Taoist Mission.