SINGAPORE - The Presidential Council for Religious Harmony will start a new three-year term from Sept 15 with three new members, according to a statement from the President's Office on Friday.

Archbishop William Goh of the Catholic Church in Singapore, Sikh Advisory Board chairman Surjit Singh, and retired Supreme Court judge Lai Siu Chiu will come on board the council, which is chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Goh Joon Seng. Mr Goh also sits on the Council of Presidential Advisors.

Six other members of the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony have been reappointed.

They are: Venerable Seck Kwang Phing, president of the Singapore Buddhist Federation;

Mr Rajendran Sinnathamby, former chairman of the Hindu Endowments Board;

Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram from the Mufti of Singapore;

Mr Lim Khay Tham, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Singapore, who is representing Christian Protestants;

Associate Professor Lee Cheuk Yin, academic adviser to the Taoist Federation and Taoist Mission; and

Mr Wee Heng Tin, Retired Director-General of Education.

The council's membership is made up of representatives of the major religions in Singapore and individuals who have distinguished themselves in public service or community relations.