SINGAPORE - Mr J Y Pillay was sworn in as chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA) on Thursday (Sept 28), in a ceremony at the Istana witnessed by President Halimah Yacob, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon.
Mr Pillay, 83, who has been the CPA's chairman since 2005, was re-appointed following the start of a new presidential term earlier this month.
Mr Lee later noted in a Facebook post that the CPA chairman is chosen by the President, and that President Halimah "has decided to re-appoint him chairman".
"The CPA's task is to advise the President in the use of her discretionary and custodial powers.
"As chairman, Mr Pillay also stands in as Acting President when required. I'm confident that he will continue to carry out his roles ably. I wish him the very best," he wrote.
Others present at the appointment and swearing-in ceremony were Mr Pillay's wife Beatrice Pillay and members of the CPA.
A veteran civil servant who was once described by founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew as "equal to the best brains in America", Mr Pillay has been permanent secretary in the finance, defence and national development ministries.
He has served as chairman of Singapore Airlines, DBS Bank and Singapore Exchange. He has also been managing director of GIC and the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
