The President of Singapore, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, has appointed Bishop Philip Lim, among other religious leaders, to the inaugural Presidential Council for Racial and Religious Harmony (PCRRH). The appointment follows a new racial harmony law that takes effect on 15 September 2026. Bishop Lim, who is Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore, is also currently the President of National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS), a voluntary fellowship of churches of various denominations.
The PCRRH replaces the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony (PCRH), established under the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA). It is independent of the Government and will perform the same functions as the PCRH, but with an expanded scope to cover race-related matters as well. These functions are:
(a) To consider and make recommendations to the President on Restraining Orders made under the Bill, or the MRHA; and
(b) To consider and report to the Minister or Parliament on matters affecting the maintenance of racial and religious harmony in Singapore, that are referred to it by the Minister or Parliament.
The PCRRH comprises representatives from all major racial and religious communities in Singapore, and persons who have distinguished themselves in public service or community relations in Singapore. The members will begin their three-year term on 15 September 2026.
On being appointed to the PCRRH, Bishop Lim said, “Racial and religious harmony is foundational to Singapore life, it is a cohesion which we do not want to take for granted. One of Jesus’ commandments to Christians is to love our neighbours as ourselves. In these fractious times, I pray that we are able to understand our neighbours better and show love to them. I am honoured to be appointed by the President of Singapore to play a part in maintaining racial and religious harmony in Singapore.”
Prior to this, Bishop Emeritus Dr Wee Boon Hup served for three consecutive terms in the PCRH since September 2017. During these terms, BE Dr Wee was the official representative for Protestant Christianity.
“It has been my honour to have served in the Council as a representative of the Protestant Christian community in Singapore. It opened my eyes to see the often-unnoticed hard work being done by many to maintain religious harmony in Singapore,” said BE Dr Wee.
Lianne Ong is the Editor of Methodist Message. / Photo courtesy of Rev Gabriel Liew
