John Chew Hiang Chea, the bishop of Singapore, has been elected third primate of the province of the Anglican Church in Southeast Asia.

Primate-elect John Chew, chosen during an extraordinary meeting of the synod held in Kuala Lumpur last November, will succeed Archbishop Datuk Yong Ping Chung during an installation scheduled at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Singapore on Feb. 5. Archbishop Yong retires this month, when he turns 65.

The term of office of the primate of Southeast Asia is four years, with the eligibility of re-election for another term. The primate oversees Anglican work and mission in four dioceses – Kuching, Sabah, Singapore and West Malaysia – and nine nations – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.