It’s a sad day for everyone in the region.
Mr S. R. Nathan, Singapore’s former president, passed away peacefully at Singapore General Hospital at 9.48pm yesterday (Monday, 22nd August). Mr Nathan, who was 92 years old, was Singapore’s longest-serving head of state.
The announcement was made by Singapore’s Prime Minster Office in a simple statement yesterday. The former president had suffered a stroke on 31st July, and was in a critical condition then.
He will be cremated privately on Friday (26th August) at Mandai Crematorium after a State Funeral Service. The funeral service will begin at 4pm at National University of Singapore’s (NUS) University Cultural Centre. Mr Nathan’s family, friends, and former colleagues, the President, Cabinet Ministers, and members of parliament will be attending, while the public are also welcomed.
Before Friday’s funeral service, Mr Nathan’s body will lie in state in Parliament House from 10am on Thursday (25th August) to 12am on Friday (26th August). The doors will be opened to the public from 10am to 8pm on Thursday while members of the diplomatic corps and other officials may pay their last respects from 9am until 12pm on the same day.
Mr Nathan was Singapore’s 6th president, and served the office from 1st September 1999 until his retirement on 31st August 2011, a total of 12 years. Prior to his appointment as president, he worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Ministry of Defence.
Mr Nathan leaves behind his wife Urmila, son Osith, and daughter Juthika, along with 3 grandchildren.
The public can express their condolences and share their memories of Mr Nathan at the official website and the Remembering S. R. Nathan Facebook page.
Sources: Prime Minster Office Singapore (1) (2), Straits Times.
