Former president S R Nathan has passed away aged 92
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Former president S R Nathan has died at SGH. He was 92 and had suffered a stroke on July 31
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Singapore's longest-serving president SR Nathan has died peacefully at Singapore General Hospital, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement tonight (August 22). He was 92.
"The Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues are sad to learn of the passing of Mr S R Nathan and would like to convey their condolences to his family," the statement said.
"Arrangements for the public to pay respects and for the funeral will be announced later."
Mr Nathan, who turned 92 last month (July), had suffered a stroke on July 31, and was in critical condition.
He was Singapore's sixth and longest-serving president, occupying the highest office of the land from 1999 to 2011.
Prior to serving as head of state, he had a distinguished 40-year career in public service that took him through the worlds of trade unions, security, and diplomacy.
In 1962, he joined the NTUC's Labour Research Unit, handling negotiatons between trade unions and employers at a time when labour unrest was widespread and pro-communist elements had infiltrated many unions.
Mr Nathan also had two stints at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1961 to 1971 and from 1979 to 1982, the second as First Permanent Secretary.
He led the Security and Intelligence Division from 1971 to 1979, and secured the release of hostages from the hijacked ferryboat Laju by accompanying the hijackers on a flight to Kuwait to guarantee their safe passage.
After Mr Nathan retired from the civil service in 1982, he became executive chairman of media company The Straits Times Press (1975), the predecessor of Singapore Press Holdings.
He was later appointed High Commissioner to Malaysia from 1988 to 1990, and Ambassador to the United States from 1990 to 1996.
Upon his return from the US, Mr Nathan was made Ambassador-at-Large and dDirector of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS) at the Nanyang Technological University.
Just as he was preparing for retirement, he was asked to run for president in Singapore's second presidential election. In 1999, he was elected unopposed to the first of two terms.
He was the first elected president to give approval for the Government's drawdown of the nation's reserves in 2009 amid a global financial crisis, a key power vested in the institution when it was introduced in 1991.
Mr Nathan leaves behind his wife Urmila, son Osith and daughter Juthika, and three grandchildren.
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State Funeral Service for the late S R Nathan will take place from 4pm Friday(Aug 26) at University Cultural Centre
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Public may pay last respects to the late S R Nathan at Parliament House on Aug 25, 10am-8pm http://str.sg/4qta
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Body of S R Nathan now resting at his residence, private wake for family until Wednesday http://str.sg/4c44
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Road closures for former president S R Nathan's lying in state
Members of the public can pay their respects to the late S R Nathan at Parliament House on Thursday (Aug 25), but they are advised to get there by public transport.
They should also proceed on foot to join the queue at the Padang via Saint Andrew's Road, the State Funeral Organising Committee advised.
Five roads - Parliament Place, Saint Andrew's Road, Coleman Street, Connaught Drive and Fullerton Road - will be affected by road closures from 10pm on Wednesday (Aug 24) to 5pm on Friday (Aug 26).
The routes of eight public bus services will also be diverted because of the road closures: 75, 100, 107, 130, 131, 167, 195 and 961.
Motorists and commuters should expect traffic delays, as well as delays in bus journeys along the affected routes.
There will be police road blocks and security checks in and around Parliament House during the road closures, with police officers and auxiliary police officers posted at affected road junctions to direct traffic.
The Parliament House carpark will also be closed to vehicles without authorised labels. Police say that parking restrictions along peripheral roads will be strictly enforced and offending vehicles will be towed.
Members of the public with questions about the road closures can call the public hotline at 6336-1166.
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they are advised to get there by public transport