Singapore: Indian-origin former Singapore President S R Nathan died at a hospital on Monday, days after suffering a stroke.

A veteran public servant, 92-year-old Nathan passed away peacefully at Singapore General Hospital, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. He was also closely associated with the country’s founding leader Lee Kuan Yew. Nathan had been warded at Singapore General Hospital since suffering a stroke on July 31.

He was the sixth and longest-serving President of Singapore and served two terms from 1999 to 2011. He officially stepped down as President on August 31, 2011 after announcing that he would not seek a third term. Nathan was succeeded by President Tony Tan Keng Yam. After stepping down as President, Nathan took up appointments as Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and at the Singapore Management University’s School of Social Sciences.

S R Nathan was closely associated with the country’s founding leader Lee Kuan Yew (blue tie).

Prior to becoming President, he held key positions in the civil service, as well as in security, intelligence and foreign affairs. He was appointed as Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia in 1988 and later Singapore’s Ambassador to the United States of America from 1990 to 1996. Nathan also served as Singapore’s Ambassador-at-Large, and later pro-chancellor of the National University of Singapore. Nathan was survived by his wife, daughter, son and three grandchildren.

State funeral to be given to ex-President Nathan: Indian-origin former Singapore President S R Nathan, who passed away last night, will be given a state funeral on Friday, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

As a mark of respect to the 92-year-old Nathan, the State flag on all government buildings will be flown at half-mast till Friday. A state funeral service will take place from 4:00 pm on Friday at the University Cultural Centre of the National University of Singapore, it said in a statement. It will be attended by Nathan’s family, friends and former colleagues.

President Tony Tan will lead Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, civil servants as well as Singaporeans from all walks of life at the state funeral which will be followed by a private cremation. Nathan’s body will lie in state at the Parliament House from around 10:00 am on Thursday till Friday for the public to pay their last respects. On Friday, members of the diplomatic corps and other officials will pay their last respects to Nathan. Condolence books will also be opened at all Overseas Missions for overseas Singaporeans and friends.

PTI