More than 20,000 Singaporeans and foreigners came to bid a fond farewell to Singapore’s sixth and longest-serving president S R Nathan, who died on Monday (August 22) aged 92.
Between 10am and 6pm, about 14,000 people paid their respects at Parliament House, where Mr Nathan’s body lay in state.
Here are some of the people who came.
TNP PHOTO: JUDITH TAN
KIDNEY PATIENT ROHANI DUKIRAN, 48, WHO POSTPONED HER DIALYSIS SESSION TO COME SAY GOODBYE:
“He was a good man who cared. He told my children they should not only love music, but also love studies, to get a good education and make someone of themselves.”
TNP PHOTO: JUDITH TAN
BUSKER LEE KIAN CHUAN, 67, WHO ARRIVED AT 7AM BY BUS:
“I took a bouquet of flowers to his home on Wednesday but I was not allowed in as it was a private affair. So I decided to come here to say my goodbyes to one humble leader.”
TNP PHOTO: MOHD ISHAK
RETAIL ASSISTANT AT CHEERS LEE QIU WEI, 30, WHO CAME AFTER HIS NIGHT SHIFT TO PAY RESPECT:
“I have not met Mr Nathan in person but I have heard the great things he had done for Singapore so I am here to pay my respect. I have even changed the wall paper of my phone to Mr Nathan’s photo as a salutation.”
TNP PHOTO: JUDITH TAN
SENIOR LECTURER AT ITE COLLEGE EAST AND FORMER NATIONAL CENTRE-BACK LIM TONG HAI, 47:
“He has been very supportive of the soccer scene and would show his presence during the finals (of the SR Nathan Cup)… I met him a few times and he had always been encouraging, and would encourage the losing team, saying it didn’t matter. What mattered most was that you put in your best and we’d try again next time.”
TNP PHOTO: JUDITH TAN
WARRIOR FC SPORTS AND FITNESS TRAINER SILAS KARIM, 27:
“I remember once, during a local school match… he came down at half time, spoke to the players and told them to never give up, that it was a fantastic showcase of football. That was something I remembered about him – a man of high status yet he was very approachable, very human.”
TNP PHOTO: JUDITH TAN
PRESIDENT TONY TAN KENG YAM:
“He always did what was necessary, whether it was the Laju incident, whether it was in the Ministry of Defence, Foreign Affairs, whether it was in the security and intelligence department. Not only that, he was a great champion of social causes, he started the President’s Challenge. (He was) a great uplifter of the Indian community in Singapore who have lost a great man. Mr Nathan will be very sorely missed by all Singaporeans.”
TNP PHOTO: CATHERINE ROBERT
MADAM ANTONIAMAL, 90, ACCOMPANIED BY HER DAUGHTER THERESA MARIERETAM, 69:
“It doesn’t matter that I am frail and old. Paying Mr Nathan my last respects is more important. I can always rest later but I must do this before I lose the chance forever.”
TNP PHOTO: ISKANDAR ROSSALI
MADRASAH STUDENT NURUL SHAKEERAH MOHAMED DINO, 9, (ABOVE, RIGHT) ACCOMPANIED BY HER MOTHER SURAINI HASHIM, 44:
“When my mother suggested that we go home first so that I didn’t have to lug my heavy school bag along, I told her it was okay. I would carry it as I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to say goodbye. He was a good man. I want to be just like him and help the community when I grow up.”
TNP PHOTO: JUDITH TAN
MINISTER IN THE PMO AND SEC-GEN OF NTUC CHAN CHUN SENG, WHO TURNED UP WITH OVER 700 UNIONISTS:
“He has given the labour movement a very strong foundation. He has always reminded us as a labour movement to not only take care of each other as brothers and sisters, but also to take care of our country. I think these were his most recent words in May this year, when he came back to the labour movement a final time to share with us his wisdom.”
Workers’ Party MPs and NCMPs, including party chief Low ThiaKiang and chairman Sylvia Lim paid their last respects to Mr Nathan. VIDEO: ST
Former mufti of Singapore Shaikh Syed Isa Semait and leaders from the Malay Muslim Community also made the trip to Parliament House to say farewell to Mr Nathan. Source: The New Paper
