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Tag: S R Nathan

  • Osman Sulaiman: Reserved Election A Reminder From Government That Malay Community Cannot Stand On Own Merits

    Osman Sulaiman: Reserved Election A Reminder From Government That Malay Community Cannot Stand On Own Merits

    Presidential Election to be held in Sept where it has been reserved for Malay candidates.

    What’s the problem some may ask? The problem is that our gov thinks that the Malays cannot stand on its own merits and constantly reminds the public about it.

    Such perceptions, if remains unchecked and not proven, will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. It is the gov that made my community to look like second class citizens.

    Remember when Mr Masagos was promoted to be a full minister, we were reminded that it was given due to ‘the progress’ of our community, implying that we were indeed not up to par prior to the promotion.

    It is sad that my community is being used to promote the gov’s political agenda and some of my community people are raising their hands in appreciation for the ‘favours.’

     

    Source: Khan Osman Sulaiman

  • A Thank You To PAP Supporters For Forcing PAP To Be Creative With Our Lives

    A Thank You To PAP Supporters For Forcing PAP To Be Creative With Our Lives

    I must admit, I never like PAP supporters. I’m actually jealous of them. When i look at them i always ask myself how can someone be so skillful in angkat buah? Like it is a full tull time job for them right until they are so well-versed.

    But now i have a new-found appreciation for them.

    It is not the opposition parties that keep PAP on their toes. It is actually their supporters right? Every single time PAP lose support from their own supporter base, they always become extra creative. Somehow after that, PAP will come up with some schemes to retain their supporters and to increase their vote share. This PAP creativity means that the Constitution is always updated. Don’t you feel thankful for that?

    You ask yourselves, why was the NCMP (Non-Constituency MP) created? Why was the GRC scheme created? Why did they change the powers of the Elected Presidency back in 1994?

    Now they want to make further constitutional changes to the Elected Presidency, to ensure minority representation even though for many years PAP keep harping on meritocracy. You know how stubborn they have been on their meritocracy but now suddenly, it is fine if we don’t hold on to this ‘meritocracy” too tightly. Wah the minorities must be very grateful for this.

    How did that happen? of course because of PAP supporters lah.

    So thank you PAP supporters for carrying their balls and squeezing their balls and forcing to be creative with the live of Singaporeans.

     

    Tak Kuat Angkat Buah

    <Reader Contribution>

  • 7 Things You Should Know About S R Nathan

    7 Things You Should Know About S R Nathan

    S.R. Nathan to some Singaporeans, was characterised as the unassuming man minding his own business on a park bench. Photo by Alwin Lim

    He was anything but.

    Things you should know about the late S.R. Nathan:

    1) He worked for the Japanese during the Japanese Occupation.

    So he knew first hand how much it sucked to work for bosses you think might kill you any other day. During the Japanese Occupation, Mr S.R. Nathan worked for the Japanese Civilian Police as a translator. It takes guts to go in to work everyday under those circumstances and Mr Nathan had plenty, as we will talk about next.

    2) He’s actually a hero.

    No exaggeration. We all know this by now. Not just a regular hero. He volunteered to lead the team. At the time of the ferry hijacking, he was the Director of Security and Intelligence Division. The Director. But this is S.R. Nathan we are talking about. He wasn’t going to just send a team in. The man led by example. He volunteered to go.

    3) He didn’t get to finish school before he had to start working.

    What is your excuse? Too difficult to manage work and study? S.R Nathan had to start working before he could finish school but is something like a war going to throw Mr Nathan off his tracks? No way. After the war, he completed his secondary education via distance learning with Oxford while working. Yes you read that right. Before computers were even a thing, Mr Nathan completed his secondary school education via a correspondence course. He then went on to graduate with a Diploma in Social Studies with a distinction in 1954 from the University of Malaya. So again, what’s your excuse?

    4) He made mistakes too.

    Mr. Nathan made mistakes growing up too, but they did not stop him from having an illustrious career his whole life. Sure, it may sound like your typical rags-to-riches story, but why is this story different? He didn’t care for being rich. After his father committed suicide when he was 8, Mr. Nathan went wayward for a couple of years, running away from home, getting expelled for school, even living on the streets for awhile. Eventually he would find work as an office boy and drift from job to job, working as a postman, a hawker’s assistant and even a tuition teacher. He had help along the way, and this was probably the reason why he saw how important it was to help others less fortunate. He learnt it first hand. There are many many stories of how Mr. Nathan helped his colleagues and friends to put their kids through school and find them jobs upon graduation.

    5) He started the President’s Challenge.

    In 2000, he started the President’s Challenge and in 11 years, it had raised more than S$100 million. More than 500 organizations are beneficiaries. He also co-founded SINDA.

    6) He had to be asked to be a Presidential Candidate.

    The Late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and several others had to ask Mr. Nathan to run for office. Everyone says he only became President because he was the only candidate. We think he became President because everyone unanimously agreed he was the right man for the job.

    7) The next time you hear somebody say S.R Nathan was a useless fella, you can refer this list of accolades to them.

    Career timeline
    1940–1941: Office boy and various odd jobs
    Feb 1955–Mar 1956: Almoner, Medical Department, Singapore General Hospital
    Mar 1956–1962: Seamen’s Welfare Officer, Marine Department
    Jan 1962–Jan 1964: Assistant director, Labour Research Unit
    Jan 1964–Jan 1966: Director, Labour Research Unit
    Jan 1966–Apr 1988: Member, board of trustees, Labour Research Unit
    Feb 1966–Jan 1971: Assistant secretary; later deputy secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    Jan 1971–Aug 1971: Acting permanent secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs
    Aug 1971–Feb 1979: Director, Security and Intelligence Division, Ministry of Defence
    1973–1986: Chairman, Mitsubishi Singapore Heavy Industries (Pte) Ltd
    Feb 1979–Feb 1982: First permanent secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    1980–1988: Director, Singapore National Oil Company
    1982–1988: Director, New Nation Publishing Bhd
    1982–1988: Director, Times Publishing Bhd
    Jan 1982–May 1983: Chairman, Hindu Advisory Board
    Feb 1982– Apr 1988: Executive Chairman, Straits Times Press (1975) Ltd, and concurrently director of Singapore Press Holdings Ltd from December 1985 to April 1988
    1983–1988: Director, Times Business Publications Ltd
    1983–1988: Director, Singapore Mint Pte Ltd, London
    May 1983–Apr 1988: Chairman, Hindu Endowments Board
    1984–1988: Director, The Times of Singapore Pte Ltd
    1985–1988: Director, Marshall Cavendish Ltd
    1986–1988: Director, The Straits Times Press (London) Ltd
    1986–1988: Director, The Times Press Foundation (Singapore) Pte Ltd
    Aug 1991–Aug 1999: Founding member and term trustee of Singapore Indian Development Association
    Apr 1988–Jul 1990: High commissioner to Malaysia
    Jul 1990–Jun 1996: Ambassador to the United States
    1996–1999: Director, Singapore International Media Pte Ltd
    Jul 1996: Appointed pro-chancellor, National University of Singapore
    Jul 1996–Aug 1999: Ambassador-at-large
    Jul 1996–Aug 1999: Director, Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (now known as the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies), Nanyang Technological University
    1997–1999: Member, board of governors, Civil Service College
    1 Sep 1999–31 Aug 2011: President of Singapore; concurrently chancellor, National University of Singapore

    “I’ve done the best I can. If it’s good enough for some people, fine. If it’s not good enough for some people, and there will always be noise in the environment, you can’t stop it. You don’t do it because you want to leave a legacy. You do the best you can.” – S. R. Nathan

    You did Sir. You were outstanding.

    #WeAreMajulah

     

    Source: Syabab SG

  • S R Nathan Banyak Sokong Usaha Masyarakat Melayu

    S R Nathan Banyak Sokong Usaha Masyarakat Melayu

    MUIS mengirim surat takziah kepada isteri dan keluarga mendiang Encik Nathan.

    MUIS melahirkan rasa “kesedihan yang mendalam di atas pemergian seorang pemimpin yang sangat dihormati”.

    Ia juga menganggap Encik Nathan sebagai “Presiden berjiwa rakyat” dan pemergian beliau merupakan satu kehilangan besar kepada negara.

    Menurut MUIS, mendiang Encik Nathan menghadiri banyak acara yang dianjurkan masyarakat Islam.

    Ini termasuklah inisiatif Cabaran Presiden Beriani Amal yang dipeloporinya.

    Dalam laporan berikut, Pengerusi Masjid Khalid, Encik Allaudin Mohamed berkongsi pengalamannya dalam menyediakan beriani amal itu.

    “Encik Nathan kalau pasal beriani, cakap di mana ada jual beriani, kata orang sedap sahaja, dia hendak cuba.Kalau dia makan beriani ada sistem dia sendiri, rasa nasinya dulu, apabila sudah hidu aromanya, letak masala, lepas tu campur daging. Apabila semua sudah cukup, baru makan dengan acarnya. Selagi ada beriani di rumah dia, di peti sejuk, nanti dia akan minta ‘Ada lagi beriani Allaudin?’,” Encik Allaudin memberitahu BERITAMediacorp.

    Selama 16 tahun, Encik Allaudin adalah ‘orang kuat dapur’ yang memasak beriani untuk acara tahunan Beriani Amal.

    Walaupun Encik Nathan tidak lagi menjadi Presiden, Pengerusi Masjid Khalid ini pastikan setiap bulan beliau akan menghantar sebungkus makanan kegemaran Encik Nathan itu ke rumahnya.

    Di sebalik hidangan istimewa ini, sebenarnya tersirat satu lambang.

    Lambang Beriani Amal Cabaran Presiden ini, beliau membuka satu ruang untuk masyarakat kita. Masjid ini bukan satu tempat untuk orang Islam sahaja.

    Selama berinteraksi dengan mendiang Encik Nathan, Encik Allaudin menyifatkannya sebagai seorang yang peramah, mempunyai budi pekerti yang tinggi dan sentiasa prihatin terhadap setiap lapisan masyarakat.

    “Selalu pesanan beliau adalah untuk masyarakat kita dan agama. Akhir-akhir ini berapa kali beliau bercakap mengenai agama sebab terdapat pergolakan Islam di dunia sekarang, beliau banyak prihatin dalam masyarakat Islam Singapura. Satu cerita yang beliau bilang dengan saya, “Allaudin, orang Melayu ini orang paling baik dan mereka senang. Mereka orangnya ‘simple’, tapi orang Melayu ini ada kekuatannya yang kita tidak nampak, cuma mereka terlampau baik jadi mereka tidak menggunakan kekuatan yang ada pada mereka itu untuk mempertengahkan kemahuan mereka.

    “Mereka lebih berkompromi. Mereka selalu mengalah, dan cari jalan yang lebih baik. Itu satu budi pekerti pada orang-orang Melayu yang lain masyarakat tidak ada. Pesanan beliau dengan saya, dan keluarga saya, bila saya bawa anak-anak saya, dia akan bicara tentang persekolahan. Tiap kali. Mesti mahu belajar pandai-pandai, kita dulu mak bapak tidak pergi sekolah, sekarang mesti pergi sekolah pandai-pandai. Jangan malas. Pendidikan adalah jalan menuju kejayaan dan menaik taraf masyarakat,” tambah Encik Allaudin.

    Tambah Encik Allaudin, kehadiran mendiang Encik Nathan dalam acara-acara kemasyarakatan seperti acara Beriani Amal menunjukkan komitmen dan penghargaan beliau kepada masyarakat Islam Singapura, sekali gus membina sebuah masyarakat penyayang.

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

  • Mrs Umi Nathan: I Hope Singaporeans Remember My Husband As A Self-Made Man

    Mrs Umi Nathan: I Hope Singaporeans Remember My Husband As A Self-Made Man

    When I first met S R Nathan, I was very young – so young I can’t remember him as a small child. But I remember him vividly when we were both in our teens. He would cycle up and down the street to catch my eye, when my family lived in a shophouse in Muar.

    I didn’t realise it then, but after 16 years of trials and tribulations, I would be rewarded with the happiest day of my life, the day I married him.

    My husband has always worked. I am used to it, and I find it difficult to imagine a time when he is not going out each day dressed for the office and carrying a briefcase. On more than one occasion, I thought he had reached the end of a successful career and could look forward to retirement. Each time a new call has come and he has responded. We both feel that in answering the summons we are repaying a debt to Singapore, and also more personally to Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who has always been willing to put trust in my husband. I am also aware that, like many people of our age, if he were sitting around the house with nothing to do, he would soon go downhill. His mind has to be active.

    If anyone had ever suggested that one day my husband would be President, I would have responded with utter disbelief. And yet the challenge came, and the day he was appointed was the proudest day of my life. It was a blessing from God. When the possibility was put to him, he consulted the family and we all supported him in accepting. My only condition was that the family should be kept out of the public eye. After all, status is only temporary, and we must all keep our feet on the ground.

    I hope Singaporeans will remember my husband as a self-made man. He started out with nothing, literally, and reached his lofty position through ability and hard work. There is a lesson in his story for all young people, however competitive the world may seem.

    Mrs Umi Nathan

     

    Source: S R Nathan: An Unexpected Journey – Path To The Presidency