The republic’s longest-serving president passed away peacefully on Monday, August 22 at 9.48pm.
According to a statement issued from the Prime Minister’s office, Mr SR Nathan has passed away peacefully on Monday, August 22 night, 9.48pm at the Singapore General Hospital.
After suffering from a second stroke in two years, the late Mr Nathan was admitted to the Singapore General Hospital on July 31, and stayed in the Intensive Care Unit for his critical condition.
The late Mr Nathan was Singapore’s sixth president. His distinguished career in public service culminated in a 12-year term as Singapore’s longest-serving president. He was first sworn in on September 1 1999, and had served for two terms until August 31 2011. One of his key contributions was the President’s Challenge, which he initiated in 2000 to bring the Singapore community together to help the less fortunate.
In 2011, Mr Nathan granted Singapore Tatler a cover interview and photo shoot where he shared his thoughts on the role that Singapore’s high society plays in philanthropy. His words had since encouraged the Tatler team to give philanthropy work more attention in our magazine. He shared:
“Today’s high society is not the landed gentry of Victorian times. This society is made up of people who have succeeded in life; they are lavish in their lifestyle, yet they have a big role in philanthropy. Increasingly we’d like to see them establish philanthropic foundations. Not necessarily for the disadvantaged—but for the arts, for education, for theatre. So charity can be to encourage others, too.”
Post-presidency, the Singaporean politician continued contributing to the community by being actively involved in charities, as well as showing his support at many fundraising gala events.
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In 2013, he was conferred the Order of Temasek, First Class—one of Singapore’s highest national honour—in recognition of his exemplary service to the nation. He was the seventh recipient to be conferred and was one of the three First Class recipients. The National Day Award title was awarded to former chairman of Temasek Holdings Mr Suppiah Dhanabalan in 2015, and chief justice of supreme court of Singapore Mr Yong Pung How in 1999.