The late Mr S R Nathan was one of “Singapore’s greatest sons” who played a significant and influential part in building the nation, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (Aug 26).

Throughout a life dedicated to public service, it was the precept of “to never give up” that Mr Nathan lived by that got him through trying circumstances in childhood to the highest office of the land — and this is what Mr Nathan had himself hoped that young Singaporeans would learn from him, said Mr Lee, in the first of seven eulogies at Mr Nathan’s State Funeral Service at the National University of Singapore’s University Cultural Centre (UCC) on Friday.

Mr Lee was addressing an audience of 1,900, which included family and friends of Mr Nathan, government officials and Singaporeans from various uniformed groups and community organisations, among others.

Mr Nathan, the Republic’s sixth President who served from 1999 to 2011, died on Monday, three weeks after suffering a stroke. He was 92.

His final journey across the Republic began with his casket being placed on a ceremonial gun carriage at Parliament House on Friday, where his lying-in-state had been held.

From Thursday to Friday morning, more than 20,000 people from all walks of life — among them ordinary Singaporeans, President Tony Tan, Mr Lee, Japanese premier Shinzo Abe — paid their last respects to Mr Nathan at Parliament House. His wife, Madam Urmila Nandey, was his last visitor.

The Civic District, usually buzzing with activity, was hushed as a crowd gathered outside Parliament House before the funeral procession began.

At about 2pm, the coffin bearers — comprising nine uniformed officers from the Singapore Armed Forces and the Singapore Police Force — transferred the casket onto a ceremonial 25-pounder gun carriage.

Members of Mr Nathan’s family looked on quietly as the cortege left the Parliament House, and some members of the public outside clapped as they bade him farewell.

Escorted by police outriders and other vehicles, the cortege passed various landmarks in the Civic District closely associated with Mr Nathan’s celebrated career in public service.

Among them were City Hall, where Mr Nathan reviewed the country’s National Day Parade thrice during his 12-year term as President, and the Fullerton Hotel, where he was appointed a seamen’s welfare officer in the Marine Department, marking the start of his career in labour relations.

The cortege also passed the National Trades Union Congress Centre, where he served in the 1960s, a period of industrial unrest and political strife.

Onlookers, young and old, lined the 15.5km route, which ended at the UCC. Some waved the Singapore flag as the cortege passed, and many shouted “Thank you, sir!”.

At the UCC, the cortege was received by a Line of Honour comprising 48 servicemen from the SAF Military Police Command. The casket was then carried into the hall, to the solemn tune of Handel’s Dead March From Saul.

One of Mr Nathan’s favourite Tamil numbers, Thanjavooru Manneduthu, marked the start of the service — Mr Nathan had loved it for how it represented the unity in Singapore despite its diverse cultures and traditions.

The mood was sombre as Mr Lee stepped onto the stage to begin the eulogies. Speaking for almost 15 minutes, Mr Lee described Mr Nathan as “a man who lived fully, seizing all that life had to offer”.

Mr Nathan, whose childhood was marked by his father’s suicide, “never gave up, no matter what the difficulties and dangers”. “Nor did he indulge in self-pity or look to others for help. Instead, he faced challenges head-on with a steely resolve and ultimately prevailed,” Mr Lee said.

His role in the 1974 Laju ferry hijacking “best epitomises Mr Nathan’s qualities”, said Mr Lee.

To secure the hostages’ release, Mr Nathan, the security and intelligence chief at the Defence Ministry at that time, had led a team of 12 to escort the hijackers — who had set off bombs at an oil refinery on Pulau Bukom — to Kuwait as guarantee of safe passage.

“In an interview near the end of his term as President, Mr Nathan was asked if he thought he would return alive. He said: ‘I was not sure. Because what awaited us at the other end was something uncertain’,” said Mr Lee.

In 1994, in the face of scathing criticism and pressure from the United States over the caning of Michael Fay in Singapore for vandalism, Mr Nathan, as Ambassador to the United States, defended Singapore’s actions.

“Whatever the mission, he answered duty’s call. Singapore could absolutely rely on his loyalty and dedication. Few have answered the nation’s calls so faithfully,” said Mr Lee. “Quietly and without fuss, he gave his best years and more to Singapore.”

These themes were echoed by the other six speakers: Ambassador-at-Large Professor Tommy Koh, diplomat and former politician Zainul Abidin Rasheed, former Community Chest chair Jennie Chua, labour chief Chan Chun Sing, and Mr Nathan’s long-time friends Ramaswamy Athappan and Gopinath Pillai.

Mr Gopinath described Mr Nathan as one who “looked at everything from a national perspective”, while Mr Lee, Ms Chua and Mr Ramaswamy fondly recalled his hand-written letters to each of them.

“Like the man himself, his words were warm, encouraging, heartfelt and inspiring ... And mind you, it was never a standard template. No two letters from him were the same,” said Ms Chua, who worked with Mr Nathan on various social causes. They also paid tribute to Mdm Urmila for supporting Mr Nathan throughout his career, with Mr Lee calling her Mr Nathan’s “anchor” of their 73-year relationship.

At the end of the two-hour service, Mr Lee, President Tony Tan, and other leaders including Emeritus Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean took turns to shake hands with Mdm Urmila, who was in a wheelchair.

Charity Council chairman Gerard Ee, who was among the guests, said the eulogies brought out Mr Nathan’s enduring attributes. “I hope the lessons he passes on to other people are to be courageous, face adversity and strive as hard as you can, but in all your achievements, remain humble,” said Mr Ee after the service.

As of 7.30pm Friday, more than 2,200 tributes were posted at the official website, www.remembering.sg/srnathan. The public may continue to share their memories of the late Mr S R Nathan on the website till midnight of Aug 28. More than 14,700 condolence cards have been issued at the tribute sites at Istana and Parliament House.

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by KELLY NG

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