Former Singapore president S R Nathan, whose colourful career included stints as a spymaster and diplomat, died in hospital on Monday, the government said in a statement.
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He was hospitalised on July 31 after suffering a stroke and had been at the Intensive Care Unit at SGH since then. It was his second stroke in two years.
Nathan, who was the island nation’s longest-serving president, holding office from 1999 to 2011, was described by Lee as a “warm and approachable president who endeared himself to Singaporeans”. From 1990 to 1996, Ramanathan served as Singapore’s ambassador to the United States.
Singapore President S.R. Nathan inspects an honour guard during a welcome ceremony at the presidential palace in New Delhi on Jan 4, 2003.
His successor as seventh president, Dr.
Singapore president Dr Tony Tan, who had formerly worked with Nathan, also expressed sadness at his passing.
The body of the late Mr Nathan will lie in state at Parliament House from 10:00 am on Thursday, Aug. 25 to 12:00 pm on Friday, Aug. 26. A state funeral was scheduled for Friday afternoon at the University Cultural Center, after which there will be a private cremation. He held many public service posts, and occupied the highest office in the land, ” Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a Facebook post. He told the country he was fine but would be having a full medical exam afterward.
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Lee, a cancer survivor, later told listeners he was dehydrated.
