Tributes continued to pour in for former President S R Nathan, who died on Monday night, with various religious groups lauding him as a champion of inter-religious harmony, while Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon recalled Mr Nathan’s reminder of the judiciary’s pivotal role in nation-building.

Head of Civil Service Peter Ong said the public service can learn from Mr Nathan’s “unwavering dedication and tenacity in serving our country” by serving “with compassion and from our heart”.

In an open letter to public officers yesterday, Mr Ong said the ex-President was an inspiration to many during his more than 40-year career in the public service and two terms as the nation’s President.

“No matter what position he held, he never wavered from placing our nation’s interests above self,” Mr Ong said.

“Exemplifying the Singapore story, the ups and downs of Mr Nathan’s life showed that one can succeed as long as one perseveres in the face of setbacks,” he added.

Chief Justice Menon noted that Mr Nathan shared with the judiciary “the same deep commitment to safeguarding the progress of the nation through a sound, effective and principled legal system uniquely suited to our needs”. “Today, the ideals which Mr Nathan stood for remain just as relevant, and his actions just as inspiring,” he said.

The Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) and the Singapore Indian Development Association (Sinda) separately expressed gratitude to Mr Nathan for his active role in helping them.

“Mr Nathan took a particularly keen interest in the functions of the Hindu Endowments Board, its temples, and its social and community objectives. He felt it was important for the board, as a religious body, to play an active role in the promotion of inter-religious and inter-racial harmony,” said the HEB in a statement.

Sinda noted that Mr Nathan was instrumental in the self-help group’s establishment, and described him as a “foremost leader of the Indian community, championing its needs with dedication and passion”.

“His genuine concern about bettering the community and his guidance to every major Indian organisation in Singapore were vital in ensuring that Indian Singaporeans were able to aspire to reach their potential, regardless of their circumstances,” it added.

For the National Council of Churches Singapore, Mr Nathan was a leader “who reached out to all races and religious groups, and personally encouraged efforts to promote racial and religious harmony among the people of Singapore”.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore described Mr Nathan as a “strong proponent of inter-religious harmony”. It noted that Mr Nathan was the first patron of Singapore’s Inter-Religious Organisation, holding the office from 2012 until his death.

The Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations remembers the former President as someone who “was purposeful in his efforts to engage the local Chinese community by interacting with community leaders and showing great interest in the development of the Chinese community”.

“His unwavering commitment to serve all people regardless of race or background would become the key element which defined his presidency,” it added.

Mr Thomas Chua, president of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry and a Nominated Member of Parliament, noted that Mr Nathan developed strong ties with the Chinese business community during his tenure as President.

The Singapore Scout Association (SSA) and the Boys’ Brigade in Singapore, which had strong ties with the former President, separately paid tribute to Mr Nathan for his contributions.

“In doing his best both in the exercise of his duty as leader and citizen and in helping other people, President Nathan (who was Chief Scout from 1999 to 2011), was a shining example of what scouts aim to attain and live by,” said the SSA.

Brigade president, Dr Ho Yew Kee, describing Mr Nathan as a “very supportive patron”, said: “He had a personal touch that made us all feel special.”

Mrs Mildred Tan, chair of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, said Mr Nathan’s life “epitomises the spirit of generosity and giving”.

In 2011, the late former president started the S R Nathan Education Upliftment Fund to help financially disadvantaged children gain access to education.

Since then, the fund has helped nearly 1,000 students studying at Institutes of Technical Education, polytechnics and universities, by providing bursaries, scholarships and monthly financial assistance, said Ms Catherine Loh, chief executive officer of the Community Foundation of Singapore, which manages the fund.

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by TODAY ONLINE

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