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Celebs honour Nathan with tributes, throwback photos

SINGAPORE — Tributes to the late S R Nathan poured in Monday (Aug 22) and Tuesday after news broke that the 92-year-old had died, with many celebrities taking to social media to express their condolences and remember Singapore’s longest-serving president.

SINGAPORE — Tributes to the late S R Nathan poured in Monday (Aug 22) and Tuesday after news broke that the 92-year-old had died, with many celebrities taking to social media to express their condolences and remember Singapore’s longest-serving president.

Among them is Taiwan-based singer-songwriter Wang Leehom, who posted a photo he had taken with the former president, with a simple message: “Rest in peace Mr President S R Nathan. I’ll always remember your warmth, humour and kindness.”

Singaporean singer-songwriter JJ Lin also expressed his condolences on Facebook last night, saying Mr Nathan will be missed. The next day, Lin followed that up with a Facebook Live video, with the first four minutes dedicated to him. “When I heard the news, my heart felt heavy,” Lin said in Mandarin before he launched into Wind Beneath My Wings.

“My impression of him is that he was a very friendly, capable and gentle president,” he added, recalling a time when Mr Nathan approached him backstage after a performance to give him words of encouragement. “For someone who’s at such a high position, to do that, and to be able to feel his concern and appreciation for my performance, that made me feel very happy.”

His post, uploaded at around 12.30pm today, garnered close to 42,000 likes and more than 470 shares.

Singapore actress Huang Biren posted a photo on Instagram, which featured the two of them during a Star Awards ceremony. “Saddened by the passing of Ex-President S R Nathan today. Thank you for presenting me this All-Time Favourite Award in Star Awards 2009 and more so, specially autographing and delivering (the photo) to me. Thank you Sir and rest in peace.”

Fellow actress Xiang Yun also posted a photo of herself with the late Mr Nathan at the 2011 Star Awards on Instagram, saying: “To our respected former President S R Nathan, RIP”.

Meanwhile, 987 DJ Joakim Gomez recalled his meeting with him with a photo on Instagram, and said it was “an honour to have performed for and met you”.

“I’ll never forget our football banter and how you told me you were an Arsenal fan back during our meeting in 2007,” he wrote.

Class 95 DJ Yasminne Cheng added on Instagram that Mr Nathan was an inspiration and it was “an honour to have met and spoken with him”.

“He was already 91 when he came on The 5 Show last year and though his movements were slow, his mind was still sharp. I remember tearing when he shared about the hardships he faced during his younger days. A total sweetie, warm, very down to earth and an inspiration,” she wrote.

Chua Enlai, who had hosted The 5 Show with Cheng, also sent his condolences to Mr Nathan’s family on Instagram: “Goodbye, Mr Nathan. May you rest in peace. Mrs Nathan, my condolences to you and your family.”

In a lengthy Instagram post, Singaporean singer-songwriter and producer Shabir described many “fond memories” of interacting with the late President. “The most remarkable one was recording him for my poetry album, Swasam, Scents of Prose in his house,” he wrote. “He was so adorable and sporting. He was willing to try out various styles for the recitation and asked for my opinion frequently, making way for a true collaboration. There is so much to learn from his humility and enthusiasm,” he added. “The nation has lost a great leader who was a pillar of support during both good and turbulent times.”

A VERSION OF THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED ON TOGGLE

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