Former President Nathan pays tribute to Lee Kuan Yew

SINGAPORE — Former President SR Nathan choked back tears as he recalled Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s “caring nature” on the occasion of the founding prime minister’s 90th birthday today (Sept 16). Speaking this morning during his opening address at the Big Ideas of Lee Kuan Yew conference, Mr Nathan recounted a personal encounter with Mr Lee in 1967, shortly after transferring to the foreign ministry from the Labour Research Unit of the Labour Movement. Mr Nathan, who was as Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was sent to take notes during a meeting between then Prime Minister Lee and the Thai Foreign Minister and it was just before the meeting that Mr Lee helped Mr Nathan adjust his necktie. Recounting that small gesture of consideration that made a big impression, Mr Nathan choked back tears during his speech. Today’s conference organised by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy will cover topics such as the role of the state and the rule of law in the Republic as envisioned by Mr Lee, as well as the former Minister Mentor’s advocacy of the development of Singapore into a Garden City. Mr Nathan, 89, was elected Singapore’s fifth President in 1999, succeeding the late Ong Teng Cheong.