Ex-President S R Nathan recovering after stroke

SINGAPORE — Former President S R Nathan is recovering at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), after suffering a stroke last Tuesday (April 14).

In a statement issued today, his family said Mr Nathan, 90, who served as President for two terms spanning 12 years, is undergoing therapy.

Mr Nathan stepped down as President in 2011. He was elected in 1999 and was Singapore’s sixth and longest-serving President.

President Tony Tan, who succeeded Mr Nathan after winning the presidential election in 2011, wished Mr Nathan a full recovery on his Face­book page today.

“My wife and I were both very concerned when we learnt that (Mr Nathan) was warded last Tuesday for a haemorrhage in the brain. We are relieved that his condition has since stabilised. When we visited him at the hospital earlier this week, we were happy to see that he was in good spirits and looking forward to being discharged,” he said.

Last month, Mr Nathan was spotted going for a check-up at SGH, where the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew was then hospitalised for pneumonia.

Before he became President, Mr Nathan was Singapore’s Ambassador to the United States until 1996. He began his career as a medical social worker before moving on to a 50-year career in civil service that included serving as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Some other milestones include his role in the Laju ferry hijacking in 1974, when he risked his life to accompany the hijackers to Kuwait to secure the safe release of the Singaporean hostages.

In 2013, he was awarded The Order of Temasek (First Class) — Singapore’s highest honour given to a rare few — for his distinguished career in public service.