Final journey across S’pore for S R Nathan during funeral procession

SINGAPORE – The late former President S R Nathan began his final journey across the Republic on Friday (Aug 26), after his body lay in state at Parliament House for nearly two days.

Over 20,000 people, including President Tony Tan, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Japanese premier Shinzo Abe, paid their last respects to Singapore's sixth and longest serving President on Thursday and Friday. Madam Urmila Nandey, Mr Nathan's wife, was the last visitor on Friday.

Mr Nathan died on Monday at age 92. He suffered a stroke on July 31.

A crowd gathered outside Parliament House as the State Funeral Procession began at 2pm. Nine uniformed officers from the Singapore Armed Forces and the Singapore Police Force transferred the casket onto a ceremonial 25-pounder gun carriage.

Escorted by police outriders and other vehicles, the carriage left Parliament House, as the people outside clapped as they wished him farewell.

The procession passed three landmarks closely associated with Mr Nathan and his long career in public service  — the City Hall, the Fullerton Hotel and the NTUC Centre.

Along the route, barricades were set up, and groups of primary school students were seen near the Commonwealth MRT station.

Students from Singapore Polytechnic Ms Annabelle Sang, 18, and Ms Chelsea Teo, 18, were among the people along the route. 

"We couldn't make it for the lying in state at Parliament House because we had exams, so we decided to come down today," said Ms Sang. "Mr Nathan made a lot of contributions, and helped Singapore a lot."

Ms Teo added: "He might not be in the public eye a lot, but I believe he's definitely contributed a lot to Singapore, and he has won a lot of medals too."

Mr Steven Phua, 63, a retiree, was also along the procession route. He had been to Istana to sign the condolence book and also paid his respects at Parliament House.

"He has done so much for Singapore in terms of security. I thought he handled the Laju incident very well," Mr Phua, a former air traffic controller, said. "At that time there was no protocol on terrorism, back then security was non existent, not like today. I'm proud of him, he's an unsung hero."

The procession ended at the National University of Singapore’s University Cultural Centre (UCC), where the State Funeral Service will be held from 3pm to 5pm.

On arrival at the UCC, a "line of honour" made up of 48 servicemen from the SAF military police command will greet the gun carriage at the main foyer. As the gun carriage passes them, the servicemen will invert their weapons and bow their heads as a mark of respect. This is the highest form of respect the SAF can pay to the deceased.

The coffin bearer party will then carry the casket into the UCC. They will slow march to a performance of G F Handel's "Dead March from Saul" by the SAF military band.

Those following the procession include chief mourner Mr Osith Ramanathan, Mr Nathan's son, as well as other family members. The accompanying pallbearers included two ministers, Mr Lawrence Wong and Mr Masagos Zulkifli, representatives from the People's Association, and two family friends.

The casket will enter the UCC hall at a slow pace as the Singapore Symphony Orchestra plays J S Bach's "Air" from the Overture No 3 in D Major. The casket will be placed on a bier for the rest of the funeral service.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, veteran diplomat Tommy Koh, and Ambassador at Large Gopinath Pillai are among the seven people who will deliver eulogies at the service.

A private cremation service will be held at the Mandai Crematorium after the State Funeral.