Tributes for S R Nathan pour in from business, community groups

SINGAPORE — Private sector and community groups paid tribute to former President S R Nathan and sent condolences to his family within an hour or so after the news broke that he had died on Monday (Aug 22) at around 9.50pm, citing his dedication in helping the less privileged in society and his support for charitable causes.

In a statement issued on Monday night, Mr Lim Ming Yan, president and group chief executive officer of property giant CapitaLand, sent condolences to Mr Nathan’s family “on behalf of the board, management and employees of CapitaLand Group and CapitaLand Hope Foundation”. Mr Nathan had served as chairman of CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF), the philanthropic arm of CapitaLand, since 2012.

Mr Lim, who is also director of the foundation, said: “Under his stewardship over the last four years, CHF has gained immeasurably from Mr Nathan’s wholehearted sharing of his vast experience gleaned from a lifetime of service to Singapore. During this time, CHF moved beyond just providing donations to becoming an advocate for volunteerism.”

CHF started CapitaLand Volunteer Day in 2013 for employees to work with underprivileged children. This initiative expanded to China in 2014 and Vietnam last year, and the scope extended to include volunteer time from business associates and other members of the public last year.

“(Mr Nathan’s) counsel had been invaluable in reinforcing CapitaLand’s social commitment to supporting underprivileged children in their shelter, education and healthcare needs,”
Mr Lim said.

For the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), Mr Nathan was “a champion advocating for businesses by expanding Singapore’s international space”. Mr Ho Meng Kit, the federation’s chief executive, said that he did this by “fostering friendly ties” with several countries and taking business delegations on his overseas visits, such as business missions to Africa and the Middle East.

“He was an inspiring mentor who never failed to share his analytical assessment with our business delegations on the different prospects, opportunities and obstacles in the countries visited. Where possible, Mr Nathan also spared no efforts in tackling the issues faced by businesses by helping to remove the barriers to entry in the respective countries,” Mr Ho recalled.

“Singapore has lost a great man who has served the nation with dignity and distinction,” he said.

Self-help group Yayasan Mendaki (Council for the Development of Singapore Malay/Muslim Community) remembers Mr Nathan as someone who embodied “the Singaporean spirit”, valued hard work and education, and spearheaded initiatives that looked into helping those in need.

The group is a beneficiary of the S R Nathan Upliftment Fund, set up in 2011 to support programmes to raise the education levels of financially needy Singaporeans.

Madam Tuminah Sapawi, the group’s chief executive officer, said: “(Mr Nathan) has touched many hearts through his humility and great concern for the wellbeing of Singaporeans.” She added that since 2013, through the SR Nathan Education Award, Yayasan Mendaki had helped deserving Malay/Muslim polytechnic and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) students from low-income families.

“This helps to ensure that students are not denied the opportunity to succeed in polytechnic or ITE,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Hindu Endowment Board, said in a statement that Mr Nathan, who served as Chairman from 1983 to 1988, was “instrumental in the proper relocation of two of the Board’s temples – ensuring that the Hindu community’s religious needs continued to be fulfilled.”

“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,” it added.