Remembering Mr S R Nathan: S R Nathan a 'great advocate' of closer Singapore-Malaysia ties: PM Najib

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak paid tribute to the late former Singapore President S R Nathan when he signed the condolence book at the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on Friday (Aug 26). 

Mr Nathan passed away peacefully at the Singapore Gerneral Hospital on Aug 22, three weeks after suffering a stroke. He was 92.  

Mr Najib thanked him for his many contributions, describing him as "a great advocate of closer ties'' between Malaysia and Singapore. Mr Nathan served as Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia from 1988 to 1990.

"On behalf of the government and people of Malaysia, I express my heartfelt condolences," Mr Najib wrote. "The late President when he was a high commissioner and subsequently, President of Singapore, was a great advocate of closer ties between Malaysia and Singapore and for this we are very much appreciative of his contributions."

The Malaysian delegation attending the funeral in Singapore Friday afternoon will be led by Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai. The delegation includes Youth Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Minister in the Prime Minister's department Joseph Kurup.