File Photo of former Singapore President S R Nathan (center)
Former Singapore President S R Nathan who served the nation for the longest tenure has suffered a stroke and is recovering now in hospital, his family has said.
"Former President S R Nathan suffered a stroke last Tuesday, April 14, and was admitted to hospital. He is recovering and is now undergoing therapy," a statement issued by his family yesterday said.
90-year-old Nathan is recovering at the Singapore General Hospital. Nathan was the sixth and longest serving President in Singapore, and was in office for two terms from 1999 to 2011. He officially stepped down as President on August 31, 2011 after announcing that he would not seek a third term in office.
He was succeeded by President Tony Tan Keng Yam. After stepping down as President, Nathan took up appointments as Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and at the Singapore Management University's School of Social Sciences.
Prior to becoming President, he held key positions in the civil service, in security, intelligence and foreign affairs. He was appointed as Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia in 1988 and later Singapore's Ambassador to the United States of America from 1990 to 1996.
He also served as Singapore's Ambassador-at-Large, and later pro-chancellor of the National University of Singapore.
Yesterday evening, President Tony Tan shared on Facebook that he and his wife "were both very concerned" when they learnt that Nathan was warded last Tuesday for "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. We wish Nathan a speedy and full recovery and the very best of health," he added.