Singaporeans pay respects to former President S R Nathan

Steady stream of Singaporeans on Thursday went to the Parliament House to pay their respects to former President S R Nathan who passed away on Monday at the age of 92.

The casket bearing Nathan's body left his family residence at Ceylon Road at 8: 45 a.m., and the hearse was received by Speaker of the Parliament Halimah Yacob as a nine-man coffin bearer party transferred the casket into the building and onto the bier.

In the highest honor accorded to a leader, the state flag was draped over the casket, with the crescent and stars lying over the head and close to the heart of Nathan, who was Singapore's sixth and longest-serving president.

The stream of people started to enter the Parliament House at 10:00 a.m., close to 14,000 people have paid their respects as of 18:00 p.m. on Thursday, according to the State Funeral Organizing Committee.

Among the stream of the public were Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam and his wife Mary Tan. President Tan said former President Nathan will be sorely missed by Singaporeans.

"His heart and commitment to Singapore is an inspiration," added President Tan, after paying his respects.

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching, as well as other Singaporean leaders also paid their respects to former President Nathan at the Parliament House.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who made a stopover in Singapore en route to Kenya, also paid his respects to former President Nathan accompanied by PM Lee.

There will be a state funeral procession for the late former President S R Nathan on Friday. Endit