Over the past few days, sisters and brothers from the Labour Movement gathered across various occasions to pay tribute to our brother-in-arms, workers’ keeper, people’s leader – the late Mr S R Nathan. Mr Nathan began his journey with the Labour Movement amidst an overall climate that was rife with political and social unrest. An instrumental figure in the early beginnings of the Labour Research Unit, Mr Nathan took on the interests and causes of our working people as his own, always reminding us of our “duty to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper”. This remained so even after he assumed the highest office in the land.
In May this year, the Labour Movement had the privilege of once again, having him with us and listening to his inspiring stories and insightful lessons. We will not forget his life’s work – his footsteps and journey that have forever become part of our Labour Movement story – nor his friendship and comradeship.
We will always honour the memory of Mr S R Nathan and live out his legacy as “a movement with a cause.”
A contingent of some 750 sisters and brothers from the Labour Movement family, led by NTUC President Mary Liew and NTUC Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing made a journey on foot to Parliament House to pay their last respects to the late Mr S R Nathan early Thursday morning, 25 August 2016.
The State Funeral Procession driving past the NTUC Centre at One Marina Boulevard, as some 300 NTUC staff line the streets to bid their final goodbye.
The “Dendrobium S R Nathan” bloom, a special orchid variety named after the late Mr S R Nathan featured in the display at the NTUC Centre as part of the Labour Movement’s tributes to the man himself.
At the State Funeral Service, NTUC Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing accorded his highest respects to the late Mr S R Nathan in his eulogy. “Your pioneer generation toiled, with blood, sweat and tears to give us the chance to be called Singaporeans. We, the younger generation, will build on it.”
NTUC Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing: “Thank you for all that you have done for our Labour Movement. We will remember your words – for us to be a force for the good of our workers and country; and for us to remember to be our brothers’ keeper. You have planted the seeds for us to be better Singaporeans for a better Singapore.”
A journey on foot to pay their last respects to the late Mr S R Nathan – a Giant of our times, whose footprints have left behind an indelible mark on all of us.
NTUC President Mary Liew: “You have impacted and uplifted our lives. From the bottom of our hearts, on behalf of our workers, thank you so much for your hard work, contributions and love for our Labour Movement. We will dearly miss you and may you Rest in Peace. God Bless!”