SINGAPORE - Acrid smog blanketed Singapore Friday as the city-state was hit by the year's first major outbreak of haze, an annual crisis sparked by forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia.

Singapore's air quality index reached unhealthy levels with conditions deteriorating through the day, marking the worst return of the haze to the city since vast parts of Southeast Asia were affected in 2015.

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Last year's haze outbreak was among the worst in memory, shrouding Malaysia, Singapore, and parts of Thailand in acrid smoke.

The blazes are started illegally to clear land, typically for palm oil and pulpwood plantations, and Indonesia has faced intense criticism from its neighbours over its failure to halt the annual smog outbreaks.

Singapore's National Environment Agency said the three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) was at 165 as of 0400 GMT on Friday. The reading for the 24-hour period, however, was on the higher band of the moderate range.

PSI levels above 100 are deemed unhealthy and people are advised to reduce vigorous outdoor activity.

A cloud of greyish smoke swept across the island, accompanied by a strong smell of burning foliage.

Visibility from high-rise offices and other vantage points was virtually zero. An AFP photographer said he could hardly see the skyline from one of the city's highest points at Mount Faber.

Smog was also visible in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of neighbouring Malaysia, over a few days last week but did not breach unhealthy levels.

An area in the Malaysian state of Perak had briefly tipped over to the unhealthy range for a few hours last week, according to local media.

Singapore last September closed schools and distributed protective face masks as the air pollution index soared to hazardous levels following three weeks of being cloaked in smoke from Indonesia's nearby Sumatra island.

Schools in Singapore shut as regional haze reaches unhealthy levels

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Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said on its website that the number of "hotspots" on Sumatra - which sits across the Malacca Strait from Singapore - had increased in the past 48 hours.

A hotspot is an area of intense heat detected by satellites, indicating a blaze has already broken out or that an area is very hot and likely to go up in flames soon.

As of midnight local time on Thursday, there were 68 hotspots on Sumatra, up from 43 two days earlier, the agency said.

In the Indonesian part of Borneo island - another area where large numbers of smog-belching fires occur every year - there were 31 hotspots as of midnight Thursday local time, it added.

However there were far fewer fires than at the peak of last year's crisis, when hundreds burned out of control.

Three provinces on Sumatra and three on Indonesian Borneo have in recent months officially declared they are on alert owing to the growing threat from forest fires.

The Indonesian disaster agency is currently using eight water-bombing helicopters, two water-bombing planes, and two cloud-seeding planes to combat the fires, according to agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

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SINGAPORE - Friends and ex-colleagues of former President S R Nathan remembered his lifelong commitment to Singapore at a funeral service at the University Cultural Centre on Friday (Aug 26) afternoon.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who led the series of seven tributes, called Mr Nathan "one of Singapore's greatest sons", and spoke of his selfless service to the nation.

Read also: Singapore says goodbye to former President S R Nathan

From a great leader to a humble man, here is how each of the speakers remembered Singapore's longest serving president:

A president who placed nation before self

Prime Minister Lee's eulogy for Mr S R Nathan

The Prime Minister remembered Mr Nathan as a President who "cared deeply about racial and religious harmony" in Singapore.

He had a long, illustrious career in public service, and served a significant and influential role in our nation-building, Mr Lee said.

Singapore says farewell to former president S R Nathan

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Despite humble and extremely trying circumstances in his childhood, Mr Nathan never gave up. It was this lesson of perseverance that Mr Nathan hoped Singaporeans would draw from his life story.

"He overcame extremely trying circumstances in his childhood and rose in the public service through grit, determination and ability, guided by a deep and abiding sense of duty," Mr Lee said.

Not only that, the former President also placed the nation before himself, and "quietly gave his best years and more, to Singapore".

Mr Lee recalled Mr Nathan's integrity and commitment in the 1974 Laju incident, when he risked his life by leading a team of officials to accompany terrorists to Kuwait as hostages.

Apart from his career, Mr Nathan was also centred on his love for his wife of 73 years, Madam Urmila Nandey.

"SR loved and honoured Umi all the days of his life. And she in turn was his anchor throughout his career, including the 12 years that he was President, when she supported him with grace, charm and warmth," Mr Lee said before thanking Mrs Nathan who nodded in response.

'Our super ambassador' to the world

Dr Tommy Koh's eulogy for Mr S R Nathan

Singapore's ambassador-at-large spoke of the former President's contributions to Singapore.

One of these is his work as Singapore's representatives overseas, first as high commissioner to Malaysia and then as the nation's ambassador to the United States.

However, his most important diplomatic role was as the sixth President of Singapore, Dr Koh said.

As Singapore's longest serving President, Mr Nathan visited more countries than all his predecessors put together, he said.

Because of him, Singapore's links with other countries were strengthened and more opportunities were made available to the nation.

Recalling that Mr Nathan had a flair for dealing with foreign leaders, Dr Koh said the former President managed to establish a good rapport with his interlocutors and to put them at ease.

"He had the memory of an elephant and could remember people he had befriended in his previous assignments, no matter how long ago".

"He was our super ambassador to the world," Dr Koh said.

'His concerns transcended race and religion'

Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed's eulogy for Mr S R Nathan

Former senior minister of state Zainul Abidin said he first met Mr Nathan in the early 1980s when he was working at the Straits Times Press as editor of Berita Harian. At the time, Mr Nathan was appointed as executive chairman of the company.

When Mr Nathan became President, Mr Zainul had joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Senior Parliamentary Secretary, and accompanied the President on his visits to many countries.

Calling Mr Nathan "an extraordinary man", Mr Zainul said that despite walking with royalty and state leaders, the then-President "retained the simple and ordinary in him".

"He was always his humble ordinary self with all of us. Mr Nathan was very much a man after our hearts," Mr Zainul said.

He helped to raise money for the publishing of a book on Malay heritage, and also launched the biography of his good friend, the late Haji Ridzwan Dzafir, who was president of the Islamic Religious Council (MUIS) and Chief Executive Officer of Mendaki. Despite his ailing health, Mr Nathan also made it a point to attend the launch of the book Majulah! 50 Years of the Malay/Muslim in Singapore, which records the challenges and contributions of the Malay/Muslim community since Singapore's independence.

"Truly, his concerns transcended race and religion," Mr Zainul said.

Mr Nathan even took a personal interest in the Nagore Dargah monument project, which is now the Indian Muslim Heritage Centre.

"He had always wanted Malays to see themselves as modern and fully-integrated Singaporeans, instead of just belonging to a minority," Mr Zainul added as he recalled how Mr Nathan spoke to him about the topic while in hospital in July.

He loved to write letters

Ms Jennie Chua's eulogy for Mr S R Nathan

Dressed in a jacket made from a sari gifted to her by Mrs Nathan, business leader and ambassador to Mexico, Ms Jennie Chua, spoke fondly of her friendship with Mr Nathan.

He loved to write letters to his friends - handwritten ones, not e-mails, she said. These letters were sincerely written "with a $2.20 Uniball Signo broad-tipped black pen, in his characteristic cursive handwriting, always dated and signed," she said.

The contents of the letter were always warm and encouraging, much like Mr Nathan's personality. Each letter he wrote was personalised for its recipient and no two letters were the same.

One of the letters she received from him was written after a Community Chest event, where Ms Chua was tired and had to deal with difficult donors.

In his note to her, Mr Nathan said: "Some of us have greater burdens to bear, I know it was not easy for you."

Another letter he wrote was to then-chairman of National Museum of Singapore GK Goh. He encouraged and thanked museum staff for the successful launch of Presidential Presents, an exhibition on state gifts received by the presidents of Singapore.

"I must compliment all the museum officials for a well laid out and tastefully presented display. Kindly convey to them my appreciation and in particular to Iskander Mydin for enlightening me about each item," he wrote.

Ms Chua also spoke of Mr Nathan's commitment to social service, and described him as being personally involved in engaging beneficiaries, donors and organisers. One of the best examples of his commitment to charity was the establishment of the President's Challenge.

"Thank you Mr Nathan for your kindness and generosity, and for giving all of us in the social service space - donors, caregivers, volunteers and beneficiaries - courage and hope," she said.

He knew his "heart is getting weaker by the day"

Mr Ramaswamy Athappan's eulogy for Mr S R Nathan

"My days are somewhat numbered. I will be 92 in July. My heart is getting weaker by the day. My only wish is to see you well and successful in your life."

Mr Nathan wrote this in a note attached to a gift he personally delivered to his friend, Ramaswamy Athappan in April this year.

The gift was a statue of Vinayagar, another name for the Hindu god Lord Ganesh worshipped as a remover of obstacles.

Such is the love that Mr Nathan showed those who had the privilege of knowing him, even as he felt life slowly slip away.

The chairman and CEO of Fairfax Asia and CEO of First Capital Insurance first met Mr Nathan 16 years ago at East Coast Park, where the then President took early morning walks daily.

Mr Athappan said: "I personally witnessed how he paid close attention to the everyday concerns of ordinary Singaporeans. He conversed and listened kindly, courteously and attentively to the concerns of people he met during his morning walks."

He also shared how Mr Nathan, despite being hospitalised, tried to help visitors from India who were stopped at the Singapore immigration checkpoint at the Causeway in July this year.

The group of four women were on the last leg of their trip on their motorbikes around Asia to raise awareness about female fetecide in India.

But they did not have the proper vehicle insurance to enter Singapore, and one of the bikers' contacts who knew Mr Nathan contacted him for help.

It was late at night, but that didn't stop Mr Nathan from calling Mr Athappan from the hospital to request his assistance.

He possessed rich experience and great insights of our Labour Movement

Mr Chan Chun Sing's eulogy for Mr S R Nathan

Even though he suffered from deteriorating health and had a busy schedule, Mr Nathan took time to share his perspectives with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), NTUC Secretary-General and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing said.

In his eulogy, Mr Chan said that Mr Nathan possessed rich experience and great insights of the labour movement and helped shape its current mission and vision.

Mr Nathan first worked as a medical social worker in 1955 before becoming a welfare officer who fought for the rights of maritime workers the next year. He was seconded to the labour movement during a tumultuous period in 1962, when unions were rife with pro-communist elements.

In May this year, Mr Nathan still spoke passionately and incisively about the direction of the labour movement, Mr Chan said.

Mr Nathan said that the Labour Movement must possess that special ingredient that helps create that unique competitive advantage for Singapore so that lives can be improved and the next generation can have a better future.

"He asked us if we were just unionists or were we a Labour Movement? He reminded us to stay focused as a Labour Movement that not only takes care of our working people, but also our country," Mr Chan recalled.

He loved to watch Tamil and Malayalam movies

Mr Gopinath Pillai's eulogy for Mr S R Nathan

Thanjavooru Manneduthu, the song that played at the beginning of Mr Nathan's state funeral, was his favourite, his friend Mr Gopinath Pillai said.

The ambassador-at-large and chairman of the Institute of South Asian Studies at NUS added: "It speaks volumes of the man that this Tamil song resonated with him precisely because he heard it in a tale of Singapore - how from many, we became one; how despite our different traditions, cultures and religions, we could be 'one people'."

Mr Pillai also revealed that Mr Nathan loved to watch Tamil and Malayalam movies, and appreciated both classical Carnatic music and light film songs.

The two got to know each other more after Mr Nathan was appointed Chairman of the Hindu Endowment Board in 1983.

Mr Pillai spoke of how the new chairman "brought in an excellent finance member who not only cleaned up the accounts, but also instituted strict measures to ensure there were no leakages" as they were handling money from a large number of devotees.

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Grey skies and a familiar burning smell greeted Singaporeans yesterday morning as the haze made a return.

On the streets, people young and old were seen wearing face masks, while others held cloth over their mouths and noses. The sudden spike in demand for N95 masks yesterday caught retailers by surprise, with some shops running out of stock in the middle of the day.

N95 masks can filter out fine particles found in the haze.

Air quality is forecast to be in the unhealthy range today, the National Environment Agency said. Air quality is considered unhealthy when the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading is in the range of 101 to 200, and hazardous when it is above 300.

It was between 84 and 114 at 7pm yesterday, with western Singapore registering the highest reading.

Accountant Muhammad Kader, 26, said he might cancel his plans to visit the Singapore Night Festival this weekend if the haze worsens. "It's quite bad. The haze just came overnight," he said.

The sudden onset of haze prompted at least one school, Methodist Girls' School, to issue an advisory to parents on the precautions it has put in place. This included switching on air purifiers in classrooms when air quality hits the unhealthy or elevated range.

Many people took to social media to share photographs of skylines shrouded in smoke, from Jurong in the west to Katong in the east.

Taxi driver Francis Ong, 65, said he figured it was the start of the hazy season when he woke up to the smell of smoke. "I'll try to stay indoors because it's difficult to breathe outside," he said.

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Yesterday, some 2,300 free haze kits given out by Guardian pharmacy - which included an N95 mask and a bottle of water - were snapped up by 2pm. Sales of masks also soared.

"Although we were prepared for the haze to return and had arranged for a good level of stocks at all stores, the speed of the demand spike resulted in most stores running out of stock very fast," said Guardian's chief executive, Ms Sarah Boyd.

The pharmacy has arranged for emergency deliveries of masks, lozenges, eye drops and analgesics to some stores over the next two to three days.

Shopping site Lazada, which noticed a spike in sales of air purifiers and N95 masks, has launched a campaign that offers next-day delivery of these items. Delivery usually takes two to three days.

Singapore Post issued masks and eye drops to its outdoor delivery staff and temporarily redeployed those with respiratory or heart conditions or who are above 65 years of age to indoor work.

Still, the haze did not stop ardent fans of location-based augmented reality game Pokemon Go. They were spotted out and about in a Pokemon hot spot in Hougang.

Singapore suffered one of its worst bouts of haze last year.

In September, readings reached hazardous levels, leading to the closure of primary and secondary schools for a day.

For more haze updates from AsiaOne, click here:

This article was first published on Aug 27, 2016.
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Singaporeans bade a final farewell to the nation's sixth and longest- serving president yesterday.

Thousands braved the haze to line the streets from Parliament House to Kent Ridge, as Mr S R Nathan's cortege passed by landmarks that were milestones in his illustrious career of five decades in public service.

Others stopped work to tune in to the broadcast of a state funeral service for the man many had, since his death on Monday at age 92, hailed as a people's president.

At the University Cultural Centre, seven eulogists paid tribute to the man whose life's work made a difference to their lives and many others.

Singapore says farewell to former president S R Nathan

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They shared memories of how as a social worker, workers' advocate, intelligence chief, newspaper company executive chairman, diplomat and from 1999 to 2011, Singapore's President, he shaped the history of this young nation and its institutions.

Even after he stepped down, he stayed active in engaging young Singaporeans, encouraging them to build on the pioneer generation's work and take Singapore forward.

A humble man who put his nation first: PM Lee, friends pay tribute to S R Nathan

"He always did his best for Singapore, even at personal risk and sacrifice," said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who delivered the opening eulogy during the two- hour funeral service.

"Few have answered the nation's calls so faithfully and so often, and served Singapore so well."

Mr Lee noted Mr Nathan served two terms as head of state with dignity and distinction, winning the respect and affection of Singaporeans of all races and from all walks of life.

"He firmly believed in and was the epitome of multiracialism, attending events of all communities, making time for everyone, no matter who they were," he said.

Mr Nathan's family members, President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Mrs Tan, MPs, diplomats and invited Singaporeans from all walks of life were among the 1,900 at the service. There were civil servants, social workers, religious leaders and students, many of whom he generously shared his life experiences and wisdom with.

Mr Nathan's hope was that they would learn "not to give up", Mr Lee said, noting that the ex-president "overcame extremely trying circumstances in his childhood and rose in the public service through grit, determination and ability, guided by a deep and abiding sense of duty".

Mr Lee added: "Time and again, he placed nation before self. Quietly and without fuss, he gave his best years and more, to Singapore."

Singapore says goodbye to former President S R Nathan

Many among the more than 20,000 people who paid their respects at Mr Nathan's lying in state in Parliament House on Thursday had met him - or been moved by his life story and lifetime of duty.

Yesterday, six former colleagues and friends who knew him well, some for a half-century, joined Mr Lee in paying tribute to his steely resolve, strength of character, and generosity of spirit.

Foreign service veteran Tommy Koh called Mr Nathan "our super ambassador to the world" - a demanding boss who taught officers to be courageous, and put his own life on the line in the 1974 Laju hijack crisis.

As President, Mr Nathan's social work training and prodigious memory for names and faces endeared him to many. And he converted a huge global network of friends into friends of Singapore.

Mr S R Nathan's Lying In State at Parliament House

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This article was first published on August 27, 2016.
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As he stood before the flag-draped casket of his friend and comrade- in-arms, former unionist and PAP assemblyman Mahmud Awang remembered a man who spoke softly, thought widely, and did much for his fellow Singaporeans.

"Mr S R Nathan represented the best in people: He was patient, polite and did things quietly and properly, in a way that was accepted by all," said Mr Mahmud who, as NTUC's first chairman, had fought for workers' rights alongside Mr Nathan.

He was among 159 VIPs - comprising 78 Singaporeans and 81 members of the diplomatic and consular corps - who yesterday morning paid their last respects to the former president at Parliament House before his journey to the University Cultural Centre (UCC) at the National University of Singapore.

A humble man who put his nation first: PM Lee, friends pay tribute to S R Nathan

Among the foreign leaders at the UCC was Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai, who said Malaysia had lost a good friend who contributed much to bilateral ties between Singapore and Malaysia.

"We were good friends and he used to go up to Malaysia to visit some of his old friends," Mr Liow added. "We will remember him for a long, long time."

With Mr Liow were Malaysian ministers Joseph Kurup and Khairy Jamaluddin. Also at UCC were Brunei's Minister for Development Bahrin Abdullah and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, as well as 43 heads of foreign missions in Singapore.

Singapore says farewell to former president S R Nathan

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After the last visitors at Parliament House left, Mrs Nathan, 87, daughter Juthika, 56, and son Osith, 53, and family members had a private moment with Mr Nathan, before the casket was moved from the bier to the ceremonial gun carriage for the procession to the state funeral service.

En route to UCC, thousands of Singaporeans of all backgrounds and ages lined the 15.5km funeral procession route to bid a final farewell to a man often described as a people's president.

Madam Ng Siang Hian, 92, wore her finest cheongsam, gold-embroidered and in lilac, and took a taxi to High Street Centre from her Toa Payoh flat to witness Mr Nathan's final journey.

Over at Queenstown MRT station, Primary 2 pupil Ethan Seow, eight, came in his uniform straight from River Valley Primary School. He was with his mother and sister.

Security officer Kumaraguru Govindaraju, 49, took a day off to wave a last goodbye to Mr Nathan, who died on Monday at age 92.

Like him, many had stories of Mr Nathan's humility and grace: the day he shook their hand, stopped to chat and took a picture with them.

"He always remembered the ordinary people," said Mr Kumaraguru, who met Mr Nathan several years ago during Thaipusam at Sri Thendayuthapani temple.

"There are no words to describe how I'm feeling now," he added, looking solemn as the haze that enveloped Singapore yesterday afternoon turned the skies a sombre grey.

The three-hour PSI reading was 215 when the ceremonial gun carriage came out of the gates of Parliament House at 2pm.

As the procession rolled past, applause filled the air, hand-held Singapore flags fluttered and people shouted: "Thank you, Mr Nathan".

The funeral procession wound its way past landmarks closely identified with Mr Nathan's long and distinguished career in public service.

Singapore says goodbye to former President S R Nathan

It went by City Hall, where Mr Nathan, as President, stood on its steps to review the National Day Parade at the Padang in 2000, 2005 and 2010.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry, that marked Mr Nathan's career in diplomacy, also used to be located at City Hall.

Minutes later, Fullerton Hotel came into view. Previously known as Fullerton Building, it housed the Singapore Marine Department where Mr Nathan, as a seamen's welfare officer, began his career in labour relations.

The next milestone building was NTUC Centre, which recalls Mr Nathan's role at the Labour Research Unit in the 1960s, negotiating for improved conditions for workers and helping to win over workers and unions' trust, including pro-communist unions.

At Collyer Quay, about 300 NTUC employees stood in silent homage, some with their phones raised to record his final journey for posterity.

This article was first published on August 27, 2016.
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When Madam Urmila Nandey returned home to Ceylon Road last night, after a long day that included her late husband's funeral, the first thing she did was to check on their long-time driver Rahim.

She wanted to make sure he had had his dinner.

At the state funeral earlier, the woman who made Mr SR Nathan's "imagination run wild" - as he himself put it - for 74 years was a picture of grace and calm.

The 87-year-old - who uses a wheelchair and whose hair is now the colour of snow - would have been exhausted from both sorrow and the task of receiving the many visitors who went to pay their last respects.

Singapore says farewell to former president S R Nathan

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But she did what she has been doing the last six decades as Mr Nathan's wife: her duty, and more.

She waved to the funeral attendees who spontaneously rose to their feet as she was wheeled into the University Cultural Centre auditorium. She nodded in thanks as speaker after speaker - from the Prime Minister to the family friend - paid tribute to Mr Nathan.

And at the end, she clasped her hands together in gratitude to those present, lifting them up to acknowledge the folk sitting in the upper decks of the hall.

This is the woman who has been hailed as the anchor for Singapore's sixth president.

As Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong put it, in the most poignant line in his eulogy for Mr Nathan: "The central and brightest thread in his life was his love for Umi."

Strip away the pomp of yesterday's ceremony, and the theme that emerged was love.

Read also: Singapore says goodbye to former President S R Nathan
A humble man who put nation first: PM Lee, friends pay tribute to Mr Nathan

There was Mr Nathan's love for his country and its people, Tamil and Malayalam movies, classical Carnatic music and light film songs, and writing letters with a $2.20 black-ink pen.

There was also his love for his family. "He was above all a family man," said veteran diplomat Gopinath Pillai.

In particular, the bond between Mr and Mrs Nathan was "an extraordinary tale of devotion and love that inspires us all".

Mr Nathan himself has written and said much about Mrs Nathan, dedicating chapters in his books to how they met. He was 18 and, like in a sepia-tinted movie, he fell in love when he cycled past her house in Muar and glimpsed her standing by the window on the second floor.

After 16 years of courtship during which he overcame her parents' objections and two agonising years of separation when she studied in Britain, they finally settled down, and she became a constant presence by his side.

He called her Umi. She called him Nathan; sometimes "grandpa", after the three grandchildren came.

When I covered his nomination as president 11 years ago, he was asked at a press conference what he and his wife would be doing later that day. He replied: "Probably when I go back now, I'll have tea. I'm sure she'll want to give me something sweet to eat because I like sweet things."

I went with him. Indeed, Mrs Nathan had prepared two plates of nonya kueh - one of kueh wajik (sticky rice infused with gula melaka) and one of kueh ambon (honeycombed pandan cake).

It was a relationship sealed by mutual support and sacrifices, with some gentle nagging thrown in (his favourite food was nasi briyani and she had to restrict his intake).

It has been observed that after he became President in 1999, she stopped wearing saris on a regular basis, so as to underscore the message that she was the wife of the President of all Singaporeans, not only the Indian community.

Her endless consideration for others had its influence on a man who became known for his generosity of spirit. And she never begrudged the time that his public service took him away from her and their two children, Juthika and Osith.

"We've never heard Mrs Nathan complaining, 'Oh, he's out so much and has no time for the family'," recounted former senior public servant Haider Sithawalla, 83, who, with his wife Zubeda, 72, often met the Nathans for grilled seafood at a restaurant at the Esplanade.

The former president, in turn, doted on her.

"He had eyes only for her," said Mr Nathan's niece Nomita Pillay, whose mother is his sister. "When he walked into a crowd, the first thing he did was to look for her."

And when Mr Nathan went out for functions without her, he would pack and bring home food for her if it was something she liked.

"I've told my husband to emulate my uncle in how he treats his wife!" said Ms Pillay, half smiling even as her eyes welled up in tears.

Over the past four days since Mr Nathan died in hospital, Mrs Nathan has been holding up well, said relatives and family friends.

In between entertaining visitors - she tells them "Your friend is gone" - she has been recounting favourite memories, reminiscing about how they met and their time together.

"She's teared, of course, but she's a strong woman, and she's not alone," said a friend.

Yesterday, as son Osith went to lay a wreath on his father's portrait, his mother held out her arms.

Next to her, daughter Juthika leaned in, and the family, which had lost a part of itself, shared a long, silent hug.

Mr Nathan was the president of Singapore. But at this final moment, he was a husband and a father first of all.

This article was first published on August 27, 2016.
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After thousands of people had paid their respects to former president S R Nathan, his family and friends bade him a final farewell in a private cremation service at Mandai Crematorium yesterday.

Among the 90 people who attended the quiet, dignified service were Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Mrs Lee, Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs Maliki Osman and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing.

Mr Nathan's only son Osith led the Hindu funeral rites, which included placing rice and oil on his body, and carrying an earthen pot with water and walking three times around the coffin. As per Hindu custom, holes were knocked into the pot, from which water flowed, and Mr Osith's brother-in-law Cheong Gay Eng sprinkled it around the coffin.

Mr Nathan's grandchildren Kiron Cheong, Monisha Cheong, and Kheshin Cheong then paid their respects.

Singapore says farewell to former president S R Nathan

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While there were no announcements that the public could attend, about 15 of them arrived at the crematorium and were allowed to sit down at a neighbouring service hall, where the service was screened live.

Mr Lee Hock Yang, 66, decided to attend as he wanted to say goodbye to a man he regarded as an "old friend".

Read also: A humble man who put his nation first: PM Lee, friends pay tribute to S R Nathan

Singapore says goodbye to former President S R Nathan

The retired fruit seller recalled fondly that Mr Nathan would call him "fruit man", and acknowledge him whenever they came across each other.

Once, he said, Mr Nathan rolled down the window of the car he was in to call out to Mr Lee.

He used to sell fruits in a back lane near Mr Nathan's Ceylon Road home in the 1960s.

"I am just a small butterfly, and he was such a big shot, but he would always stop to say hello. That really touched me," said Mr Lee.

This article was first published on August 27, 2016.
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And so ends the 92-year-long journey of Mr SR Nathan, who ran away from home at age 16 and ended up in the Istana six decades later as the nation's sixth president.

The thousands of Singaporeans who showed up at his wake, and stood along the roads under hazy skies to bid farewell as his casket moved towards the University Cultural Centre for the funeral ceremony, were paying tribute to a man who took the highest office promising to minister to "every community in my parish".

He would stay on to be the Republic's longest-serving president, making his presence felt not so much as a parson but more in the mould of a retired beat policeman keeping a weather eye on his citizens, while being a caring family doctor at the same time.

Every nation feels touched by its leaders in some way. In Mr Nathan's case, the contact was often direct - that's how much he got in the people's midst, not allowing the gilded cage that is the Istana to affect his downhome style. The 20,000 who came to his wake on Thursday, waiting in line for as long as two hours, were proving a life lesson: If you make time for people, they will make time for you.

Singapore says farewell to former president S R Nathan

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In the days after his death, social media lit up with one Nathan story after another as Singaporeans recounted a smile, a touch or a word of encouragement from their erstwhile president. Mr Gopinath Pillai may not be wrong when he says at least half of Singapore households will have a picture of Mr Nathan with a family member.

Every nation has its story of gravity-defying ascent to high office. In the United States, Abraham Lincoln went from a log cabin to the White House. British people know of the story of Dick Whittington, a menial kitchen worker who rose to be Lord Mayor of London. Singapore now has the SR Nathan story.

The day he was born - July 3, 1924 - was of no particular significance except that the Paris Olympics were in full flow. Certainly, no comets were spotted in the sky. The only news that travelled that day was that a 21-year-old Japanese man had been arrested in Osaka for stealing the flag from the American embassy. This fellow said he wanted to do something "heroic" before he died for his country.

Read also: A humble man who put nation first: PM Lee, friends pay tribute to Mr Nathan
Singapore says goodbye to former President S R Nathan

Perhaps there was a divine signal there: In later years, Mr Nathan would have many tangles with the Japanese himself, including one with the Japanese Red Army over the Laju incident. Of other heroics that happened out of sight in his role as director of the Security and Intelligence Division, we will probably never know.

Curiously, one global leader who stopped by to pay his respects to the former president was Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who acknowledged that Mr Nathan had been the first head of state to visit the victims of Hiroshima. In that gesture, Mr Nathan and his small island melded as one: an ability to rise above the painful memories of the Japanese Occupation even as bigger nations find it difficult to shake off the weights of history.

Mr Nathan's early days fitted the stereotype commonly attached to sections of the Indian community of the time. An alcoholic father committed suicide. There were domestic quarrels. Three older siblings died at a very young age. Superstitions abounded. He wore earrings - to ward off evil - he explained.

From that rough start though, his life embodies the Singapore Story; the hunger to acquire knowledge, the determination to move up in life, and the resilience. Today, Singapore matches Japan for longevity.

Singapore's former president S R Nathan dies

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tabla!, The Straits Times, The New Paper, Berita Harian

Like the nation he would eventually steward, he knew no one owed him a free lunch. Mr Nathan, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, had no time for self-pity or to look to others for help. The former president put it even more simply: "I learnt to look life in the face."

Success can be assessed by different yardsticks. One is to take stock of a person's achievements. The other is to judge him by the difficulties he has overcome. By either measure, Mr Nathan was an unqualified winner. That a man without a full university degree could head external intelligence, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and eventually become president of a nation bedazzled by higher education stands testament to his savvy, efficiency and integrity.

This article was first published on August 27, 2016.
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Some couples who signed up for packages with a popular wedding company were shocked last Saturday when they saw an advertisement stating that a long-time employee of the firm was no longer working there.

Lagun Sari Wedding & Catering in Joo Chiat had taken out an advertisement in Berita Harian to say that Mr Sunato Zaidi was no longer with it, and that no transactions should be conducted with him.

Mr Sunato was dismissed by the company on Aug 19, the company's general manager, Ms Peggy Lee, told The Straits Times.

Mr Sunato is under investigation, the police told ST.

While the company and the police did not say what he is being investigated for, clients of Lagun Sari said they were told by the company that Mr Sunato had allegedly pocketed the deposits of clients.

Ms Siti Fadilah, 26, an interior designer who is getting married next April, called Lagun Sari last Saturday and found out that Mr Sunato, her wedding planner, had been fired. She said she was told that he had allegedly taken $5,000 of her $7,000 deposit and that more than 100 customers were affected.

About 50 affected customers have since joined a WhatsApp group created by Ms Fadilah.

Ms Fadilah said Lagun Sari clients had received letters from the management stating how much they had paid. When the sums did not tally, Mr Sunato told clients to ignore the letters, she said.

"He said he knew what he was doing and convinced us not to worry. We trusted him so much."

She said Lagun Sari said initially it was not going to compensate her but changed its mind after she put up a post about the incident on Facebook, which included a video of a confrontation with Mr Sunato.

Last Saturday, after the notice was published, Ms Fadilah's fiance had bumped into Mr Sunato and confronted him about their missing deposit. Mr Sunato promised to explain the matter in a meeting with Lagun Sari the following week, but did not turn up, Ms Fadilah said.

Issues with Mr Sunato had surfaced earlier, said another client.

Mr Muhammad Ridzwan, 28, a concierge, said he booked a wedding package through him in December 2013. He paid $4,500 to secure a function room on the third floor of Lagun Sari's building for his wedding two years later in 2015.

But in 2014, he got a letter saying the location was not available on the date he had wanted.

Another couple got the venue on the date though they had paid after he did, he said.

"He took the deposit and didn't submit the booking. This should have set alarm bells ringing among the management then," said Mr Ridzwan, who got a full refund.

Ms Lee said the company will deal with affected clients case by case. She advised them to a make police report and make an appointment with the company.

This article was first published on August 27, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Read also: Bridal salon closure: Wedding dreams turn nightmare

Till debt do they part: Couples borrowing heavily for lavish weddings

Singapore has had its first case of locally transmitted infection of the Zika virus, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a joint statement today (Aug 27).

The patient is a 47-year-old Malaysian woman who lives at Block 102, Aljunied Crescent, which is not in an active dengue cluster but near two active ones.

She was tested positive for Zika today, two days after she started to develop fever, rash and conjunctivitis.

She is currently well and recovering, and is in hospital for observation at Tan Tock Seng Hospital's Communicable Diseases Centre (CDC).

The patient, who works in Singapore, had not travelled to Zika-affected areas recently, hence she was likely to have been infected in Singapore.

The MOH is currently screening her close contacts including household members.

Three people - two in a family who live in the area and an individual who works in the area - have also preliminarily tested positive for Zika based on their urine samples.

They are pending further confirmation tests, the MOH and NEA said.

They added: "With the presence of Zika in our region and the volume of travel by Singaporeans as well as tourists, it is inevitable that there will be imported cases of Zika into Singapore. There is also risk of subsequent local transmission, as the Aedes mosquito vector is present here."

While precautionary measures have been stepped up, the authorities warned of more cases as most infected persons may display mild or no symptoms.

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said: "The MOH and NEA are working together to carry out vector control and testing of residents in that area with fever and rashes so as to reduce the risk of further spread. I encourage those who are unwell and with these symptoms to visit their doctors for medical attention. We have also alerted our clinics in the area to look out for suspect cases and refer them to the CDC for testing."

For now, all suspect cases of Zika virus infection will be isolated while awaiting confirmation of the blood test results.

huizhen@sph.com.sg

What is the Zika virus?

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Reuters

The family of Benjamin Lim is hoping that the authorities' review of how schools and police deal with young suspects will be quickly concluded so that any tweaks to procedures will come sooner rather than later.

In his first comments since a coroner's inquiry ruled Benjamin's death a suicide on Aug 18, his father also admitted he was mistaken when he had earlier claimed that the five police officers, while in civilian attire, were sporting ID cards when they went to look for his son in school.

But while the inquiry has also assured the family that Benjamin was not ill-treated at the police station, where he was interviewed for allegedly molesting an 11-year-old girl, he said the family still has questions.

Why, for instance, was there a need to send that number of officers to Benjamin's school, North View Secondary, when fewer officers could have done the job?

The 14-year-old had jumped to his death on Jan 26, hours after he was taken alone to Ang Mo Kio Police Division for questioning.

The day before, the girl had lodged a police report about being allegedly molested in a lift. The boy's physical education uniform was recognisable from closed- circuit television footage, and officers contacted North View Secondary for help in identifying the boy.

Police went down the next day.

Benjamin was identified and brought to the principal's office, where he was spoken to by a single police officer in the presence of school staff.

In his latest comments in a letter to The Sunday Times, Mr Lim clarified a point he made in his first open letter in the wake of Benjamin's death: "We were told that five police officers went to North View Secondary School... and officers were in civilian clothes.

"We mistakenly assumed that police have their ID cards displayed when they were in the school."

School principal Chen Fook Pang had negotiated with the police that only one of them speak to the boy.

The police agreed. State Coroner Marvin Bay had, in giving his findings, said police and the school had treated Benjamin properly when he was being investigated for alleged molestation. They "took active steps to handle (him) and the investigations sensitively, given his age and status as a student", he said.

In the principal's office, Benjamin was allowed to call his mother.

According to school counsellor Karry Lung, Benjamin had been calm when the police officer was speaking to him, but seemed nervous when talking to his mother, who was heard using a loud voice.

Mr Lim said the family found it "very difficult to believe that Benjamin was normal until he was speaking to his own mother". He also questioned the counsellor's assessment that Benjamin was "stable enough to be escorted... to the police station all alone".

After giving his statement at the police station, Benjamin was brought home by his mother. He fell to his death around 4.20pm. Minutes earlier, his mother had told him he would not be attending a Secondary 3 cohort camp the next day.

This was after a phone call from the school counsellor.

Benjamin's mother says the counsellor told her that her son would not be attending the camp.

But Madam Lung, who had drafted an e-mail detailing the conversation right after the call, said she had expressed her concerns and only suggested that it would be better for Benjamin to stay at home with his family and do e-learning - which the coroner accepted. However, the coroner suggested it would have been better for the counsellor to have spoken directly with Benjamin.

In his latest comments, Benjamin's father said the call log on Mrs Lim's mobile phone showed her conversation with Madam Lung lasted a minute. He wondered if that was enough time for the counsellor to explain that Benjamin might be under stress, and why the school felt it would be better for him to skip the camp, and also ask for the mother's opinion.

Mr Lim said the court's findings have done little to bring closure to the family. The police and the Ministry of Education are conducting a review of protocol, taking into consideration Coroner Bay's suggestions, such as having a school counsellor present at the police station.

"As parents, we look forward to the speedy review of the current proceedings," said Mr Lim, whose family declined to be identified.

He added: "Definitely, we will see an improvement.

"I just hope it will be soon."

byseow@sph.com.sg 

This article was first published on AUG 28, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Most people remember Benjamin Lim as a schoolboy whose death prompted a relook at how young people are treated in police investigations. But to his loved ones, he will always be the obedient son who willingly took up part-time work to supplement the family's income, and a young man who took great pride in his uniformed group.

The 14-year-old was found motionless at the foot of his Yishun block on Jan 26, hours after being questioned by the police for a case of alleged molestation. His death led to an ongoing review of police and school protocols.

It has been seven months since the incident, but it still brings tears to his mother's eyes. Said her husband, 47, who is self-employed: "Things will never be the same." The family declined to be identified.

Benjamin, his younger son, was close to his mother and sister, and took pride in his uniformed group, Mr Lim told The Sunday Times during an interview in his home, a three-room flat in Yishun.

Tributes from Benjamin's friends, along with family photographs, are arranged neatly in a small cabinet below the altar in their home.

When he was not at school, Benjamin worked part-time as a fast-food chain crew member - a job he found on his own initiative.

"He felt his pocket money was not enough for him to fill his tummy," said Mr Lim. "He asked for our permission, we granted it, and he went for his own interview... he was very happy (to be accepted)."

He later introduced his mother, a housewife, to the same job as a crew member, and the pair would work shifts together. Half of Benjamin's $200 to $300 monthly salary went to the household, said Mr Lim. The rest supplemented the $2.50 his parents gave him every day and went into his savings for items like a personal laptop. It also paid for his gear for his Secondary 3 cohort camp.

"He was looking forward to it; he worked for it," said Mr Lim."One month before, he already started buying things... it was all for the camp. He had a list. Every night, he would count how many items he was short of." Most of these items were buried with the schoolboy.

Benjamin had also been very proud of his co-curricular activity, the National Police Cadet Corps, said his father. He might have been introverted, but he liked the outdoors and got excited if there were school activities. "He supervised his mother when she ironed his uniform, and polished his own shoes," said Mr Lim, who received messages from Benjamin's NPCC friends after the incident. "They said he was a pillar of the NPCC, that they turned to him for advice and support."

Benjamin had also been keen to march at this year's National Day Parade, and was due to receive the rank of sergeant.

While the family was vocal in questioning the circumstances surrounding Benjamin's death, the past seven months have not been easy. As he had allegedly molested a girl, members of the public wrote to Mr Lim, saying things like: "What makes you think that he shouldn't die?" Others said he must have died due to guilt.

Mr Lim said such comments were very hurtful.

During the inquiry, school staff and a police officer said Benjamin showed signs of anxiety only after speaking to his mother on the phone, before leaving for the police station. This left Mrs Lim visibly upset during court proceedings.

Penning down her thoughts in a letter in Chinese in May, she wrote: "Benjamin was obedient and quiet, and usually did not talk much or share his deepest thoughts... From what I know of him, he could not have been frightened by my volume of speech (over the phone)."

While he did not expect the incident to receive this much attention, Mr Lim said it might have been good, in hindsight: "It does make people stop and think if procedures can be improved." But of his son's death, he said: "I don't think the family can ever get over it... A lot of questions are running through our minds."

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The New Paper, Shin Min Daily News

This article was first published on AUG 28, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

After the passing of former president S R Nathan, there has been much talk about the 1974 Laju hijack and the bravery of the 13 men who traded places with the hostages. Who are these men?

In 2011, before he retired from the highest office, the late president S R Nathan hosted a small tea reception attended by seven of 12 Singaporean men.

It was a private function and some of the men were recognisable faces to Istana staff.

"It was our first and only reunion, and we recounted some of the things that happened in 1974. We were at ease with the results (of the crisis)," says Mr Tee Tua Ba, 74, the former commissioner of police.

Mr S. Rajagopal, 76, a retired counter terrorism officer with the Internal Security Department, was also there, as were several commando officers. He took pictures of the gathering.

He tells The New Paper on Sunday: "I met the President at an earlier event and told him we should have a gathering for the men.

"We had not seen each other as a group since."

That was the day 13 men traded places with hostages of the Laju ferry to guarantee safe passage out of Singapore for four hijackers.

The details were never shared publicly and none of the men believed in self-glorification.

As a result, for more than 30 years, few outside the group knew of the men's readiness to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Then before retiring, Mr Nathan revealed to The New Paper what took place on the Feb 8, 1974, Japan Airlines flight to Kuwait with the four Laju hijackers.

And he gave even more details in his book, An Unexpected Journey: Path To The Presidency.

Among the 13 were commandos, including LTC (Retired) Clarence Tan Kim Peng, Singapore's first US-trained special forces soldier.

And ISD officers including director Yoong Siew Wah who, like the others, was ready to lay down his life.

INTERPRETERS

But there were also two non-security men who had acted as interpreters during the crisis.

One was a former official of the Syariah Court while the other had worked at the then-Singapore Broadcasting Corporation.

Both had died before the Istana reunion.

There has only been one publicly seen picture of the 13 men, taken at a press conference after the men had safely returned to Singapore on Feb 9.

They never again assembled as a group for more than 35 years.

The 13 men

DEFENCE MINISTRY

Mr S R Nathan
Director, Security and Intelligence Division, whom Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and Defence Minister Goh Keng Swee told to lead the 13-men exchange.

Captain Clarence Tan Kim Peng
Commanding officer of the Singapore Armed Forces Regular Battalion, the precursor of the 1st Commando Battalion. He was one of the first local officers to attend the ranger and airborne courses conducted by the US Army. He was involved with the elite soldiers until 1988, then he became a defence attache in Australia before retiring in 1992.

Captain Gwee Peng Hong
Commando officer who was the commanding officer of the first batch of NS commandos.

Mr Teo Ah Bah
Commando officer.

Mr Tan Lye Kwee
Commando officer.

HOME AFFAIRS MINISTRY

Mr Yoong Siew Wah
Director of Singapore's Internal Security Department (ISD), 1971 to 1974. He was previously the Director Of The Corrupt Practices Investigation bureau and an officer in the Singapore special branch in the 1950s.

Mr Tee Tua Ba
Officer-in-charge of Marine Police, 1974 to 1976. He became Commissioner of Police before retiring in 1997. He is now serving as non-resident ambassador to Switzerland.

Mr Seah Wai Toh
Superintendent of police. He later became deputy director of ISD after 1974 and was involved in negotiating the surrender of four Vietnamese hijackers of an Air Vietnam flight in 1977.

Mr S. Rajagopal
Assistant Superintendent, counter terrorism unit, ISD. His career was packed with dangerous assignments. He was involved in the Air Vietnam operations. Masquerading as a doctor, he boarded and got the injured out of the plane. Now 76, he serves as the honorary treasurer of the Singapore Police Retirees' Association.

Mr Andrew Tan
Assistant Superintendent, counter terrorism unit, ISD.

Mr Saraj Din
Assistant Superintendent, ISD.

TRANSLATORS

Haji Abu Bakar
Religious teacher who was approached by the Ministry of Defence because of his fluency in Arabic. A civilian, he volunteered to join the men on the flight to Kuwait. He went on to become ustaz abu bakar and remained involved in the rehabilitation of terrorists. He died on jan 25, 2005.

Haji Abdul Rahman
Broadcaster with the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation and fluent in Arabic.

Last days of the Laju hijack

The Laju hijack unfolded over nine days. Melvin Singh and Hariz Baharudin zoom in on the last two days as the hijackers negotiated for safe passage out of S'pore

FEB 7, 1974

Police perform a series of practice runs on the route they are to take from the Marine Police jetty at Kallang to Paya Lebar Airport, where the Japan Airlines plane will be waiting.

Everyone is ready.

As the hijackers direct the Laju ferry to the jetty - a 30-minute journey - they keep their guns pointed at the heads of the three hostages.

Then they board a police van and are taken to the Paya Lebar Airport VIP lounge.

Mr Nathan relates in his book: "At the airport, Haji Abu Bakar, an Arabic-speaking official of Singapore's Syariah Court, who had been helping in the exchanges with the Arab hijackers, was asked to come with us, making the team 13 in number.

"Because of the last-minute nature of the arrangements, he did not have a passport and boarded the plane without having spoken to his family.

"This was courageous - not having a passport could have created difficulties both on landing in Kuwait and on his departure."

It is now time to surrender the weapons.

Mr Tee is with his translator in the VIP lounge and the four hijackers. He again reminds them to give up their weapons.

Mr Nathan relates what happens next: "Tee Tua Ba, seeing suspicion, fear and anger in their eyes, reminded them of the guarantee.

"He suggested if need be, they can keep one of the bullets in the leader's Browning automatic, which would be held against his temple.

"While Tee was guiding the hand holding the gun to his own head, the hijacker said that would not be necessary. Then they all surrendered their arms."

Mr Tee says he knew the airport was surrounded by armed police officers and soldiers.

"If they heard a shot fired, they would know I was dead or seriously injured and would have moved in," he tells The New Paper on Sunday.

"I told them to surrender their arms and explosives. They had trusted me so far, and we had operated in good faith.

"The plane wouldn't take off unless they did so and that was when I took his hand and guided the gun to my head.

"The Arab leader stopped me and said, 'Brother, I trust you.'"

FEB 8, 1.25AM

Just before he boards the plane, Mr Tee gets a call.

"I received a sudden call from Mr Tay Seow Wah, Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs.

"I thought something had gone wrong. To my surprise, it was not."

Mr Tay has a message from Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

"It was, 'Job well done'," adds Mr Tee.

No blood has been spilled so far.

AIRPORT RUNWAY: Japanese government and Japan Airlines officials trooping down the gangway of the plane after its arrival from Tokyo on Feb 7, 1974.

The four men, the 13 Singapore officials and other Japanese officials and crew of the Japan Airlines plane, which had flown in from Bangkok, are ready for take-off.

To Mr Tee, the four men are no longer hijackers. "I already totally disarmed and strip-searched all the hijackers and recovered all the weapons, which included revolvers and knives, before boarding the plane.

"The hijackers were at our mercy and in honour of our agreement, we were there to ensure their safe passage," says Mr Tee.

But the four men eye the Japanese crew and officials with some suspicion. So they are separated from one another.

The hijackers sit at the front of the plane, the Singaporeans in the middle and the Japanese at the back.

Two Singaporeans, using the surrendered guns, keep guard.

During the flight, Mr Tee continues to talk to the four men.

He says it is extraordinary that while they are adversaries, the two Japanese men and the officials are polite with one another.

Mr Nathan tells him to continue engaging the Arabs.

"They asked me why I called them terrorists.

"The Arabs said there are bigger terrorists out there and they don't know when they return home if they will disappear," says Mr Tee.

Mr Nathan joins in the conversation and tells the Japanese to take the message home to their compatriots - the Singapore Government has guaranteed their safety, and now it is their turn to return the favour for the Singapore officials.

As the flight approaches Kuwait, the control tower refuses permission for the plane to land.

Then they say it can land but nobody is to leave the plane.

Instead, the men involved in the Japanese embassy siege are to board the plane, and the flight is to leave Kuwait - destination unknown.

In his book, Mr Nathan says: "Interpreting the true facts somewhat loosely, I said I was a special envoy of the prime minister of Singapore and had a special message for the prime minister of Kuwait.

"He asked me what the message was and asked me to read it out to him over the air. I refused.

"I told him my instructions were specific and that the message had to be delivered in person directly to his prime minister."

The plane lands and is immediately surrounded by police and military vehicles.

Mr Tee describes the scene: "My god, the number of tanks and armoured personnel that surrounded us was astonishing.

"For about two hours, there was just silence."

Then the Kuwaiti defence minister walks to the door of the plane.

Mr Yoong Siew Wah bravely goes forward with Mr Nathan and Haji Abu Bakar.

Mr Nathan tells them they are guarantees to ensure the safety of the four men. It is now the job of the Kuwaiti government to protect the officials.

He tells them if anything happens to them, their prime minister has to answer for it.

The Kuwaiti officials are in deep discussion with the Japanese officials but Mr Nathan budges in repeatedly.

"Mr Nathan kept reminding them of their obligations and finally the Kuwaiti official told him, 'If you talk some more, I will arrest you,'" Mr Tee says.

The Singapore officials are told to get lost, and they do.

They decide to lie low and disperse so there is no way the Kuwaiti authorities can round all of them up and put them back on the same plane.

"We had to get lost for awhile. I gave each of our people US$100 from the funds that I had brought. We went shopping," says Mr Nathan in his book.

When asked what he bought with the money, Mr Tee laughs.

"By that time I was so tired, having had little sleep for more than a week. But this was the burden we had to endure."

FEB 8: THE RETURN

The men return home and assemble for a press conference at Paya Lebar Airport.

Their families are to wait a little longer for the reunion.

REUNITED: Mr S R Nathan was greeted by his wife and children on arrival at the Singapore airport.

Did they think they were going to make it back alive?

Mr Tee ponders, then says: "My sons were one and two then. I thought they might not see their father again, and my wife would not see her husband.

"But we had to lead by example, and there was a job to be done. We did our job."

He says it was less dangerous on the plane than before boarding it.

But this is also the same man who directed a gun to his own temple.

The need for operation secrecy meant there was to be no great fanfare, no welcoming party.

The brave 13 were just doing their job.

Excerpts taken from Mr S R Nathan's book - An Unexpected Journey: Path To The Presidency published by Editions Didier Miller

This article was first published on Aug 28, 2016.
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The first case of locally transmitted Zika virus was reported yesterday at Block 102, Aljunied Crescent. HARIZ BAHARUDIN (harizbah@sph.com.sg) visited the block to find out how residents feel

When she found out she was pregnant five months ago, Aljunied Crescent resident Mastika Yacoob, 42, told herself she would take no chances with the dangers of dengue.

For the first three months, the designer made sure she had a mosquito patch on her at all times.

Her concerns abated in her fourth month, and she stopped wearing them.

But now, five months into her pregnancy, she is worried again.

Yesterday, news emerged of Singapore's first case of locally transmitted Zika virus. And it was traced to her place at Block 102, Aljunied Crescent.

Speaking to The New Paper on Sunday at her home last night, Ms Mastika was visibly stunned by the news.

With one hand on her stomach, she said: "Here? In our block? That is scary. It's something I've always been fearful of."

Zika poses a serious threat to pregnant women as it can lead to their children having birth defects.

She and her husband, 36-year-old software engineer Kohodai Dada, are not taking any chances and said they would purchase more mosquito patches right away at the nearby 24-hour supermarket.

Mr Dada said: "We always hear it on the television, but now this is a different thing altogether.

"To know that someone was infected in the very block we live in, it makes the problem that much closer to home."

According to a joint statement by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and National Environment Agency (NEA), the patient, a 47-year-old Malaysian woman, tested positive for the virus yesterday at the Communicable Diseases Centre (CDC) at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

The unnamed woman had not travelled to Zika-affected areas recently and developed symptoms on Thursday.

The patient was referred to the CDC by a general practitioner (GP) on Friday. She is now hospitalised and is recovering.

The two agencies said with the "volume of travel by Singaporeans as well as tourists, it is inevitable that there will be imported cases of Zika into Singapore".

There is also the "risk of subsequent local transmission", due to the presence of the Aedes mosquito here.

FURTHER CASES

The statement said: "While MOH and NEA have stepped up precautionary measures, we expect that there may be further cases, as most infected persons may display mild or no symptoms."

The patient's close contacts, including household members, are being screened.

MOH is also testing others in the area who have fever and a rash. There are three other suspected cases in the area pending confirmation tests.

As an added precaution, all suspect cases of Zika virus infection will be isolated while awaiting confirmation of the blood test results.

All GPs around the 12-storey Block 102 and the patient's workplace have been alerted to be "extra vigilant".

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said: "MOH and NEA are working together to carry out vector control and testing of residents in that area with fever and rashes so as to reduce the risk of further spread.

"I encourage those who are unwell and with these symptoms to visit their doctors for medical attention.

"We have also alerted our clinics in the area to look out for suspect cases and refer them to the CDC for testing."

When TNPS visited the block last night, many residents had no idea their estate was home to Singapore's first locally transmitted case of Zika.

Housewife Premavathi R, who is three months pregnant, was not even aware of the dangers Zika posed.

But her husband, 33-year-old IT engineer Vasanthan N, knew about it and said he was "concerned".

After he explained the virus to her and informed her one of their neighbours was infected, she gasped.

Ms Premavathi, 28, said: "We've always kept the house clean, but I will consider buying insect repellent for my family and for my unborn child."

But to Ms Mastika, there is no time to lose.

Besides the patches, her family will also be getting insect repellent which they will start using as soon as they return from the supermarket.

"I've lived here since I was five. This area isn't the cleanest and people litter a lot," she said.

Clutching her husband's arm, she added: "There are so many breeding grounds for mosquitoes and what if they spread Zika?

"I am paranoid now."

What is the Zika virus?

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Reuters

What is Zika?

Zika is a disease caused by a virus transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. It was first detected in Zika Forest in Uganda in 1947 in a rhesus monkey, and in the Aedes africanus mosquito in 1948.

Its incubation period is likely to be a few days and the symptoms are similar to those of other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya: fever - rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise and headache.

Zika has been linked to instances of Guillain-Barre syndrome - a rare disorder that causes muscle weakness and temporary paralysis.

It has also been linked to microcephaly, a rare condition in which babies are born with abnormally small heads.

There are currently no vaccines or drugs for Zika, as the disease was rare and mild until last year.

Those infected are usually advised by doctors to get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids, while pain and fever are treated with available medicines.

Sources: World Health Organisation, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

OLYMPICS TEAM

Yesterday, the Singapore National Olympic Council sent out a statement saying that the 25-member team of athletes and officials who represented Singapore at the recent Rio Olympics were not affected by the Zika virus.

"The athletes and officials of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Team Singapore contingent have returned to Singapore safe and symptom-free from Zika," said Mr Low Teo Ping, chef de mission for Team Singapore.

"We are keeping a close tab on the athletes and officials, monitoring them for symptoms such as fever, skin rash, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, and joint pain for three weeks upon their return.

"We have also advised them to continue to apply insect repellent and wear long-sleeved clothing where possible and to avoid travel to multiple places in a day.

"Any occurrence and non-occurrence of symptoms are updated to the team doctor daily."

This article was first published on Aug 28, 2016.
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Although the haze blanketed most parts of Singapore yesterday, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) ranging from 68 to 121 (unhealthy), most sports events around the country carried on and participants enjoyed their day out with no hitches.

Yesterday's Puma Night Run at the Seletar Aerospace Park, which began at 6pm, saw the 12km and 6km Open runs go on as scheduled. All races would have been cancelled if the 24-hour PSI exceeded 200.

"It's heartening to see the great turnout and energetic participants despite the gloomy outlook," said Mr Gabriel Yap, Puma South-east Asia's marketing head.

At the Queenstown Stadium, the national cerebral palsy football team played a friendly match against the Parliament team at 3pm, with the former winning 6-4.

The National Para-Swimming Championships also continued as planned, with 116 para-athletes competing at Toa Payoh Swimming Complex.

Mrs Michele Liauw, 41, whose 10-year-old son Jeremiah took part in the meet, said of the haze: "It wasn't that bad. Not something that would kill you, and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?

"Besides, I'm sure if it was that bad, the officials would know better and would have called it off. We've all seen worse haze than (yesterday) anyway."

However, the ActiveSG Football Academy called off its morning training sessions yesterday when the 24-hour PSI exceeded 100 at 7am. It measured 90 to 143, which was in the unhealthy range. The cancellation was announced in a Facebook post. The Academy will continue to monitor the air quality and will cancel training today if the 24-hour PSI level exceeds 100 at 7am.

Mr Rajan T., 55, whose six-year-old granddaughter Putri Omiraisha missed out on training at the Serangoon Stadium, said: "The children can't help but feel disappointed. But calling the training off is a good move because health is a very important concern when it comes to young kids.

"You never know what might happen and how the haze might affect a child's health. It's always better to take precautions."

Organisers of the Safra Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon, which takes place today, will also monitor the three-hour PSI closely.

If the reading is between 101 and 200, the run will continue, but adjustments will be made to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion. Should it exceed 200, the event will be cancelled.

Given the air quality forecast, the National Environment Agency advises the public to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion. Those who are not feeling well, especially the elderly and children, and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should seek medical attention.

yogarajp@sph.com.sg

Additional reporting by Jean Iau 

For more haze updates from AsiaOne, click here:

This article was first published on AUG 28, 2016.
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Take a 15-year-old teenager's video games away, put him in an overnight camp, and you may be surprised to find out how little he knows of the world.

"I've seen students not know how to peel an orange or use a lighter," says Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) instructor, Mr Ng Kai Yong.

His role requires him to guide secondary school students who struggle when they have to spend time away from their parents and maids.

He says, laughing: "While kayaking, many of them were shocked that sea water is salty. They probably knew it, but the idea occurred to them only when they were at sea."

Simple truths like these are why Mr Ng believes that outdoor learning experiences are important for every child, especially for those who have never had a camp experience before.

Mr Ng, 29, who started working at OBS 6½ years ago, says: "I don't blame them because a lot of these kids are doing it for the first time. I don't expect them to know how to tie knots straightaway, for example, so we have to teach them."

Camps are typically between three and five days long and involve a variety of confidence, resilience and team-building activities, such as rope courses, trekking, abseiling and kayaking.

Around 14,000 students go through OBS every year, a number which is expected to rise.

Come 2020, all Secondary 3 students will have to undergo the expedition-based camp, the Education Ministry announced earlier this year.

By then, OBS' new campus at Coney Island will be up and running, along with its two existing campuses at Pulau Ubin, increasing its capacity.

But for Mr Ng, that means a much busier time ahead as his job also requires him to train new OBS instructors.

WORRYING

With a sigh, he says: "It is quite worrying. Besides recruiting more instructors, we also need to maintain the quality of their training.

"There is a lot of commitment and responsibility involved for instructors."

Some trainees, for example, start out not being able to swim or have a fear of heights, Mr Ng reveals.

His job is to make sure that by the end of the six to nine months of training, the instructors are ready to take on the responsibility of managing children outdoors.

Each instructor has to supervise a group of 16 students over five days of camp activities - no easy task considering the amount of planning and preparation required.

During an ongoing camp, instructors work around the clock, with a few breaks in between, says Mr Ng.

"The students sleep at 10.30pm, but the instructors sometimes stay up till 1am to discuss the next day's activities," he says, adding that they do get time to themselves to call their loved ones and rest.

At these camps, students are encouraged to "surrender" their mobile phones to demonstrate their commitment to the programme's objectives.

This gives students a choice to give up their digital comforts, though some try to hide their mobile phones from the instructors.

"It is funny to see students rush to the PokeStop in our Pulau Ubin campus when they get their phones back at the end of the camp," he says.

Instructors currently manage an average of three to four camps every month, says Mr Ng.

To help them cope, instructors enjoy some incentives - such as sugared drinks and snacks - away from the prying eyes of the camp participants, confesses Mr Ng.

"Alcohol is strictly forbidden. We are working after all," he says.

While the going often gets tough, Mr Ng says the instructors feel rewarded when they see students challenge themselves or overcome their fears.

Every once in a while, he looks at his thick folder of letters from students, each thanking him for his dedication and guidance.

Says Mr Ng: "It makes all the hard work worth it, knowing that you've made a difference to their lives."

SECRETS OF THE TRADE

1. Be sincere and patient when working with students who might not be too enthusiastic about the camp. Give them time, and they will eventually enjoy being at the camp.

2. Develop your own style of working with students, but also be accepting and open to how your colleagues do it.

3. OBS camps involve plenty of physical activities, so keepingfit is a requirement.

ngjunsen@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Aug 28, 2016.
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The Central Provident Fund (CPF) system has its share of detractors among Singaporeans but, overseas, it attracts a lot of positive attention.

This puzzling fact could be because Singaporeans do not realise they really have a good deal, says finance professor Benedict Koh, a member of the advisory panel that studied ways to improve the scheme.

He tells Insight in a recent panel discussion: "I present papers at international conferences. You won't believe what people say: 'Can I invest in your account?'. 'Can foreigners buy it?'."

Many people here are not aware that a 4 to 5 per cent interest rate guaranteed by a government with a triple-A credit rating - the highest rating - is simply unique, says Prof Koh, who is associate dean of the Singapore Management University Lee Kong Chian School of Business.

CPF savings currently accumulate interest of between 2.5 and 6 per cent, including additional interest on lower balances as well as for older members.

There is a legislated minimum interest of 2.5 per cent per year on Ordinary Account savings, but the rate will follow the three-month average of major local banks' interest rates if that is higher.

For the July to September CPF interest rates, the latter was calculated from February to April and was only 0.24 per cent.

The interest rates on the Special, Medisave and Retirement accounts are pegged at 1 percentage point above the 12-month average yield of 10-year Singapore Government Securities, or 4 per cent, whichever is higher. But there is a limit to what people can expect from the system, because it must be a sustainable one, say Prof Koh and panel chairman Tan Chorh Chuan.

For instance, it is not advisable to extend the extra 1 percentage point interest on the first $60,000 of balances to a higher limit because, "eventually, someone would have to pay for that", says Professor Tan.

Prof Koh adds: "You cannot guarantee paying interest on a risk-free asset that is permanently higher than the market rates. For a country like ours with limited financial resources, it's not a prudent thing to do. I teach finance and my message in the first class is always 'There is no free lunch'. You cannot want high returns and not take risks, you will never find such a financial product."

For those who do have a higher risk appetite, but lack the time and expertise to actively manage investments, the panel recommended introducing a new Lifetime Retirement Investment Scheme to give members more options.

VIEWING IT AS A WHOLE

But if the system is so good, why do some people clamour to take as much money out of it as they can?

One reason could be that people tend to view the CPF system in fragments rather than as a whole retirement savings plan, says fellow advisory panel member Christopher Tan, chief executive of financial advisory Providend.

Looking at it in parts, people see that they put their money in when they are young, and when they want to take it all out at 55 they are unable to, and at 65 they try again and can withdraw only a portion.

In fact, it is similar to what people sign up for with conventional retirement plans offered by insurance companies, he says, where "you don't take the money out early, and when you reach the age of 55 or 60 if you don't take out a lump sum they pay it out as an annuity".

In CPF Life, money that is in the Retirement Account when members choose to start getting monthly payouts is used as the premium for the annuity that provides the payouts.

"So if people see that connection and they see this like a retirement plan, if you look at CPF like another provider and compare all the products between the providers right now, it's the best retirement plan you can find, really," he said.

joseow@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on AUG 28, 2016.
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Most people in Singapore enjoy their food but for a growing number of people afflicted with an eating disorder, some as young as nine, eating has become the bane of their lives.

The Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Eating Disorders Programme, the national centre for treating such illnesses, saw 170 new patients last year. This was quadruple the 40 patients when the programme started in 2003 and about 42 per cent more than the 120 new patients in 2010. Up to three in four patients are under 21.

Dr Alakananda Gudi, an associate consultant psychiatrist at SGH, said: "Our clinics are booked up all the time but I feel we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg."

Over at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), the number of children and teenagers - from as young as nine or 10 years old - with an eating disorder has increased by an average of 10 per cent a year since 2008 when such patients were treated there. Last year, the hospital saw 65 new cases.

Dr Lee Ee Lian, a psychiatrist at the Better Life Clinic who specialises in treating eating disorders, saw 110 patients last year, up from 90 in 2014. Dr Lee went into private practice in 2013, and more than half of her patients with eating disorders are teens.

Doctors interviewed say the social media has a part to play in fuelling the ever-growing desire to be thin, especially among the young.

Youth share pictures of themselves endlessly. There is a lot of body-praising and body-shaming online. Then there is also the incessant chatter on looks and trends.

What can make things worse are viral online fads such as the A4 waist challenge, where women in China compete to see if their waists are smaller than the width of an A4 sheet of paper, or the craze to achieve a "thigh gap" - a gap between the inner thighs when one's legs are pressed together.

With the growing emphasis on healthy eating, some children perceive being fat as more of a social stigma these days, said Dr Celine Wong, a consultant at the Psychological Medicine Department at the National University Hospital.

She said: "They associate being overweight or obese as being less attractive, less diligent and less likeable. Coupled with a low self-esteem, a negative body image and bullying in school, some adolescents fall into the trap of developing eating disorders."

The three most common eating disorders doctors see are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. People suffering from anorexia starve themselves as they are intensely fearful of becoming fat, while those with bulimia binge eat before purging what they have eaten through self-induced vomiting or laxatives.

The youngest patient Dr Ken Ung, a psychiatrist at the Adam Road Medical Centre, has seen is about nine. The girl, who is in the healthy weight range, felt she could do better in gymnastics if she was thinner. So she started eating less and less, and only boiled vegetables at one point. She suffered from anorexia, and was so underweight that she had to be hospitalised.

But most patients that the doctors see are teenagers, as puberty is a time when they put on weight. It is also a challenging period when teens struggle with school, peer pressure and finding their identity.

Girls are among the most afflicted. Doctors interviewed say less than 10 per cent of their patients are male.

As Dr Wong described it: "Girls are under constant pressure to fit a certain ideal of beauty. More and more, girls feel the pressure to have a perfect body as they are exposed to widespread media images of those with perfectly thin bodies."

Eating disorders are serious illnesses and about one in three patients the SGH doctors see are so ill that they have to be hospitalised.

Doctors say those suffering from anorexia have the highest mortality rate among all psychiatric conditions. They could be so malnourished that their hearts may stop suddenly or their kidneys could fail. Or they could be so depressed, they could take their own lives.

Some doctors interviewed have had anorexic patients who have died from medical complications or suicide.

Worldwide, studies have found that between 5 per cent and 20 per cent of those with anorexia that is not treated may die, Dr Gudi said.

She added: "As long as society keeps focusing on looks and the body, this problem will get worse. We have to shift the teens' focus away from their bodies."

Next: Woman's 20-year binge-and-purge secret

170

Number of new cases at SGH last year - quadruple that in 2003.

65

Number of new cases involving children at KKH last year.

This article was first published on Aug 28, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.