Updated: 07/06/2012 05:51 | By Channel NewsAsia

NUS confers honorary degree on S R Nathan

SINGAPORE: The National University of Singapore has conferred an Honorary Doctor of Letters on Singapore’s former president, Mr S R Nathan, in recognition of his exemplary contributions to Singapore during its developing years.

The NUS Department of Social Work will also be setting up an endowed Professorship in honour of Mr Nathan, who is an alumnus.

Tan Chorh Chuan, president, National University of Singapore, said: "Once, during the labour unrest of the 1960s, Dr Goh Keng Swee told him that the consequence of failure would be that ’you and I will be put on the Padang and shot’. Mr Nathan did not shirk this heavy responsibility, knowing that the outcome often meant hope and better lives for those he served."

— CNA/cc