Former Singapore President Devan Nair dies in Canada
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SINGAPORE : Former Singapore President Devan Nair has died. He was 82.
Mr Nair, who was President from 1981 to 1985, died in Canada.
Born in Malaysia, the son of a rubber plantation clerk, Chengara Veetil Devan Nair identified with the working class early on in life.
His first political conviction was Communism, and he joined the Anti-British League, a cover for the Malayan Communist Party.
In 1951, he was detained, but once out of prison, he continued with left wing union activism.
In 1954, Mr Lee Kuan Yew asked Mr Nair to join him so the unions could provide the mass base for a new party.
When the Hock Lee bus riots took place, the British government cracked down on the unions and Mr Nair and his comrades were arrested
Mr Lee persuaded Mr Nair to get all the detainees to commit to a non-communist Malaya, before securing their release.
Mr Nair's work with the PAP included a stint as the only elected People's Action Party MP in Malaysia after the merger.
Loyal to those who voted for him, he stayed put after the Separation and formed the Democratic Action Party.
But then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew persuaded him to return to Singapore, to lead the labour movement.
And forming the National Trades Union Congress was to be Mr Nair's most significant legacy.
Mr Nair made his debut in the Singapore Parliament in 1979 when he won the Anson seat.
His biggest personal decision was in taking up Singapore's highest public office.
But in March 1985, a drinking problem led to the President's resignation.
He later migrated to Canada with his wife. - CNA/de -
My sincere condolence
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how old was he?
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82. first line.Originally posted by dragg:how old was he? -
Guys, please practise some self-censorship. Whether or not he had a drinking problem is not certain. CNA is irresponsible in reporting that; Let's not follow their example.Originally posted by sbst275:SINGAPORE : Former Singapore President Devan Nair has died. He was 82.
Mr Nair, who was President from 1981 to 1985, died in Canada.
Born in Malaysia, the son of a rubber plantation clerk, Chengara Veetil Devan Nair identified with the working class early on in life.
His first political conviction was Communism, and he joined the Anti-British League, a cover for the Malayan Communist Party.
In 1951, he was detained, but once out of prison, he continued with left wing union activism.
In 1954, Mr Lee Kuan Yew asked Mr Nair to join him so the unions could provide the mass base for a new party.
When the Hock Lee bus riots took place, the British government cracked down on the unions and Mr Nair and his comrades were arrested
Mr Lee persuaded Mr Nair to get all the detainees to commit to a non-communist Malaya, before securing their release.
Mr Nair's work with the PAP included a stint as the only elected People's Action Party MP in Malaysia after the merger.
Loyal to those who voted for him, he stayed put after the Separation and formed the Democratic Action Party.
But then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew persuaded him to return to Singapore, to lead the labour movement.
And forming the National Trades Union Congress was to be Mr Nair's most significant legacy.
Mr Nair made his debut in the Singapore Parliament in 1979 when he won the Anson seat.
His biggest personal decision was in taking up Singapore's highest public office.
But in March 1985, a drinking problem led to the President's resignation.
He later migrated to Canada with his wife. - CNA/de -
Precisely.Any news from Singapore has to be taken with salt..lots of it.Originally posted by lwflee:Guys, please practise some self-censorship. Whether or not he had a drinking problem is not certain. CNA is irresponsible in reporting that; Let's not follow their example. -
So he was the founding father of the now largest opposition party in Malaysia - DAP
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Kudos to him
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Did Nair's ascent to the presidency trigger the Anson by-election that JBJ won?