14,000 pay respects to former president S R Nathan by 6pm on Thursday

This article was updated at 9.48pm on Aug 25.

A blazing hot Thursday did little to put off throngs of people from all walks of life from paying their last respects to former president S R Nathan who died on Monday (Aug 22).

In an update at 9.45pm, the organising committee said that the queue would be closed at 10pm to give sufficient time for those who lined up to pay their last respects. 

The Straits Times reported that about 100 people lined Ceylon Road to give their final goodbyes to Singapore's sixth and longest serving president as family and friends followed the hearse on foot Thursday morning (Aug 25).

As of 6pm, the number of visitors was close to 14,000, and the estimated waiting time for those in the queue was an hour. 

Mr Nathan's hearse arrived at 9am at Parliament House. In the highest honour accorded to a leader, a state flag was draped over Mr Nathan's casket.

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Singapore's current president, Mr Tony Tan, arrived at 10am at the Parliament House with Mrs Tan to pay their last respects.

Labour chief and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing was among the early birds at the Parliament House. He led a 700-strong group from the labour movement.

Among others who came to pay their last respects was veteran opposition politician Chiam See Tong who was spotted at about 11.50am. Mr Chiam had also gotten out of his wheelchair, with support, to get closer to the coffin, reported The Straits Times.

Some students, including those from Northland Primary, joined in the queue at Victoria Concert Hall in the late morning. The queue had stretched to the concert hall by 11am.

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Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also expressed his condolences on behalf of the Japanese government to the family of Mr Nathan on Wednesday (Aug 24).

In a statement on Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, Mr Nathan was described as "a cornerstone of unity among the Singapore people". It also mentioned that Mr Nathan was fluent in Japanese.

stephluo@sph.com.sg