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S R Nathan to spend time in academia after retirement
By S Ramesh | Posted: 31 August 2011 1029 hrs
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President S R Nathan[/TD]
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SINGAPORE: Singapore's President, S R Nathan who hands over his post to Dr Tony Tan Thursday, said he plans to spend more time in academia after his retirement.

Besides joining the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), Mr Nathan told Channel NewsAsia Wednesday that he will also be spending time at the Nanyang Technological University's S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).

He is set to re-join both ISEAS and RSIS as Distinguished Fellow.

In a statement on Wednesday, the RSIS said it welcomes Mr Nathan who will be joining them from Thursday after he steps down as President.

Mr Nathan was the founding Director of the RSIS's predecessor, the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, when it was established in 1996. He relinquished that position to become Singapore's sixth President.

In welcoming Mr Nathan back to RSIS, Ambassador Barry Desker, the Dean of the School, said: "We are pleased to renew our association with President Nathan as we will benefit greatly from his intellectual inputs, wise counsel and vast experience in diplomacy, defence and international affairs."

Mr Nathan said that he has also been invited by the Singapore Management University to chair its Social Service Advisory Body.

"Nothing is substantive in what I am going to do, I don't want any responsibility. I want to be free to do what I want," said Mr Nathan.

Turning to his memoirs, Mr Nathan said it is now with the publishers and will be out on September 19.

He's confident people would be interested to read it as it's about his childhood, the war years and his career.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will officiate at the launch, he added.

When asked about his message to Singaporeans in his memoirs, Mr Nathan said: "The only message I can think of is to stand on your own feet as I have done in my career. I hope other young people will get that message that whatever the odds, you can overcome. But in some way, providence also plays a part."

Asked if his successor Dr Tony Tan would face more challenges in his role as President, with calls from various quarters for greater openness, Mr Nathan emphasised that the country cannot have a "Presidency on the streets".

He said the President's duties in Singapore are defined by the Constitution and the people would not want the office to be so transparent to a point where the value and prestige of the position is lost.

Mr Nathan spent his last day in office with his routine morning walk along the East Coast Parkway, meeting Singaporeans who wished him well on his retirement.

He will be having a few more engagements at the Istana Wednesday before attending a farewell reception for him by the Prime Minister and Cabinet Wednesday evening.

Mr Nathan will review a Guard of Honour at the Istana Thursday night before bidding farewell to the nation as the country's 6th President.

- CNA/cc/ac