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Ex-Singapore President is dead

Singapore: The former Singapore President, Chengara Veetil Devan Nair, who had to resign from the high office in March 1985 following controversies, has died in Canada. He was 82. Mr. Nair became the President in 1981 but in 1985, he resigned under unclear circumstances. The former Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, said in Parliament that Mr. Nair resigned to get treatment for alcoholism, which Mr. Nair denied. According to Mr. Nair's counterclaim, he had resigned under pressure as their political views came into conflict and Mr. Lee threatened to seek a motion in Parliament to oust him. Mr. Nair had also alleged that he was fed drugs to make him appear disoriented, and rumours were spread about his personal life in an attempt to discredit him. Born into a family of rubber plantation clerk in Malaysia, Mr. Nair joined the Anti-British League, a cover for the Malayan Communist Party.

He was detained in 1951 for his Communist activities. He was elected to the Singapore Parliament in 1979. After resigning the presidency, he had migrated to Canada.

UNI

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