The eldest, Janadas, 51, lives in Austin, Texas; Janamitra, 49, in Washington DC; Janaprakash, 45, in Toronto; and daughter Vijaya Kumari, 40, in Hamilton, Ontario.

A veteran union leader, Nair was instrumental in the formation of the National Trades Union Congress in 1961.

His efforts helped to move Singapore workers away from militancy towards helpful cooperation with the Government and employers.

He became president in 1981, but resigned four years later under controversial circumstances after it was disclosed he was an alcoholic.

Shortly after this, he left Singapore for the United States. He later took up residency in Canada in 1993.

Nair died of heart failure. He was 82.

Second son Janamitra paid tribute to his father‘s love for his mother, who died of pneumonia in April: “Their relationship was a deep and enduring one.“

Nair was also much loved by his grandchildren.

He was always approachable and would make an effort to be involved in their lives, they said.

In 1999, the ex-president revealed to the Asian Pacific Post a plot by former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew to destroy Singapore critics.

In a scathing indictment of Singapore‘s authoritarian leadership, Nair said Lee had surrounded himself with “department store dummies“ and has become a “fool of his own mindless vindictiveness.”

He said the scheming began in the 80s to ensure that the opposition parties will be put in a bind that would make it impossible for them to ever achieve control of Parliament.

Nair was one of the early statesmen of Malaysia and Singapore. He was Singapore‘s President from 1981 to 1985.