On 1 January 2007, the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS) at Nanyang Technological University will enter a new phase in its development. On that day, it will be upgraded to become the new S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). RSIS will take over the teaching functions of IDSS while the latter will remain as a key component institute focusing on security research alongside other research centres and programmes within the School.

The campaign to raise funds for the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies' (RSIS) Endowment Fund aims to raise a total of $40 million, including dollar-for-dollar matching grants from the Government. Interest from the Endowment will be used to hire world class faculty and research staff for the School, to provide scholarships to talented students and to fund two professorships in International Relations and in International Economics. This will help to ensure that the new graduate school named after Mr S. Rajaratnam at Nanyang Technological University can enhance Singapore's standing as a regional and international hub for higher education and research.

We are pleased that President S R Nathan who knew Mr Rajaratnam for many years as a personal friend and as a colleague is graciously lending his support as Patron of the Campaign. We are also pleased that Minister Mentor, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, also supports this initiative to raise funds for RSIS, and would like to thank him for writing the Foreword to this handbook. As a further indication of the level of support for this cause, several distinguished persons have joined the Campaign Committee as Advisers and Members, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Wong Kan Seng.

This handbook contains tributes to Mr Rajaratnam from prominent members of the Singapore establishment who have known Mr Rajaratnam or worked with him. Their tributes were written specially for this Campaign. They paint a deep impression of Mr Rajaratnam as a statesman, thinker and visionary who cared deeply for Singapore.

I am honoured to lead this Campaign to raise funds for the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. On behalf of the Campaign Committee, I would like to appeal to friends, associates and alumni of IDSS and now RSIS to donate generously to the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies' Endowment Fund. Your contributions, in whatever amount, would help to enhance the reputation of RSIS as a leading research and teaching institution in the Asia-Pacific region. If you wish to contribute to the RSIS Endowment Fund, please use the enclosed self-addressed Pledge Card and return it to the School.

We look forward to your support.

Mr S. Chandra Das
Chairman
RSIS Fund Raising Campaign Committee
Mr S. Chandra Das is Chairman of NUR
Investment and Trading Pte Ltd. He is also
Singapore's non-resident Ambassador to
Turkey, and was a former Member of
Parliament for Cheng Sun GRC from 1980
to 1996 and former Chairman of NTUC
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