Hri Kumar Nair

Hri Kumar Nair (born 16 June 1966) is a Singaporean lawyer and former politician. He is a Deputy Attorney-General of the Republic of Singapore. From 2006 to 2015, he was a Member of Parliament.

Education
Nair studied in National Junior College. He graduated from the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law with a LLB in 1991.

Legal career
Nair was called to the Singapore Bar in 1992. He joined Drew & Napier and became a director of the firm. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2008.

Nair was appointed as the Deputy Attorney-General (DAG) for a three-year term starting 1 March 2017. He has since resigned as a member of the People's Action Party as well as the director of Drew & Napier. Nair was the first ex-lawmaker in Singapore to take on the role of a public prosecutor.

Nair was involved with several high profile cases during his term as Deputy AG, including the appeal of the City Harvest Church trial and Tan Cheng Bock's constitutional challenge to the Elected Presidency in 2017. Nair, in his capacity as the DAG representing the Government, was criticised by Tan for his comments in High Court. Nair was quoted to have said that Tan's "motives are purely selfish and he has shown no regard for the principle of multiracial representation which Parliament intended to safeguard."

Political career
From 2006 to 2015, Nair was a Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, holding the Thomson-Toa Payoh ward. He was also the chairman of the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council since 2011 and headed the Government Parliamentary Committees for Home Affairs and Law. He has spoken out in favour for the repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code in Singapore, which criminalises homosexual sex. Nair is also known for hitting out on the opposition for not taking a stand on contentious issues and for his criticisms of the Worker's Party's management of the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council.

Nair quit running for political office just before the 2015 General Election, citing his wife’s diagnosis of lymphoma in 2012 as a factor.

Directorships
Nair also held several directorships over his career.


 * NTUC Income (3 Sep 2015 – 2017)
 * NTUC Foodfare Co-operative Ltd (21 Sep 2012 – 25 May 2015)
 * Media Development Authority of Singapore (1 Jan 2007 – 31 Dec 2012)
 * NTUC Choice Homes Co-Operative Ltd (23 Aug 2006 – 13 Sep 2012)
 * Riviera Properties Pte. Ltd. (23 Aug 2006 – 13 Sep 2012)
 * Bishan EC Pte Ltd (11 Sep 2008 – 21 Feb 2012)
 * People’s Association Board of Management (1 Jan 2007 – 31 May 2011)

Family
Nair is the youngest of nine children in his family. His wife is a Partner of Ernst & Young.