Thousands of people lined Singapore’s streets on Wednesday (March 25) as a gun carriage took the casket of Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of modern Singapore, to Parliament House for public viewing.
Lee died on Monday (March 23), aged 91.
Chants of “Lee Kuan Yew” rang out from the crowd as the carriage entered the colonnaded Parliament House in the heart of the city-state’s business district, where his body will lie in state until Saturday (March 28). The funeral is on Sunday (March 29).
A florist at the closest subway stop was offering free flowers to people on their way to the viewing.
The casket, wrapped in the Singaporean flag, was brought from the Istana, where the Singapore prime minister’s residence and office is located and the Lee family held a private wake for the last two days. Bagpipers played “Auld Lang Syne” as the procession set off.
Lee, Singapore’s first prime minister, is credited with transforming the island from a British colonial outpost into one of the world’s wealthiest nations on a per capita basis with a strong, pervasive role for the state and little patience for dissent.
“Well it’s just a very sad day for all of us. He was a great leader, amazing man, we had the great, great fortune to have him as our leader, that was, just a wonderful man. And there’s no more man like him today,” said Singapore national Freddy Wong as he left Parliament House.
Many foreigners were among those paying their respects as well.
“It’s a very moving experience. He’s a great man. He almost single-highhandedly built a nation. I’ve got a lot to thank him for, and owe him for. My children can walk around late at night, they’re both girls, My wife lives in absolute security. Singapore’s an economic miracle. It’s one of the thriving hubs of Southeast Asia, if not Asia itself. And it’s all due to his vision and his brilliance,” said Andrew Neil Purchase, a legal executive from South Africa who lives in Singapore.
Lee was Singapore’s prime minister from its independence in 1965 until 1990, and even after that was an influential voice as Senior Minister and Minister Mentor.
Singaporeans are now envisioning a future without him.
“I was actually just thinking about that, you know, because you know a lot of what Singapore is today is due to the vision of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. So you know, to be honest. for me personally with his passing I felt a bit lost, like you know, where do we go from here? I mean, that’s a question, right? And I don’t know. I guess it’s up to our generation to figure that out,” said Singapore national Mr. Tian, who had waited in line for three hours to get into Parliament House.
The hour-long procession from the Istana to Parliament House was organized with Singapore’s customary attention to detail. Information about road closures was relayed through social media and the Land Transport Authority’s website, with minimal disruptions to traffic outside the procession area.
Soldiers wearing white shirts and black armbands were managing the crowd – keeping the line in order and passing out bottled water. Portable toilets were also put in place.
(Reuters)