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Temporary closure of queue for lying-in-state at Parliament House

SINGAPORE — The State Funeral Organising Committee has announced the temporary closure of the queue for people to pay their respects to former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at the Parliament House, citing the need to ensure the safety and well-being of those in line.

The crowd outside City Hall MRT station on March 27, 2015. The State Funeral Organising Committee has announced a temporary closure of the queue for the lying-in-state at Parliament House. Photo: Raj Nadarajan

The crowd outside City Hall MRT station on March 27, 2015. The State Funeral Organising Committee has announced a temporary closure of the queue for the lying-in-state at Parliament House. Photo: Raj Nadarajan

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SINGAPORE — The State Funeral Organising Committee has announced the temporary closure of the queue for people to pay their respects to former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at the Parliament House, citing the need to ensure the safety and well-being of those in line.

"We will inform the public when the queue is open again," the committee said in a statement. As at 11pm, more than 290,000 people have paid their respects to Mr Lee at the Parliament House.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) has issued a clarification over an article posted by The Real Singapore, which claimed the situation at City Hall was chaotic. "This is false and irresponsible reporting. The situation is calm and the crowd is dispersing," said the MCI.

Here is the statement from the State Funeral Organising Committee:

"Since the lying in state began at Parliament House on 25 March 2015, there has been a sharp increase in the number of visitors daily. The current estimated queue time to enter Parliament House is now more than 10 hours. As of 27 March, 11 pm, more than 290,000 have paid their respects to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew at the Parliament House.

We would like to accommodate as many as possible in this overwhelming outpouring of respect and love for Mr Lee Kuan Yew. However, to ensure safety of individuals due to the large crowds and to limit the physical discomfort of the long wait, especially for the elderly and young children, the queue line will be temporarily suspended. We are appealing for patience and understanding as we work to ease the situation. We will inform the public when the queue is open again.

Those wishing to pay respects to Mr Lee can also do so at People’s Association community sites at 18 different locations around Singapore.  

We apologise that the queue has to be temporarily suspended but we seek the public’s understanding that this was decided to protect the safety and well-being of those wishing to pay respects to Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

STATE FUNERAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE

27 MARCH 2015

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