Thousands pay final respects to Mr Lee Kuan Yew

SINGAPORE – Thousands of people from all walks of life have turned up at Parliament House today (March 25) to pay their last respects to founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, where his body lies in state.

From students to the elderly, and the handicapped and foreigners, snaking queues formed hours before Mr Lee’s casket was brought over from Sri Temasek this morning.

By 1.30pm, those joining the queues to enter Parliament House were told by officials to expect at least eight hours of waiting.

Groups of 30 to 40 were ushered before Mr Lee’s portrait each time, where many bowed, teared, and said their thanks. Some were so distraught they fell to the ground and wailed.

Apart from the public, many local politicians and foreign dignitaries, including ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Mingh, also came to pay their respects to Mr Lee and console Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his family. Members of the judiciary were also present.

Merely hours after the public wake started, officials said the hours for the public to pay their respects today would be extended by four hours to midnight. The queues for the general public leading to Parliament House formed two distinct loops, with one snaking towards Fullerton Hotel and Raffles Place and stretching to Circular Road, while a second crept towards North Bridge Road and Hong Lim Park. On the ground, officers led seen directing the elderly and others with mobility problems towards the front of the line so that they could enter first. By 2pm, the police were advising the public to come over the next few days.

Those queuing in the simmering heat included large groups from companies, like United Technologies. Dressed in heavy suits and ties, the senior managers had started queueing from half past nine, and reached Parliament House after three hours.

Mr Lim, a retiree who stays in Tampines came alone. The 77-year-old, who has difficulty walking and carries a walking stick, queued for two hours. His eyes were red and brimming with tears as he said: “I was very moved when I saw Mr Lee’s (casket). So touched that I wanted to cry. I said a prayer for him. I wished Mr Lee to be at peace with his wife.”

Mr Jensen Ng, 48, took the day off to watch the procession from the Istana, and pay respects at Parliament House. “I came at 8am so that I can get a good spot to bid farewell to Mr Lee. He’s done so much for the country and I want to pay my respect, I want to thank him,” he said.

Another visiter, Mr Chin, who is in his 70s, arrived at Parliament House around 7.30am. “I’m from the generation that went through a lot of hard times, we’re very thankful to Mr Lee, no matter what people say. This is once in a lifetime, I must be here,” he said.

Ms Melanie Highfield, 44, who has been a Singapore permanent resident for 14 years , said: “Mr Lee is a great, great leader. I want to thank him for all he’s done, thats why I’m here. We can see that so many people respect him, it’s beautiful to see the outpouring of emotions in the past few days, that shows that Mr Lee is a very important man in people’s heart.”

Mr K. Purushottamadas, 64, a manager at a security firm, did not mind the daunting wait. “We just want to see him an pay our respects to him. That is why we don’t feel the tiredness of waiting in this queue,” he said.