Transport sector to observe a minute of silence for Mr Lee Kuan Yew

SINGAPORE — Many parts of the transport sector will stop work and operations at 4pm today to observe a minute of silence, including Changi Airport, the Port of Singapore and the public transport sector, as a mark of respect for founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

"The late Mr Lee Kuan Yew was instrumental in laying the foundations for and building up Singapore's aviation, maritime and land transport sectors to the leading entities they are today," said the Transport Ministry in a statement today (March 29).

Before the minute of silence, all MRT trains will stop at stations and open their doors. 

Buses scheduled to depart from bus interchanges and terminals will be held back during the one minute of silence. Passenger Information Displays in the MRT network and bus interchanges will show "One minute of silence for Mr Lee Kuan Yew". Announcements will also be made at stations and on board trains. 

All MRT and road work sites will stop work to observe the minute of silence. 

Over at Changi Airport, there will be no landings or take-offs for a short period of time around 4pm. 

Staff at all three terminals from the various organisations, including SIA, Silkair, Scoot, Tiger and Jetstar, as well as terminal operators like SIAEC and SATS, will observe the minute of silence. Retail outlets at Changi Airport will also participate. The Funeral Service will be broadcast at all 181 television screens at gatehold rooms across the three airport terminals for staff and visitors to participate in the one minute of silence.

Earlier in the day at around 1pm, port workers at container terminals at Brani, Keppel and Tanjong Pagar, along with those working at ferry and cruise terminals at HarbourFront and Marina South Pier, temporarily suspended operations during the Ceremonial Sail Past by two vessels from the Republic of Singapore Navy. 

Those at the PSA terminals and Jurong Port, as well as cruise and ferry terminals and landing places operated by MPA, Marina Bay Cruise Centre (MBCC) and Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC), will observe a minute of silence at 4pm.  The regional ferry terminals, MBCC and SCC will also screen the live procession of the funeral.