Singaporeans offer their well-wishes to former MM Lee Kuan Yew

SINGAPORE — After attending church service this morning (March 21), retiree Mauricio Soliano made his way to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) to place a flower and card for former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

Speaking to reporters, the 77-year-old who arrived at around 9.40am, said: “When I read about his sickness, I thought about my (late) father.”

Mr Soliano, who was a sales manager at Robinsons for 55 years and retired last year, recalled how he was asked by his late father to return home from work one day and was surprised to see him all dressed up in their Kampong home at Lorong 33 Geylang.

Mr Soliano was then 21 years old.

His father who worked as a a band leader, spent S$350 to find a replacement that day as he wanted to meet Mr Lee in person and shake his hand. Mr Lee was then campaigning.

“I laughed (at my father) , (and) he said: ‘You laugh. This man will build up Singapore and you’ll benefit’,” Mr Soliano said. “What I am today...I thank this man for Singapore”.

Mr Soliano is one of the well wishers who dropped a note wishing Mr Lee well. The designated area called “The Quad”, located beside Block 7, was marked out by the hospital yesterday.

Mr Lee has been critically ill and is in SGH’s Intensive Care Unit.

As of morning, more than 100 bouquets of flowers, as well as a box of paper cranes, a Hello Kitty stuff toy and many handwritten cards, filled the Quad.

Ms Deanna Lee, 63, said when her house roof broke in the early 1960s, her mother had wrote to Mr Lee about it. “He sent someone down (to check and later) got it repaired,” she added. “We are grateful for his kindness.”

Ms Lee, a teacher aide in APSN Katong School, arrived at SGH at about 8.30am with her three sisters.

Constance Tan, a 6-year-old kindergartener at Pat’s Schoolhouse drew a card with her father for Mr Lee.

Her mother, marketing manager Irene Neo said she paid S$2 instead of the usual S$8 to S$10 for some flowers, when she told the owner of a flower stall at Tiong Bahru market that it was for Mr Lee.

Two siblings - Nicole Tong, a 12-year old student at CHIJ (Toa Payoh) Primary and Elijah Tong, a 7-year-old student at Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) - also brought a bouquet of flowers for Mr Lee.

“We want to cheer him on and ask him to get well soon,” said Nicole. “Please get well soon, Mr Lee,” said Elijah.

A patient who wanted to be known as Mr Tan, 60, said he has been praying for Mr Lee since he heard that he was critically ill. He prays for Mr Lee at least two to three times a day and spends about 30 minutes doing so each time. “This is all I can do for our founding father,” said Mr Tan in Mandarin who started tearing.

55-year-old Serene Lee, who lives in Bukit Merah - part of Tanjong Pagar GRC, which is Mr Lee’s constituency - and she remembers seeing Mr Lee during tree planting sessions and walkabouts over the last 40 years.

“He’s a very kind person, I wish him well,” added Ms Lee, who works in the financial sector.

“Parrot man” Zeng Guoyan, known for unsuccessfully contesting in several elections, was also spotted leaving a note for Mr Lee. The note said “Mr Lee Kuan Yew. We love you. Get well soon”.