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F O R E W O R D
Sumiko Tan
Deputy Editor
At 3.18am on Monday, March 23, 2015, while the rest of Singapore
slept, Mr Lee Kuan Yew died at the age of 91.
His death was not unexpected as he had been at the Singapore
General Hospital since Feb 5, when he was admitted for severe
pneumonia. In the week before he died, the Prime Minister’s
Office had said that his condition had worsened.
Still, the announcement of his death came as a shock to
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Photo:
GEORGE GASCON
Singaporeans when they woke up that morning.
For more than 50 years, “LKY”, as most knew him, was there —
to lead, guide, cajole, persuade, exhort, scold. There was no one
as synonymous with Singapore as he. And now he was gone.
The news was made public at about 4am. By the time dawn
broke, people were flocking to SGH where an area near Block 7
was already filled with flowers, gifts and cards wishing him a good
recovery. This time, they came to offer prayers of condolences.
Others headed for the gates of the Istana when it was known
that a private wake would be held at Sri Temasek for the first two
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days, before the lying in state at Parliament House.
In the seven days of national mourning that followed,
Singapore saw an unprecedented outpouring of grief.
In all, more than 1.2 million people visited tribute sites around
the country to pen messages to Mr Lee. A total of 450,000
queued — some up to 11 hours, most four to five — to pay their
last respects to him in Parliament House, and 100,000 braved
pouring rain to line the street for his funeral procession.
The numbers are just one part of the story of how Singaporeans
came together to mourn the death of the country’s first prime
Photo:
ONG WEE JIN
minister. Beyond the numbers, every mourner had his own story
of what Mr Lee meant to him and how the values and ideas Mr
Lee believed in and fought for — excellence, incorruptibility,
meritocracy, multi-racialism, bilingualism — had made a
difference in his life.
Businessman Guay Boon Bing, 49, said he was from a
Chinese school and used to feel very disadvantaged after Mr
Lee introduced the bilingual policy. “But now, as a businessman,
knowing English has helped me to expand my semiconductor
business overseas, in countries like the United States.
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Bilingualism has changed my life,” said Mr Guay at the Padang.
Ms Clara Miles, 60, a former hotel guest relations officer, valued
how Singapore was safe. Children can wander around after school
— “it was all his doing, making Singapore into a safe place”.
Former Singapore Airlines stewardess Sharon Chong, in her
50s, spoke for many when she said it was partly guilt that drove
her to express her thanks.
“It was important for me to go out into the streets to say
goodbye to Mr Lee,” she said at Commonwealth Avenue where
she waited in the rain for the cortege. “I want him to know I’m
grateful to him. We’re the silent, sleeping ones who have kept
quiet all these years. We are awakened now that he has passed
on. We feel ashamed that we have not done much for the nation
and never bothered with his contributions until now.”
When Mr Lee was Prime Minister, he would stay up till 3.30am,
working. Even as Senior Minister and Minister Mentor, he was often
awake till the wee hours thinking and planning how to improve
the lives of Singaporeans.
“Deep into the night, while the rest of Singapore slept, it was
common for Mr Lee to be in full work mode,” revealed Education
Minister Heng Swee Keat, who was once Mr Lee’s principal private
secretary.
That Monday morning when he passed away at 3.18am, he left
behind a people who showed gratitude, grace and unity in their
sorrow.
Lee Kuan Yew: The Final Journey looks back at the events
of that week. It contains photographs and stories that appeared
in The Straits Times print version and some that were not used,
as well as audio and videos that you can find in our site at
straitstimes.com.
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C O N T E N T S
The Passing
The Private Funeral
To Parliament House
The Wait
Lying In State
The Final Journey
The Eulogies
Credits
Brought to you by
T H E P A S S I N G
Photo: NEO XIAOBIN
THE PASSING
Photo: ALPHONSUS CHERN
THE PASSING
