-- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
AS EARLY as 7 am on Monday, Singaporeans from all walks of life started arriving in a steady stream at the Istana grounds to pay their last respects to Mrs Lee Kuan Yew, who died on Saturday.
By 10.30 am, shuttle buses ferrying people to and from Sri Temasek, the official residence of the Prime Minister, where Mrs Lee's wake is being held, had made at least eight runs.
The queues, which stretched to 200 at about 10 am, were orderly and moved quickly.
One of the first to turn up outside the main entrance of the Istana facing Orchard Road was Mr Chan Kwok Leong, 57, a retired airline manager, who came from Holland Road early to 'pay my deep respects to Mrs Lee.'
'Mrs Lee is a very selfless woman who sacrificed a lot for the nation. She looked after her family well so that Mr Lee Kuan Yew could concentrate on building the nation,' said Mr Chan. 'She taught me humility.'
Ordinary Singaporeans who came to bid farewell to Mrs Lee Kuan Yew at her wake being held at the Istana included Mr Lee Kian Chuan, a busker in his 70s who plays the erhu in Chinatown, and professionals like lawyer Looi Teck Kheng, who is in his 50s.
Mr Looi, whose eldest daughter, aged 17, died of cancer on Sept 4, said Mrs Lee had inspired him to spend more time with his family and keep a work-life balance.
'Through her, I learned to stop taking work home and was able to spend more time with my children and family,' said Mr Looi.
Others who came included Cabinet ministers, grassroots leaders, retirees and diplomats, in cars flying their national flags.
Some foreigners were seen queueing in the lines to pay their respects too. Among them was Mr Teodoro Grignani, 38, an Italian, whose eyes teared up when he spoke to a straitstimes.com reporter.
'She was a great person, always standing behind a great man. She did a lot for Singapore,' said Mr Girgnani, who moved to Singapore in 1973.
Inside the foyer of Sri Temasek, the visitors signed a condolence book before they walked past the casket in groups of eight to 10 to bid their farewell to Mrs Lee. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the elder son of Mr and Mrs Lee, and his wife, Ms Ho Ching, stood nearby and acknowledged the visitors passing by.
The public can pay their last respects from 10am to 5pm on Monday and Tuesday.
They can call 6835-6614 if they have any queries. A private funeral will take place on Wednesday at Mandai Crematorium.
The Lee family family has requested no obituaries and wreaths or flowers be sent. All donations will go to the National Neuroscience Institute Health Research Endowment Fund.
