An enormous built-up of people swelled at the Padang, paying respects to our late former Singapore Prime Minister Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. His remains lie in state at the Parliament House. From six to ten hours of waiting time, people were inexorably determined to reach their intended destination – the place where lies the remains of one of history’s greatest statesmen. In the massive crowd, the old and the young, men and women, were seen crying and moaning, expressing their deep sorrow for the passing of the man who tranformed the country from a practically insignificant piece of land south of the Malaysian peninsula into a tiny nation yet now renown around the world for its economic strength and honest government.

 

Before Mr. Lee’s body arrived at the Parliament House, it was brought to the Istana, the presidential and parliamentary palace, for a private family wake. People’s presence quickly surged around the entrance of the Istana, waiting for his body to arrive. Flowers and condolence cards were placed outside the palace conveying no less than heartfelt gratitude and overwhelming expression of grief from Singapore residents and visitors alike. Banners and streamers arose from seemingly nowhere crying out earnest appreciation for the man who made lives of families to distance from indigence but rather to subsist in genuine human dignity.

 

As the roads were closed for his journey from the Istana to the Parliament House, people were bowing and crying out, “Lee Kuan Yew! Thank you!” However, there was already a massive queue that had formed before the body had arrived at the Parliament House. Grateful souls from the local communities as well as from other nationalities were already waiting to pay their respects to the late Mr. Lee. It was a rather nostalgic to witness people enduring several hours under the scorging heat from the sun, the humidity and the intermittent rain showers.

 

Due to the overwhelming gathering of well-wishers from different walks of life, government authorities announced that visiting hours would be allowed all throughout the day and night during the weeklong vigil. As the crowd grew further, generous hearts started giving out free drinks and food to the mourners in order to relieve their hunger and thirst. No matter how notoriously cold Singaporeans could have been, their compassion prevailed during this period. Some gave out umbrellas to guard against the scorching weather.

 

Singapore’s founding father, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, passed away on the 23rd of March, 0318 hours. He was hospitalized since the 5th of February due to severe pneumonia. It was declared a period of mourning for a week starting from 23rd till the 29th of March. Singaporeans are deeply saddened by the news as Mr. Lee had dedicated his life to Singapore, sacrificing his youth implementing radical reforms to bring the country from third-world-nation status to joining the league of first-world countries in less than 50 years.

 

Peoples of other countries are also weeping for him. Mr. Lee was a legendary figure in Asia, helping other countries and being recognized for what he had done for them. India with its over one billion people declared a day of mourning in his honour. Leaders of both democratic and non-democratic economies sent their expressions of sympathy. Presidents, prime ministers, princes and princesses from the east and the west have started arriving Singapore and are paying their respects to the extraordinary man who impacted their lives as friends and political allies. Even the opposition acknowledged that what Mr. Lee did in his lifetime outweighed the criticisms hurled before his government.

 

The current Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, was deeply moved and grieving as he gave his live address to the nation a couple of days after the passing of his beloved father. He quoted in firm conviction regarding his predescessor, “He built a nation where there was none, and made us proud to be Singaporeans. We won’t see another man like him.”

 

Singaporeans were thankful for what Mr. Lee Kuan Yew had done for the current as well as the future generation. No matter how much we could do, we can not fully express gratitude to how he had managed to build Singapore to be an independent nation. Because of him, we have education, an army small yet formidable and a roof over our heads to enjoy life in comfort and safety.

 

One recent quotation reverberated my mind and continues to linger in my heart, “We owe him a debt that can only be repaid by honour.”