Over 100,000 people lined streets to bid last farewell to Lee Kuan Yew

SINGAPORE - More than 100,000 people stood along the streets of the state funeral procession route for the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew earlier today (Mar 29), said the State Funeral Organising Committee.

People had showed up in droves despite the heavy downpour earlier this afternoon to bid their final farewell to Singapore's first prime minister, who had passed away on Mar 23.

The procession started at 12.30pm prior to the State Funeral Service which was then held at the National University of Singapore's University Cultural Centre (UCC). The funeral service at UCC saw about 2,200 guests.

Those in attendance include members of the late Mr Lee's family, the President of Singapore, Cabinet Ministers, the Judiciary, Members of Parliament (MPs), foreign dignitaries as well as Singaporeans from all walks of life.

Some of the foreign leaders who had attended the State Funeral Service include Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Also present today were former US President Bill Clinton, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo, South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye, Malaysia's King Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah as well as Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk.

At about 4.35pm during the funeral service, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) sounded the "All Clear" signal of its Public Warning System island-wide, immediately after the Last Post Bugle was played.

This commenced the one minute of silence that was observed in honour of Mr Lee.

With the second sounding of the "All Clear" signal, the minute of silence came to an end.

Over the past six days of nation-wide mourning, 1.2 million people had visited the People's Association 18 community tribute sites all over the island.

The sites closed at 6pm after the State Funeral Service, which was broadcast live on television and could also be streamed online.

Additionally, a total of 454,687 people had visited the Parliament House between Mar 25 to 28 to pay their last respects to Mr Lee.

Members of the public can continue posting their tributes to the late Mr Lee online at www.rememberingleekuanyew.sg or www.facebook.com/rememberingleekuanyew.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg