Live updates on Lee Kuan Yew's final journey

Live updates on Lee Kuan Yew's final journey

End of live update.

4.39pm: Guests recite the National Pledge together. The National Anthem is played, marking the end of the State Funeral. Mr Lee's cortege will head to Mandai Crematorium for a private cremation. 

4.33pm: Guests rise to observe a minute of silence for Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

4.32pm: PM Lee and President Tony Tan each lay a wreath on behalf of the family and the state respectively.

4.31pm: Mr Lee concludes his eulogy: "Please accept my family’s inadequate but deep and heartfelt thanks.

"We know our loss is your loss too, and that the loss is deep and keenly felt. We are humbled that so many have come forward to demonstrate your affection for, respect of and gratitude to - my extraordinary father, a father we share - with Singapore.

Farewell, Papa."

4.28pm: Mr Lee's eulogy: "To Singapore and Singaporeans, Papa was at various times PM, SM, MM. Whatever his office he was always LKY. Even after he stopped being MM, people would find it awkward to refer to him by anything other than this alphabet soup. But to his grandchildren, he was always Ye Ye, and to Fern and me, he was and will always be Papa. We will miss him dearly."

4.23pm: Mr Lee's eulogy: "In January 1973 when I was 15, Ling and I joined Papa and Mama on a trip to visit Loong who was at university in Cambridge.

"It was our very first family holiday where we traveled so far away. On that trip, Papa and Mama took the family to Stratford upon Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace. We watched the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Coriolanus and toured the usual Shakespearean sites at Stratford.

"At the time, I had assumed it was Mama indulging her love for Shakespeare and trying to educate us on vacation.

"Only years later when Papa wrote his memoirs did we realise the hidden meaning of this visit for my parents. They had secretly married in Stratford upon Avon in December 1947."

4.20pm: Mr Lee's eulogy: "He wanted to ensure his three children had a 'normal childhood'. He did not want us to grow up with a sense of privilege and entitlement."

4.17pm: Mr Lee's eulogy: "All little children must think their fathers special; I do not remember when it dawned on me that he was not just my own special father and not just any ordinary 'orang besar', he was an extraordinary 'orang besar'."

4.16pm: Mr Lee Hsien Yang now delivering his eulogy on behalf of the family.

4.15pm: Ms Chew concludes her eulogy: "This is my last chance. Mr Lee, thank you for everything. Some days I cannot believe how fortunate I am to have been born a Singaporean. We don’t have everything, but we have more than most, because of your lifelong labour. On behalf of young Singaporeans everywhere, I’d like to say: thank you."

4.10pm: Ms Chew's eulogy: "It didn't matter to him that his furniture was more than 60 years old and outdated. They served their purpose and that was all that mattered. That was how he lived his life: very simply and frugally, and always putting the country first and his own creature comforts second."

4.08pm: Former journalist Cassandra Chew delivering her eulogy now.

4.08pm: Mr Leong concludes his eulogy: "Even though Mr Lee is no longer with us, his legacy is something that we Singaporeans will always remember."

4.06pm: Mr Leong's eulogy: "During constituency dinners, Mr Lee would usually like to sit with grassroots leaders so that he could talk to them. We would always arrange the seating such that his old friends would be seated en-route to his table. That made it easy for him to meet them along the way.

"It would take him some time to get to his table as he would stop by to speak to every familiar face, asking them how they and their families were. This is something he really enjoyed.

"When Mr Lee heard that his old friends were doing well and leading good lives, his face would light up with pride."

4.04pm: Tanjong Pagar community leader Leong Chun Loong delivering his eulogy now.

4.03pm: "Mr Lee Kuan Yew,I pray to God for your soul to rest in peace," Mr Muthukumarasamy says, closing his eulogy.

3.58pm: Mr Muthukumarasamy's eulogy: "Mr Lee believed in one thing – one must do correctly what he is told and everyone should do their own work. If a third person is asked to do the job, the impact would not be right."

3.54pm: Mr Muthukumarasamy's eulogy: "Mr Lee greatly encouraged and emboldened Indian women to join the workforce, to learn a skill and help their families financially."

3.52pm: Union leader Mr G Muthukumarasamy delivers his eulogy now.

3.51pm: Mr Sidek concludes his eulogy: "PM, SM, MM, farewell. Farewell, Friend. Farewell."

3.50pm:Mr Sidek's eulogy: "Mr Lee, we would like to assure you that your legacy remains intact. We shall always cherish your advice, especially in governing.

You said: “If you want to be popular all the time, you will misgovern”.

And you always urged us to be pragmatic. And above all, you insisted we remain honest and clean."

3.46pm: Mr Sidek's eulogy: "Mr Lee was the embodiment of the term ‘statesman’. Someone who comes along once every few decades to make an indelible mark on society and the world at large."

3.43pm: Mr Sidek's eulogy: "In 1979, when I was to accompany Hon Siu Sen, then Minister of Finance, to China, Mr Lee asked me if I could take the cold Chinese winter.

'Do you have an overcoat”'he asked. I said that I would buy one. 'No, don't waste money', he replied. He paused and said: 'Ahmad Mattar has a good overcoat. Borrow from him.'

'What about boots to cover your shoes for walking' he continued. I said I didn't have any but I would buy a pair. “

'No, no don't waste money. Borrow from Chok Tong!'

"So off I went to China with a borrowed overcoat and a borrowed pair of boots!"

3.40pm: Mr Sidek's eulogy: "He was a tough taskmaster but always full of advice. Never waffle, he would say. Be open. Be attentive, firm. But above all, be polite."

3.39pm: Former senior minister of state for education and environment Mr Sidek Saniff delivers his eulogy now.

3.38pm: MrDhanabalan concludes his eulogy.

3.34pm: MrDhanabalan's eulogy: "He was sometimes seen as a hardhearted man who acted without feelings. But on the few occasions he discussed privately with me the decision to act against someone, I know that he agonised over the decision."

3.32pm: Former Minister S Dhanabalan delivering his eulogy now.

3.31pm: Mr Ong's concludes his eulogy: "In short, Mr Lee Kuan Yew was a far-sighted leader who had the courage to realise his vision. Without him, Singapore would not be what it is today."

3.29pm: Mr Ong's eulogy: "What struck me most about Mr Lee was his complete passion for Singapore. He spent every moment thinking of how he could improve Singapore and Singaporeans’ lives.

"Once he decided that a certain policy was in the interest of his beloved Singapore, he would implement it, even if it meant making himself unpopular."

3.24pm: Former Cabinet Minister Mr Ong Pang Boon delivering his eulogy now.

3.23pm: ESM Goh concludes his eulogy.

3.23pm: ESM Goh's eulogy: "He would want us to move on with the Singapore Story. He would want us to fight our own battles and conquer our own peaks. He would want Singapore to succeed long after he is gone."

3.21pm: ESM Goh's eulogy: "Once in a while, he showed his soft side. We talked about our families and health. After Mrs Lee’s death, I glimpsed how lonely and sad he was.

"Sadly, we had to discontinue our lunches in 2013 because of his health. Sadly, his physical health declined. Sadly, Mr Lee is gone."

3.16pm: ESM Goh's eulogy: "Mr Lee was a worrier. He worried incessantly whether Singapore would survive after he and the Old Guard were gone."

3.14pm: ESM Goh's eulogy: "To Singaporeans, he was our first Prime Minister, our leader who fought for our Independence, the man who turned Singapore from Third World to First, our national father. For me, he would always be my teacher."

3.13pm: Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong delivering his eulogy now.

3.12pm: President Tony Tan concludes his eulogy: "We must continue to pursue our ideals with courage and commitment. And so I call on all Singaporeans to honour the memory of Mr Lee by working together to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our Singapore.This will be our tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

"Goodbye Mr Lee. May your soul rest in peace."

3.08pm: President Tony Tan's eulogy: "We will miss Mr Lee at this year’s National Day Parade. But he will be foremost in our minds. And in our hearts.

"Over the past week, we have mourned the passing of a man and an era. There will never be another Lee Kuan Yew. No one person can take his place nor do what he did."

3.06pm: President Tony Tan's eulogy: "This past week, Singaporeans from all walks of life came together to mourn the loss of Mr Lee.

"Large numbers of Singaporeans queued patiently for hours to pay their last respects at Parliament House and Community Tribute Sites across the island. Many individuals and businesses offered shelter and refreshments to those who had been waiting in line, lending a helping hand to fellow Singaporeans.

"This would have made Mr Lee very proud. This was what he had worked for his whole life – to build a united people, who respect and care for one another as fellow citizens."

3pm: President Tony Tan's eulogy: "Mr Lee once said: 'Each generation is fired by its own vision of the ideal society in the ideal world. The ideal can never be achieved, but because men have ideals, those societies progress.'

"Mr Lee’s ideals were clear. He believed in them, and he lived them. Meritocracy. Honesty. Integrity."

2.57pm: President Tony Tan is now delivering his eulogy.

2.55pm: PM Lee ends his eulogy: "Thank you Mr Lee Kuan Yew. May you rest in peace."

2.47pm: PM Lee concludes his eulogy in English: "Mr Lee Kuan Yew built Singapore. To those who seek Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s monument, Singaporeans can reply proudly: “look around you”.

He continues his eulogy in Malay and Mandarin.

2.15pm: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivers his eulogy.

"This has been a dark week for Singapore.

The light that has guided us all these years has been extinguished. We have lost our founding father Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who lived and breathed Singapore all his life. He and his team led our pioneer generation to create this island nation, Singapore."

PM Lee talks about Mr Lee's contributions in nation building, how he cared for people and how he raised Singapore's standing the world.

"No issue was too small for him. On travels when he came across trees or plants that might grow well here, he would collect saplings and seeds and hand carry them back to Singapore. He used the Istana grounds as a nursery, and would personally check on the health of the trees. Singapore’s Prime Minister was also the Chief Gardener of the City in a Garden."

On Mr Lee as a father, PM Lee said: "For all his public duties, Mr Lee also had his own family.

"My mother was a big part of his life. They were a deeply loving couple. She was his loyal spouse and confidante – going with him everywhere, fussing over him, helping with his speeches, and keeping home and hearth warm.

"They were a perfect team, and wonderful parents. When my mother died, he felt the devastating loss of a life partner, who as he said had helped him become what he was."

PM Lee spoke about how Mr Lee encouraged him to meditate. He said he sat by his father this morning at Parliament House to meditate.

"I remember the day he told me, while we were playing golf at the Istana, that should anything happen to him, he wanted me to look after my mother and my younger brother and sister."

2.08pm: Mood is pensive and sombre. Singapore Symphony Orchestra plays J S Bach’s Air from Orchestral Suite No 3 in D Major as the casket arrives.

The funeral service at UCC is attended by Mr Lee's family members, President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Cabinet ministers, judges, MPs and foreign leaders from more than 20 countries, as well as 2,000 invited Singaporeans from all walks of life.

1.45pm: Cortege arrives at the National University of Singapore. Soldiers stand in salute with their heads bowed as cortege approaches University Cultural Centre (UCC). Funeral service will take place at 2pm. Civil service head Peter Ong is the master of ceremony and 10 eulogies will be delivered.

1.40pm: Procession goes past Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore's first polytechnic to be built. Some seen holding white balloons with black ribbons printed on them. Cortege is on its final stretch of procession.

1.30pm: Procession turns onto Commonwealth Ave and heads past Dover. Crowd heard singing "We Are Singapore". Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and family arrive at National University of Singapore's University Cultural Centre.

1.25pm: Procession enters Queensway, making its way past Tanglin Halt estate. Rain continues to pour on but Singaporeans stand firm waving their flags and throwing flower petals onto the streets. Funeral cortege will turn right and onto Commonwealth.

1.15pm: Gun carriage reaches Bukit Merah. Crowds shouting out Mr Lee Kuan Yew's name as the cortege makes its way along Jalan Bukit Merah. Some were heard shouting: "Lee Kuan Yew, we love you" and seen throwing flowers on the road.

1.10pm: Gun carriage approaches Tanjong Pagar, Mr Lee Kuan Yew's constituency where he served for 60 years. Residents from Pinnacle @ Duxton are seen waving from their balconies, while other residents along the road cheer and wave the Singapore flag.

1pm: Gun carriage makes its way past Esplanade, One Fullerton and Raffles Place.

12.56pm: Four RSAF Black Knights flew past in the Missing Man Formation in the shape of a V as an aerial salute. Rounds of the four ceremonial 25-pounder howitzers have been fired as the gun carriage makes its way to the Padang.

12.40pm: Ceremonial carriage carrying the body of Mr Lee Kuan Yew leaves Parliament House. The gun carriage will travel at 25kmh along the 15.4km route.

Foot procession has begun. Mood is sombre, quiet and reflective.

People chanting "Lee Kuan Yew, Lee Kuan Yew" outside Parliament House as the gun carriage starts making its way towards St Andrew's Road.

12.30pm: State funeral for Mr Lee Kuan Yew has commenced. The Singapore flag is draped over the casket so that the crescent and stars cover the head and heart. It serves as the highest mark of honour for Singapore's founding father.

Coffin bearer party is made up of eight senior officers from the Singapore Armed Forces and the Singapore Police Force.


Singaporeans from all walks of life have come together today to send the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew on his last journey.

Thousands have lined up along the 15.4km route to wait for the ceremonial gun carriage to pass as it makes its journey from the Padang, down to Shenton Way to Tanjong Pagar, Bukit Merah, Queenstown and Commonwealth, and finally to the University Cultural Centre (UCC) in Clementi for Mr Lee's state funeral service.

Despite the heavy downpour, many remained silent and waited patiently for the opportunity to bid their final farewell. Some came as early as 6am.

AsiaOne will be updating this page with more details.

[[nid:184358]]
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.