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L E E K U A N Y E W T h e F i n a l Jo u r n e y VIDEO (Available only on desktop and Apple devices) Photo: MCI 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 1 / 4 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 FOREWORD 2 / 4 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. FOREWORD 3 / 4 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. FOREWORD 4 / 4 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
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