SINGAPORE — The days following Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s death on Monday has been a tremendous experience, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who arrived yesterday at the Padang about 15 minutes before the four-day lying in state of Lee drew to an end.

Speaking after he stopped to shake hands and speak with some of those lining up to pay their last respects to Lee Kuan Yew, Lee Hsien Loong said: “I think the response from all segments of our society, everybody, has been overwhelming.

“Here, queueing up to enter the Parliament house to pay respects, at the constituencies tribute sites, online, overseas at our embassies, commissions, consulates.”

Many other countries like Australia, New Zealand, India, Timor Leste have passed resolutions in parliament declaring national days of mourning for Lee Kuan Yew, he noted.

“I think it’s extraordinary, it’s deeply moving, it’s a tremendous unique experience for Singaporeans,” he said.

As of 6pm today, over 1.2 million people have paid respects to the late founding Prime Minister, with more than 400,000 people queueing to observe the lying in state and 850,000 people paying respects at community tribute sites.

Lee explained that queues for the lying in state had to be closed at 8pm to allow time to clear the queue, which is still eight to nine hours long, and prepare the Padang for the state funeral procession tomorrow, which will be at 12.30pm, beginning at Parliament House and concluding at the University Cultural Centre.

The centre will accomodate about 2,000 people, but people all over Singapore and around the world will be tuning in to the procession,  Lee Hsien Loong said.

“So I hope we will focus ourselves on that ceremony, which is a very important one. And I hope that we will share that moment together, particularly when we have that minute of silence at the end of the eulogies...

“I hope tomorrow we will have a ceremony that will be a fitting mourning and celebration of Lee Kuan Yew’s life,” he said. — TODAY