Tents are set up to provide shade for members of the public, as they stand in line to pay their respects for the late Lee Kuan Yew at Singapore鈥檚 Parliament House. Lee, 91, died Monday after more than a month of battling severe pneumonia. AP Photo
The government said Friday that it 鈥渟trongly advises鈥� the public not to join the queue and to instead visit community tribute sites set up across the island.
Lee鈥檚 death at age 91 on Monday has been met with an outpouring of grief in Singapore. Lee was Singapore鈥檚 prime minister for 31 years, ruling with an iron grip until 1990 and is regarded by Singaporeans as the architect of the country鈥檚 economic success.
As of late morning Friday, some 230,000 people had viewed Lee鈥檚 coffin at Parliament House, the government said. The queue of several kilometers starts at the Padang, an open field in Singapore鈥檚 downtown, crosses a park and snakes along the Singapore River to Parliament House.
Dozens of tents have been erected in the Padang to shelter mourners from the tropical sun and government workers handed out water to people in the long lines.
鈥淚鈥檓 not afraid to wait,鈥� said 44-year-old Idy Leong. 鈥淓ven waiting for 8 hours, I鈥檒l still want to wait. Ten hours, I鈥檒l also want to wait,鈥� she said.
Though credited with building the foundations of Singapore鈥檚 current prosperity, Lee鈥檚 legacy also includes a muzzled press, restrictions on free speech and a stunted democracy.
A slew of foreign leaders and dignitaries are expected at Lee鈥檚 funeral on Sunday including Japan鈥檚 Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and former President Bill Clinton.
The cortege will take a 15-kilometre journey around key landmarks in the city before reaching the National University of Singapore for the funeral service. AU