SOME 2,000 well-wishers turned up to say their last goodbyes to popular getai performer Lim Lee,causing traffic to slow to a crawl in Bedok Reservoir Road yesterday afternoon.

From 9.30am, drummers and opera singers had begun belting out Mr Lim's favourite Hokkien tunes at Block 135, where the wake was held.

Among the many people who turned up - fans, curious residents and even ice-cream sellers - some described the wake as a 'mini-concert' while others said it was like Chinese New Year.

Mr Lim was a well-loved comedian, singer and host, with many remembering him for dressing in drag on stage. He had died of heart and lung failure last Sunday. He was 54.

Fans jam-packed the void deck, spilling out into the carpark. Many stood on tiptoe on red plastic chairs, eager to catch a glimpse of the local 'who's who' of getai veterans.

Others jostled for a look at the '9999' number plate on the colourfully decorated hearse.

Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC Zainul Abidin Rasheed turned up in the afternoon to offer his condolences.

Mr Lim's close friends, getai artists such as Lin Ruping and Zhong Yaonan, were teary-eyed as the hour-long procession looped around the neighbourhood, ending with the release of 54 white helium balloons.

Later, at the Mandai Crematorium, some 13 busloads of family members, friends and fans jostled for one last look at the coffin. Mr Lim's favourite getai costume, a black and gold outfit, was on top.

One fan, Madam Zhang Ping Shen, 45, said she had taken the day off from work to turn up at 8am. 'I love his songs and I always thought he looked very pretty whenever he acted as a woman,' said the hotel laundry employee.

Getai host Qiao Fong, 50, described his long-time buddy as frugal but one who readily helped any friend in need.

'He earned a lot but he liked to help people. He was always thrifty but look at what has happened,' he said, referring to an $80,000 debt owed to Mr Lim by four friends.

While on his death bed, Mr Lim had asked his close friend, getai performer Wong Bi Hua, to recover this sum of money.

Rumours were rife last week that getai comedienne Liu Lingling's husband was among those who owed Mr Lim money. Lianhe Wanbao had reported that he had left the country five years ago, leaving her with $600,000 in debts to pay.

Opinions had been divided, with some getai fans insisting that she should be the one to settle his debts.

However, Ms Wong told The Sunday Times yesterday that Ms Liu's husband was not one of the four named by Mr Lim. Although Ms Liu's husband did borrow money from Mr Lim, the latter had never expected her to pay up on his behalf, added Ms Wong.

Mr Lim and Ms Liu's friendship dates back to the 1990s, when the two were a popular getai pair.

Mr Lim's wife, 53-year-old Chen Mei Qi, said she had not even heard of the $80,000 that her husband had lent others until last week.

Now currently unemployed, she plans to find work as a packer in a factory in order to support her two still-schooling daughters aged 18 and 22.

She said: 'I have not had the time to think about money in the last week. I just know that I'm going to need a big sum of money.

'I'm not going to force these people to return the money. If they have a conscience, they will return it. I will just live one day at a time.'

Mr Lim's godson, getai organiser Chen Zhi Wei, 32, who was in charge of planning the wake, said Mr Lim's medical bills came up to at least $170,000. The wake cost another $30,000.

Said Mr Chen of the debtors: 'When you were in need, Lim Lee helped you. Now he is in need, so it's time you help him back.'

graciac@sph.com.sg