Remembering Lee Kuan Yew

Last Chingay Heartland Parade and other events cancelled out of respect for Mr Lee Kuan Yew

SINGAPORE - The last of this year's satellite Chingay parades has been cancelled as a mark of respect to Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who died on Monday morning at the age of 91.

The Chingay 2015 Heartland Parade @ Nee Soon GRC had been scheduled for Saturday, said the Nee Soon East constituency office on Monday.

The main parade, an annual celebration to mark Chinese New Year, was held at Marina Bay on Feb 27 and 28, with a night fiesta at Orchard Road on March 1.

To take the festivities to the heartlands, five satellite parades were organised in March, with the fourth taking place in West Coast GRC last Saturday.

For the same reason, the Esplanade will be cancelling its non-ticketed performances that had been scheduled to take place at its concourse and outdoor theatre during the national mourning period between today and Sunday.

But ticketed performances will continue as scheduled until further notice. The premises will remain accessible to the public during this period.

At its performance at the Esplanade on Tuesday, the choir of St John's College of University of Cambridge will sing Song for Athene, written by British composer John Tavener, to show respect for Mr Lee, a law graduate of the university.

The college's master, Professor Chris Dobson, said: "Singapore has lost its founder and leading light. At a time when the country is in mourning, we wish to honour such a distinguished man by making this concert one of commemoration."

The Singapore-Thailand Leaders' Retreat and introductory visit of Prime Minister of Thailand, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, to Singapore has also been postponed.

Both countries had agreed to the postponement in view of Singapore's first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's death on Monday at the age of 91.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday: "Both sides will work on resuming the visit and the retreat at a mutually convenient time."

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