From MRT stations to bus interchanges, homes and community centres, Singaporeans acted as one yesterday evening, when they observed a minute of silence to honour the country's founding father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

A siren sounding across the island linked those who were not watching Mr Lee's state funeral service to the 2,200 gathered at the University Cultural Centre, where it was taking place.

Others followed the live broadcast on television and online.

As those at the funeral service bowed their heads, a lone bugler from the SAF Military Band sounded the Last Post - a final salute to the deceased - and people across the island also bowed their heads as a mark of respect for Singapore's first Prime Minister, who died last Monday aged 91.

Many stopped in their tracks - some with bags in hand outside shopping malls like Raffles City, while others at work, including SBS Transit staff at the Toa Payoh bus interchange, put what they were doing aside for that moment of silence.

Even the MRT train service stopped for the minute of silence.

At the Junction 8 mall in Bishan, the usual stream of people came to a standstill in front of a big screen outside the MRT exit.

Part-time florist Sharon Chew, 58, had tears in her eyes as she said: "It's such a pity that we lost such a talented and great man. I'm deeply pained because he's left us. I've been watching his life history on television and I really feel very moved."

Said Mr Jason Lee, 29, an assistant banquet manager who was watching the eulogies on his phone: "It was a show of respect ... for a man who gave his life to the nation. The minute was the least we could have done."

MAY CHEN, AW CHENG WEI, JOANNA SEOW and CHARISSA YONG