At PM Lee Hsien Loong's constituency, tears and a standing ovation

Ms Siva Pillai, 41, stationed herself along Jalan Bukit Merah to catch a glimpse of the gun carriage bearing Mr Lee Kuan Yew's casket as it passed by at 1.20pm.

Then, barely an hour later, she was at the community tribute centre about 15km away in Ang Mo Kio watching Mr Lee's funeral service being screened live.

Ms Pillai's long hair and black clothes were still damp from the pouring rain.

But she said she rushed back to Ang Mo Kio, where she lives, to be with her fellow Singaporeans to observe the moment of silence, sing the national anthem, and recite the national pledge.

"Mr Lee's legacy will live on," she said, tearing up. "This week, he's done what we could not do on our own. He brought us all together."

In Ang Mo Kio GRC where Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is an MP, more than 1,400 people gathered to watch a live feed of the funeral service and to mourn together.

All the 900 seats there were taken, with dozens of people standing at the back, craning their necks to watch the service on a large screen on a stage.

Several cried, dabbing at their eyes and damp cheeks with tissue as PM Lee delivered his eulogy to his father.

They gave their MP a standing ovation when he finished and, later, rose again to observe the national moment of silence.

Ms Anita Chia, 57, said: "This is a time for community.

"I could've watched the funeral service at home. But being here as part of a group is what Mr Lee would've wanted. Regardless of the rain, we are here to say goodbye to our national leader," the lecturer added.

She said she chose to go to the Ang Mo Kio site to support PM Lee. It was the last chance for residents - the only chance, for many - to pay their respects to Mr Lee.

Retiree Lai Tsun Yuen, 74, said: "I came here to honour Mr Lee because I can't go to the city centre to pay my respects (at Parliament House).

"There were too many people there. I'm an old man, I can't stand in line for hours," he said.

Mr Lai had no trouble at all in Ang Mo Kio, as the front rows of chairs were reserved for the elderly and people with disabilities.

Student Haikal Hirman, 15, was perched on his bicycle near the stage, next to three friends he had come with to pay his respects. When it was the moment of silence, one by one, the four friends stood, removed their caps and bowed their heads.

Administrative assistant Lu Ying, 39, said in Mandarin that she was touched by the events.

Said the permanent resident, who moved to Singapore 13 years ago and is married to a Singaporean: "Even though I'm not a citizen, I felt like I was going to cry. This week, I found out how united Singaporeans truly are."

charyong@sph.com.sg

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