Remembering Lee Kuan Yew

Remembering Lee Kuan Yew: Those who made it in the nick of time

As the minutes ticked towards 8pm yesterday, Ms Lyn Eliza Wong broke into a sprint towards the Padang.

The queue for paying final respects to founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was drawing to a close, and the 55-year-old was determined not to miss her chance.

As the clock struck 8pm, she ran past the start point and marshals cut the line off behind her.

"This is the best feeling," Ms Wong said jubilantly, safely in line.

It would be another six to eight hours before she reached Parliament House, but "I can wait as long as it takes to see him," she said.

Also making it by the skin of her teeth was sales executive Nur Liyana, 26, who was on her second try.

On Friday, she left the queue owing to nausea.

"I haven't run so fast since doing PE (physical education) in JC (junior college)," she said with a laugh.

Others went away disappointed.

Housewife Charmaine Tan, 54, arrived at the queue a few minutes late: "I'm very disappointed, but I'm trying to stay positive."

Referring to the 15.4km funeral procession today, she added: "I can wait along the street for him tomorrow."

There was mild confusion at the start point of the queue just after 8pm yesterday, as some among the crowd said they had just stepped out for a break.

Siblings Ng Jun Jie, 25, and Tiffany Ng, 24, pleaded with marshals that they had left the queue to buy dinner for their mother, who was still in line.

They were let back in.

asyiqins@sph.com.sg

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