SINGAPORE - A snaking queue of residents waited in line, from as early as 7.30am, to write messages to Mr Lee Kuan Yew at a community tribute centre at Ang Mo Kio.

By 10.30am, more than 1,000 residents had penned tributes and messages of condolence to Mr Lee's family.

The centre started operating on Monday, when more than 5,000 residents already came to leave messages.

The centre, set up at the space at Ang Mo Kio Central Stage, located beside Jubilee Entertainment Complex, is one of 10 community sites operating on Tuesday.

Madam Teng Poh Geok, 57, a health attendant, brought photos of Mr Lee, whom her 85-year-old father worked with as a grassroots leader in Silat between the 1960s and 1990s.

Fighting back tears, Madam Teng said she respected Mr Lee but unfortunately did not get to interact with him personally.

"All I have always seen was the back of his head, but still, I knew him as a great man from stories told by my father," she said.

"My father told me he was strict and fierce, but only because he did what he thought right, even if others were against him."

The other operational community sites are located at the hard court opposite Choa Chu Kang MRT Station, Canopy @ J Link (next to Jcube and Jurong Regional Library), Tanjong Pagar Community Club, Hong Lim Park, People's Association Headquarters in Lavender, Toa Payoh Central Community Club, the open space at Bedok town centre, Tampines Community Plaza (in front of Tampines One Mall) and Sengkang Community Hub.

Another eight sites, including those at Marina Barrage, Singapore Botanic Gardens, and Kovan Hub will be open on Wednesday.

They will operate from 10am to 8pm until March 29 when the state funeral will be held.

From Wednesday, people can also go to 25 public libraries which, in addition to tribute booths, will have special exhibitions on the key milestones of Mr Lee's public life.