I WISH to express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding job carried out by the organisers at Parliament House, which made it possible for the maximum number of Singaporeans to pay their respects to former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in a safe and orderly fashion ("11-hour wait - yet they kept coming"; last Saturday).
Though caught out initially by the overwhelming public response, the organisers nonetheless responded admirably in reconfiguring the queueing arrangements, putting up tents in the Padang, and making other adjustments.
These measures helped shorten queueing time, provide much-needed relief from the sun, and made the long wait more comfortable for everyone in the queues.
Much has been said about Mr Lee's legacy, including his pragmatic, methodical, no-nonsense approach to problem-solving. Mr Lee had often stressed that one should systematically identify the problem at hand, analyse it, then tackle it; not to just talk about it, but to proactively work out a constructive solution.
To their credit, the organisers have achieved just that.
Let us also not forget the many volunteers and corporate sponsors who chipped in with their time, complimentary drinks, and even umbrellas on loan.
Lastly, I had the privilege to experience first-hand the camaraderie and goodwill that prevailed throughout the long waiting time, among fellow mourners as well as officials on duty, regardless of race, age or gender.
All these bode well for us as a nation.
My firm belief is that if we can keep alive the Lee Kuan Yew legacy, maintain the can-do spirit he instilled in us, and uphold the camaraderie among all Singaporeans as witnessed in this period of mourning, Singapore will continue to excel. Count on it.
Ray Ho Cheong Chan
Though caught out initially by the overwhelming public response, the organisers nonetheless responded admirably in reconfiguring the queueing arrangements, putting up tents in the Padang, and making other adjustments.
These measures helped shorten queueing time, provide much-needed relief from the sun, and made the long wait more comfortable for everyone in the queues.
Much has been said about Mr Lee's legacy, including his pragmatic, methodical, no-nonsense approach to problem-solving. Mr Lee had often stressed that one should systematically identify the problem at hand, analyse it, then tackle it; not to just talk about it, but to proactively work out a constructive solution.
To their credit, the organisers have achieved just that.
Let us also not forget the many volunteers and corporate sponsors who chipped in with their time, complimentary drinks, and even umbrellas on loan.
Lastly, I had the privilege to experience first-hand the camaraderie and goodwill that prevailed throughout the long waiting time, among fellow mourners as well as officials on duty, regardless of race, age or gender.
All these bode well for us as a nation.
My firm belief is that if we can keep alive the Lee Kuan Yew legacy, maintain the can-do spirit he instilled in us, and uphold the camaraderie among all Singaporeans as witnessed in this period of mourning, Singapore will continue to excel. Count on it.
Ray Ho Cheong Chan
