Today, 11 years ago on March 23, 2015 at 3.18am, Lee Kuan Yew passed away at the age of 91 at the Singapore General Hospital.
Singapore’s first Prime Minister had been battling severe pneumonia for over a month.
His death marked the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy that shaped modern Singapore.
A nation in mourning
The announcement was made by then-Prime Minister and Lee’s son, Lee Hsien Loong in a televised address at 8am.
A week-long period of national mourning was declared from March 23 to 29.
Flags across the island were lowered to half-mast, and many events were postponed or cancelled.
TV and radio stations paused their usual programming to air special tributes.
As a mark of respect, entertainment outlets including cinemas, theatres, and nightclubs either shut their doors or operated under reduced hours.
Across Singapore, people paid homage in their own ways.
