Singapore statesman Lee to be given 21-gun salute at funeral

Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew who died this week will be accorded a 21-gun salute at his funeral on Sunday, the government said today even as thousands of people gathered outside parliament here to pay their last respects to the nation's first prime minister.
Lee died of severe pneumonia on March 23 at the age of 91.
Renowned as a global statesman and the founding father of modern Singapore, Lee is credited with transforming the city-state into an economic powerhouse within just three decades of its independence. He quit as prime minister in 1990 after 31 years in office.

"The SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) will bid Mr Lee our final farewell with the highest honours," Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said today, adding that Lee would be given a 21-gun salute as his carriage makes its way to the funeral.
"Four RSAF (Republic of Singapore Airforce) Black Knights will also salute Mr Lee as his body passes City Hall with a 'Missing Man' formation where one Black Knight breaks off," Ng wrote on Facebook today.
Patrol Vessels RSS Dauntless and RSS Resilience, representing the Navy, will conduct a ceremonial sailpast off the Marina Barrage as a final salute, said Ng.

The funeral procession for Lee will pass famous landmarks like the Old Parliament House, as well as heartland areas, the Straits Times reported.

The procession, which will cover a distance of 15.4 kms, will commence at 12.30 pm and will be telecast live. The funeral service will also be live streamed on YouTube.
Members of the public will be allowed to line the route from Parliament House to the National University of Singapore, where the funeral service will be held, the State Funeral Organising Committee said.
Several world leaders are expected to attend Lee's funeral, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former US President Bill Clinton, South Korean President Park Geun-Hye, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian King Abdul Halim Shah.