Initiative to fly flag on Sunday won’t go ahead
The Singapore flag flying at half-mast as a mark of respect for Mr Lee Kuan Yew at the Singapore Sports Hub. Photo: Koh Mui Fong
SINGAPORE — A proposal to allow Singaporeans to fly the national flag at their homes tomorrow (March 29) in memory of Mr Lee Kuan Yew will not go ahead, following a suggestion from Culture, Community and Youth Minister Lawrence Wong to carry handheld flags during the State Funeral Procession instead.
The proposal by grassroots leaders and residents from East Coast GRC was put forth to the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth on Thursday.
Commenting on this in a post on his Facebook page, Mr Wong said that while he felt such ground-up initiatives should be encouraged, he also received feedback from other members of the public who felt that flying flags all over Housing and Development Board flats might not be appropriate during this period of national mourning.
“So for those who would like to fly the flag, perhaps one way is to carry them along the funeral procession route on Sunday. This is already allowed under current rules,” he said in the post.
Rules posted on the National Heritage Board website said the Singapore flag can be flown without a flagpole and night illumination only between July 1 and Sept 30 for National Day celebrations.
The proposal was supported by labour chief Lim Swee Say, who is also Member of Parliament for East Coast GRC and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.
The group had felt the initiative would rally Singaporeans into demonstrating their unity and confidence for the country’s future.
Responding to Mr Wong’s comments, the grassroots leaders who spearheaded the initiative said they were satisfied with the suggestion to bear the flags during the funeral procession. “We are quite happy with the outcome since our main purpose has been preserved ... we get to achieve our main objective, to promote confidence and unity. In fact, this might be a better idea since the procession is the main focus,” said Mr Leong Yi Xing, 32.
Another member of the group, Ms Nicole Leong, 31, said the suggestion to use handheld flags was appropriate.
“I understand his reason for not wanting the whole nation to look like we are celebrating. The compromise he has given is quite suitable ... I think that would (be) a good send-off. It will be such a pretty sight ... with so much emotion going on,” she said.
The group has approached the People’s Association for help with the distribution of flags to residents.
Plans have also been made for a team to distribute the flags at the Parliament House tomorrow, they said.
