Lee death inspires mixed reactions
Print Edition
A LEE Kuan Yew bun or figurine? The death of Singapore鈥檚 founding leader on Monday has spawned unusual tributes and business ideas, ranging from the reverent to the ridiculous.
As tens of thousands of people pay their respects to the 91-year-old former prime minister鈥檚 remains in parliament ahead of his funeral on Sunday, a mini-industry inspired by Lee鈥檚 death has sprouted.
Singaporean food chain BreadTalk was forced to apologise after it was slammed online for introducing a new bun it called a tribute to Lee, promising that proceeds from sales would be given to charity.
鈥淲e regret that this product has caused much concern and appreciate the public鈥檚 feedback, which we take very seriously,鈥 the company said on its Facebook page as it pulled the item off from its shelves.
Even a prominent young member of Lee鈥檚 ruling People鈥檚 Action Party came under fire for naming an exercise routine he invented the LKY91, after the late leader鈥檚 initials and age.
One tribute came in the form of an online petition on the website change.org to rename Singapore鈥檚 famed Changi Airport to Lee Kuan Yew International Airport.
At least 758 people had signed the petition as of mid-afternoon Thursday.
A Singaporean artist, Christopher Pereira, who has been making Lee figurines since 2009, said business was brisk following the leader鈥檚 death. He had set up a stall near parliament.
鈥淥ver the last few days, I have been getting an overwhelming number of orders, as people want to buy them as a tribute to him,鈥 Pereira told AFP.
Singaporeans also took to the Internet to express their grief. Many blacked out their Facebook profile pictures or adopted avatars with his portrait.
Some paid tribute with their tongue firmly in cheek.
Administrators of the satirical Facebook page SMRT Ltd (Feedback) posted an old photo of a youthful Lee posing with his wife, holding a cigarette in one hand and a glass in another.
鈥淚n memory of the original badass,鈥 the page administrators wrote of the leader, who eventually became a health fanatic who neither smoked nor drank.
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