PM Lee pays his respects at market stallholder's wake
Family of stallholder who died before Prime Minister's visit touched by gesture
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday night paid his respects at the wake of a 73-year-old woman who had been looking forward to taking pictures with him during his visit to Teck Ghee on Saturday, but died of a heart attack earlier that day.
Mr Lee had found out about Madam Sim Chiu Hong's death from a Facebook comment her daughter Gena Tan left on one of his posts on Sunday morning.
He had posted pictures of his visit to Teck Ghee market as well as the estate's annual Hongbao Presentation Ceremony.
Ms Tan, a 43-year-old who works in the insurance industry, wrote that her mother, a stallholder at the market at Block 341, had died the morning of Mr Lee's visit.
Her mother, 73, had been "looking forward" to taking pictures with Mr Lee, but she died after suffering a heart attack early in the morning, Ms Tan wrote.
Mr Lee responded within 10 minutes.
He said: "I am very sorry to hear this. Please accept my deep condolences. Hope your family is alright. Let me know if you need any help!"
Later that night, he dropped by Madam Sim's wake at Block 321, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1.
Madam Sim had been very excited to meet Mr Lee and had prepared a set of clothes just to meet him, Shin Min Daily News reported yesterday.
However, she fainted suddenly at 5.20am on Saturday and died of a heart attack soon after, her daughter, Ms Tan, told Shin Min.
Madam Sim and her husband, Mr Tan Choon Kooi, 75, had run a stall selling dried goods for about 30 years.
Ms Tan said her mother had been a big fan of Mr Lee and would take pictures with him whenever he visited the market.
She and her family were touched and felt very honoured.
She said she "never thought that PM would drop by", adding that it "made us feel very warm, he really cares about us".
Mr Lee spoke to Ms Tan's family at the wake and stayed for about 20 minutes before leaving.
He spoke to Madam Sim's husband and offered words of encouragement, Ms Tan said.
"PM said he had a deep impression of my parents' stall and remembered they had always worked hard at it.
"He even told my dad not to give up the business and said my dad is still young and should keep up an active lifestyle," she said.
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