‘He has given a lot to Singapore’: Business leaders, staff pay tribute to Wee Cho Yaw

Mr Wee’s wake was held at Woodlands Memorial, taking up all eight funeral parlours on the sixth floor.

There were around 30 small tables for attendees and a few rows of chairs facing the front of the hall, where the casket lay. Wreaths lined one side of the room.

Service staff in Park Royal Collection shirts served drinks to attendees at the wake, and there was a buffet line set up when CNA entered the hall at around 3.10pm. The fifth floor was booked for UOB staff.

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong was seen at the wake, though he did not speak to the media. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong paid their respects on Sunday.

Mr Kho Choon Keng, president of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Neo Group founder Neo Kah Kiat, Jumbo Group CEO Ang Kiam Meng and Professor Chan Heng Chee, former ambassador to the United States, also attended the wake.

Prof Chan said Mr Wee was not only a banking leader, but a leader of Singapore society.

“His story is inspiring to everyone. He’s interested in community, education and culture,” she told TODAY.

“He has given a lot to Singapore, so that’s why when I read about the news, I felt like I had to come.”