Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister, died on 23 March 2015 aged 91. His death triggered a flood of tributes to the man who oversaw the tiny city-state's rapid rise from a British colonial backwater to a global trade and financial centre.

Many residents gathered outside Singapore General Hospital, where he had been admitted on February 5, suffering from pneumonia. He died at 3.18am.

Over the past few days, many flowers and balloons were left in the hopes that he would recover. On Monday (23 March), Singapore flags at government buildings were at half-mast. Outside Istana, the official residence of Singapore's President Tony Tan, many people left messages on a board outside and remembered his legacy.

"I believe it's his no-nonsense policy, his vision, his belief in what he wants to achieve, and he's set out to do so. I think his legacy is that he doesn't bow down to threats and fear and things like that, he went ahead with what he decided on. Of course, giving us what we have today as well. I was telling somebody, I wouldn't be cycling here today without him and his policies," said 40-year-old Alvin Tan.

Thai Ambassador Barsan Bunnah also paid his respects.

In his lifetime, Lee drew praise for his market-friendly policies but also criticism at home and abroad for his strict controls over the press, public protest and political opponents.

Lee had receded from public and political life over the past few years, but he was still seen as an influential figure in the government of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, his eldest son.

The government has declared a period of national mourning until his funeral on 29 March. Lee's family will hold a private wake in the next two days, then his body will lie in state at parliament from 25-28 March.

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