SINGAPORE: The nation laid to rest one of its first-generation leaders, the late Mr Othman Wok, on Tuesday afternoon (Apr 18). 

The body of the former Cabinet minister, who died on Monday afternoon at the age of 92, left his family home at about 11.55am on Tuesday.  

Mr Othman’s casket was moved to the Sultan Mosque at North Bridge Road for the funeral prayer, where it was received by pallbearers including Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim. 

Upon arrival at the mosque, the state flag was draped over Mr Othman’s casket, the highest state honour.

This was done in the presence of his family as well as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and other Cabinet ministers.

His casket was also accompanied by the Order of Nila Utama (2nd Class) that was awarded to him. 

Following the funeral prayers, Mr Othman’s casket was transported in the pouring rain to a gun carriage to begin its journey to the burial site at the Choa Chu Kang Muslim Cemetery.

At the cemetery, it was received by a coffin-bearer party comprising nine officers from the army, navy, air force and police force.

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan was among the first office holders and Members of Parliament to arrive at the Pusara Abadi Muslim Cemetery along Lim Chu Kang Road. Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Minister Yaacob Ibrahim arrived shortly after.

Members of Parliament at the Muslim cemetry to pay their last respects to the late Mr Othman. (Photo: Monica Kotwani) 

Mr Othman’s coffin arrived just after 3pm, where it was transported from the gun carriage to the burial site.

Mr Othman Wok’s casket arrives at Pusara Abadi. (Photo: Monica Kotwani) 

As the state-assisted ceremony drew to a close, the coffin bearer party presented the state flag to Mr Othman’s daughter.

The coffin-bearer party saluting the casket of Mr Othman Wok before The Last Post was played. (Photo: Monica Kotwani) 

Against a light drizzle and gloomy clouds, the former Cabinet Minister’s family and close friends cupped their hands in an emotional prayer as his body was lowered into the ground.

A memorial service for Mr Othman, organised by OnePeople.sg for invited guests, will be held on Wednesday at 6.30pm at Victoria Concert Hall. 

SINGAPORE — The police have arrested a 69-year-old man on Tuesday (April 18) for triggering a security scare at Woodleigh MRT station by leaving behind some “suspicious white substance” that turned out to be baking flour. Two other men, aged 53 and 70, are also currently assisting with police investigations.

The baking flour was used to mark a trail for their running route, the police said in a statement.

TODAY understands that the three men, all Singaporeans, are part of a running group called the Seletar Hash House Harriers. A total of four locations at the station’s concourse level were marked with the baking flour.

Tuesday’s incident, the second such false alarm this month following an earlier scare at Hougang MRT station involving an unattended bag, caused the Woodleigh station to be shut for nearly three hours as the authorities launched investigations.

Officers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s hazardous materials (hazmat) team eventually established that the suspicious substance was merely baking flour.

“The Police treat all security threats seriously and will not hesitate to take action against anyone who cause public alarm,” the police said in a statement. It gave no details about the suspect’s motivations, and added that investigations are ongoing.

A 58-year-old cleaner on the morning shift at Woodleigh station told TODAY in Mandarin that she spotted some white powdered substance near a pillar at the station as she was about to leave for lunch. The cleaner, who did not want to be named because she is not authorised to speak to the media, said she informed the station manager about her discovery as she did not recall seeing the substance when sweeping the floor at about 7am.

The police said they were alerted at 1pm. At 1.49pm, transport operator SBS Transit said the station on the North East Line was closed as a result of a “security incident”.

NE11 Woodleigh Stn is closed due to a security incident. Free bus rides are available at bus stops btwn Serangoon & Potong Pasir Stns

— SBS Transit (@SBSTransit_Ltd) April 18, 2017

The Police are attending to an incident at Woodleigh MRT station. Please avoid area. Updates will be provided when available.

— SingaporePoliceForce (@SingaporePolice) April 18, 2017

Members of the public are advised not to speculate on the case of suspicious substance found at Woodleigh MRT Station. Updates will follow.

— SingaporePoliceForce (@SingaporePolice) April 18, 2017

Dozens of officers from the SCDF’s hazmat team and the police were on scene to investigate the matter. The authorities gave the all-clear for the station to reopen at 4.20pm.

Speaking at Woodleigh MRT Station shortly after the station reopened, Member of Parliament for Potong Pasir SMC Sitoh Yih Pin said: “Much as we always hope that nothing will happen, we must always be prepared in case anything happens.”

“Thankfully, the station is opened (before the peak hour). So our residents won’t be too inconvenienced,” Mr Sitoh added.

This is the second security incident reported at a MRT station this month. On April 2, a 39-year-old man who left an unattended bag at Hougang MRT station sparked security fears and a brief shutdown of the station.

He was arrested and subsequently released on police bail while investigations continued. The man, who has not been identified, reportedly left his luggage bag unattended and went off to run an errand. The police found only household items in the bag.

SINGAPORE: Woodleigh MRT station was closed for about three hours on Tuesday (Apr 18) afternoon, after a suspicious substance – which turned out to be baking flour – sparked a security incident.

In an update on Facebook at 4.24pm, police said: “SCDF has established that the substance is baking flour. Woodleigh MRT Station has resumed services at 4.20pm.”

Police earlier on Tuesday said they were “managing a security incident” at Woodleigh MRT station after a suspicious substance was found.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) issued alerts on social media stating that the MRT station is temporarily closed, and they are at the scene with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

SCDF officers in protective clothing were seen at the station entrance.

Assistant station manager Mailyn B Carriaga told Channel NewsAsia that white powder (pictured below) had been found in three to four places at the station’s concourse area. She added that it was a cleaner who first spotted the substance. The station manager then informed the police, according to Ms Carriaga.

This was the second incident to have caused a MRT station to be temporarily closed in recent weeks. A 39-year-old man was arrested on Apr 2 after investigations showed he intentionally left  left his bag inside Hougang MRT station while running an errand.

Member of Parliament for Potong Pasir Sitoh Yih Pin was seen at Woodleigh MRT station telling people not to be alarmed.

SBS Transit, which runs the North East Line, said in a tweet at 1.49pm that the station is closed and free bus rides are available at bus stops between Serangoon and Potong Pasir MRT stations.