The tragedy that saw 28-year-old lawyer Lo Hwei Yen fall victim to the Mumbai terror attacks last week "has reinforced our vigilance and determination to make sure that" such "a largescale attack" will never happen in Singapore, said Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
Mr Goh, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for Marine Parade GRC, spoke to reporters after visiting Ms Lo's wake with his wife last night.
The second day of Ms Lo's wake saw several MPs and at least 88 grassroots leaders from Marine Parade pay their respects at Block 1005 Teresa Ville, her family home in Lower Delta Road.
Shortly after he arrived, Mr Goh hugged Ms Lo's husband, Mr Michael Puhaindran, 37, as he offered his condolences.
Mr Puhaindran's father, Stanley, is a grassroots leader in Marine Parade and a personal friend of the Senior Minister.
Mr Goh told reporters that while it was difficult for both the Lo and Puhaindran families to accept their loss, there is a need to put the matter "in a wider context of terrorism".
He said: "It brought home very vividly that terrorism is real, the threat against us is real."
The wake was attended by about 300 people, including former schoolmates and colleagues of Ms Lo and her husband.
"The circumstances in which Ms Lo lost her life evoked deep sadness among the Singapore Muslim community...which condemns any act of terrorism, any irresponsible killing of innocent lives," said Muis president Haji Mohd Alami Musa, who was also there to pay his respects.
