On Thursday 26 Mar, news outlets reported that a group of 50 People's Association grassroots leaders from East Coast had sought support from the authorities, namely the Ministry of Culture, Community, Youth and Sports (MCCY), to allow and facilitate residents to hang the National Flag outside their homes to mark the day of Mr Lee Kuan Yew's State Funeral.

MP for East Coast GRC Mr Lim Swee Say who introduced the idea said to the Straits Times, "In his final journey, we want to tell Mr Lee, 'Rest in peace, we assure you that as Singaporeans we will build on your legacy in unity, in confidence, SG100 will be a Singapore better than today."

Earlier today, MCCY Minister Lawrence Wong wrote a note on his Facebook page and encouraged people to carry the flag along the funeral procession instead.

While he did not state outright that the request by the grassroots leaders have been turned down, the note implied it.

Here's the note in full:

I read about the plans to fly the Singapore flag on Sunday. I think it's very good to have such ground-up initiatives, and I strongly encourage this spirit of expression to pay tribute to Mr Lee.

At the same time, I've received feedback from several members of the public that having flags displayed all over our HDB blocks may not be the right tone for the day of the state funeral. So for those who would like to fly the flag, perhaps one way is to carry them along the funeral procession route on Sunday. This is already allowed under current rules.

In fact, we’re seeing many different ground-up initiatives – some are wearing black; others white. Some are putting on black ribbons; others white roses. We all express our emotions in different ways. And we all want to say our final farewells to a great man in our own ways. So I encourage Singaporeans to be inclusive and embrace these different actions. Amidst our diversity, let us all come together as one to honour Mr Lee’s spirit and legacy.

Carrying a flag along the funeral procession is 'allowed under current rules', but if you infer from the way the note is written, it seems that hanging the flag outside your flat may not be.

Minister Wong is right to ask Singaporeans to be inclusive and embrace the different ground-up initiatives that have sprung up to mark respect for Mr Lee Kuan Yew. His hands may be tied in his capacity as the Minister which overlooks the regulation of National Symbols use.

If we had really been sticklers for rules and regulations, the likeness of Mr Lee Kuan Yew could not have been used in the black ribbon design tribute and many other tributes without the blessings of his family members.

If we had been sticklers for rules, the individuals who were giving out snacks and water to Singaporeans stuck in hours-long queues to the Lying in State would have certainly broken a few rules with the NEA or AVA.

If we had been a stickler for rules, some of the spontaneous memorial sites of Mr Lee Kuan Yew would be considered littering or vandalism.

The point is, if done sincerely and tastefully, any form of tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew should not be viewed cynically - like hanging the National Flag outside your flat on Sunday.

While the rules don't allow it, who would have the heart to enforce them in this period of national mourning?