Lee Kuan Yew passes away at 91


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Lee Kuan Yew, the father of modern Singapore, has passed away at 91.

“The Prime Minister is deeply grieved to announce the passing of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the founding Prime Minister of Singapore. Mr Lee passed away peacefully at the Singapore General Hospital today at 3:18AM,” according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, released at 3:40AM today.

Lee Kuan Yew had been on life support at the intensive care unit and was receiving treatment for severe pneumonia since 5 Feb.

 


STATEMENT FROM THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE

The Prime Minister has declared a period of National Mourning from 23 March (Monday) to 29 March (Sunday).

2 As a mark of respect to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the State flags on all Government buildings will be flown at half-mast from today to Sunday.

3 A private family wake will be held from 23 March (Monday) to 24 March (Tuesday) at Sri Temasek.

4 Mr Lee’s body will lie in state at Parliament House from 25 March (Wednesday) to 28 March (Saturday), for the public to pay their respects. Those who wish to pay their last respects at Parliament House can do so from 10 am to 8 pm daily from Wednesday to Saturday.

5 A State Funeral Service will be held at 2 pm on 29 March (Sunday) at the University Cultural Centre, National University of Singapore.

6 The State Funeral Service will be attended by the late Mr Lee’s family, friends and staff, the President, Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, Old Guards, senior civil servants, grassroots leaders and Singaporeans from all walks of life. The State Funeral Service will be followed by a private cremation at Mandai Crematorium.

7 Condolence books and cards will be available in front of Istana by the Main Gate from Monday to Sunday, for those who wish to pen their tributes to the late Mr Lee. Condolence books will also be opened at all Overseas Missions for overseas Singaporeans and friends.

8 The public can express their condolences and share their memories of the late Mr Lee at the official website,http://www.rememberingleekuanyew.sg.

9 The public can call the 24-hour hotline at 6336 1166 with queries, or visit
http://www.rememberingleekuanyew.sg andhttp://www.facebook.com/remember… more details.

10 The Prime Minister will be addressing the nation “live” at 8 am today.
. . . . .
PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
SINGAPORE
23 MARCH 2015


His condition has been closely watched by the nation since the Prime Minister’s Office first made an announcement on 21 Feb. At that time, his condition had stabilised and remained mechanical ventilation. “He is conscious and lightly sedated,” the statement said. “His doctors are continuing to monitor his condition.”

On 17 Mar, his condition had worsened due to an infection and he was put on antibiotics. The next day, a statement announced that his health had “deteriorated further”.

On 22 Mar, his son and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that his father’s had “weakened further”.

Lee is widely credited with transforming Singapore from an economic backwater to one of Asia’s wealthiest economies. He modernised the economy but rights advocates have criticised the British-trained lawyer for his iron-fisted rule, which has seen political opponents jailed or driven to bankruptcy through costly libel suits.

He was born Harry Lee Kuan Yew on 16 September 1923, to a well-off family that lived in a large two-storey bungalow at 92 Kampong Java Road (now Tembeling Road). His great grandfather, born in 1846, was an immigrant from Guangdong.

His earliest and most vivid recollection, he said, was being held by his ears over a well because he “had messed up an expensive jar of my father’s 4711 pale green scented brilliantine. My father had a violent temper, but that evening his rage went through the roof. He took me by the scruff of the neck from the house to this well and held me over it.”

Lee served as prime minister from 1959, when Singapore gained self-rule from Britain before a brief and stormy union with Malaysia, until he stepped down in 1990 in favour of his deputy Goh Chok Tong. Goh in turn handed the reins to Lee Hsien Loong in 2004.

The People’s Action Party (PAP), which was co-founded by the elder Lee, has been returned to power in every election since 1959 and currently holds 80 of the 87 seats in parliament.

In a book published in 2013, the Asian statesman said he feels weaker by the day and wants a quick death. The longtime fitness buff has visibly slowed since his wife of 63 years Kwa Geok Choo died in 2010.

Lee said that he had signed an Advance Medical Directive, a legal document informing doctors that a patient does not want the use of any life-sustaining treatment to prolong his life in the event he becomes terminally ill and unconscious and where death is imminent.

“If I have to be fed by a tube, and it is unlikely that I would ever be able to recover and walk about, my doctors are to remove the tube and allow me to make a quick exit,” he wrote.

In a newspaper column in 2011, Lee’s physician daughter Lee Wei Ling revealed that he had been battling a neurological disease that makes it difficult for him to walk.

Lee Kuan Yew NDP 2014
Lee Kuan Yew at the National Day Parade celebrations in August 2014. 

Lee’s last high-profile public appearance was in November, when despite requiring assistance to walk and stand, he momentarily stood to receive a standing ovation at the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PAP.

At the time of his demise, he was still an MP for the port district of Tanjong Pagar but retired from advisory roles in government in 2011. He held the special cabinet positions of senior minister and later “minister mentor” after stepping down as premier.

Despite being largely out of the public eye in recent years, Lee remains revered by many Singaporeans. Many took to social media in recent weeks to voice messages of support. On February 25 government officials and state-linked media were forced to quash late-night rumours that he had died.

Lee’s health worsened as Singapore ramped up preparations for a grand celebration of its 50th anniversary of independence from Malaysia on 9 August 1965.

In early March, nearly 1,600 people wrote messages of support on Lee Hsien Loong’s Facebook page after he posted the latest statement on his father’s condition.

“Be strong and hope you can recover from your illness Mr Lee Kuan Yew. SG50 will be pitiful if you aren’t there with us,” wrote Muhammad Zhafran, referring to the independence day celebrations. 

Others wished Lee well, with the hashtag #GetwellsoonLKY, referring to his initials.

In a Facebook post on 13 March, Lee Hsien Loong said “my family and I are deeply touched” by the messages of support.

Some had sent the elder Lee paintings and cards wishing him well. “We’ve arranged the cards in his office, to welcome him back when he’s better,” the younger Lee said.

With reports from Agence France-Presse

Photos: Lee Kuan Yew Facebook Page



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