Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew dies aged 91

SINGAPORE — Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s founding father and first Prime Minister, has died at the age of 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. He was 91,” said the Prime Minister’s Office in a statement this morning (March 23).

Arrangements for the public to pay respects and for the funeral proceedings will be announced later, the statement said.

Mr Lee, born in 1923, was Singapore’s Prime Minister from 1959 to 1990. He then took on the roles of Senior Minister and Minister Mentor, before retiring from Cabinet in 2011.

Mr Lee had been warded at Singapore General Hospital since Feb 5. His condition worsened last week, and yesterday the PMO updated that Mr Lee’s condition had weakened further.

He leaves behind two sons and a daughter.

More in our Special Edition this afternoon (March 23).