Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, dies at 91

Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew, 91 died 3.18am today at the Singapore General Hospital after suffering from severe pneumonia, the Prime Minister's Office announced.

The PMO said that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, a son of the late Kuan Yew, was deeply grieved.

It quoted Hsien Loong as saying that the funeral proceedings and arrangements for the public to pay their respects would be announced later.

Kuan Yew was admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital on Feb 5 for pneumonia.

As a mark of respect to the late Kuan Yew, the State flags on all Government buildings will be flown at half-mast from Monday to Sunday, the PMO added.

A private family wake will be held from Monday to Tuesday at Sri Temasek.

body will lie in state at Parliament House from Wednesday to Saturday, for the public to pay their respects. Those who wish to pay their last respects at Parliament House can do so from 10am to 8pm daily from Wednesday to Saturday, the PMO said.

A State Funeral Service will be held at 2pm on Sunday at the University Cultural Centre, National University of

Singapore, it added.

An authoritarian leader

Kuan Yew charted history as the world's longest-serving Prime Minister of the republic from 1959 to 1990.

Lee, who dominated Singapore politics for more than half a century, was an authoritarian leader who transformed the city-state from a sleepy British imperial outpost into a global trading and financial center.

Born on 16 September 1923 in Singapore, Kuan Yew pursued his studies at the Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge after the World War II. In 1950, he returned to Singapore and became active in politics.

Kuan Yew founded the People's Action Party (PAP) and served as its secretary-general since 1954.

After he stepped down as Prime Minister, Kuan Yew remained as the leader of the PAP until 1992. His position was succeeded by Goh Chok Tong. Subsequently, he became the Mentor Minister of Singapore until 2011.

On the personal front, Kuan Yew was married to Kwa Geok Choo in 1950 and have three children; Lee Hsien Loong, Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang.

Kuan Yew's eldest child Lee Hsien Loong was appointed the Prime Minister in 2004.

Kuan Yew reigned supreme particularly in 1963 during which Singapore joined the formation of Malaysia. The date was September 16.

After a series of racial tensions that erupted between ethnic Malays and Chinese, that has led to the exit of Singapore from Malaysia.

As the PM of Singapore, Kuan Yew's career reached its pinnacle when he signed the agreement and declared the Republic as an independent State on 9 August, 1965 .

This move has coerced Kuan Yew to adopt measurements to develop Singapore into a developed nation.

Lee led the economic transformation programme to turn Singapore as an exporter of merchandise , encouraging foreign investment and improve the living standards of workers.

By 1980, Singapore was ranked second behind Japan in the list of countries with the highest per capita income in East Asia .

Kuan Yew is best remembered as a charismatic personality, superior intellect and political acuity.

He was the one responsible in recognising Singapore as an economic center for the entire Southeast Asian region.

The PMO said that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, a son of the late Kuan Yew, was deeply grieved.

It quoted Hsien Loong as saying that the funeral proceedings and arrangements for the public to pay their respects would be announced later.

Kuan Yew was admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital on Feb 5 for severe pneumonia.