Singapore's founding leader Lee Kuan Yew, credited with transforming the city-state to one of Asia's wealthiest economies, is in hospital breathing with the help of a machine but in stable condition, the government said Saturday.
A statement from the Prime Minister's Office said the 91-year-old was admitted to Singapore General Hospital on February 5 to be treated for severe pneumonia.
"His condition has stabilised and he remains on mechanical ventilation in the ICU (intensive care unit)," the statement said, using a term to refer to machine-assisted breathing.
"He is conscious and lightly sedated," it added.
"His doctors are continuing to monitor his condition."
Lee, the father of current prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, is widely credited with transforming Singapore from an economic backwater to a rich economy in just over three decades.
He served as prime minister from 1959, when Singapore gained self-rule from colonial ruler Britain, until he stepped down in 1990 in favour of his deputy Goh Chok Tong, who in turn handed power to Lee Hsien Loong in 2004.
- HEREWe shall hope and pray for Singapore's statesman Lee Kuan Yew. God willing, the 91 year-old enjoys a quick recovery and continues to be blessed with good health.
Despite some political differences, we must admit that LKY is a no nonsense leader, a fighter, who basically dragged his people forward to what they are today.
Flaws aplenty but Singapore treats him like a King till this day.
22 comments:
Are you being tongue in cheek by saying "Malaysia pray for a leader"
Are you calling upon Malaysians to pray for Lee Kuan Yew (which if fine) or are you asking Malaysia to pray for a real leader?
Both timely.
LKY only suceed in turning Singapore into an apartheid regime....where malays are treated as third class citizens
Well sir, LKY's taken the credit for everything that the old guard PAP did for Singaporeans up to the eighties. Thereafter, one would be pretty much challenged to prove that ordinary Singaporeans have not been gradually having it from bad to worse.
http://thehearttruths.com/2014/11/05/this-is-what-is-wrong-in-singapore-now-are-you-willing-to-see-it/
Pray for both.
Makes sense.
brilliant reply!
Sometimes we are too drawn into semantics that the sincerity often being clouded and further diatribe abound.
Seems to me that the relative strengths of the Ringgit and the Sing Dollar are evidence of LKY & his colleagues (including a fair number of ex-Malaysians) ability to build the Singapore economy into first world status after being ejected from Malaysia in 1965.
Let's give praise where it's due.
We can only pray for long life and good leadership.
But Singapore is a smaller place to manage.
While he has countered communist ideology well, and made a point of good governance, I don't think his genius comes anywhere near Dr Mahathir's, whose solutions to make us make competitive have been out of the blue.
Our tolerance for freedom and success has created governance problems of a different kind,
Statistically, unlikely good leadership will follow good leadership.
Can we really avoid war/peace/war cycle?
-Praxis
Spore Malays still remain less than 15% of the population. Harry LKY would not have things going his ways if 35-45% are Spore Malays . They would be a Malay "Lim Kit Siang" throwing spanners at every LKY planning and visions. So never ever think LKY can di wonders if he happened to be Malaysia's PM.
LKY warts and all is a much respected and venerated statesman and leader, in his own country and acknowledged globally. If only Malaysia has someone of this stature.
LKY may be the best leader for Singapore Chinese. Singapore Melayu are all gone.. Migrated to Tanah Melayu. So what's the big deal.
Anon 2:08:00 pm
I dunno about that.
I travel to Singapore frequently and I see plenty of Singaporean Malays. Quite a few of them are my friends.
It's obvious that you have not been to the mosques in Singapore for Friday prayers.
Or come across Singaporean Malay PMETs or civil servants or members of the Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Armed Forces. There are plenty of them.
Also, there are many Singaporean Malay students in the country's schools, junior colleges, polytechnics and public universities. Do you doubt that? We must be living in parallel universes then!
Or perhaps to the hundreds of Malaysian Malays who cari makan in Singapore? Think that I am being hyperbolic? Go stand at the Singapore CIQ in Woodlands and see the number of Malaysian-registered motorbikes crossing into Singapore in the early morning.
And who are a large number of the riders of these motorbikes?
Why don't you tell them to have a decent amount of dignity and work in Malaysia, eh?
@ Sunday, February 22, 2015 3:35:00 pm:
Good point.
The Speaker of the Singapore Parliament is Melayu bertudung.
What are the chances of a female non-Malay becoming Speaker of the Federal Parliament here?
Do the Malays always have to begin our lives with the squeal that we need "protection", and have a divine right to it?
Melayu rights, unlike American Express, is not accepted worldwide.
The world will move on.
Gentlemen, please judge for yourselves from the prime alternative media of Singapore:
http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/02/21/lee-kuan-yew-on-mechanical-ventilation-in-icu/
http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/02/22/overwhelming-outpouring-of-well-wishes-for-lky/
http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/02/22/disgusting-tre-readers/
and the comments too . . .
"...what chances.."
As good as having a Malay Muslim female heading a central bank.
Anon Feb 23 12:44:00 am
I note that you have referred to the "prime alternative media of Singapore".
Well and good. They, and those who comment on their reports, are entitled to their views.
Would you be so inclined to give equal credence to the "prime alternative media of Malaysia"? Such as, say, Malaysiakini or The Malaysian Insider?
Not to do so would be hypocritical, don't you think?
MatLi Feb 23 8:16:00 am
Good point.
Was she chosen because she was the best-qualified for the job of heading a central bank or because of her race/ethnicity/religion?
Like, say, the head honcho of a NOC that shall remain nameless?
Funny, isn't it, how meritocracy and talent are overshadowed by issues of ethnicity, race and religion?
I guess that we are driven by more primeval and primordial instincts!
"As good as having a Malay Muslim female heading a central bank."
What, Zeti?
The "Malay Muslim" part konpom, kan, tak kira jantan betina it's inevitable, so.....what's your point?
Satu markah for female rights, and that's about it, kan.
Tebing Tinggi,
Its not so much of giving credence to anyone writing on anything but just a matter of encouraging you to understand that human being are just mere mortals.
One may be revered by many but not everybody.
About LKY, a great statesman he is, but a greater person he can become if he had tempered his intelligence with wisdom and compassion.
Anon @01.36.00pm
I am just responding to " The speaker of the Singapore Parliament is Melayu bertudung"
Perhaps I am a bit lost here because I could not grasp what are you trying to imply?
Would you be happy if I had just quoted , " ..a Melayu berbaju kurung"?
big deal. a puppet speaker. any malay judges in singapore? malays in the singapore army and police? are they allowed to carry guns? NO. over here non malays can fly fighter jets, can become judges and ambassadors. how many malay ambassadors from singapore?
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