SINGAPORE: Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who was Singapores first Prime Minister when the country gained Independence in 1965, has died on Monday (Mar 23) 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 PMO.
Arrangements for the public to pay respects and for the funeral proceedings will be announced later, it added.
Mr Lee, who was born in 1923, formed the Peoples Action Party in 1954, then became Prime Minister in 1959. He led the nation through a merger with the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, as well as into Independence in 1965.
He leaves behind two sons Lee Hsien Loong and Lee Hsien Yang and a daughter, Lee Wei Ling.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-s-first-prime/1720740.html
