Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew admitted to hospital

Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew admitted to hospital

SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew
has been admitted to a local hospital for treatment of an
infection arising from a minor surgical procedure, a government
statement said on Sunday.

According to the statement from the former prime minister's
office, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters, Lee, 75, was
taken to National University Hospital on Saturday and is in
stable condition.

"He is currently on intravenous antibiotics and is expected to
remain in hospital for the next few days," it said.

The statement did not reveal what surgical procedure Lee had
earlier undergone or when it had taken place.

Neither John Wong, Lee's primary physician, nor officials from
the National University of Singapore Hospital could be reached
for comment.

A doctor said the infection need not be related to the heart
treatment Lee received in 1996 following the narrowing of his
coronary arteries.

"Intravenous antibiotics just means that he has a serious
infection which require a high concentration of antibiotics,"
said the doctor, who declined to be identified.

The architect of modern Singapore and founder of the ruling
People's Action Party (PAP) Lee has remained a major influence at
home and abroad since resigning as prime minister in 1990.

Lee led Singapore from the time of its independence from
Britain in 1959 until 1990 and was appointed senior minister by
Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong after his resignation.

His objective, upon handing over the reins to Goh, was to pave
a smooth transition for a new generation of politicians who could
ensure stable politics and economic prosperity.

This he achieved when the local financial market did not react
adversely to a serious heart ailment in 1996 which required the
insertion of a stent to keep his arteries open.

The elder statesman said the lack of market response to his
heart treatment proved Singaporeans had accepted that the reins
of power had passed to a new generation.

"I... have put in place as many people who can do the job.
And the job will be done," he told reporters at the time.
Singaporeans were confident the tiny country of three million
people was in good hands, he said.

Lee was back in hospital twice in 1997, once in January for
chronic inflammation of the bladder and then in September due to
a respiratory infection which also required intravenous
antibiotics.