SINGAPORE: Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew is “critically ill” and his condition is worsening further while on life support in hospital, the government said on Wednesday.

The 91-year-old, widely credited with transforming Singapore from an economic backwater into one of Asia’s wealthiest economies, has been receiving treatment for severe pneumonia in the intensive care unit at Singapore General Hospital since February 5.

“Mr Lee Kuan Yew remains critically ill in the ICU and has deteriorated further,” said a statement from the office of his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

On Tuesday, the government said his condition had worsened due to an infection, for which he was given antibiotics, and doctors were closely monitoring his condition.

The senior Lee has been breathing with the help of “mechanical ventilation,” a form of life support, according to previous government statements.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2015

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