Singaporean officials confirmed on Thursday that the country’s founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, remains on life support in an intensive care unit.
The Prime Minister’s office released a statement clarifying Lee’s condition, after rumors swirled earlier this week that the 91-year-old former head of government had died.
“Mr Lee Kuan Yew is still warded in ICU at Singapore General Hospital. He remains sedated and on mechanical ventilation,” read the statement. “His doctors have restarted him on antibiotics, and are continuing to monitor him closely.”
Lee, who is largely credited with creating the conditions that allowed the former British colony to transform into a thriving international business hub, was first admitted to Singapore’s General Hospital on Feb. 5 after succumbing to severe pneumonia.
According to an earlier statement, Lee was both “conscious and lightly sedated” over the weekend.
See 'Father of Singapore' Lee Kuan Yew's Life in Pictures
Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew (1923-2015), seen in 1969.Michael Stroud—Getty ImagesThe General Secretary of People's Action Party of Singapore and the new Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew congratulated by his supporters in 1959.
Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty ImagesPrime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in conference with Labor leaders during strike threat in 1965.Larry Burrows—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesPrime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and family at official residence of "Sri Tamasek" in 1965.Larry Burrows—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesPrime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at home with his family playing Chinese chess in 1965.Larry Burrows—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesLee Kuan Yew in 1965.Larry Burrows—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesPrime Minister Lee Kuan Yew during May Day celebration in 1965.Larry Burrows—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesSir Alec Douglas Home, former British Prime Minister meets with Lee Kuan Yew, in London, 1969.Rolls Press/Popperfoto/Getty ImagesCommonwealth Prime Ministers Conference at Marlborough House, London, in 1966.Roger Jackson—Getty ImagesPremier Lee Kuan Yew with visiting British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1985.Peter Jordan—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images Lee Kuan Yew with President Obama in the Oval Office in 2009.Mandel Ngan—AFP/Getty Images Lee Kuan Yew in 2005.Jonathan Drake—Bloomberg/Getty Images
