Lee Kuan Yew in hospital for severe pneumonia, condition is stable

SINGAPORE - Former prime minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, 91, has been hospitalised for severe pneumonia since Feb 5, 2015, and is in stable condition.

A statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said that Mr Lee "was admitted to Singapore General Hospital on 5 Feb 2015 for severe pneumonia.

"His condition has stabilised and he remains on mechanical ventilation in the ICU. He is conscious and lightly sedated."

Mechanical ventilation is a machine that makes it easier for patients to breathe until they are able to do so completely on their own.

The doctors are continuing to monitor his condition, added the statement.

In a Facebook post, Mr Lee's son and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he had visited his father this morning after advice from doctors to not visit on the first day of Chinese New Year.

He said: "we wished him Happy New Year today, and a smooth recovery."

Previously, Mr Lee was hospitalised for an infection during Chinese New Year in 2014.

Mr Lee has not been regularly attending public events due to his ill health. He is an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC. The last time he was seen at a public event was the People's Action Party's (PAP) 60th anniversary celebrations at the Victoria Concert Hall and his constituency's Tree Planting Day in November 2014.

spanaech@sph.com.sg