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More world leaders mourn passing away of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew

Xinhua, March 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

More world leaders extended condolences over the death of Singapore's former prime minister and founding father Lee Kuan Yew, who passed away early Monday morning at the age of 91.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has sent his condolences.

"I am sad to hear of the death of Singapore's first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew. Lee Kuan Yew personally shaped Singapore in a way that few people have any nation. He made his country into one of the great success stories of our modern world," Cameron said in a statement.

"That Singapore is today a prosperous, secure and successful country is a monument to his decades of remarkable public service, " he added.

Describing Lee as "a friend to Britain," Cameron said many British prime ministers benefited from his wise advice, including himself.

"Lady (Margaret) Thatcher once said that there was no prime minister she admired more than Mr Lee for 'the strength of his convictions, the clarity of his views, the directness of his speech and his vision of the way ahead'," he said.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond also offered his condolences.

In a press release, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on Monday mourned the passing of modern Singapore's founding father and paid tribute to an "exceptional statesman" who "has made Singapore one of the major economic centers in Asia."

Also in a press release, French President Francois Hollande said "France loses a friend, who had worked for the rapprochement between our two countries and to deepen our cooperation in all areas."

Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah sent messages of condolences to Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, as well as the government and people of the Republic of Singapore on the passing of Lee Kuan Yew, the state-run Radio Television Brunei (RTB) said on Monday.

In the message to Lee Hsien Loong, the Sultan said he was deeply saddened to learn of the passing away of His Excellency's beloved father, Lee Kuan Yew.

The Sultan said that as the founding father of modern Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew had built and developed Singapore into a prosperous nation in South East Asia; and he also admires Lee Kuan Yew's tenacity in continuing to impart his wisdom and guidance for the benefit of all Singaporeans. Endi