Singapore's former prime minister hospitalised

Singapore's former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew has been hospitalised following a suspected Transient Ischaemic attack associated with a prolonged episode of irregular heartbeat. The Prime Minister's Office in a statement last night said 89-year-old Lee was admitted to the hospital on Friday. Lee has recovered but he would remain in hospital for a few days under observation, it added. The Transient Ischaemic Attack is a medical condition in which blood flow to a part of the brain stops for a brief period of time. A person would have stroke-like symptoms which clear in less than 24 hours, the statement said. Reports about Lee being unwell first emerged on Friday after he missed the traditional Lunar New Year dinner at his Tanjong Pagar constituency for the first time in his political career. In 2010, Lee was hospitalised for chest infection. Lee has served as prime minister from 1959 to 1990, and stayed on as Senior Minister and then Minister Mentor in the subsequent governments. He gave up ministerial position in the government after the May 2011 general elections. Lee is currently Member of Parliament for the Tanjong Pagar constituency which he has represented throughout his career.