Singaporeans pray as Lee's condition worsens

His father Adrian Lim said in Mandarin: “I want my son to understand that we have to be grateful for what Mr Lee Kuan Yew, our founding father, has done.”
Lee, 91, has been hospitalised at SGH since February 5 for pneumonia. Yesterday, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said his condition had worsened.
Although Kai Jun does not understand much about Singapore’;s history, he now remembers Lee’s face and identifies him respectfully as “grandfather” whenever he sees Lee’s picture, said Lim.
Yesterday, the Lim family placed a daisy at a public area outside Block 7 at SGH – which the hospital has designated for well-wishers to leave cards and gifts – to convey their best to Mr Lee and his family.
As of noon yesterday, people from all walks of life had left more than 100 bouquets as well as handwritten cards and notes, balloons, soft toys and a box of paper cranes.
There were also those who just came to pray silently for Mr Lee to get well.
National Junior College student Hari Haran, 17, was one of them.
He said: “Mr Lee is the one who brought Singapore from third world to first world. Without him, we would not have such a good life.”
Lee’s health took a turn for the worse on Tuesday and he has been in critical condition since then.
Since news emerged of his condi-
tion, many members of the public
have visited SGH to wish him well.
Singapore residents have been leaving flowers, cards andother gifts at the Singapore General Hospital to show supportfor Lee.
Brenda Chua Jock Suan, 63, a retiree, has been visiting the hospital every day to offer prayers, and encouraged her middle-aged children to do the same.
She said she remembers Lee fondly as the man who single-handedly built Singapore up from a small nation to the successful financial hub it is today.
“I do it because I don’t want him to suffer,” an emotional Chua said in Mandarin. “I don’t buy flowers or cards, but I just hope that my prayers will make things easier for him.”
Although Lee has receded from the public and political scene, his health is watched closely as he is still seen as an influential figure for the current government. His son, Lee Hsien Loong, has been prime minister since 2004.
“Well, life still goes on,” said Singaporean Tan Kim Lee when asked about the future of Singapore without Lee Kuan Yew.
“Singapore is not run by one man, that’s for sure. So we have a good government team in place so I guess life will be normal, except without Mr Lee.”