Lee Kuan Yew in hospital, recovering from infection: report

Former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. (AFP file photo)

Former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew is in hospital recovering from an infection.

The Straits Times reported on Tuesday that Lee, who turned 90 in September last year, was warded at Singapore General Hospital with a fever and a cough on Sunday. He is currently recovering, but on antibiotics, the report added.

According to his press secretary, he was advised by his doctors to avoid public appearances, and so will not be attending the annual Tanjong Pagar GRC Chinese New Year dinner. The dinner is scheduled for Tuesday evening.

This will be the second consecutive year he has not been able to attend the dinner. He did not attend the dinner in 2013 also because of his ailing health. In previous years when he did attend the dinner, he would make keynote speeches on issues concerning Singapore, such as its citizen population growth.

Lee was present at the latest parliamentary sitting on 20 January, with members of parliament taking to social media to say they were glad to see him there. He was also present in parliament on his birthday last year, where he was greeted with a 30-second standing ovation and a tribute speech made in his honour.