Hong Kong, March 23 (IANS): Leaders in the Asia-Pacific region have extended their condolences to Singapore over the death of its founding father and former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who passed away early Monday morning at the age of 91.
Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of Communist Party of Vietnam, sent condolences to Lee Hsien Loong, secretary general of the People's Action Party of Singapore, Xinhua news agency reported.
And Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang conveyed condolences to Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam on the passing away of the veteran leader.
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as well as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanasak Patimapragorn expressed condolences over the Lee Kuan Yew's death.
"Lee Kuan Yew has left behind an everlasting legacy on Singapore and the region at large. He will always be remembered for his bold and visionary statesmanship in developing Singapore into a stable and prosperous nation," Tanasak said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen visited the Singaporean embassy on Monday and paid his last respects to the former prime minister.
In a letter to Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Hun Sen said Lee Kuan Yew transformed Singapore into one of the most prosperous states in the region and the world.
Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama in his message to Lee Hsien Loong, paid tribute to Lee Kuan Yew's vision and commitment to building Singapore into "a nation now envied across the globe", according to Fiji's department of information.
"Fifty years on from a sleepy tropical port, Singapore has become the envy of many in the developed and developing world alike in wealth and progress to say the least. And such has been largely the vision of the late founder."
"Truly, he has passed on satisfied in the fact that he has made Singapore meritocratic, corruption-free and equal for all races, a legacy that no doubt you will pass on," Bainimarama said.
Lee Kuan Yew served as Singapore's prime minister from 1959 to 1990 and then as a senior minister and minister mentor. He died early Monday at the age of 91.