An infection has worsened the condition of former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, according to the office of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the eldest son of Singapore's founding father.

The 91-year-old Lee has been confined in the hospital since February and hooked to a ventilator due to pneumonia, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. On Wednesday, his condition further deteriorated.

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While Lee was able to recover from major ailments when he was younger, his current condition is considered critically ill and he could unknowingly affect the planned celebrations for the 50^th anniversary of Singapore's independence should he not survive his ailment.

The announcement led to speculations about his demise. But CNN belies those rumors or reports of his death as hoax.

Lee was the country's first prime minister who worked to gain independence from Britain and Malaysia. He is credited with transforming the tiny city-state from a third world colonial trading post into an economic power far greater than Malaysia.

He ruled for 30 years, which ended in 1990, with an iron fist marked by low tolerance for political dissent and tight control over media by threats of libel suits. He held advisory positions for four more years until Lee bowed out of the political scene and retired from public life but continues to hold influence through his son who was elected in 2004 to the position he once occupied.

Because of Lee's long shadow over the nation, expected to last until he passes away, while Singapore seeks changes, there is fear and anxiety, notes Southeast Asia expert Ernest Bower from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

The current PM observes that younger Singaporeans are no longer willing to live with restrictions unlike the past generations when the country was ruled by his father. He attributes the change in outlook to higher education, economic freedom and exposure to the outside world, acknowledges Lee Hsien Loong, which could only lead to changes.

TagsLee Kuan Yew