SINGAPORE - Former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's condition has improved slightly, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said on Saturday.
He remains sedated and on mechanical ventilation in the Intensive Care Unit at Singapore General Hospital (SGH). He is also continuing with his antibiotics, the statement said.
Mr Lee, 91, was admitted to SGH on Feb 5 with severe pneumonia.
News of his condition has led to an outpouring of good wishes and prayers for his recovery at public events, online and in the social media.
But earlier on Saturday, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong told reporters that while it is natural for people to talk and speculate about Mr Lee's health, rumours are unhelpful.
And "people sometimes go one step too far".
He urged everyone to go by official statements.
"It's not that people rumour-monger on purpose. (But) in the absence of announcements and given the condition of Mr Lee, people always expect something may happen to him suddenly," he said after a lunch event.
"But I would advise people to go by (the) official statement from the PMO. If there's no statement, there's nothing much to worry about. Don't just jump to the wrong conclusion."
He said Mr Lee, at 91, is remarkable: "His brain is still very active. He is still in ICU but stabilised as far as I can understand."
The PMO statement on Saturday drew hundreds of comments and good wishes after being posted on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's Facebook page shortly before 9pm.
By 11 pm, there were over 760 comments, more than 7,200 likes and over 300 shares.
