PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak arrived in Singapore on Thursday to pay his last respects to Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

The Prime Minister said he was expressing his heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Malaysian government and its people. "Mr Lee Kuan Yew was a great man whose leadership, vision, fortitude, perseverance helped shape modern Singapore into what it is today: advanced economy and finding its own place in the world," he said.

"All Singaporeans owe him a huge debt of gratitude.

"Kuan Yew also was a man who helped shape South-east Asia as a region of peace and prosperity. He will go down as one of the great men in history, whose vision and leadership helped make this world a better place, and I'd like to thank him for strengthening the bilateral ties between Malaysia and Singapore," he added.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Datin Sri Rosmah Mansor, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Mah Siew Keong.