Singapore's Lee to enter hospital

Mr Lee has admitted to having less energy than 10 years ago

Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew is to undergo a prostate operation on Thursday, the government said.

Mr Lee, 80, was likely to be in hospital for several days, according to a statement from Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong's office.

Mr Lee has remained a key figure in Singapore since he stepped down as Prime Minister in 1990, becoming Senior Minister.

His wife is also in hospital, after suffering a stroke last month.

The brief statement said Mr Lee would undergo a transurethral resection of the prostate, which usually takes about an hour and is not considered a threatening procedure.

Mr Lee has shown no signs of declining health, despite maintaining a hectic schedule of engagements.

But he did admit to be feeling his age, telling a newspaper interviewer at the time of his 80th birthday in September: "What I miss most is the high levels of physical energy I had up to 10 years ago. I used to dash around, meet people, talk, dictate, get things done."

At the time Mr Lee dismissed the idea of retiring, saying he would serve in the cabinet as long as he could contribute, and then remain a Member of Parliament while he was "fit and able".