Lee Kuan Yew, who is credited as the founding father of Singapore, died on Monday at age 91. The tiny Asian country, which has become an economic powerhouse, is beginning a week of mourning before he will be buried this weekend.
Lee was Singapore’s first prime minister, ruling the city-state for 31 years and pushed for independence from the British. However, his strict control of freedom of speech and the country’s politics were widely criticized.
Despite that, Singaporeans and current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong are mourning the loss of their founding father.
“He fought for our independence, built a nation where there was none, and made us proud to be Singaporeans,” the current prime minister said on state TV, reports The BBC. “We won't see another man like him.”
As the New York Times notes, Lee began leading Singapore in 1959, when the British granted it full self-government. He finally stepped down in 1990 and during that time, he helped the country become a First World power in Southeast Asia.
Part of his model included centralized power and limiting free speech. It worked though, keeping Singapore free from corruption and turning it into a business center.
According to the Associated Press, Singapore has declared a week of national mourning and flags will fly at half-staff. Lee’s state funeral will take place on Sunday.