KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 — Singapore’s founding father, the late Lee Kuan Yew, had been an uncompromising leader but whose stewardship led the republic to its current success, former Malaysian minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said.

Taking to Twitter to express his condolences over Lee’s passing, Zaid said he respected the Singapore leader’s dedication to good governance but less so his treatment of opponents.

“I am saddened by the death of LKY. Met him on several occasions. Admire his resolute commitment to integrity in government.

“He was harsh to those who opposed him but he built Singapore to what it is today,” Zaid wrote.

Singapore’s first prime minister Lee dies this morning at the age of 91.

Lee had been hospitalised since February 5 to treat severe pneumonia, when he had been sedated and put on life support.