SINGAPORE — Well wishes poured in for former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at a Chinese New Year dinner for Tanjong Pagar and Radin Mas constituents last night.

On a 6m-long banner with the words “Get Well Soon, Mr Lee Kuan Yew”, many among the 1,500 grassroots volunteers and residents at the dinner held at Shelton College International penned messages of encouragement and prayers for Singapore’s founding father, who was admitted to hospital on Feb 5 with severe pneumonia.

Mr Lee, 91, is now in the intensive care unit of Singapore General Hospital and remains sedated and on mechanical ventilation, said the Prime Minister’s Office in a statement yesterday.

His doctors have restarted him on antibiotics, the office added.

At the dinner yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Sam Tan invited residents to join him in wishing Mr Lee a happy Chinese New Year and to wish him well.

Other Tanjong Pagar GRC Members of Parliament, including Social and Family Development Minister Chan Chun Sing, were also present at the dinner, during which cultural dances and traditional songs were performed.

Grassroots leaders and residents whom TODAY spoke to expressed worry and concern over Mr Lee’s health, with several describing the former Prime Minister as a father figure to them.

Many long-time residents in the area also missed having the chance to shake hands with Mr Lee at the Lunar New Year celebrations in the constituency.

Businessman Arjan Primalani, 81, who lives in Tanjong Pagar GRC, said many residents felt really sorry upon hearing news of Mr Lee’s hospitalisation.

“He is the founder of Singapore. I have grown up watching him all the time,” said the Radin Mas grassroots volunteer, who wrote prayers on the banner for Mr Lee to recover and be able to take part in Singapore’s jubilee celebrations.

Grassroots leader Liferm Yeo, 34, added: “As a founder of this country, it would be very meaningful for him. It is also meaningful for us to be able to celebrate it with our founding father. We wish the best for him.”