KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Monday paid tribute to Lee Kuan Yew, founding father of Singapore, whose death had been announced earlier in the day.

The former Singaporean prime minister died at age 91 after a seven-week struggle with pneumonia.

In a statement released on Monday, Najib said he is saddened to hear about the passing of Lee Kuan Yew, and his thoughts and prayers are with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his family.

"Malaysia is committed to the future of our relationship with Singapore; to peace, stability and shared prosperity between our nations, and within ASEANas a whole," he added.