Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Sunday is scheduled to attend a state funeral of former prime minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew who died last Monday.

"The State Funeral Service is to be held at the University Cultural Centre, the National University of Singapore, from 12.50 am to 5.50 pm," Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto said in a short text message, Sunday.

President Jokowi is one of 17 leaders that include Sultan Hasanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, President Thein Sein of Myanmar, Presiden Park Gyun-hye of South Korea, Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who will be present during the funeral procession.

The Indonesian head of state and First Lady Iriana Widodo are scheduled to return to Jakarta on Sunday evening.

Earlier, President Joko Widodo stated that the government and the people of Indonesia expressed their deepest sympathies over the death of Singaporean founding father Lee Kuan Yew.

"Lee Kuan Yew, known as the founding father of modern Singapore, was a close friend of Indonesia," the president said.

He noted that as a leader, Lee is also known as one of the influential political figures in Asia.

"Under his leadership, Singapore has transformed into a major economic hub in Asia and is at par with other developed countries," he emphasized.

The president said the government and the people of Indonesia prayed for the bereaved family and the people of Singapore to give them strength and fortitude in the face of grief over the death of Lee.

"The government and people of Indonesia believe that the people of Singapore can pass through this difficult time," he noted.

Earlier, Lee Kuan Yew had been hospitalized for several weeks as he was suffering from pneumonia.

Editor: AA Ariwibowo
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