Othman Wok, a former cabinet member and one of the earliest proponents of multi-racialism in Singapore, died today, the People's Action Party announced. He was 92.

The PAP, in a post on its Facebook account, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong praised Othman as "one of the multi-racial team of founding leaders who built Singapore".

It said Othman was an integral member of Singapore's first cabinet formed by the late Lee Kuan Yew.

He served as the culture and social affairs minister between 1963 and 1977.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) of Singapore said the prime minister and his cabinet colleagues were sad to learn of the passing of Othman and conveyed their deepest condolences to his family.

In a statement posted on its website, the PMO said Othman died at the Singapore General Hospital at 12.21pm.

It said Othman was one of the signatories of the Separation Agreement and a founding father of Singapore.

He was a key member of Lee Kuan Yew's cabinet during the period when Singapore was in Malaysia, and then separated from Malaysia to become an independent republic, it added.

"He supported Lee Kuan Yew in the fight for a multi-racial and multi-religious Singapore, and became one of Lee's closest comrades," said the statement.

The PMO said the Singapore government would accord Othman the honour of being borne on the ceremonial gun carriage for his final journey from the Sultan Mosque to Pusara Abadi at the Choa Chu Kang Muslim Cemetery tomorrow.

The government has ordered the state flag on all government buildings to be flown at half-mast till the completion of a memorial service to be organised by OnePeople.sg on April 19. OnePeople.sg is the national body that champions racial and religious harmony initiatives.

- Bernama