Lee Kuan Yew (born 16 September 1923 – 23 March 2015) was a Singaporean politician and the first General Secretary and founding member of the People's Action Party. The first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, which he ruled for three consecutive decades, is famous as the founder of the country and its transporter from the Third World to the First in less than a generation. In 1990, Lee Kwan left the post of prime minister and the post of general secretary of the political party, but he remained its honorary president and an important political figure. Lee eschewed populist politics in favor of long-term practical social and economic measures. And he took the eligibility and multi-ethnicity as the main principles of his rule. Lee adopted English as the lingua franca to integrate the spectrum of Singaporean society and to facilitate trade with the West. However, he ordered bilingualism in schools so that students would not forget their native language. Lee's ruling was criticized, particularly in the West, for allegedly curtailing civil liberties by filing defamation suits against political opponents. For his part, he said that these disciplinary measures along with the rule of law are essential to political stability and economic progress. On August 12, 2004, his son, Lee Hsien Loong, became the third Prime Minister of the Government of Singapore, and he appointed himself as an adviser to the position of Minister Guru to the Government during several successive ministerial positions over 50 years. After the 2011 general elections, Lee Kuan Yew announced his departure from the government and making way for the new young blood before his death at the age of ninety-one.