Singapore - Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew delivered a speech from his hospital room where he called for more compassion from Asia's wealthy toward the poor, local media reported Sunday.

Lee, who turns 85 on Tuesday, addressed 200 participants attending the Global UBS Philanthropy Forum via video link from Singapore General Hospital.

He apologized to the audience of social entrepreneurs and civil society representatives for not being with them.

"Unlike Kim Jong Il who says he is well but has not appeared, I thought I'd better say hello to you and to your guests and apologize for not being able to join you," The Sunday Times quoted the minister mentor as saying.

He was referring to the reclusive North Korean leader who missed the country's 60th anniversary celebrations last week reportedly because of a stroke.

Lee experienced an abnormal heart rhythm Saturday, according to his office. He is expected to resume his normal schedule within the next few days.

His emphasized the importance of successful individuals giving back to society and mentioned as examples Bill and Melinda Gates, and investor Warren Buffet.

Philanthropy is one of the keys to the health of US society, he noted.

"Asia must go that way if we are to keep our societies in one piece," the newspaper said he told the group.

Giving back to society ensures that a widening income gap does not lead to a society losing cohesiveness, Lee said. The income gap is widening in the globalized marketplace and could take 10 to 20 years before the less successful catch up.

"Unless the successful show that they have compassion, sympathy, empathy for the less successful, it will be difficult to keep the cohesiveness of society together," Lee said

He mentioned China and India where rapid economic development has widened the gap between the haves and have-nots.

Lee is credited with transforming the city-state from a colonial backwater into a financial powerhouse and technological mecca.

Opponents criticized Lee's regime as authoritarian when he served as the country's first prime minister for 31 years.

He currently holds an advisory position as minister mentor in the cabinet of Lee Hsien Loong, his 56-year-old son. (dpa)