By Kirsten Han

SINGAPORE

Singapore’s premier confirmed Thursday that Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat suffered a stroke during an afternoon cabinet meeting.

"We were having our weekly Cabinet meeting just now when Heng Swee Keat suddenly collapsed," Lee Hsien Loong said on his Facebook page.

"The doctors in Cabinet (we have three) attended to him immediately."

Hen was transported to a hospital where a CT Scan showed he had a stroke.

"Doctors are attending to him now," Lee said. "Hope Swee Keat will be alright -- he is a valuable member of my team."

Other cabinet ministers have come forward with their well wishes for their colleague.

Minister for Defense Ng Eng Hen said in a statement, "we managed to resuscitate him but he and his family will now need all our prayers and support as he undergoes critical procedures and treatment for the stroke."

Heng has been the finance minister of Singapore -- a regional economic powerhouse considered Southeast Asia's wealthiest and most competitive economy -- since last October.