Lee Hsien Yang Posted Lengthy FB Post, Hinting He Might Not Come Back to S’pore

By
Lim Xuan Qi
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Almost everyone has heard of the long-standing public feud between the three children of late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, unless you’ve been living under a rock in another country.

Recently, however, there have been new developments to the sibling fight—in a Facebook post on 7 March, Lee Hsien Yang implied that he might never return to Singapore.

Lee Hsien Yang Posted Lengthy FB Post, Hinting He Might Not Come Back to S’pore

On 7 March, Mr Lee Hsien Yang, the youngest of the three, mentioned that he may not return to Singapore, as a police investigation into himself and his wife, Lee Suet Fern, continues.

In a comprehensive Facebook post, Mr Lee publicly called out his brother for his “abuse of power” and stated that his sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, is now extremely unwell.

Dr Lee was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare brain disorder with no cure that results in the weakening of certain muscles, dementia, and behavioural changes. The average life expectancy is about 6-9 years.

“It pains me beyond words that I am unlikely ever to be able to see my sister face to face again,” said Mr Lee in his post. He reiterated his love for Singapore, although he felt that he had been persecuted by the system that he benefited greatly from in his attempt to honour his father’s dying wish.

“I am heart-broken that I have been made a fugitive by my own country, for standing up for a promise to my father, Lee Kuan Yew,” he wrote. 

He also disclosed that he and his family had been subjected to “a campaign of harassment and surveillance, as well as smear campaigns”, with these attacks intensified by the “abusive and meritless legal proceedings”.

Mr Lee’s recent remarks followed Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean’s announcement to the Parliament last Thursday regarding possible perjury offences, with the police opening investigations into both Mr Lee and his wife for lying under oath.

The couple had initially agreed to attend a police interview, but later refused and left Singapore in 2020. They have yet to return since.

“They should participate, take the full opportunity to give their side of the story and clear their names,” said Teo.

What Did Mrs Lee Do In 2020? 

Back in 2020, the Court of Three Judges, the highest disciplinary body that deals with lawyers’ misconduct, found that the couple had lied under oath, over Mrs Lee Suet Fern’s handling of the last will of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who died on 23 March 2015, aged 91.

Mrs Lee, a corporate lawyer, was found guilty of “grossly improper professional conduct”, and was warned that she could face a fine, suspension, or be disbarred as a lawyer.

She was then referred to a disciplinary tribunal by the Law Society for her involvement in the creation and signing of the final will, which differed significantly and did not include certain revisions that had been discussed with the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s lawyer, Ms Kwa Kim Li, a few days before his death.

One of the significant differences was the inclusion of a demolition clause pertaining to Mr Lee’s 38 Oxley Road house after his death, which was absent from the sixth and penultimate will but present in the last one, altered by Mrs Lee.

Following her disciplinary hearing, Mrs Lee was ultimately barred from practising law for 15 months by the Court of Three Judges.

Mr Lee denied all allegations that Mrs Lee had ever acted as Lee Kuan Yew’s lawyer.

Potential Presidential Candidate?

On 3 March, Mr Lee Hsien Yang told Bloomberg that he would consider running for Singapore’s upcoming presidential election, which is set to be held in September 2023.

However, his records, which contain the past findings of the disciplinary tribunal and Court of Three Judges, may affect his chances of candidacy.

You can watch this video to learn more:

Lee Hsien Yang had previously also thought about running for public office. 

In 2020, he became a member of the opposition Progress Singapore Party (PSP) and hinted at running for the Tanjong Pagar GRC, the constituency that his late father, Lee Kuan Yew, had represented.

However, he silenced the rumours at that time by adding that the city-state “does not need another Lee”.

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Lim Xuan Qi
Email: [email protected]