PM Lee’s Brother, Lee Hsien Yang, Considering Running for President in S’pore

With the upcoming presidential elections this year, there’s no doubt that Singaporeans across the island have been waiting to see who the candidates to become Singapore’s next president will be.

And it seems like one pretty prominent figure’s thinking about running for president this year.

It’s Lee Hsien Yang.

And while the younger brother of current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong might not have issued any official announcements regarding whether he will be running for president, he recently spoke to Bloomberg News about his various considerations and thoughts about the upcoming elections.

Here’s what he has to say.

Says that PAP Might Lose if He Runs, Depending on Who They Put Out

Mr Lee, 65, apparently told Bloomberg via phone call that many people have approached him and asked him to run for president.

He added that it is something he “would consider” and that these people “really want” him to try and run for president.

Mr Lee, who is currently living in an undisclosed location in Europe with his wife, also claimed that some believe that the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) might end up losing the election if he runs for president.

(Of course, we know that presidents need to be non-partisan, but we also know the political affiliations of current and past presidents lah hor.)

Mr Lee, a former Singtel Chief Executive, also mentioned that he is currently in “self-imposed exile” with his wife and is “unsure” as to when he will move back to Singapore in the near future.

The Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

However, it seems like there’s something else that might stand in Lee’s way of contesting for president.

It’s the fact that he’s currently under police investigation.

Under Police Investigation for Allegedly Lying in Judicial Proceedings

It was announced just yesterday by Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean that Mr Lee and his wife, Lee Suet Fern, are currently under police investigation over the information that they provided during disciplinary proceedings.

Additionally, Mr Teo mentioned that the late Mr Lee had signed “a document which was in fact not that which he had indicated he wished to sign” when responding to a parliamentary question.

These disciplinary proceedings were carried out to investigate Mrs Lee’s management of late Prime Minister and founding father Lee Kuan Yew’s will.

Apparently, the late Mr Lee’s sixth and penultimate will was considerably different from his last as it did not include several changes that he had discussed with his lawyer Kwa Kim Li and wanted to include.

Additionally, there were some clauses, such as the demolition clause regarding his house along 38 Oxley Road, that were not in the sixth will but were in the seventh.

Back then, the Law Society referred Mrs Lee to a disciplinary tribunal due to her preparation and execution of the late Mr Lee’s last will.

She was then referred to the Court of Three Judges after being found guilty of grossly improper professional conduct by the disciplinary tribunal.

Ultimately, she was suspended as a lawyer for 15 months.

Mr Teo revealed that both the Court of Three Judges, the highest disciplinary body that deals with lawyers’ misconduct, and a disciplinary tribunal had found Mr and Mrs Lee Hsien Yang both guilty of lying under oath.

Apparently, the couple came up with “an elaborate edifice of lies”, both while on oath and “through their public and other statements”, according to Mr Teo’s announcement about the tribunal’s report.

The couple’s affidavits had also allegedly contained “quite blatant” lies.

Did Not Turn Up for Police Interview

After they were found guilty of lying under oath in 2020, the police began investigating the couple for their potential offences.

A spokesperson from the police revealed that they had asked the couple to attend an interview in June 2022.

They agreed to do so but did not turn up for the interview.

The interview was postponed to July 2022, but the couple chose not to attend again out of a “change of heart”.

Mr and Mrs Lee then left the country.

Afterwards, the police told the couple that the investigation would still carry on even though they had chosen to leave the country.

Regarding this, Mr Teo mentioned that the investigation would allow the couple to “vindicate themselves” if they continue to maintain their innocence.

Additionally, he pointed out that the couple should “take the full opportunity to give their side of the story and clear their names”.

Need to Meet Requirements of Committee As Well

Aside from being under police investigation, Mr Lee will have to qualify as a candidate by meeting the Presidential Elections Committee’s requirements.

And it’s no surprise that the committee is usually filled with government officials or those appointed by these officials.

Join our Telegram channel for more entertaining and informative articles at https://t.me/goodyfeedsg or download the Goody Feed app here: https://goodyfeed.com/app/

Previously Considered Competing in GE 2020

Back in 2020, Mr Lee joined the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) and was rumoured to be competing in the 2020 General Elections (GE 2020) against his older brother Lee Hsien Loong.

Although he ended up not doing so, he was still considered PSP’s “front and centre” during GE 2020.

PSP ended up winning no seats in parliament but was awarded two seats for Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMP).

On the other hand, PAP won 89% of the seats in parliament, which is the worst that the PAP has performed in a general election thus far.