Lee Hsien Yang, the son of Singapore’s founding father and estranged brother of former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has revealed that he has been granted political asylum in the UK. This announcement came after the British government offered him protection from what he described as persecution in his home country.
The Lee brothers, who are the sons of Lee Kuan Yew, the modern Singaporean founding father, have been embroiled in a public dispute since 2017 over the family home. Lee Hsien Yang has accused the Singaporean government of persecuting him, his wife, and his son. He took to Facebook to explain that he sought asylum as a last resort, citing ongoing attacks and legal actions against his family members in Singapore.
In an interview with The Guardian, Lee Hsien Yang lambasted the Singaporean government, alleging involvement in activities such as money laundering and illicit financial flows. The government, however, issued a statement refuting these claims, asserting that Singapore upholds strict standards against such practices and holds all individuals accountable under the law, regardless of their background.
The Lee family feud stems from a disagreement over the demolition of their family home, as per their father’s wishes. Lee Wei Ling, Lee Hsien Yang’s sister, who recently passed away, along with Lee Hsien Yang, had faced official investigations in Singapore regarding allegations of providing false evidence in matters related to Lee Kuan Yew’s will. Lee Hsien Loong, the eldest brother, resigned from his position as Prime Minister in May after two decades in power, passing the reins to his deputy, Lawrence Wong.
Lee Hsien Yang’s asylum status was confirmed by the UK Home Office, though they refrained from making immediate comments on the matter. The situation continues to unfold as Lee Hsien Yang remains in the UK under political asylum, reiterating his desire to one day safely return to his home country.
Eileen Ng reported from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.