Lee Hsien Yang, the youngest son of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, revealed yesterday that he has been granted political asylum in the United Kingdom due to facing a credible risk of persecution in Singapore.
Siblings Lee Hsien Yang, Lee Wei Ling, and former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have been estranged since 2017, primarily over a disagreement regarding the demolition of their family home as per their late father’s wishes.
In a statement on his Facebook page, Lee Hsien Yang expressed concerns about potential misuse of state machinery against him and his family related to the dispute.
The U.K. government approved Lee Hsien Yang’s asylum request in August, allowing him to stay in the country for five years, as reported by Bloomberg.
Lee Hsien Yang, the former CEO of Singapore Telecommunications, has been in self-imposed exile since June 2022, when he and his wife were questioned by the police regarding their father’s will.
The ongoing family feud revolves around the fate of the family home at 38 Oxley Road, with Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Wei Ling advocating for its demolition as per their father’s wishes, while the Singaporean government considers alternative options.
Lee Hsien Yang’s recent announcement comes after the passing of Lee Wei Ling, with plans to honor their parents’ wishes by seeking permission to build a private residence on the site.
In an interview with The Guardian, Lee Hsien Yang criticized Singapore’s government and its international reputation, calling attention to what he perceives as its repressive nature.
The Singaporean government has refuted Lee Hsien Yang’s claims of persecution and maintains that he and his wife are free to return to the country.
The ongoing situation poses challenges for the People’s Action Party (PAP) and raises questions about Singapore’s political landscape in the coming years.