Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's younger brother and sister said on Wednesday that they have lost confidence in the nation's leader and fear "the use of the organs of the state against us."
"We are concerned that the system has few checks and balances to prevent the abuse of government. We feel big brother omnipresent," Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang said in a joint news release and an accompanying longer statement issued at 2 am Singapore time on Wednesday.
As a result, Lee Hsien Yang, and his wife Suet Fern, would be leaving Singapore. "I have no desire to leave. Hsien Loong is the only reason for my departure," he said.
Lee Hsien Yang told Reuters he still remained in Singapore as of early Wednesday morning but said he was planning to leave "for the foreseeable future." He is a businessman and is currently the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.
The siblings provided no specific evidence of action by the Singapore government against them. Reuters was unable to independently verify the accusations.
In a statement, the prime minister denied the allegations made by his siblings, and said he was very disappointed that they have chosen to publicise private family matters.
At the heart of the family dispute is the future of the house in which their father, Lee Kuan Yew, lived for most of his life. He was the first Prime Minister of Singapore and ruled the country for three decades.
Lee died in 2015, and according to the younger siblings wanted the home demolished rather than turned into a monument. They claim that the prime minister and his wife, Ho Ching, had opposed this wish.
The younger siblings accused the prime minister of wanting to “milk Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy for their own political purposes.” They said that they believed the prime minister and his wife, Ho Ching, “harbour political ambitions for their son, Li Hongyi.”
It is the second time in 15 months that the issue has exploded into public view. In April 2016, Lee Wei Ling accused the prime minister of abusing his power.
This time the involvement of both siblings, and Lee Hsien Yang's decision to leave the city state have taken it to a new level.
In his statement, Prime Minister Lee said he and his wife “especially” denied the allegation that they had political ambitions for their son, saying it was “absurd.”.
He said he would continue to uphold meritocracy as a fundamental value of Singaporean society.
"While siblings may have differences, I believe that any such differences should stay in the family," said Lee, who is overseas on holiday with his family.
"Since my father’s passing in March 2015, as the eldest son I have tried my best to resolve the issues among us within the family, out of respect for our parents... My siblings’ statement has hurt our father’s legacy. I will do my utmost to continue to do right by my parents."
The prime minister said he will consider the matter further when he returns to Singapore this weekend.
Reuters
Wed Jun 14 2017
Lee Hsien Yang, son of former leader Lee Kuan Yew, delivers his eulogy during the funeral service at the University Cultural Centre at the National University of Singapore March 29, 2015. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
MITRA lulus lebih RM95 juta untuk 11 program masyarakat India
Kesemua program yang dalam pelaksanaan itu memberi tumpuan kepada usaha memperkasakan sosioekonomi komuniti India dalam negara.
Kestabilan sosiopolitik Sabah bolehkan agihan ekonomi saksama - Juhar
Smber daya, kekayaan alam semula jadi dan potensi ekonomi dalam masyarakat dapat dibahagi dengan cara memberi peluang sama kepada rakyat.
Kenanga jangka OPR stabil 3.0 peratus pada 2025
Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd menjangka Kadar Dasar Semalaman (OPR) kekal stabil pada 3.0 peratus sepanjang 2025.
Johor sasar jumlah ternakan cecah 200,000 ekor pada 2027
Johor menyasarkan jumlah ternakan di negeri ini mencapai hingga 200,000 ekor pada 2027 setelah berjaya mencapai jumlah pengeluaran ternakan sebanyak 152,000 ekor hingga bulan lepas.
Hargai warga emas melalui penjagaan, hormat dan penglibatan - Lee Lam Thye
Lee Lam Thye menekankan keperluan mendesak untuk menghargai warga emas melalui penjagaan, hormat, dan penglibatan yang lebih baik.
Malaysia perlu bersedia penuhi keperluan TBB yang semakin meningkat - Fadillah
Keperluan tenaga boleh baharu (TBB) di negara ini semakin meningkat seiring dengan keyakinan pelabur asing khususnya untuk mewujudkan pusat-pusat data.
Belanjawan 2025: Kesalinghubungan internet di sekolah, kampus jadi keutamaan - Fahmi
Fahmi berkata ia termasuk isu Internet di kawasan terpencil, pedalaman dan pulau-pulau dalam memastikan akses Internet berkelajuan tinggi lebih meluas.
Pelajar tahfiz perlu teroka bidang teknologi
Kira-kira 200,000 pelajar tahfiz di negara ini, perlu dipastikan untuk mempunyai kemampuan dan peluang menjadi tenaga penggerak kepada umat Islam Malaysia dalam meneroka bidang yang dahulu dilihat sebagai asing., tegas Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Perpaduan rakyat prasyarat ekonomi mampan
Tidak semua negara Islam mempunyai ruang dan kesempatan untuk terus aman dan damai, dan mempunyai peluang untuk menikmati ekonomi yang kukuh dan berkembang seperti Malaysia, tegas Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Beliau berkata, rakyat Malaysia perlu mempunyai tekad untuk memahami maksud dan keperluan perpaduan di kalangan mereka, serta kekuatan dalaman yang seterusnya dapat dijadikan tonggak untuk negara membuat langkah seterusnya.
Beliau berkata, rakyat Malaysia perlu mempunyai tekad untuk memahami maksud dan keperluan perpaduan di kalangan mereka, serta kekuatan dalaman yang seterusnya dapat dijadikan tonggak untuk negara membuat langkah seterusnya.
Tidak perlu tergesa-gesa tukar ke lesen B - JPJ
Pemegang Lesen Memandu Malaysia (LMM) Kelas B2 dan B1 tidak perlu tergesa-gesa mendaftar Program Khas Peralihan LLM Kelas B2/B1 Kepada LMM Kelas B kerana tiada had masa ditetapkan untuk permohonan.
Jangan biar sesuatu isu dipolitikkan hingga cemari hubungan Singapura-Malaysia - Lee
Singapura dan Malaysia tidak boleh membiarkan sesuatu isu dipolitikkan dan dimainkan, atau meracuni hubungan keseluruhan antara kedua-dua negara, kata Menteri Kanan Lee Hsien Loong.
Lee Hsien Loong tiba di Malaysia, hadir istiadat pertabalan Agong
Menteri Kanan Singapura Lee Hsien Loong tiba di Malaysia untuk menghadiri Istiadat Pertabalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong di Istana Negara, esok.
Menteri Kanan Singapura Lee akan lawat Malaysia, hadir Istiadat Pertabalan Agong
Menteri Kanan Singapura Lee Hsien Loong akan melawat Malaysia dari 19 hingga 22 Julai untuk menghadiri Istiadat Pertabalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong ke-17 Sultan Ibrahim di Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur.
PM Singapura Lawrence Wong sampai ucapan Perhimpunan Hari Kebangsaan pertama 18 Ogos
Perdana Menteri Singapura, Lawrence Wong akan menyampaikan ucapan Perhimpunan Hari Kebangsaan pertamanya pada 18 Ogos.
Singapura dijangka kekal stabil meskipun tidak lagi dipimpin keluarga Lee - Penganalisis
Seperkara yang perlu kita beri kredit kepada kepimpinan di Singapura ialah peralihan pemimpin yang sistematik.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Lawrence Wong sah PM Singapura baharu, Lee Hsien Loong kini Menteri Kanan
Timbalan Setiausaha Agung Parti Tindakan Rakyat (PAP) Singapura, Lawrence Wong, 51, secara rasminya mengangkat sumpah sebagai Perdana Menteri Republik itu yang baharu, pada Rabu.
Jemaah Menteri Malaysia rakam ucapan tahniah kepada Lawrence Wong
Ucapan itu antara intipati mesyuarat Kabinet dipengerusikan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, di Putrajaya pada Rabu.
Hubungan dengan Malaysia baik tetapi masih ada isu untuk diselesaikan pengganti, kata PM Lee
Perdana Menteri Singapura Lee Hsien Loong, berkata hubungan republik itu dengan Malaysia "umumnya baik" tetapi masih ada beberapa isu yang perlu diselesaikan penggantinya.
Agong zahir ucapan terima kasih kepada PM Lee kerana jadi rakan karib Malaysia
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim hari ini menzahirkan ucapan terima kasih kepada Perdana Menteri Singapura Lee Hsien Loong, yang bakal berundur, kerana menjadi rakan karib Johor dan Malaysia.