Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has faced accusations by his younger sister, Dr. Lee Wei Ling, that he is forming a political dynasty in a public spat. This happened a year after the death of their father, Lee Kuan Yew.
According to Reuters, the Singapore PM posted in a Facebook page on Sunday evening "I am deeply saddened by my sister Dr. Lee Wei Ling's claim that I have abused my power to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew's passing in order to establish a dynasty. The accusations are completely untrue."
The Prime Minister's sister's post has been online after she expressed her disapproval on the government's public activities in March to commemorate the first death anniversary of Lee Kuan Yew.
Dr. Lee Wei Ling shared in an email she made public, but was eventually removed, "HL has no qualms about abusing his power to hv (sic) a commemoration just one year after LKY died" and "Let's be real, last year's event was so vivid no one will forget it in one year. But if the power that be wants to establish a dynasty, LKY's daughter will not allow LKY's name to be sullied by a dishonourable son." According to Focus Taiwan, the younger sister admitted that she is not in good terms with her older brother because of "a matter of principle."
PM Lee then commented on the remarks of her sister, "The first anniversary of a person's passing is a significant moment to remember him and reflect on what he meant to us. The more so with Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. The Cabinet had discussed how we should mark the occasion. My advice was that we should leave it to ground-up efforts. Groups should keep their observances in proportion, and focus on the future."
PM Lee also added "The Cabinet recognized strong desire of many Singaporeans to show their respect for Mr. Lee, and honor what he did for us. We reviewed the events and observances that different groups had planned, and agreed that they were generally appropriate. They expressed the sincerely felt sentiments of Singaporeans, which my Cabinet colleagues and I deeply appreciate."
Lee Kuan Yew, the founding prime minister of Singapore died on March 23, 2015 at the age of 91. Singapore's current PM Lee Hsien Loong and his partylist People's Action Party (PAP) has since then won in elections months after the death of his father.
On the other hand, Dr. Lee Wei Ling has then regularly publishing her personal views and opinions about Singapore and her father in the Strait Times in the past years.
Prime Minister Lee's closing remarks said "The idea that I should wish to establish a dynasty makes even less sense. Meritocracy is a fundamental value of our society, and neither I, the PAP (People's Action Party), nor the Singaporean public would tolerate such any attempt."
