As political tensions rise, some Singaporeans urge Lee Hsien Yang to come back and address the ongoing family feud and national matters.
SINGAPORE: With the next general election on the horizon, public calls for Lee Hsien Yang, the younger son of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, to return to Singapore are growing louder.
Currently residing in Europe with his wife, senior lawyer Lee Suet Fern, Lee Hsien Yang left Singapore amidst a highly publicized family feud with his elder brother, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The discord, which surfaced in 2017, centers around the handling of their father’s last will and Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes for his Oxley Road property.
In March, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean announced a police investigation into Lee Hsien Yang and his wife for allegedly providing false information regarding the will. In response, Lee Hsien Yang expressed his heartbreak, claiming he had been turned into a fugitive for honoring his father’s final wishes.
Despite his absence, many Singaporeans continue to express their support on social media, urging him to return. Commenters on his Facebook posts have emphasized their belief in justice and their desire to see him back in his homeland.
One netizen, Sam, wrote: “We look forward to seeing your wife and yourself returning to Singapore. This is your home ground and it is also our home. Justice shall prevail for your family.”
Others echoed similar sentiments, with Peggy Lim stating: “You may have been forced by circumstances to be away, but friends and fellow Singaporeans have you and your family in our thoughts. Justice must prevail!”
Calls have also extended to Lee Hsien Yang’s son, Li Shengwu, who has previously declared his disinterest in politics. A Harvard economist, Li has said, “As a politician, you will inevitably have to lie. I am not willing to lie about my beliefs.”
With Singapore’s political climate heating up, the debate surrounding the Lee family’s personal and public roles is unlikely to subside anytime soon.
