Update 16 Sep 2023: Lee Kuan Yew In His Own Words
Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew was a man equally at home whipping up a crowd at a rally or commanding attention on the international stage. Known for his acumen, foresight and wit, he held his own with the brightest minds and most powerful leaders and laid the foundation for the country's success.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth on Sep 16, CNA looks back at 10 of his more memorable quotes that were synonymous with the country's milestones and development:
- On separating from Malaysia - For me, it is a moment of anguish because all my life ... You see, the whole of my adult life ... I have believed in Malaysian merger and the unity of these two territories.
- On taking a long-term view for Singapore - I am calculating not in terms of the next election ... I am calculating in terms of the next generation; in terms of the next 100 years; in terms of eternity.
- On how Singaporeans are not a people who can be bullied - You know, some people think: Oh well you know, we are a small place - they can put the screws on us. It is not so easy. We are a small place in size yes, geography.
- On how governing Singapore is not simply a game - Whoever governs Singapore must have that iron in him or give it up. This is not a game of cards. This is your life and mine.
- On micromanaging people's private lives - I am accused often of interfering in private lives of citizens. And I say without the slightest remorse that we wouldn't be here, we would not have made the economic progress if we had not intervened on very personal matters
- On what it takes to be a good minister - Remember this: Good ministers are not just those who kiss babies and smile and have dialogue sessions; you can have endless sessions, it's very good, you keep on listening and so on.
- On how political leaders are judged - Political leaders are judged, first, by how effectively they have exercised their authority in the interests of their people.
- On being an ardent advocate for Singapore's success - Even from my sickbed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel that something is going wrong, I will get up.
- On saving and investing for a rainy day - They say we got enormous reserves. Yes, we do. But, you know, a few years of a recession, an economic setback, and all that will suddenly be depleted.
- On what he cherished most - I cannot say I planned my life. That's why I feel life is a great adventure - exciting, unpredictable, and at times exhilarating and sometimes excruciating.
The Oxley Saga Hasn’t Ended
Overwhelming Grief & Support For Lee Hsien Yang As He Flees The Country
The Oxley Road saga is a controversial dispute among Lee Kuan Yew’s children, over the fate of their family home. Lee Kuan Yew had expressed in his will that he wanted the house to be demolished after his passing. This is to prevent it from becoming a place of worship or a political shrine. However, Lee Hsien Loong argued that the house should be preserved as a historical monument. Lee Hsien Yang noted that his brother had political motivations for preserving the house and accused him of abusing his power as Prime Minister to influence the decision. The dispute became public in 2017 when Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Wei Ling accused their brother of abusing his power and of not fulfilling their father’s wishes. The government formed a ministerial committee to examine the options for the house. However, the siblings noted that committee was biased and lacked transparency.
In 2020, the government announced that it would not demolish the house, but would instead preserve it and open it to the public for visits. However, they did not only continue to go against Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes. They also continued to prosecute Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Wei Ling. He has been his sister’s caregiver ever since the death of their father. Yet he is forced to leave the country because his family has been subjected to harassment and smear campaigns. Lee Hsien Yang expressed sadness that he is “unlikely ever to be able to see my sister face to face again”, and it pains him “beyond words”.
Lee Hsien Yang hints at never returning to Singapore, says he is unlikely to see his sister again
Mr Lee Hsien Yang's latest comments comes after Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean told Parliament that the police have opened investigations into Mr Lee and his wife. PHOTO: ST FILE
Mr Lee Hsien Yang said on Tuesday that he may never return to Singapore amid an ongoing police investigation into him and his wife, Mrs Lee Suet Fern. In a lengthy Facebook post, Mr Lee, the younger son of first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew and the brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, also said his sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, is now extremely unwell.
“It pains me beyond words that I am unlikely ever to be able to see my sister face to face again,” he wrote. Dr Lee was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, she said in August 2020, describing it as a brain disease that slows physical movements and eventually leads to dementia with prominent behavioural changes.
Mr Lee’s latest comments come days after Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean told Parliament on Thursday that police have opened investigations into Mr Lee and his wife for the possible offences of lying under oath. The couple left Singapore after refusing to go for a police interview that they had initially agreed to attend, Mr Teo said in a written reply. Police later said they left Singapore after being engaged in June 2022, and have not returned since.
Lee Hsien Yang @ 12h Singapore - My Country
Yet another attack has just been launched, re-litigating over again the same issues that were raised by Lee Hsien Loong after probate of Lee Kuan Yew’s will, at the ministerial committee in 2016/2017, in Parliament in 2017, and in disciplinary proceedings in 2019/2020. I have now been condemned in Parliament and in the press without due process. In these circumstances, how can there be fair and proper investigations or a fair trial, in what is clearly a politically-motivated prosecution?
It had seemed such a small request my father was making, that we should demolish his house. However, after his passing in 2015, it was our own brother who opposed our father’s directions to us. As a result, my sister Wei Ling publicly called Hsien Loong out as “the dishonourable son.”
My friend sent this letter to me. It is a letter from LKY sent in 2010 to the cabinet.
Lee Kuan Yew’s lawyer fined $13,000 for breaching confidentiality, misleading executors
The fine comes after Ms Kwa Kim Li was found guilty of misconduct unbefitting of an advocate and solicitor. PHOTO: ST FILE
The lawyer of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew has been ordered to pay a penalty of $13,000 by a disciplinary tribunal. This is after she was found guilty of misconduct unbefitting of an advocate and solicitor in relation to several e-mails she sent to his children about his wills. Ms Kwa Kim Li was referred to the tribunal after the late Mr Lee’s two younger children, executors of his estate, complained that the lawyer had breached their father’s confidentiality, and also misled them.
Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang had taken issue with two separate e-mails that Ms Kwa sent to them and their older brother, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, on June 4, 2015, and June 22, 2015. The e-mails contained information on the late Mr Lee’s deliberations and instructions over his wills. The findings of the two-man tribunal, consisting of Mr N. Sreenivasan and Mr Alvin Tan Kheng Ann, are the latest development in the Lee family feud over the late Mr Lee’s home at 38 Oxley Road.
In a report released on May 5, the tribunal said Ms Kwa was guilty of misconduct under section 83(2)(h) of the Legal Profession Act. The senior lawyer, a first cousin of the Lee siblings and a managing partner at Lee & Lee, had helped the late Mr Lee draft six wills between Aug 20, 2011, and Nov 2, 2012. His seventh and final will, dated Dec 17, 2013, was prepared by Mrs Lee Suet Fern, Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s wife. It had bequeathed equal shares of the late Mr Lee’s estate to his children, and also included a demolition clause for his 38 Oxley Road home.
Comparisons between Lee Suet Fern and Kwa Kim Li arise as LKY’s niece gets $13,000 fine for misconduct
Comparisons are being made between senior lawyers Lee Suet Fern and Kwa Kim Li after Ms Kwa was ordered to pay $13,000 in penalties for misconduct relating to the way she handled the late founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew’s wills. Ms Kwa is the niece of the late Mrs Kwa Geok Choo, wife of Mr Lee (LKY).
On May 5, a disciplinary tribunal found her guilty of misconduct unbefitting an advocate and solicitor after it determined that she made the false and misleading representation that the late Mr Lee never instructed her to change his seventh will. She was also found guilty of misleading the late Mr Lee’s children, Mr Lee Hsien Yang and Dr Lee Wei Ling, by omitting to disclose her communications with their father between November 2013 and December 13, 2013, when they expressly asked her for information on what changes he wanted to make to his will. On top of this, Ms Kwa was found to have breached confidentiality by sharing documents with the late Mr Lee’s eldest son and current Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, without the consent of his siblings, Mr Lee Hsien Yang and Dr Lee Wei Ling, the executors and trustees of their father’s will.
As the disciplinary tribunal found the harm committed by Ms Kwa’s misconduct to be “low” and her culpability “low to medium,” it ordered her to pay penalties “sufficient and appropriate to the misconduct committed”. The tribunal also ordered Ms Kwa to pay $12,000 in costs and $9,182.29 in disbursements to Mr Lee Hsien Yang.
Lee Hsien Yang, wife Lee Suet Fern under police investigation for lying in judicial proceedings about Lee Kuan Yew's will
Mr Lee Hsien Yang and his wife Mrs Lee Suet Fern left Singapore and remain out of the country during the police's investigations, says Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean
Mr Lee Hsien Yang and his wife, lawyer Lee Suet Fern, are being investigated by the police for potential offences of giving false evidence in judicial proceedings over Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s will.
As part of the investigations, the police requested an interview with the couple, and they initially agreed to attend the interview, said Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean in a written parliamentary answer on Thursday (Mar 2). But the couple later had a change of heart and refused to attend the interview, Mr Teo added. In response to CNA's queries, the police said on Thursday night that it started investigations against the couple following a referral in October 2021.
The police contacted both of them in June last year and asked them to assist in investigations by attending a police interview. "They agreed to assist but requested a different date. The police acceded to the request and scheduled an interview in July 2022 based on their availability," the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said. But the couple did not turn up on the agreed date and sent a letter via email stating that they would not take part in the investigation. The police have advised them to reconsider taking part in investigations, but they left Singapore and have remained out of the country, said Mr Teo. In a Facebook post on Thursday night, Mr Lee Hsien Yang responded to the latest developments by claiming that the "persecution of my family by Singapore authorities continues unabated" and that he "was the real target".
PM Lee’s siblings seek disciplinary hearing on conduct of Lee Kuan Yew’s lawyer
Ms Kwa Kim Li (pictured), a managing partner at law firm Lee and Lee, prepared the wills for the late Lee Kuan Yew
The siblings of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong are seeking the convening of a disciplinary tribunal to investigate the conduct of their cousin, Ms Kwa Kim Li, who prepared six wills for their late father Lee Kuan Yew. Ms Kwa, a managing partner at law firm Lee and Lee, prepared the wills for Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s founding prime minister, between Aug 20, 2011 and Nov 2, 2012.
Court documents obtained by TODAY showed that Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang, who are executors and trustees of Lee Kuan Yew’s estate, filed the High Court application against the Law Society (LawSoc) on Sept 21 last year. The Lee siblings’ application states that an inquiry committee investigated Ms Kwa following three complaints made in 2019.
The application seeks an order from the High Court directing the LawSoc to apply to Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon “for the appointment of a disciplinary tribunal for a formal investigation into the conduct of Ms Kwa Kim Li” over three of the 2019 complaints.
Lee saga: Wei Ling, Hsien Yang request Disciplinary Tribunal against Kwa Kim Li over Lee Kuan Yew will
Wei Ling and Hsien Yang’s are the younger siblings of Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Kwa is a maternal cousin of the Lees
Dr Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang, trustees and executors of the late Lee Kuan Yew’s estate, have applied for an order against the Law Society to convene a Disciplinary Tribunal in relation to their father’s former lawyer Kwa Kim Li. According to court documents obtained by Yahoo News Singapore, the two Lee siblings filed the application on 21 September last year and a pre-trial conference was scheduled for 6 October. Another in-chambers hearing took place on Monday (1 February) over the case.
The duo applied for the order under section 96(1) of the Legal Profession Act, and had sought for the Law Society to be directed to apply to the Chief Justice for the appointment of a Disciplinary Tribunal for a formal investigation into Kwa’s conduct. This involves three complaints relating to Kwa that were made by the siblings, and which were investigated by an Inquiry Committee in 2019.
Kwa is managing partner of Lee and Lee, which was founded in 1955 by the late Lee. Between 20 August 2011 and 2 November 2012, she had prepared six of the late Lee’s wills. Dr Lee had previously accused Kwa of “lying” about the latter’s supposed non-involvement in the events that led to her father’s 2013 will.
Lee Wei Ling accuses lawyer Kwa Kim Li of lying about non-involvement in father's 2013 will
Lee Wei Ling, the daughter of late prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, has accused lawyer Kwa Kim Li of “lying” about the latter’s supposed non-involvement in the events that led to her father’s 2013 will.
“Kwa Kim Li (KKL) of Lee & Lee has denied involvement in the events that led to this 2013 will … KKL has been lying. She has also breached her duties to her client, my father,” said the 64-year-old in a Facebook post on Tuesday (30 April).
“Lee & Lee have always been lawyers for my father’s personal matters including all his wills, powers of attorney, and Advance Medical Directives including his affirmation in August 2014 of his AMD,” she added. As evidence of Kwa’s alleged involvement, she also attached a photo of an e-mail supposedly sent by Kwa to the late Lee on 12 December 2013. In it, Kwa appears to tell Lee – whom she addresses as “Uncle Harry” – that she will be preparing a codicil to reflect their discussed amendments to his will and would need his signature on it.
How founding PM Lee Kuan Yew's last will was executed in 16 hours
In a photo taken on Aug 6, 2013, former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew speaks at the book launch of One Man's View Of The World. PHOTO: ST FILE
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern has been found guilty by a disciplinary tribunal of grossly improper professional conduct in her handling of the last will of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister and her father-in-law.
Her case will be referred to the Court of Three Judges, the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers' misconduct, and she could face a fine, suspension or be disbarred as a lawyer.
Here's a look at how the will was executed in 16 hours:
- October 2010 to November 2012 - Madam Kwa Geok Choo, Mr Lee Kuan Yew's wife, died at the age of 89 on Oct 2, 2010. Thereafter, and before his last will in December 2013, Mr Lee executed six other wills.
- September to October 2013 - Mr Lee's health deteriorated in 2013 and he was hospitalised for several weeks between September and October.
- Dec 13, 2013 - Around Nov 30, 2013, Mr Lee discussed with Ms Kwa about making amendments to his sixth will.
- Dec 16, 2013 - Mrs Lee Suet Fern sent Mr Lee a draft of what eventually became his last will.
- Dec 16, 2013 - Mr Lee Hsien Yang replied to the e-mail his wife had sent.
- Dec 16, 2013 - Mrs Lee Suet Fern e-mailed Ms Wong, her husband and Mr Lui to introduce the latter to them.
- Dec 16, 2013 - Mr Lee Kuan Yew replied to his son's 7.31pm e-mail and said: "Ok. Do not wait for Kim Li. Engross and I will sign it before a solicitor in Fern's office, or from any other office."
- Dec 17, 2013 - Mr Lee Hsien Yang replied to his father's e-mail and said someone would go to Oxley Road or his office at his convenience, and that Ms Wong had the contacts and would arrange it.
- Dec 17, 2013 - Mrs Lee Suet Fern e-mailed Mr Lui to say: "Please be ready and accessible at short notice.
- Dec 17, 2013 - Mrs Lee Suet Fern e-mailed Mr Lui again and said: "Be good to run. AM Are engrossments ready?"
- Dec 17, 2013 - Mr Lui replied: "Preparing. 11am. EK will be with me. I keep the will?" EK referred to Ms Elizabeth Kong, another lawyer at Stamford Law.
- Dec 17, 2013 - Mr Lui sent Mrs Lee Suet Fern another e-mail where he said: "Date of will is 2011 - I put today's date."
- Dec 17, 2013 - Police logs showed that Mr Lui and Ms Kong arrived at 38 Oxley Road at about 11.05am. They left at 11.20am. In those 15 minutes inside the house, Mr Lee's last will was executed.
PM Lee on rift with brother, sister - “I think the feud is on my siblings’ part”
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who testified in his defamation suit against Mr Terry Xu, the editor of The Online Citizen (TOC), on Monday (Nov 30), expressed the hope that the rift between himself and his brother and sister can still be repaired. Mr Xu has denied that damage had been done to the Prime Minister’s reputation after an article about the Lee family and its property at 38 Oxley Road on the TOC website and Facebook page on Aug 15, 2019, entitled “PM Lee’s wife, Ho Ching, weirdly shares article on cutting ties with family members”. PM Lee was cross-examined by counsel for the defendant, Mr Lim Tean.
At one point in the cross-examination, according to Yahoo Singapore, Mr Lim asked PM Lee when he last spoke to his siblings, Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang. Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, one of the Prime Minister’s lawyers, asked about the relevance of such a question. Mr Lim was told to move on to his next question. He then asked: Is it correct for me to say there is a sour relationship between your wife and siblings?” Mr Singh objected to this but the judge allowed it.
The Prime Minister answered: “I think animosity is evident on one side from my siblings. On our side, I do not think either I or my wife want this to continue or hold anything against them.”
Adding that he had “detached” himself from the rift with his brother and sister, PM Lee said: “I think the feud is on my siblings’ part. I don’t understand what it’s about … I no longer own 38 Oxley, I have sold it to Lee Hsien Yang, and recused myself from the government’s handling of the matter. “So there’s nothing I can do or not do to influence the matter. I have never done any Facebook post or criticised them publicly other than what I put out in my ministerial statements. “And I hope against hope that one day, matters may be repaired. But it’s one of those things that happen in life, and this too shall pass.”
Former London lord mayor: Lee Suet Fern’s unjust suspension “a stain” on S’pore’s international reputation
The unjust suspension of senior lawyer Lee Suet Fern from practice has left a “stain on the international reputation of Singapore”, said former London lord mayor Sir David Thomas Rowell Lewis.
In a letter titled “What I know about Singapore’s Lee Suet Fern”, published by South China Morning Post (SCMP) on Monday (30 November), Sir Lewis said that he has been “very disturbed” to read about the Singapore Law Society’s failed attempt to disbar Mrs Lee in relation to her involvement in handling the last will of the city-state’s founding prime minister and her father-in-law Lee Kuan Yew. Sir Lewis, who is also the former president of City of London Law Society, said that he had known Mrs Lee for four decades and described her as “a senior lawyer of undisputed ability, ethics and experience, and a partner in a major US global law firm”.
He also mentioned that Mr LKY had spoken to him of his trust in and admiration of Mrs Lee during a lunch he hosted for Mr LKY in 2008 in London. “Who will believe that he would have had any objection to his daughter-in-law helping to arrange for the witnessing of his will, which she did not draft, or that she acted in any way improperly?
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern suspended for 15 months, found guilty of misconduct in handling of Lee Kuan Yew's will
Senior lawyer Lee Suet Fern has been suspended for 15 months by the Court of Three Judges over her handling of the last will of her late father-in-law Lee Kuan Yew.
In a written judgment released on Friday (Nov 20), the highest disciplinary body for the legal profession found Mrs Lee guilty of misconduct unbefitting an advocate and solicitor, saying that she had “blindly followed the directions of her husband, a significant beneficiary under the very will whose execution she helped to rush through”.
The case centred on the role Mrs Lee played in the preparation and execution of the senior Mr Lee’s last will, which was signed on Dec 17, 2013.
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern suspended for 15 months for misconduct over handling of Lee Kuan Yew's last will
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern has been suspended from practice for 15 months after she was found guilty of misconduct over the handling of the last will of Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon wrote in the judgment on Friday (Nov 20) that Mrs Lee was guilty of misconduct "unbefitting an advocate and solicitor" despite the absence of an implied retainer.
He also said her culpability was "at least moderately high", while the harm caused by the misconduct was "at the lower end of the moderate range".
What I know about Singapore’s Lee Suet Fern
I have been very disturbed to read in the Post of the Singapore Law Society’s failed attempt to disbar Lee Suet Fern. She is the daughter-in-law of the late Lee Kuan Yew, the former Singapore prime minister who died in 2015, and married to his younger son. He and another sibling have fallen out very publicly with their brother, current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, over the last will of Lee Kuan Yew made in 2013, probate for which was granted in 2015.
Lee Suet Fern is alleged to have assisted with arrangements for the execution and witnessing of Lee Kuan Yew’s last will, having “blindly followed the directions of her husband”, and not to have advised the elder Lee to take independent legal advice.
Lee Kuan Yew was himself a lawyer, and the idea that he would have signed anything against his wishes is fantasy. A Court of Three Judges concluded last week that Lee Suet Fern should not be struck off but should be suspended from practice for 15 months for misconduct.
Lim Suet Fern's father Prominent economist Lim Chong Yah
Professor Lim Chong Yah was an eminent economist who led a body forging wage consensus for Singaporean workers for nearly three decades. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Professor Lim Chong Yah, an eminent economist who led a body forging wage consensus for Singaporean workers for nearly three decades – died on Saturday morning. He was 91.
The son of a shopkeeper, Prof Lim was born in Malacca. His mother died when he was eight. He was awarded a scholarship to study economics at the University of Malaya, which was then located in Singapore, and later joined the Singapore administrative service.
He leaves two daughters and two sons. His eldest child is lawyer Lee Suet Fern, who is married to Mr Lee Hsien Yang – the younger son of first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, and the brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Judgment on bid to disbar Lee Suet Fern reserved
Earlier, in February this year, a disciplinary tribunal had found her guilty of "grossly improper conduct", and yesterday, the Law Society asked a Court of Three Judges to uphold the finding.
Singapore's Law Society yesterday set out its arguments on why senior lawyer Lee Suet Fern should be disbarred over her handling of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's will, saying she had been involved in its preparation and execution despite knowing her husband stood to gain from it.
It also said the lawyer of 37 years had hurried her father-in-law through the process of signing it without the advice of his usual lawyer, who had prepared his earlier wills.
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Court reserves judgement on whether Lee Suet Fern should be sanctioned for role in Lee Kuan Yew's final will
Judges presiding over Mrs Lee Suet Fern's disciplinary hearing on Thursday (Aug 13) focused their attention on a particular rule — that a lawyer shall not act for a client who intends to make a significant gift by will to any member of her family — in questioning her defence that it would have been hard for her to say no to Lee Kuan Yew.
The Court of Three Judges — the highest disciplinary body in dealing with lawyers’ misconduct — was deliberating whether Mrs Lee, 62, who is the wife of Mr Lee Hsien Yang, the late Lee Kuan Yew's younger son, should be struck off the rolls.
The Law Society is arguing that she should, based on the 206-page findings of a disciplinary tribunal in February. It found that Mrs Lee, a senior lawyer of 37 years, had “misled” a frail and ailing Lee Kuan Yew into signing his last will.
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Li Shengwu does not admit guilt but will pay $15,000 fine for contempt of court
Mr Li Shengwu has said he will pay a $15,000 fine for contempt of court but he does not admit guilt and disagrees that he said anything illegal in a private Facebook post.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday (Aug 11), a day before the fine is due, Mr Li wrote that he has decided to pay the fine "in order to buy some peace and quiet".
"Paying the fine avoids giving the Singapore Government an easy excuse to attack me and my family," he added.
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Li Shengwu on contempt of court case: “I do not admit guilt”
Li Shengwu announced his decision to pay the S$15,000 fine for being found to be in contempt of court, but added that he does not admit guilt.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday (Aug 11), a day before the deadline to make payment, Mr Li wrote: I have an announcement to make about my legal case in Singapore”.
“I have decided to pay the fine, in order to buy some peace and quiet. Paying the fine avoids giving the Singapore government an easy excuse to attack me and my family”, Mr Li wrote.
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Shengwu Li 10 August at 19:19
I have an announcement to make about my legal case in Singapore.
The government claims that my friends-only Facebook post "scandalized the judiciary". The true scandal is the misuse of state resources to repress private speech. In the course of this three-year prosecution, the Singapore Attorney General's chambers has written thousands of pages of legal documents, suppressed parts of my defence affidavit, and demanded that I reveal to them all of my friends on Facebook.
Back in January, I decided that I would not dignify the government’s prosecution by continuing to respond. Even without my participation, it took six more months to arrive at a verdict, long enough for the government to mishandle a pandemic and hold an election.
I have decided to pay the fine, in order to buy some peace and quiet. Paying the fine avoids giving the Singapore government an easy excuse to attack me and my family.
I do not admit guilt. I have never denied writing what I wrote, to my friends in a private Facebook post. I disagree that my words were illegal. Moreover, civilized countries should not fine or jail their citizens for private comments on the court system.
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Allegation of abuse of Power
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Explainer: Why are Singapore's first family feuding?
FILE PHOTO: Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is seen during a live-broadcast national address, in Singapore, June 23, 2020. Ministry Of Communications And Information/Prime Minister's Office
A public rift between the heirs of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s modern day founder, has shot to the fore with the prospect of his two sons squaring off at a July 10 general election.
Lee Hsien Yang on Wednesday formally joined a new opposition party competing against his brother Lee Hsien Loong’s People’s Action Party, which has ruled the city-state since its independence since 1965.
The move comes amid a long-standing and bitter dispute between the siblings centred around what to do with their late father’s house - demolish it, or let the government decide whether to make it a heritage landmark.
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Lee Weiling: “I continue to be ashamed at Hsien Loong’s disrespect for his father’s dying wish”
Expressing her disgust over a report by the Sunday Times, Dr Lee Weiling posted on her Facebook page, saying: “I am appalled and disgusted by the The Sunday Times reports that seek to character assassinate my brother and his wife.”
The Strait Times’ Sunday newspaper report, “Disciplinary Tribunal finds Lee Suet Fern guilty of misconduct in handling founding PM Lee Kuan Yew’s last will“, wrote that Mrs Lee Suet Fern was found guilty of grossly improper professional conduct in her handling of the last will of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew by a Disciplinary Tribunal that was appointed by the Chief Justice, Sundaresh Menon.
The report highlighted how Mrs Lee is being described by the two-judge tribunal, as a “deceitful witness, who tailored her evidence to portray herself as an innocent victim who had been maligned” and how Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s conduct was “equally deceitful”.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling 8 hours ago
The Disciplinary Tribunal’s report on the case referred by AG against Hsien Yang’s wife, in my view, is a travesty. I am appalled and disgusted by the The Sunday Times reports that seek to character assassinate my brother and his wife.
This all is yet another attempt to rewrite history following on from the secret ministerial committee looking into Lee Kuan Yew’s Will and wishes for 38 Oxley Road. My father knew full well what he was doing. He was clear in his decision for the Will. Lee Kuan Yew on his own drafted an amendment to the Will (a codicil) and executed it 2 weeks later.
I continue to be ashamed at Hsien Loong’s disrespect for his father’s dying wish.
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Lee Kuan Yew not some ‘ignorant feeble-minded dotard being fooled by a sharp lawyer’: Lee Suet Fern's defence submissions
The Attorney-General’s Chambers had referred a case of possible professional misconduct involving Mrs Lee Suet Fern to the Law Society, with Deputy Attorney-General Lionel Yee asking for it to be referred to a disciplinary tribunal
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern on Sunday (Feb 23) objected to the findings of a disciplinary tribunal that found her guilty of grossly improper professional conduct when handling the last will of her father-in-law, Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
“I disagree with the Disciplinary Tribunal’s report and will fight this strongly when it is heard in open court," said Mrs Lee, 61, in a statement issued through her husband, Mr Lee Hsien Yang, the late Mr Lee’s youngest son. Proceedings so far were dealt with behind closed doors, and the matter will now be referred to a Court of Three Judges – the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers’ misconduct – at the Supreme Court.
In her statement, Mrs Lee noted that any member of the public can obtain the entire record of the tribunal's closed-door proceedings from the Law Society (LawSoc) and she urged the public to "look at these and come to their own independent conclusions”.
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Lee Kuan Yew knew what he wanted in will, Lee Suet Fern not acting as his lawyer: Defence in legal misconduct case
Lee Suet Fern was not acting as a lawyer in the preparation of Lee Kuan Yew’s final will, and Mr Lee knew what he wanted, which was to revert to a previous will distributing equal shares of his estate to his children.
This was key to the arguments put forward by Mrs Lee’s lawyers in her defence at a disciplinary tribunal. Her legal team included former Attorney-General and Senior Counsel Walter Woon, Senior Counsel Kenneth Tan and a team from Providence Law led by Abraham Vergis.
Mrs Lee, who has been a lawyer for 37 years, was found guilty by the disciplinary tribunal of grossly improper misconduct in her handling of the late Mr Lee’s last will, in findings released last week. The tribunal ruled that she had failed to advance the interests of Mr Lee, who was her client in the preparation and execution of his final will dated December 2013, and that she failed to advise him to be independently advised.
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Lawyer Lee Suet Fern disagrees with tribunal's report, will 'fight this strongly' in open court
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern added that any member of the public can obtain the entire record of the closed-door proceedings of the tribunal from the Law Society.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern has responded to a tribunal that found her guilty of misconduct in the handling of late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's will, saying that she disagrees with its report and intends to "fight this strongly when it is heard in open court".
She added that any member of the public can obtain the entire record of the closed-door proceedings of the tribunal from the Law Society.
"I urge the public to look at these and come to their own independent conclusions," she added.
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Disciplinary Tribunal finds Lee Suet Fern guilty of misconduct in handling founding PM Lee Kuan Yew's last will
A Disciplinary Tribunal has found prominent lawyer Lee Suet Fern guilty of grossly improper professional conduct in her handling of the last will of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founding prime minister.
Her actions were of sufficient gravity that the matter will be referred to the Court of Three Judges, the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers' misconduct.
If found guilty, Mrs Lee, 61, the wife of Mr Lee's younger son Hsien Yang, could face a fine, suspension or could be disbarred as a lawyer.
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“Could you please leave me out of this?” – Hongyi tells Shengwu
In response to Shengwu’s most recent revelation that he has decided to remove Hongyi from his Facebook friends list, the Prime Minister’s son wrote on Facebook: “I don’t know whats going on between you and the government, but I’ve got nothing to do with it. Could you please leave me out of this?”
Claiming that he has “really tried to not be involved as far as possible,” Hongyi said: “If there’s something I’ve done that’s led you to believe otherwise, I would be happy to talk with you about it. It’s a bit disconcerting to be repeatedly publicly accused of undermining democracy without understanding why.”
He added: “I would prefer not to have done this over public facebook posts. But I suppose thats (sic) how we communicate nowadays.”
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Rift between Lee cousins widens: Shengwu removes Hongyi from his Facebook friends list
The relationship between Singapore founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s grandsons Li Shengwu and Li Hongyi appears to be as fractured as ever
Shengwu revealed on Facebook this evening (22 Jan) that he has removed Hongyi from his Facebook friends list.
Hongyi, 32, is the son of Lee Kuan Yew’s eldest son, current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, while Shengwu, 34, is the eldest son of Lee Hsien Yang — Lee Kuan Yew’s youngest son.
Shengwu and Hongyi were once described as “very close”. The cousins, who drew attention when they delivered eulogies at their grandfather’s funeral in 2015, were both in the west coast of the United States at one point as Shengwu was pursuing his PhD at Stanford University and Hongyi was working at Google in Silicon Valley.
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PM Lee demands The Online Citizen take down allegedly defamatory article or face legal action
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s spokesperson has issued a letter to sociopolitical website The Online Citizen (TOC), demanding that it remove an article containing “false” and “libellous” allegations and publish an apology.
In the letter sent to TOC chief editor Terry Xu at 6pm on Sunday (Sept 1) — a copy of which was made available to the media — Ms Chang Li Lin, the prime minister’s press secretary, took issue with an article titled, “PM Lee’s wife Ho Ching weirdly shares article on cutting ties with family members”, which she called a “scurrilous” attack on PM Lee’s character and integrity. A link to the article, dated Aug 15, was also posted on TOC’s Facebook page.
The article and Facebook post repeated several false allegations that were levelled against PM Lee by his sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, said Ms Chang.
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Singapore PM threatens online editor with libel
Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (front C), arriving for the National Day Parade on August 9, 2019, is embroiled in a public row with his younger brother Lee Hsien Yang and sister Lee Wei Ling over the fate of a family house
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong threatened Sunday the editor of an online publication with libel for repeating "false" allegations related to a bitter feud in the city-state's founding family.
In a letter to Terry Xu, chief editor of The Online Citizen (TOC), Lee's press secretary demanded that the article on its website and Facebook page be taken down immediately.
The letter also asked TOC to issue a "full and unconditional apology" by Wednesday. Should Xu fail to comply, "PM Lee will have no choice but to hand the matter over to his lawyers to sue to enforce his full rights in law," said the letter signed by his press secretary.
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PM Lee’s wife, Ho Ching weirdly shares article on cutting ties with family members
On Wednesday (14 August), Ho Ching, the wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (LHL), took to her Facebook to share an article that explains why it is totally fine to cut ties with toxic family members.
Apart from being married to PM Lee, Madam Ho is also widely known for her career as the chief executive officer of the country’s sovereign wealth fund, Temasek Holdings. She is also deemed as an influential figure not just in Singapore, but worldwide, as she took the 17th spot in Forbes’ World 100 Most Powerful Women in 2018.
In her post, Madam Ho shared an article by Healthy Holistic Living titled “Here’s Why Sometimes It Is Okay to Cut Ties with Toxic Family Members”.
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HO Ching shared a link. 20 hrs
healthy-holistic-living.com
Here’s Why It Is Completely Fine to Cut Family Members Out of Your Life
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“Ho Ching is watching all of us” – Temasek CEO skirts question on the company’s plans for leadership succession
Instead of giving a direct answer as to what Temasek's leadership succession plans are, when he was asked to give details on these plans and on Mdm Ho's role at the company, Mr Pillay would only say that Mdm Ho is "very much now involved in the stewardship aspects of Temasek…she still keeps a watchful eye over all of us to make sure we continue to do the right thing"
Temasek International CEO Dilhan Pillay appeared to skirt questions on Ho Ching’s role at Temasek and the organisation’s plans for leadership succession, at a recent press briefing.
Temasek International is the investment arm of Singapore sovereign wealth fund, Temasek, which is led by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s wife, Ho Ching. Instead of giving a direct answer as to what Temasek’s leadership succession plans are, when he was asked to give details on these plans and on Mdm Ho’s role at the company, Mr Pillay would only say that Mdm Ho is “very much now involved in the stewardship aspects of Temasek…she still keeps a watchful eye over all of us to make sure we continue to do the right thing.”
The South China Morning Post noted that Mr Pillay also quipped, “Right now, she’s watching all of us,” and that this remark was met with laughter.
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Lee Hsien Yang last Wednesday
Lee Wei Ling posts email proving LKY’s will was made by Kwa Kim Li
In the latest development of the Lee Family Saga, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, posted on her Facebook account on Tuesday morning, April 30, that their father former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s lawyer had lied about the making of his will, which has not only been an issue of contention within the family, but has also become a legal issue before the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC). She also posted email as proof.
In her post, Dr Lee calls PM Lee her “dishonourable brother” who “has repeatedly alleged that my sister-in-law, Yang’s wife, prepared and somehow got our father to sign a will in December 2013.” She also accuses lawyer Kwa Kim Li of lying and having “breached her duties to her client, my father.”
Ms Kwa has denied having been involved in the events that led to the preparation of Lee Kuan Yew’s will in 2013.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling 29 April
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Lee Hsien Yang shared a post May 15
Dr Lee Wei Ling May 15
Papa was led by Loong to believe that Oxley Road had been “gazetted” by the government. This was the background to Loong’s insistence that Papa should change his will to give Oxley Road to Loong alone. Indeed, Pa wrote to his lawyer Kwa Kim Li of Lee & Lee, on 6 Sep 2012 saying "Although it has been gazetted as a Heritage house it is still mine as owner.” Pa also said "But the house is still mine and I can in my will give Ling the right to stay on in the house."
Loong eventually persuaded Papa that since Oxley had been “gazetted”, it was futile to keep Papa’s direction to demolish Oxley in his will. In late 2013, Pa began to doubt the truth that Oxley had been “gazetted”. On the evening of 29 Nov 2013, Pa discussed with his lawyer Kim Li the possibility of a "degazetting" of 38 Oxley Road after he died. Papa was concerned that the government would reverse course after his death so as to benefit Loong. He also made Kim Li recap what was in his Will in force at the time (dated 2 Nov 2012). Contrary to what Loong has alleged, Pa knew full well the contents of his prior will when he signed his Dec 2013 will.
Papa’s discussions with Kim Li were with a view to making changes to his 2012 will. Several emails between Pa and Kim Li record parts of these discussions and Pa’s instructions. Papa had come to a view that the government would reverse course on the “gazetting” of 38 Oxley Road after his death benefitting Loong as a result. This was what I believe led Pa to decide to revert to reinstate the provision to demolish the house, which had always been his unwavering wish, and also to grant me the right to live in the house as long as I wished.
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ST and CNA report that lawyer Kwa not involved in LKY’s last will but Yahoo & social media publish Ms Lee’s posting saying otherwise
Earlier, in February this year, a disciplinary tribunal had found her guilty of "grossly improper conduct", and yesterday, the Law Society asked a Court of Three Judges to uphold the finding.
Singapore's Law Society yesterday set out its arguments on why senior lawyer Lee Suet Fern should be disbarred over her handling of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's will, saying she had been involved in its preparation and execution despite knowing her husband stood to gain from it.
It also said the lawyer of 37 years had hurried her father-in-law through the process of signing it without the advice of his usual lawyer, who had prepared his earlier wills.
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Court reserves judgement on whether Lee Suet Fern should be sanctioned for role in Lee Kuan Yew's final will
Judges presiding over Mrs Lee Suet Fern's disciplinary hearing on Thursday (Aug 13) focused their attention on a particular rule — that a lawyer shall not act for a client who intends to make a significant gift by will to any member of her family — in questioning her defence that it would have been hard for her to say no to Lee Kuan Yew.
The Court of Three Judges — the highest disciplinary body in dealing with lawyers’ misconduct — was deliberating whether Mrs Lee, 62, who is the wife of Mr Lee Hsien Yang, the late Lee Kuan Yew's younger son, should be struck off the rolls.
The Law Society is arguing that she should, based on the 206-page findings of a disciplinary tribunal in February. It found that Mrs Lee, a senior lawyer of 37 years, had “misled” a frail and ailing Lee Kuan Yew into signing his last will.
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Li Shengwu does not admit guilt but will pay $15,000 fine for contempt of court
Mr Li Shengwu has said he will pay a $15,000 fine for contempt of court but he does not admit guilt and disagrees that he said anything illegal in a private Facebook post.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday (Aug 11), a day before the fine is due, Mr Li wrote that he has decided to pay the fine "in order to buy some peace and quiet".
"Paying the fine avoids giving the Singapore Government an easy excuse to attack me and my family," he added.
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Li Shengwu on contempt of court case: “I do not admit guilt”
Li Shengwu announced his decision to pay the S$15,000 fine for being found to be in contempt of court, but added that he does not admit guilt.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday (Aug 11), a day before the deadline to make payment, Mr Li wrote: I have an announcement to make about my legal case in Singapore”.
“I have decided to pay the fine, in order to buy some peace and quiet. Paying the fine avoids giving the Singapore government an easy excuse to attack me and my family”, Mr Li wrote.
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Shengwu Li 10 August at 19:19
I have an announcement to make about my legal case in Singapore.
The government claims that my friends-only Facebook post "scandalized the judiciary". The true scandal is the misuse of state resources to repress private speech. In the course of this three-year prosecution, the Singapore Attorney General's chambers has written thousands of pages of legal documents, suppressed parts of my defence affidavit, and demanded that I reveal to them all of my friends on Facebook.
Back in January, I decided that I would not dignify the government’s prosecution by continuing to respond. Even without my participation, it took six more months to arrive at a verdict, long enough for the government to mishandle a pandemic and hold an election.
I have decided to pay the fine, in order to buy some peace and quiet. Paying the fine avoids giving the Singapore government an easy excuse to attack me and my family.
I do not admit guilt. I have never denied writing what I wrote, to my friends in a private Facebook post. I disagree that my words were illegal. Moreover, civilized countries should not fine or jail their citizens for private comments on the court system.
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Allegation of abuse of Power
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Explainer: Why are Singapore's first family feuding?
A public rift between the heirs of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s modern day founder, has shot to the fore with the prospect of his two sons squaring off at a July 10 general election.
Lee Hsien Yang on Wednesday formally joined a new opposition party competing against his brother Lee Hsien Loong’s People’s Action Party, which has ruled the city-state since its independence since 1965.
The move comes amid a long-standing and bitter dispute between the siblings centred around what to do with their late father’s house - demolish it, or let the government decide whether to make it a heritage landmark.
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Lee Weiling: “I continue to be ashamed at Hsien Loong’s disrespect for his father’s dying wish”
Dr Lee referred to the report by the Disciplinary Tribunal report on Mrs Lee as “a travesty”
Expressing her disgust over a report by the Sunday Times, Dr Lee Weiling posted on her Facebook page, saying: “I am appalled and disgusted by the The Sunday Times reports that seek to character assassinate my brother and his wife.”
The Strait Times’ Sunday newspaper report, “Disciplinary Tribunal finds Lee Suet Fern guilty of misconduct in handling founding PM Lee Kuan Yew’s last will“, wrote that Mrs Lee Suet Fern was found guilty of grossly improper professional conduct in her handling of the last will of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew by a Disciplinary Tribunal that was appointed by the Chief Justice, Sundaresh Menon.
The report highlighted how Mrs Lee is being described by the two-judge tribunal, as a “deceitful witness, who tailored her evidence to portray herself as an innocent victim who had been maligned” and how Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s conduct was “equally deceitful”.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling 8 hours ago
The Disciplinary Tribunal’s report on the case referred by AG against Hsien Yang’s wife, in my view, is a travesty. I am appalled and disgusted by the The Sunday Times reports that seek to character assassinate my brother and his wife.
This all is yet another attempt to rewrite history following on from the secret ministerial committee looking into Lee Kuan Yew’s Will and wishes for 38 Oxley Road. My father knew full well what he was doing. He was clear in his decision for the Will. Lee Kuan Yew on his own drafted an amendment to the Will (a codicil) and executed it 2 weeks later.
I continue to be ashamed at Hsien Loong’s disrespect for his father’s dying wish.
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Lee Kuan Yew not some ‘ignorant feeble-minded dotard being fooled by a sharp lawyer’: Lee Suet Fern's defence submissions
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern on Sunday (Feb 23) objected to the findings of a disciplinary tribunal that found her guilty of grossly improper professional conduct when handling the last will of her father-in-law, Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
“I disagree with the Disciplinary Tribunal’s report and will fight this strongly when it is heard in open court," said Mrs Lee, 61, in a statement issued through her husband, Mr Lee Hsien Yang, the late Mr Lee’s youngest son. Proceedings so far were dealt with behind closed doors, and the matter will now be referred to a Court of Three Judges – the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers’ misconduct – at the Supreme Court.
In her statement, Mrs Lee noted that any member of the public can obtain the entire record of the tribunal's closed-door proceedings from the Law Society (LawSoc) and she urged the public to "look at these and come to their own independent conclusions”.
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Lee Kuan Yew knew what he wanted in will, Lee Suet Fern not acting as his lawyer: Defence in legal misconduct case
Lee Suet Fern was not acting as a lawyer in the preparation of Lee Kuan Yew’s final will, and Mr Lee knew what he wanted, which was to revert to a previous will distributing equal shares of his estate to his children.
This was key to the arguments put forward by Mrs Lee’s lawyers in her defence at a disciplinary tribunal. Her legal team included former Attorney-General and Senior Counsel Walter Woon, Senior Counsel Kenneth Tan and a team from Providence Law led by Abraham Vergis.
Mrs Lee, who has been a lawyer for 37 years, was found guilty by the disciplinary tribunal of grossly improper misconduct in her handling of the late Mr Lee’s last will, in findings released last week. The tribunal ruled that she had failed to advance the interests of Mr Lee, who was her client in the preparation and execution of his final will dated December 2013, and that she failed to advise him to be independently advised.
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Lawyer Lee Suet Fern disagrees with tribunal's report, will 'fight this strongly' in open court
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern has responded to a tribunal that found her guilty of misconduct in the handling of late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's will, saying that she disagrees with its report and intends to "fight this strongly when it is heard in open court".
She added that any member of the public can obtain the entire record of the closed-door proceedings of the tribunal from the Law Society.
"I urge the public to look at these and come to their own independent conclusions," she added.
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Disciplinary Tribunal finds Lee Suet Fern guilty of misconduct in handling founding PM Lee Kuan Yew's last will
A Disciplinary Tribunal has found prominent lawyer Lee Suet Fern guilty of grossly improper professional conduct in her handling of the last will of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founding prime minister.
Her actions were of sufficient gravity that the matter will be referred to the Court of Three Judges, the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers' misconduct.
If found guilty, Mrs Lee, 61, the wife of Mr Lee's younger son Hsien Yang, could face a fine, suspension or could be disbarred as a lawyer.
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“Could you please leave me out of this?” – Hongyi tells Shengwu
In response to Shengwu’s most recent revelation that he has decided to remove Hongyi from his Facebook friends list, the Prime Minister’s son wrote on Facebook: “I don’t know whats going on between you and the government, but I’ve got nothing to do with it. Could you please leave me out of this?”
Claiming that he has “really tried to not be involved as far as possible,” Hongyi said: “If there’s something I’ve done that’s led you to believe otherwise, I would be happy to talk with you about it. It’s a bit disconcerting to be repeatedly publicly accused of undermining democracy without understanding why.”
He added: “I would prefer not to have done this over public facebook posts. But I suppose thats (sic) how we communicate nowadays.”
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Rift between Lee cousins widens: Shengwu removes Hongyi from his Facebook friends list
Shengwu revealed on Facebook this evening (22 Jan) that he has removed Hongyi from his Facebook friends list.
Hongyi, 32, is the son of Lee Kuan Yew’s eldest son, current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, while Shengwu, 34, is the eldest son of Lee Hsien Yang — Lee Kuan Yew’s youngest son.
Shengwu and Hongyi were once described as “very close”. The cousins, who drew attention when they delivered eulogies at their grandfather’s funeral in 2015, were both in the west coast of the United States at one point as Shengwu was pursuing his PhD at Stanford University and Hongyi was working at Google in Silicon Valley.
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PM Lee demands The Online Citizen take down allegedly defamatory article or face legal action
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s spokesperson has issued a letter to sociopolitical website The Online Citizen (TOC), demanding that it remove an article containing “false” and “libellous” allegations and publish an apology.
In the letter sent to TOC chief editor Terry Xu at 6pm on Sunday (Sept 1) — a copy of which was made available to the media — Ms Chang Li Lin, the prime minister’s press secretary, took issue with an article titled, “PM Lee’s wife Ho Ching weirdly shares article on cutting ties with family members”, which she called a “scurrilous” attack on PM Lee’s character and integrity. A link to the article, dated Aug 15, was also posted on TOC’s Facebook page.
The article and Facebook post repeated several false allegations that were levelled against PM Lee by his sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, said Ms Chang.
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Singapore PM threatens online editor with libel
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong threatened Sunday the editor of an online publication with libel for repeating "false" allegations related to a bitter feud in the city-state's founding family.
In a letter to Terry Xu, chief editor of The Online Citizen (TOC), Lee's press secretary demanded that the article on its website and Facebook page be taken down immediately.
The letter also asked TOC to issue a "full and unconditional apology" by Wednesday. Should Xu fail to comply, "PM Lee will have no choice but to hand the matter over to his lawyers to sue to enforce his full rights in law," said the letter signed by his press secretary.
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PM Lee’s wife, Ho Ching weirdly shares article on cutting ties with family members
On Wednesday (14 August), Ho Ching, the wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (LHL), took to her Facebook to share an article that explains why it is totally fine to cut ties with toxic family members.
Apart from being married to PM Lee, Madam Ho is also widely known for her career as the chief executive officer of the country’s sovereign wealth fund, Temasek Holdings. She is also deemed as an influential figure not just in Singapore, but worldwide, as she took the 17th spot in Forbes’ World 100 Most Powerful Women in 2018.
In her post, Madam Ho shared an article by Healthy Holistic Living titled “Here’s Why Sometimes It Is Okay to Cut Ties with Toxic Family Members”.
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HO Ching shared a link. 20 hrs
healthy-holistic-living.com
Here’s Why It Is Completely Fine to Cut Family Members Out of Your Life
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“Ho Ching is watching all of us” – Temasek CEO skirts question on the company’s plans for leadership succession
Temasek International CEO Dilhan Pillay appeared to skirt questions on Ho Ching’s role at Temasek and the organisation’s plans for leadership succession, at a recent press briefing.
Temasek International is the investment arm of Singapore sovereign wealth fund, Temasek, which is led by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s wife, Ho Ching. Instead of giving a direct answer as to what Temasek’s leadership succession plans are, when he was asked to give details on these plans and on Mdm Ho’s role at the company, Mr Pillay would only say that Mdm Ho is “very much now involved in the stewardship aspects of Temasek…she still keeps a watchful eye over all of us to make sure we continue to do the right thing.”
The South China Morning Post noted that Mr Pillay also quipped, “Right now, she’s watching all of us,” and that this remark was met with laughter.
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Lee Hsien Yang last Wednesday
Temasek announced its results yesterday. No surprise that it still didn’t disclose Ho Ching’s salary. Why is it such a big secret?
http://theindependent.sg/the-secret-that-is-ho-chings-sala…/
The secret that is Ho Ching’s salary – will we ever know?
The annual remuneration of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Temasek Holdings seems to be the most well-kept secret, with Singaporeans asking, questioning and even speculating what that elusive number could be.
With Ho Ching heading the fund for the past 16 years, since 2002, many push for some transparency.
One Singaporean, Philip Ang, did some calculations and comparisons on his blog. In a post, he wrote, “Although Temasek Holdings manages our state reserves and should be transparent, the PAP government has legislated senior management executives’ remuneration state secret”.
Lee Hsien Yang questions: Why is Ho Ching’s salary such a big secret?
After the announcement yesterday (July 9) that Temasek Holdings, Singapore’s state investment firm, reported a record net portfolio value for the last financial year, many, including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s younger brother, have been asking about why its chief executive officer (CEO), Ho Ching’s salary remains shrouded in secrecy.
PM Lee’s brother, Lee Hsien Yang, took to Facebook earlier today to point out an obvious, but hidden, piece of the puzzle. He wrote, “Temasek announced its results yesterday. No surprise that it still didn’t disclose Ho Ching’s salary”.
The younger Mr Lee also questioned, “Why is it such a big secret?”. Along with his post, Mr Lee Hsien Yang also shared the following article: The secret that is Ho Ching’s salary – will we ever know?
Lee Hsien Yang: Why is Ho Ching’s salaries a big secret?
The estranged brother of the Prime Minister has hit out at his sister-in-law calling for the government to declare Ho Ching’s salaries:
“Temasek announced its results yesterday. No surprise that it still didn’t disclose Ho Ching’s salary. Why is it such a big secret?”
Through nepotism, the Prime Minister’s wife was made the CEO of Temasek Holdings in 2003, despite having no experience in fund management and being an engineer by training.
Lee Wei Ling posts email proving LKY’s will was made by Kwa Kim Li
Dr Lee Wei Ling is accusing lawyer Kwa Kim Li of lying and said that the lawyer has “breached her duties to her client, my father.”
In the latest development of the Lee Family Saga, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, posted on her Facebook account on Tuesday morning, April 30, that their father former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s lawyer had lied about the making of his will, which has not only been an issue of contention within the family, but has also become a legal issue before the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC). She also posted email as proof.
In her post, Dr Lee calls PM Lee her “dishonourable brother” who “has repeatedly alleged that my sister-in-law, Yang’s wife, prepared and somehow got our father to sign a will in December 2013.” She also accuses lawyer Kwa Kim Li of lying and having “breached her duties to her client, my father.”
Ms Kwa has denied having been involved in the events that led to the preparation of Lee Kuan Yew’s will in 2013.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling 29 April
My dishonourable brother Loong has repeatedly alleged that my sister-in-law, Yang’s wife, prepared and somehow got our father to sign a will in December 2013. Kwa Kim Li (KKL) of Lee & Lee has denied involvement in the events that led to this 2013 will. These are all falsehoods. KKL has been lying. She has also breached her duties to her client, my father.
Lee & Lee have always been lawyers for my father’s personal matters including all his wills, powers of attorney, and Advance Medical Directives including his affirmation in August 2014 of his AMD.
The truth is that my father had discussed the changes he wanted extensively with KKL before he signed his December 2013 will. From late November 2013 all the way till Friday 13 December 2013, my father had had discussions and exchanged emails with KKL of Lee & Lee on what he wanted in his will. These included discussions of his immediately prior will. The will my father signed on Tuesday 17 December 2013 reflected these prior discussions with his lawyer KKL. It was exactly what he wanted. It provided for equal shares for all the children, something he had agreed with our mother and all of us.
Here is one email proving my father discussed his December 2013 will with Kwa Kim Li. There are more.
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Lee Hsien Yang shared a post May 15
Dr Lee Wei Ling May 15
Papa was led by Loong to believe that Oxley Road had been “gazetted” by the government. This was the background to Loong’s insistence that Papa should change his will to give Oxley Road to Loong alone. Indeed, Pa wrote to his lawyer Kwa Kim Li of Lee & Lee, on 6 Sep 2012 saying "Although it has been gazetted as a Heritage house it is still mine as owner.” Pa also said "But the house is still mine and I can in my will give Ling the right to stay on in the house."
Loong eventually persuaded Papa that since Oxley had been “gazetted”, it was futile to keep Papa’s direction to demolish Oxley in his will. In late 2013, Pa began to doubt the truth that Oxley had been “gazetted”. On the evening of 29 Nov 2013, Pa discussed with his lawyer Kim Li the possibility of a "degazetting" of 38 Oxley Road after he died. Papa was concerned that the government would reverse course after his death so as to benefit Loong. He also made Kim Li recap what was in his Will in force at the time (dated 2 Nov 2012). Contrary to what Loong has alleged, Pa knew full well the contents of his prior will when he signed his Dec 2013 will.
Papa’s discussions with Kim Li were with a view to making changes to his 2012 will. Several emails between Pa and Kim Li record parts of these discussions and Pa’s instructions. Papa had come to a view that the government would reverse course on the “gazetting” of 38 Oxley Road after his death benefitting Loong as a result. This was what I believe led Pa to decide to revert to reinstate the provision to demolish the house, which had always been his unwavering wish, and also to grant me the right to live in the house as long as I wished.
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ST and CNA report that lawyer Kwa not involved in LKY’s last will but Yahoo & social media publish Ms Lee’s posting saying otherwise
Two years ago, when Kwa Kim Li, who is the managing partner of the Lee & Lee law firm as well as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s cousin, told Straits Times (ST) that she didn’t prepare the last will of the late Lee Kuan Yew, ST was quick to publish a news report informing the public about it (‘Lawyer Kwa Kim Li says she did not prepare Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s last will‘, 17 Jun 2017) along with Channel News Asia.
“Ms Kwa, who is currently overseas, told The Straits Times: ‘I did not prepare the last will’,” ST reported. “Her statement contradicts an earlier one made by Mr Lee Hsien Yang, who is her cousin and the younger son of the late Mr Lee.”
This ST report came after PM Lee said that his father’s final will was made in “very troubling circumstances”. PM Lee raised the question of whether there was a conflict of interest when Mrs Lee Suet Fern – Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s wife – helped prepare the final will since her husband stood to gain from the removal of his sister Lee Wei Ling’s extra share of the estate in the will.
Mainstream media does not report on Lee Wei Ling’s statement
Earlier this year, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) filed a 500-page complaint against the late Lee Kuan Yew’s daughter-in-law, Lee Suet Fern, to the Law Society. The AGC alleged that Suet Fern would be liable for professional misconduct if she had prepared Lee Kuan Yew’s will, since her husband – Lee Hsien Yang – is a beneficiary of the will.
The AGC’s action against Lee Suet Fern re-ignited the family feud which spilled into the public domain two years ago, when the Dr Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang accused their elder brother – Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong – of abusing his power to preserve their family home, against their father’s willed desire to demolish the house, in order to bolster his grip on power.
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Lawyer Kwa Kim Li says she did not prepare Mr Lee Kuan Yew's last will
The question of who prepared the last will of Mr Lee Kuan Yew took a new turn late on Friday night (June 16) when lawyer Kwa Kim Li denied that she had a role in it.
Ms Kwa, the managing partner of the Lee&Lee law firm, had prepared the previous six versions of the will of the late Mr Lee who died on March 23, 2015, at the age of 91.
When contacted on Friday night, Ms Kwa, who is currently overseas, told The Straits Times: "I did not prepare the last will."
Netizens wonder if Lee Wei Ling will still be able to post the way she does if the fake news bill is passed
On Tuesday, April 30, the Prime Minister’s sister Dr Lee Wei Ling took to Facebook to provide email proof concerning the lawyer who had prepared the will of her father, Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
The said lawyer, Kwa Kim Li of Lee & Lee, “denied involvement in the events that led to this 2013 will,” as Dr Lee wrote.
Lee Suet Fern, the wife of the youngest Lee sibling, Lee Hsien Yang, is facing a disciplinary tribunal called for by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) for her alleged role in helping prepare the will of her father-in-law.
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Once Fake News Bill Becomes Law, Lee Wei Ling's FB Posts Will Kena?
The sister of Prime Minister Lee Hseing Loong, also known as the dishonourable son in many circles, Dr Lee Wei Ling recently posted on her Facebook to refute claims that Lawyer Kwa Kim Li had nothing to do with their father, Lee Kuan Yew's last will. In fact, she produced an email that clearly showed Kwa Kim Li was very much involved in LKY's last will from the very beginning and every step of the way too.
Lee Wei Ling has been posting on her social media account to refute any claims that her brother, the PM, and his machinery made against her and Lee Hsien Yang. This latest salvo brought to light that Kwa Kim Li's claims that she “denied involvement in the events that led to this 2013 will,” was false, and that charges against Lee Hsien Yang's wife was also questioned by Dr Lee. She has been outspokenly critical of her older brother, the prime minister, at times calling him her “dishonourable brother Loong” or that he has made “false and dishonourable allegations".
But questions arises that once the Fake News Bill becomes law, will the authorities clam down on her posts and declare her a fake news peddler? After all, she is accusing none other than the PM of Singapore himself, being her brother or not is secondary to the argument. If this is not fake news, then this must be true? After all, this is not an opinion, or a satirical piece by Dr Lee, isn't it?
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Netizens ask about Kwa Kim Li, Lee Kuan Yew’s lawyer caught in the middle of the Lee family feud
The latest shot in the Lee family feud was fired today by the Prime Minister’s sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, who posted an email on her Facebook account on Tuesday, April 30, which proved that lawyer Kwa Kim Lee was aware of the will of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s founding Prime Minister and the family patriarch, in December 2013.
Dr Lee had written that “Kwa Kim Li (KKL) of Lee & Lee has denied involvement in the events that led to this 2013 will. These are all falsehoods. KKL has been lying. She has also breached her duties to her client, my father.”
The Prime Minister’s sister has sprung to the defense of the wife of her other brother Lee Hsien Yang, due to allegations that Lee Fern Suet “prepared and somehow got our father to sign a will in December 2013.”
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“Kwa Kim Lee Has Been Lying”, Claims Dr Lee Wei Ling with Fresh Email Leak
In a Facebook post, Dr Lee claimed that Kwa lied when she said that she did not prepare Lee Kuan Yew’s last will.
Ms Kwa, who prepared the previous six versions of the will of the late Lee Kuan Yew, has denied preparing Lee Kuan Yew’s last will.
However, in the email leaked by Dr Lee, Kwa appears to have a part in the preparation of the will.
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AGC refers case involving Lee Suet Fern to Law Society
The long-running feud between the Lee siblings over 38 Oxley Road has taken a new turn, with allegations of possible professional misconduct by Mrs Lee Suet Fern in preparing the last will of her father-in-law, founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) has made a complaint to the Law Society, but said in a statement yesterday its move does not relate to the validity of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew's last will.
It issued the statement a day after Dr Lee Wei Ling disclosed the AGC's complaint in a Facebook post on Sunday night.
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AGC refers case of possible misconduct by lawyer Lee Suet Fern to Law Society
The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) has referred a case to the Law Society over possible misconduct by Mrs Lee Suet Fern, the daughter-in-law of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, in preparing his last will.
In a statement on Monday (Jan 7), the AGC said the referral does not relate to the validity of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew's last will.
This development is the latest in the long-running dispute between Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his younger siblings Hsien Yang and Wei Ling, over the fate of their father's house at 38 Oxley Road.
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AGC refers case involving LKY's will, Lee Suet Fern to Law Society
AGC cites possible professional misconduct by Lee Hsien Yang's wife in preparing Lee Kuan Yew's last will
In its statement, the AGC said Mrs Lee appears to have prepared the late Mr Lee's last will and arranged for him to execute it, despite her husband being a beneficiary in the will.
It noted that Mr Lee Hsien Yang, whose share increased under the final will, had said publicly the last will was drafted by Ms Kwa Kim Li of law firm Lee & Lee. But Ms Kwa has denied drafting it.
The AGC cited the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct) Rules, saying it stipulates that lawyers do not place themselves in a position of conflict.
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Lee Hsien Yang: AG Filed More Than 500 Pages Of Complaint Against My Wife!
The AG has filed more than 500 pages worth of complaints against Lee Suet Fern. She faces possible professional misconduct for her involvement in preparing LKY's will when her husband was one of the beneficiaries.
From Lee Hsien Yang's post, the complaints contained many allegations that LHL made in the past "to the once secret ministerial committee".
LHY indicated that it was unfair to him and his sister, Lee Wei Ling, as Brother Loong has never voiced his displeasure or discussed things with them. "If Loong had issues with our father’s will, he never saw fit to take these up with our father nor sat down to discuss with my sister and me. Advised by his then-personal lawyer, Lucien Wong, Loong has also not personally lodged any complaint all these years".
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Lee Hsien Yang: The AG filed well over 500 pages of complaint against my wife
Earlier this week, Lee Suet Fern filed her 21-page defence against an allegation of possible “professional misconduct” by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
In a Facebook post earlier today, it was revealed by Lee Hsien Yang, brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and husband to Lee Suet Fern, that “The AG filed well over 500 pages of complaint against my wife”.
He also added that “Most of these pages contain the same allegations that Loong previously made to the once secret ministerial committee.”
related:
Lee Hsien Yang says former AG Walter Woon will represent Lee Suet Fern
Tan Chee Meng will prosecute the case involving Lee Suet Fern
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Stamford Law did not draft any of Lee Kuan Yew's wills: Lee Hsien Yang
"The Estate of LKY instructed Stamford Law to extract probate. Ng Joo Khin's role in that was to read the will to the beneficiaries."
Para 7 of the last will relates to the late founding prime minister's wish to have the Oxley Road home demolished immediately after his death, or after his daughter Dr Lee moves out.
In response to queries from Channel NewsAsia on Mr Lee Hsien Yang's assertion, Ms Kwa said: "No, I did not prepare the last will".
Lee Hsien Yang denies his wife was the late Lee Kuan Yew's lawyer, challenged AGC to release full exchange
On the day the Attorney-General’s Chambers flagged a possible case of misconduct involving lawyer Lee Suet Fern, her husband Lee Hsien Yang responded on Facebook with a challenge. Why now, AGC?
Lee Hsien Yang, brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has written a post on Facebook on Jan. 7, denying that his wife was ever the late Lee Kuan Yew’s lawyer.
He also said that no one had “complained from the outset on the process and circumstances of our father’s signing his final will” and that “the will was proven in court in 2015 with no issues raised”.
related:
Ministerial Committee Report on 38 Oxley Road
The Report lays out a range of options for the Property – from preservation on one end, to demolition and redevelopment on the other. The Report does not make any recommendations and there is no need to make a decision on the Property now. The various options in the Report are meant to help a future government make an informed and considered decision when the need arises.
The Report addresses the Committee’s three terms of reference. First, the Committee assesses that the Property has architectural, heritage and historical significance. Second, it is the Committee’s view that while Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s preference was for the Property to be demolished, he was prepared to accept options other than demolition, provided that suitable arrangements were made to ensure that: (i) the Property was refurbished, and kept in a habitable state; and (ii) the family's privacy was protected. Third, the Report lays out the possible plans and options for the Property, and the considerations for each of them, to serve as drawer plans for a future government.
Cabinet (without the Prime Minister, who had recused himself from all discussions regarding 38 Oxley Road) decided in June 2016 to task a Ministerial Committee to prepare drawer plans of various options for the Property and to consider their implications, given the public interest on this matter. Cabinet felt it would be beneficial for a future Cabinet to hear the views of those who had directly discussed the matter with Mr Lee Kuan Yew. The Report has been considered and approved by Cabinet.
In a Facebook post, Dr Lee said the main message of their six-page statement released on Wednesday was not that the siblings feared what PM Lee would do to them.
Rather, she alleged that PM Lee's "misuse (of) his official power" against his siblings in relation to the house at 38, Oxley Road suggests he could do the same to ordinary citizens. She added that their lawyer edited this message out of the statement.
Ministerial committee said it had relied on “three key objective documents” from Lee Kuan Yew
The late Lee Kuan Yew was “forced to consider” alternatives to the demolition of his family home at 38 Oxley Road but did not accept them, his younger son Mr Lee Hsien Yang said on Tuesday (April 3) in criticising a ministerial committee’s report for being “misleading”.
Dr Lee Wei Ling, Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s sister, also weighed in with harsh words for the report. In a Facebook post, she wrote that “it would require unbelievable lack of intelligence or determined denial to not understand what” the founding Prime Minister and his wife wanted to be done for the Oxley Road property.
Responding to the criticisms, the committee said in a statement on Tuesday night that it had relied on “3 key objective documents from Lee Kuan Yew which gave concrete expression to his thinking and wishes regarding” the Oxley Road house.
related: Lee Hsien Yang, Lee Wei Ling respond to Oxley Road report
Lee Hsien Loong Yesterday at 02:45
I have read the report of the Ministerial Committee on 38 Oxley Road. The report was considered and approved by the Cabinet, chaired by DPM Teo Chee Hean. I had recused myself from dealing with the matter.
Speaking as a son, I accept the Committee’s conclusion on what my father’s wishes were regarding the house at 38 Oxley Road, and the range of options it has laid out.
As the Committee pointed out, there is no need to make a decision now. My sister is still living there, and is likely to continue doing so for the foreseeable future. I hope that when the time comes to decide on what to do with the house, this report will help the Government of the day to make an informed decision that both respects my father’s wishes and is in the public interest.
Lee Wei Ling 13 hrs
Papa was as direct as me. He made absolutely clear what he wanted done with the house. He and Mama had long decided they wanted it demolished after they were gone. It would require unbelievable lack of intelligence or determined denial to not understand what Pa & Ma so unambiguously wanted. It seems to me my big brother & his committee have achieved that distinction with amazing ease.
Lee Hsien Yang added 2 new photos. 13 hrs
Response to the Report of the Once-secret Committee
Professor Shengwu Li Named 2023 Sloan Fellow
Professor Shengwu Li, Assistant Professor of Economics, has been awarded the 2023 Sloan P. Foundations Fellowship prize.
The Sloan Fellowship Awards are given annually in eight scientific and technical fields which include chemistry, computational and evolutionary molecular biology, computer science, earth systems science, economics, mathematics, neuroscience, and physics.
Fellows are chosen from among candidates nominated by their fellow scientists and selected by an independent panel of senior scholars based on their research accomplishments, creativity, and potential as young scientists who will become leaders in their fields.
National athlete calls out ST’s double standards amid latest Lee family feud development
National athlete Soh Rui Yong has highlighted the Straits Times’ double standards in reporting about founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s youngest son, Lee Hsien Yang, as Singapore watches the latest turn in the bitter Lee family feud play out in public.
His observation comes after Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean’s revealed in a parliamentary reply this week that Mr Lee and his wife Lee Suet Fern are being investigated by the police for allegedly lying in a legal proceeding relating to Lee Kuan Yew’s last will. In a comment under Mr Lee’s Facebook post, national long-distance runner Soh Rui Yong said that he is “quite disappointed the biggest Singapore media publisher completely ignored Li Shengwu’s landmark Sloan Research Fellowship award, but was so ready and eager to pump out the news of this (and previous) persecutions.” He added, “Doesn’t really do itself any favours to correct accusations of bias/state controlled media in my opinion.”
Mr Soh’s comment is the most popular out of all the responses netizens left on Mr Lee’s post. When one netizen commented that there was coverage of Mr Li Shengwu’s award, the athlete made it clear he was talking about the Straits Times as he said:
“I am aware that SOME media publishers in Singapore reported it. Perhaps I should have been clearer. (Was trying not to single out anyone) But let’s try again: The BIGGEST Singapore media publisher contains absolutely nothing on Shengwu’s award, till today. Do post a link here if I am wrong.”
Straits Times remains silent over Li Shengwu’s Sloan Research Fellowship award
While this is not unexpected to some, it may reinforce the popular perception that the mainstream media publication is the mouthpiece of the ruling party
While Singaporeans are showering praise on prominent mathematician Li Shengwu for being awarded the prestigious Sloan Research Fellowship, Singapore’s national broadsheet has maintained conspicuous silence and has failed to report on his achievement.
Mr Li, an assistant professor of economics at Harvard University in the US, is the oldest son of Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Suet Fern. Mr Lee is the son of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and the younger brother of current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Last week, Mr Li was announced as one of the awardees of the prestigious Sloan Research Fellowship – a highly competitive award that has been conferred upon many prominent researchers over the years. Expressing his pride, his father Lee Hsien Yang wrote on Facebook:
“I am thrilled that Shengwu continues to bring honour to Singapore. In 2016 Shengwu was selected to become a fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows, a rare distinction recognising young scholars for their potential to advance academic wisdom.”
Revealing just how important this distinction is for the nation, Mr Lee added: “I believe Shengwu was the first Singaporean inducted into the Harvard Society of Fellows. I don’t know whether any other Singaporean has been awarded a Sloan Research Fellowship before.” Congratulations quickly abounded for Mr Li and several prominent figures joined Singaporeans to praise the illustrious 38-year-old. Workers’ Party (WP) parliamentarian Jamus Lim, who is also an economist, called Mr Li’s achievement “a treasure for the country” while his colleague Leon Perera said, “Shengwu’s remarkable achievements should indeed make Singaporeans proud. Well done!” Renowned doctor and president of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, Dr Paul Tambyah, also congratulated Mr Li.
Writing in a public Facebook post on Monday, Mr Lee, the younger brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, wrote that the AGC's prosecution of Mr Li for a private Facebook post that was "shared only with his friends" is continuing.
"In the meantime, much stronger criticism of Singapore courts has recently been published in some international media and widely shared public posts. AGC appears not to have commenced committal proceedings against the media and others, whilst nonetheless continuing this action against Shengwu for his private communications," added Mr Lee. He did not cite examples of the criticism put forth by international media.
The Worst Insults in Life Come From Our Siblings
Similarly, in Dr Lee Wei Ling’s recent Facebook post, she reiterates that the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew would have “absolutely” wanted the house demolished. She adds, “It would require unbelievable lack of intelligence or determined denial to not understand what Pa & Ma so unambiguously wanted. It seems to me my big brother & his committee have achieved that distinction with amazing ease.”
Essentially, our Prime Minister’s sister called him out for being stupid, and living in denial.
3 options for 38 Oxley Road but no decision needed now
Fate of Lee Kuan Yew's house to be decided by future government: Ministerial committee
The ministerial committee tasked to consider the future of 38, Oxley Road has laid out 3 broad options for the house but left the final decision to a future government.
It released a 21-page report yesterday listing the 3 possibilities for founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's home:
- Retain the house by gazetting it for conservation or as a national monument;
- Retain the basement dining room ,which has the greatest historical significance, and tear down the rest of the house;
- Allow it to be fully demolished for redevelopment, either by the property owner or the state.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who chaired the four-member panel, said it did not make any recommendations as no decision is required now. Mr Lee's daughter, Dr Lee Wei Ling, has said she intends to continue living in the house.
PM Lee: 'Speaking as a son', I accept ministerial panel's report for 38 Oxley Road
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday (April 2) wrote on Facebook that he has read and “accepted” the ministerial committee’s report regarding the house at 38 Oxley Road.
“Speaking as a son, I accept the Committee’s conclusion on what my father’s wishes were regarding the house at 38 Oxley Road, and the range of options it has laid out,” said PM Lee, who reiterated that he had recused himself from dealing with the issue.
The ministerial committee for the old family home of the late prime minister Lee Kuan Yew released a 21-page report earlier on Monday, outlining three broad options for the property at 38 Oxley Road.
Lee Kuan Yew prepared to accept options other than demolition of 38 Oxley Road: Ministerial committee
Dr Lee Wei Ling & Mr Lee Hsien Yang did not provide any documentary evidence, according to the committee
The late Mr Lee Kuan Yew wanted to demolish his longtime residence at 38 Oxley Road but later became open to other possibilities, according to a report released on Monday (Apr 2) by a ministerial committee.
The bungalow’s status came under scrutiny in June last year after Mr Lee’s children, Dr Lee Wei Ling & Mr Lee Hsien Yang, accused their elder brother & current Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong of using the house to “enhance his political capital”. A back-and-forth ensued, leading to a two-day parliamentary debate on the issue.
A year before, in June 2016, a ministerial committee was set up to explore various options for the house. It is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and excludes PM Lee, who had earlier recused himself from all Government decisions involving the property.
Oxley Road panel relied on demolition clause, renovation plans and letter to Cabinet as ‘objective evidence’
Apart from representations from Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s 3 children in their personal capacities, the Ministerial Committee studying various options for the Lee family home said in its report released on Monday (Apr 2) that it relied on the “objective evidence” placed before it in reaching its views.
In particular, there was an emphasis on “contemporaneous documents & statements made personally by Mr Lee”. The committee said it found 3 aspects to be particularly useful: The demolition clause in Mr Lee’s Last Will dated Dec 17, 2013, Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s letter to the Cabinet dated Dec 27, 2011, and the renovation/redevelopment plans for 38 Oxley Road which Mr Lee Kuan Yew submitted to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) in March 2012, and obtained approval for.
Recognising that are differences in views among Mr Lee’s children about his thinking and wishes about the family home, the committee said it looked at the objective evidence as well as the views expressed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang.
Just 16 bungalows like Lee Kuan Yew's house left in Singapore: Heritage Board
Of the more than 200 bungalows in Singapore conserved to date, only an estimated 16 bungalows belong to the same style & era as 38 Oxley Road.
This was one of the findings in the National Heritage Board's (NHB) 31-page research report on founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's home, released on Monday (Apr 2).
The "early style' bungalow, which has a complex architectural typology dating back to 18th century colonial India, has distinctive, rare & well-preserved features, said the report.
Li Shengwu’s application to set aside court order dismissed with costs
Mr Li Shengwu, the nephew of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has had his application to set aside a court order allowing the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) to serve papers on him outside Singapore dismissed.
Mr Li’s lawyers told Channel NewsAsia on Monday (Mar 26) that the application was dismissed with costs.
“Earlier today, we attended the hearing of our application before Justice Kannan Ramesh. After considering written & oral submissions, Justice Ramesh dismissed the application with costs,” they said in a statement.
Singapore prime minister on criticism from siblings: 'I'm not sure' if feud is solved
"I'm not sure that it is solved,"
Four months since the start of a public dispute between Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his siblings, the leader of the Southeast Asian island nation said he is not sure whether the matter has been solved.
Lee's two younger siblings, neurologist Lee Wei Ling and businessman Lee Hsien Yang, shocked the country with a public statement accusing the prime minister of abusing power and exploiting their father's legacy for political gains.
The three are children of the country's founding and longest-serving prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, who passed away in 2015. The rare public feud among the siblings over the fate of their late father's home led to the prime minister calling for a special sitting of parliament to defend the integrity of his government.
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Lee Hsien Yang 18 hrs
Our brother says he is unsure that the feud is solved. Notwithstanding his public statements, Hsien Loong has made no attempt to reach out to us to resolve matters in private.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General is busy prosecuting Hsien Loong’s nephew for his private correspondence. The AGC’s letters make repeated reference to the family feud.
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Lee Hsien Yang Breaks Silence To Claim PM Lee Has Yet To Settle Oxley Road Saga
PM Lee Said He Was Unsure If Feud Was Settled, His Brother Confirms It Has Not
Lee Hsien Yang is back again and it looks like the Oxley Road dispute is about to experience a second coming.
After months of silence, Singapore had all but placed the notorious family dispute at the back of their minds.
Just when we thought that we had witnessed the last of the Lee Family Saga, Mr Lee Hsien Yang confirmed that the feud is still rumbling on.
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Lee Hsien Yang: PM Lee has Made “No Attempt” to Resolve Lee Family Feud
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he is “unsure” if the Lee Family Feud has been revolved in an interview with US news agency CNBC. But his brother, Lee Hsien Yang, says PM Lee has made “no attempt” to resolve the issue.
PM Lee’s siblings Lee Hsien Yang and Dr Lee Wei Ling had accused him of being a “dishonourable” son who abused state mechanisms to put them in fear for their future and to get his way with the preservation of the late Lee Kuan Yew’s 38 Oxley Road home.
In comments to CNBC, PM Lee said:
“The matter is in abeyance (a state of temporary inactivity), I’m not sure if it’s solved.”read more
Lee Hsien Loong’s younger brother’s hit back suggests that Lee family feud is far from being in ‘abeyance’
In his first public comments referencing the Lee family feud since August, Lee Hsien Yang has spoken out on Facebook, clarifying that his older brother – Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong – has not made any effort to reach out to resolve matters in private.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed that the Oxley Road dispute between him and his siblings – Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang – remains unresolved and that they have not communicated recently, in an interview to business news agency CNBC yesterday.
Describing the family feud as being in “abeyance,” the head of government said, “I’m not sure if it’s solved,” before adding that he was still saddened by the dispute over the siblings’ family home, but expressed hope that relations with his siblings will improve in future, when “emotions have subsided.” He added:
“Perhaps one day, when emotions have subsided, some movement will be possible.”read more
Lee Hsien Yang returns to Facebook alleging that PM Lee has not reached out to settle their dispute
Aaaand we are back with the Lee Family Saga! After what seemed to be eons since we last heard about the feud between Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his siblings (and nephew), the Singaporean leader’s brother returned to fire a new public allegation. Here we go again, we think.
Lee Hsien Yang took to Facebook with a post this afternoon to provide a new update on his family’s shenanigans. Namely, (a) PM Lee has yet to reach out to him and his sister to resolve whatever issues they have, and (b) the Attorney General is currently busy prosecuting his son, Li Shengwu.
Hsien Yang’s post was sparked off by his brother’s recent interview with CNBC, where the prime minister stated that he remained unsure if the highly public dispute that rocked the country in June has been resolved.
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Oxley Road dispute ‘in abeyance’ and Lee siblings haven’t communicated recently - PM Lee
The Oxley Road dispute between Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong & his siblings remains unresolved & they have not communicated recently.
Speaking to CNBC ahead of his visit to the United States from Sunday (Oct 22), PM Lee described the spat with his siblings over their 38 Oxley Road family home as being in “abeyance”.
“I’m not sure if it’s solved,” he told the business news outlet in an interview on Thursday (Oct 19).
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Attorney-General’s Chambers proceeds with contempt of court case against Li Shengwu
Li Shengwu in the US in August 2017. Photo: Reuters
The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has followed through with contempt of court proceedings against Li Shengwu, the eldest son of Lee Hsien Yang and nephew of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The first pre-trial conference took place on Monday (13 November) at the Supreme Court. Yahoo News Singapore first reported that the AGC was proceeding with the case last week, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Abraham Vergis of Providence Law told Yahoo News Singapore that he had been engaged to represent Li, 32, a junior fellow at Harvard University.
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AGC proceeds on contempt of court case against Li Shengwu
Mr Li Shengwu, 32, a nephew of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has been taken to court for a Facebook post saying that "the Singapore Government is very litigious & has a pliant court system".
The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) initiated the move, & the first pre-trial conference was held at the High Court on Monday (Nov 13).
The Straits Times understands that Mr Li - the eldest son of Mr Lee Hsien Yang, who is the younger brother of the Prime Minister - was served court papers earlier in the United States, where he is a junior fellow at Harvard University.
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Li Shengwu appoints lawyer for contempt of court case
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s nephew Li Shengwu, who is facing contempt of court proceedings, has appointed Mr Abraham Vergis, MD of Providence Law Asia, to act on his behalf.
Mr Li, who is a junior fellow at Harvard University, was not present at a pre-trial conference (PTC) at the High Court on Monday (Nov 13). The next PTC is on Dec 4, giving Mr Vergis time to review the case.
Mr Li faces a suit brought by the Government for contempt of court after he failed to delete a FaceBook Post he put up on Jul 15.
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Li Shengwu's lawyers to apply to set aside court order, pre-trial conference for contempt of court case on Jan 4
In a statement on Monday, Providence Law said it had informed the court that it will apply to set aside the order that allowed the AGC to personally serve papers on Mr Li, 32, who is a junior fellow at Harvard University.
Noting that the court papers filed by the AGC exceeded 1,300 pages, the law firm said: "We explained we needed time to address the novel grounds which the AGC relied on to justify serving the papers out of jurisdiction."
The court has directed that Mr Li file his application by Dec 22, and the next pre-trial conference for the case is expected to take place on Jan 4.
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Li Shengwu to challenge court order allowing AGC to serve him lawsuit in the US
In a statement after a pre-trial conference at the High Court on Monday (Dec 4), Mr Li's lawyer Abraham Vergis said his client intends to challenge the order that allowed the AGC to “personally serve the committal papers on Shengwu in the US".
Mr Vergis added that he needed time to “address the novel grounds which the AGC relied on to justify serving the papers out of jurisdiction”, noting that the court documents were in excess of 1,300 pages.
Mr Li, who is a junior fellow at Harvard University, has said he will not return to Singapore to face the contempt proceedings.
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PM Lee’s Nephew Supports Pink Dot
Thousands of Singaporeans flocked to Hong Lim Park on Saturday (July 1), as the much-anticipated Pink Dot was held after overcoming many obstacles.
Among them: Foreign sponsorship was banned, which led to local companies filling in the gap; foreigners were banned entirely, leading to barricades being erected around the park; and people complained over even the event’s ad at Orchard Cineleisure.
In happier news, however, Paralympian Theresa Goh came out and became a Pink Dot ambassador. Here she is at the event,
Among them: Foreign sponsorship was banned, which led to local companies filling in the gap; foreigners were banned entirely, leading to barricades being erected around the park; and people complained over even the event’s ad at Orchard Cineleisure.
In happier news, however, Paralympian Theresa Goh came out and became a Pink Dot ambassador. Here she is at the event,
Lee Kuan Yew medallion range to mark his 5th death anniversary “temporarily suspended” by Singapore Mint
Just hours after launching a series of medallions and busts dedicated to the founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, The Singapore Mint has decided to “temporarily suspend” the range. At around 12.45pm on Monday (2 March), The Singapore Mint revealed in a statement that it had released medallions with the face of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew’s face engraved on it, as well as busts resembling him to mark his fifth death anniversary.
Titled “The Pride of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew”, the series comprises of four commemorative gold, silver, and base-metal medallions, and made-to-order copper busts that come in two sizes. This latest range is part of the Singapore Salute collection. The ½ oz 999.9 fine gold and 1 oz 999 fine silver medallions in an oval shape are engraved with late Mr Lee portrait on it. The copper and nickel-plated zinc medallions also have pictures of sampans and Singapore’s skyline on the other side, showcasing the country’s development from its earlier days. As for the copper busts, they come in two different sizes – 110mm and 430mm.
Based on the Singapore Mint, the collection is “meticulously engraved and sculpted by the Singapore Mint’s master engravers with their skillful craftsmanship”, with a “dignified interpretation” of late Mr Lee’s image. “Mr Lee’s great foresight and determined pursuit of Singapore’s growth have played an important role in bringing Singapore to where it is today, and shaping the history of modern Singapore.” It continued, “The Pride of Singapore medallion range also seeks to remind Singaporeans to be resilient and indomitable to concur challenges and adversity in unity”. However, as of 7pm on the same day of the launch, the medallions and busts, priced between S$10 and S$1,888, were not available for orders anymore on The Singapore Mint’s website. The website has now a notice saying, “We have temporarily suspended this program until further notice.”
Parliamentary Statement by PM Lee Hsien Loong on calls to honour Mr Lee Kuan Yew, on 13 April 2015
During the month of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s final illness, and the week of National Mourning after he passed away, Singaporeans experienced a tremendous outpouring of emotions – gratitude, sorrow, and solidarity. People prayed for, grieved over and paid their last respects to the founding father who had done so much to create today’s Singapore. Many wrote touching messages in condolence books and cards, and made special tribute books and items. During the Special Session of Parliament, Members spoke movingly about Mr Lee’s contributions, what he meant to them, and their personal experiences of him. I thank this House, and all Singaporeans, for their tributes to my father.
Those of us who lived through this special moment in our history, and experienced this sense of togetherness in our shared grief, will remember it for the rest of our lives. Mr Lee’s passing brought us closer together as one people and intensified our sense of nationhood. It was his last gift to us. How should we remember and honour him – his person, his contributions, his ideals? Members of the House and the public have made many suggestions. There were several questions on the Order Paper today. Ms Foo Mee Har and Dr Lily Neo suggested printing his image on our currency notes and coins; Mr Ang Wei Nang and Dr Lily Neo suggested re-naming Changi Airport after him; and Ms Foo Mee Har suggested designating a day to commemorate our founding fathers every year. And there are many more suggestions.
These are all good ideas. But we should not rush into making decisions on this matter, especially so soon after Mr Lee has passed away. We should allow some time to pass, consider the ideas carefully, and make calm, considered decisions which will stand the test of time. We want to honour Mr Lee, but we must do so in the right way:
- Ideals, not Monuments
- Currency Notes
- 38 Oxley Road
- A Founders’ Memorial
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