Lee Hsien Yang, son of Singapore’s founding leader, Lee Kuan Yew, has recently been granted asylum in the UK amid ongoing claims of government persecution as a result of a high-profile family conflict. Lee Hsien Yang has long expressed concerns about oppression from the Singapore government, which was led for two decades by his brother, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The Singapore government denies these allegations, asserting that Lee Hsien Yang is free to return to the country. The brothers, both sons of the late Lee Kuan Yew, who passed away in 2015, have been embroiled in a protracted dispute over their father’s estate, particularly a family home that has become symbolic of their public feud.
In a recent interview, Lee Hsien Yang shared with the BBC documents that confirm his successful asylum claim, including a letter from the UK government granting him “refugee status” for five years due to a “well-founded fear of persecution.” He mentioned that his wife has also received asylum. When asked about his current situation, he stated, “I sought asylum protection as a last resort. I remain a Singapore citizen and hope that someday it will become safe to return home.”
Before falling into conflict with his brother, Lee Hsien Yang was a prominent figure in Singapore, leading the country’s largest telecommunications company and being seen as part of the nation’s elite. Since their fallout, he has joined an opposition political party and has become an outspoken critic of the Singaporean government, a role he intends to maintain from the UK.
Lee Hsien Yang and his family have lived abroad for several years, claiming to be victims of state-sponsored investigations and legal actions, which they argue are part of the ongoing persecution against them. Along with his late sister, Lee Wei Ling, he has accused Lee Hsien Loong of leveraging their father’s legacy to establish a political dynasty and of abusing his power during his tenure as Prime Minister.
In response, the Singaporean government has emphatically denied all accusations of persecution, stating that Lee Hsien Yang and his family face “no legal restraints” in returning to Singapore. The statement added that they “have always been free to return.”
The family dispute began following Lee Kuan Yew’s death and revolves around the future of their family home at 38 Oxley Road, a property valued in the millions. Kuan Yew had expressed in his will that he wished for the house to be demolished after his death or when his daughter moved out. While Lee Hsien Loong has indicated that the home would be preserved, his siblings have pushed for its immediate demolition in line with their father’s wishes. Following the recent death of his sister, Lee Hsien Yang has now applied for the house’s demolition and plans to replace it with a small private dwelling for the family.
