Singapore's Lee family spat is ugly, but unlikely to impact PM's grip on power
By P N Balji
Updated 0447 GMT (1247 HKT) June 15, 2017
Story highlights
Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong's character and leadership is being attacked by his own siblings
However, their claims are unlikely to affect the popular leader's reputation very much
Editor's Note: Veteran Singaporean journalist P N Balji is the former chief editor of Singapore's Today newspaper, and currently a media consultant. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own.
(CNN) — The peace and quiet of an oasis called Singapore was shattered early on Wednesday morning as an ugly fight among members of the country's most prominent family spilled into the open, with accusations being made about the character and leadership of the prime minister and his wife.
In a statement headlined "What Has Happened To Lee Kuan Yew's Values," the island nation's founding father's younger son and daughter made chilling accusations against the elder son and current prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong.
"We are disturbed by the character, conduct, motives and leadership of Lee Hsien Loong and the role of his wife, Ho Ching. We have seen a completely different face to our brother, one that deeply troubles us," they charged.
Their accusations went beyond the original bone of contention -- what to do with Lee Kuan Yew's bungalow -- and went into areas like Ho Ching's "pervasive influence which extends beyond her job purview." Ho Ching is the CEO of the government's investment company, Temasek Holdings. There were also allegations that the PM and his wife "harbor political ambitions for their son, Li Hongyi."
Lee Hsien Yang leaves the Supreme court on April 10, 2017.
Lee Hsien Yang leaves the Supreme court on April 10, 2017.
Festering dispute
The dispute over the house has festered since Lee Kuan Yew died two years ago, with accusations that the PM and his wife were against the elder Lee's wish that the property be demolished. This time round, the allegations have become sharper and more personal with the younger Lees saying the PM and his wife want to move into the house to "strengthen Hsien Loong's inherited mandate for himself and his family."
The house in the upmarket Orchard Road area has been the subject of much debate. Lee Kuan Yew had talked about his and his wife's wish to send the bulldozers in after their deaths. "I have seen other houses, Nehru's. Shakespeare's. They became a shambles after a while," the former PM said in one interview.
But what was left unsaid -- at least publicly -- was the house's historical and heritage value. Built more than 200 years ago by a Jewish merchant, the house was bought by Lee Kuan Yew in 1945 and was witness to many of Singapore's significant historical moments. That was the place Lee and his comrades met to discuss the formation of a political movement to fight for Singapore's independence from Britain and plot the painful separation from Malaysia.
Shouldn't a house with so many historic memories be preserved, asked some. Others argued that the old man's wish should be granted as he had done so much for the country.
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