Earlier today, Lee Hsien Yang declared himself to be a political refugee and sought asylum protection from the UK government. He painted a very sorry picture of himself – how he, his wife Lim Suet Fern and his eldest son Li Shengwu were persecuted by organs of state in Singapore, and had no choice but to leave.
Contrary to what Lee Hsien Yang claims, they are not facing political persecution. They have always had the freedom to enter and exit the country like any other citizen. But they chose not to attend a police interview, and decided to leave the country before the scheduled interview date.
According to the Financial Times, Lee Hsien Yang and Lim Suet Fern are understood to have successfully argued to the UK authorities in their asylum plea that Lee Hsien Loong “has used the organs of state against their wing of the family to block any chance that their son, Li Shengwu, might enter politics in Singapore and one day rise to the position of prime minister.”
Let’s get the story straight: so Lee Hsien Yang and his wife escaped Singapore and fled to the UK because they felt that their son – whom they previously claimed did not harbour any political ambitions – would not have a chance to become Singapore’s prime minister under prevailing circumstances.
What a clear display of entitlement, privilege, and hypocrisy. And who is the one trying to build a political dynasty here?
Prior to the couple’s departure from Singapore, they also took their time to liquidate their assets, including two landed homes in Caldecott and an extensive wine collection. While some other refugees crossed the English Channel in small boats over choppy waters, Lee Hsien Yang and his wife flew on first class seats into London Heathrow Airport.
Little wonder why Lee Hsien Yang chose London, too. He could go for a drink at a swanky Mayfair bar after watching a matinee show at one of the West End musicals. And have some gold-foil covered steak in Salt Bae’s Nusr-Et at Knightsbridge for dinner. And be close enough to Paris and Milan for a quick shopping trip. As well as the vineyards in the south of France and the beautiful beaches in Spain for other leisure options. After all, he’s known for having a taste for the finer things in life.
I wonder if the irony of seeking asylum from Singapore’s former colonial rulers – whom Mr Lee Kuan Yew had spent a big part of his adult life liberating Singapore from, is lost on Lee Hsien Yang.
In addition to damaging his own country’s reputation on the global stage by using Western media outlets as his mouthpiece, he has also consorted with the likes of Lim Tean and Kenneth Jeyaretnam as part of his personal vendetta against his older brother. Tearing down the Singapore that his father built, driven by a deep sibling rivalry and feelings of being overshadowed and unfairly treated due to their parents’ perceived favouritism.
Mr Lee Kuan Yew would never compromise Singapore’s interests and reputation for personal reasons. He would not have approved any of Lee Hsien Yang’s actions, to put it mildly. Lee Hsien Yang’s actions illustrate a lack of filial piety towards his late parents.
“Yang, stop it.”
“Don’t be a wastrel.”
“Better to give birth to a piece of char siu than you.”
I’m certain that Mr. and Mrs. Lee Kuan Yew would have expressed similar sentiments to Lee Hsien Yang if they were still alive today.
Very disappointing.
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