Lee Hsien Yang, the son of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, has been granted asylum in the United Kingdom due to fears of political persecution. Lee, who currently resides in London, revealed that both he and his wife have been granted “refugee status” by the UK government for a period of five years. The decision was based on the UK authorities’ acceptance that he had a “well-founded fear of persecution” and could not safely return to Singapore.
The BBC independently confirmed Lee’s asylum status, though specific details remain undisclosed. A Home Office spokesperson declined to comment on the individual case, citing longstanding UK government policy. In response, Lee expressed his relief but emphasized that seeking asylum was a “last resort.” He affirmed his desire to return to Singapore someday, stating, “I remain a Singapore citizen and hope that some day it will become safe to return home.”
Lee Hsien Yang was once a prominent figure within Singapore’s establishment, having served as the CEO of Singapore’s largest telecommunications company. However, his relationship with his brother, Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore’s current Prime Minister, became strained following a dispute over their family home. The disagreement over the future of 38 Oxley Road, the residence of their late father, Lee Kuan Yew, escalated after the elder Lee’s death in 2015. While Lee Kuan Yew had expressed in his will that the house should be demolished after his death or after his daughter vacated the premises, Lee Hsien Loong chose to preserve the home temporarily. This decision led to a protracted public dispute between the siblings.
Despite their family conflict, Lee Hsien Yang has continued to involve himself in Singapore’s political landscape. He joined an opposition political party and became an outspoken critic of the Singaporean government. In his statement from the UK, he confirmed that he intends to continue these roles while based abroad.
The family feud intensified recently with the death of Lee Hsien Yang’s sister, who passed away from a brain disease earlier this month. Following her death, Lee Hsien Yang applied for the demolition of the 38 Oxley Road property and the construction of a smaller private dwelling for the family.
The decision to grant asylum to such a prominent figure from Singapore highlights ongoing concerns about political freedoms and governance in the Southeast Asian city-state. Lee Hsien Yang’s case continues to draw international attention due to his status and the deep-rooted family feud.
