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that PM Lee misuses “his position and influence over the government and its agencies to drive his personal agenda” against them and Hsien Yang’s wife Suet Fern, and
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that even though Ho Ching (wife of PM Lee) does not hold any elected or official position in government, “her influence is pervasive, and extends well beyond her job purview”.
Composition of 38 Oxley Road ministerial committee ‘fundamentally flawed’, says Lee Hsien Yang
17 Jun 2017 06:31PM (Updated: 17 Jun 2017 06:40PM)
SINGAPORE: The composition of the ministerial committee set up to consider the options for Lee Kuan Yew’s Oxley Road house is “fundamentally flawed”, the founding Prime Minister’s youngest son Mr Lee Hsien Yang said on Saturday (Jun 17).
Responding to a statement in which Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean revealed that the committee members included Cabinet ministers who were responsible for heritage, land issues and urban planning, Mr Lee wrote in a Facebook post: “It is clear that a committee of one’s subordinates should not be sitting arbitrating an issue related to their boss.”
Mr Lee also singled out the inclusion of Law Minister K Shanmugam in the committee, saying it represented “a clear conflict of interest”.
“We had expressed specific concerns on the possible membership of Shanmugam and his conflict of interest having advised Lee Kuan Yew and us on options to help achieve Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes, and the drafting of the demolition wish,” he wrote.
Mr Lee also posted a screengrab of an email from his sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, to Mr Shanmugam, acknowledging a suggestion that the Law Minister had apparently made.
Mr Lee added that he and his sister had previously raised their concern over a possible conflict of intest in writing.
“We were brushed off by (National Development Minister) Lawrence Wong with ‘Nothing you have stated precludes any member of the Cabinet from taking part in the Committee’s work or its deliberations, with the exception of the Prime Minister’,” he wrote.
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‘Nothing secret’ about ministerial committee on Oxley Road home: Committee chair DPM Teo
17 Jun 2017 05:21PM (Updated: 17 Jun 2017 06:35PM)
SINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean set up, as well as chairs the ministerial committee to consider options for Lee Kuan Yew’s 38 Oxley Road home, DPM Teo said in a statement on Saturday (Jun 17).
The Oxley Road house has been at the centre of a dispute between Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his siblings, with PM Lee raising “grave concerns” over about how his father’s last will had been prepared, and his younger brother Mr Lee Hsien Yang claiming that the “secret committee” was focused “solely on challenging the validity” of a clause in the will stating that the Oxley Road house be demolished upon their father’s death.
“There is nothing ‘secret’ about this committee,” DPM Teo said in his statement, adding that it was a committee “like numerous other committees that Cabinet may set up from time to time to consider specific issues”.
DPM Teo added that the committee includes Cabinet members responsible for heritage, land issues and urban planning, namely Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu, Minister for Law K Shanmugam, and Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong.
PM Lee has recused himself from all Government decisions to be taken on 38 Oxley Road, DPM Teo said. “I chair Cabinet, should any deliberations take place on this property.”
Mr Teo added that the Government has the responsibility to consider the public interest aspects of any property with heritage and historical significance, and this applies to 38 Oxley Road.
“Many critical decisions on the future of Singapore were made there by Mr Lee and our pioneer leaders,” said Mr Teo. “The Committee has thus been looking at the options available for 38 Oxley Road while paying particular attention to respecting Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes for his house.”
COMMITTEE’S INTEREST CONFINED TO THE LIGHT IT SHEDS ON MR LEE’S WISHES FOR THE HOUSE: DPM TEO
DPM Teo also addressed questions as to why a ministerial committee had to be established if it was not necessary to take any immediate decision on the Oxley Road house.
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Lee family dispute should have stayed private: Experts
Lee family dispute
While Lee siblings’ public quarrel is disappointing, political observers say Government’s standing won’t be affected
Ronald Loh
Reporter
Jun 17, 2017 06:00 am
The dispute over the fate of former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew’s Oxley Road house has got social media and the international press abuzz.
The news of the feud between Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his siblings, Mr Lee Hsien Yang and Dr Lee Wei Ling, has been widely reported by AFP, the BBC, the Sydney Morning Herald and The New York Times, among others.
But political observers here and abroad told The New Paper the family dispute should not have unfolded in the public arena.
While it is disappointing that the fight has gone public, they believe it is unlikely to impact Singaporeans’ trust and confidence in the Government, or its dealings with other countries.
On Wednesday, Mr Lee Hsien Yang and Dr Lee Wei Ling said their brother, PM Lee Hsien Loong, had obstructed them in carrying out their late father’s wish - which was stated in his will - of having 38 Oxley Road demolished after his death.
PM Lee responded by saying he was saddened and disappointed that his siblings had chosen to publicise a private family matter.
He released a 41-point document on Thursday, which detailed the events that caused him to have serious concerns over how the last will of the late Mr Lee was made, and if there was a conflict of interest when his sister-in-law Mrs Lee Suet Fern helped prepare the will.
“Singaporeans would rather not associate a divided family as part of his (Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s) legacy.”
— Professor Eugene Tan
Professor James Chin, director of the Asia Institute at University of Tasmania, said: “I think older Singaporeans will feel a sense of regret and wonder why (Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s) children are washing their dirty linen in public. Their father was a great man, so why drag his name around in public.”
Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan shared the sentiment.
“This relates back to Mr Lee Kuan Yew. The family was important to him,” he said. “Singaporeans would rather not associate a divided family as part of his legacy.”
He felt Singaporeans were unlikely to rush and pass judgment on the statements of the three siblings, including PM Lee’s statutory declaration.
“How they are substantiated and rebutted will be closely watched. The public, however, will not be able to absorb all the details,” Prof Tan said.
“But the government will have to be mindful of any potential fallout and be sensitive and responsive to public opinion.”
National University of Singapore sociologist Tan Ern Ser told TNP that while many people will not be surprised at the split between the Lee siblings - there have been previous reports on social media of differences among them - the magnitude and complexity of the feud may have come as a surprise.
“It shows that they are in some ways like many of us, that there can be a gap between the family as an ideal and in practice,” he said.
Both Prof Eugene Tan and Prof Tan Ern Ser said the saga would not affect the Government’s reputation.
Said Prof Tan Ern Ser: “The surveys that I know of indicated that most citizens trust the Government…Most would consider this to be a distraction at a time when we have bigger issues to tackle with regard to the economy and national security.”
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Opposition members point out that Oxley-squabble is not just sibling rivalry but highlights major flaws in governance
June 17, 2017
The Prime Minister (PM) as well as members of his Cabinet have tried to characterise the serious aspersions cast upon him by the PM’s brother and sister as petty sibling squabble. But members of the opposition have pointed out that it is not mere sibling rivalry but that the allegations point to matters of public interest, which raise grave concerns.
Secretary-general of the Singapore First party, in writing an open letter to the President of Singapore, highlighted that two allegations especially must be dealt with by an official enquiry.
“Two key points stand out. Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang have alleged
These are serious allegations from senior members of the establishment who have given much of their life to public service. They should not be taken lightly. They hit at Singapore’s core values.”
Member of Singapore People’s Party (SPP), Ravi Philemon, said that 3 things in particular stand out for him.
“Number 1 – the alleged omnipresence of the state machinery and how they are supposedly misused by our Prime Minister.
Number 2 – This is not just a matter of if Lee Kuan Yew’s house should be destroyed or not. It is a serious question of if the government is above the law, so much so that it has the right to override the legally binding will.
And number 3 – That Lucien Wong who was once the personal lawyer of the Prime Minister, is now the Attorney-General of Singapore.”
Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss, another member of the SPP, described the Ministerial Committee as a “tragic joke”.
“It is like the Boss of a company has a quarrel with Mr Someone. Then the Boss gathers a number of his employees and empowers them to decide who is right: he (the Boss) or Mr Someone. Boss submits a long testimony to this group of his employees giving them his account of the events and his opinion about Mr Someone’s motives.
How on earth can such a group of subordinates, who are otherwise answerable to the Boss, be expected to act independently and to able to make an objective decision? Does such a dubious committee really have the option to decide against their Boss?
It is a rule of natural justice that a man cannot be a judge in his own cause: “Nemo judex in causa sua”. Asking your underlings to determine the outcome of a case in which you have a personal interest in, is to me a breach of that rule.
Tragically, the joke is on us, the citizenry. For it does not bode well for us when we cannot detect, turn a blind eye to or condone conflict of interests and use of state powers for personal benefits.”
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What concerns Singapore is not the wishes of LKY but the allegation of abuse of authority and powers
By onlinecitizen on June 18, 2017 Current Affairs
Below is a Facebook note shared by Mr Benjamin Pwee about the Lee family saga which is unfolding in social media. Mr Pwee was responding to an article written by Straits Times’ Chua Mui Hoong, “Time to reflect and seek the common good”.
Below is the note in full by Mr Pwee and reproduced with permission.
Well-written, Mui Hoong. I have kept silent till now, now it’s my turn.
I too knew Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) up-close-and-personal in the six years I was in the Foreign Service, acting as his interpreter, notetaker and follow-upper on all his dealings with China. And his inimicable personal style of austere leadership came through in every conversation I was involved with him. And for all the criticisms levied against him, he was a historical leader and man of and for a specific time in Singapore’s history.
Lee Hsien Yang (LHY) and Lee Weiling (LWL)’s first salvo was to question if Lee Hsien Loong (LHL) is being true to LKY’s values. For me, this is the heart of the current saga that has meaning for all Singaporeans. Whilst matters of the will and personal motivations make for exciting soap drama, these concern the Lee family personally. It does not concern us.
What DOES concern us, is the 2 younger siblings’ use of this house/will incident, to bring into question LHL’s leadership integrity and (ab)use of state/government authority and powers to achieve personal desired ends. Including all the claims of phones being tapped, overseas travel being restricted, friends being affected, etc.
And on this count, our role as Singaporeans is to look back at the performance and track record of the current government’s and political leaders’ use/misuse of state organs and authority to achieve pre-intended goals, without sufficient public consultation, or proper debate in Parliament, or legal respect for private property. And this is not about the few and far in:between instances of things with national heritage or historical value. Its about entering personal property without consent of owner, defining what constitutes permissible free speech and what doesn’t, and other less significant incidences.
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Dr Lee Weiling: Minister K Shanmugam knew Lee Kuan Yew’s real wish and concern as LKY had consulted him
By onlinecitizen on June 18, 2017 Current Affairs
Dr Lee Weiling has just posted a Facebook post, anguishing over the alleged changes in Mr K Shanmugam, Minister of Home Affairs and Law whom she had been good friends with.
Dr Lee, who is the daughter of late Lee Kuan Yew and sister of the current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has been embroiled in an ongoing dispute between the Lee family and allegations of PM Lee’s abuse of state organs to achieve his personal desires.
In her post, she wrote that both Mr K Shanmugam and her were once very good friends and had helped each other a great deal.
She also noted that the Minister knows of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s real wish and concern as her father had consulted him when the Minister was invited by her to the property at 38 Oxley Road.
“His view on conflicts of interests is absurd and unethical. It is sad to see how he has changed.” wrote Dr Lee.
Just yesterday, Mr Lee Hsien Yang who is also the brother of PM Lee, highlighted that he and his sister were not given the list of the committee that was formed to deliberate on the government’s decision in regards to the property at 38 Oxley Road when asked. They were only informed through Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean’s statement issued on Saturday late afternoon.
Mr Lee had written in his post that he and his sister had expressed specific concerns on the possible membership of Mr K Shanmugam and his conflict of interest having advised Lee Kuan Yew and the two on options to help achieve Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes, and the drafting of the demolition wish.
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‘I’ve not thought about what lies beyond demolition’: Lee Hsien Yang on Lee Kuan Yew’s Oxley Road home
18 Jun 2017 05:16PM (Updated: 18 Jun 2017 06:15PM)
SINGAPORE: Mr Lee Hsien Yang on Sunday (Jun 18) indicated that he had no plans for the site of his late father Lee Kuan Yew’s home at Oxley Road, as yet.
In response to a query from Channel NewsAsia, Mr Lee, who is locked in a dispute with his brother, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, over the house, said: “I purchased the house to fulfil my parents wishes. That is my sole aim. I have not thought about what lies beyond demolition if I achieve it."
He added that he has not made any application seeking approval for demolition of the house and that his sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, does not intend to move out.
“My sister is living there and has every intention to live a long life."
Mr Lee Hsien Yang and Dr Lee are joint executors and trustees of the late Mr Lee‘s will and want the Government to honour his wish to demolish the house immediately after his death, or after Dr Lee moves out.
PM Lee has said in Parliament that he intended to fulfil his father’s wishes on the house and that he would recuse himself from any Government decisions on the property.
It was revealed earlier this week that a ministerial committee is looking into the options for the house on 38 Oxley Road. PM Lee has made public a summary of his statutory declaration on the matter, highlighting “grave concerns” about how his father’s last will was prepared.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on Saturday released a statement saying there is nothing “secret” about the ministerial committee and said the Government has the responsibility to consider the public interest aspects of any property with heritage and historical significance. This includes Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s house as “many critical decisions on the future of Singapore were made there by Mr Lee and our pioneer leaders”, he said.
DPM Teo also said he has tasked relevant agencies to study a range of options for the house and has shared some of these options with the Lee siblings.
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PM Lee apologises to Singaporeans over dispute with siblings; to answer questions in Parliament on 38 Oxley Road
19 Jun 2017 07:30PM (Updated: 19 Jun 2017 09:13PM)
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong issued a statement on Monday (Jun 19), apologising to Singaporeans for the dispute between him and his siblings over the house of their late father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, at 38 Oxley Road.
PM Lee said he deeply regrets that the dispute has affected the country’s reputation and Singaporeans’ confidence in the Government, adding that the matter will not distract him and his Cabinet from governing Singapore.
The Prime Minister also said that he will make a ministerial statement to refute the allegations, when Parliament sits on Jul 3.
PM Lee’s statement is reproduced below:
“Over the last week, Singaporeans have been disturbed and confused by news of the private dispute between my siblings and me. I deeply regret that this dispute has affected Singapore’s reputation and Singaporeans’ confidence in the Government.
As your Prime Minister, I apologise to you for this. And as the eldest of the siblings, it grieves me to think of the anguish that this would have caused our parents if they were still alive.
I had done everything possible to avoid this state of affairs. My father left the property at 38 Oxley Road to me as part of my equal share of his estate, but my siblings were not happy about this. I tried to deal with their unhappiness privately. I offered to transfer 38 Oxley Road to my sister for a nominal S$1. Unfortunately, that offer failed. I then sold the house to my brother at a fair market valuation, and donated all my proceeds to charity.
I had hoped that this would satisfy them. There should be no reason for any further quarrel, since I no longer own the house and I do not take part in any Government decisions on the house. However, my siblings have decided to go out and make serious allegations publicly. For example, they say that I am using my position as Prime Minister to influence the ministerial committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean. These allegations go beyond private and personal matters, and extend to the conduct of my office and the integrity of the Government.
Much as I would like to move on, and end a most unhappy experience for Singaporeans, these baseless accusations against the Government cannot be left unanswered. They must be and will be dealt with openly and refuted.
When Parliament sits on Jul 3, 2017, I will make a ministerial statement to refute the charges. All MPs will then have the opportunity to raise questions for themselves and their constituents. I have instructed that the PAP party whip be lifted. I urge all MPs, including the non-PAP MPs, to examine the issues thoroughly and question me and my Cabinet colleagues vigorously. I hope that this full, public airing in Parliament will dispel any doubts that have been planted and strengthen confidence in our institutions and our system of government.
I want to assure all Singaporeans that this matter will not distract me and my Cabinet colleagues from our responsibility to govern Singapore, and to deal with more important national issues, including the pressing economic and security challenges we face.
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Family feud needed to safeguard national interest: Lee Hsien Yang
June 19, 2017
Saying the feud with the Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is beyond family, Lee Kuan Yew’s youngest son Lee Hsien Yang said his public feud is necessary to safeguard the national interest of the country.
“When a Prime Minister uses the government to grasp what he wants, this ceases to be a ‘private family matter’,” he said.
“We speak up at great personal cost because we care deeply for the Singapore our father built,” Lee Hsien Yang, 59, told the South China Morning Post (SCMP) in emailed comments.
The Prime Minister’s brother said he and his sister has nothing to gain from the public feud.
“We have nothing to gain from the demolition of 38 Oxley Road, other than the knowledge that we have honoured our father’s last wish.
“What could we gain from bringing this public, that would be worth political exile from our home? No personal benefit could ever balance those scales,” Lee said.
Lee Hsien Yang in the initial release said the harassment he was facing from “organs of state” for clashing with the premier on the matter was so grave that he had made plans to go into self-exile.
In his comments to the Post, he did not provide details on when he will leave Singapore or where he was planning to settle, but repeated the same concerns.
But he told SCMP he believed he has been spied on.
“We think that the government intends to make us feel unsafe,” Lee said.
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“Deed of Gift”: Here’s what Lee Hsien Yang’s latest post means in the context of the Lee family saga
June 19, 2017
This gets trickier and trickier.
Jeanette Tan
Another day, another revelation: on Monday, June 19, PM Lee Hsien Loong’s younger brother Hsien Yang dropped two screenshots of a letter that brings in a new issue relating to their late father’s estate.
This time, it concerns the exhibition that’s currently displayed at the National Museum — We Built A Nation — that first opened in September 2015, and the terms upon which the late Lee Kuan Yew’s estate (represented by Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Wei Ling), donated items from 38 Oxley Road to the museum for the exhibition.
The “Deed of Gift”
To understand the context of this, we must first return to the first statement issued by Hsien Yang and Wei Ling last Wednesday, where this phrase is first mentioned.
“We executed a Deed of Gift in 2015 with the National Heritage Board for the donation and public exhibition
of significant items from our parents’ home, with a stipulation that Lee Kuan Yew’s wish for the demolition of 38 Oxley Road be displayed prominently at the exhibition.
However, after the gift’s acceptance we soon received letters with spurious objections from Hsien Loong’s then personal lawyer, Lucien Wong.“
A deed of gift refers to a document that basically declares a particular property to belong to another person, which is signed by the owner of the property or item. It would also specify any conditions that may come with the donation.
In this case, the Deed of Gift executed by the younger Lee siblings specified the requirement for LKY’s wish for the house to be demolished to be displayed “prominently” at the exhibition, as explained above.
The images Hsien Yang posted below serve to substantiate the sentences bolded in the above quote from their initial statement — a second emailed legal letter that detailed PM Lee’s objections to the terms stated in the Deed, as well as what is to him and Wei Ling the potentially-disturbing fact that Hsien Loong had managed to obtain a copy of the Deed not from his siblings, but from the National Heritage Board:
This emailed letter, says Hsien Yang, was sent just hours after the first letter demanding a copy of the Deed on June 12, 2015.
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