Lee Kuan Yew In His Own Words
Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew was a man equally at home whipping up a crowd at a rally or commanding attention on the international stage. Known for his acumen, foresight and wit, he held his own with the brightest minds and most powerful leaders and laid the foundation for the country's success.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth on Sep 16, CNA looks back at 10 of his more memorable quotes that were synonymous with the country's milestones and development:
- On separating from Malaysia - For me, it is a moment of anguish because all my life ... You see, the whole of my adult life ... I have believed in Malaysian merger and the unity of these two territories.
- On taking a long-term view for Singapore - I am calculating not in terms of the next election ... I am calculating in terms of the next generation; in terms of the next 100 years; in terms of eternity.
- On how Singaporeans are not a people who can be bullied - You know, some people think: Oh well you know, we are a small place - they can put the screws on us. It is not so easy. We are a small place in size yes, geography.
- On how governing Singapore is not simply a game - Whoever governs Singapore must have that iron in him or give it up. This is not a game of cards. This is your life and mine.
- On micromanaging people's private lives - I am accused often of interfering in private lives of citizens. And I say without the slightest remorse that we wouldn't be here, we would not have made the economic progress if we had not intervened on very personal matters
- On what it takes to be a good minister - Remember this: Good ministers are not just those who kiss babies and smile and have dialogue sessions; you can have endless sessions, it's very good, you keep on listening and so on.
- On how political leaders are judged - Political leaders are judged, first, by how effectively they have exercised their authority in the interests of their people.
- On being an ardent advocate for Singapore's success - Even from my sickbed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel that something is going wrong, I will get up.
- On saving and investing for a rainy day - They say we got enormous reserves. Yes, we do. But, you know, a few years of a recession, an economic setback, and all that will suddenly be depleted.
- On what he cherished most - I cannot say I planned my life. That's why I feel life is a great adventure - exciting, unpredictable, and at times exhilarating and sometimes excruciating.
Dabu County: The Ancestral Place of Lee Kuan Yew and Overseas Hakka
A trip to Dabu County of Meizhou Municipality in Guangdong Province, exploring the Hakka history, houses and heritage.
Why is the ancestral house of Lee Kuan Yew a Chaoshan-style house? Check out the video.
LKY already has a memorial to his name in Chinese region he has never visited
The Founders’ Memorial notwithstanding, there is already a memorial to the first Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kwan Yew. Mr Lee, on the other hand, had been known to say that he had no wish for a monument dedicated solely to himself. In Parliament on April 13, 2015, however, his son, now Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, called to honour his father but said that his father had been conscious that he had been part of a team that worked together to build the city-state. “One idea that has been suggested is to have a memorial for all of the founding fathers, perhaps coupled with an exhibition gallery to honour their legacy and educate future generations.
Indeed, Mr Lee himself had thought that there was value in such a memorial,” he said. The project broke ground last month and is set to open in 2028. The Business Standard reported two days after Mr Lee’s death on March 23, 2015, that many Chinese were coming to Mr Lee’s ancestral home in droves to pay homage to him. The report said that the village is located 500 kilometres away from Guangzhou “in search of a glimpse” into his life. It described the ancestral home as made of brick and wood, having been constructed in the traditional Chinese style in 1884 by Mr Lee’s great-grandfather, Li Muwen, with his earnings from Singapore. The home was called Zhonghandi. It also noted that the Lee family descended from the Hakka, a subgroup of China’s Han community, and came to Singapore in the middle of the 18th century. Local authorities refurbished the home and its surroundings between 2007 and 2008. Exhibitions of the Lee family tree, Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s family and political accomplishments, and an introduction to Mr Lee Kuan Yew were also set up within the structure.
In 2016, the year after Mr Lee passed away, authorities in Dabu County in Guangdong said that his ancestral home would be turned into a tourist attraction. Hong Kong’s Wen Wei Po daily reported at the time that the site would become an international rural tourist destination that incorporated Chinese Hakka cultural characteristics. A total of 40 million yuan, then equivalent to S$8.8 million, was allocated for the endeavor. Constructing the site had begun the previous year, and the first phase, Lee Kuan Yew Memorial Hall, was set for completion by the end of 2016.
Dr Lee Wei Ling, Lee Kuan Yew’s daughter, dies at 69
Dr Lee Wei Ling's death was announced by her brother, Mr Lee Hsien Yang, in a Facebook post early on the same day
Dr Lee Wei Ling, the daughter of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, has died aged 69, four years after being diagnosed with a rare, degenerative brain disorder. Her death was disclosed by her younger brother Lee Hsien Yang in a Facebook post at 5.50 am on Oct 9.
Dr Lee, the second of three children, is also the sister of Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. A neurologist who headed the National Neuroscience Institute as director from 2004 to 2014, Dr Lee was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy in 2020. The condition affects physical movements, walking, balance and eye movements and eventually swallowing, and can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and choking.
Announcing her diagnosis in a Facebook post on Aug 8, 2020, Dr Lee described it as a “rather nasty brain disease” that will result in death “for the fortunate”. Yet she appeared to have dealt with it with the stoicism she displayed in her writings and had said in her post: “My immediate reaction to the news was “忍”(ren) or endure in Chinese, of which the traditional character has a knife above a heart. I have been practicing “忍” since I was in Chinese school, recognising that life has many unpleasant, unavoidable situations.
Lee Wei Ling, daughter of Lee Kuan Yew, dies aged 69
Dr Lee Wei Ling, the daughter of Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, died on Wednesday (Oct 9). She was 69.
Her death was announced by her brother, Mr Lee Hsien Yang, in a Facebook post shortly before 6am on Wednesday. He said Dr Lee died at home. She was known to live at 38 Oxley Road, the family home of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who died in 2015.
Dr Lee was also the sister of Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Describing her as "fiercely loyal to friends", Mr Lee remembered her as someone who "sympathised instinctively with the underdog and would mobilise actively to do something when she saw unfairness, or suspected wrongdoing". He noted her academic prowess and how she was "thoroughly bored in class" and got a double promotion from Primary One to Primary Three. Dr Lee was eventually awarded the President's Scholarship and became the director of Singapore's National Neuroscience Institute.
Lee Hsien Loong reflects on the passing of his sister, Dr Lee Weiling
Lee Hsien Loong, 14, (left) and his sister Lee Wei Ling, 10
Lee Hsien Loong shared a tribute following the passing of his sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling. Reflecting on childhood memories and her achievements in medicine, he acknowledged their estrangement but expressed deep sorrow at her loss, describing her as fiercely loyal, independent, and dedicated to her family.
On 9 October 2024, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong (LHL) shared a personal reflection on the passing of his sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, following an announcement by their brother, Lee Hsien Yang (LHY).
In a detailed Facebook post, LHL recounted childhood memories and Dr Lee’s accomplishments while acknowledging the complex family dynamics that defined their later years.
Dr Lee, a renowned paediatric neurologist and the only daughter of Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, passed away at 69.
She had been battling progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a degenerative neurological condition she publicly revealed in 2020.
Lee Hsien Yang 15 Oct 24 at 0700 hr
To honour my parents’ last wishes, I am applying to demolish the house at 38 Oxley Road and thereafter to build a small private dwelling, to be held within the family in perpetuity.
I am the sole legal owner of 38 Oxley Road. After my sister's passing, I am the only living executor of my father Lee Kuan Yew’s estate. In his will, he wished for the house to be demolished “immediately after” Wei Ling moved out of the house. It is my duty to carry out his wishes to the fullest extent of the law.
Lee Hsien Loong said in Parliament in 2015 that when Wei Ling passed, it would be up to "the Government of the day" to decide whether to allow demolition. It has been nine years. That day is today.
Lee Hsien Yang 12 Oct 24 at 1524 hr
Lee Hsien Yang Eulogy for Lee Wei Ling:
Wei Ling and I have always been completely different, but we have always been close. We grew up together, and in the nature of our family, were each other’s closest family. She was almost 3 years older; Loong was in turn about 3 years her senior but was a loner. So Ling and I grew up playing with each other. Of course, when we were little, there were physical fights. One scar I still carry from a particularly vigorous encounter serves as a reminder.
Right from the outset, Ling was always a tomboy and a fighter, and until I outgrew her, I was disadvantaged in our skirmishes. She was tough and strong and, whilst we disagreed and continued to disagree on much, I loved and admired her dearly. She carried that spirit of a fighter throughout her life, seeking to right wrongs, with a preparedness to speak truth to power. She was straight as an arrow, and would not mince her words. She had a reckless streak and could be impetuous. She saw herself as a modern day Don Quixote: an idealist, a hero, determined with dogged tenacity, stoic and ever-conscious of the need to withstand suffering.
Ling strove hard throughout her life to excel. She was outstanding academically - studious, driven, and intense. Perhaps her competitive fighting spirit came from a desire to be recognised and valued by our parents, even though she was second born and a girl. She loved animals and wanted to be a vet but was persuaded by our parents to pursue medicine instead. Always wanting to earn their approval, she graduated at the top of her class in medical school in Singapore and won a slew of prizes. Today, when I look back, I wish our family had acknowledged and recognised at home her accomplishments. It would have meant the world to her.
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Lee Hsien Yang 9 Oct 24 at 0549 hr
The Oxley Saga Hasn’t Ended
Overwhelming Grief & Support For Lee Hsien Yang As He Flees The Country
The Oxley Road saga is a controversial dispute among Lee Kuan Yew’s children, over the fate of their family home. Lee Kuan Yew had expressed in his will that he wanted the house to be demolished after his passing. This is to prevent it from becoming a place of worship or a political shrine. However, Lee Hsien Loong argued that the house should be preserved as a historical monument. Lee Hsien Yang noted that his brother had political motivations for preserving the house and accused him of abusing his power as Prime Minister to influence the decision. The dispute became public in 2017 when Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Wei Ling accused their brother of abusing his power and of not fulfilling their father’s wishes. The government formed a ministerial committee to examine the options for the house. However, the siblings noted that committee was biased and lacked transparency.
In 2020, the government announced that it would not demolish the house, but would instead preserve it and open it to the public for visits. However, they did not only continue to go against Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes. They also continued to prosecute Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Wei Ling. He has been his sister’s caregiver ever since the death of their father. Yet he is forced to leave the country because his family has been subjected to harassment and smear campaigns. Lee Hsien Yang expressed sadness that he is “unlikely ever to be able to see my sister face to face again”, and it pains him “beyond words”.
Lee Hsien Yang hints at never returning to Singapore, says he is unlikely to see his sister again
Mr Lee Hsien Yang's latest comments comes after Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean told Parliament that the police have opened investigations into Mr Lee and his wife. PHOTO: ST FILE
Mr Lee Hsien Yang said on Tuesday that he may never return to Singapore amid an ongoing police investigation into him and his wife, Mrs Lee Suet Fern. In a lengthy Facebook post, Mr Lee, the younger son of first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew and the brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, also said his sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, is now extremely unwell.
“It pains me beyond words that I am unlikely ever to be able to see my sister face to face again,” he wrote. Dr Lee was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, she said in August 2020, describing it as a brain disease that slows physical movements and eventually leads to dementia with prominent behavioural changes.
Mr Lee’s latest comments come days after Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean told Parliament on Thursday that police have opened investigations into Mr Lee and his wife for the possible offences of lying under oath. The couple left Singapore after refusing to go for a police interview that they had initially agreed to attend, Mr Teo said in a written reply. Police later said they left Singapore after being engaged in June 2022, and have not returned since.
Lee Hsien Yang @ 12h Singapore - My Country
Yet another attack has just been launched, re-litigating over again the same issues that were raised by Lee Hsien Loong after probate of Lee Kuan Yew’s will, at the ministerial committee in 2016/2017, in Parliament in 2017, and in disciplinary proceedings in 2019/2020. I have now been condemned in Parliament and in the press without due process. In these circumstances, how can there be fair and proper investigations or a fair trial, in what is clearly a politically-motivated prosecution?
It had seemed such a small request my father was making, that we should demolish his house. However, after his passing in 2015, it was our own brother who opposed our father’s directions to us. As a result, my sister Wei Ling publicly called Hsien Loong out as “the dishonourable son.”
My friend sent this letter to me. It is a letter from LKY sent in 2010 to the cabinet.
Explainer: How Singapore’s First Family House Feud Keeps Growing
The house at 38 Oxley Road, the residence of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew.Photographer: Wallace Woon/EPA
It centers on 38 Oxley Road, a colonial-era bungalow near the glitzy Orchard Road shopping belt in Singapore. Lee Kuan Yew lived there for most of his 91 years and his will included a wish for the property eventually to be demolished; he said in a 2011 interview it was to avoid the cost of preserving it and the risk that it would fall into disrepair. The demolition would only happen after his daughter, Dr. Lee Wei Ling, moved out.
In 2020 she disclosed on Facebook that she was suffering from progressive supranuclear palsy, a degenerative brain disease, and Hsien Yang recently disclosed that her condition has since deteriorated. All three siblings have said they want to honor the demolition request. But the two younger ones in 2017 accused their brother, the prime minister, of maneuvering to undermine their father’s instructions, citing the existence of a ministerial committee exploring options for the property. PM Lee, as he’s called, denied the allegations. His deputy said at the time that the committee wasn’t secret and had to review the situation in case Dr. Lee, who was a senior adviser at Singapore’s National Neuroscience Institute, moves out.
The rift in Singapore’s first family turns even nastier
Lee Kuan Yew wanted no memorials but bequeathed a family feud.
When he died in 2015, many recalled how he reacted to the idea that a monument should be raised to him. “Remember Ozymandias!” Singapore’s founding prime minister had said, referring to Shelley’s sonnet about a great pharaoh memorialised, in the end, only by a broken statue in a desert. Lee wanted no monument apart from a thriving Singapore. He tried hard, even from beyond the grave, to preclude the establishment of one potential memorial in particular: the colonial-era bungalow at 38 Oxley Road where he had lived from 1945 until his death. Lee left instructions for it to be bulldozed.
Instead, the house, still very much standing, has become the focus of a bitter dispute between his three children. One of them, Lee Hsien Loong, has been Singapore’s prime minister since 2004; another, his daughter Lee Wei Ling, in ill health, lives in the house; the third, their brother Lee Hsien Yang, is being investigated for perjury over the row and has fled the country.
Lee Kuan Yew’s lawyer fined $13,000 for breaching confidentiality, misleading executors
The fine comes after Ms Kwa Kim Li was found guilty of misconduct unbefitting of an advocate and solicitor. PHOTO: ST FILE
The lawyer of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew has been ordered to pay a penalty of $13,000 by a disciplinary tribunal. This is after she was found guilty of misconduct unbefitting of an advocate and solicitor in relation to several e-mails she sent to his children about his wills. Ms Kwa Kim Li was referred to the tribunal after the late Mr Lee’s two younger children, executors of his estate, complained that the lawyer had breached their father’s confidentiality, and also misled them.
Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang had taken issue with two separate e-mails that Ms Kwa sent to them and their older brother, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, on June 4, 2015, and June 22, 2015. The e-mails contained information on the late Mr Lee’s deliberations and instructions over his wills. The findings of the two-man tribunal, consisting of Mr N. Sreenivasan and Mr Alvin Tan Kheng Ann, are the latest development in the Lee family feud over the late Mr Lee’s home at 38 Oxley Road.
In a report released on May 5, the tribunal said Ms Kwa was guilty of misconduct under section 83(2)(h) of the Legal Profession Act. The senior lawyer, a first cousin of the Lee siblings and a managing partner at Lee & Lee, had helped the late Mr Lee draft six wills between Aug 20, 2011, and Nov 2, 2012. His seventh and final will, dated Dec 17, 2013, was prepared by Mrs Lee Suet Fern, Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s wife. It had bequeathed equal shares of the late Mr Lee’s estate to his children, and also included a demolition clause for his 38 Oxley Road home.
Comparisons between Lee Suet Fern and Kwa Kim Li arise as LKY’s niece gets $13,000 fine for misconduct
Comparisons are being made between senior lawyers Lee Suet Fern and Kwa Kim Li after Ms Kwa was ordered to pay $13,000 in penalties for misconduct relating to the way she handled the late founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew’s wills. Ms Kwa is the niece of the late Mrs Kwa Geok Choo, wife of Mr Lee (LKY).
On May 5, a disciplinary tribunal found her guilty of misconduct unbefitting an advocate and solicitor after it determined that she made the false and misleading representation that the late Mr Lee never instructed her to change his seventh will. She was also found guilty of misleading the late Mr Lee’s children, Mr Lee Hsien Yang and Dr Lee Wei Ling, by omitting to disclose her communications with their father between November 2013 and December 13, 2013, when they expressly asked her for information on what changes he wanted to make to his will. On top of this, Ms Kwa was found to have breached confidentiality by sharing documents with the late Mr Lee’s eldest son and current Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, without the consent of his siblings, Mr Lee Hsien Yang and Dr Lee Wei Ling, the executors and trustees of their father’s will.
As the disciplinary tribunal found the harm committed by Ms Kwa’s misconduct to be “low” and her culpability “low to medium,” it ordered her to pay penalties “sufficient and appropriate to the misconduct committed”. The tribunal also ordered Ms Kwa to pay $12,000 in costs and $9,182.29 in disbursements to Mr Lee Hsien Yang.
Lee Hsien Yang, wife Lee Suet Fern under police investigation for lying in judicial proceedings about Lee Kuan Yew's will
Mr Lee Hsien Yang and his wife Mrs Lee Suet Fern left Singapore and remain out of the country during the police's investigations, says Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean
Mr Lee Hsien Yang and his wife, lawyer Lee Suet Fern, are being investigated by the police for potential offences of giving false evidence in judicial proceedings over Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s will.
As part of the investigations, the police requested an interview with the couple, and they initially agreed to attend the interview, said Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean in a written parliamentary answer on Thursday (Mar 2). But the couple later had a change of heart and refused to attend the interview, Mr Teo added. In response to CNA's queries, the police said on Thursday night that it started investigations against the couple following a referral in October 2021.
The police contacted both of them in June last year and asked them to assist in investigations by attending a police interview. "They agreed to assist but requested a different date. The police acceded to the request and scheduled an interview in July 2022 based on their availability," the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said. But the couple did not turn up on the agreed date and sent a letter via email stating that they would not take part in the investigation. The police have advised them to reconsider taking part in investigations, but they left Singapore and have remained out of the country, said Mr Teo. In a Facebook post on Thursday night, Mr Lee Hsien Yang responded to the latest developments by claiming that the "persecution of my family by Singapore authorities continues unabated" and that he "was the real target".
Singapore Police Probes Premier’s Brother Over Alleged Lying
Singapore police are investigating Lee Hsien Yang, the estranged brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, for allegedly giving false evidence over the handling of their late father’s will.
Hsien Yang and his wife Lee Suet Fern refused to attend a police interview and have since left Singapore, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean said in a written reply to parliament on Thursday. The couple were found in 2020 to have lied under oath during disciplinary proceedings against the wife related to the last will of Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of modern Singapore. “The persecution of my family by the Singapore authorities continues unabated,” Hsien Yang said in a Facebook post.
Discord in the Lee family has simmered for years since the patriach’s death in 2015. The dispute centers on whether 38 Oxley Road should be demolished and the handling of Lee Kuan Yew’s will. The colonial-era bungalow near Singapore’s Orchard Road shopping belt was where he lived for most of his 91 years. Suet Fern was suspended for 15 months from practicing law in 2020. She said at the time she disagreed with the punishment for professional misconduct in her handling of the will. Their refusal to participate in the police investigation raises questions, Teo said. “If they maintain their innocence, the investigation will give them the chance to vindicate themselves.”
In June 2017, my sister Wei Ling and I said "We do not trust Hsien Loong as a brother or as a leader. We have lost confidence in him". We said we feared the use of organs of the state against us and my family.
In July/August 2017, they prosecuted my son Shengwu, an economist at Harvard. After a drawn-out 3 year court case, the Singapore courts convicted him for ‘scandalising’ the judiciary.
In 2020, they prosecuted my wife over LKY’s 2013 will. I was the real target.
The relentless attacks continue.
Singapore PM’s brother says govt persecuting his family
The family members of the late Lee Kuan Yew, Lee Hsien Yang, second left, his wife Lee Suet Fern, left, and Lee Hsien Loong, third left, arrive with his portrait at the state funeral at the University Cultural Center in Singapore on March 29, 2015. The brother of Singapore's prime minister is accusing government authorities of persecuting his family after it emerged that he and his wife were under official investigation. Lee Hsien Yang has long been at odds with his brother, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, over the will of their late father — Singapore's first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew. (AP Photo/Joseph Nair, File)
The brother of Singapore’s prime minister on Friday accused government authorities of persecuting his family after it emerged that he and his wife were under official investigation. Lee Hsien Yang has long been at odds with his brother, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, over the will of their late father — longtime Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who ushered Singapore through independence from Britain.
The family feud had largely died down until Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean told lawmakers that Lee Hsien Yang and his wife, Lee Suet Fern, were under investigation. In a written answer to parliament made public Thursday, he said the two were being investigated over allegations of providing false evidence in judicial proceedings regarding the will. They are accused of lying under oath by a panel of three judges and a disciplinary tribunal, Teo Chee Hean wrote. He told parliament the two had agreed to an interview with police but then later refused, which he said was “disappointing.” “The police have advised them to reconsider participating in investigations, but they have since left Singapore and remain out of the country,” he wrote, according to a copy of the reply to parliament provided by his office.
Contacted by The Associated Press on Friday, Lee Hsien Yang rejected the allegations as “a further attempt to discredit and attack me,” but said “it is not safe for me to return” to Singapore.In a post on Facebook, Lee Hsien Yang said he and his sister, Lee Wei Ling, who had joined him in questioning the execution of the will, had long said they “feared the use of organs of the state against us and my family.” “The persecution of my family by the Singapore authorities continues unabated,” he wrote. The prime minister’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but he has previously called his siblings’ accusations that he had misused government power against them “entirely baseless.”
Lee Hsien Yang claims continued persecution by Singaporean authorities
On Thursday evening (2 March), Lee Hsien Yang (LHY), the brother of Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (LHL), took to Facebook to accuse the Singaporean authorities of continuing to persecute his family.
This came after Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Mr Teo Chee Hean, revealed in a written parliamentary reply that LHY and his wife, Lee Suet Fern, were under investigation for allegedly giving false evidence in judicial proceedings.
LHY and his family have been embroiled in a long-standing dispute over the fate of the 38 Oxley property following the passing of their father, Lee Kuan Yew, in 2015.
In a statement made in June 2017, LHY and his sister, Lee Wei Ling, said that they did not trust Hsien Loong and feared the use of “organs of the state” against them and their family. This statement led to LHL calling for a parliamentary session to clear himself of their allegations.
related:
Lee Hsien Yang unlikely to meet criteria to run for elected presidency given court finding of lying under oath: Lawyers
Mr Lee Hsien Yang declared on Friday (Mar 3) that he is considering running for the Elected Presidency, but lawyers said that earlier court findings that he and his wife had lied under oath in judicial proceedings could see him fail to meet the criteria of being a candidate.
This is regardless of the outcome of ongoing police investigations into the couple for potential offences of giving false evidence in the proceedings over Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s will, the lawyers added.
In an interview with news outlet Bloomberg on Friday, Mr Lee Hsien Yang said that he is considering running in the Presidential Election in Singapore, which will be held later this year. President Halimah Yacob’s six-year term is due to expire in September. Mr Lee said to Bloomberg, in reference to the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), that there is a view that if he were to run, PAP "would be in serious trouble and could lose”, depending on who the party chooses as a candidate. “A lot of people have come to me. They really want me to run. It’s something I would consider,” he added.
Lee Hsien Yang weighing presidential bid, lawyers say court findings affect his eligibility
Mr Lee Hsien Yang said he had been approached to run for president and would consider it. PHOTO: ST FILE
Mr Lee Hsien Yang, the younger brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has said he would consider contesting the upcoming presidential election, which is expected to be called by September 2023.
A day after Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean told Parliament on Thursday that Mr Lee and his wife Lee Suet Fern are being investigated by the police for possible offences of lying under oath, Bloomberg News reported Mr Lee as saying he had been approached to run for president and would consider it.
Mr Lee told Bloomberg over the phone: “There is a view that depending on who they float, if I were to run, they would be in serious trouble and could lose. “A lot of people have come to me. They really want me to run. It is something I would consider.”
How founding PM Lee Kuan Yew's last will was executed in 16 hours
In a photo taken on Aug 6, 2013, former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew speaks at the book launch of One Man's View Of The World. PHOTO: ST FILE
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern has been found guilty by a disciplinary tribunal of grossly improper professional conduct in her handling of the last will of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister and her father-in-law.
Her case will be referred to the Court of Three Judges, the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers' misconduct, and she could face a fine, suspension or be disbarred as a lawyer.
Here's a look at how the will was executed in 16 hours:
- October 2010 to November 2012 - Madam Kwa Geok Choo, Mr Lee Kuan Yew's wife, died at the age of 89 on Oct 2, 2010. Thereafter, and before his last will in December 2013, Mr Lee executed six other wills.
- September to October 2013 - Mr Lee's health deteriorated in 2013 and he was hospitalised for several weeks between September and October.
- Dec 13, 2013 - Around Nov 30, 2013, Mr Lee discussed with Ms Kwa about making amendments to his sixth will.
- Dec 16, 2013 - Mrs Lee Suet Fern sent Mr Lee a draft of what eventually became his last will.
- Dec 16, 2013 - Mr Lee Hsien Yang replied to the e-mail his wife had sent.
- Dec 16, 2013 - Mrs Lee Suet Fern e-mailed Ms Wong, her husband and Mr Lui to introduce the latter to them.
- Dec 16, 2013 - Mr Lee Kuan Yew replied to his son's 7.31pm e-mail and said: "Ok. Do not wait for Kim Li. Engross and I will sign it before a solicitor in Fern's office, or from any other office."
- Dec 17, 2013 - Mr Lee Hsien Yang replied to his father's e-mail and said someone would go to Oxley Road or his office at his convenience, and that Ms Wong had the contacts and would arrange it.
- Dec 17, 2013 - Mrs Lee Suet Fern e-mailed Mr Lui to say: "Please be ready and accessible at short notice.
- Dec 17, 2013 - Mrs Lee Suet Fern e-mailed Mr Lui again and said: "Be good to run. AM Are engrossments ready?"
- Dec 17, 2013 - Mr Lui replied: "Preparing. 11am. EK will be with me. I keep the will?" EK referred to Ms Elizabeth Kong, another lawyer at Stamford Law.
- Dec 17, 2013 - Mr Lui sent Mrs Lee Suet Fern another e-mail where he said: "Date of will is 2011 - I put today's date."
- Dec 17, 2013 - Police logs showed that Mr Lui and Ms Kong arrived at 38 Oxley Road at about 11.05am. They left at 11.20am. In those 15 minutes inside the house, Mr Lee's last will was executed.
E-book on Lee Kuan Yew’s last will calculated to mislead, at odds with court findings: SM Teo
Among the inaccuracies in the e-book was one regarding the insertion of a demolition clause for the house at 38 Oxley Road in Mr Lee Kuan Yew's last will. PHOTO: ST FILE
An e-book on the last will of the late founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew came under the spotlight in a written reply by Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean in Parliament on Thursday. Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (Chua Chu Kang GRC) had asked Mr Teo about the accuracy of the contents of the e-book, The Battle Over Lee Kuan Yew’s Last Will, published online in July 2022 by the team behind digital magazine Jom.
Mr Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh, the author, had described the e-book as “the product of over a year’s worth of research” in an essay, but Mr Teo on Thursday cast doubt on the claim and described the e-book as an attempt “to rewrite the facts”. In response to the criticism, Mr Thomas said Mr Teo’s objection to the e-book’s conclusions stemmed from the fact that it was critical of Mr Teo’s actions as head of the ministerial committee tasked to look into the matter involving the late Mr Lee’s house at 38 Oxley Road. “And, as the head of the (ministerial committee), he may feel that our argument is critical of his actions – and, in that, a rare instance in this whole episode, he would be correct,” Mr Thomas told The Straits Times.
The senior minister told Parliament the e-book “totally ignores the facts and findings which had been established, after an objective and thorough examination of the case, by the Court of Three Judges in November 2020 and a disciplinary tribunal in February 2020”. “It is clear that the assertions in his book are calculated to mislead, as they are completely at odds with the findings and conclusions of the Court of Three Judges and the disciplinary tribunal.”
Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh, The Battle Over Lee Kuan Yew’s Last Will (E-book)
An e-book titled The Battle Over Lee Kuan Yew’s Last Will contains several inaccuracies “calculated to mislead” and that are “completely at odds” with court findings, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean said on Thursday (Mar 2).
The e-book, written by local author Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh and published in July last year, is about the debate over the late prime minister’s will and home at 38 Oxley Road, which led to disciplinary proceedings against Mrs Lee Suet Fern, the wife of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s son Lee Hsien Yang. The examination of the case against Mrs Lee was done by the Court of Three Judges (C3J), the highest disciplinary body for the legal profession, in November 2020 and a Disciplinary Tribunal (DT) in February 2020. She was found guilty of professional misconduct.
“The book is not credible, as it totally ignores the facts and findings which had been established, after an objective and thorough examination of the case,” said Mr Teo, who was the chair of a Ministerial Committee that had been set up to look into what should be done with the property after Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s death.
Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh: PAP politicians asked me to write ebook on Lee Kuan Yew’s last will
"A big reason I decided to embark on this book project in late 2020... is because several PAP politicians, including some really senior ones, as well as fully-paid-up members of the establishment urged me to," he wrote
Author Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh revealed late last night (3 March) that politicians from the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) asked him to write a book about founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s last will – a book that was dismissed as “inaccurate” by Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean in Parliament, this week. He said that “a big reason” why he decided to write the e-book – ‘The Battle Over Lee Kuan Yew’s Last Will,’ – was “because several PAP politicians, including some really senior ones, as well as fully-paid-up members of the establishment urged me to.”
Asserting that he would protect the names of these individuals, Mr Vadaketh said that these party members were concerned that the Lee family feud might negatively impact the party. He wrote: “Several things have irritated PAP members over the years, including the 2017 presidential election, but this whole Oxley saga is a big one. Many PAP members believe, rightly so imo, that a narrow agenda about LKY’s will and 38 Oxley Road could do severe harm to the party.” The prominent socio-political commentator added, “I don’t expect any supporters of my Oxley work to put up their hands if I get into trouble. That’s fine. Don’t need them to. Just want them to know that their encouragement meant something.”
Mr Vadaketh’s e-book was brought to Parliament’s attention by PAP MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, who asked if the book accurately represents the circumstances around how Mr Lee’s last will was signed. Responding in a written reply, Mr Teo claimed that the e-book was “not credible” and made assertions that were “calculated to mislead” and are “completely at odds” with court findings. He said: “The book is not credible, as it totally ignores the facts and findings which had been established, after an objective and thorough examination of the case. “It is clear that the assertions in his book are calculated to mislead, as they are completely at odds with the findings and conclusions of the Court of Three Judges and the disciplinary tribunal.”
Lawyer Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss: “Cannot be” that Lee Kuan Yew didn’t read the demolition clause in his last will
The demolition clause in Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s last will with his handwriting next to it, she noted that it is “hard not to notice” the visibly conspicuous clause, which takes up 12 lines in the document
Noted lawyer Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss said today (3 March) that it is hard to believe founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew did not read or understand the contents of his last will, amid the latest turn in the Lee family feud.
Her comments come on the back of Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean’s revelation that Lee Hsien Yang and his wife Lee Suet Fern – the youngest son and daughter-in-law of the late Lee Kuan Yew – are being investigated by the police for allegedly lying in a legal proceeding relating to the will of the late former PM.
Mr Lee Hsien Yang has responded by dubbing this latest action continued “persecution” by the Singapore authorities. The estranged brother of current Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong has also asserted that he is the “real target” behind the authorities’ actions against his wife and son, Li Shengwu. The bitter dispute has gripped Singaporeans and dominated national discourse for over five years. This latest development has also triggered public scrutiny of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s last will – the main point of contention between the Lee siblings.
Professor Shengwu Li Named 2023 Sloan Fellow
Professor Shengwu Li, Assistant Professor of Economics, has been awarded the 2023 Sloan P. Foundations Fellowship prize.
The Sloan Fellowship Awards are given annually in eight scientific and technical fields which include chemistry, computational and evolutionary molecular biology, computer science, earth systems science, economics, mathematics, neuroscience, and physics.
Fellows are chosen from among candidates nominated by their fellow scientists and selected by an independent panel of senior scholars based on their research accomplishments, creativity, and potential as young scientists who will become leaders in their fields.
National athlete calls out ST’s double standards amid latest Lee family feud development
National athlete Soh Rui Yong has highlighted the Straits Times’ double standards in reporting about founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s youngest son, Lee Hsien Yang, as Singapore watches the latest turn in the bitter Lee family feud play out in public.
His observation comes after Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean’s revealed in a parliamentary reply this week that Mr Lee and his wife Lee Suet Fern are being investigated by the police for allegedly lying in a legal proceeding relating to Lee Kuan Yew’s last will. In a comment under Mr Lee’s Facebook post, national long-distance runner Soh Rui Yong said that he is “quite disappointed the biggest Singapore media publisher completely ignored Li Shengwu’s landmark Sloan Research Fellowship award, but was so ready and eager to pump out the news of this (and previous) persecutions.” He added, “Doesn’t really do itself any favours to correct accusations of bias/state controlled media in my opinion.”
Mr Soh’s comment is the most popular out of all the responses netizens left on Mr Lee’s post. When one netizen commented that there was coverage of Mr Li Shengwu’s award, the athlete made it clear he was talking about the Straits Times as he said:
“I am aware that SOME media publishers in Singapore reported it. Perhaps I should have been clearer. (Was trying not to single out anyone) But let’s try again: The BIGGEST Singapore media publisher contains absolutely nothing on Shengwu’s award, till today. Do post a link here if I am wrong.”
Straits Times remains silent over Li Shengwu’s Sloan Research Fellowship award
While this is not unexpected to some, it may reinforce the popular perception that the mainstream media publication is the mouthpiece of the ruling party
While Singaporeans are showering praise on prominent mathematician Li Shengwu for being awarded the prestigious Sloan Research Fellowship, Singapore’s national broadsheet has maintained conspicuous silence and has failed to report on his achievement.
Mr Li, an assistant professor of economics at Harvard University in the US, is the oldest son of Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Suet Fern. Mr Lee is the son of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and the younger brother of current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Last week, Mr Li was announced as one of the awardees of the prestigious Sloan Research Fellowship – a highly competitive award that has been conferred upon many prominent researchers over the years. Expressing his pride, his father Lee Hsien Yang wrote on Facebook:
“I am thrilled that Shengwu continues to bring honour to Singapore. In 2016 Shengwu was selected to become a fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows, a rare distinction recognising young scholars for their potential to advance academic wisdom.”
Revealing just how important this distinction is for the nation, Mr Lee added: “I believe Shengwu was the first Singaporean inducted into the Harvard Society of Fellows. I don’t know whether any other Singaporean has been awarded a Sloan Research Fellowship before.” Congratulations quickly abounded for Mr Li and several prominent figures joined Singaporeans to praise the illustrious 38-year-old. Workers’ Party (WP) parliamentarian Jamus Lim, who is also an economist, called Mr Li’s achievement “a treasure for the country” while his colleague Leon Perera said, “Shengwu’s remarkable achievements should indeed make Singaporeans proud. Well done!” Renowned doctor and president of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, Dr Paul Tambyah, also congratulated Mr Li.
PM Lee’s siblings seek disciplinary hearing on conduct of Lee Kuan Yew’s lawyer
Ms Kwa Kim Li (pictured), a managing partner at law firm Lee and Lee, prepared the wills for the late Lee Kuan Yew
The siblings of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong are seeking the convening of a disciplinary tribunal to investigate the conduct of their cousin, Ms Kwa Kim Li, who prepared six wills for their late father Lee Kuan Yew. Ms Kwa, a managing partner at law firm Lee and Lee, prepared the wills for Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s founding prime minister, between Aug 20, 2011 and Nov 2, 2012.
Court documents obtained by TODAY showed that Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang, who are executors and trustees of Lee Kuan Yew’s estate, filed the High Court application against the Law Society (LawSoc) on Sept 21 last year. The Lee siblings’ application states that an inquiry committee investigated Ms Kwa following three complaints made in 2019.
The application seeks an order from the High Court directing the LawSoc to apply to Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon “for the appointment of a disciplinary tribunal for a formal investigation into the conduct of Ms Kwa Kim Li” over three of the 2019 complaints.
Lee saga: Wei Ling, Hsien Yang request Disciplinary Tribunal against Kwa Kim Li over Lee Kuan Yew will
Wei Ling and Hsien Yang’s are the younger siblings of Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Kwa is a maternal cousin of the Lees
Dr Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang, trustees and executors of the late Lee Kuan Yew’s estate, have applied for an order against the Law Society to convene a Disciplinary Tribunal in relation to their father’s former lawyer Kwa Kim Li. According to court documents obtained by Yahoo News Singapore, the two Lee siblings filed the application on 21 September last year and a pre-trial conference was scheduled for 6 October. Another in-chambers hearing took place on Monday (1 February) over the case.
The duo applied for the order under section 96(1) of the Legal Profession Act, and had sought for the Law Society to be directed to apply to the Chief Justice for the appointment of a Disciplinary Tribunal for a formal investigation into Kwa’s conduct. This involves three complaints relating to Kwa that were made by the siblings, and which were investigated by an Inquiry Committee in 2019.
Kwa is managing partner of Lee and Lee, which was founded in 1955 by the late Lee. Between 20 August 2011 and 2 November 2012, she had prepared six of the late Lee’s wills. Dr Lee had previously accused Kwa of “lying” about the latter’s supposed non-involvement in the events that led to her father’s 2013 will.
Lee Wei Ling accuses lawyer Kwa Kim Li of lying about non-involvement in father's 2013 will
Lee Wei Ling, the daughter of late prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, has accused lawyer Kwa Kim Li of “lying” about the latter’s supposed non-involvement in the events that led to her father’s 2013 will.
“Kwa Kim Li (KKL) of Lee & Lee has denied involvement in the events that led to this 2013 will … KKL has been lying. She has also breached her duties to her client, my father,” said the 64-year-old in a Facebook post on Tuesday (30 April).
“Lee & Lee have always been lawyers for my father’s personal matters including all his wills, powers of attorney, and Advance Medical Directives including his affirmation in August 2014 of his AMD,” she added. As evidence of Kwa’s alleged involvement, she also attached a photo of an e-mail supposedly sent by Kwa to the late Lee on 12 December 2013. In it, Kwa appears to tell Lee – whom she addresses as “Uncle Harry” – that she will be preparing a codicil to reflect their discussed amendments to his will and would need his signature on it.
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern suspended for 15 months, found guilty of misconduct in handling of Lee Kuan Yew's will
Senior lawyer Lee Suet Fern has been suspended for 15 months by the Court of Three Judges over her handling of the last will of her late father-in-law Lee Kuan Yew.
In a written judgment released on Friday (Nov 20), the highest disciplinary body for the legal profession found Mrs Lee guilty of misconduct unbefitting an advocate and solicitor, saying that she had “blindly followed the directions of her husband, a significant beneficiary under the very will whose execution she helped to rush through”.
The case centred on the role Mrs Lee played in the preparation and execution of the senior Mr Lee’s last will, which was signed on Dec 17, 2013.
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern suspended for 15 months for misconduct over handling of Lee Kuan Yew's last will
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern has been suspended from practice for 15 months after she was found guilty of misconduct over the handling of the last will of Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon wrote in the judgment on Friday (Nov 20) that Mrs Lee was guilty of misconduct "unbefitting an advocate and solicitor" despite the absence of an implied retainer.
He also said her culpability was "at least moderately high", while the harm caused by the misconduct was "at the lower end of the moderate range".
What I know about Singapore’s Lee Suet Fern
I have been very disturbed to read in the Post of the Singapore Law Society’s failed attempt to disbar Lee Suet Fern. She is the daughter-in-law of the late Lee Kuan Yew, the former Singapore prime minister who died in 2015, and married to his younger son. He and another sibling have fallen out very publicly with their brother, current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, over the last will of Lee Kuan Yew made in 2013, probate for which was granted in 2015.
Lee Suet Fern is alleged to have assisted with arrangements for the execution and witnessing of Lee Kuan Yew’s last will, having “blindly followed the directions of her husband”, and not to have advised the elder Lee to take independent legal advice.
Lee Kuan Yew was himself a lawyer, and the idea that he would have signed anything against his wishes is fantasy. A Court of Three Judges concluded last week that Lee Suet Fern should not be struck off but should be suspended from practice for 15 months for misconduct.
Lim Suet Fern's father Prominent economist Lim Chong Yah
Professor Lim Chong Yah was an eminent economist who led a body forging wage consensus for Singaporean workers for nearly three decades. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Professor Lim Chong Yah, an eminent economist who led a body forging wage consensus for Singaporean workers for nearly three decades – died on Saturday morning. He was 91.
The son of a shopkeeper, Prof Lim was born in Malacca. His mother died when he was eight. He was awarded a scholarship to study economics at the University of Malaya, which was then located in Singapore, and later joined the Singapore administrative service.
He leaves two daughters and two sons. His eldest child is lawyer Lee Suet Fern, who is married to Mr Lee Hsien Yang – the younger son of first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, and the brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Judgment on bid to disbar Lee Suet Fern reserved
Earlier, in February this year, a disciplinary tribunal had found her guilty of "grossly improper conduct", and yesterday, the Law Society asked a Court of Three Judges to uphold the finding.
Singapore's Law Society yesterday set out its arguments on why senior lawyer Lee Suet Fern should be disbarred over her handling of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's will, saying she had been involved in its preparation and execution despite knowing her husband stood to gain from it.
It also said the lawyer of 37 years had hurried her father-in-law through the process of signing it without the advice of his usual lawyer, who had prepared his earlier wills.
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Court reserves judgement on whether Lee Suet Fern should be sanctioned for role in Lee Kuan Yew's final will
Judges presiding over Mrs Lee Suet Fern's disciplinary hearing on Thursday (Aug 13) focused their attention on a particular rule — that a lawyer shall not act for a client who intends to make a significant gift by will to any member of her family — in questioning her defence that it would have been hard for her to say no to Lee Kuan Yew.
The Court of Three Judges — the highest disciplinary body in dealing with lawyers’ misconduct — was deliberating whether Mrs Lee, 62, who is the wife of Mr Lee Hsien Yang, the late Lee Kuan Yew's younger son, should be struck off the rolls.
The Law Society is arguing that she should, based on the 206-page findings of a disciplinary tribunal in February. It found that Mrs Lee, a senior lawyer of 37 years, had “misled” a frail and ailing Lee Kuan Yew into signing his last will.
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Allegation of abuse of Power
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Explainer: Why are Singapore's first family feuding?
FILE PHOTO: Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is seen during a live-broadcast national address, in Singapore, June 23, 2020. Ministry Of Communications And Information/Prime Minister's Office
A public rift between the heirs of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s modern day founder, has shot to the fore with the prospect of his two sons squaring off at a July 10 general election.
Lee Hsien Yang on Wednesday formally joined a new opposition party competing against his brother Lee Hsien Loong’s People’s Action Party, which has ruled the city-state since its independence since 1965.
The move comes amid a long-standing and bitter dispute between the siblings centred around what to do with their late father’s house - demolish it, or let the government decide whether to make it a heritage landmark.
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The younger Lee siblings rehash family feud three years later
In a new post on June 14, Dr Lee made reference to a document published three years ago on June 14, 2017, undersigned by both herself and younger brother Lee Hsien Yang
The two younger Lee siblings Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang took to social media to rehash a family feud spanning more than five years.
She made reference to a document published three years ago on June 14, 2017, undersigned by both herself and younger brother Lee Hsien Yang.
“A public statement by Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang: We have no confidence in PM Lee Hsien Loong and are worried about Singapore’s future”, they titled the document.
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Prime Minister Lee's siblings denounce him in statement, state misuse of his position and influence over Singapore government
Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang take to Facebook to denounce Lee Hsien Loong again
Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang both took to social media once again to publicly denounce their older brother, Lee Hsien Loong.
In a Facebook post, Dr Lee Wei Ling shared a photo of herself and Lee Hsien Yang when they were children. She wrote: “On 14 Jun 2017 Yang and I made public our concerns in a Facebook post entitled “What has happened to Lee Kuan Yew’s Values?”
Dr Lee continued: “We stated that “We do not trust Hsien Loong as a brother or as a leader. We have lost confidence in him.” “Events since then have only served to reinforce our view”, she wrote.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling 23 hrs
On 14 Jun 2017 Yang and I made public our concerns in a Facebook post entitled “What has happened to Lee Kuan Yew’s Values?” We stated that “We do not trust Hsien Loong as a brother or as a leader. We have lost confidence in him.”
Events since then have only served to reinforce our view.
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Lee Weiling: “I continue to be ashamed at Hsien Loong’s disrespect for his father’s dying wish”
Expressing her disgust over a report by the Sunday Times, Dr Lee Weiling posted on her Facebook page, saying: “I am appalled and disgusted by the The Sunday Times reports that seek to character assassinate my brother and his wife.”
The Strait Times’ Sunday newspaper report, “Disciplinary Tribunal finds Lee Suet Fern guilty of misconduct in handling founding PM Lee Kuan Yew’s last will“, wrote that Mrs Lee Suet Fern was found guilty of grossly improper professional conduct in her handling of the last will of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew by a Disciplinary Tribunal that was appointed by the Chief Justice, Sundaresh Menon.
The report highlighted how Mrs Lee is being described by the two-judge tribunal, as a “deceitful witness, who tailored her evidence to portray herself as an innocent victim who had been maligned” and how Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s conduct was “equally deceitful”.
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The house that is tearing the Lee family apart
The daughter-in-law of Singapore's founding father has been found guilty by a disciplinary tribunal of professional misconduct over involvement in preparing his will, which is at heart of a feud between the first family. The latest development in a long-running saga could sow further discord among the prime minister and his siblings - whose father Lee Kuan Yew co-founded the party which has ruled the island nation unbroken since independence - just as an election looms.
The feud centers around the fate of the old house of Singapore's first premier and the father of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. "I disagree with the disciplinary tribunal's report and will fight this strongly when it is heard in open court," said Lee Suet Fern, a lawyer who is married to the prime minister's younger brother. The brother, Lee Hsien Yang, and sister, Lee Wei Ling, want the house to eventually be demolished in accordance with what they said was their father's wishes in his will. But the prime minister has questioned whether his father really wanted the home, near bustling Orchard Road shopping district, to be knocked down.
The Attorney General's Chambers last year referred to the Law Society a case of "possible professional misconduct" over the involvement of Lee Suet Fern in the will as her husband was one of the beneficiaries. The tribunal in its findings last week said it found that the charges against her have been proven beyond reasonable doubt and there was cause for disciplinary action.
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Expressing her disgust over a report by the Sunday Times, Dr Lee Weiling posted on her Facebook page, saying: “I am appalled and disgusted by the The Sunday Times reports that seek to character assassinate my brother and his wife.”
The Strait Times’ Sunday newspaper report, “Disciplinary Tribunal finds Lee Suet Fern guilty of misconduct in handling founding PM Lee Kuan Yew’s last will“, wrote that Mrs Lee Suet Fern was found guilty of grossly improper professional conduct in her handling of the last will of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew by a Disciplinary Tribunal that was appointed by the Chief Justice, Sundaresh Menon.
The report highlighted how Mrs Lee is being described by the two-judge tribunal, as a “deceitful witness, who tailored her evidence to portray herself as an innocent victim who had been maligned” and how Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s conduct was “equally deceitful”.
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Lee Wei Ling calls Disciplinary Tribunal’s report on Lee Suet Fern “a travesty”
“The Disciplinary Tribunal’s report on the case referred by AG against Hsien Yang’s wife, in my view, is a travesty,” said Dr Lee Wei Ling after the findings were published in mainstream media earlier today (Feb 23).
Mrs Lee Suet Fern, her sister-in-law, has been found guilty by a Disciplinary Tribunal of grossly improper professional conduct in her handling of the last will of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Mrs Lee was described as a “deceitful witness, who tailored her evidence to portray herself as an innocent victim who had been maligned”.
The two-man tribunal appointed by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon released its report last week and in it called Mr Lee Hsien Yang “equally deceitful”, saying he lied to the public and the tribunal and tried to hide how he and his wife had misled Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling 8 hours ago
The Disciplinary Tribunal’s report on the case referred by AG against Hsien Yang’s wife, in my view, is a travesty. I am appalled and disgusted by the The Sunday Times reports that seek to character assassinate my brother and his wife.
This all is yet another attempt to rewrite history following on from the secret ministerial committee looking into Lee Kuan Yew’s Will and wishes for 38 Oxley Road. My father knew full well what he was doing. He was clear in his decision for the Will. Lee Kuan Yew on his own drafted an amendment to the Will (a codicil) and executed it 2 weeks later.
I continue to be ashamed at Hsien Loong’s disrespect for his father’s dying wish.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling says about LKY: “Of course he knew exactly what he was doing”
Lee Kuan Yew's daughter said that Mr Lee included the entire correspondence leading up to the signing which signalled finality on the matter of his will. "To think otherwise is daft,” she wrote
“After signing his final will in 2013, Lee Kuan Yew independently drafted and executed an amendment to the will (a codicil) which referenced the final will”, Dr Lee Wei Ling wrote, on her father – “Of course he knew exactly what he was doing”.
In a Facebook post yesterday (Mar 2), the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s daughter Dr Lee Wei Ling wrote that after her father added in his amendment to the Will, “Lee Kuan Yew then informed Kwa Kim Li, his lawyer, and his three children and daughters-in-law. He forwarded, through his PA, the entire correspondence relating to his signing of his final will, with a new heading – “Last Will & Testament & Codicil” –“
“This was the one and only occasion when my father wrote to Kwa Kim Li, his children and their spouses on his will in this manner”, she added.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling 20 hrs
After signing his final will in 2013, Lee Kuan Yew independently drafted and executed an amendment to the will (a codicil) which referenced the final will. Of course he knew exactly what he was doing.
Lee Kuan Yew then informed Kwa Kim Li, his lawyer, and his 3 children and daughters-in-law. He forwarded, through his PA, the entire correspondence relating to his signing of his final will, with a new heading - “Last Will & Testament & Codicil” -
“As instructed by Mr Lee, we will retain the original copy of Mr Lee’s last Will & Testament and Codicil in my office for safekeeping, and send a copy to Ms Kwa Kim Li for her record.”
This was the one and only occasion when my father wrote to Kwa Kim Li, his children and their spouses on his will in this manner. He included the entire correspondence leading up to the signing of the will. Through all this and the new heading, he signalled finality on the matter of his will. To think otherwise is daft.
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Dr Lee Weiling says “Papa knew what he was signing” in response to allegations that late LKY was rushed to sign final will
In contrast to the report findings by the Tribunal, Dr Lee wrote that her father, ” always been the man in charge, including for his final Will and Codicil.” “Hsien Loong and his AG [Attorney General] have suggested the process was rushed by my brother and/or his wife. But it was my father who dictated the timing” wrote Dr Lee and quoted her father saying, “OK. Do not wait for Kim Li. Engross and I will sign it before a solicitor in Fern’s office, or from any other office”.
Dr Lee claims in her Facebook post that her father had told her, himself that he wanted to revert to his 2011 will and was merely wanting a witness. “He wanted very prompt follow up and was indifferent where the lawyer came from.” wrote Dr Lee.
Dr Lee went on to highlighted how her father read every page, initialed on each page including below the demolition clause on both copies of the will and another time two weeks later. It was said that LKY then drafted and executed a codicil to the will which referenced the will. “Papa knew what he was signing, and any suggestion otherwise beggars belief.” wrote Dr Lee.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling 18 hrs
My father, Lee Kuan Yew, has always been the man in charge, including for his final Will and Codicil. Hsien Loong and his AG have suggested the process was rushed by my brother and/or his wife. But it was my father who dictated the timing:
LKY told me himself that he wanted to revert to his 2011 will and was merely wanting a witness. He wanted very prompt follow up and was indifferent where the lawyer came from.
Hsien Loong has also asserted on oath that "There is no evidence Mr Lee Kuan Yew even knew the demolition clause was re-inserted in the last will." There was incontrovertible evidence.
Lee Kuan Yew read every page, initialed on each page including below the demolition clause on both copies of the will. Some 2 weeks later, Lee Kuan Yew reread his will. He then drafted and executed a codicil to the will which referenced the will.
Papa knew what he was signing, and any suggestion otherwise beggars belief.
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Lee Hsien Yang 23 February at 04:16
For the record, this is my wife’s response to request for comments: “I disagree with the Disciplinary Tribunal’s report and will fight this strongly when it is heard in open court. Any member of the public can obtain the entire record of the closed-door proceedings of the Tribunal from the Law Society. I urge the public to look at these and come to their own independent conclusions.
My lawyers, Kenneth Tan, SC and Walter Woon, SC and Providence Law, delivered an outstanding and impressive defence. I am deeply grateful to them.”
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Lee Hsien Yang says he didn't stand to gain anything
Mr Lee Hsien Yang and Mrs Lee Suet Fern at the preview of We Built A Nation, an exhibition in 2015 at the National Museum of Singapore, where furniture and items from Mr Lee Kuan Yew's house were on display.PHOTO: ST FILE
Mr Lee Hsien Yang has responded to the findings by a disciplinary tribunal set up to examine the role played by his wife, lawyer Lee Suet Fern, over the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew's will.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Mr Lee said: "What in the world did I stand to gain out of my supposed elaborate deception?"
Yesterday, Mr Lee, the younger brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, added that no one had complained about the signing of the will before his father died. He also pointed out that the will had later been officially proven in court through the probate process after his father died in 2015.
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Lee Hsien Yang: What did I stand to gain?
Mr Lee Hsien Yang rejects accusations that he and his wife deceived his father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, over the latter's will. TNP FILE PHOTO
Mr Lee Hsien Yang yesterday asked rhetorically what he stood to gain in supposedly deceiving his father, Singapore's first prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, over the latter's will.
He was responding to the findings by a disciplinary tribunal set up to examine the role played by his wife, lawyer Lee Suet Fern, over the will. The tribunal found last week that the couple had misled the elder Mr Lee into hurriedly signing his will while he was frail and in ill health, and before he could be properly advised on it.
It also found that Mr Lee Hsien Yang had cut his father's usual lawyer, Ms Kwa Kim Li, out of communications on the last will.
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Lee Hsien Yang 16 hrs
What in the world did I stand to gain out of my supposed elaborate deception?
1. My brother Hsien Loong and the AG have alleged that I engineered, with my wife’s help, my father’s final will which gave his children equal shares in order to get a larger share of his Estate. In the course of the Disciplinary Tribunal, undisputed evidence was presented that LKY decided to revert to equal shares after discussions with his lawyer KKL, rebutting this. My wife and I played no part in his decision to revert to equal shares. Loong benefitted equally from this change.
2. Wei Ling had her right to live at Oxley Road reinstated, something that she wanted badly; and
3. My father, Wei Ling and I had been led to believe that the house had been gazetted and could therefore not be demolished. In 2013, LKY came to a view that the house would be “degazetted” and therefore discussed degazetting with his lawyer, KKL. If it were degazetted, his unwavering wish for the house to be demolished might be realisable. This wish, as everyone knows, mattered greatly to him and my mother.
No one complained after the signing of the will before LKY died. Probate ( proving in court) of the Will was obtained in 2015 on the urging of Loong and his then personal lawyer, Lucien Wong.
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Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss: Revision of LKY’s last will seems beneficial to Lee Hsien Loong and not Lee Hsien Yang
I have gotten a copy of the Disciplinary Tribunal (DT) Report which I am in the midst of reading.
Many things puzzle me. For instance, the DT said that Mrs Lee Suet Fern (LSF) “misled” late Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) into thinking that the Last Will was the 1st Will, when in fact the Last Will was not identical to the 1st Will.
However, it turns out that the Last Will differed from the 1st Will in only two ways:
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Dr Lee Weiling publishes email from Kwa Kim Li to the late LKY, alleges that Kwa lied about not being involved in preparing his Final Will
Dr Lee Weiling has come out with yet another explosive evidence supporting the allegations made by her and her brother Mr Lee Hsien Yang regarding their elder brother Mr Lee Hsien Loong’s purported deception in the drafting of their father Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s final will of 17 Dec 2013.
In a Facebook post on Tue (30 Apr), Dr Lee wrote that Mr LHL, who is also the Prime Minister of Singapore, has “repeatedly alleged” that her sister-in-law, Mrs Lee Suet Fern – who is the wife of Mr LHY – had “prepared and somehow got our father to sign a will in December 2013”.
She also alleged that Ms Kwa Kim Li of Lee & Lee, the niece of the late Mr Lee’s wife Ms Kwa Geok Choo, “has been lying” about not being involved in the events leading up to the preparation of the founding prime minister’s last will.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling 29 April 2019
My dishonourable brother Loong has repeatedly alleged that my sister-in-law, Yang’s wife, prepared and somehow got our father to sign a will in December 2013. Kwa Kim Li (KKL) of Lee & Lee has denied involvement in the events that led to this 2013 will. These are all falsehoods. KKL has been lying. She has also breached her duties to her client, my father.
Lee & Lee have always been lawyers for my father’s personal matters including all his wills, powers of attorney, and Advance Medical Directives including his affirmation in August 2014 of his AMD.
The truth is that my father had discussed the changes he wanted extensively with KKL before he signed his December 2013 will. From late November 2013 all the way till Friday 13 December 2013, my father had had discussions and exchanged emails with KKL of Lee & Lee on what he wanted in his will. These included discussions of his immediately prior will. The will my father signed on Tuesday 17 December 2013 reflected these prior discussions with his lawyer KKL. It was exactly what he wanted. It provided for equal shares for all the children, something he had agreed with our mother and all of us.
Here is one email proving my father discussed his December 2013 will with Kwa Kim Li. There are more.
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HEADLINES At the Heart of the Lee Suet Fern Saga: Was LKY Already a Dimwit Back in 2013?
A Law Society disciplinary tribunal has found Lee Suet Fern guilty of grossly improper professional conduct for role her in the preparation of her father-in-law Lee Kuan Yew’s last will.
What apparently lies at the heart of the disciplinary tribunal’s ruling is the question of whether Lee Kuan Yew, back in 2013 when he signed his last will, was a dimwit who had already lost his senses.
The blow-by-blow:
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Tribunal ruling against lawyer Lee Suet Fern: Law Society to apply for show-cause hearing
Mrs Lee Suet Fern could be fined, suspended or disbarred as a lawyer if the charges against her are made out.PHOTO: STAMFORD LAW
With a disciplinary tribunal (DT) finding prominent lawyer Lee Suet Fern guilty of grossly improper professional conduct, the next step is for the Law Society to apply for a show-cause hearing before a Court of Three Judges.
The tribunal had found Mrs Lee's actions were of sufficient gravity to refer the case to the court, which is the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers' misconduct. The Law Society, which filed the charges against Mrs Lee, has one month from Feb 18 - the day the tribunal issued its verdict - to make its application to the High Court.
Responding to queries, a Law Society spokesman said it could take at least six months from the date of filing for the Court of Three Judges to hear the case, based on experience.
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FamiLEE saga: What would LKY say?
The tribunal’s report on Mrs Lee Suet Fern’s role in the saga of the first Prime Minister’s last will makes for pretty sad reading. I was sad that the grand old man wasn’t around to set the record straight or to clarify the circumstances that led to him signing off on his seventh and final will. I was even sadder to think that the man might have been so frail and feeble to have been snookered by his own son and daughter-in-law to do something against his own judgment.
This was not the Lee Kuan Yew we knew.
The tribunal was scathing about what they called “an unsavoury tale’’ starring Mr Lee Hsien Yang and his wife: “Mr Lee, who was very frail and in poor health, was misled by the very people whom he trusted: his son, Mr LHY, and daughter-in-law, the respondent.
related : FamiLEE saga: What would LKY say? Part 2
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Lee Kuan Yew not some ‘ignorant feeble-minded dotard being fooled by a sharp lawyer’: Lee Suet Fern's defence submissions
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern on Sunday (Feb 23) objected to the findings of a disciplinary tribunal that found her guilty of grossly improper professional conduct when handling the last will of her father-in-law, Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
“I disagree with the Disciplinary Tribunal’s report and will fight this strongly when it is heard in open court," said Mrs Lee, 61, in a statement issued through her husband, Mr Lee Hsien Yang, the late Mr Lee’s youngest son.
Proceedings so far were dealt with behind closed doors, and the matter will now be referred to a Court of Three Judges – the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers’ misconduct – at the Supreme Court. In her statement, Mrs Lee noted that any member of the public can obtain the entire record of the tribunal's closed-door proceedings from the Law Society (LawSoc) and she urged the public to "look at these and come to their own independent conclusions”.
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Lee Kuan Yew impatient with incomplete task & knew what he was doing
They also argued that the tribunal, in finding Mrs Lee guilty, would be putting forward that LKY “did not understand his own will despite reading and re-reading (his will) not just once but several times”. But the Law Society had not made such a suggestion saying that LKY was not in full command of his faculties at the time he executed his last will, they pointed out.
“Indeed, anyone who has ever had dealings with Mr Lee Kuan Yew would find the very idea utterly laughable,” the lawyers stated. “Mr Lee Kuan Yew was a dominating character of sharp intellect who knew exactly what he wanted and was accustomed to having his instructions carried out without delay.”
The lawyers reiterated: “The situation here was that Mr Lee Kuan Yew was a sophisticated and shrewd individual with a starred double first in law from Cambridge University and experience of running a country for well over half a century. “He was not some ignorant feeble-minded dotard being fooled by a sharp lawyer.”
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Bertha Henson on LKY’s last will: “Everyone’s trying to second-guess a dead man”
Former senior Straits Times journalist Bertha Henson has blogged on the Disciplinary Tribunal report finding Mrs Lee Suet Fern, the wife of Mr Lee Hsien Yang, younger son of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, guilty of grossly improper professional conduct in handling LKY’s last will.
Henson writes: “So, really, what would LKY say? Everyone’s trying to second-guess a dead man,” as it is at this point impossible to determine what the original PM Lee wanted in his will. In the first of a two-part article entitled “FamiLEE saga: What would LKY say?” published on Feb 23 and 24, Henson said it made her sad that the country’s founding Prime Minister is no longer present to set the record straight concerning the circumstances surrounding the execution of his last will, which is the issue of contention at the centre of the matter.
She was made even sadder still “to think that the man might have been so frail and feeble to have been snookered by his own son and daughter-in-law to do something against his own judgment”, which is what the tribunal report says.
Henson writes: “This was not the Lee Kuan Yew we knew,” quoting the following passage from the report: “Mr Lee, who was very frail and in poor health, was misled by the very people whom he trusted: His son, Mr LHY, and daughter-in-law, the respondent.”
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Lee Kuan Yew knew what he wanted in will, Lee Suet Fern not acting as his lawyer: Defence in legal misconduct case
Lee Suet Fern was not acting as a lawyer in the preparation of Lee Kuan Yew’s final will, and Mr Lee knew what he wanted, which was to revert to a previous will distributing equal shares of his estate to his children. This was key to the arguments put forward by Mrs Lee’s lawyers in her defence at a disciplinary tribunal. Her legal team included former Attorney-General and Senior Counsel Walter Woon, Senior Counsel Kenneth Tan and a team from Providence Law led by Abraham Vergis.
Mrs Lee, who has been a lawyer for 37 years, was found guilty by the disciplinary tribunal of grossly improper misconduct in her handling of the late Mr Lee’s last will, in findings released last week. The tribunal ruled that she had failed to advance the interests of Mr Lee, who was her client in the preparation and execution of his final will dated December 2013, and that she failed to advise him to be independently advised.
The tribunal ruled that she had failed to advance the interests of Mr Lee, who was her client in the preparation and execution of his final will dated December 2013, and that she failed to advise him to be independently advised.
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According To The Disciplinary Tribunal, LKY Not Lucid Enough By December 2013, So Why Was He Still An MP?
If we follow closely the Disciplinary Tribunal's findings, it would mean that LKY was not lucid enough to fully understand and comprehend the contents and implications of a 4-page will in 2013. If that were actually true, it does raise the question of how he was allowed to serve as the MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC. History would show that LKY remained an MP for Tanjong Pagar until his very last days in March 2015. So that does mean that for at least one whole year, he went with the title of an MP without the capacity to understand what was happening around him by then. That is the logic the Disciplinary Tribunal is painting.
LKY will never lose the respect his past contributions to Singapore has afforded him, heck, Singapore would be nothing without him. But this is a very serious question that needed to be asked. It is honestly concerning if we have active Members of Parliament who cannot comprehend and understand a simple 4-page will. There are no two ways about it. LKY was either lucid enough to know what he was doing or he should not have served as an MP. If he was lucid, then Lee Suet Fern did nothing wrong. If he truly wasn't lucid, then he should not have been allowed to continue as an MP.
Also, if LKY was not lucid, why did he voluntarily make a codicil to the Will some time after signing it? If he was truly misled, wouldn't he have revoked the Will? The facts are there for all Singaporeans to mull over. Let's just see who is trying to mislead who in this family saga. After all, trying to get one's way in a family feud by using the State's resources always ensures you have a better chance of winning. History is written by those in power.
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Lawyer Lee Suet Fern disagrees with tribunal's report, will 'fight this strongly' in open court
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern added that any member of the public can obtain the entire record of the closed-door proceedings of the tribunal from the Law Society.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern has responded to a tribunal that found her guilty of misconduct in the handling of late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's will, saying that she disagrees with its report and intends to "fight this strongly when it is heard in open court".
She added that any member of the public can obtain the entire record of the closed-door proceedings of the tribunal from the Law Society.
"I urge the public to look at these and come to their own independent conclusions," she added.
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Disciplinary Tribunal finds Lee Suet Fern guilty of misconduct in handling founding PM Lee Kuan Yew's last will
A Disciplinary Tribunal has found prominent lawyer Lee Suet Fern guilty of grossly improper professional conduct in her handling of the last will of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founding prime minister.
Her actions were of sufficient gravity that the matter will be referred to the Court of Three Judges, the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers' misconduct.
If found guilty, Mrs Lee, 61, the wife of Mr Lee's younger son Hsien Yang, could face a fine, suspension or could be disbarred as a lawyer.
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Singapore founder Lee Kuan Yew’s daughter-in-law vows to fight tribunal ruling on will
The main difference between the penultimate will drafted by Kwa and the final one was how the former did not include a demolition clause for the late prime minister’s bungalow, more widely known as 38 Oxley Road. Lee Kuan Yew had also bequeathed a larger share of his estate to his daughter, Lee Wei Ling, in the earlier version.
Former Attorney General Walter Woon, who represents Lee Suet Fern alongside Senior Counsel Kenneth Tan and lawyer Abraham Vergis among others, said in his submissions that the argument that Lee Suet Fern and Lee Hsien Yang had deliberately cut Kwa out of the conversation to execute his last will was “totally implausible”. Woon pointed out that the couple had sent a copy of the draft will to Kwa, and told her after the will was signed.
“If there were any irregularities, they would have been exposed practically immediately,” Woon said. The tribunal also described Lee Suet Fern as a “deceitful witness, who tailored her evidence to portray herself as an innocent victim who had been maligned”. It added that the conduct of her husband, who testified as a witness, was “equally deceitful”.
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Family furore over Singapore founder's will deepens further
The tribunal in its findings last week, seen by Reuters, said it found that the charges against her have been proven beyond reasonable doubt and there was cause for disciplinary action. It said that even if she had not been the senior Lee's lawyer, she misled him, and procured his execution of the will on the basis of misrepresentations.
In her defence, her lawyers said Lee Kuan Yew was never her client and she was not instructed by him in relation to the will. She was merely assisting in a family matter at the request of her husband, they added.
Her case will be referred to the Court of Three Judges, the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers' misconduct, and she could face a fine, suspension or be disbarred as a lawyer, newspaper Straits Times reported. Her husband, Lee Hsien Yang, did not comment directly on the ruling, but shared his sister's Facebook post on Sunday that criticised the decision.
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How founding PM Lee Kuan Yew's last will was executed in 16 hours
In a photo taken on Aug 6, 2013, former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew speaks at the book launch of One Man's View Of The World.PHOTO: ST FILE
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern has been found guilty by a disciplinary tribunal of grossly improper professional conduct in her handling of the last will of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister and her father-in-law.
Her case will be referred to the Court of Three Judges, the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers' misconduct, and she could face a fine, suspension or be disbarred as a lawyer.
Here's a look at how the will was executed in 16 hours. The wills were executed on:
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Family furore over Singapore founder’s will deepens after tribunal ruling
In her defence, her lawyers said Lee Kuan Yew was never her client and she was not instructed by him concerning the will. She was merely assisting in a family matter at the request of her husband, they added.
Her case will be referred to the Court of Three Judges, the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers’ misconduct, and she could face a fine, suspension or be disbarred as a lawyer, newspaper Straits Times reported.
Her husband, Lee Hsien Yang, did not comment directly on the ruling but shared his sister’s Facebook post today that criticised the decision.
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Lee Kuan Yew Knew Exactly What He Wanted, Anyone Else Dare Say Otherwise?
What ST missed out on its 3 page report. Judge for yourself the merits of the Tribunals' verdict. ‘Lee Kuan Yew knew exactly what he wanted’
The late Lee Kuan Yew was Singapore's Prime Minister from 1965 to 1990. Lee Suet Fern was represented by Senior Counsels Kenneth Tan and Walter Woon, lawyer Abraham Vergis and two others from Providence Law.
The mother of three denied being Lee’s lawyer and rejected the assertion of an implied retainer. She also argued that if she was in a position of conflict of interest, her father-in-law was fully aware and chose to proceed.
In submissions to the tribunal, Woon described the Law Society’s argument – that Suet Fern and Hsien Yang deliberately cut Kwa Kim Li out and got Lee to execute his last will in her absence, and misleading him as to its contents – as being “totally implausible”.
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Disciplinary Tribunal's report on conduct of lawyer Lee Suet Fern addresses some troubling issues
The Disciplinary Tribunal's findings on the conduct of lawyer Lee Suet Fern makes plain its conclusions on several key questions concerning the drafting and signing of the last will of her father-in-law, Mr Lee Kuan Yew - and over his wishes regarding his 38 Oxley Road home.
The tribunal, in its report released last Tuesday, established that the late Mr Lee was misled by Mrs Lee Suet Fern and his son Lee Hsien Yang, who rushed him through changes to his last will, on a number of items.
Many of these questions had been raised in mid-2017, when the feud between the children of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew spilt over into the public sphere, causing much consternation throughout the country.
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Lawyer Lee Suet Fern was a 'deceitful' witness who lied: Disciplinary Tribunal
The two-man tribunal appointed by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon described Mrs Lee as a "deceitful witness, who tailored her evidence to portray herself as an innocent victim who had been maligned".
This was a "facade", the tribunal said. "Before us, she lied or became evasive whenever she thought it was to her benefit to lie or evade." Mr Lee Hsien Yang's conduct was "equally deceitful", the tribunal said in its 206-page report released last week. "He tried to hide how he and his wife had misled his own father, Mr Lee, on the last will. He had no qualms about making up evidence as he went along. We found him to be cynical about telling the truth."
The matter centres on the role Mrs Lee played in the preparation and execution of Mr Lee's last will signed on Dec 17, 2013.
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Lee Suet Fern rejects tribunal's ruling against her
The tribunal said the facts exposed an "unsavoury tale" of how the couple persuaded the late Mr Lee to sign a new will without his usual lawyer, Ms Kwa Kim Li, to advise him. "They cut off that lawyer from communications with Mr Lee on the last will, and rushed through the execution of the last will, in her absence," the report said.
Mrs Lee took over as the lawyer to prepare the last will and "misled Mr Lee on the terms of the last will". The tribunal said Mr Lee was persuaded to sign the last will in a matter of 16 hours. Mrs Lee had sent a draft of it to him at 7.08pm on Dec 16, 2013. He signed it at 11.10am the next day. The last will differed from the one before it, and from some changes that Mr Lee had wanted and discussed with Ms Kwa four days earlier.
Mrs Lee, the tribunal said, "gave the briefest of advice to Mr Lee, and did not alert Mr Lee to all the differences between what Mr Lee had earlier wanted and what the last will actually provided for".
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Tribunal finds Lee Suet Fern guilty of misconduct in handling LKY’s last will: netizens respond
The online community continues to share its perspectives on the recent tribunal report which found Lee Suet Fern and Lee Hsien Yang guilty of improper professional conduct and deceit in handling Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s last will.
The two-person disciplinary tribunal appointed by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon has found Mr Lee Hsien Yang and wife Lee Suet Fern guilty of misleading and deceiving founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew on the preparation and execution of his last will.
The report findings were published and made headlines on mainstream media on February 23, Sunday.
Concerned citizens from the online community have thus expressed their opinions on the matter, with many on opposing sides.
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Family furore over S'pore's founder's will deepens after tribunal ruling
The Attorney-General’s Chambers had last year referred to the Law Society a case of “possible professional misconduct” over the involvement of Lee Suet Fern in the will as her husband was one of the beneficiaries.
The tribunal in its findings last week, seen by Reuters, said it found that the charges against her have been proven beyond reasonable doubt and there was cause for disciplinary action.
It said that even if she had not been the senior Lee’s lawyer, she misled him, and procured his execution of the will based on misrepresentations
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Explainer: What disciplinary tribunal says about Lee Suet Fern’s involvement in Lee Kuan Yew’s final will
The fate of Mr Lee Kuan Yew's home at 38 Oxley Road has been the centre of a dispute between his children — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang
A disciplinary tribunal has found that prominent lawyer Lee Suet Fern, along with her husband, Mr Lee Hsien Yang, had “misled” a frail and ailing Lee Kuan Yew into signing his last will, which was prepared 15 months before his death.
Describing the couple as "deceitful" and "dishonest", the strongly worded 206-page tribunal report obtained by TODAY stated that the late Mr Lee was “persuaded” into signing the last will within 16 hours.
It added that Mrs Lee, 61, gave the “briefest of advice” to all the differences between what Mr Lee had earlier wanted and the final will that he signed, although they were “very different”. The tribunal found that Mrs Lee's misconduct was grave enough to strike her off the rolls as a lawyer.
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Lee Wei Ling posts email proving LKY’s will was made by Kwa Kim Li
Dr Lee Wei Ling is accusing lawyer Kwa Kim Li of lying and said that the lawyer has “breached her duties to her client, my father.”
In the latest development of the Lee Family Saga, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, posted on her Facebook account on Tuesday morning, April 30, that their father former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s lawyer had lied about the making of his will, which has not only been an issue of contention within the family, but has also become a legal issue before the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC). She also posted email as proof.
In her post, Dr Lee calls PM Lee her “dishonourable brother” who “has repeatedly alleged that my sister-in-law, Yang’s wife, prepared and somehow got our father to sign a will in December 2013.” She also accuses lawyer Kwa Kim Li of lying and having “breached her duties to her client, my father.”
Ms Kwa has denied having been involved in the events that led to the preparation of Lee Kuan Yew’s will in 2013.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling 12 hrs
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Full Coverage:
Parliament finds no evidence of abuse of power in family spat: PM
Lee Hsien Yang questions AGC’s motives in referring wife’s case to Law Society
Misleading to say LKY 'accepted' alternatives to demolition of Oxley Road home
The late Mr Lee was misled by Mrs Lee Suet Fern and his son Lee Hsien Yang
‘Not necessary’ to set out committee’s views on validity of Lee Kuan Yew’s Last Will
Tribunal says about Lee Suet Fern’s involvement in Lee Kuan Yew’s final will
LHY query AGC no legal action against foreign media while his son face prosecution
LKY’s last will: Lee Suet Fern disagrees with Disciplinary Tribunal’s report
Lee Suet Fern found guilty of misconduct over handling of LKY’s final will
Mrs Lee responded to the tribunal decision, vowing to fight it in court
Queries arise over role of Lee Suet Fern, drafting of Last Will
LKY not some 'ignorant feeble-minded dotard being fooled by a sharp lawyer'
Lee Suet Fern found guilty of misconduct over handling of Lee Kuan Yew's final will
Tribunal finds Lee Suet Fern guilty of professional misconduct in handling LKY's will
Lee Suet Fern disagrees with tribunal's report, will 'fight this strongly' in open court
Bertha Henson on LKY's last will: “Everyone's trying to second-guess a dead man”
Lee Suet Fern guilty of misconduct in handling LKY's last will: netizens respond
LKY knew what he wanted in will, Lee Suet Fern not acting as his lawyer
LKY's last will: Lee Suet Fern disagrees with Disciplinary Tribunal's report
Lee Suet Fern vows to fight misconduct ruling over Lee Kuan Yew's will
Disciplinary tribunal says about Lee Suet Fern's involvement in LKY's final will
Singapore founder’s daughter-in-law vows to fight tribunal ruling on will
Lee family feud hots up
What disciplinary tribunal says about Lee Suet Fern’s involvement in LKY’s final will
Family furore over Singapore founder's will deepens further
Tribunal's on conduct of lawyer Lee Suet Fern addresses some troubling issues
Lee Wei Ling calls Disciplinary Tribunal's report on Lee Suet Fern “a travesty”
Tribunal finds 'deceitful' Lee Suet Fern misconduct in handling of LKY's final will
Tribunal finds Lee Suet Fern guilty of misconduct in handling LKYs last will
LKY's last will: Lawyer Lee Suet Fern guilty of improper professional conduct
Lee Suet Fern found guilty of misconduct in handling fLKYs last will
Lee Weiling" ashamed at Hsien Loong's disrespect for his father's dying wish"
How founding PM Lee Kuan Yew's last will was executed in 16 hours
Lee Hsien Yang: Statements were not sworn ones, so need not be accurate
Family furore over S'pore's founder's will deepens after tribunal ruling
LKY not some ‘ignorant feeble-minded dotard being fooled by a sharp lawyer’
Family furore over Singapore founder's will deepens after tribunal ruling
Earlier, in February this year, a disciplinary tribunal had found her guilty of "grossly improper conduct", and yesterday, the Law Society asked a Court of Three Judges to uphold the finding.
Singapore's Law Society yesterday set out its arguments on why senior lawyer Lee Suet Fern should be disbarred over her handling of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's will, saying she had been involved in its preparation and execution despite knowing her husband stood to gain from it.
It also said the lawyer of 37 years had hurried her father-in-law through the process of signing it without the advice of his usual lawyer, who had prepared his earlier wills.
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Court reserves judgement on whether Lee Suet Fern should be sanctioned for role in Lee Kuan Yew's final will
Judges presiding over Mrs Lee Suet Fern's disciplinary hearing on Thursday (Aug 13) focused their attention on a particular rule — that a lawyer shall not act for a client who intends to make a significant gift by will to any member of her family — in questioning her defence that it would have been hard for her to say no to Lee Kuan Yew.
The Court of Three Judges — the highest disciplinary body in dealing with lawyers’ misconduct — was deliberating whether Mrs Lee, 62, who is the wife of Mr Lee Hsien Yang, the late Lee Kuan Yew's younger son, should be struck off the rolls.
The Law Society is arguing that she should, based on the 206-page findings of a disciplinary tribunal in February. It found that Mrs Lee, a senior lawyer of 37 years, had “misled” a frail and ailing Lee Kuan Yew into signing his last will.
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Allegation of abuse of Power
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Explainer: Why are Singapore's first family feuding?
A public rift between the heirs of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s modern day founder, has shot to the fore with the prospect of his two sons squaring off at a July 10 general election.
Lee Hsien Yang on Wednesday formally joined a new opposition party competing against his brother Lee Hsien Loong’s People’s Action Party, which has ruled the city-state since its independence since 1965.
The move comes amid a long-standing and bitter dispute between the siblings centred around what to do with their late father’s house - demolish it, or let the government decide whether to make it a heritage landmark.
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The younger Lee siblings rehash family feud three years later
The two younger Lee siblings Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang took to social media to rehash a family feud spanning more than five years.
She made reference to a document published three years ago on June 14, 2017, undersigned by both herself and younger brother Lee Hsien Yang.
“A public statement by Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang: We have no confidence in PM Lee Hsien Loong and are worried about Singapore’s future”, they titled the document.
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Prime Minister Lee's siblings denounce him in statement, state misuse of his position and influence over Singapore government
Siblings of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang have issued a public statement to express their non confidence in PM Lee Hsien Loong and wrote that they are worried about Singapore’s future in his hands.
The statement that was posted online by Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang who are also the younger children of Singapore’s founding prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew issued a harsh criticism of the current Prime Minister, saying that they are disturbed by the character, conduct, motives and leadership of their brother, Lee Hsien Loong, and the role of his wife, Ho Ching.
Lee Hsieng Yang and his eldest son, Li Shengwu both carried the statement on their Facebook posts as well. Lee Kuan Yew served as Singapore’s prime minister from 1959 to 1990. Lee Hsien Loong is Singapore’s current prime minister. Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang are also the executors and trustees of Lee Kuan Yew’s estate; PM Lee Hsien Loong was removed from the will in 2011.
Both stated that they feel extremely sad that they are pushed to this position.
It is stated in the statement:
“We have seen a completely different face to our brother Hsien Loong, one that deeply troubles us. Since the passing of Lee Kuan Yew, on 23 March 2015, we have felt threatened by Hsien Loong’s misuse of his position and influence over the Singapore government to drive his personal agenda. We are concerned that the system has few checks and balances to prevent the abuse of government. We feel big brother omnipresent. We fear the use of the organs of state against us and Hsien Yang’s wife, Suet Fern.”
The siblings said that as PM Lee is prepared to act thus against his younger sister and brother, both contributing members of Singapore’s establishment, to advance his personal agenda, they worry for Singapore.
Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang take to Facebook to denounce Lee Hsien Loong again
Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang both took to social media once again to publicly denounce their older brother, Lee Hsien Loong.
In a Facebook post, Dr Lee Wei Ling shared a photo of herself and Lee Hsien Yang when they were children. She wrote: “On 14 Jun 2017 Yang and I made public our concerns in a Facebook post entitled “What has happened to Lee Kuan Yew’s Values?”
Dr Lee continued: “We stated that “We do not trust Hsien Loong as a brother or as a leader. We have lost confidence in him.” “Events since then have only served to reinforce our view”, she wrote.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling 23 hrs
On 14 Jun 2017 Yang and I made public our concerns in a Facebook post entitled “What has happened to Lee Kuan Yew’s Values?” We stated that “We do not trust Hsien Loong as a brother or as a leader. We have lost confidence in him.”
Events since then have only served to reinforce our view.
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Lee Weiling: “I continue to be ashamed at Hsien Loong’s disrespect for his father’s dying wish”
Dr Lee referred to the report by the Disciplinary Tribunal report on Mrs Lee as “a travesty”
Expressing her disgust over a report by the Sunday Times, Dr Lee Weiling posted on her Facebook page, saying: “I am appalled and disgusted by the The Sunday Times reports that seek to character assassinate my brother and his wife.”
The Strait Times’ Sunday newspaper report, “Disciplinary Tribunal finds Lee Suet Fern guilty of misconduct in handling founding PM Lee Kuan Yew’s last will“, wrote that Mrs Lee Suet Fern was found guilty of grossly improper professional conduct in her handling of the last will of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew by a Disciplinary Tribunal that was appointed by the Chief Justice, Sundaresh Menon.
The report highlighted how Mrs Lee is being described by the two-judge tribunal, as a “deceitful witness, who tailored her evidence to portray herself as an innocent victim who had been maligned” and how Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s conduct was “equally deceitful”.
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The house that is tearing the Lee family apart
The daughter-in-law of Singapore's founding father has been found guilty by a disciplinary tribunal of professional misconduct over involvement in preparing his will, which is at heart of a feud between the first family. The latest development in a long-running saga could sow further discord among the prime minister and his siblings - whose father Lee Kuan Yew co-founded the party which has ruled the island nation unbroken since independence - just as an election looms.
The feud centers around the fate of the old house of Singapore's first premier and the father of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. "I disagree with the disciplinary tribunal's report and will fight this strongly when it is heard in open court," said Lee Suet Fern, a lawyer who is married to the prime minister's younger brother. The brother, Lee Hsien Yang, and sister, Lee Wei Ling, want the house to eventually be demolished in accordance with what they said was their father's wishes in his will. But the prime minister has questioned whether his father really wanted the home, near bustling Orchard Road shopping district, to be knocked down.
The Attorney General's Chambers last year referred to the Law Society a case of "possible professional misconduct" over the involvement of Lee Suet Fern in the will as her husband was one of the beneficiaries. The tribunal in its findings last week said it found that the charges against her have been proven beyond reasonable doubt and there was cause for disciplinary action.
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Lee Weiling: “I continue to be ashamed at Hsien Loong’s disrespect for his father’s dying wish”
Dr Lee referred to the report by the Disciplinary Tribunal report on Mrs Lee as “a travesty”
Expressing her disgust over a report by the Sunday Times, Dr Lee Weiling posted on her Facebook page, saying: “I am appalled and disgusted by the The Sunday Times reports that seek to character assassinate my brother and his wife.”
The Strait Times’ Sunday newspaper report, “Disciplinary Tribunal finds Lee Suet Fern guilty of misconduct in handling founding PM Lee Kuan Yew’s last will“, wrote that Mrs Lee Suet Fern was found guilty of grossly improper professional conduct in her handling of the last will of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew by a Disciplinary Tribunal that was appointed by the Chief Justice, Sundaresh Menon.
The report highlighted how Mrs Lee is being described by the two-judge tribunal, as a “deceitful witness, who tailored her evidence to portray herself as an innocent victim who had been maligned” and how Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s conduct was “equally deceitful”.
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Lee Wei Ling calls Disciplinary Tribunal’s report on Lee Suet Fern “a travesty”
“The Disciplinary Tribunal’s report on the case referred by AG against Hsien Yang’s wife, in my view, is a travesty,” said Dr Lee Wei Ling after the findings were published in mainstream media earlier today (Feb 23).
Mrs Lee Suet Fern, her sister-in-law, has been found guilty by a Disciplinary Tribunal of grossly improper professional conduct in her handling of the last will of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Mrs Lee was described as a “deceitful witness, who tailored her evidence to portray herself as an innocent victim who had been maligned”.
The two-man tribunal appointed by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon released its report last week and in it called Mr Lee Hsien Yang “equally deceitful”, saying he lied to the public and the tribunal and tried to hide how he and his wife had misled Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling 8 hours ago
The Disciplinary Tribunal’s report on the case referred by AG against Hsien Yang’s wife, in my view, is a travesty. I am appalled and disgusted by the The Sunday Times reports that seek to character assassinate my brother and his wife.
This all is yet another attempt to rewrite history following on from the secret ministerial committee looking into Lee Kuan Yew’s Will and wishes for 38 Oxley Road. My father knew full well what he was doing. He was clear in his decision for the Will. Lee Kuan Yew on his own drafted an amendment to the Will (a codicil) and executed it 2 weeks later.
I continue to be ashamed at Hsien Loong’s disrespect for his father’s dying wish.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling says about LKY: “Of course he knew exactly what he was doing”
“After signing his final will in 2013, Lee Kuan Yew independently drafted and executed an amendment to the will (a codicil) which referenced the final will”, Dr Lee Wei Ling wrote, on her father – “Of course he knew exactly what he was doing”.
In a Facebook post yesterday (Mar 2), the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s daughter Dr Lee Wei Ling wrote that after her father added in his amendment to the Will, “Lee Kuan Yew then informed Kwa Kim Li, his lawyer, and his three children and daughters-in-law. He forwarded, through his PA, the entire correspondence relating to his signing of his final will, with a new heading – “Last Will & Testament & Codicil” –“
“This was the one and only occasion when my father wrote to Kwa Kim Li, his children and their spouses on his will in this manner”, she added.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling 20 hrs
After signing his final will in 2013, Lee Kuan Yew independently drafted and executed an amendment to the will (a codicil) which referenced the final will. Of course he knew exactly what he was doing.
Lee Kuan Yew then informed Kwa Kim Li, his lawyer, and his 3 children and daughters-in-law. He forwarded, through his PA, the entire correspondence relating to his signing of his final will, with a new heading - “Last Will & Testament & Codicil” -
“As instructed by Mr Lee, we will retain the original copy of Mr Lee’s last Will & Testament and Codicil in my office for safekeeping, and send a copy to Ms Kwa Kim Li for her record.”
This was the one and only occasion when my father wrote to Kwa Kim Li, his children and their spouses on his will in this manner. He included the entire correspondence leading up to the signing of the will. Through all this and the new heading, he signalled finality on the matter of his will. To think otherwise is daft.
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Dr Lee Weiling says “Papa knew what he was signing” in response to allegations that late LKY was rushed to sign final will
In contrast to the report findings by the Tribunal, Dr Lee wrote that her father, ” always been the man in charge, including for his final Will and Codicil.” “Hsien Loong and his AG [Attorney General] have suggested the process was rushed by my brother and/or his wife. But it was my father who dictated the timing” wrote Dr Lee and quoted her father saying, “OK. Do not wait for Kim Li. Engross and I will sign it before a solicitor in Fern’s office, or from any other office”.
Dr Lee claims in her Facebook post that her father had told her, himself that he wanted to revert to his 2011 will and was merely wanting a witness. “He wanted very prompt follow up and was indifferent where the lawyer came from.” wrote Dr Lee.
Dr Lee went on to highlighted how her father read every page, initialed on each page including below the demolition clause on both copies of the will and another time two weeks later. It was said that LKY then drafted and executed a codicil to the will which referenced the will. “Papa knew what he was signing, and any suggestion otherwise beggars belief.” wrote Dr Lee.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling 18 hrs
My father, Lee Kuan Yew, has always been the man in charge, including for his final Will and Codicil. Hsien Loong and his AG have suggested the process was rushed by my brother and/or his wife. But it was my father who dictated the timing:
“OK. Do not wait for Kim Li. Engross and I will sign it before a solicitor in Fern’s office, or from any other office”
LKY told me himself that he wanted to revert to his 2011 will and was merely wanting a witness. He wanted very prompt follow up and was indifferent where the lawyer came from.
Hsien Loong has also asserted on oath that "There is no evidence Mr Lee Kuan Yew even knew the demolition clause was re-inserted in the last will." There was incontrovertible evidence.
Lee Kuan Yew read every page, initialed on each page including below the demolition clause on both copies of the will. Some 2 weeks later, Lee Kuan Yew reread his will. He then drafted and executed a codicil to the will which referenced the will.
Papa knew what he was signing, and any suggestion otherwise beggars belief.
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Lee Hsien Yang 23 February at 04:16
For the record, this is my wife’s response to request for comments: “I disagree with the Disciplinary Tribunal’s report and will fight this strongly when it is heard in open court. Any member of the public can obtain the entire record of the closed-door proceedings of the Tribunal from the Law Society. I urge the public to look at these and come to their own independent conclusions.
My lawyers, Kenneth Tan, SC and Walter Woon, SC and Providence Law, delivered an outstanding and impressive defence. I am deeply grateful to them.”
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Lee Hsien Yang says he didn't stand to gain anything
Mr Lee Hsien Yang has responded to the findings by a disciplinary tribunal set up to examine the role played by his wife, lawyer Lee Suet Fern, over the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew's will.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Mr Lee said: "What in the world did I stand to gain out of my supposed elaborate deception?"
Yesterday, Mr Lee, the younger brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, added that no one had complained about the signing of the will before his father died. He also pointed out that the will had later been officially proven in court through the probate process after his father died in 2015.
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Lee Hsien Yang: What did I stand to gain?
Mr Lee Hsien Yang yesterday asked rhetorically what he stood to gain in supposedly deceiving his father, Singapore's first prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, over the latter's will.
He was responding to the findings by a disciplinary tribunal set up to examine the role played by his wife, lawyer Lee Suet Fern, over the will. The tribunal found last week that the couple had misled the elder Mr Lee into hurriedly signing his will while he was frail and in ill health, and before he could be properly advised on it.
It also found that Mr Lee Hsien Yang had cut his father's usual lawyer, Ms Kwa Kim Li, out of communications on the last will.
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Lee Hsien Yang 16 hrs
What in the world did I stand to gain out of my supposed elaborate deception?
1. My brother Hsien Loong and the AG have alleged that I engineered, with my wife’s help, my father’s final will which gave his children equal shares in order to get a larger share of his Estate. In the course of the Disciplinary Tribunal, undisputed evidence was presented that LKY decided to revert to equal shares after discussions with his lawyer KKL, rebutting this. My wife and I played no part in his decision to revert to equal shares. Loong benefitted equally from this change.
2. Wei Ling had her right to live at Oxley Road reinstated, something that she wanted badly; and
3. My father, Wei Ling and I had been led to believe that the house had been gazetted and could therefore not be demolished. In 2013, LKY came to a view that the house would be “degazetted” and therefore discussed degazetting with his lawyer, KKL. If it were degazetted, his unwavering wish for the house to be demolished might be realisable. This wish, as everyone knows, mattered greatly to him and my mother.
No one complained after the signing of the will before LKY died. Probate ( proving in court) of the Will was obtained in 2015 on the urging of Loong and his then personal lawyer, Lucien Wong.
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Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss: Revision of LKY’s last will seems beneficial to Lee Hsien Loong and not Lee Hsien Yang
I have gotten a copy of the Disciplinary Tribunal (DT) Report which I am in the midst of reading.
Many things puzzle me. For instance, the DT said that Mrs Lee Suet Fern (LSF) “misled” late Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) into thinking that the Last Will was the 1st Will, when in fact the Last Will was not identical to the 1st Will.
However, it turns out that the Last Will differed from the 1st Will in only two ways:
- Firstly, the 1st Will had a Gift Over Clause i.e. a clause which provided for the scenario when any of LKY’s children predeceased him; but the Last Will did not contain any Gift Over Clause. In fact, all of LKY’s previous Wills consistently had the Gift Over Clause (the 3rd Will had a different form of the clause) — but the Last Will curiously omits the Gift Over Clause altogether.
- Secondly, the 1st Will had a proviso allowing Dr Lee Weiling (LWL) to live in 38 Oxley “for so long as she desires free of rent” and that Lee Hsien Loong (LHL) “shall pay for the maintenance and upkeep of 38 Oxley Road when (LWL) is in occupation thereof”. The Last Will also had the proviso allowing LWL to live in 38 Oxley “for so long as she desires” — but the words “free of rent” and that LHL “shall pay for the maintenance and upkeep of 38 Oxley Road when (LWL) is in occupation thereof” were curiously omitted from the Last Will.
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Dr Lee Weiling publishes email from Kwa Kim Li to the late LKY, alleges that Kwa lied about not being involved in preparing his Final Will
Dr Lee Weiling has come out with yet another explosive evidence supporting the allegations made by her and her brother Mr Lee Hsien Yang regarding their elder brother Mr Lee Hsien Loong’s purported deception in the drafting of their father Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s final will of 17 Dec 2013.
In a Facebook post on Tue (30 Apr), Dr Lee wrote that Mr LHL, who is also the Prime Minister of Singapore, has “repeatedly alleged” that her sister-in-law, Mrs Lee Suet Fern – who is the wife of Mr LHY – had “prepared and somehow got our father to sign a will in December 2013”.
She also alleged that Ms Kwa Kim Li of Lee & Lee, the niece of the late Mr Lee’s wife Ms Kwa Geok Choo, “has been lying” about not being involved in the events leading up to the preparation of the founding prime minister’s last will.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling 29 April 2019
My dishonourable brother Loong has repeatedly alleged that my sister-in-law, Yang’s wife, prepared and somehow got our father to sign a will in December 2013. Kwa Kim Li (KKL) of Lee & Lee has denied involvement in the events that led to this 2013 will. These are all falsehoods. KKL has been lying. She has also breached her duties to her client, my father.
Lee & Lee have always been lawyers for my father’s personal matters including all his wills, powers of attorney, and Advance Medical Directives including his affirmation in August 2014 of his AMD.
The truth is that my father had discussed the changes he wanted extensively with KKL before he signed his December 2013 will. From late November 2013 all the way till Friday 13 December 2013, my father had had discussions and exchanged emails with KKL of Lee & Lee on what he wanted in his will. These included discussions of his immediately prior will. The will my father signed on Tuesday 17 December 2013 reflected these prior discussions with his lawyer KKL. It was exactly what he wanted. It provided for equal shares for all the children, something he had agreed with our mother and all of us.
Here is one email proving my father discussed his December 2013 will with Kwa Kim Li. There are more.
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HEADLINES At the Heart of the Lee Suet Fern Saga: Was LKY Already a Dimwit Back in 2013?
A Law Society disciplinary tribunal has found Lee Suet Fern guilty of grossly improper professional conduct for role her in the preparation of her father-in-law Lee Kuan Yew’s last will.
What apparently lies at the heart of the disciplinary tribunal’s ruling is the question of whether Lee Kuan Yew, back in 2013 when he signed his last will, was a dimwit who had already lost his senses.
The blow-by-blow:
- Was Lee Kuan Yew’s mind ticking right when he asked to change his will?
- Did Lee Kuan Yew independently change the terms of his will?
- Did Lee Kuan Yew understand the terms stated in the last will that he had signed?
- Was Lee Suet Fern trying to hoodwink LKY to benefit her family?
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Tribunal ruling against lawyer Lee Suet Fern: Law Society to apply for show-cause hearing
With a disciplinary tribunal (DT) finding prominent lawyer Lee Suet Fern guilty of grossly improper professional conduct, the next step is for the Law Society to apply for a show-cause hearing before a Court of Three Judges.
The tribunal had found Mrs Lee's actions were of sufficient gravity to refer the case to the court, which is the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers' misconduct. The Law Society, which filed the charges against Mrs Lee, has one month from Feb 18 - the day the tribunal issued its verdict - to make its application to the High Court.
Responding to queries, a Law Society spokesman said it could take at least six months from the date of filing for the Court of Three Judges to hear the case, based on experience.
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FamiLEE saga: What would LKY say?
The tribunal’s report on Mrs Lee Suet Fern’s role in the saga of the first Prime Minister’s last will makes for pretty sad reading. I was sad that the grand old man wasn’t around to set the record straight or to clarify the circumstances that led to him signing off on his seventh and final will. I was even sadder to think that the man might have been so frail and feeble to have been snookered by his own son and daughter-in-law to do something against his own judgment.
This was not the Lee Kuan Yew we knew.
The tribunal was scathing about what they called “an unsavoury tale’’ starring Mr Lee Hsien Yang and his wife: “Mr Lee, who was very frail and in poor health, was misled by the very people whom he trusted: his son, Mr LHY, and daughter-in-law, the respondent.
related : FamiLEE saga: What would LKY say? Part 2
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Lee Kuan Yew not some ‘ignorant feeble-minded dotard being fooled by a sharp lawyer’: Lee Suet Fern's defence submissions
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern on Sunday (Feb 23) objected to the findings of a disciplinary tribunal that found her guilty of grossly improper professional conduct when handling the last will of her father-in-law, Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
“I disagree with the Disciplinary Tribunal’s report and will fight this strongly when it is heard in open court," said Mrs Lee, 61, in a statement issued through her husband, Mr Lee Hsien Yang, the late Mr Lee’s youngest son.
Proceedings so far were dealt with behind closed doors, and the matter will now be referred to a Court of Three Judges – the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers’ misconduct – at the Supreme Court. In her statement, Mrs Lee noted that any member of the public can obtain the entire record of the tribunal's closed-door proceedings from the Law Society (LawSoc) and she urged the public to "look at these and come to their own independent conclusions”.
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Lee Kuan Yew impatient with incomplete task & knew what he was doing
They also argued that the tribunal, in finding Mrs Lee guilty, would be putting forward that LKY “did not understand his own will despite reading and re-reading (his will) not just once but several times”. But the Law Society had not made such a suggestion saying that LKY was not in full command of his faculties at the time he executed his last will, they pointed out.
“Indeed, anyone who has ever had dealings with Mr Lee Kuan Yew would find the very idea utterly laughable,” the lawyers stated. “Mr Lee Kuan Yew was a dominating character of sharp intellect who knew exactly what he wanted and was accustomed to having his instructions carried out without delay.”
The lawyers reiterated: “The situation here was that Mr Lee Kuan Yew was a sophisticated and shrewd individual with a starred double first in law from Cambridge University and experience of running a country for well over half a century. “He was not some ignorant feeble-minded dotard being fooled by a sharp lawyer.”
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Bertha Henson on LKY’s last will: “Everyone’s trying to second-guess a dead man”
Former senior Straits Times journalist Bertha Henson has blogged on the Disciplinary Tribunal report finding Mrs Lee Suet Fern, the wife of Mr Lee Hsien Yang, younger son of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, guilty of grossly improper professional conduct in handling LKY’s last will.
Henson writes: “So, really, what would LKY say? Everyone’s trying to second-guess a dead man,” as it is at this point impossible to determine what the original PM Lee wanted in his will. In the first of a two-part article entitled “FamiLEE saga: What would LKY say?” published on Feb 23 and 24, Henson said it made her sad that the country’s founding Prime Minister is no longer present to set the record straight concerning the circumstances surrounding the execution of his last will, which is the issue of contention at the centre of the matter.
She was made even sadder still “to think that the man might have been so frail and feeble to have been snookered by his own son and daughter-in-law to do something against his own judgment”, which is what the tribunal report says.
Henson writes: “This was not the Lee Kuan Yew we knew,” quoting the following passage from the report: “Mr Lee, who was very frail and in poor health, was misled by the very people whom he trusted: His son, Mr LHY, and daughter-in-law, the respondent.”
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Lee Kuan Yew knew what he wanted in will, Lee Suet Fern not acting as his lawyer: Defence in legal misconduct case
Lee Suet Fern was not acting as a lawyer in the preparation of Lee Kuan Yew’s final will, and Mr Lee knew what he wanted, which was to revert to a previous will distributing equal shares of his estate to his children. This was key to the arguments put forward by Mrs Lee’s lawyers in her defence at a disciplinary tribunal. Her legal team included former Attorney-General and Senior Counsel Walter Woon, Senior Counsel Kenneth Tan and a team from Providence Law led by Abraham Vergis.
Mrs Lee, who has been a lawyer for 37 years, was found guilty by the disciplinary tribunal of grossly improper misconduct in her handling of the late Mr Lee’s last will, in findings released last week. The tribunal ruled that she had failed to advance the interests of Mr Lee, who was her client in the preparation and execution of his final will dated December 2013, and that she failed to advise him to be independently advised.
The tribunal ruled that she had failed to advance the interests of Mr Lee, who was her client in the preparation and execution of his final will dated December 2013, and that she failed to advise him to be independently advised.
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According To The Disciplinary Tribunal, LKY Not Lucid Enough By December 2013, So Why Was He Still An MP?
If we follow closely the Disciplinary Tribunal's findings, it would mean that LKY was not lucid enough to fully understand and comprehend the contents and implications of a 4-page will in 2013. If that were actually true, it does raise the question of how he was allowed to serve as the MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC. History would show that LKY remained an MP for Tanjong Pagar until his very last days in March 2015. So that does mean that for at least one whole year, he went with the title of an MP without the capacity to understand what was happening around him by then. That is the logic the Disciplinary Tribunal is painting.
LKY will never lose the respect his past contributions to Singapore has afforded him, heck, Singapore would be nothing without him. But this is a very serious question that needed to be asked. It is honestly concerning if we have active Members of Parliament who cannot comprehend and understand a simple 4-page will. There are no two ways about it. LKY was either lucid enough to know what he was doing or he should not have served as an MP. If he was lucid, then Lee Suet Fern did nothing wrong. If he truly wasn't lucid, then he should not have been allowed to continue as an MP.
Also, if LKY was not lucid, why did he voluntarily make a codicil to the Will some time after signing it? If he was truly misled, wouldn't he have revoked the Will? The facts are there for all Singaporeans to mull over. Let's just see who is trying to mislead who in this family saga. After all, trying to get one's way in a family feud by using the State's resources always ensures you have a better chance of winning. History is written by those in power.
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Lawyer Lee Suet Fern disagrees with tribunal's report, will 'fight this strongly' in open court
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern has responded to a tribunal that found her guilty of misconduct in the handling of late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's will, saying that she disagrees with its report and intends to "fight this strongly when it is heard in open court".
She added that any member of the public can obtain the entire record of the closed-door proceedings of the tribunal from the Law Society.
"I urge the public to look at these and come to their own independent conclusions," she added.
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Disciplinary Tribunal finds Lee Suet Fern guilty of misconduct in handling founding PM Lee Kuan Yew's last will
A Disciplinary Tribunal has found prominent lawyer Lee Suet Fern guilty of grossly improper professional conduct in her handling of the last will of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founding prime minister.
Her actions were of sufficient gravity that the matter will be referred to the Court of Three Judges, the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers' misconduct.
If found guilty, Mrs Lee, 61, the wife of Mr Lee's younger son Hsien Yang, could face a fine, suspension or could be disbarred as a lawyer.
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Singapore founder Lee Kuan Yew’s daughter-in-law vows to fight tribunal ruling on will
The main difference between the penultimate will drafted by Kwa and the final one was how the former did not include a demolition clause for the late prime minister’s bungalow, more widely known as 38 Oxley Road. Lee Kuan Yew had also bequeathed a larger share of his estate to his daughter, Lee Wei Ling, in the earlier version.
Former Attorney General Walter Woon, who represents Lee Suet Fern alongside Senior Counsel Kenneth Tan and lawyer Abraham Vergis among others, said in his submissions that the argument that Lee Suet Fern and Lee Hsien Yang had deliberately cut Kwa out of the conversation to execute his last will was “totally implausible”. Woon pointed out that the couple had sent a copy of the draft will to Kwa, and told her after the will was signed.
“If there were any irregularities, they would have been exposed practically immediately,” Woon said. The tribunal also described Lee Suet Fern as a “deceitful witness, who tailored her evidence to portray herself as an innocent victim who had been maligned”. It added that the conduct of her husband, who testified as a witness, was “equally deceitful”.
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Family furore over Singapore founder's will deepens further
The tribunal in its findings last week, seen by Reuters, said it found that the charges against her have been proven beyond reasonable doubt and there was cause for disciplinary action. It said that even if she had not been the senior Lee's lawyer, she misled him, and procured his execution of the will on the basis of misrepresentations.
In her defence, her lawyers said Lee Kuan Yew was never her client and she was not instructed by him in relation to the will. She was merely assisting in a family matter at the request of her husband, they added.
Her case will be referred to the Court of Three Judges, the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers' misconduct, and she could face a fine, suspension or be disbarred as a lawyer, newspaper Straits Times reported. Her husband, Lee Hsien Yang, did not comment directly on the ruling, but shared his sister's Facebook post on Sunday that criticised the decision.
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How founding PM Lee Kuan Yew's last will was executed in 16 hours
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern has been found guilty by a disciplinary tribunal of grossly improper professional conduct in her handling of the last will of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister and her father-in-law.
Her case will be referred to the Court of Three Judges, the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers' misconduct, and she could face a fine, suspension or be disbarred as a lawyer.
Here's a look at how the will was executed in 16 hours. The wills were executed on:
- First will: Aug 20, 2011
- Second will: Dec 21, 2011
- Third will: Sept 6, 2012
- Fourth will: Sept 20, 2012
- Fifth will: Oct 4, 2012
- Sixth (penultimate) will: Nov 2, 2012
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Family furore over Singapore founder’s will deepens after tribunal ruling
In her defence, her lawyers said Lee Kuan Yew was never her client and she was not instructed by him concerning the will. She was merely assisting in a family matter at the request of her husband, they added.
Her case will be referred to the Court of Three Judges, the highest disciplinary body to deal with lawyers’ misconduct, and she could face a fine, suspension or be disbarred as a lawyer, newspaper Straits Times reported.
Her husband, Lee Hsien Yang, did not comment directly on the ruling but shared his sister’s Facebook post today that criticised the decision.
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Lee Kuan Yew Knew Exactly What He Wanted, Anyone Else Dare Say Otherwise?
The late Lee Kuan Yew was Singapore's Prime Minister from 1965 to 1990. Lee Suet Fern was represented by Senior Counsels Kenneth Tan and Walter Woon, lawyer Abraham Vergis and two others from Providence Law.
The mother of three denied being Lee’s lawyer and rejected the assertion of an implied retainer. She also argued that if she was in a position of conflict of interest, her father-in-law was fully aware and chose to proceed.
In submissions to the tribunal, Woon described the Law Society’s argument – that Suet Fern and Hsien Yang deliberately cut Kwa Kim Li out and got Lee to execute his last will in her absence, and misleading him as to its contents – as being “totally implausible”.
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Disciplinary Tribunal's report on conduct of lawyer Lee Suet Fern addresses some troubling issues
The Disciplinary Tribunal's findings on the conduct of lawyer Lee Suet Fern makes plain its conclusions on several key questions concerning the drafting and signing of the last will of her father-in-law, Mr Lee Kuan Yew - and over his wishes regarding his 38 Oxley Road home.
The tribunal, in its report released last Tuesday, established that the late Mr Lee was misled by Mrs Lee Suet Fern and his son Lee Hsien Yang, who rushed him through changes to his last will, on a number of items.
Many of these questions had been raised in mid-2017, when the feud between the children of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew spilt over into the public sphere, causing much consternation throughout the country.
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Lawyer Lee Suet Fern was a 'deceitful' witness who lied: Disciplinary Tribunal
The two-man tribunal appointed by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon described Mrs Lee as a "deceitful witness, who tailored her evidence to portray herself as an innocent victim who had been maligned".
This was a "facade", the tribunal said. "Before us, she lied or became evasive whenever she thought it was to her benefit to lie or evade." Mr Lee Hsien Yang's conduct was "equally deceitful", the tribunal said in its 206-page report released last week. "He tried to hide how he and his wife had misled his own father, Mr Lee, on the last will. He had no qualms about making up evidence as he went along. We found him to be cynical about telling the truth."
The matter centres on the role Mrs Lee played in the preparation and execution of Mr Lee's last will signed on Dec 17, 2013.
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Lee Suet Fern rejects tribunal's ruling against her
The tribunal said the facts exposed an "unsavoury tale" of how the couple persuaded the late Mr Lee to sign a new will without his usual lawyer, Ms Kwa Kim Li, to advise him. "They cut off that lawyer from communications with Mr Lee on the last will, and rushed through the execution of the last will, in her absence," the report said.
Mrs Lee took over as the lawyer to prepare the last will and "misled Mr Lee on the terms of the last will". The tribunal said Mr Lee was persuaded to sign the last will in a matter of 16 hours. Mrs Lee had sent a draft of it to him at 7.08pm on Dec 16, 2013. He signed it at 11.10am the next day. The last will differed from the one before it, and from some changes that Mr Lee had wanted and discussed with Ms Kwa four days earlier.
Mrs Lee, the tribunal said, "gave the briefest of advice to Mr Lee, and did not alert Mr Lee to all the differences between what Mr Lee had earlier wanted and what the last will actually provided for".
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Tribunal finds Lee Suet Fern guilty of misconduct in handling LKY’s last will: netizens respond
The online community continues to share its perspectives on the recent tribunal report which found Lee Suet Fern and Lee Hsien Yang guilty of improper professional conduct and deceit in handling Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s last will.
The two-person disciplinary tribunal appointed by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon has found Mr Lee Hsien Yang and wife Lee Suet Fern guilty of misleading and deceiving founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew on the preparation and execution of his last will.
The report findings were published and made headlines on mainstream media on February 23, Sunday.
Concerned citizens from the online community have thus expressed their opinions on the matter, with many on opposing sides.
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Family furore over S'pore's founder's will deepens after tribunal ruling
The Attorney-General’s Chambers had last year referred to the Law Society a case of “possible professional misconduct” over the involvement of Lee Suet Fern in the will as her husband was one of the beneficiaries.
The tribunal in its findings last week, seen by Reuters, said it found that the charges against her have been proven beyond reasonable doubt and there was cause for disciplinary action.
It said that even if she had not been the senior Lee’s lawyer, she misled him, and procured his execution of the will based on misrepresentations
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Explainer: What disciplinary tribunal says about Lee Suet Fern’s involvement in Lee Kuan Yew’s final will
A disciplinary tribunal has found that prominent lawyer Lee Suet Fern, along with her husband, Mr Lee Hsien Yang, had “misled” a frail and ailing Lee Kuan Yew into signing his last will, which was prepared 15 months before his death.
Describing the couple as "deceitful" and "dishonest", the strongly worded 206-page tribunal report obtained by TODAY stated that the late Mr Lee was “persuaded” into signing the last will within 16 hours.
It added that Mrs Lee, 61, gave the “briefest of advice” to all the differences between what Mr Lee had earlier wanted and the final will that he signed, although they were “very different”. The tribunal found that Mrs Lee's misconduct was grave enough to strike her off the rolls as a lawyer.
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Lee Wei Ling posts email proving LKY’s will was made by Kwa Kim Li
In the latest development of the Lee Family Saga, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, posted on her Facebook account on Tuesday morning, April 30, that their father former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s lawyer had lied about the making of his will, which has not only been an issue of contention within the family, but has also become a legal issue before the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC). She also posted email as proof.
In her post, Dr Lee calls PM Lee her “dishonourable brother” who “has repeatedly alleged that my sister-in-law, Yang’s wife, prepared and somehow got our father to sign a will in December 2013.” She also accuses lawyer Kwa Kim Li of lying and having “breached her duties to her client, my father.”
Ms Kwa has denied having been involved in the events that led to the preparation of Lee Kuan Yew’s will in 2013.
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Dr Lee Wei Ling 12 hrs
My dishonourable brother Loong has repeatedly alleged that my sister-in-law, Yang’s wife, prepared and somehow got our father to sign a will in December 2013. Kwa Kim Li (KKL) of Lee & Lee has denied involvement in the events that led to this 2013 will. These are all falsehoods. KKL has been lying. She has also breached her duties to her client, my father.
Lee & Lee have always been lawyers for my father’s personal matters including all his wills, powers of attorney, and Advance Medical Directives including his affirmation in August 2014 of his AMD.
The truth is that my father had discussed the changes he wanted extensively with KKL before he signed his December 2013 will. From late November 2013 all the way till Friday 13 December 2013, my father had had discussions and exchanged emails with KKL of Lee & Lee on what he wanted in his will. These included discussions of his immediately prior will. The will my father signed on Tuesday 17 December 2013 reflected these prior discussions with his lawyer KKL. It was exactly what he wanted. It provided for equal shares for all the children, something he had agreed with our mother and all of us.
Here is one email proving my father discussed his December 2013 will with Kwa Kim Li. There are more.
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Lee Kuan Yew medallion range to mark his 5th death anniversary “temporarily suspended” by Singapore Mint
Just hours after launching a series of medallions and busts dedicated to the founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, The Singapore Mint has decided to “temporarily suspend” the range. At around 12.45pm on Monday (2 March), The Singapore Mint revealed in a statement that it had released medallions with the face of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew’s face engraved on it, as well as busts resembling him to mark his fifth death anniversary.
Titled “The Pride of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew”, the series comprises of four commemorative gold, silver, and base-metal medallions, and made-to-order copper busts that come in two sizes. This latest range is part of the Singapore Salute collection. The ½ oz 999.9 fine gold and 1 oz 999 fine silver medallions in an oval shape are engraved with late Mr Lee portrait on it. The copper and nickel-plated zinc medallions also have pictures of sampans and Singapore’s skyline on the other side, showcasing the country’s development from its earlier days. As for the copper busts, they come in two different sizes – 110mm and 430mm.
Based on the Singapore Mint, the collection is “meticulously engraved and sculpted by the Singapore Mint’s master engravers with their skillful craftsmanship”, with a “dignified interpretation” of late Mr Lee’s image. “Mr Lee’s great foresight and determined pursuit of Singapore’s growth have played an important role in bringing Singapore to where it is today, and shaping the history of modern Singapore.” It continued, “The Pride of Singapore medallion range also seeks to remind Singaporeans to be resilient and indomitable to concur challenges and adversity in unity”. However, as of 7pm on the same day of the launch, the medallions and busts, priced between S$10 and S$1,888, were not available for orders anymore on The Singapore Mint’s website. The website has now a notice saying, “We have temporarily suspended this program until further notice.”
Parliamentary Statement by PM Lee Hsien Loong on calls to honour Mr Lee Kuan Yew, on 13 April 2015
During the month of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s final illness, and the week of National Mourning after he passed away, Singaporeans experienced a tremendous outpouring of emotions – gratitude, sorrow, and solidarity. People prayed for, grieved over and paid their last respects to the founding father who had done so much to create today’s Singapore. Many wrote touching messages in condolence books and cards, and made special tribute books and items. During the Special Session of Parliament, Members spoke movingly about Mr Lee’s contributions, what he meant to them, and their personal experiences of him. I thank this House, and all Singaporeans, for their tributes to my father.
Those of us who lived through this special moment in our history, and experienced this sense of togetherness in our shared grief, will remember it for the rest of our lives. Mr Lee’s passing brought us closer together as one people and intensified our sense of nationhood. It was his last gift to us. How should we remember and honour him – his person, his contributions, his ideals? Members of the House and the public have made many suggestions. There were several questions on the Order Paper today. Ms Foo Mee Har and Dr Lily Neo suggested printing his image on our currency notes and coins; Mr Ang Wei Nang and Dr Lily Neo suggested re-naming Changi Airport after him; and Ms Foo Mee Har suggested designating a day to commemorate our founding fathers every year. And there are many more suggestions.
These are all good ideas. But we should not rush into making decisions on this matter, especially so soon after Mr Lee has passed away. We should allow some time to pass, consider the ideas carefully, and make calm, considered decisions which will stand the test of time. We want to honour Mr Lee, but we must do so in the right way:
- Ideals, not Monuments
- Currency Notes
- 38 Oxley Road
- A Founders’ Memorial
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