Lee Hsien Yang, the youngest son of Singapore's founding leader Lee Kuan Yew, has been granted asylum in the UK after alleging prosecution by the government of his brother, Lee Hsien Loong, who was prime minister till recently.&nbsp;

The BBC said in a report on Wednesday (Oct 23) that Yang, who is a businessmen and a military brigadier, claimed he and his family have faced oppression and legal action.

The bickering was over the estate of their father, which had led to a bitter family feud for years that captivated Singapore, especially over a family home at 38 Oxley Road.

The late leader had wanted the home to be demolished after his death.

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Yang and his sister Lee Wei Ling who died recently had accused their brother&nbsp; Lee Hsien Loong, who continues to be in the current government, of exploiting their father's legacy to keep himself in power.

Yang has said multiple times that he and his family were political refugees, even as the Singapore government denied any persecution, while maintaining that they are free to return to the southeast Asian city state.

For several years now, Yang has been living in a self-imposed exile with his wife and one of his sons.

According to the BBC report, Yang said he sought UK asylum "as a last resort", hoping to return to Singapore some day.&nbsp;

He will continue to be politically active as a member of the opposition Progress Singapore Party.&nbsp;

The UK asylum was granted after confirmation that Yang had "well-founded fear of persecution," as per&nbsp;documents seen by BBC.

The Lee siblings' father&nbsp;Lee Kuan Yew, considered the founding father of modern Singapore,&nbsp;died in 2015.

Till he fell out with his brother, Yang himself was very much part of the so-called first family of Singapore, and once was the chief of the country's largest telecom firm.

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After the feud, he joined the opposition ranks and became an ardent critic of the government.

Yang and his family have been investigated by the government, which he described as a 'pattern of persecution.'

 
Watch: India, Singapore sign MoUs in semiconductors, digital tech and more

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His elder brother Lee Hsien Loong said in 2024 that he will not seek re-election, and in May he became a minister in the cabinet of current Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

For its part, the Singapore government said Yang's allegations are 'without' basis. It said in a statement that Yang and family had no legal restraints. "They are and have always been free to return to Singapore," it said in a staetment.

(With inputs from agencies)

Lee Hsien Yang, the youngest son of Singapore's founding leader Lee Kuan Yew, has been granted asylum in the UK after alleging prosecution by the government of his brother, Lee Hsien Loong, who was prime minister till recently.

Lee Hsien Yang, the youngest son of Singapore's founding leader Lee Kuan Yew, has been granted asylum in the UK after alleging prosecution by the government of his brother, Lee Hsien Loong, who was prime minister till recently. The BBC said in a report on Wednesday (Oct 23) that Yang, who is a businessmen and a military brigadier, claimed he and his family have faced oppression and legal action. The bickering was over the estate of their father, which had led to a bitter family feud for years that captivated Singapore, especially over a family home at 38 Oxley Road. The late leader had wanted the home to be demolished after his death. Also read: PM Modi's Singapore visit has given turbo boosting to ties: HC Simon Wong Yang and his sister Lee Wei Ling who died recently had accused their brother Lee Hsien Loong, who continues to be in the current government, of exploiting their father's legacy to keep himself in power. Yang has said multiple times that he and his family were political refugees, even as the Singapore government denied any persecution, while maintaining that they are free to return to the southeast Asian city state. For several years now, Yang has been living in a self-imposed exile with his wife and one of his sons. According to the BBC report, Yang said he sought UK asylum "as a last resort", hoping to return to Singapore some day. He will continue to be politically active as a member of the opposition Progress Singapore Party. The UK asylum was granted after confirmation that Yang had "well-founded fear of persecution," as per documents seen by BBC. The Lee siblings' father Lee Kuan Yew, considered the founding father of modern Singapore, died in 2015. Till he fell out with his brother, Yang himself was very much part of the so-called first family of Singapore, and once was the chief of the country's largest telecom firm. Also read: Indian-origin Singapore ex-minister S Iswaran sentenced to 12 months in jail in graft case After the feud, he joined the opposition ranks and became an ardent critic of the government. Yang and his family have been investigated by the government, which he described as a 'pattern of persecution.' Watch: India, Singapore sign MoUs in semiconductors, digital tech and more × His elder brother Lee Hsien Loong said in 2024 that he will not seek re-election, and in May he became a minister in the cabinet of current Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. For its part, the Singapore government said Yang's allegations are 'without' basis. It said in a statement that Yang and family had no legal restraints. "They are and have always been free to return to Singapore," it said in a staetment. (With inputs from agencies)

Lee Hsien Yang, son of Singapore's founding leader, has been granted asylum in the UK

When the brother of Singapore's prime minister joined the opposition to the party their father led through the city-state's independence and rise as a nation, he brought a bitter family squabble into the realm of politics on the eve of a general election.

When the brother of Singapore's prime minister joined the opposition to the party their father led through the city-state's independence and rise as a nation, he brought a bitter family squabble into the realm of politics on the eve of a general election. Lee Hsien Yang, younger brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and son of modern Singapore's founder, Lee Kuan Yew, said last week he was a member of the new Progress Singapore Party (PSP). He said the People's Action Party, which has governed Singapore since independence in 1965, had "lost its way" without his late father. The younger Lee, 62 - described by people close to him as shy, distant from his powerful brother but not afraid to challenge the status quo - has made no policy statements or said whether he will run for office, something candidates for the July 10 election must declare on Tuesday. It is not clear if his move can energise an opposition that holds just six of parliament's 89 seats, and it is not expected to alter prospects for a lopsided ruling party win. Also read: Singapore heads for snap controversial elections despite coronavirus pandemic But Lee Hsien Yang's dramatic move presents Singaporean voters an inversion of the campaign that the PAP is offering as Prime Minister Lee, 68, prepares to retire in the coming years. The ruling party depicts the government's aggressive response to the COVID-19 pandemic as this generation's heroic sacrifice, harking back to the "Pioneer Generation," led by Lee Kuan Yew, that forged the tiny island from a dot on Britain's colonial map into a first-world economy. Lee Hsien Yang's rebuke: This is not our father's PAP. "I have never sought the limelight, and most people know that actually I value my own privacy," Lee Hsien Yang told reporters on Sunday at a PSP event at a food court. "I'm here because I think sometimes we need to speak truth to power." He has criticised the PAP government for calling an election during a pandemic and its response to the COVID-19 outbreak, in which thousands of Singapore's migrant workers have been infected. He has also criticised a 2019 "fake news" law that has been used against government opponents and said the PAP suffers from "narrow group-think" and mainly serves the elite in society. The ruling party declined to comment. "Not under his brother's shadow'' The Lee brothers were not close but had no major quarrels most of their lives, said a person close to the younger Lee. A business associate said Lee Hsien Yang was mild-mannered but defensive about his parents. Also read: Singapore prime minister’s brother joins opposition party ahead of July 10 election He had repeatedly said he was not interested in politics. That changed after his father's death in 2015, when Lee Hsien Yang and his sister alleged their older brother wanted to preserve the family home for political gain despite their father requesting it be demolished in his will. The younger Lee said the lengthy feud did not motivate him to join the opposition. The brothers, who declined to be interviewed for this article, were both army brigadier-generals but their careers have otherwise diverged. Lee Hsien Loong, first elected in 1984, became deputy prime minister aged 38 and has led the PAP for 16 years. Lee Hsien Yang was CEO of telecommunications firm Singtel and chairman of drinks conglomerate F&N. Patriarch Lee Kuan Yew, known as LKY, wrote little in his memoirs about his younger son compared to mentions of the current prime minister but said in a 2011 interview Lee Hsien Yang was a "sensible and practical man" who was "not under his brother's shadow." With an openly gay son, Lee Hsien Yang last year attended a Pride march in the conservative city-state where sex between men is outlawed. Can this iconoclastic scion with the common touch make a difference? Loke Hoe Yeong, author of a history of Singapore's opposition, said Lee Hsien Yang's arrival will energise opposition parties but could also antagonise voters who don't think a family spat over a house should be aired publicly. Former PAP lawmaker Inderjit Singh said Lee Hsien Yang's presence in the opposition could sway some voters, who have always given the ruling party at least 60% of the vote. "When people see LKY's son switching camp to the opposition, this may create doubts...that the PAP of the present is not the same as the PAP of the past," Singh said.

Singapore PM's brother thrusts first-family row into politics ahead of general election

Lee Hsien Yang, the estranged brother of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has joined the opposition Progress Singapore Party a day after the city-state called for&nbsp;general elections&nbsp;to be held in July.

“I joined the party because I think that Dr. Tan is committed to doing the right thing for Singapore,” he&nbsp;told reporters&nbsp;Wednesday following a breakfast meeting with party founder Tan Cheng Bock. “There are issues of income inequality, there are issues of poverty, there are issues of governance and transparency, there are issues around housing, there are many issues that are alive.”

Lee declined to say if he would be contesting in the July 10 election, but said he would be contributing to the party “in many ways.”

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The city-state's parliament was dissolved Tuesday for a general election on July 10, even as the country struggles to recover from a major coronavirus outbreak that has swept through migrant worker dormitories.

Lee Hsien Yang is locked in a long-running row with his sibling, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, accusing him of seeking to capitalise on the legacy of their father, Singapore's late founding leader.

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Tan, a popular figure who was once a lawmaker with the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), said that Lee Hsien Yang was "not just an ordinary person."

"His father is the founder of Singapore, so that's very important," he said.

Their party, launched last year, will not threaten the PAP's decades-long hold on power but the combination of a Lee family member and Tan could draw some voters away from the ruling party, observers believe.

Lee Hsien Yang, a business executive, and his sister Lee Wei Ling fell out with their prime minister brother following the death of their father, Lee Kuan Yew, in 2015.

The Lee family row centres on allegations made by the premier's siblings that he is seeking to block the demolition of a family bungalow to capitalise on Lee Kuan Yew's legacy – something he has denied.

<blockquote align="center" data-dnt="true" data-twitter-extracted-i1592991682250497356="true">&nbsp;</blockquote>

Lee Hsien Yang, the estranged brother of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has joined the opposition Progress Singapore Party a day after the city-state called for general elections to be held in July.

Lee Hsien Yang, the estranged brother of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has joined the opposition Progress Singapore Party a day after the city-state called for general elections to be held in July. “I joined the party because I think that Dr. Tan is committed to doing the right thing for Singapore,” he told reporters Wednesday following a breakfast meeting with party founder Tan Cheng Bock. “There are issues of income inequality, there are issues of poverty, there are issues of governance and transparency, there are issues around housing, there are many issues that are alive.” Lee declined to say if he would be contesting in the July 10 election, but said he would be contributing to the party “in many ways.” Also see: Welcome back: Singapore locals rejoice as malls reopen; PM urges caution The city-state's parliament was dissolved Tuesday for a general election on July 10, even as the country struggles to recover from a major coronavirus outbreak that has swept through migrant worker dormitories. Lee Hsien Yang is locked in a long-running row with his sibling, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, accusing him of seeking to capitalise on the legacy of their father, Singapore's late founding leader. Also read: Singapore approves anti-viral drug for COVID-19 patients Tan, a popular figure who was once a lawmaker with the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), said that Lee Hsien Yang was "not just an ordinary person." "His father is the founder of Singapore, so that's very important," he said. Their party, launched last year, will not threaten the PAP's decades-long hold on power but the combination of a Lee family member and Tan could draw some voters away from the ruling party, observers believe. Lee Hsien Yang, a business executive, and his sister Lee Wei Ling fell out with their prime minister brother following the death of their father, Lee Kuan Yew, in 2015. The Lee family row centres on allegations made by the premier's siblings that he is seeking to block the demolition of a family bungalow to capitalise on Lee Kuan Yew's legacy – something he has denied.

Singapore prime minister’s brother joins opposition party ahead of July 10 election

The estranged brother of the Singaporean prime minister has backed a new opposition party, the latest incident in a bitter feud in the city-state's first family.

The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) was formed by Tan Cheng Bock, a former stalwart of the ruling party, to contest elections due by 2021.&nbsp;

Tan has been seen in recent months with the premier's sibling, Lee Hsien Yang, local media reported, sparking talk of an alliance.

On Sunday Lee posted on Facebook,&nbsp;"I wholeheartedly support the principles and values of the Progress Singapore Party".

"Today’s PAP is no longer the PAP of my father. It has lost its way", he said.

He did not elaborate further or say whether he would join the new party.

Business executive Lee and his sister have been embroiled in a feud with their elder brother, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, over the fate of a century-old family bungalow.

The rare public falling out within the city-state's elite erupted following the 2015 death of their father, Singapore's founding leader Lee Kuan Yew.

The PAP has governed Singapore for decades and the weak opposition is not viewed as a threat, but backing from a senior member of the Lee family could provide a boost to Tan.

A former PAP lawmaker, Tan resigned from the party in 2010 and unsuccessfully ran for president the following year. He will formally launch his party next week.

The prime minister, 67, has said he will lead the PAP at the next polls before handing power over to leader-in-waiting, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat.

The estranged brother of the Singaporean prime minister has backed a new opposition party, the latest incident in a bitter feud in the city-state's first family.

The estranged brother of the Singaporean prime minister has backed a new opposition party, the latest incident in a bitter feud in the city-state's first family. The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) was formed by Tan Cheng Bock, a former stalwart of the ruling party, to contest elections due by 2021. Tan has been seen in recent months with the premier's sibling, Lee Hsien Yang, local media reported, sparking talk of an alliance. On Sunday Lee posted on Facebook, "I wholeheartedly support the principles and values of the Progress Singapore Party". "Today’s PAP is no longer the PAP of my father. It has lost its way", he said. He did not elaborate further or say whether he would join the new party. Business executive Lee and his sister have been embroiled in a feud with their elder brother, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, over the fate of a century-old family bungalow. The rare public falling out within the city-state's elite erupted following the 2015 death of their father, Singapore's founding leader Lee Kuan Yew. The PAP has governed Singapore for decades and the weak opposition is not viewed as a threat, but backing from a senior member of the Lee family could provide a boost to Tan. A former PAP lawmaker, Tan resigned from the party in 2010 and unsuccessfully ran for president the following year. He will formally launch his party next week. The prime minister, 67, has said he will lead the PAP at the next polls before handing power over to leader-in-waiting, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat.

Singapore PM lee hsien loong’s brother backs new opposition party

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Lee Hsien Yang, son of Singapore's founding leader, has been granted asylum in the UK

Singapore PM's brother thrusts first-family row into politics ahead of general election

Singapore prime minister’s brother joins opposition party ahead of July 10 election

Singapore PM lee hsien loong’s brother backs new opposition party