In a recent interview, Li Xianyang, the second son of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, shared his journey in seeking asylum in the UK, claiming he fled from persecution. Li Xianyang, who is the younger brother of current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, expressed his dissent against the authoritarian regime established by his father after a rift within the Lee family.
“Despite Singapore’s economic prosperity, there is a dark side—the government is oppressive,” Li stated. “People think it’s a kind of paradise, but it is not.”
Tensions within the Lee family escalated during discussions about the future of their father’s former residence, leading to public disputes involving Li Xianyang, his sister Li Wei Ling, and their brother Lee Hsien Loong. Tragically, Li Wei Ling recently passed away. Both she and Li Xianyang had previously accused their brother of abusing his position as Prime Minister for personal political gain.
The ongoing legal battles surrounding Lee Kuan Yew’s will have spanned several years, with Li Xianyang and his wife facing allegations of perjury. Furthermore, their son was convicted of defamation after making accusations against government ministers and judicial bodies on social media. Li Xianyang claims that under Lee Hsien Loong’s reign, he faced baseless accusations and a series of legal actions targeting him and his family, leading him to believe it was unsafe to remain in Singapore.
Now a refugee in the UK, Li Xianyang commented, “Singapore touts its rule of law, yet we know they retain these oppressive measures at their core.”
He joined the opposition Progress Singapore Party in 2020 and believes that the current legal issues facing him and his family have political motivations. “I have always been one of Singapore’s surveillance targets,” he added.
When asked about Lee Hsien Loong’s role in these events, Li Xianyang said, “In a tightly controlled country like Singapore, such actions would not occur without Lee Hsien Loong’s approval and complicity.”
After leaving Singapore, Li Xianyang was granted asylum in August, nearly two years later. “I believe this is an acknowledgment of the persecution I have faced in Singapore,” he reflected.
In response to his allegations, the Singapore government maintains that the judiciary is fair and independent, asserting that all legal conclusions are reached through transparent investigations, and dismisses Li Xianyang’s claims as unfounded.
