Son of founder of modern Singapore says he is now a political refugee

SINGAPORE — Lee Hsien Yang, the youngest son of the founder of modern Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, said Tuesday that he is now a political refugee from Singapore under the U.N. Refugee Convention.

In a Facebook post, Lee, the estranged brother of former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, said Britain has determined that he faces “a well-founded risk of persecution and cannot safely return to Singapore.”

“I sought asylum protection as a last resort. I remain a Singapore citizen and hope that someday it will become safe to return home,” he said.

ChannelNewsAsia reported that Singapore’s government said the persecution claim was baseless and unfounded, citing a response it said was provided to the Guardian newspaper.

Britain’s high commission in Singapore did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lee Hsien Yang and his sister Lee Wei Ling, who died on Oct. 9, have been at odds with their brother Lee Hsien Loong, who was prime minister from 2004 until May this year, over what to do with their father’s home after his death in 2015, in a public spat that saw the siblings estranged.

Lee Hsien Yang said he had sought asylum protection in 2022, citing government persecution against him and his family, and that he was unable to return for his sister’s funeral as a result.

He had said last week that he would apply to demolish Lee Kuan Yew’s home in line with his father’s wishes.

The government said in response that it would consider issues related to the property in due course.