Singapore protest demands inquiry into PM family feud

SINGAPORE – Hundreds of Singaporeans staged a rare protest on Saturday, July 15, calling for an independent inquiry into a bitter family feud between Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his siblings.

The rally at a designated free-speech corner in the strictly controlled city-state was the first public protest since the feud burst into the open on June 14.

The prime minister’s younger siblings, Hsien Yang, 60, and Wei Ling, 62, have accused him of nepotism and abuse of power in a row that has prompted outrage on social media. (READ: Singapore PM denies nepotism amid family feud in parliament speech)

The spat is centered on a dispute about plans for their late father’s home, a century-old bungalow.

Lee Kuan Yew, who is widely credited with transforming Singapore from a British colony to one of Asia’s wealthiest countries, stated in his will that he wants the house torn down to avoid the building of a personality cult around him.

But the prime minister’s siblings say their brother is attempting to block the house’s demolition to capitalize on their father’s legacy for his own political agenda, including grooming his own son as a future leader. (READ: Singapore PM accused of lying in parliament by brother)

Lee, 65, has denied the allegations but said he would not sue his siblings.

Organizers estimated the number of protesters at 600, but an Agence France-Presse reporter counted around 300.

Protest leader Gilbert Goh said he and his fellow supporters were calling for a more transparent government and for an independent inquiry to be set up to look into the allegations against the prime minister.

A banner hanging on a stage read: “Singapore belongs to Singaporeans and not to the Familee”, referring to the Lee family, which has provided two out of 3 of Singapore’s premiers in the 5 decades since independence. – Rappler.com