"I am a political refugee," says Lee Hsien Yang

He reveals he sought asylum in UK in 2022, but does not clarify if status was granted

- Ng Wei Kai

Mr Lee Hsien Yang, in a social media post on Oct 22, said he has become a political refugee from Singapore under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.

He said: "I sought asylum protection in 2022. The Singapore Government's attacks against me are in the public record. They prosecuted my son, brought disciplinary proceedings against my wife, and launched a bogus police investigation that has dragged on for years. On the basis of these facts, the UK has determined that I face 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 some day it will become safe to return home."

He added: "In 2017, my sister Wei Ling and I declared, 'We do not trust Hsien Loong as a brother or as a leader'. We stated that we feared the abuse of the organs of the Singapore state against us and against my family. Because of that risk, I was unable to attend Wei Ling's funeral."

Mr Lee, the younger son of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, did not clarify if he has been granted asylum, which will allow him to stay in Britain for a minimum of five years, and open the door for permanent settlement there after this period.

In response to queries from The Straits Times on whether Mr Lee had been granted asylum, the British High Commission in Singapore said: "It is longstanding UK government policy not to comment on questions regarding individuals and asylum matters."

Mr Lee left Singapore on June 15, 2022, after the police asked him and his wife Lee Suet Fern to assist in investigations.