Timeline of events since the Lee family feud became public

When founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew’s last will was read on April 12, 2015, less than a month after his death, his three children had disagreed on the fate of his 38 Oxley Road house.

- Tham Yuen-C

The family feud spilled into public view on June 14, 2017, when Mr Lee Hsien Yang and Dr Lee Wei Ling, the two younger siblings, went online to denounce their elder brother, then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

They accused him of trying to block the demolition of their late father’s house against his wish.

They believed their father wanted the house demolished without compromise, but then PM Lee was of the view that Mr Lee Kuan Yew was prepared to consider alternatives should the Government decide otherwise.

This arose because of their different interpretations of a demolition clause in their father’s will.

The elder Mr Lee — who died on March 23, 2015, aged 91 - had bequeathed the house to then PM Lee. But he transferred the property to his brother Lee Hsien Yang at market value in late 2015, in a bid to resolve the siblings’ disagreement over the fate of the property.

This was done on the condition that they both donated to charity an amount equal to half the value of the house. In addition to that, then PM Lee had donated a further equivalent sum.

After the transfer of the house, the three siblings issued a joint statement about their hope that the Government will allow the house to be demolished.

Then PM Lee also said in the statement that he had recused himself from all government decisions involving 38 Oxley Road and, in his personal capacity, would also like to see his father’s wish honoured.

The matter, however, did not end there. Disagreements continued on issues like the role played by Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s lawyer wife, Mrs Lee Suet Fern, in the will; the involvement of a ministerial committee on the property; and transparency on government procedures and conflicts of interest in key public appointments.