Meet man, born in Chinese family, but founding father of modern Singapore, made country global hub, however his family entered into bitter battle over…

Lee Kuan Yew was a politician, lawyer, and the first prime minister of Singapore, serving from 1959 to 1990. Often regarded as the architect of modern Singapore, Lee transformed the small, resource-limited British colony into one of the most prosperous and advanced nations in Southeast Asia.

Under his leadership, Singapore emerged as a global financial hub, known for its robust economy, high GDP per capita, and strategic influence. However, Lee’s tenure was also marked by an authoritarian style of governance, with limited political freedoms, emphasizing discipline, education, and industrialization to ensure progress.

Lee Kuan Yew Early Life 

Born into a Chinese family established in Singapore since the 19th century, Lee Kuan Yew’s first language was English. He later learned Chinese, Malay, and Tamil as he entered politics. After studying in Singapore, he briefly attended the London School of Economics before earning a law degree at Cambridge in 1949, where he graduated at the top of his class.

Upon returning to Singapore, Lee became a legal adviser to trade unions, helping secure better wages and working conditions for workers. His involvement in labor advocacy marked the start of his political career. In 1959, Lee was sworn in as prime minister and launched a five-year plan focused on urban renewal, public housing, women’s rights, education, and industrialization.

Singapore Independence And Nation-Building

In 1963, Lee took Singapore into the Federation of Malaysia, but growing ethnic tensions, particularly between the Chinese and Malay communities, led to communal riots. By August 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation and became an independent sovereign state, with Lee as its first prime minister.

Despite the challenges of independence, Lee’s administration transformed Singapore into an efficient, prosperous, and stable nation. He also played a pivotal role in establishing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1967 to promote regional cooperation. By the 1980s, Singapore boasted one of the highest per capita incomes in East Asia, second only to Japan.

Although Lee resigned as prime minister in 1990, he continued to influence Singaporean politics as a senior statesman. His legacy is both celebrated and critiqued for balancing unprecedented economic development with a governance model that some saw as overly authoritarian.

Family Feud Over Lee Kuan Yew’s House

After Lee Kuan Yew’s death in 2015, a private family dispute over his residence turned into a national controversy, shedding light on deeper issues within Singapore’s political landscape.

The house, a colonial-era bungalow, held immense historical significance. It was the place where Lee lived for decades, founded his political party, and laid the groundwork for Singapore’s transformation. Despite this, Lee had expressed his wish for the house to be demolished after his death to prevent it from being turned into a public museum. He cited concerns about people “trampling” through his private quarters.

A Divided Family

Lee’s will left the fate of the bungalow ambiguous, creating a rift between his three children. Lee Hsien Loong, his eldest son and Singapore’s prime minister at the time, argued that the instructions regarding the house were not explicit. Lee Wei Ling, his daughter, chose to live in the house, delaying its demolition. Lee Hsien Yang, the youngest son, supported the demolition in accordance with what he believed to be their father’s wishes.

The dispute resurfaced in 2023 after Lee Wei Ling’s death in October, reigniting tensions between the siblings. Lee Hsien Yang accused his elder brother of abusing his political power to influence the matter.

In a dramatic turn, Lee Hsien Yang announced that he had sought political asylum in the United Kingdom, claiming he feared imprisonment in Singapore due to the feud. He accused Lee Hsien Loong of persecuting him and using state mechanisms to settle personal scores.

The feud has sparked broader discussions about Singapore’s political system, with critics questioning whether the country’s prosperity has come at the expense of governmental accountability.