People often say, "Harmony in the family brings prosperity," but when familial bonds encounter ambition and division, where should one go from there?
When Singapore's "founding father" Lee Kuan Yew was alive, he was not only the nation's leader but also the head of the Lee family.
During that period, Lee Hsien Loong and his siblings maintained the family's dignity and unity.
However, after Lee Kuan Yew's death, the internal strife within Singapore’s first family gradually surfaced.
Lee Hsien Loong and his siblings were born into Singapore’s pinnacle of power, enjoying both fame and fortune.
One might think they would have little to argue over, but reality is far more complicated.
What exactly is the Lee family's feud about?
Despite being the children of Lee Kuan Yew and Kwa Geok Choo, Lee Hsien Loong and his brother Lee Hsien Yang received different treatment.
No parents are perfect, and Lee Kuan Yew was no exception.
Lee Hsien Loong was undoubtedly Lee Kuan Yew's most proud son.
As the eldest, he excelled academically, attending prestigious schools and excelling in both humanities and sciences.
Lee Kuan Yew once commented on him, "I am good at mathematics, my wife is good at literature, and he inherited both talents.
The other two children inherited these traits as well, but not as strongly. It’s purely luck."
Professionally, Lee Hsien Loong had a rich resume, excelling in both military and political arenas, eventually becoming Singapore’s Prime Minister.
His achievements placed immense pressure on his sister Lee Wei Ling and brother Lee Hsien Yang.
Lee Hsien Yang struggled throughout his education to escape comparisons with his brother.
Despite attending prestigious schools, his math grades were far inferior to his brother’s. Lee Kuan Yew once remarked about his younger son, "Very confident, not worried about being less than his brother."
Though this seemed like praise, it revealed how often Lee Kuan Yew compared his two sons.
Lee Hsien Yang struggled under his brother’s shadow during his formative years.
Although he verbally claimed not to care, his internal frustration and helplessness were evident.
Entering the workforce, Lee Hsien Yang hoped to escape his brother’s shadow, but his sister-in-law Ho Ching became a new source of distress.
Ho Ching joined Temasek Holdings in 1997 and gradually built her leadership team, much to Lee Hsien Yang's discontent, leading to his eventual departure from the company.
For Lee Hsien Yang, his dignity was repeatedly trampled, first by his brother during their school years and later by his sister-in-law in the workplace.
The feud in Singapore’s first family was ignited by Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang, with the catalyst being the fate of their father’s house.
According to Lee Kuan Yew’s will, the house at 38 Oxley Road should be demolished after Lee Wei Ling moved out.
However, Lee Hsien Loong disagreed with this clause, believing the house had historical significance and should be preserved.
On the first anniversary of Lee Kuan Yew's death, Lee Hsien Loong held a large memorial event, which angered Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang.
They even considered demolishing the house despite Lee Hsien Loong's opposition, but he used his authority to block their plan and questioned the authenticity of the will.
Lee Kuan Yew’s will had been revised seven times, with the fifth and sixth versions removing the clause about demolishing the house, indicating his own inner conflict.
Lee Hsien Loong doubted the authenticity of the seventh will because it was drafted by a law firm where Lee Hsien Yang’s spouse worked.
Although Lee Hsien Yang denied his spouse's involvement, evidence suggested otherwise.
This conflict was not just about the will’s authenticity but also involved internal power and guarantees.
For Lee Hsien Loong, preserving the house was a strategic move, providing him with a political advantage.
Lee Kuan Yew was a spiritual symbol for Singaporeans, and keeping the house helped solidify Lee Hsien Loong’s political position.
For Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang, adhering to their father’s will was a way to honor his wishes and demonstrate their filial piety.
This feud had no real winners. The issue of Lee Kuan Yew’s house remains unresolved. Although Lee Hsien Loong managed to preserve the house, he lost family harmony.
The scandal of the Lee family feud has spread worldwide, severely affecting Lee Hsien Loong’s political image.
His son, Li Hongyi, has publicly expressed disinterest in politics, meaning this statement could become a blemish if he ever decides to enter politics.
Lee Hsien Yang’s family gained nothing from the feud and was even forced to leave Singapore for Hong Kong.
Lee Hsien Yang’s son, Li Shengwu, sparked controversy with his online remarks criticizing Singapore’s politics, leading to disciplinary actions against him.
The surface issue of the Lee family feud is the handling of Lee Kuan Yew’s house, but the underlying cause is the eruption of longstanding tensions.
The Lee family, despite being at Singapore’s pinnacle of power, faces more divisions the higher they climb. Ambition and conflict gradually erode familial bonds.
This feud serves as a reminder that even the closest family ties cannot withstand the strains of power and interest.
Lee Kuan Yew’s Singapore now faces new challenges, with the first family’s feud being just one of them.
Balancing power and familial bonds will be an issue for Singapore and other influential families in the future.
History teaches us that no nation or family can afford complacency. Blind confidence and internal strife only lead to disaster.
The Lee family feud, a complex battle of power, dignity, and security, offers lessons worth pondering.
Hopefully, by reflecting on history and facing reality, countries and families can handle internal issues more carefully and avoid repeating past mistakes.
In the coming decade, nations should strengthen cooperation to collectively address potential security threats, ensuring global peace and stability.
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