Singapore says ‘no basis’ to allegations of criminal prosecution against Lee Hsien Yang, in response to his UK asylum status

SINGAPORE: Mr Lee Hsien Yang said on Tuesday (Oct 22) that he is now a political refugee in the United Kingdom after seeking asylum protection in 2022.

Citing the Singapore government’s “attacks” against him, Mr Lee, the younger brother of former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, said he 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 said in a Facebook post.

In response to media queries from The Guardian about Mr Lee’s asylum status, the Singapore government said there is “no basis” to allegations of criminal prosecution against him as well as other claims about political repression.

“Singapore’s judiciary is impartial and makes decisions independently. This is why Singaporeans have a high level of trust in the judiciary,” the government added.

It noted that there are no legal restraints on Mr Lee and his wife Mrs Lee Suet Fern returning to Singapore.

“They are and have always been free to return to Singapore,” it added.

This is the Singapore government’s response in full: