“Suing my own brother and sister in court will further besmirch my parents’ names,” says Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

“At the end of the day, we are brothers and sister, and we are all our parents’ children,” he said in his ministerial statement on "Alleged Abuse of Power on 38 Oxley Road" at the parliamentary sitting in Singapore today.

“It would also drag out the process for years, and cause more distraction and distress to Singaporeans. Therefore, fighting this out in court cannot be my preferred choice,” said Lee who is the eldest son of the first Prime Minister of Singapore, the late Lee Kuan Yew.

He added that he had brought this matter to Parliament because Singaporeans were entitled to a full answer from him and his government.

“Parliament may not be a court of law, but it is the highest body in the land,” he said.

Lee noted that many people had asked him why he was not taking legal action to challenge the will, or sue for defamation, or take some other legal action to put a stop to this and clear his name.

“These are valid questions. I took advice and considered my options very carefully,” he said and believed he had a strong case.

“In normal circumstances, in fact, in any other imaginable circumstances but this, I would surely sue because the accusation of the abuse of power is a very grave one, however baseless it may be and it is in fact an attack not just on me, but on the whole government,” he said.

Lee said every family would understand that family disputes happened but they were not something to be flaunted in public.

“That is why I have done my best to deal with this out of the public eye.”

For example, the prime minister said he kept his submissions to the ministerial committee private.

“My purpose was not to pursue a fight with my siblings, but to assist the committee in its work.

“Unfortunately, my siblings made public allegations against me. I then had no choice but to defend myself, and release the statements and facts about the matter. I stand by the statements I have published but I really don’t want to go further if I can help it.

“Today, I am making this statement in Parliament to account to members and to Singaporeans, and to deal with the issue expeditiously so that Singaporeans can understand what it is all about and we can put the matter to rest, I hope, once and for all."

Lee noted that the legacy of his father “is much more than an old house”.

“Mr Lee’s legacy is Singapore and the values that we uphold.

“A cohesive, multi‐racial, meritocratic society. A fair and just society, where the same rules apply to everybody. Whether you are a minister, or an ordinary citizen. Whether you are the prime minister, or the children of the founding prime minister. You are not above the law.
“That in Singapore, even Mr Lee’s house and Mr Lee’s wishes are subject to the rule of law.

“That the government he built is able to withstand intense and sustained attacks on its reputation and integrity, and emerge not just untainted but, in fact, strengthened.

“This is the ‘house’ that Mr Lee built, not 38 Oxley Road,’ he said.

- Bernama