Brother of Singapore's founding father says family feud linked to corruption claims

Lee Hsien Yang says he and sister have evidence of possible corruption by Singapore's leaders

SINGAPORE - The brother of Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew has accused the city-state's leaders of corruption, linking the claims to a family feud that has played out in public since the elder Lee's death in 2015.

Lee Hsien Yang, the younger brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, made the allegations in a Facebook post on Wednesday, saying he and his sister Lee Wei Ling have "a trove of documents" that they believe "prove possible corruption and abuse of power at the highest echelons."

He did not provide any specific details about the alleged corruption, but said the documents would be released "when the time is right."

The allegations are the latest in a series of public spats between Lee Hsien Yang and his brother, who have been at odds over the fate of their father's house.

Corruption charges denied by leaders

The Singapore government has denied the corruption charges, calling them "baseless" and "outrageous."

"The government of Singapore takes a very serious view of any allegations of corruption," a spokesperson said in a statement.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and we will not hesitate to take action against anyone who is found to have engaged in corrupt practices."

The allegations come at a time when Singapore is facing increasing scrutiny over its human rights record and its handling of dissent.

In recent years, the government has been criticized for its crackdown on free speech and its use of the death penalty.

The corruption allegations are likely to further damage Singapore's reputation and could lead to calls for an independent investigation.

Conclusion

The corruption allegations made by Lee Hsien Yang are serious and could have a significant impact on Singapore's reputation.

The government has denied the charges, but the allegations are likely to fuel further scrutiny of Singapore's human rights record and its handling of dissent.