SINGAPORE: In a Facebook update on 9 October at 5:30 PM, Lee Hsien Yang (LHY), brother of Dr Lee Wei Ling, shared details about his sister’s funeral wake.

Dr Lee’s wake will be held at Singapore Casket, Pearl & Sapphire Hall, located at 131 Lavender Street, Singapore, from Thursday (10 October 2024) to Saturday.

The visiting hours are as follows:

• 10 October: 2 PM to 10 PM
• 11 October: 10 AM to 10 PM
• 12 October: 10 AM to 1 PM

Dr Lee, the daughter of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 69.

In an earlier Facebook post, LHY mentioned that she died at the family home at 38 Oxley Road.

LHY will likely not return to attend Dr Lee’s funeral, just as his wife was unable to attend her father’s funeral last year.

In response to CNA’s queries, LHY said he would not be returning to Singapore for Dr Lee’s wake and funeral.

He told CNA, “I am organising the funeral remotely with the help of my son Huanwu, in accordance with Ling’s wishes.”

LHY and his family have been embroiled in a dispute over the fate of the 38 Oxley property since the passing of their father, Lee Kuan Yew, in 2015.

In March last year, LHY posted on Facebook, “I am heartbroken that my own country has made me a fugitive for standing up for my father’s promise, Lee Kuan Yew.”

Dr Lee, a noted neurologist, had long been a prominent figure in Singapore’s public and private spheres.

She had chosen to live a life of privacy, never marrying and remaining close to her immediate family, particularly her brother LHY.

LHY requested that no flowers be presented in her memory and instead asked for donations to be made to three charities: Canossa Mission Singapore, Parkinson Society Singapore, and Total Well-Being SG Limited, in honour of Dr Lee’s compassionate spirit.

Illness and Final Years

Dr Lee’s diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy, which she announced in 2020, marked the beginning of a challenging period in her life.

The neurological disorder, often mistaken for Parkinson’s disease in its early stages, progressively impaired her physical movements, vision, balance, and eventually led to difficulty swallowing and an increased risk of pneumonia.

Dr Lee candidly described her condition on Facebook, explaining that for those afflicted with the disorder, death would eventually come for the fortunate.

In a poignant post in March 2023, LHY revealed that Dr Lee had become “extremely unwell.” He expressed deep sorrow over the fact that he might never see his sister again due to his own circumstances.

In 2020, just before the global COVID-19 pandemic, LHY had taken Dr Lee on a memorable trip to Machu Picchu, fulfilling one of her long-held dreams.

Family and Legacy

Dr Lee Wei Ling is survived by her brother LHY, his wife, and their children. She was the only daughter of the late LKY, Singapore’s founding prime minister, and the sister of former Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong (LHL), who is now Senior Minister.

Throughout her life, Dr Lee maintained a close relationship with her family, particularly with LHY, who had taken responsibility for her care following the passing of their father in 2015.

Despite her close family ties, Dr Lee and LHY had a well-publicised falling out with their elder brother, LHL, following their father’s death.

The dispute centred around the family home at 38 Oxley Road, where LKY had lived for most of his life.

Dr Lee and LHY accused their brother of opposing their father’s wish to have the house demolished after his passing. Dr Lee publicly referred to her brother as “the dishonourable son,” a phrase that gained wide attention during the familial dispute.

Contributions and Advocacy

In addition to her professional accomplishments as a neurologist, Dr Lee was known for her candidness and strong advocacy on matters close to her heart.

In her later years, she became an outspoken figure in Singapore, especially regarding issues of legacy, family honour, and her father’s wishes.

Her open discussions about her health and struggles with progressive supranuclear palsy also drew attention to the often-overlooked challenges faced by individuals with rare neurodegenerative diseases.

At her father’s state funeral in 2015, Dr Lee delivered a moving eulogy, where she recalled how she could not allow herself to cry, stating, “I am a Hakka woman.”

Her brother, LHY, referred to this in his tribute to her, saying, “Ling, I am less stoic than you.”

SINGAPORE: The People’s Power Party (PPP) has raised concerns over the recent sentencing of former Transport Minister Iswaran, calling for a harsher punishment and more clarity from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

In a Facebook post on Monday (7 Oct), the PPP acknowledged the High Court’s decision but expressed disappointment that the sentence did not fully reflect the seriousness of the charges.

The party agreed with High Court Judge Vincent Hoong’s assessment that the proposed sentences from both the prosecution and defence failed to address the gravity of the 34 counts of gratification involving a public servant. These acts of gratification amounted to S$403,300 in total.

However, the PPP voiced its expectation for a more severe penalty, believing that a longer sentence would send a stronger deterrent message to public officials and officeholders. “The sentence should fully reflect the severity of the charges,” the party noted.

In addition to their concerns about the sentencing, the PPP sought clarification on the AGC’s statement from 24 September 2024 regarding the application of Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA).

This section presumes corrupt intent unless proven otherwise, shifting the burden of proof to the accused. The PPP expressed interest in understanding how this legal provision was applied to Iswaran’s case and why the charges were eventually reduced from corruption to lesser offences under Section 165 of the Penal Code.

Alternative political parties call for more transparency

The PPP is not the only political party expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome of the case. The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) had also issued a statement earlier, with Secretary-General Hazel Poa calling for more transparency from the AGC.

In her statement, Poa acknowledged the high public interest in the case and urged the AGC to provide further clarity regarding its prosecutorial decisions.

Like the PPP, the PSP questioned why the charges were amended from corruption to lesser offences and emphasised the need for a sentence that would serve as a stronger deterrent to future misconduct by public officials.

Potential precedent and concerns about deterrence

Both the PPP and PSP have expressed concerns that this case could set a dangerous precedent for future corruption-related cases, particularly those involving high-ranking public servants.

The PPP noted that the reduced charges and relatively short sentence might not adequately reflect the gravity of the offences, potentially weakening the message of deterrence that the legal system aims to convey.

In its statement, the PPP emphasised the need for stronger legal measures and prosecutorial strategies in cases involving public officials.

The party suggested that clearer guidelines should be established to ensure that future cases of corruption or misconduct are handled in a way that reflects the severity of the offences and serves as a strong deterrent.

Iswaran begins sentence, opts not to appeal

Initially, Iswaran faced 35 charges, including two counts of corruption under the PCA. However, on 24 September 2024, the AGC amended the charges to less severe offences under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which pertains to public servants receiving valuable items in connection with their duties.

The AGC explained that it had encountered substantial evidentiary risks in pursuing the original corruption charges.

These risks stemmed from the fact that both Iswaran and the businessmen involved would likely deny any corrupt intent, making it difficult to prove inducement or bribery.

The AGC noted that the primary parties in the transactions had a vested interest in denying corruption, which complicated the case and reduced the likelihood of a conviction under the PCA.

Despite these challenges, Iswaran admitted to obstructing the course of justice by repaying S$5,000 for a business-class flight that Ong Beng Seng had arranged. The court considered this and the remaining 30 charges when sentencing Iswaran to 12 months in prison.

Contrary to earlier speculation that Iswaran might appeal the sentence, the former Minister announced on 7 October 2024 that he would not be filing an appeal.

Following this announcement, Iswaran has begun serving his 12-month sentence, marking the conclusion of a high-profile case that has drawn significant public interest. His decision not to appeal signals the end of the legal proceedings, though the ramifications of the case continue to be discussed by political parties and the public.

Iswaran had been sentenced for four counts of receiving valuable gifts while holding public office, in violation of Section 165 of the Penal Code. He was also convicted of one count of obstructing justice. His actions, which involved gifts from prominent businessmen Ong Beng Seng, chairman of Singapore GP, and David Lum Kok Seng, managing director of Lum Chang Holdings, were part of a broader investigation into corruption and misconduct by high-ranking officials.

Ong has since been charged with two charges, but there will not be any charge against Lum, according to the AGC.