Founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's contributions to Singapore are immeasurable, but in his upcoming book, former Foreign Affairs Minister George Y
Founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s contributions to Singapore are immeasurable, but in his upcoming book, former Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo claims that Lee inadvertently “harmed” the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) chances in the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) during the 2011 General Election, as reported by CNA.
Yeo recalls how Lee antagonized Aljunied voters by stating that those who chose the opposition would have “five years to repent.” This remark, detailed in the final installment of his trilogy George Yeo: Musings, is set to be released on August 31. Yeo ultimately lost his parliamentary seat in Aljunied GRC to the Workers’ Party that year and subsequently retired from politics.
Yeo revealed that while Lee apologized privately for his remarks, he did not do so publicly, a fact that disappointed Yeo. “Lee Kuan Yew always told us that a public offence could not be made up by a private apology. As a politician, I understood the tactical purpose,” he stated, noting that the comments drew attention away from other issues amid considerable anger directed at the PAP.
Key issues that emerged during the 2011 General Election included immigration, rising inflation, and competition for jobs and housing. The PAP received only 60.1% of the votes, marking its lowest performance since Singapore’s independence.
In George Yeo: Musings, Yeo expresses that he eventually found closure with Lee after a period of “tensions” between them. Following news of Lee’s declining health in September 2013, Yeo reached out to convey his birthday wishes, which led to a meeting with Lee and his wife. Their last encounter was at the 2014 National Day Parade, just before Lee’s passing on March 23, 2015.
Speaking to CNA and Today ahead of his book launch, Yeo emphasized that the chapters discussing his interactions with Lee were not intended as critiques of the former leader but aimed to provide a balanced and honest perspective on their relationship. “I presented an overall picture (and) a total assessment of my experience with him,” he explained.
Since retiring from politics, Yeo has become a visiting scholar at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and the founding patron of its Asia Competitiveness Institute. In 2014, he was also appointed to the Vatican’s Council for the Economy, as reported by The Straits Times.
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