Lee Wei Ling says her father Lee Kuan Yew ‘would have cringed at the hero worship’

SINGAPORE — Recently, the government announced a series of initiatives, including the release of a commemorative coin and exhibitions, to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew. Speaking in Parliament on Feb 7, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng shared that various government agencies have planned tributes to honour Mr Lee’s contributions to the country.

“As our founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew holds a special place in Singapore’s history,” said Dr Tan, adding that many community groups have also initiated efforts to raise awareness of his legacy, particularly among younger Singaporeans who may not have witnessed his leadership firsthand.

However, in response to journalist Bertha Henson’s query about what Lee Kuan Yew might think of these tributes, his son, Lee Hsien Yang, pointed to a previous post by his sister, Lee Wei Ling, in which she expressed her father’s likely discomfort with such adulation.

In her 2016 post, Lee Wei Ling said her father “would have cringed at the hero worship” surrounding his legacy. She emphasized that Singaporeans must prepare for life beyond the era of Lee Kuan Yew, noting that her father was staunchly opposed to any form of personality cult.

Recalling her first visit to China with her father in 1976, she described how the delegation was greeted with a staged display of children chanting, “Welcome, Welcome, a Very Warm Welcome.” Mr Lee was unimpressed, finding the ceremony artificial and unnecessary, reflecting his belief that Singaporeans are not inclined toward excessive displays of emotion.

In response to tributes held after his passing, Lee Wei Ling questioned how the time and resources spent on commemorating her father would truly benefit Singapore and its people. She stressed that Lee Kuan Yew was strongly against any form of cronyism or veneration, which could mislead future generations into believing his actions were driven by a desire for fame or a dynastic legacy.

“He worked tirelessly for Singapore’s advancement, not for personal recognition or to leave behind a grand legacy,” she concluded.