PM Lee waives Parliamentary privilege on his statements

Singapore

PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong has waived his Parliamentary privilege over the statements he made in Parliament to dispute the claims made against him by his siblings over the fate of 38 Oxley Road.

The public clash within the Lee family, first played out over social media, had led PM Lee this week to address through Parliament allegations by his siblings of an abuse of power over the process of deciding if the Lees' family home should be demolished. Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew died on March 23, 2015.

Parliamentary privilege is granted to Members of Parliament as protection against civil or criminal liability for statements made in Parliament. In particular, this immunity protects legislators from defamation suits based on statements made in Parliament.

In the ministerial statements - released as transcripts on Wednesday - PM Lee had said that "suing my own brother and sister in court would further besmirch our parents' names".

"I have been advised that I have a strong legal case. And in normal circumstances, I would surely sue because the accusations of abuse of power are so grave," said Mr Lee.

"Mr Low (Thia Khiang) argued that we should 'do whatever it takes to bring the issue to a quick resolution'. I agree but going to court will not achieve this. It would drag out the process for years, cause further distress to Singaporeans, and distract us from the many urgent issues that we must deal with."

On Wednesday evening, Lee Hsien Yang said on Facebook that he and his sister Lee Wei Ling are not making a criticism of the government.

"The government asks of us, 'Are they whistleblowing in a noble effort to save Singapore, or waging a personal vendetta without any care for the damage done to Singapore?' We are not making a criticism of the Government of Singapore."

He added: "What we have said is that we are disturbed by the character, conduct, motives and leadership of our brother, Lee Hsien Loong. Since Lee Kuan Yew's passing, we have felt threatened by LHL's misuse of his position and influence over the Singapore government and its agencies to drive his personal agenda."

The latest comments come after Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said in Parliament this week that "from what Lee Hsien Yang and his wife (Lee Suet Fern) are freely telling many others, it is clear that their goal is to bring Lee Hsien Loong down as PM, regardless of the huge collateral damage suffered by the government and Singaporeans".