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Lee Kuan Yew

Lee Kuan Yew is considered the founding father of modern Singapore. Born Harry Lee Kuan Yew in September 1923, he governed Singapore over three decades and oversaw its separation from Malaysia, transforming it from a relatively underdeveloped British colonial outpost with no natural resources into a "First World" Asian Tiger. His People's Action Party won eight back-to-back electoral victories until he stepped aside in 1990. Lee stepped down from government in 2011. Lee died on March 23, 2015.

Born

16 Sep 1923

Industry

Politics

Job Title

Former Prime Minister of Singapore

last updated:

7 October, 2024

Lee Kuan Yew

As Singapore’s ruling PAP turns 70, can its dominance last?

Amid rising living costs and shifting voter sentiments, the People’s Action Party faces unprecedented challenges on its 70th anniversary.

Demolish or keep? Survey gauges Singaporeans’ views on 38 Oxley Road

Lee Hsien Yang claims Singapore ‘weaponised’ laws against critics

Amid 38 Oxley Road debate, a look at how Asia preserves former leaders’ homes

Homes including those of ex-Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad have been transformed to commemorate their contributions over the years.

Lee Hsien Yang creating ‘false’ urgency for Oxley Road demolition: Singapore

The estranged brother of former Singapore PM had urged PM Lawrence Wong to expedite action in fulfilling Lee Kuan Yew’s wish for the house to be demolished.

Backlash over eating hotpot in a car, China’s biggest trade show: 7 highlights

From top talents in Hong Kong struggling to find work to backlash over eating hotpot in an electric vehicle, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Leaving Singapore: a look at Lee Hsien Yang and 6 others who chose asylum

Among the asylum seekers were blogger Amos Yee, the late former prosecutor Francis Seow and pro-Palestinian activist Ang Swee Chai.

Singapore weighs preserving 38 Oxley Road despite Lee Hsien Yang’s application

NHB says allowing Lee Hsien Yang’s demolition bid now would rule out a ‘proper and full consideration’ of the options for the house.

Singapore’s Lee Hsien Yang says he is ‘political refugee’, has UK asylum status

The brother of former Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong says the UK has assessed he faces ‘a well-founded risk of persecution’.

Singapore’s Lee Hsien Yang to apply to demolish Oxley Road home

Lee Hsien Yang and sister Lee Wei Ling had accused older brother, then-PM Lee Hsien Loong, of attempting to keep home for political capital.

Singapore ex-PM Lee Hsien Loong attends wake of sister Lee Wei Ling

The move comes amid the resurfacing of the 38 Oxley Road family feud.

Lee Wei Ling, daughter of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, dies at 69

Brother and former PM Lee Hsien Loong posted a heartfelt message about his sister’s death, lamenting ‘shadow’ that had come between siblings.

Singapore ministers slam Lee Hsien Yang’s ‘rich’ claim on father’s link to suit

Ministers Vivian Balakrishnan and K. Shanmugam took issue with Lee Hsien Yang’s Facebook post about their defamation suit against him.

Elon Musk praises Singapore’s Lee Hsien Loong for ‘wisdom’ on woke culture

The Tesla CEO shared a clip of Lee saying the wokeness movement leads to ‘extreme attitudes and social norms’.

Kishore Mahbubani calls criticism of his memoir ‘fossilised’ thinking

Singapore’s veteran diplomat denies saying that Lee Kuan Yew was jealous of him over a global magazine ranking.

Kishore Mahbubani on Singapore’s ‘secrets’ to success and why he annoyed Lee Kuan Yew

In his book ‘Living the Asian Century’, the veteran diplomat explains the principles behind Singapore’s winning governance model.

How Kishore Mahbubani got S$100 million in 3 minutes from Hong Kong’s Li Ka-shing

In his book ‘Living the Asian Century’, the veteran diplomat recalls how a bold request led to a stunningly generous donation for his school.

Kishore Mahbubani in his memoir: the rebel undergraduate who took on Lee Kuan Yew

In his book ‘Living the Asian Century’, the veteran diplomat recalls how an article criticising Singapore’s founding father changed his life

SpaceX’s Musk praises Singapore’s ‘brilliant’ first PM for Changi Airport

Elon Musk shared a blog lauding Lee Kuan Yew’s foresight in developing Changi Airport, which has been named the world’s best airport 12 times by London-based research firm Skytrax.

Singapore’s new PM Lawrence Wong sworn in, pledges to ‘lead in our own way’

Singapore’s fourth prime minister sworn in on Wednesday evening, taking the reins at a time of intensifying great power rivalry abroad and an increased appetite for political opposition at home.

The Loong goodbye: not the end of the political road for Singapore PM

Lee Hsien Loong has led the island nation through major challenges in his two decades behind the wheel and will hand over power on May 15.

Who is Singapore’s Lawrence Wong? From political underdog to next PM

Those who know Wong say he is a ‘highly relatable political leader’, and laud him for being a team player, a quiet go-getter and a persistent doer.

Kissinger’s mixed legacy: from ‘war criminal’ in Vietnam to ‘friend’ of Singapore

Many Vietnamese think Henry Kissinger ‘crippled the country’, while in Singapore he is respected as a pivotal anti-Communist ally who was a confidante of Lee Kuan Yew.

‘The whole city is my garden’: Singapore plants seeds for a green revolution

Singapore’s government has a goal to plant 1 million new trees by 2030, and make it so in the future no citizen should live more than a 10-minute walk from a park.

Singapore court orders PM’s estranged brother to pay damages to ministers

In a Facebook post, alleged that the Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan were given preferential treatment in renting colonial bungalows.

World in ‘transition’ from US-led order to multipolar one: Singapore’s George Yeo

At a launch for his latest book, the ex-minister commented on China’s rise, the war in Gaza, why Hongkongers are ‘bothered by Singapore’, and on late leader Lee Kuan Yew: ‘He was not a sadist.’

Li Ka-shing hails Hong Kong and Singapore’s growth path in Lee Kuan Yew tribute

Hong Kong’s richest man commended Lee’s commitment to the people in his video message, adding he missed his ‘old friend’.

Malaysia-born Hong Kong billionaire Robert Kuok feted on 100th birthday

Hong Kong tycoons Li Ka-shing and Lee Shau-kee are among those who have extended warm wishes to Malaysia’s richest man on his centenary.