'There's a dark side': brother of Singapore PM hits out at regime after gaining UK asylum

(31 Oct 2024) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS London, UK - 28 October 2024 1. Various of Lee Hsien Yang, son of Singapore's founder and brother of Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, during interview 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Lee Hsien Yang, son of Singapore's founder and brother of Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: "I was forced to seek asylum. I was the victim of persecution by the Singaporean authorities. It has taken place over a long period of time and has escalated over that period of time. You know, it's well documented. And in June 2022, it reached a point where it was unsafe for me to remain in Singapore, and my wife and I left hurriedly. And when we arrived in the UK, we took advice and then we sought asylum." 3. Various of Lee 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Lee Hsien Yang, son of Singapore's founder and brother of Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: "Actually, in the process of the asylum claim, more things happened to me in Singapore, which, of course, added to the list of basis by which I claimed asylum. At the end of the day, the UK has made a decision. I think that decision recognizes that I have been the victim of persecution by the Singapore authorities using the organs of the state. In a tightly controlled country like Singapore, where my brother was the Prime Minister and held the levers of power, there's no way these things happen in Singapore without his knowledge, his consent and his agreement." ASSOCIATED PRESS Singapore - 5 September 2024 5. Various of Parliament building exterior ASSOCIATED PRESS London, UK - 28 October 2024 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Lee Hsien Yang, son of Singapore's founder and brother of Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: "For a rich, wealthy, affluent, developed country, you know, there's a dark side to it. You see this shiny exterior, but beneath that, there is a repressive nature to that regime, and there are people fleeing from it. I'm the most prominent example of that." ASSOCIATED PRESS Singapore - 5 September 2024 7. Various of Singapore skyline ASSOCIATED PRESS London, UK - 28 October 2024 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Lee Hsien Yang, son of Singapore's founder and brother of Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: "Singapore has this veneer that purports to be a sort of affluent, democratic, free country. The veneer is quite thin. Look beneath it, and there's a dark side. I think the day will come when things will change. It's hard to say when, and often, when it comes, it comes swiftly. I hope it will come in my lifetime and that one day I'll be able to return to my home." ASSOCIATED PRESS Singapore - 7 July 2020 9. Various of Lee wearing red face mask and campaigning inside market ASSOCIATED PRESS London, UK - 28 October 2024 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Lee Hsien Yang, son of Singapore's founder and brother of Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: "Many people claim this is a family feud. Well, the actions taken against me were taken by the organs of the state and the house, which is a private matter, as many people see it, is belongs to me, but the government has taken it into their hands. The actions personally have involved actions against my son, against my wife and more recently against me. They are flagrantly unfair and abusive." 11. Close of Lee 12. SOUNDBITE (English) Lee Hsien Yang, son of Singapore's founder and brother of Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: 13. Wide of Lee STORYLINE: The Lee brothers have been at odds since they fell out over the will of their late father. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...