In a recent interview, it was announced that Lee Wei Ling, daughter of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and sister to the current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has passed away at the age of 69. A neurologist by training, Lee Wei Ling had been battling a serious brain condition for many years. She was also entangled in a public dispute with her brother regarding the future of their father’s residence.
As reported by Lianhe Zaobao, Lee Hsien Yang, the brother of Lee Hsien Loong, shared the news of her death on Facebook, noting that she had died at home. Back in 2020, she opened up about her health issues on the platform, revealing her diagnosis of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a condition that exhibits symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease.
The report elaborated on her struggles, explaining that the disease had taken a severe toll on her, impacting her movement, eye coordination, and balance, which put her at risk for falls and caused difficulties with swallowing. Lee Hsien Yang had previously mentioned that her condition had significantly deteriorated by March of last year.
Lee Wei Ling once recounted a harrowing experience on Facebook about getting lost during a late-night walk in Fort Canning Park, which culminated in a fractured limb and required police intervention for medical assistance. Despite her health setbacks, she remained passionate about her work in neurology.
The family home has been a source of contention since Lee Kuan Yew’s passing, with tensions rising within Singapore’s First Family. In 2017, both Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Wei Ling publicly accused Lee Hsien Loong of disregarding their father’s final wishes by wanting to keep the home for his political advantage. In response, Lee Hsien Loong issued a statement via his lawyer, posing several questions concerning the validity of the last will.
