Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was unable to hold back his sadness during his closing speech in Parliament today.

The moment came towards the end of his oral reply to “Alleged Abuse of Power over 38, Oxley Road” on the second day of the parliamentary sitting.

It was when he recounted that at age about 13, his father, Singapore’s first prime minister, the late Lee Kuan Yew, had told him: “If anything happens to me, please take care of your mother, and your younger sister and brother.”

Lee said little did he expect that after his parents died, “tensions would erupt, with such grievous consequences”.

“After so many years, I’d been unable to fulfil the role which my father hoped I would,” Lee said after taking multiple pauses in his speech but he quickly managed to hold back his emotions.

Earlier, Lee thanked Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Members of Parliament Chia Yong Yong and Charles Chong for their wishes for reconciliation within his family.

“I would like to think so, too. It will be a difficult and long road,” said Lee, the eldest son of the founding father of Singapore.

However, he hoped that one day, “these passions will subside, and we can begin to reconcile”.

“At the very least, I hope that my siblings will not visit their resentments and grievances with one generation onto the next generation.

“And further, that they do not transmit their enmity and feud to our children,” he said. 

This time around, the Singapore Parliament sitting made its own history as the House heard fully the accusations against the prime minister and his government.

It was aimed at enabling Lee and his Cabinet to give account to Parliament and clear the air.

This was prompted by allegations of abuse of power made against Lee by his younger siblings on June 14 over their late father's wishes for the family home at Oxley Road.

All members of Parliament had the opportunity to raise questions for themselves and their constituents.

- Bernama