Soft launch before GE? – Li Hongyi makes rare media appearance, triggering PAP candidacy rumours

SINGAPORE: A new media appearance Singapore Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s son, Li Hongyi, made last week has triggered speculation as to whether the appearance is a soft launch and whether he will be part of the ruling party’s slate for the 2025 General Election.

Although it is unclear when the election will be held, with the Prime Minister and the secretary-general of the People’s Action Party (PAP) having discretion over the timing of the polls, rumours are rife that the election may take place as soon as early May. Both the PAP and opposition parties have been busy, launching new faces, staking claims to wards, and releasing their manifestos, with 9 May being touted online as a potential date Singaporeans may go to the polls.

Amid the heat of these activities, BRAVE Southeast has published a video interview with Li Hongyi. While the interview revolves around Mr Li’s work as director of Open Government Products at the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech), the rare media appearance has raised eyebrows online given the timing of its release.

The video has been reposted on online forums and social networking sites, with a number of commenters asking whether Mr Li will be standing for election. One commenter asked, “A split image of his father in looks, speech and mannerism. Standing for the coming election?” Some others noted that Mr Li is rarely interviewed and asked whether it is truly coincidental that the interview was published on 9 Apr, possibly a month before the polls.

Speculation over Mr Li’s potential future involvement in politics has been rife for several years now. SM Lee, in an interview that took place in 2018 while he was Singapore Prime Minister, responded to whether the next generation of Lees would join politics. Noting that it would be unkind of him to “burden” his children since it is “difficult enough” for them to carry his name, Mr Lee said:

“Not sure any of them have shown any interest in coming to politics. They are entitled to, but I don’t think it’s likely they feel the same compulsion that I did – duty that I do. They have their own responsibilities, their careers. I’m sure they’ll make contributions in their own ways. But it would be unkind of me to add more burden on them. It’s difficult enough for them as it is to carry my name.”

In 2017, Mr Li Hongyi himself said that he really has no interest in politics after his paternal uncle and aunt accused his father of grooming him for politics during the explosive Lee family dispute.

His cousin, Lee Hsien Yang’s eldest son Li Shengwu, later called this statement “vague” and told the press: “He only said he has no interest in politics, but my uncle Lee Hsien Loong also once said he wasn’t interested in politics when he was in his 20s. These words can easily be taken back.”