Lee Kuan Yew’s younger son steps down as CAAS chairman

Lee Hsien Yang, the younger son of Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, is stepping down from his position as chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS). The Transport Ministry in announcing his end of term said Mr Lee played an “instrumental role” in the development of Singapore as an aviation hub.

The Ministry is recognising his 9 years of service as CAAS chairman said it puts “on record its appreciation to Mr Lee Hsien Yang for his many years of dedicated and distinguished service to the CAAS.”

Mr Lee severely criticised his older brother Lee Hsien Loong and his government over their treatment of their late father’s estate. Mr Lee’s older brother is the Prime Minister of Singapore.

In April last year amid an escalating row with his older brother and his government, Mr Lee said that he was “being forced to leave the country”.

In an interview given to a local newspaper, Mr Lee said: “I have no desire to leave this country. I am being forced to leave. I have lived here my whole life, I love Singapore and it is my country. Why would I want to move if I did not feel persecuted?”

When the newspaper asked him about his chairmanship at CAAS, Mr Lee did not give any indication that he would be stepping down, but instead said: “We have accomplished much at CAAS, with the board and the management. There are many major expansion projects ongoing which positions the aviation industry for the future. It would my privilege and of course I would make every effort to continue to serve Singapore.”

From 1 July, deputy chairman Edmund Cheng Wai Wing will succeed Lee. Cheng is currently Singapore Art Museum chairman, and is also the deputy chairman of Wing Tai Holdings and the chairman of Mapletree Investments.

Cheng is the brother of former head of Hong Kong’s Central Policy Unit Edgar Cheng Wai-kin, and his previous appointments include serving as the chair of SATS, the Singapore Tourism Board and the National Arts Council.