Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong denies sister's abuse of power accusations

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has rejected allegations by his sister that he abused his power to lavishly commemorate the first anniversary's of his father's death.

In a Facebook post on 10 April, Dr Lee Wei Ling accused Lee's administration of trying to "hero-worship" the city state's founder, Lee Yuan Kew, and of exploiting the occasion to establish a political "dynasty", Channel News Asia reported.

She reportedly wrote she was at odds with Lee "on a matter of principle" over the commemorations, which fell on 23 March. The post was deleted later on 10 April, Channel News Asia said.

Lee said he was "deeply saddened" by his sister's claims that he had used the commemorations for his own political gains.

"The first anniversary of a person's passing is a significant moment to remember him and reflect on what he meant to us. The more so with Mr Lee Kuan Yew," the prime minister wrote on Facebook.

"The Cabinet had discussed how we should mark the occasion. My advice was that we should leave it to ground-up efforts. Groups should keep their observances in proportion, and focused on the future.

"We reviewed the events and observances that different groups had planned, and agreed that they were generally appropriate.

"The idea that I should wish to establish a dynasty makes even less sense. Meritocracy is a fundamental value of our society, and neither I, the PAP (People's Action Party), nor the Singapore public would tolerate any such attempt," Lee added.

The PAP has won every election in Singapore since the island was granted self-rule by Britain in 1959, with Lee Yuan Kew ruling the city state from 1959 to 1990. He died of pneumonia at the age of 91 on 23 March 2015.

Lee Hsien Loong won a fresh five-year mandate in September last year, with analysts attributing the landslide election victory to a surge of patriotic feeling among Singaporeans in the wake of his father's death and the 50th National Day celebrations.