In a virtual press conference streamed over Facebook live on June 29, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong introduced the GE2020 PAP candidates for Ang Mo Kio GRC.

GE not about PM Lee or his family disputes

During the question and answer segment of the press conference, a reporter from the Chinese papers Lianhe Zaobao asked PM Lee about his response to Lee Hsien Yang joining PSP and possibly contesting in GE2020.

"I don’t have any specific comment, he is within his rights as a citizen", PM Lee said.

He emphasised that the GE is not about him "or any family disputes which may involve my brother and me", and that the GE is pivoted on Singapore's future.

PM Lee added that Singapore is facing "the most serious crisis we’ve seen since independence", and that we should turn our attention on the big issues, namely health, jobs and the future.

His response in full is as follows:

"I don’t have any specific comment, he is within his rights as a citizen. This GE is not about me or any family disputes which may involve my brother and me, it’s about Singapore’s future at a very grave moment in our history where we are facing the most serious crisis we’ve seen since independence. Health, jobs and the future - and I think we should focus our attention on those big issues."

Accompanied PSP candidates

Lee Hsien Yang has been accompanying candidates from the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) at walkabouts in various estates over the last few days.

He was not introduced as one of the PSP's 24 candidates, but secretary-general Tan Cheng Bock did say that "in politics, change can happen", implying a switch of candidates was still possible.

Lee Hsien Yang previously told the media that he was not getting involved in politics for personal reasons.

Tan said Lee Hsien Yang had joined the PSP because he believed in the party’s vision and mentioned that Lee was "not very happy with his brother’s performance".

Tan said he and Lee Hsien Yang had felt that the appointment of people in various institutions in Singapore "very open for questioning”, and that various issues lack transparency as well.

Top image via PAP, Julia Yeo