'Farewell Ling, you will always be my special big sister': Lee Hsien Yang in eulogy

"I said my goodbyes to Ling in June 2022. I wish I could have been here today for this final farewell," said Lee Hsien Yang in his eulogy for his elder sister Lee Wei Ling.

He added that Lee Wei Ling, who passed away on Oct. 9 at the age of 69, wanted her ashes to be scattered at sea.

Lee Hsien Yang's eulogy was delivered via video at Lee Wei Ling's funeral on Oct. 12, where about 30 people, including his sons, Li Huanwu and Li Shaowu, sent her off.

In June 2022, Lee Hsien Yang and his wife, Lee Suet Fern, left and have remained out of Singapore after being investigated for potential offences of giving false evidence in judicial proceedings over founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yews' will.

On Oct. 9 (Singapore time), Lee Hsien Yang shared that he would not be returning to Singapore to attend Lee Wei Ling's wake and funeral from Oct. 10 to 12.

Instead, he would be "organising the funeral remotely" in accordance with her wishes, and his second son, Li Huanwu, would be assisting him from Singapore.

A fighter 'throughout her life'

In his eulogy, Lee Hsien Yang said his sister had been "a fighter" from the outset.

He is reminded of this by a scar he carries from "a particularly vigorous" physical fight they had when they were little, he jokingly added.

However, Lee Wei Ling's fighting spirit also manifested itself in academics, in which she had always been "studious, driven, and intense", shared Lee Hsien Yang.

"She loved animals and wanted to be a vet but was persuaded by our parents to pursue medicine instead. Always wanting to earn their approval, she graduated at the top of her class in medical school in Singapore and won a slew of prizes," he recounted.

Here, Lee Hsien Yang added:

"Today, when I look back, I wish our family had acknowledged and recognised at home her accomplishments. It would have meant the world to her."

Encouraged family to value physical fitness

Besides academics, Lee Wei Ling also excelled at physical fitness, with her typical regime involving "hours of exercise on a cross trainer, a rowing machine, and swimming", said Lee Hsien Yang.

As a "superb long-distance runner" and a Karate black belt holder, Lee Wei Ling encouraged Lee Hsien Yang and their father, Lee Kuan Yew, to value physical fitness as well.

"Because of her, my father gave up golf and took up jogging," shared Lee Hsien Yang.

Even as Lee Wei Ling aged and "became prone to injury", she "resented having to scale back her exercise regime".

"Ling sought in running, and in life, to 'fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds' worth of distance run," said Lee Hsien Yang.

Hiked in Peru despite declining health

Lee Wei Ling's grit did not diminish even as her health began to decline in 2020, shared Lee Hsien Yang.

That year, Lee Wei Ling revealed that she had been diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, of which the symptoms included difficulty in swallowing, choking aspiration, and pneumonia.

Although her "incipient illness had affected her sense of balance and mobility", Lee Wei Ling invited Lee Hsien Yang on a trip to Machu Picchu in Peru before the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Lee Hsien Yang, "with a little help", his elder sister managed to successfully get around the citadel, which is "built on a very remote and isolated steep outcrop".

"I am so glad we made that trip together," Lee Hsien Yang reflected.

Took care of family

Within her family, Lee Wei Ling also took care of her family members with her "strong clinical skills" and provided them with "spot-on" diagnoses, including in areas outside her specialisation of neurology.

"Bedside manners were not her forte, and completely in character, she never sugar-coated her diagnosis to patients. But she was straightforward and would always be her patient's best champion," said Lee Hsien Yang.

As their parents aged, Lee Wei Ling took on the responsibility of caring for them.

"For this, I remain eternally grateful," shared Lee Hsien Yang.

Lee Hsien Yang those who helped sister

Lee Hsien Yang concluded his eulogy by reiterating a statement that Lee Wei Ling "directed [him] to convey" upon her passing, which he also published in a Facebook post on Oct. 9.

He also thanked the doctors and individuals who had taken care of Lee Wei Ling and expressed his gratitude to his son, Li Huanwu, for handling her affairs and care arrangements in his absence.

"Farewell Ling, you will always be my special big sister," said Lee Hsien Yang.

Related stories

Top images via Lee Wei Ling & Lee Hsien Yang/Facebook