Critics are not locals, says Lee

THE Senior Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, said yesterday that criticism about his son holding a high post in the government was not coming from Singaporeans.

Mr Lee, the most powerful man in Singapore for 40 years, was asked in an interview on CNBC Asia how he felt about criticism of a political "dynasty" in Singapore.

One of his sons, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, holds the post of deputy prime minister and co-head of the de facto central bank and is often mentioned as a candidate for prime minister. Another son heads Singapore's telephone monopoly.

"It's not criticism from Singaporeans," Mr Lee is reported to have said. "My son has been in politics now for 14 years.

"I am not suffering from any inadequacy syndrome," the senior Mr Lee was quoted as saying.

"I do not seek vicarious fulfilment off my son. I live for myself. He lives for himself. If he does not measure up then it's his bad luck."

Mr Lee was Singapore's prime minister from 1959 to 1990, when he stepped down and in favour of his handpicked successor, Mr Goh Chok Tong. Mr Lee took the post of "senior minister in the prime minister's office".