"The senior minister, in an interview with the Associated Press on 22 January 2001, expressed his personal opinion that it would have been better for the Philippines had President Estrada been removed in a constitutional way by conviction in the Senate," a parliamentary secretary said in parliament on behalf of Lee.

The answer came in response to opposition politician Joshua "J.B." Jeyaretnam who wanted Lee to defend his comments to the AP.

Former Philippine president Joseph Estrada was forced from office in January, days after an impeachment trial against him collapsed.

Lee often says that Western-style democracy is not for everyone and that Singapore would not be the wealthy, peaceful nation it is if he had followed the Western model of governing.