Singaporean PM apologizes for harm caused by dispute with siblings

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong apologized for the harm caused by the dispute with his siblings in a statement issued on Monday.

Lee said he "deeply regrets" that the dispute has affected Singapore's reputation and Singaporeans' confidence in the government. He added that the baseless allegations made by his siblings must be dealt with openly and refuted.

The prime minister said that he will make a ministerial statement to refute the charges when Parliament sits on July 3.

"I hope that this full, public airing in Parliament will dispel any doubts that have been planted and strengthen confidence in our institutions and our system of the government," he said.

The disputes between the Singaporean prime minister and his siblings started last week with a statement jointly made by his siblings, Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang.

The two siblings criticized the prime minister over the formation of a "secret committee" to look into options for their late father Lee Kuan Yew's house at 38, Oxley Road. They claimed that the committee was set up to obstruct them from carrying out Lee Kuan Yew's wish that the house be demolished after his death.