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Lee Wei Ling: Difference between revisions
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SGPolitico (talk | contribs) (Created page with "Lee Wei Ling was a Singaporean neurologist, author, and the director of the National Neuroscience Institute. A prominent member of the Lee family, she was the only daughter of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founding prime minister, and Kwa Geok Choo. She was the younger sister of Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore's third prime minister, and the older sister of Lee Hsien Yang. === Early Life and Education === Lee Wei Ling was born on 7 January 1955. In 1973, she received a Preside...") |
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Lee Wei Ling was born on 7 January 1955. In 1973, she received a President's Scholarship and went on to study medicine at the University of Singapore (now the National University of Singapore). | Lee Wei Ling was born on 7 January 1955. In 1973, she received a President's Scholarship and went on to study medicine at the University of Singapore (now the National University of Singapore). | ||
She graduated at the top of her class with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree, winning numerous academic prizes. Although she initially aspired to become a veterinarian due to her love for animals, she was persuaded by her parents to pursue medicine. | She graduated at the top of her class with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree, winning numerous academic prizes. Although she initially aspired to become a veterinarian due to her love for animals, she was persuaded by her parents to pursue medicine.<ref>https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2024/10/12/lhys-eulogy-dr-lee-wei-ling-brilliant-doctor-and-devoted-daughter/</ref> | ||
=== Medical Career === | === Medical Career === | ||
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Lee discovered a passion for writing later in life and became a popular columnist for ''The Straits Times''. Her columns often reflected her unfiltered views on society and personal anecdotes. | Lee discovered a passion for writing later in life and became a popular columnist for ''The Straits Times''. Her columns often reflected her unfiltered views on society and personal anecdotes. | ||
These columns were compiled into the book ''A Hakka Woman's Singapore Stories: My Life as a Daughter, Doctor, and Diehard Singaporean'', which became a bestseller in 2016. | These columns were compiled into the book ''[https://www.stbooks.sg/products/a-hakka-womans-singapore-stories-chinese?variant=46368936916 A Hakka Woman's Singapore Stories: My Life as a Daughter, Doctor, and Diehard Singaporean]'', which became a bestseller in 2016. | ||
Lee was a staunch advocate for her father’s wish to prevent the deification of his legacy, writing in 2016 that "Lee Kuan Yew would have cringed at the hero worship just one year after his death." | Lee was a staunch advocate for her father’s wish to prevent the deification of his legacy, writing in 2016 that "Lee Kuan Yew would have cringed at the hero worship just one year after his death." | ||
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Alongside her brother Lee Hsien Yang, she opposed Lee Hsien Loong's alleged plans to preserve the house as a monument, arguing that this contravened their father’s explicit wishes for its demolition. | Alongside her brother Lee Hsien Yang, she opposed Lee Hsien Loong's alleged plans to preserve the house as a monument, arguing that this contravened their father’s explicit wishes for its demolition. | ||
The siblings publicly accused Lee Hsien Loong of leveraging his position to further personal and political goals, leading to a heated dispute in 2017. A parliamentary session was convened to address the matter, after which the siblings agreed to keep the family conflict private. | The siblings publicly accused Lee Hsien Loong of leveraging his position to further personal and political goals, leading to a heated dispute in 2017. | ||
A parliamentary session was convened to address the matter, after which the siblings agreed to keep the family conflict private.<ref>https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2017/07/06/dr-lee-weiling-and-mr-lee-hsien-yang-cease-presenting-further-evidence-on-social-media-provided-if-lkys-will-is-not-further-attacked/</ref> | |||
=== Illness and Death === | === Illness and Death === | ||
In August 2020, Lee revealed that she had been diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare brain disorder that affected her balance and mobility. Despite her illness, she remained stoic, continuing her writing and maintaining her resolve to live life to the fullest. | In August 2020, Lee revealed that she had been diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare brain disorder that affected her balance and mobility.<ref>https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2020/08/09/neurologist-and-lkys-daughter-lee-weiling-diagnosed-with-progressive-supranuclear-palsy/</ref> Despite her illness, she remained stoic, continuing her writing and maintaining her resolve to live life to the fullest. | ||
Lee passed away at her home on 9 October 2024, at the age of 69. Honoring her wishes, her funeral was simple, and her ashes were scattered at sea. | Lee passed away at her home on 9 October 2024, at the age of 69. Honoring her wishes, her funeral was simple, and her ashes were scattered at sea. | ||