Lee Hsien Loong

Lee Hsien Loong PPA(E) SPMJ DK AC (born 10 February 1952), also known by his initials LHL, is a Singaporean politician and former military officer who has served as the Senior Minister of Singapore since 2024, having previously served as the third Prime Minister between 2004 and 2024. He also served as the secretary-general of the governing People's Action Party (PAP) between 2004 and 2024. As a Member of Parliament (MP), he has represented the Teck Ghee division of Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (GRC) since 1991, having previously represented Teck Ghee Single Member Constituency (SMC) between 1984 and 1991.

Born and raised in Singapore during British colonial rule, Lee is the eldest son of Singapore's first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew. He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1974 with first class honours in mathematics and a Diploma in Computer Science with distinction (equivalent to a first-class master's in computer science). He served in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) between 1971 and 1984, and attained the rank of Brigadier-General, completing a Master of Public Administration degree at Harvard Kennedy School in 1980. Lee discharged from the SAF in 1984 to enter politics.

Lee served in several cabinet roles under Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong before succeeding the latter to becoming prime minister in 2004. Early in his term, his government enacted a five-day work week and extended maternity leave. He proposed building two integrated resorts to boost tourism, which resulted in the Marina Bay Sands and the Resorts World Sentosa. After the Great Recession, he managed the national economic recovery and introduced reforms to increase non-constituency members of parliament. He later led the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated recession and recovery. In 2022, Singapore became the only Southeast Asian country to sanction Russia following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. His government also legalised male same-sex sexual activity by repealing Section 377A, which was already an unenforced law. In 2024, Lee stepped down and was succeeded by Lawrence Wong, who appointed him as a senior minister in his cabinet.

Lee maintained political continuity and technocratic governance while expanding social safety nets and public housing to further reduce inequality. However, critics noted his high level of control over political discourse and the use of defamation lawsuits against journalists and bloggers such as Roy Ngerng. These actions were often viewed as a way of discouraging dissent. Additionally, the introduction of the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act in 2019 raised concerns about a chilling effect on free speech. He also faced a public dispute with his siblings regarding their late father's house at 38 Oxley Road. Throughout his tenure, Lee remained the highest-paid head of government globally.