Dick Lee Opens Up About Blaming Himself for His Sister’s Death

The CNA series The Assembly sees a group of neurodivergent individuals interviewing Singaporean public figures in refreshingly candid, no-holds-barred conversations. 

In the first episode of its new season, local music and theatre icon Dick Lee, 69, took the hot seat and opened up about one of the most painful chapters of his life: the death of his sister, Patricia.

One interviewer posed this question: "For a very long time, you blamed yourself for [your sister's death]. Why is that?"

Dick paused before replying quietly: “Indirectly, I had something to do with it.”

He went on to explain that at the time, he was turning 26 and had decided to skip his birthday party for the first time in 12 years as he was busy with setting up a new company and running his business.

"I didn't have time to plan a party," he said. 

Dick then recalled: "Before my birthday, my sister went on a holiday. She went to Malaysia with her friends and her fiancé. They went to Tioman, the island off the east coast [of Malaysia], and my mother was also away in Cameron Highlands."

"What happened was that my mother asked my sister to join her in Cameron Highlands. So she and her fiancé drove from Tioman. On the day before my birthday, she was on the way there, and the car she was in — her fiancé was driving — hit a bus."

Patricia passed away in the accident. She was just 24.

Dick continued: "My mother also blamed herself in a way because she asked my sister to join her."

“If I had my party, they would all have come back, and maybe they’d still be around. Since then, I’ve had my birthday party without fail," he said softly, adding that he still misses her. 

Dick, who has three younger brothers, was greatly affected by the loss of his only sister and it left a profound mark on him. He later revisited the tragedy in his 2017 semi-autobiographical film Wonder Boy.

Though the timeline of events was adjusted for the movie’s narrative, Dick revealed in an earlier interview that the emotions behind it were entirely real.

“These scenes and incidents in the film are all true,” he said. “The timing of her passing wasn’t the issue. Her loss would have had the same impact on me regardless.”

Photos: CNA, dickleeparadise/ Instagram

You can catch The Assembly 2 on CNA's YouTube page, or watch the full interview below.