Strong public support to honour Lee Kuan Yew’s demolition wish for 38 Oxley Road

SINGAPORE: Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong has earlier called for an open-minded approach to the future of 38 Oxley Road, advising that options remain open as the matter is assessed.

In a Facebook post on 24 October, Tong highlighted that with time, Singaporeans may gain a fuller understanding of the issue in its historical context.

This statement follows the National Heritage Board’s (NHB) announcement of a survey to evaluate the architectural, heritage, or historical significance of the property.

The survey, led by NHB’s Preservation of Sites and Monuments Advisory Board, will result in a recommendation to be submitted to Tong for his decision.

Addressing recent developments, Tong acknowledged Lee Hsien Yang’s intention to apply for the immediate demolition of 38 Oxley Road, the family home where his late father, Lee Kuan Yew, resided.

Following the passing of his sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, on 9 October, Lee Hsien Yang, as the sole remaining executor of his father’s will, expressed his desire as the property owner to build a “small private dwelling” for the family in its place to fulfil Lee Kuan Yew’s last wish, as stated in his will, to have the house immediately demolished.

However, Tong cautioned that an immediate demolition would “rule out options which can be considered.”

He added, “We do not think that any option should be precluded, or closed off, at this stage.”

Accordingly, NHB’s study will thoroughly assess the merits of preservation and provide professional recommendations.

Should a Preservation Order be issued, the government would have time to consider all available options, including those outlined in a 2018 Ministerial Committee report. Notably, a study commissioned by the NHB on the property’s architectural, heritage, or historical significance was already included in this report.

The fate of 38 Oxley Road, the historic residence of Singapore’s late founding Prime Minister, has been a contentious issue since 2017, when a public dispute erupted among the Lee siblings over the future of the family home.

Lee Kuan Yew’s two younger children, Lee Hsien Yang and Dr Lee Wei Ling, expressed distrust in their elder brother, then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, accusing him of abusing his power in handling decisions related to the property.

The siblings alleged that Lee Hsien Loong sought to preserve the house against their father’s explicit wishes for its demolition after his passing, fearing the property would be turned into a monument glorifying his legacy.

In response, Lee Hsien Loong rejected the allegations in a 2017 Ministerial statement in Parliament, asserting that he had recused himself from all discussions and decisions concerning the house.

Amid this family tension, a Ministerial Committee was established in 2016—much to the dismay of the two executors of Lee Kuan Yew’s will—to explore possible options for the property’s future.

In April 2018, the committee proposed three potential paths forward: preserving the property in its entirety as a heritage site, retaining only the basement dining room as a historical artifact while allowing modifications to the rest of the house, or fully demolishing the house.

However, the committee decided that no immediate action was necessary, as Dr Lee Wei Ling was still residing in the house at the time and was expected to continue living there.

With Lee Wei Ling’s recent passing, Lee Hsien Yang reiterated her desire for the property’s demolition and referred to a 2015 parliamentary statement by Lee Hsien Loong indicating that a final decision would rest with “the government of the day” after her passing.

In his application, Lee Hsien Yang also proposed that a small private dwelling be built in place of the demolished house and noted that the property would be held within the family in perpetuity.

Public calls to respect demolition decision for 38 Oxley Road

In a recent Mothership Facebook post, a surge of netizens voiced strong support for demolishing 38 Oxley Road, with thousands passionately emphasizing its status as private property and urging the government to honor both the owner’s and the late Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes.

Many netizens also condemned the government’s actions, accusing it of obstructing Lee Kuan Yew’s expressed wish for demolition and viewing this as an attempt to preserve the family legacy against his intent. Numerous commenters questioned why the government would interfere with private property, stating that it is not public land.

One user remarked that for most Singaporeans, the house does not hold special significance or evoke memories, unlike the Old National Library Building, which was beloved for its architectural and cultural value.

They argued that preserving the house would only serve to promote the Lee family legacy, something Lee Kuan Yew and his wife had explicitly stated they did not want, as they did not wish for the house to become a site of public reverence.

Despite a significant groundswell of public dissent, the government previously demolished another historic building to make way for the construction of the Fort Canning Tunnel and the Singapore Management University campus.

One netizen felt that Tong was acting as though he held administrative rights over the property, asking why the government would try to force a decision if the current owner was not interested in preservation.

Another user questioned the government’s reluctance to respect the deceased’s wishes, adding that Lee Hsien Yang, the current owner, should be allowed to decide the property’s fate.

They pointed out that Lee Kuan Yew’s life work was in building Singapore, not in preserving his home and lifestyle for public display.

Several commenters argued that the property does not serve the public interest as it is privately owned. They questioned why the government would interfere with a 100% privately-owned property, noting that the decision should ultimately lie with the current owner.

In December 2015, Lee Hsien Loong sold 38 Oxley Road to his brother, Lee Hsien Yang, at fair market value, with the additional condition that both would donate half the house’s value to charity as part of the sale agreement.

A legacy beyond a physical structure

One commenter argued that true respect for Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy lies in honouring his wishes, adding that Singapore’s legacy is built on the foundations of the nation, not a basement.

Another user echoed this sentiment, saying the property should be demolished to respect both Lee Kuan Yew’s and the owner’s wishes, suggesting that the historical significance could instead be preserved in history books or a heritage gallery.

One user proposed demolishing the house and erecting a simple memorial to indicate it was once the residence of Singapore’s first Prime Minister, preserving only the memory of the location rather than the structure itself.

One user proposed a compromise to retain the room where founding leaders held key meetings by relocating it to a wax museum, where the furniture and a replica of the room could be displayed.

This would allow citizens to appreciate the contributions of Singapore’s founding team, rather than memorializing a single location or individual.

They concluded that demolition was a sensible choice to move forward.

80% of respondents support demolition of 38 Oxley Road in recent online poll

Notably, an Answers.sg poll conducted as of 29 October, with over 14,900 respondents, revealed that 80% supported the demolition of 38 Oxley Road. In contrast, 12% opposed the demolition, while 8% expressed a neutral stance on the issue.