38 Oxley Road gazetted, Lee Hsien Yang’s objection letter did not challenge historic significance
38 Oxley Road — home of the late former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew — was gazetted as a National Monument on Friday (12 Dec).
In a press statement on the same day, the Ministry for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) said the Government intends to acquire the site.
Source: Lee Hsien Yang on Facebook
38 Oxley Road gazetted as it has ‘strong national significance’
38 Oxley Road became Singapore’s 77th National Monument after Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo issued a Preservation Order, MCCY said.
The Order, made under Section 11(1) of the Preservation of Monuments Act 2009, was published in the Government Gazette at 5pm on Friday.
This came after he considered an assessment by the Preservation of Sites and Monuments (PSM) Advisory Board and a recommendation by the National Heritage Board (NHB).
He agreed with the PSM Advisory Board’s assessment that the site had “strong national significance worthy of preservation” as it witnessed “pivotal events” in the 1950s, the ministry noted, adding:
This makes the site a unique and foundational part of the story of Singapore’s independence.
Source: David Neo on Facebook
This decision is made in the public interest and “goes beyond the personal preferences of any individual”, MCCY maintained.
Objection by Lee Hsien Yang also considered
Mr Neo also considered a written objection submitted by Mr Lee Hsien Yang, the younger son of the late Mr Lee.
In his letter addressed to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on 17 Nov, Mr Lee Hsien Yang had stated that Mr Lee Kuan Yew was “clear and unambiguous” throughout his life that he wanted 38 Oxley Road to be demolished.
Source: Lee Hsien Yang on Facebook
However, Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s letter “did not challenge” the site’s historic significance or national importance, nor the evaluation process for identifying potential National Monuments, MCCY said.
It also did not dispute the PSM Advisory Board’s assessment of the site’s preservation worthiness, MCCY noted, adding:
It was clearly documented in the 2018 Report of the Ministerial Committee on 38 Oxley Road that while Mr Lee’s personal preference was for the building at 38 Oxley Road to be demolished, he was prepared to accept options other than demolition, provided that suitable arrangements were made to (i) refurbish the building and keep it in a habitable state; and (ii) protect his family’s privacy.
All traces of private living spaces to be removed
Moving forward, the Government intends to acquire the site, MCCY said.
This is to “safeguard and preserve it in keeping with its historic significance and national importance”.
It also means that the site cannot be redeveloped for residential, commercial or other private uses.
Subsequently, a detailed study will be conducted, including assessing the condition of the structures, to determine the next steps.
Their appropriate treatment will be subject to further study once the Government has access to the site.
The authorities will consider “all options” to decide what will eventually happen to the site, though the Government intends to convert it into a public space, MCCY maintained.
Source: Lee Hsien Yang on Facebook
No matter what happens, Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes to protect his family’s privacy will be respected.
In doing so, all traces of the Lee family’s private living spaces from the interior of the house will be removed, the ministry pledged, adding:
Under no circumstances will the interior of the house as Mr Lee knew, be displayed, recorded, remodelled or duplicated elsewhere.
Lee Hsien Yang claims his father was ‘misled’
In a Facebook post on Friday night, hours after the Preservation Order was issued, Mr Lee Hsien Yang claimed his father was “misled” to believe that the site had already been gazetted.
He posted a screenshot of an email purportedly from Mr Lee Kuan Yew to his lawyer Kwa Kim Li, dated 6 Sept 2012.
The late Mr Lee had asked Mdm Kwa to find the gazetted notice but she could not find it, said Mr Lee Hsien Yang, adding:
It has taken more than 13 years for the gazette to finally be promulgated.
Also read: Preserving 38 Oxley Road is about safeguarding history & not memorialising any leader: David Neo
Preserving 38 Oxley Road is about safeguarding history & not memorialising any leader: David Neo
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Featured image adapted from Lee Hsien Yang on Facebook.
