Lee Hsien Yang seeking demolition of 38 Oxley Road house
On Tuesday (15 Oct) morning, Mr Lee Hsien Yang announced on Facebook that he would apply for the demolition of the house at 38 Oxley Road.
The move comes about a week after the death of his sister Dr Lee Wei Ling, which left Mr Lee as the “only living executor” of founding Prime Minister (PM) Lee Kuan Yew’s estate.
Source: Lee Hsien Yang on Facebook
The house at 38 Oxley Road had been the founding PM’s residence before he died in 2015. Dr Lee had also been living in the house before her passing.
Lee Hsien Yang said he will apply for demolition
“To honour my parents’ last wishes, I am applying to demolish the house at 38 Oxley Road,” Mr Lee wrote.
Mr Lee also shared his intention to build a “small private dwelling” after the demolition, which is to be “held within the family in perpetuity”.
In the post, Mr Lee attached a clause from the founding PM’s will, which stated his wish to have the house demolished after his death or after Dr Lee moved out.
“It is my duty to carry out his wishes to the fullest extent of the law,” Mr Lee wrote.
Handling of Oxley Road house sparked dispute between Lee siblings
After the death of founding PM Lee, decisions regarding how to handle the Oxley Road house became a point of contention among his three children — Senior Minister (SM) Lee Hsien Loong, Dr Lee, and Mr Lee.
Dr Lee and the youngest Lee wanted the Oxley Road house demolished, which they claimed was their late father’s wish.
During the highly-publicised Oxley Road dispute, the two younger siblings accused SM Lee of retaining the property to “enhance his political capital”.
Source: Lee Wei Ling on Facebook
SM Lee refuted such claims in a Ministerial statement.
A ministerial committee convened for matters regarding the property subsequently suggested three options for a future government to decide:
- Preserve the property and gazette it for conservation or as a national monument
- Retain the basement dining room, which has the most historical significance, and tear down the rest of the property
- Demolish the property entirely for redevelopment
SM Lee had recused himself from the ministerial committee and thereafter accepted the conclusions.
As Dr Lee was still living in the house, no immediate decision was made regarding the property.
Following Dr Lee’s death, the property on 38 Oxley Road is now unoccupied.
The property is owned by Mr Lee after SM Lee sold it to him in 2015 at market price.
Also read: S’porean journalist raises questions on Lee Wei Ling’s passing & revisits debate on Oxley Road House
S’porean journalist raises questions on Lee Wei Ling’s passing & revisits debate on Oxley Road House
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Featured image adapted from Lee Hsien Yang on Facebook and Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Facebook.
