Exactly one year after Dr Lee Wei Ling passed away, Lee Hsien Yang publically asked a simple, impatient question: “How long more will it take?” He wants the Government to decide the fate of 38 Oxley Road — the bungalow once lived in by founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
Short version (TL;DR)
- Lee Hsien Yang says he applied to demolish the house and hasn’t seen follow-up from the heritage agency.
- The house was the centre of a family dispute after Lee Kuan Yew’s death. A 2018 ministerial report listed options but made no recommendation.
- Lee’s sister Dr Lee Wei Ling died on 9 Oct 2024; her passing left Lee Hsien Yang as the sole living executor.
What actually happened (plain and quick)
Last week, Lee Hsien Yang posted about the Oxley Road matter and said he’d sought permission to demolish the house shortly after his sister died. He wrote that the National Heritage Board told him it would take “several weeks” to assess the site — but, he added, nothing came after that.
Back in October 2024, he publicly announced he would apply to demolish the bungalow and then build a small private dwelling for the family. That post makes clear he sees this as carrying out his parents’ wishes.
A little history so this makes sense
- After Lee Kuan Yew died in 2015, the family split over what to do with the house. Two siblings wanted it gone; another said the Government should decide.
- In 2018, a ministerial committee studied the site and laid out three broad options: preserve it, preserve part of it (notably the basement dining room), or demolish and redevelop. The report did not force a decision at that time.
- Dr Lee Wei Ling, who lived in the house until her death on 9 Oct 2024, supported demolition and is now deceased, leaving Lee Hsien Yang as the estate’s only living executor.
Why Lee Hsien Yang is pressing now
Several reasons stack up:
- He says he’s following the will and his parents’ wishes.
- He argues enough study has been done already and that more delay looks like kicking the can down the road.
- The house has been unoccupied since Dr Lee’s death, so the question is now live: preserve it as heritage? Keep part of it? Or allow demolition? The committee’s 2018 options remain the guide.
Why this matters beyond family drama
- Symbolism: The house once belonged to Singapore’s founding PM. It carries historical weight and public sentiment. Decisions here shape how a country treats political memory.
- Precedent: A heritage designation would limit owners’ control. Demolition would mean private wishes trump public memorialising — or at least that’s how some see it.
- Transparency and timing: People watch how quickly government bodies respond. Long delays fuel questions about motives, process, and fairness.
My take — straight talk
Okay, here’s the blunt bit. There are three things to hold in one hand and chew on:
- Wishes matter — If the will and family consensus truly point to demolition, that’s important. Executors exist for a reason.
- Public memory matters — But national heritage is not just a private matter. Buildings tied to national leaders have public value. The Government’s caution isn’t automatically bad.
- Fix the process — The mess here has dragged on since 2015. More clarity, faster timelines, and a public explanation of steps taken would calm people down. If “several weeks” becomes months with no update, critics will be loud — and rightly so.
In short: both sides have a point. The healthy move is a clean, timely decision that explains itself. Not silence. Not drama. Just a clear answer.
