The current owner of 38 Oxley Road, Singapore, Lee Hsien Yang, who is also the younger son of Lee Kuan Yew, has criticized the Singaporean government's decision to gazette 38 Oxley Road as a national monument, calling it a 'trampling of Lee Kuan Yew’s unwavering wish to demolish his private home.'
On the afternoon of the 3rd, Singapore's National Heritage Board and the Land Authority issued a joint statement, saying that after evaluation, 38 Oxley Road holds major historical and national significance. This location is not only Lee Kuan Yew’s former residence, but also a site that bears witness to key historic events in Singapore’s journey from colonial times to independence. Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Alvin Tan, accepted the recommendations of the Heritage Board and the Advisory Board on Monuments and Sites, and plans to designate the original residence as a national monument.
Late at night, Lee Hsien Yang published a “Statement from the Executors of Lee Kuan Yew’s Estate” on Facebook, stating that Lee Kuan Yew regarded the whole house as a private space and wished for it to be completely demolished. The plan to designate 38 Oxley Road as a national monument effectively rejects the demolition application.
On October 15, 2024, Lee Hsien Yang announced his intention to demolish 38 Oxley Road, and submitted an application to the Urban Redevelopment Authority five days later.
He said that the Founders' Memorial is already a large-scale and costly commemorative facility.
He pointed out that Lee Kuan Yew 'opposed the erection of monuments,' and 'the People’s Action Party’s choice to designate 38 Oxley Road as a national monument is disrespectful to Lee Kuan Yew’s spiritual legacy and values.'
According to the government statement, the National Heritage Board has sent a notice of intent to the owner and residents of 38 Oxley Road. They may file an appeal within a two-week period, with the deadline being November 17. Once the government issues a preservation order for 38 Oxley Road, it will have the right to acquire this land as a public space, which could include retaining only part of the house's structure, or a complete demolition to redevelop the area as a heritage park.