SINGAPORE: The site at 38 Oxley Road was on Friday (Dec 12) gazetted as Singapore’s 77th national monument, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and National Heritage Board (NHB) said.
In a joint press release, the authorities said Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo has issued a preservation order to gazette the site under the Preservation of Monuments Act 2009. The order comes into effect on Saturday.
His decision took into consideration a written objection submitted by Mr Lee Hsien Yang to the Prime Minister’s Office and NHB on Nov 17.
“In his objection letter, Mr Lee Hsien Yang objected to the preservation of the site, stating, among other things, that Mr Lee Kuan Yew was ‘clear and unambiguous’ throughout his life that he wanted his home at 38 Oxley Road to be demolished,” said MCCY and NHB.
“In line with established processes under the Preservation of Monuments Act, NHB has reviewed the objection letter and maintained its recommendation that the site is worthy of preservation as a National Monument for its historic significance and national importance.”
In deciding to proceed with the preservation of the site, MCCY and NHB noted that Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s objection letter did not challenge the site’s historic significance or national importance, nor the evaluation process for identifying potential national monuments.
He also did not dispute the Preservation of Sites and Monuments Advisory Board’s assessment of the site’s preservation worthiness.
“It was clearly documented in the 2018 Report of the Ministerial Committee on 38 Oxley Road that while Mr Lee Kuan Yew’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 refurbish the building and keep it in a habitable state; and protect his family’s privacy.”
