The Tamesis
November 7, 2025
Singapore— Performing Preacher for Society, Neighborhood and Young people David Neo stated that in determining to proclaim the 38 Oxley Roadway website as a nationwide monolith, the federal government took into consideration the whole website, not the structures and frameworks within it.
Mr Neo informed your home of Reps in a pastoral declaration on Nov 6 that the concept is to create the website right into a public area, like a heritage park, that would certainly come to Singaporeans if it is ultimately preserved and obtained.
He included: “We will certainly maintain all choices open and job in the direction of an option that unifies us as a nation instead of allowing this ended up being a factor of opinion or department in our culture.”
Leong Chi-keung stated that noting the previous home of establishing Head of state Lee Kuan Yew as a nationwide monolith “does not indicate that the federal government is required to keep the existing condition of the structures and frameworks at the website”.
Keeping in mind that the authority has not yet had the possibility to access the website to analyze the problem of its structures, he stated: “This is an essential reason we have actually selected to secure the website instead of simply certain structures or frameworks.”
The federal government introduced on November 3 its objective to assign the approximately 1,100 square meter website as a nationwide monolith, mentioning its historic value and nationwide significance.
Mr Neo stated the federal government would certainly carry out a comprehensive research of the website if accessibility was given. “We will certainly take into consideration aspects such as their existing problem and consider the prospective advantages and expenses of maintaining them.”
He stated all choices for the website would certainly be thought about, consisting of those advanced by the 2018 pastoral board for 38 Oxley Roadway, that included the partial or overall demolition of structures and frameworks.
Whatever choice is taken on, the federal government will certainly appreciate the dreams of Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his partner Kwa Yuk Chu to secure their family members’s personal privacy “by getting rid of all traces of the personal space inside your house”, Mr Leong stated.
” As Mr Lee and Ms Ke realize, under no conditions will certainly the inside of your house be shown, recorded, changed or duplicated in other places.”
Mr. Neo explained that nations around the globe have actually protected and restored websites pertaining to their nation’s freedom for public education and learning and recognition, pointing out the instance of Gandhi Ashram, the home of India’s Mahatma Gandhi, that led India’s freedom motion from British colonial guideline.
He likewise discussed America’s Freedom National Historic Park, that includes structures that experienced crucial historic landmarks, such as the Declaration and the finalizing of its Constitution.
Mr Neo stated that in a lot of cases these historical websites had actually been modified.
These consist of customizing or adjusting initial structures with brand-new expository frameworks to much better enable the general public to experience the website as a park or heritage area, he stated.
He stated that was why the federal government was maintaining an open mind on what to do with the structures and frameworks at 38 Oxley Roadway.
Leong informed your home that the website was where Singapore’s very early leaders created the nation’s vision, strategies and worths, making it “a special and basic component of the tale of Singapore’s freedom”.
He stated if 38 Oxley Roadway was obtained by the federal government, it would certainly not be redeveloped for property, business or various other personal usage.
38 Oxley Roadway is presently had by an entity called 38 Oxley Roadway Pte Ltd, whose single investor is Mr Lee Hsien Yang, the youngest child of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s child, Mr Lee Huan Wu, functions as a supervisor.
” Preserving the website suggests we will certainly have the ability to prevent future efforts by personal celebrations to buy 38 Oxley Roadway simply to get the address related to Mr Lee’s home,” Mr Neo stated.
” I think every person in your home, and the large bulk of Singaporeans, wish to make sure that this does not take place.”
Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s kids have actually been controversial over the destiny of the Lee family members home. The concern resurfaced in October 2024 after the fatalities of Mr Lee Hsien Yang and Dr Lee Wei Ling, sibling of Mr Lee Hsien Loong’s cupboard preacher.
Mr Lee Hsien Yang consequently sent an application to the Urban Redevelopment Authority to destroy the residential or commercial property, however the application has actually been delayed.
On November 6, Mr Neo stated the federal government had actually chosen to maintain the website “due to the fact that it was one of the most accountable point to do”.
He included that it was time to take a choice on the issue.
” We will certainly take thoughtful actions to choose. We will certainly do so in the most effective passions of Singapore and Singaporeans, currently and in the future.”
Mr Neo stated that if 38 Oxley Roadway is provided as a nationwide monolith and consequently obtained, the federal government plans to complete prepare for the specific usage and setup of the website, consisting of the therapy of structures and frameworks, “within the regard to this federal government”.
The website will certainly not come to the general public throughout this duration, he included.
Singapore’s following basic political election need to be held prior to 2030.
The website’s proprietor, Mr Lee Hsien Yang, has up until November 17 to lodge arguments to the federal government’s strategy to gazett the website.
The National Heritage Board will certainly obtain any kind of such arguments, analyze them and make suggestions to Mr Neo for his factor to consider.
” As component of due procedure, all arguments and pointers increased will certainly be thought about fairly and impartially,” Mr Neo stated.
Afterwards, if the federal government determines to proclaim the website a nationwide monolith, a preservation order will certainly be released.
Mr Neo stated the federal government would certainly after that start the procedure of obtaining the website as component of strategies to ultimately open it to the general public. The procurement will certainly be executed based on the arrangements of the Land Procurement Regulation.
Mr Neo kept in mind that the proprietor of the website, any kind of inhabitants and any kind of various other interested individuals will certainly have the possibility to send a case to the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) to identify the quantity of payment.
He stated an expert personal valuer would certainly likewise be selected to help the SLA in figuring out the marketplace worth of the land, taking into consideration any kind of insurance claims sent.
If a proprietor is disappointed with the payment, she or he can attract the Land Procurement Appeals Board.
” This procurement will certainly make it possible for the federal government to take all essential actions to maintain the website and secure it in accordance with its historic value and nationwide significance,” Mr Neo stated.
