The site’s historical and cultural significance prompts further assessment before a final decision
Singapore’s Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth Edwin Tong cautioned against immediate demolition of 38 Oxley Road, urging that all options remain open. The property, formerly home to founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, is the focus of renewed debate following the death of his daughter, Dr. Lee Wei Ling, on 9 October 2024.
Preservation Study Underway
The National Heritage Board (NHB) announced on 24 October that its Preservation of Sites and Monuments Advisory Board will assess the property’s historical and architectural significance. Comprising architects, academics, and public servants, the 13-member board aims to determine whether the site warrants preservation as a national monument.
Mr. Tong emphasized that a preservation order would keep future options open. “The passage of time will allow us to consider the matter with the benefit of hindsight,” he stated.
Historical Importance of 38 Oxley Road
The bungalow was the site of key meetings leading to Singapore’s independence and the formation of the ruling People’s Action Party in 1954, making its basement dining room particularly significant.
In 2018, a ministerial committee proposed three options for the property:
Full preservation and designation as a national monument.
Partial preservation, retaining the dining room and redeveloping the rest.
Full demolition for redevelopment.
The final decision was deferred to a “future government.”
Lee Hsien Yang’s Response
Mr. Lee Hsien Yang, current owner of the property, has applied for demolition approval but questioned the need for further study, referencing the 2018 NHB report. He suggested that earlier research provided sufficient basis for decision-making.
Next Steps
The NHB’s advisory board will incorporate findings from its 2018 report into the current study, expected to take several weeks. Mr. Tong stressed the importance of independent evaluation and careful deliberation.
