NHB to assess if 38 Oxley Road is worth preserving

The National Heritage Board (NHB) announced on 24 October that it will begin a study of 38 Oxley Road to assess its historical, heritage, and architectural significance for potential preservation.

A 2018 ministerial committee report found that although Lee Kuan Yew preferred that the house be demolished, he was open to other options if suitable conditions, such as keeping the house habitable and ensuring the family’s privacy, were met.

The 2018 report presented three options: preserving the house, retaining only the historically significant basement dining room, or demolishing the property.

NHB’s new study aims to explore these options and others, ensuring a well-considered decision that reflects national unity On 21 Oct, Lee Hsien Yang, the property’s sole legal owner, applied for permission from the  Urban Redevelopment Authority to demolish it.

NHB said that making such a move now would prevent a proper, full consideration of other options, and Minister Edwin Tong has expressed that no option should be precluded or closed off at this stage.

Online reactions to the 38 Oxley Road saga have been overwhelmingly against preserving the house.

Netizens are calling on the government to respect Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes to demolish it, and argue that doing otherwise would be a dishonour to him.

Some also felt that the founding prime minister’s legacy could be better honoured by furthering Singapore’s development instead of through monuments.