Singapore Government Takes Possession of 38 Oxley Road

The Singapore Government completed its acquisition process and formally took possession of 38 Oxley Road on July 31. The site is the former family home of Singapore’s founding prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, and has been at the centre of a long-running family dispute and public debate spanning years.

Government Takes Formal Possession of 38 Oxley Road

According to a joint statement from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and the National Heritage Board (NHB), the NHB will conduct a detailed study of the property to examine options for turning it into a public space. Officials stated that any future development of the site will take into account Lee Kuan Yew’s desire for privacy. In the interim, necessary maintenance works will be carried out as required, and the public will not be allowed access to the property. When reporters visited the location, NHB officers were seen inside the compound.

When asked about financial compensation for the property, an SLA spokesperson stated that details of the compensation awarded are provided exclusively to the landowner and are not disclosed publicly, in accordance with standard land acquisition procedures.

Family Dispute and Criticisms Over Demolition Wishes

The acquisition has reignited tensions surrounding the property’s future. The site’s last private owner was Lee Hsien Yang, the younger son of Lee Kuan Yew and the younger brother of Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Who Won the 38 Oxley Road Dispute? #Singapore #LeeKuanYew

Writing on Facebook, Lee Hsien Yang stated that his father’s wish to have the pre-war, single-storey bungalow demolished was crystal clear. He and his late sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, had acted as executors of the will to honour that desire. He described the compulsory acquisition as a repudiation of his father’s values and a flagrant disregard for his long-held instructions.

The property previously became a focal point of public friction among the late leader’s children—Lee Hsien Loong, Dr Lee Wei Ling, and Lee Hsien Yang—following Lee Kuan Yew’s death in 2015. While the younger siblings maintained that their father wanted the house demolished, they alleged that Lee Hsien Loong wanted the building preserved for political reasons. Lee Hsien Loong previously refuted these accusations in a parliamentary ministerial statement, addressing concerns regarding the preparation of their late father’s final will.

Preservation Timeline and National Monument Status

The path to public ownership involved multiple regulatory and governmental steps. After Dr Lee Wei Ling passed away in October 2024, Lee Hsien Yang submitted an application to the Urban Redevelopment Authority to demolish the building. The NHB subsequently launched a formal assessment. The Preservation of Sites and Monuments Advisory Board evaluated the location as having strong national significance, noting that key discussions shaping Singapore’s independence movement and national history took place there.

Singapore Government Takes Possession of 38 Oxley Road — Photo: South China Morning Post

The government’s formal timeline included:

November 3, 2025: The government announces its dual intention to grant the site monument status and to acquire it to safeguard and preserve it, drawing objections from Lee Hsien Yang.
November 6, 2025: Then-Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo states that preserving the site safeguards history for future generations rather than memorialising any single leader.
December 12, 2025: The pre-war bungalow is officially gazetted as Singapore’s 77th national monument.
January 29, Purpose: The site is formally gazetted for acquisition by the SLA and NHB, ensuring it cannot be redeveloped for residential, commercial, or private uses.
July 31: The acquisition process concludes, and the government officially takes possession.

Future Plans for a Public Space

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo has previously indicated that the government intends to develop the site into a publicly accessible space once acquired, with options such as a heritage park under consideration. Bringing the property under public ownership permanently prevents it from being redeveloped for commercial, residential, or other private purposes.