PM Lee’s siblings wanted demolished 38 Oxley to be turned into memorial garden

In responding to Senior Minister of State for Law, Indranee Rajah’s suggestion that the land on which Lee Kuan Yew’s house now stands may be turned into an exclusive condominium potentially earning millions for its owners, Mr Lee’s son said that both executors of Mr Lee’s will offered that the house be demolished and a memorial garden be built in its place.

He added that the executors of the will asked for the demolition clause to be considered only after Mr Lee’s daughter departs from the house, but that Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean was reluctant and did not pursue the discussion further, as was his brother, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Mr Lee chided Ms Rajah for pretending that the “secret committee” had an open discussion with Lee Kuan Yew’s Estate about options for the house. “Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said.

Mr Lee said that the committee, just like his older brother, was focused on the demolition clause. This was a clear abuse of power by PM Lee, Mr Lee alleged.

“Beyond the committee’s opening letters, the committee was focussed primarily on parroting LHL’s attacks on our father’s will, and in particular, clause 7 (demolition clause). This was clearly an abuse of power by LHL.” – Lee Hsien Yang

PM Lee had in a note dated 15 June said that the circumstances concerning the making of the Last Will was “deeply troubling”.

“The Demolition Clause first appeared in Mr Lee’s first will made on 20 August 2011 (the “First Will”).

Mr Lee gave instructions to remove the Demolition Clause, and it was removed, from the penultimate two wills (the “Fifth Will” and “Sixth Will”). However, it somehow found its way back into the Last Will.

The Demolition Clause in the Last Will is now being used by Dr Lee Wei Ling (“LWL”) and Mr Lee Hsien Yang (“LHY”) to claim that Mr Lee was firm in his wish that the house at 38 Oxley Road (the “House”) be demolished, and that he was not prepared to accept its preservation or contemplate options short of demolition. There is no basis for these claims, not least because of the deeply troubling circumstances concerning the making of the Last Will.” – PM Lee

Ms Rajah welcomed Mr Lee’s clarification on the matter, but asked what is the urgency in asking the government to decide now on the “demolition clause”.

“…given that Dr Lee still resides at the premises this decision would only need to be made 20 – 30 years from now. As Mr Lee Hsien Yang would know, this government cannot, as a matter of principle, bind a future government that is elected by the people 20 – 30 years from now.” – Ms Rajah

Ms Rajah in her response did not address Mr Lee’s accusations of abuse of power by PM Lee.