Photo by Mothership.
The government has taken possession of the site at 38 Oxley Road, the location of the former home of ex-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
The site was previously gazetted for acquisition on Jan. 29.
In a joint statement on Jul. 31, 2026, the National Heritage Board (NHB) and the Singapore Land Authority added that in the meantime, there will be no public access to the site while NHB studies options for future development into a public space.
You can read the full statement below:
"The Government has completed the acquisition process and took possession of the site at 38 Oxley Road (the “Site”) today, to preserve it in keeping with its historic significance and national importance.
The acquisition follows from the Site’s gazette as a National Monument on 12 December 2025, and its subsequent gazette for acquisition on 29 January 2026.
The National Heritage Board (NHB) will undertake a detailed study of the Site and the options for how it can be developed into a public space in a manner that respects Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes for privacy.
In the interim, necessary maintenance works will be carried out as required, and there will be no public access to the Site."
Lee Hsien Yang's response
Earlier in the day, Lee Hsien Yang, son of former PM Lee Kuan Yew and brother of former PM and current Senior Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, posted on Facebook about the issue.
Titled "Look On My Works", a reference to Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem Ozymandias, Hsien Yang railed against the decision, referring again to his father's "crystal clear" wish to demolish the home.
NHB previously stated that the government “has committed to respecting Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes to protect his family’s privacy”.
This would be done by removing “all traces of their private living spaces" from the interior of the house.
“Under no circumstances will the interior of the house, as Mr Lee knew, be displayed, recorded, remodelled or duplicated elsewhere.”
