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Singapore’s plan to preserve founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s home as a national monument was condemned by his youngest son on Tuesday, rekindling a years-long bitter family dispute over the legacy of the city-state’s founding leader.
The government announced on Monday that it intended to preserve Lee’s residence at 38 Oxley Road, after a heritage advisory body had found the site to be “of national importance, with great historical merit, and worthy of preservation”.
“The site bears witness to the discussions and important decisions that shaped Singapore’s history as an independent nation,” Acting Culture Minister David Neo said in a statement. “This will preserve for future generations an important part of our journey to independence.”
Lee Hsien Yang has been embroiled in a bitter public dispute with his elder brother, former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, over the fate of the house since their father died in 2015.
The younger Lee on Tuesday accused the ruling People’s Action Party of disrespecting its founder’s legacy and values. Singapore’s first leader, who transformed the former colonial backwater into one of the world’s richest countries during his 31-year tenure, was opposed to building a memorial in his honour, the son wrote in a letter. Facebook Post Tuesday.
He said, “The PAP government has decided to crush Lee Kuan Yew’s unwavering desire to demolish his private house. He considered his entire house private and wanted it to be completely demolished.”
In his later years Lee repeatedly insisted that his house should not be preserved as a monument, and called for it to be demolished in his last will.
Built in 1898, the eight-bedroom, two-storey house is situated in a prime area in the city centre.
Lee Hsien Yang, who owns the property, had applied to demolish the house because his sister Lee Wei Ling, who was living in it, died last year.
Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Wei Ling have accused their eldest brother, who was Singapore’s leader for 20 years until his retirement last year, of abusing his power to stop the demolition of the house. Lee Hsien Loong has said that the final decision will be made by the government, although he personally wants to honor his father’s wish for demolition.
The government said on Monday that it had given written notice to the property owner of its intention to issue a preservation order.
It said its intention was to acquire the property and convert it into a public space, possibly a heritage park. But it also stressed that it would respect the wishes of Lee Kuan Yew and his family by removing traces of their private living spaces.
Lee Hsien Yang said last year that he and his wife were now political refugees after the UK government granted them asylum following what he described as domestic abuse. The couple are embroiled in an official investigation over allegations that they provided false evidence in judicial proceedings over Lee Kuan Yew’s will.