INTENTION TO GAZETTE THE SITE AT 38 OXLEY ROAD AS A NATIONAL MONUMENT, FOR POSSIBLE USE AS A HERITAGE PARK

IF PRESERVED AND ACQUIRED:

-        BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES ON THE SITE MAY OR MAY NOT BE KEPT IN THEIR CURRENT STATE, PENDING FURTHER STUDY

-        GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER ALL OPTIONS AND COME TO A DECISION WELL WITHIN THIS TERM OF GOVERNMENT

-        ALL PRIVATE LIVING SPACES WILL BE REMOVED TO RESPECT MR LEE KUAN YEW’S WISHES FOR PRIVACY

1.                   Singapore, 3 November 2025 – The National Heritage Board’s (“NHB”) Preservation of Sites and Monuments (“PSM”) Advisory Board has assessed the site at 38 Oxley Road (the “Site”) to be of historic significance and national importance, and worthy of preservation as a National Monument. Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (CCY) David Neo, having considered the PSM Advisory Board’s assessment and NHB’s recommendation, intends to gazette the Site to preserve it as a National Monument. If a Preservation Order is made, the Government intends to acquire the Site to safeguard it and preserve it in keeping with its historic significance and national importance.

2.                   If the Site is preserved and acquired, the Government will convert it into a public space, with one possible outcome being a heritage park. This means that the Site cannot be redeveloped for residential, commercial or other private uses. Preserving the Site does not obligate the Government to preserve all the buildings and structures on the Site in their current state. The relevant authorities have not had the chance to assess the state of the buildings and structures within the Site. If access is obtained, the authorities will undertake a detailed study to consider how to proceed. The Government will consider all options, including those proposed by the Ministerial Committee on 38 Oxley Road in 2018, such as partial or full demolition of the buildings and structures, and intends to make a decision well within this term of Government. Regardless of the option taken, the Government will respect Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes, and will remove all traces of Mr Lee’s and his family’s private living spaces from the buildings.

Conclusion of NHB’s PSM Advisory Board’s assessment – Site is of National Significance

3.                   In its 2018 report, the Ministerial Committee had said there was no need to make any immediate decision on 38 Oxley Road at that time, as Dr Lee Wei Ling was still residing there. On 21 October 2024, after Dr Lee’s passing, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (“URA”) received a demolition application for the building at 38 Oxley Road. On 24 October 2024, NHB launched a formal assessment of the Site, in line with established processes under the Preservation of Monuments Act 2009, to determine if it is worthy of preservation as a National Monument. As part of its usual assessment process, the PSM Advisory Board evaluated if the Site has national, historic, heritage and architectural significance to be worthy of preservation. The URA deferred the determination of the demolition application in light of the commencement of NHB’s assessment.

4.                   The PSM Advisory Board has completed its assessment, and found the Site to be of national significance, with great historic merit, and worthy of preservation. A summary of the historic significance of the Site can be found at Annex A. The PSM Advisory Board’s full Statement of Assessment can be found at Annex B. [1]

Acceptance of PSM Advisory Board’s Assessment

5.               Based on the PSM Advisory Board’s assessment, NHB has recommended that the Site be preserved. Acting Minister (CCY) David Neo has accepted NHB’s recommendation and intends to gazette the Site as a National Monument.

6.                   Acting Minister (CCY) David Neo said, “The Site bore witness to discussions and pivotal decisions that shaped the course of Singapore’s history to become an independent nation. The intention to gazette the Site as a National Monument recognises its historic significance and national importance. This will preserve a key part of our independence journey for future generations.”

Next Steps

7.                   NHB has given the owner and occupier of the Site written notice of Acting Minister (CCY)’s intention to make a Preservation Order. In accordance with the Preservation of Monuments Act 2009, the owner and occupier will be given a reasonable period to submit any objections. Acting Minister (CCY) will consider every objection before making a final decision on whether to make a Preservation Order to place the Site under the protection of NHB as a National Monument.

8.                   If a Preservation Order is issued, the Government intends to acquire the Site to safeguard it and preserve it in keeping with its historic significance and national importance. Upon acquisition, the Government will convert the Site into a public space, with one possible outcome being a heritage park. As for the buildings and structures on the Site, the Government will consider all options, including those that were proposed by the 2018 Ministerial Committee, and will make a decision well within this term of Government.

[1] The PSM Advisory Board comprises experts in fields relevant to National Monuments such as history and architecture. Public officers on the PSM Advisory Board had recused themselves for this assessment.

Annex A

HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SITE AT 38 OXLEY ROAD

1.         The site at 38 Oxley Road (the “Site”) bore witness to pivotal events in the 1950s that marked Singapore’s transition from a colony to an independent nation. It was also the home of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew from 1950 until his death in 2015.

2.         In the 1950s, various individuals came to the Site to seek help and legal consultations with Mr Lee Kuan Yew, often in relation to political action such as the British colonial administration’s arrest of Mr Abdul Samad Ismail in 1951, the 1952 Singapore Post and Telegraph Uniformed Staff Union strike, and the 1954 National Service riots. Some of the individuals and trade unionists whom Mr Lee Kuan Yew met became his key collaborators and important figures in Singapore’s independence movement.

3.         From early 1953, regular secret discussions among Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Dr Goh Keng Swee, Dr Toh Chin Chye, Mr S Rajaratnam, and Mr K. M. Byrne took place primarily in the Basement Dining Room, on the feasibility of forming a new political party. The group gradually expanded to include other figures who would also become key leaders of Singapore’s independence movement, such as Mr Abdul Samad Ismail, Mr Devan Nair, Mr Lim Chin Siong and Mr Fong Swee Suan.

4.         The Site witnessed these discussions involving key founding leaders of independent Singapore, that shaped the course of Singapore’s national history. It was through these meetings that the founding leaders formulated their political vision, plans and values, and where they organised the transition towards self-government. The Site was the People’s Action Party’s (“PAP”) first headquarters from its founding in 1954, to 1959 when the PAP won its first General Election, and established self-governance in Singapore.

5.         The events and people associated with the Site were significant in shaping the course of Singapore’s history. This makes the Site a unique and foundational part of the story of Singapore’s independence, which is not replicated in any other site or monument. Despite its historical associations and strong national significance, the simplicity of the Site attests to the values of prudence, pragmatism and discipline exemplified by Singapore’s founding leaders. As a physical marker, 38 Oxley Road would allow present and future generations of Singaporeans to connect with and reflect on the deliberations and decisions made by Singapore’s founding leaders, the gravity and impact of pivotal events that led Singapore to independence, as well as the ideals and values that have come to shape Singapore today.

Annex B

Statement of Assessment by PSM Advisory Board

The Preservation of Sites and Monuments Advisory Board has assessed 38 Oxley Road (“Site”) to have strong national significance worthy of preservation as a National Monument.

38 Oxley Road was more than just the home of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who lived and worked there from 1950 until his death in 2015. The Site bore witness to pivotal events in the 1950s that marked Singapore’s transition from a colony to an independent nation. The modest buildings contrast with the impactful and consequential decisions taken there.

The Site served as the venue for political conversations, activities and decisions of our founding leaders which profoundly influenced the trajectory of Singapore’s independence movement and its subsequent national history. This makes the Site a foundational part of the story of Singapore’s independence, which is not represented by any other site or monument.

38 Oxley Road is of national significance with great historic merit. The preservation of the Site would allow present and future generations of Singaporeans to reflect upon the gravity of these significant events, as well as the ideals and values that have come to shape Singapore today.