Ministerial statement on Singapore govt's intention to preserve 38 Oxley Road as national monument

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided YouTube video transcript:

Key Concepts

• Preservation of Monuments Act (PMA): Legislation empowering the government to preserve historic sites and buildings.
• Land Acquisition Act: Legislation allowing the government to acquire private land for public purposes.
• National Heritage Board (NHB): The government body responsible for preserving historic sites and buildings.
• Preservation of Sites and Monuments Advisory Board (PSMAB): An independent expert board that assesses the historical significance and merit of sites for preservation.
• 38 Oxley Road: The specific site under discussion, associated with Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and the early days of Singapore's independence movement.
• Public Interest: The overarching consideration for government decisions regarding historic sites.
• National Significance: The criterion used to determine if a site warrants preservation as a national monument.
• Confluence of People, Place, and Events: The combination of factors that give a site historical significance.

Government's Intention to Preserve 38 Oxley Road

On November 3rd, 2025, a notice of intention was issued to the owner and occupier of 38 Oxley Road, indicating the government's intent to preserve the site under the Preservation of Monuments Act (PMA). Concurrently, as stated in a joint NHB and SLA media release on October 3rd, 2025, the government intends to acquire the site under the Land Acquisition Act if a preservation order is made. This statement aims to elaborate on the government's rationale and outline the subsequent steps.

The Importance of Preserving National History and Heritage

The speaker emphasizes that history provides a nation with its soul and is integral to Singaporean identity. Preserving historic sites, buildings, and structures connects current and future generations to their past, the challenges overcome, and the sacrifices made by forefathers. These physical representations serve as tangible links to key historical events and individuals who shaped Singapore. The National Heritage Board (NHB) is tasked with this preservation under the PMA, ensuring that national monuments remain part of the urban fabric and collective memory. Singapore currently has 76 national monuments, ranging from colonial-era structures to those embodying the post-WWII struggle for self-determination and aspirations of independence.

The Rigorous Assessment Process for Preservation

In Singapore, preservation is undertaken only after a rigorous assessment process administered by NHB. This involves:

1. Thorough Research: NHB conducts in-depth research into the history, significance, associated events, people, and their impact on Singapore's trajectory.
2. PSMAB Assessment: The research is then evaluated by the independent Preservation of Sites and Monuments Advisory Board (PSMAB), comprising experts in history and architecture.
3. Holistic and Objective Consideration: PSMAB assesses the merits based on historical significance, architectural and design merit, and authenticity.
4. NHB Recommendation: If PSMAB deems a site worthy of preservation and NHB concurs, a recommendation is submitted to the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (CCY).
5. Ministerial Decision: If the Minister agrees, a notice of intention is issued to the owner and occupier, providing a reasonable period for objections.
6. Consideration of Objections: NHB reviews all objections and makes further recommendations.
7. Final Government Decision: The government makes the ultimate decision on whether to proceed with preservation.

Specific Considerations for 38 Oxley Road

The matter of 38 Oxley Road has garnered significant attention. Key points include:

• Mr. Lee Kuan Yew's Preference: His wish for the house to be demolished.
• Madame Kwa's Wish: Her desire for the family's living spaces to remain private.
• Mr. Lee's Understanding of Public Interest: He acknowledged the government's duty to consider public interest and the systems he helped build. In a letter dated December 27th, 2011, he stated, "If 38 Oxley Road is to be preserved, it needs to have its foundations reinforced and the whole building refurbished. It must then be let out for people to live in. An empty building will soon decline and decay." He also applied to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) in March 2012 to renovate the house, which would have preserved its structure while adding other spaces.
• No Prior Decision Necessary: The government refrained from making a decision while Dr. Lee Wei Ling resided there, respecting her right to live in the house.
• Post-Residency Assessment: Following Dr. Lee Wei Ling's passing in October 2024, the URA received a demolition application, prompting NHB to initiate a formal assessment under the PMA.

PSMAB's Assessment of 38 Oxley Road

NHB and PSMAB have completed their assessment, determining that 38 Oxley Road possesses strong national significance and is worthy of preservation as a national monument.

• Pivotal Events: The site bore witness to pivotal events in the 1950s, marking Singapore's transition from a colony to an independent nation.
• Decision-Making Venue: Impactful decisions were made there, serving as a venue for conversations and activities of founding leaders that profoundly influenced the independence movement.
• Gathering Point: It was a meeting point for activists and trade unionists seeking legal consultations with Mr. Lee.
• Key Meetings: Regular meetings, often in the basement dining room, involved figures like Dr. Goh Keng Swee, Dr. Toh Chin Chye, Mr. S. Rajaratnam, and Mr. K. M. Byrne, discussing the formation of a political party to contest legislative assembly elections.
• Inclusion of Other Activists: These meetings expanded to include individuals like Mr. Lim Chin Siong and Mr. Fong Swee Suan, who later formed the Barisan Sosialis.
• Inter-Malayan Discussions: Prominent Malayan leaders, Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Tan Siew Sin, also visited for discussions.
• Formulation of Vision: Key individuals formulated their vision, plans, and values for Singapore, leading to the formation of the People's Action Party (PAP) and its victory in the 1959 elections, establishing Singapore's first fully independent government.
• Conclusion: PSMAB concluded that the site is of national importance with great historic merit, offering future generations a space to reflect on these significant events and the ideals that shaped Singapore.

Ministerial Agreement and Rationale for Acquisition

As acting Minister CCY, the speaker agrees with PSMAB's recommendations. The rationale for preserving and acquiring the site is based on the confluence of people, place, and events, a rare combination in Singapore.

• Safeguarding a Unique Site: The site bears witness to the birth of independent Singapore and key historical moments.
• Preventing Private Redevelopment: Preservation and acquisition mean the site cannot be redeveloped for residential, commercial, or other private uses.
• Avoiding Speculative Purchases: It prevents private parties from purchasing 38 Oxley Road solely for its association with Mr. Lee's residence.
• Focus on the Site, Not Just Buildings: The government's consideration is for the entire site, not necessarily the existing buildings and structures.
• Development into Public Space: If preserved and acquired, the intention is to develop it into a public space, such as a heritage park, for public access and shared memory.
• Flexibility on Building Treatment: Preservation does not obligate the government to retain buildings in their current condition. The authorities have not yet assessed the buildings' conditions.
• Detailed Study of Structures: Upon gaining access, a detailed study will be conducted, considering existing conditions and weighing retention benefits against costs. Options, including partial or full demolition, will be considered, as proposed by the 2018 ministerial committee.
• Respecting Family Privacy: Regardless of the option chosen, all traces of the family's private living spaces will be removed from the interior. The interior as Mr. Lee and Madame Kwa knew it will not be displayed, recorded, remodeled, or duplicated.
• International Precedents: Examples like the Gandhi Ashram in India and the Independence National Historical Park in the US demonstrate how countries preserve and adapt sites associated with their independence for public education and appreciation, sometimes involving modifications to original buildings.

Next Steps in the Preservation Process

Following the notice of intention, due process will be accorded:

1. Objection Period: A 14-day notice period will be provided for the owner and occupier to submit objections to NHB.
2. Recommendation to Minister: NHB will submit any objections and its recommendations to the acting Minister CCY for a decision.
3. Objective Consideration: All objections and recommendations will be considered objectively and fairly.
4. Preservation Order: If the decision is to proceed, a preservation order will be made.
5. Acquisition Process: The government will then commence the acquisition process under the Land Acquisition Act.
6. Compensation: Compensation will be made in accordance with the Act. The owner, occupiers, and interested parties can submit claims to the Singapore Land Authority (SLA). A professional private valuer will assist SLA in determining market value.
7. Appeal Process: If unsatisfied with the compensation, an appeal can be filed with the Land Acquisition Appeals Board.
8. Safeguarding the Site: Acquisition will enable the government to safeguard and preserve the site in keeping with its historic significance and national importance.

Conclusion and Synthesis

The government's approach to 38 Oxley Road is deemed the most responsible, fulfilling the 2018 ministerial committee's recommendation for an informed decision by the future government. The government is taking deliberate steps in the best interests of Singapore and its citizens, now and for the future.

The preservation of collective memory is paramount to national unity. The physical spaces that witnessed Singapore's struggle for independence are vital links to these pivotal moments. As firsthand accounts diminish, these sites will continue to speak, reminding future generations of the hard-won path to becoming a sovereign nation. Preserving the site is not about memorializing a single leader but about safeguarding grounds where future generations can understand Singapore's origins, identity, and shared journey. This ensures that the Singapore spirit endures and strengthens with each generation. The government intends to conclude plans for the site's use and configuration within the current term, with no public access to 38 Oxley Road in the interim.