Sentimentality be damned — a majority of Singaporeans are in support of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes to demolish his iconic house at 38 Oxley Road, TODAY reports.
A poll conducted by UK-based YouGov revealed that 77 percent of the 1,000 Singaporeans surveyed are in support of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his siblings’ decision to ensure that their parent’s house eventually be knocked down.
The late Lee Kuan Yew himself made it clear in his will that his house be immediately demolished after his death. Should the law, rules or regulations prevent his children from carry out his request, he wishes that the house should only be opened to his descendants.
61 percent of the respondents who were supportive of the decision felt that they should honour the late statesman’s wishes, while 39 percent feel that they should respect the family’s privacy.
Those who disagreed with the destruction of the iconic house pointed out that it has significant historical and cultural value, and that the house “belongs to all Singaporeans”.
In April, the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the National Heritage Board have assured that post-demolishing redevelopment over the land won’t forget its historical significance.
Current prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, his brother Lee Hsien Yang as well as their sister Dr Lee Wei Ling have all expressed the hope that the state would honour their late father’s wishes.
