Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean today (Jun 21) put words into a dead man claiming that Lee Kuan Yew would have wanted the Government to change his will too:
“But ultimately, the Cabinet of the day and its ministers cannot avoid taking responsibility for making the required decisions on matters where the public interest is involved, and due process is required. Mr Lee Kuan Yew himself understood this and would have expected the Government to do so.”
Lee Kuan Yew has repetitively emphasised in various interviews to demolish the 38 Oxley Road house after his death. Lee Kuan Yew changed his will 7 times, and 5 out of the 7 wills include the Demolition Clause. The last will was kept a secret from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as Lee Kuan Yew do not trust him to be the executor of his will.
DPM Teo Chee Hean also highlighted that the Government reserves the right to defy Lee Kuan Yew’s will under special provision laws:
“Ultimately, it is the Government of the day which has to be responsible for making a decision on the property as this is where the powers reside under the law, specifically the Preservation of Monuments Act and the Planning Act in this case.”
In his press release to state media CNA, DPM Teo Chee Hean also repeated the same lie that Lee Hsien Loong is not involved with the Ministerial Committee:
“PM Lee has recused himself from Government decisions on the property, and that no immediate decision is required as Dr Lee Wei Ling continues to live in the house.”
DPM Teo Chee Hean also tried to confuse the public claiming that the Demolition Clause in the will is “subject to different interpretations”:
“The ministerial committee had sought the views of the siblings on Mr Lee’s thinking, as they had different views and challenged each other’s interpretations of Mr Lee’s wishes.”