Senior Minister of State Indranee Rajah today (June 26) listed out Lee Hsien Loong’s options saying that the government has many laws to deny Lee Kuan Yew’s will. The 3 options Minister Indranee Rajah offered are preservation, conservation and compulsory acquisition:
“Under the Preservation of Monuments Act (PMA), property can be designated a national monument via a preservation order… Conservation is under the Planning Act. Conservation is less restrictive than preservation… Compulsory Acquisition, this would be done under the Land Acquisition Act (LAA).”
Minister Indranee Rajah also spoke on behalf of the government and Ministerial Committee saying that the government can “fulfil” the will in parts and pieces:
“As DPM Teo has mentioned, one option we are studying is demolishing the house but keeping the basement dining room where many historical meetings took place, with an appropriate heritage centre attached. This would substantially fulfil Mr Lee’s wish. His and Mrs Lee’s privacy would be respected. Pictures of the basement were already made public during Mr Lee’s time and are widely available. Nothing of the private spaces would be seen.”
The S$930,000-a-year Minister also defended Lee Hsien Loong saying that he has no financial interest, whereas Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Wei Ling may benefit from a potential S$24 million profit.