In a press release published by Lee Hsien Yang today (July 3), the younger siblings signed and sent an official letter to Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean asking him who were the members of the Ministerial Committee on May 2017. The executors of Lee Kuan Yew’s estate also wrote in their letter declaring that they have not been informed of the “options” considered by the government and what is the purpose of the said committee.
This May 2017 letter proves that DPM Teo Chee Hean was lying all along who earlier claimed that the Lee siblings were informed of the committee’s existence and purpose as early as August 2016.
Also pointed out in the letter, Lee Hsien Loong’s statutory declaration was quoted to rubbish the committee:
“13. In LHL’s statutory declaration of 27 February 2017, he accepts that it was Mr Lee’s “unwavering wish to demolish the House”. In fact, it was not just Mr Lee’s “unwavering wish”, but also that of his wife. Their wish in this regard is clearly set out in clause 7 of his Will and their private views did not differ from what was stated therein. This should be conclusive of the matter. The clear admission by LHL should end the Committee’s inquiry.
14. Your letter and LHL’s statutory declaration however persist in trying to establish whether Mr Lee was “prepared to accept preservation of the Property”. This is a nonsensical inquiry.”
The letter ended with the executors asking DPM Teo Chee Hean what exactly is the Ministerial Committee trying to achieve.
You may read the full letter here.
DPM Teo Chee Hean today defended himself in Parliament today saying he has no need to answer the Lee siblings:
“There is rarely a need to announce the formation of committees like the one set up to explore options for the late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s house at 38 Oxley Road.”
Also according to Lee Wei Ling’s press release today, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was constantly harassed by state media editors from the Singapore Press Holdings. Lee Kuan Yew, when alive, was dissatisfied with his daughter-in-law Ho Ching’s plan to renovate the house because he wanted the house demolished.
“Pa was never happy with Ho Ching’s so-called plans to renovate Oxley. He continued to ponder how he could hv Oxley demolished. As for what the SPH editor think. I observed the email exchange in person. It was my habit to check my email every time I woke up in the middle of the night, so I saw the emails flying fast & furious & I went to Pa’s study room. He was distress & eventually got up & walked off to bed looking disturbed. I scolded the SPH Editors via email for distressing Pa & told them to leave Pa alone. If they wanted to see Oxley, I would show them around but they were not to raise this issue w Pa again.”