Singapore, April 13 (IANS) Singapore’s former premier Lee Kuan Yew’s house will not be demolished immediately according to his wishes as long as his daughter continues to live there, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Monday.
Lee died on March 23, aged 91, after a prolonged battle with pneumonia.
Lee Hsien Loong addressed the issue of his father’s house in Parliament, Xinhua news agency reported.
“If and when Lee Wei Ling no longer lives in the house, Lee has stated his wishes as to what then should be done. At that point, speaking as a son, I would like to see these wishes carried out. However, it will be up to the government of the day to consider the matter,” the prime minister said.
In Lee Kuan Yew’s will, he stated: “I further declare that it is my wish, and the wish of my late wife, Kwa Geok Choo, that our house at 38 Oxley Road, Singapore 238629 be demolished immediately after my death or if my daughter, Wei Ling, would prefer to continue living in the original house, immediately after she moves out of the House. I would ask each of my children to ensure our wishes with respect to the demolition of the house be carried out.”
Lee Hsien Loong, in his statement, thanked Parliament, and all Singaporeans, for their tributes to his father during the month of Lee Kuan Yew’s final illness, and the week of national mourning after he passed away.
Members of the House and the public have made many suggestions to remember Lee Kuan Yew, and Lee Hsien Loong said he noticed that these are all good ideas. He, however, said: “We should not rush into making decisions on this matter.”