An “intermediate option” of demolishing the above-ground section of 38 Oxley Road, but retaining the dining room in the basement is being considered by the Government.

This will “allow us to respect the wishes of Mr Lee Kuan Yew and still preserve the heritage and history (of the house) for Singapore and Singaporeans”, said Senior Minister of State for Law and Finance Indranee Rajah.

This option was raised by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean in a statement last week where he said he personally would not support decisions on the house that are at both extremes — demolishing it and preserving it as-is.

Mr Teo chairs a ministerial committee considering the implications of the range of options for the two-storey bungalow that Mr Lee lived in for most of his life.

Over the past two weeks, the late Mr Lee’s two younger children have been embroiled in a dispute with their eldest brother, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, on the fate of 38 Oxley Road.

In her Facebook post yesterday elaborating on the intermediate option, Ms Indranee noted that the dining room — where the People’s Action Party was started — was where “many historical meetings took place”. Pictures of the basement had already been made public during Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s time and are “widely available”, she added.

“Nothing of the private spaces would be seen. At the same time, the history and heritage would not be lost, and the crucible where the hopes and dreams of a nation were forged can be kept to inspire many more generations to come,” said Ms Indranee. She added that this option would “substantially fulfil Mr Lee’s wish” for his and his late wife Mdm Kwa Geok Choo’s privacy to be respected.

Ms Indranee also noted in her post that redevelopment of the plot was an option only if the property were to be demolished. If a luxury condominium were to be built in the future bearing that address, it would “confer bragging rights on a select few to say: ‘I’m living where Lee Kuan Yew lived’”.

She added: “(If that happens,) the history and heritage of the site would be forever lost to ordinary Singaporeans, including future generations.

“That is probably not the way Singaporeans will want to remember 38 Oxley Road.” KELLY NG