Lee Kuan Yew's sons donate value of their father's house to charity

According to a Channel News Asia report, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his brother Lee Hsien Yang will each donate half the value of their late father’s Oxley Road residence to eight charities named in the obituary notice.

These charities are:

• Education Fund
• NTUC-U Care Fund
• Garden City Fund
• CDAC
• Mendaki
• Association of Muslim Professionals
• Sinda
• Eurasian Association

PM Lee made the announcement in a Facebook post on Friday November 4.

“To honour the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Mr Lee Hsien Loong and Mr Lee Hsien Yang have each agreed to donate half the value of 38 Oxley Road to the charities named in the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s obituary notice.”

“Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang would like to honour the wish of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew that the house at 38 Oxley Road be demolished after Dr Lee Wei Ling ceases to live in it.

“Mr Lee Hsien Loong has recused himself from all government decisions involving 38 Oxley Road and, in his personal capacity, would also like to see this wish honoured.

“Speaking as the children of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang hope the government will allow the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s wish for the demolition of the house to be honoured and that all Singaporeans will support their cause.”

A generous heart

The late Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s request to give away the value of his house to charity is not surprising.

In his book “Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going”, it is revealed that the earnings from his memoirs, speaking engagements and appointments to various advisory boards since he stepped down as Prime Minister in November 1990, were all donated to charity. He took no tax deductions either.

Since 1991, the late Prime Minister has donated almost $13 million to charity. He and his family certainly set a great example in generosity to us all, including our children. 

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