DPM Teo Chee Hean on Wed defended his decision to set up a ministerial committee to look into the options for Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s family home on 38 Oxley Road, saying that the Government of the day “has to be responsible for making a decision on the property”. Mr Teo, who chairs the committee, was responding to a commentary by ST’ editor-at-large Han Fook Kwang, who questioned the need for Cabinet ministers to get involved in the dispute among PM Lee Hsien Loong and his siblings over their late father’s will. PM Lee had expressed “grave concern” over how the will was prepared, in particular, the removal and subsequent re-insertion of a clause stating his late father’s wish that the Oxley Road house be demolished after his death. “(The) Cabinet cannot outsource decision-making,” Mr Teo said in response, pointing out that setting up a ministerial committee to study or work on issues was part of normal Cabinet working processes. “Ultimately, it is the Government of the day which has to be responsible for making a decision on the property as this is where the powers reside under the law, specifically the Preservation of Monuments Act and the Planning Act in this case.... Continue Reading