THE grave of Singapore's wartime hero Lim Bo Seng may become a national monument one day.

His family has approached the National Heritage Board to accord the grave such status.

Said Brigadier-General Lim Teck Yin, 47, grandson of the national hero: 'We want to make sure that someone will look after it when we are gone.'

He is the commander of the Army Training and Doctrine Command in the Ministry of Defence.

In order to be gazetted, a building must have historical, traditional and architectural merit. Some 55 buildings have been gazetted as national monuments.

Last week, a reader wrote to My Paper about the 'deplorable' state of the grave at MacRitchie Reservoir Park, saying that it was in need of 'proper maintenance'.

When The Sunday Times visited the grave, there seemed to be nothing amiss. But on closer look, we spotted corrosion in the steps of the grave and a carving had broken off.

The Public Utilities Board maintains the general area, which has plants and grass, around the tombstone.

The latter belongs to the family.

Monday will be Lim Bo Seng's 65th death anniversary.

Read the full report in The Sunday Times.