Kwa Geok Choo
Encyclopedia
Kwa Geok Choo was a Singapore
an most widely known as the wife of Singapore's Minister Mentor
and former Prime Minister
Lee Kuan Yew
, and one of the partners in the law firm Lee & Lee. Kwa was also the mother of current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
. She was a former pupil of Methodist Girls' School
and read law at Girton College, Cambridge University
, where she was a Queen's Scholar
from Malaya
. In Lee Kuan Yew
's biography, he stated that he first met Kwa in 1944 at a party, and courted her from 1946. Kwa married Lee Kuan Yew in secret in London in 1947 and then remarried in Singapore on September 30, 1950. They had two sons—Lee Hsien Loong and Lee Hsien Yang
—and one daughter—Lee Wei Ling. Her brother, Dr. Kwa Soon Bee, served as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health. She had two sisters, Mrs. Yong Nyuk Lin (wife of retired cabinet minister Yong Nyuk Lin
) and the late Mrs. Earnest Lau.
During Lee's years as Prime Minister
and Senior Minister
, Kwa was frequently seen with her husband, especially on diplomatic trips and meetings with other foreign ministers. After suffering two strokes in May and June 2008, she was bedridden and unable to speak, but remained conscious and able to understand speech.
Kwa died in her sleep on 2 October 2010 around 5:40pm SST
.
from the Malaysian Federation, Kwa drafted the clauses in the Separation Agreement for the guarantee of the water agreements
between the State of Johor and Singapore. This guarantee was done via a constitutional amendment to the Federation of Malaysia's Constitution.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
an most widely known as the wife of Singapore's Minister Mentor
Minister Mentor
Minister Mentor is a Singapore cabinet position created in 2004 as part of a leadership transition.The newly appointed Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong , announced Lee Kuan Yew's new title together with the naming of his Cabinet on August 12, 2004...
and former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Singapore
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore. The President of Singapore appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.The office of Prime Minister...
Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
, and one of the partners in the law firm Lee & Lee. Kwa was also the mother of current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore. He is married to Ho Ching, who is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings. He is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew....
. She was a former pupil of Methodist Girls' School
Methodist Girls' School
Methodist Girls' School is a girls' independent school, consisting of two sections - the Primary School and Secondary School, located in Bukit Timah, Singapore. It is affiliated to the Anglo-Chinese School family and the Methodist Church in Singapore...
and read law at Girton College, Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where she was a Queen's Scholar
Queen's Scholar
The longest-established Queen's Scholarships are the forty scholarships at Westminster School, founded in 1560 by Queen Elizabeth I. These scholars take part in the coronation in Westminster Abbey, acclaiming the new monarch by shouting "Vivat". They also have the right to observe parliament...
from Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
. In Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
's biography, he stated that he first met Kwa in 1944 at a party, and courted her from 1946. Kwa married Lee Kuan Yew in secret in London in 1947 and then remarried in Singapore on September 30, 1950. They had two sons—Lee Hsien Loong and Lee Hsien Yang
Lee Hsien Yang
Lee Hsien Yang is the second son of Singapore's first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew. He is currently the Non-Executive Director and Chairman of Fraser and Neave Limited and chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore ....
—and one daughter—Lee Wei Ling. Her brother, Dr. Kwa Soon Bee, served as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health. She had two sisters, Mrs. Yong Nyuk Lin (wife of retired cabinet minister Yong Nyuk Lin
Yong Nyuk Lin
Yong Nyuk Lin is a Singaporean politician. He was born in Seremban, Negri Sembilan, Malaysia and studied in Singapore. He was the general manager of Overseas Assurance Company when he resigned to stand for elections in 1959. He became the Member of Parliament for Geylang West. He was in...
) and the late Mrs. Earnest Lau.
During Lee's years as Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
and Senior Minister
Senior Minister
Senior Minister is a political office in the political system of Singapore taken by a prime minister or senior cabinet minister when he or she retires from that office, but still has something to offer the government based on his or her long experience...
, Kwa was frequently seen with her husband, especially on diplomatic trips and meetings with other foreign ministers. After suffering two strokes in May and June 2008, she was bedridden and unable to speak, but remained conscious and able to understand speech.
Kwa died in her sleep on 2 October 2010 around 5:40pm SST
Singapore Standard Time
Singapore Standard Time or Singapore Time based in Singapore uses a time zone eight hours in advance of UTC .- History :...
.
Contributions to Singapore
When Singapore separatedSingapore in Malaysia
On 16 September 1963, which was also Lee Kuan Yew's 40th birthday, Singapore merged with the Federation of Malaya alongside Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia...
from the Malaysian Federation, Kwa drafted the clauses in the Separation Agreement for the guarantee of the water agreements
Water conflicts between Malaysia and Singapore
Singapore and Malaysia have a long standing conflict over water supplies.The first water agreement was signed between His Highness the Sultan and Sovereign Ruler of the State and Territories of Johore and the Municipal Commissioners of the Town of Singapore on 5 December 1927...
between the State of Johor and Singapore. This guarantee was done via a constitutional amendment to the Federation of Malaysia's Constitution.