LEE KUAN YEW'S WIFE REMAINS A MEMORY AFTER HER DEATH

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPURA, Oct 14 (Bernama) – Oct 13 marks exactly one week after the
funeral of Kwa Geok Choo, the wife of former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan
Yew.

Kwa, 89, died on Oct 2 after a long spell of illness following a stroke two
years ago.

Besides prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, 58, Kwa also had another son, Hsien
Yang, 53, and a daughter Wei Ling, 55.

Hundreds of Singaporeans made a beeline to Sri Temasik, the official
residence of the prime minister at the Istana at Jalan Orchard, to give their
last respects when Kwa's remains were placed there for two days before the
funeral.

Among the dignitaries who paid their last respects were the younger brother
of the Sultan of Brunei, Pengiran Muda Mohamed Bolkiah and daughter of former
Indonesian president Suharto, Siti Hediati Hariyadi.

The VIPs from Malaysia were the Tengku Mahkota of Johor, Tunku Ismail
Ibrahim, the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Shahrizat
Jalil, Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen and Kelantan Chief Minister Nik Aziz Nik
Mat.

According to Lee's memoir, The Singapore Story, Kwa or “Choo” as she was
fondly referred to by Lee, had played a major role then as a very experienced
lawyer.

When Singapore wanted to separate from Malaysia in 1965, it was Kwa who
drafted the bilateral contract on water supply.

Kwa was also an avid reader and occasionally corrected Lee's speech texts
since 1950.

In the memoir, Lee wrote: "Choo was my pillar of strength, who constantly
gave me emotional and intellectual support."

-- BERNAMA