Kwa Geok Choo

1.1. Family background

Kwa Geok Choo was born on 21 December 1920. She was the daughter of Kwa Siew Tee, who served as the general manager of Oversea-Chinese Bank and was a Singapore Municipal Commissioner. Her father's paternal lineage was Tong'anese, and he also had a Teochew mother. Kwa Geok Choo's mother, Wee Yew Neo, was Teochew and hailed from Shantou. Her family included a brother, Kwa Soon Bee, who later became a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health. She also had three sisters: Mrs Cheah, Mrs Yong (wife of Yong Nyuk Lin), and Mrs Earnest Lau, all of whom were teachers at the Methodist Girls' School.

1.2. Education and academic achievements

Kwa Geok Choo attended the Methodist Girls' School, Raffles Institution, and Raffles College. She was recognized for her academic excellence as a Queen's Scholar of Malaya. According to Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs, by 1939, Kwa and Lee were both top students at Raffles, frequently ranking first and second in examinations. Their studies were disrupted by the Japanese occupation, but they continued their courtship during this period. After the war, Kwa resumed her studies at Raffles College in 1946. Lee Kuan Yew, who had left Singapore to pursue his law degree at the University of Cambridge, petitioned for her admission to Girton College in 1947, stating that she was "a very bright girl, brighter than I was." She graduated with first-class honours in 1949 and was called to the bar the following year. Upon her return to Singapore, she was admitted to the Colony Bar in 1951. At that time, Kwa was one of the few female lawyers in the country, practicing at Laycock & Ong.

2.1. Founding of Lee & Lee

On 1 September 1955, Kwa Geok Choo co-founded the law firm Lee & Lee alongside Lee Kuan Yew and Dennis Lee Kim Yew. The firm grew to become one of the largest and most significant law firms in Singapore, playing a crucial role in the nation's legal landscape.

2.2. Legal practice and contributions

Within Lee & Lee, Kwa Geok Choo specialized in conveyancing and legal draftsmanship. Her expertise in legal drafting proved critical during a pivotal moment in Singapore's history. When Singapore separated from the Malaysian Federation, Kwa was responsible for drafting the crucial clauses in the Separation Agreement. These clauses specifically guaranteed the water agreements between the Malaysian state of Johor and Singapore. This guarantee was further secured through an amendment to the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, a testament to her meticulous legal work and foresight.

2.3. Later career and health issues

Kwa Geok Choo retired from her partnership at Lee & Lee in 1987, but she continued to contribute to the firm as a consultant thereafter. In her later years, she faced significant health challenges. After suffering two strokes in May and June 2008, she became bedridden and developed locked-in syndrome. This condition rendered her unable to speak or move, yet she remained conscious and capable of understanding speech, a situation that her family described as particularly difficult.

3.1. Early political involvement

Kwa Geok Choo was a founding member of the People's Action Party (PAP), the political party that has governed Singapore since 1959. She played a significant role in the party's early days, including helping to draft the PAP Constitution. Prior to the 1959 Singaporean general election, she delivered her first political speech on Radio Malaya, outlining the PAP's policy on women. In this address, she advocated for important social reforms such as equal pay for women and the promotion of monogamous marriages. Despite her foundational contributions, she largely remained out of the political limelight throughout her husband's extensive career.

3.2. Advocacy for women's rights

Kwa Geok Choo was a pioneer advocate for women's rights in Singapore. She actively spoke on issues like family planning, recognizing its importance for women's autonomy and societal well-being. She was a staunch supporter of legal protections for women. Her suggestions, alongside those of other prominent women's activists such as Chan Choy Siong, were instrumental in shaping the landmark 1961 Women's Charter. This pivotal legislation aimed to significantly improve and protect the legal rights of women in Singapore, reflecting Kwa's commitment to social progress and gender equality.

3.3. Role as spouse of Prime Minister

During Lee Kuan Yew's tenure as Prime Minister (1959-1990) and later as Senior Minister, Kwa Geok Choo frequently accompanied her husband. She was often seen with him on diplomatic trips abroad and during meetings with foreign ministers, providing support in his official capacity.

4.1. Marriage and family

Kwa Geok Choo married Lee Kuan Yew in a secret ceremony in London in 1947. They later remarried in Singapore on 30 September 1950. The couple had three children: two sons, Lee Hsien Loong (born 1952) and Lee Hsien Yang (born 1957), and a daughter, Lee Wei Ling (born 1955). Beyond her immediate family, her brother, Kwa Soon Bee, notably served as a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health. She also had three sisters: Mrs Cheah, Mrs Yong (wife of Yong Nyuk Lin), and Mrs Earnest Lau, all of whom were teachers at the Methodist Girls' School.

Lee Kuan Yew's siblings included Dennis Lee Kim Yew (1925-2003), a lawyer and co-founder of Lee & Lee, who was married to Gloria Lee (Woo) Sau Yin. His other brothers were Freddy Lee Thiam Yew (1927-2012), a stockbroker and former chairman of Ballas and Company, married to Eleanor Ngo Puay Chin, and Dr Lee Suan Yew (born 1934), who served as President of the Singapore Medical Council and was married to Pamela Chong. Lee Kuan Yew also had a sister, Monica Lee Kim Mon.

5.1. Circumstances of death and funeral

Kwa Geok Choo died peacefully in her sleep at her home on 2 October 2010, at approximately 05:40 Singapore Standard Time (SST), following a prolonged illness. Her passing led to a period of national mourning. She was accorded a state funeral, a rare honor, and was cremated at Mandai Crematorium on 7 October 2010.

6.1. Commemorative naming and academic activities

Her contributions to law and society have been widely recognized through several initiatives:

• In 2011, the Singapore Management University honored her by naming its new law library, a new scholars programme, and a prestigious award for top law graduates after her.
• In the same year, the National University of Singapore established a professorship in property law, a distinguished visitors programme, bursaries, and scholarships in her honor, reflecting her significant influence on legal education.
• Nanyang Girls' High School, a prominent educational institution, unveiled a bust of Kwa Geok Choo at its Yu Zhi Library, which itself is named after her.
• Her alma mater, the Methodist Girls' School, refurbished its auditorium in 2011 and named it in her honor.
• Singapore's Peranakan Museum currently displays Kwa Geok Choo's barrister wig on its third floor, preserving a tangible link to her legal career.

6.2. Cultural depictions

Kwa Geok Choo's life and persona have been portrayed in various cultural forms, reflecting her public memory and influence:

• In 2011, Morgan Chua, a former comic artist for the Far Eastern Economic Review, released In Memory of Kwa Geok Choo (1920-2010). This book featured a collection of sketches and political cartoons created as a tribute to her.
• In October 2014, the Madame Tussauds Singapore museum unveiled wax figures of Kwa Geok Choo and Lee Kuan Yew. The figures depicted them seated and smiling together against a backdrop of red flowers shaped like two hearts. These statues were based on a photograph taken by her niece, Kwa Kim Li, during Valentine's Day in 2008 at Sentosa.
• In the same month, Cultural Medallion recipient Tan Swie Hian completed a painting titled A Couple, depicting Kwa Geok Choo and Lee Kuan Yew. The painting, which took five years to create and was partially damaged by a fire in 2013, is based on a 1946 black-and-white photograph of the couple taken at the University of Cambridge. It incorporates Tan's poem, written in memory of Kwa, into its background. Tan described her as "a great woman who, despite her intelligence and capability, was also a humble and dedicated wife." A Couple was donated to the National Library of Singapore in 2017 and is displayed at the National Library Building on Victoria Street.
• In 2022, Toy Factory Productions staged a play titled Madam Kwa Geok Choo. This production was a monologue featuring Tan Rui Shan in the role of Kwa Geok Choo.

7.1. Awards and recognitions

• Golden Heart Presidential Award from the Philippines (15 January 1974)