1.Malaysiakini（http://www.malaysiakini.com）
Lee Kuan Yew dies at 91, http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/292855
Mar 23, 2015
by Rujun Shen and Rachel Armstrong, Reuters
Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister, died today aged 91, triggering a flood of tributes to the man who oversaw the tiny city-state's rapid rise from a British colonial backwater to a global trade and financial centre.
US President Barack Obama described Lee, who ruled Singapore for three decades, as "a true giant of history" whose advice on governance and economic development had been sought by other world leaders down the years.
Lee had receded from public and political life over the past few years, but he was still seen as an influential figure in the government of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, his oldest son.
In his lifetime, Lee drew praise for his market-friendly policies but also criticism at home and abroad for his strict controls over the press, public protest and political opponents.
Lee had receded from public and political life over the past few years, but he was still seen as an influential figure in the government of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, his eldest son.
"The first of our founding fathers is no more. He inspired us, gave us courage, and brought us here," a choked prime minister Lee said in a live television address on Monday. "To many Singaporeans, and indeed others too, Lee Kuan Yew was Singapore."
Lee died at 3.18am at Singapore General Hospital, where he had been admitted on Feb 5 suffering from pneumonia.
The government has declared a period of national mourning until his funeral on Sunday. Lee's family will hold a private wake in the next two days, then his body will lie in state at parliament from Wednesday to Saturday.
Singaporeans had been bracing for the news for days, and a sea of flowers had already piled up at the hospital where he was being treated.
"I'm so sad. He is my idol. He's been so good to me, my family and everyone," said Lua Su Yean, 64. "His biggest achievement is that from zero he's built up today's Singapore."
Little patience for dissent
Lee, a British-educated lawyer, is credited with building Singapore into one of the world's wealthiest nations on a per capita basis with a strong, pervasive role for the state and little patience for dissent.
He was unapologetic for the more draconian side to his leadership and clamping down fiercely on his opponents, saying it was essential for the country's security.
"We have to lock up people, without trial, whether they are communists, whether they are language chauvinists, whether they are religious extremists. If you don't do that, the country would be in ruins," he said in 1986.
Among other hardline measures, long hair for men was outlawed in the 1970s - the Bee Gees and Led Zeppelin cancelled gigs due to the ban - and chewing gum remains on the forbidden
list today. Graffiti is punishable by caning.
"He managed to create a system out of chaos when Singapore was starting out," said Isaac Seow, 29, outside the hospital. "For me, his most defining trait was his iron will. Love him or
hate him, he's got the job done."
Lee's leadership was seen as a model for many developing countries across the world, and politicians of all stripes said they took inspiration from his policies.
"Minister Mentor Lee's views and insights on Asian dynamics and economic management were respected by many around the world, and no small number of this and past generations of world leaders have sought his advice on governance and development," Obama said in a statement.
Thousands are expected to pay their respects at the Istana, which means palace in Malay and is the site of the prime minister's official residence, where a condolence book has been set up.
"My tears welled up as I received the sad news," said another former Singapore prime minister, Goh Chok Tong, who succeeded Lee. "He was my leader, mentor, inspiration, the man I looked up to most," Goh posted on Facebook.
Dozens of world leaders are expected to travel to the city-state for Lee's funeral, which will be held at the National University of Singapore.
"His place in history is assured, as a leader and as one of the modern world's foremost statesmen," Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron said in a statement.
"He was always a friend to Britain, if sometimes a critical one, and many British prime ministers benefited from his wise advice, including me."
Controversial views
"Harry" Lee became Singapore's first prime minister in 1959 and held onto power for 31 years, overseeing the island's transformation from a port city battling crime and poverty into one of Asia's most prosperous nations.
Even after stepping down as leader in 1990 - signing off as the world's then longest-serving prime minister - the acerbic Lee stayed on in the cabinet until 2011. He was a member of parliament until his death.
Lee, a fourth-generation Singaporean, co-founded the People's Action Party (PAP), which has ruled the city since 1959 and led the newly born country when it was separated from Malaysia in 1965.
He stepped down as prime minister in 1990, handing power to Goh Chok Tong, but remained influential as senior minister in Goh's cabinet and later as "minister mentor" when his son became prime minister in 2004.
The older Lee left the cabinet in 2011 and had cut down his public appearances in recent months.
Lee was renowned for his wit and firebrand comments. He had few kind words for former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, and he dismissed the "dull life" of New Zealanders.
He wrote a handful of books and voiced strong opinions on everything from eugenics and the "slothful" sport of golf to fengshui and astrology, which he decried as "utter rubbish!"
His sharp tongue
On death
"Even from my sick bed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel something is going wrong, I will get up."
On government
"I am often accused of interfering in the private lives of citizens. Yes, if I did not, had I not done that, we wouldn't be here today. And I say without the slightest remorse, that we wouldn't be here, we would not have made economic progress, if we had not intervened on very personal matters - who your neighbour is, how you live, the noise you make, how you spit, or what language you use. We decide what is right. Never mind what the people think."
On press freedom
"Go on the Internet, you can publish your party's views, you can produce your party magazines, your party newspapers, nothing to prevent you from doing all that. But if you commit anything libellous, we'll sue you. Anything which is untrue and defamatory, we will take action.
"The foreign media used to say we are dull, sterile, no fun, no buzz, now they are moving away from these descriptions. But we are not moving away from our base positions. We are not going to quail under their sustained attacks. If you quail, you're weak and a fool."
On democracy
"In new countries, democracy has worked and produced results only when there is an honest and effective government, which means a people smart enough to elect such a government.
Remember, elected governments are only as good as people who choose them."
On homosexuality
“Sex between two men is illegal in Singapore and punishable with up to two years in prison, though it is rarely enforced.”
On golf
"I used to play golf, but found it did not give me vitality because it's a slothful game.
"Nine holes of golf will take you one-and-a-half, two hours. I run in 20 minutes, I feel better off. So the cost benefit made me drop golf."
On chewing gum
"If you can't think because you can't chew, try a banana."
On Singapore
"Singapore is my concern till the end of my life. Why should I not want Singapore to continue to succeed?
"I have no regrets. I have spent my life, so much of it, building up this country. There's nothing more that I need to do."
- Reuters
2.CSIS(http://csis.org)
After Lee Kuan Yew: What’s Next For Singapore?, 23 March 2015
by Ernest Z. Bower
Early this morning, the founder and spiritual leader of Singapore, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, passed away with his family, citizens of Singapore, and people around the world literally and figuratively at his bedside, wishing him peace and contemplating his legacy. A seven-day period of mourning has begun during which Singaporeans will contemplate his life and his leadership and think about what’s next for their country.
In fact, Lee’s passing may have been well-timed, perhaps appropriate for a man who literally micromanaged the rise of one of the world’s most spectacular nations. Singapore will celebrate its 50th anniversary of independence this August, and those celebrations will now be a national tribute to the life of the man who carved his country from rock into a transformative global city whose influence far outstripped its diminutive size.
Lee was one of Southeast Asia’s “great men,” or tough leaders who tacked on the violent winds of the Vietnam and Cold wars to turn their nascent, post-colonial nations from commodity-based economies to newly industrialized dynamic centers of global supply chains. Along with counterparts such as Suharto, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, and King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Mr. Lee centralized power, drove economic development and carefully managed the development of his country. The results, particularly in Singapore – perhaps due to Lee’s iron determination, but also its small size – have been breathtaking: industrial development, urbanization, banishing poverty (in most cases), and enhancing education.
One of the result of these successes is a very large and increasing confident middle class – the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimates ASEAN’s middle class will grow from 200 million to over 1 billion by 2030 – that will inevitably challenge the paternalistic, top-down, and centrally controlled governance models Lee adopted to drive his country to its current state of development. It is this transition that has many Singaporeans quietly very anxious about Mr. Lee’s passing. They are not only losing their decisive founder, they also recognize that Singapore will never be the same from this day forward.
Instead of having an undeniable father to say “yes” or “no,” Singaporeans will now use the training and education they received from Lee’s legacy efforts to improve their lives and make more consensus-based decisions. Singapore could gradually move to a more normal political regime where competing parties and leaders argue to convince a nation that their ideas are best.
The beginnings of this shift actually happened before Lee passed this morning. In 2011, the opposition Worker’s Party won 6 of the 87 seats in Singapore’s Parliament. To outsiders, this would seem like a continued, near total domination by Lee’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), but for Singaporeans, it felt more like the start of a political paradigm shift. The PAP was indeed rattled. That trend is likely to continue, and it will not be easy for Singapore.
Some of PAP’s leaders may pine for the old days, but hopefully they won’t pursue the path of their counterparts in Malaysia, where the ruling United Malays National Organization party seems to be trying to turn the clock back, betting on an ultra conservative approach.
It is more likely that over time, PAP’s well-educated and globally focused leaders will find there is new room to breathe and innovate in the new political space of the post-Lee Kuan Yew era. These leaders, including Lee’s son, current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, will find Singapore becoming a more “normal” country where key policies will have to be built more on national consensus and less on a genius’ view of a world-beating development plan. This will slow Singaporeans down a bit and make their regional and global geopolitical role more nuanced, but it is an evolution rather than a descent into chaos.
Singapore is right to honor and thank Lee Kuan Yew. His successes have prepared them to thrive, and their accomplishments will be his enduring legacy.
Ernie Bower is Senior Adviser and Sumitro Chair for Southeast Asia Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C.
Commentary is produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a private, tax-exempt institution focusing on international public policy issues. Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary. CSIS does not take specific policy positions. Accordingly, all views, positions, and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s).
© 2015 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. All rights reserved.
3.CFR(http://www.cfr.org/singapore/lees-lasting-legacy/p36313)
Lee's Lasting Legacy
Interviewee: Karen Brooks, Adjunct Senior Fellow for Asia
Interviewer: Eleanor Albert, Online Writer/Editor
23 March 2015
The passing of Singapore’s towering founding father and first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (1923–2015) on Monday marked a turning point for the island nation. Few leaders have shaped a nation as much as Lee did in Singapore, says CFR Adjunct Senior Fellow Karen Brooks. While Lee's model of economic liberalization serves as an inspiration for many developing nations in the region, Brooks says the country “is sui generis on many levels, making it a difficult act for others to follow.” Acknowledging that Lee’s paternalistic governing style “often translated into a considerable suppression of democratic freedoms,” she says the country’s political system is being challenged by a younger generation of Singaporeans demanding new freedoms. However, the first significant test for post-Lee Singapore will be the country’s next general election, which must be held before January 2017. As for its foreign policy, Brooks says that Washington will continue to seek Singapore’s counsel on matters related to China as well as the region at large.
Lee Kuan Yew played a pivotal role in transforming Singapore into an economic powerhouse. How meaningful is his legacy for Singapore and the region?
Few leaders have had as formative an impact on the politics, economy, social structure, and very character and fiber of a nation as Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) did on Singapore.
Not only was he the founding father of Singapore, leading the nation to independence in 1965 after a long period of British colonial rule and a short-lived union with neighboring Malaysia, but he guided the island nation as prime minister for thirty-one straight years—making him the longest serving prime minister in world history. He also exercised significant structural influence on the country for more than two decades after stepping down as the head of government in 1990.
Over the past five decades, LKY steered Singapore from a British colonial backwater to an industrial and financial powerhouse that by all measures has long punched way above its weight on the world stage. It was LKY’s strategic vision and relentless never-take-no-for-an-answer personality that transformed Singapore into what he proudly called a "first-world oasis in a third-world region.” Today, the modern, glitzy city-state of Singapore boasts one of the highest GDPs per capita in the world: $55,182.50 in 2013 compared to $53,042 in the United States, according to the World Bank. If based on purchasing power parity, Singapore’s GDP numbers are even more impressive, registering $78,763.40 compared to the United States' $53,042.
In engineering this miracle, the nation LKY built came very much to reflect the man: disciplined, industrious, pragmatic, straight talking, and always ahead of the curve. Singapore’s spectacular success generated some tension with its neighbors from time to time, but it also proved to be a source of inspiration for the region and helped drive ASEAN [the Association of Southeast Asian Nations] into the vibrant economic grouping it is today.
How did Lee navigate Singapore's transition from colonial trading outpost to vibrant regional business hub?
Singapore is a tiny, predominantly ethnic Chinese city-state with no natural resources, surrounded by larger, predominantly Muslim, and not entirely friendly resource-rich nations. LKY often cited Israel as his inspiration for overcoming such circumstances, saying that like Israel, Singapore had to leapfrog over the rest of the region by becoming a leading destination for international investment. LKY opened Singapore’s doors to foreign companies, made English the language of business, invested heavily in the nation’s infrastructure, and became a major manufacturing center with one of the world’s busiest ports.
As other nations joined the low cost manufacturing bandwagon, LKY invested heavily in education and upgraded the skills of his workforce in order for Singapore to move up the value chain. And move up they did. Singapore became a thriving financial center and services economy, and then reengineered itself yet again to become a cultural and recreational hub, building a world-class performing arts complex, museums, galleries, theme parks, and casinos.
While promoting market capitalism, exploiting Singapore’s strategic location at the mouth of the Straits of Malacca and drawing investment from the rest of the world, LKY placed notoriously tight control over social behavior and political opposition. He also invested heavily in defense and instituted a mandatory national service program, which remains in place to this day.
Is it possible for other states in the region or worldwide to follow the path taken by Lee’s Singapore?
LKY's distinctive formula of economic liberalization combined with restrictions on political freedoms has been the envy of many governments around the region and the world.
Singapore, however, is sui generis on many levels, making it a difficult act for others to follow. For starters, it is tiny, both in terms of land mass and population. Only thirty miles across at its widest point and with a population of 5.6 million, the entire nation of Singapore is roughly half the geographic footprint of New York City and far less populous.
Second, Singapore enjoys relative ethnic homogeneity, with ethnic Chinese making up nearly three quarters of the population, and a combination of Malay, Indians, and others accounting for the rest. While not as homogenous as, say, Japan or Korea, Singapore fares well on this front compared to immediate neighbors Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar, as well as to other more diverse countries in the developing world.
Third, successive Singaporean administrations have managed to deliver results without succumbing to the seemingly inevitable allure of corruption in other countries. Quite the opposite, technocratic competence and clean government have been hallmarks of every administration for the past five decades, thanks both to a rigorous meritocratic system and a calculated decision by the government to pay its officials on par with their peers in the private sector. Singaporean government officials are among the highest paid in the world, which, along with a culture of respect for government service, has enabled the ruling party to replenish itself with fresh talent at regular intervals.
Such factors are not easily replicable elsewhere.
While Lee is revered for his economic stewardship, he faced stern criticism on issues like the suppression of political dissent and press freedom. Do you see political reforms happening anytime soon?
Lee Kuan Yew's brand of enlightened authoritarianism, in which the good of society took precedence over the rights of individuals, translated into considerable suppression of democratic freedoms.
In recent years, a new generation of voters less in touch with the struggles of the past and hyper connected to the world of the future has proven less enamored with this kind of paternalism. While respectful of LKY's achievements, young people in Singapore are nonetheless pushing the boundaries of discourse and telling the current government, headed by LKY’s eldest son, Lee Hsien Long, that they want change.
The 2011 elections reflected that evolution, with opposition politicians winning an unprecedented six out of eighty-four seats in parliament. Singapore’s next general election, which must be held before January 2017, will be the first significant test of the direction of the country in the post LKY era.
Despite its success, the city-state faces a number of pressing challenges, like widening economic disparities and a rise in immigration. What's at stake here?
Singapore’s explosive economic growth has been accompanied by rapid population growth, with a large influx of foreigners drawn to Singapore for both high- and low-end jobs. Some two of every five people living in Singapore are now said to be foreigners, and this has put a strain on housing, infrastructure, job prospects, and national identity.
At the high end, foreign talent with expat packages have driven up land and housing prices; at the low end, laborers from China and the Indian sub-continent have driven down wages. This issue set has become a considerable challenge for the ruling People's Action Party and is a hot topic of discourse on social media.
Singapore is also part of a region confronting tests over competition in the South China Sea as well as anticipating Washington’s “strategic rebalancing” to Asia. What role can Singapore play in these developments?
Singapore plays an important role in regional security and enjoys a close security relationship with the United States. U.S. aircraft carriers regularly visit Singapore’s deep water port at Changi Naval Base, which Singapore built in the 1990s at its own expense to help ensure a continued, strong U.S. presence as a regional balancer in Southeast Asia. Singapore is also a close partner to Washington on a wide range of counterterrorism initiatives.
At the same time, Singapore maintains good relations with China and has used that relationship to help interpret Beijing’s behavior to Washington, particularly in time of stress. Successive U.S. Presidents since [Richard M.] Nixon have valued—and to varying degrees relied on—Singaporean leaders' insight and advice on China. I expect that pattern to continue in the post-LKY era, although LKY was undoubtedly uniquely qualified to play that role.
4.(http://mustsharenews.com/lky-kwa-geok-choo-love-story/)
The Lee Kuan Yew And Kwa Geok Choo Love Story
by Melissa Yeo
5 March 2015
Behind every successful man there stands a woman
Most refer to her as Mrs. Lee Kuan Yew, but Madam Kwa Geok Choo is more than just the woman behind Mr. Lee Kuan Yew – she was a woman who silently gave her all to the nation and her family.
Mr. Lee Kuan Yew had been engaged in politics over the years, with numerous political opponents who alleged that he is ruthless. However, his love for his wife is a very touching story – a strong testament of their love and devotion.
From competitors to lovers
It was no love at first sight.
When studying at Raffles College in Singapore, Mr. Lee crossed paths with Mdm. Kwa, the only female student in the prestigious school. They started out as competitors – Mdm. Kwa’s Economic Science and English results topped the cohort, with Mr. Lee’s coming in second. From an exchange of blows, a friendship grew; no discord, no concord. From competitors, they gradually became lovers.
The first separation
In September 1946, Mr. Lee made the decision to leave for England to study law. Mdm. Kwa would return to Raffles College to try to attain one of the two Queen’s Scholarships awarded annually. Only one Singaporean would be the recipient of the scholarship – this meant that if Mdm. Kwa did not win it, a three-year wait for Mr. Lee’s return would ensue.
Separation is inevitable when you’re young – you have lofty aspirations, the world is your oyster. But what would happen to your loved one? This was a dilemma young Mr. Lee faced.
On their 1946 commitment, Mr. Lee said:
I asked her whether she would wait for me until I came back three years later after being called to the Bar. Choo asked if I knew she was 2 1/2 years older than I was. I said I knew, and had considered this carefully.
I was mature for my age and most of my friends were older than me anyway. Moreover, I wanted someone my equal, not someone who was not really grown up and needed looking after, and I was not likely to find another girl who was my equal and who shared my interests. She said she would wait.
As a young man, Mr. Lee’s education at Raffles College was disrupted by the war. Without a steady profession or job, Mdm. Kwa’s parents did not perceive young Mr. Lee as a worthy son-in-law. Mdm. Kwa, on the other hand, had unwavering faith in Mr. Lee.
Mdm. Kwa eventually won the scholarship in June the next year, and joined Mr. Lee at Cambridge.
The secret marriage
When Mr. Lee proposed the idea of a secret marriage, Mdm. Kwa agreed without hesitation. The alternative to a secret marriage, according to Mdm. Kwa, would be to “cohabit” or “to live in sin”.
Thus, in December 1947, the couple secretly got married at Stratford-upon-Avon, William Shakespeare’s birthplace. When in London, en-route to Stratford-upon-Avon, Mr. Lee bought Mdm. Kwa a platinum wedding ring, which she wore on a necklace back at Cambridge. Upon arrival at Stratford-upon-Avon, they notified the local Registrar of Marriages of their intention to get married. Two weeks of residence later, they were officially married.
However, this secret marriage was kept a secret even after their parents’ death and only revealed when Mr. Lee penned his memoirs.
Second marriage
Mr. Lee once said:
I don’t think that’s an offence, to marry a woman twice, the same woman!
Upon the couple’s return to Singapore, they joined a law firm, Laycock & Ong, as legal assistants. While Mdm. Kwa did draftsmanship and conveyancing, Mr. Lee practised litigation. In September 1950, they got married a second time in a bid to placate their parents and friends. That day, the registrar, Mr Grosse, arrived 15 minutes late and got chided by a furious Mr. Lee. A reception was held at Raffles Hotel later that afternoon.
The fruit of their love
In February 1952, their first son, Lee Hsien Loong was born. Mdm. Kwa went on maternity leave for a year. The same month, John Laycock, Laycock & Ong’s Senior Partner, asked Mr. Lee to undertake the case of the Postal and Telecommunications Uniformed Staff Union. The postmen union were in talks with the government for better terms and conditions of service and won concessions from the government two weeks later. This win can be attributed to Mdm. Kwa, who edited Mr. Lee’s draft statements from home on her maternity leave, so they were clear and simple. She also influenced Mr. Lee’s writing style – he began writing in short sentences with an active voice. In 1955, their daughter, Lee Wei Ling was born. Two years later, their younger son, Lee Hsien Yang was conceived.
Exemplary of an Asian wife
In 1976, Mdm. Kwa said:
I walk two steps behind my husband like a good Asian wife.
Through Mr. Lee’s writings, one could tell that she was more than just a wife – she was also Mr. Lee’s confidante and advisor.
In 1954, Mdm. Kwa helped Mr. Lee draft the Constitution of the PAP. Mr. Lee also said Mdm. Kwa had the ability to read a person’s character and often it turned out to be right. Prior to the Singapore-Malaysia merger, Mdm. Kwa foresaw that the merger would fall through because of the differences in lifestyle and the way the UMNO Malay leaders handled politics. She was right – Singapore was expelled by Malaysia in 1965. Law Minister Eddie Barker drafted a separation legislation, but left out a clause to safeguard Singapore’s water supply from Malaysia. Mr. Lee asked his wife to include that in the Separation Agreement, which reassured Mr. Lee every time Malaysian leaders threatened to cut off Singapore’s water supply.
The first stroke
Mdm. Kwa’s entire life revolved around Mr. Lee and her children. Being the eldest son of a Peranakan family, Mr. Lee could not even crack an egg, since it is not expected of men to do so. Nevertheless, in 2003, when Mdm. Kwa suffered her first stroke, Mr. Lee made the effort to adjust his lifestyle to look after her although he was still in the Cabinet as Senior Minister, and later Minister Mentor. He took care of her complicated medication regime. Because Mdm. Kwa lost her left field of vision, Mr. Lee would sit on her left side during meals, reminding her to finish the food on the left side of the plate. He would also meticulously pick up the food Mdm. Kwa’s left hand dropped. Mr. Lee urged Mdm. Kwa to exercise by swimming daily and would measure her blood pressure several times in a day. Although their daughter, Lee Wei Ling, contacted a doctor who invented a watch-like device to measure blood pressure, Mdm. Kwa said:
I prefer to have my husband measure my blood pressure.
The second stroke
Mdm. Kwa was dealt a second stroke in May 2008, which left her bedridden. After returning home from work, Mr. Lee would sit by her bed and spend two hours telling Mdm. Kwa about his day and read her favourite poems to her. This continued every night without fail. Since the poetry books were thick and heavy, Mr. Lee utilized a heavy-duty music stand to support the books. One night, a drowsy Mr. Lee fell asleep while reading poetry to Mdm. Kwa. He slouched forward and hit his face against the metal-made music stand, suffering abrasions on his face. Despite this, he continued reading to Mdm. Kwa every night.
Even though Mr. Lee is agnostic, he still prayed for Mdm. Kwa. That dark period, to him, was even harder to pull through compared to the political stress he felt when Singapore was expelled from Malaysia.
Epilogue: the final goodbye
89-year-old Mdm. Kwa passed on after being bedridden for two years. A grieving Mr. Lee walked to her casket, using its frame to support his 87-year-old body. Placing a stalk of red rose on her still body, Mr. Lee bent towards his wife, reaching for her face with his right hand. He planted a kiss on her forehead, and then another. His beloved Mdm. Kwa Geok Choo – or Choo, as he affectionately calls her – had departed, leaving him with 63 years of happy memories.
Singapore’s very own royal love story
Mr. Lee had been courageous and resolute in pursuing his dreams and love. He also credited Mdm. Kwa’s consistent rational and emotional support as his driving force. Together, they helped build the Singapore we have today, with Mdm. Kwa being the woman behind his back, having his back. Take their statuses away, at the very end, he was just a man who loved his wife till death did they part. After having spent over three decades of their lives together, they had become so intertwined as one over the years. They were not only lovers, but also soul mates and best friends. It’s painful to think of what happens to the one left behind when one is taken out of the equation.
Here’s a quote from the man himself to sum up a timeless love story:
We have never allowed the other to feel abandoned and alone in any moment of crisis. Quite the contrary, we have faced all major crises in our lives together, sharing our fears and hopes, and our subsequent grief and exultation. These moments of crisis have bonded us closer together. With the years, the number of special ties which we two have shared have increased.
Lee Kuan Yew: Badass Politician or Caring Husband?
(End)
