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An Unassuming but Extraordinary Lady

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An Unassuming but Extraordinary Lady 1 60 cents | MICA (P) 142/09/2010 8 October 2010 On Her Watch ‘An Unassuming But p2 Extraordinary Lady’ ore than 14,000 people turned up at the Istana on 4 and 5 October 2010 to pay their respects to Madam Kwa Geok Choo, better knownM as Mrs Lee Kuan Yew, who passed away on 2 October 2010 aged 89. There was an overwhelming outpouring of tributes for a woman who in her simple and humble ways made enormous contributions to her family and country. The tributes came from people, both locally and overseas, from every station of life whose lives she had touched one way or another. Though not many may know, Mrs Lee also had a hand in shaping the Labour Movement of today. In separate letters of condolence dated 3 October 2010 to Minister Lee Family Collection Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Mrs Lee’s eldest Mrs Lee is flanked by the two Singapore Prime Ministers in her life - her husband, current Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on her right, and son, current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on her left. They were at the Sotheby’s-Lee Kuan Yew Family Auction in July 2003. son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the Labour Movement mourned their loss of a loving wife, caring Singapore are deeply indebted.” mother and doting grandmother, who was always a pillar of Delivering a moving eulogy at the funeral service of Mrs Lee on 6 strength and source of inspiration and comfort. October 2010, MM Lee celebrated her life and summed up: “I have While MM Lee was in the forefront as a court lawyer for unions precious memories of our 63 years together. Without her, I would be a in the days when union leaders tackled irresponsible employers, different man, with a different life. communist infiltration and combative trade union practices, Mrs “She devoted herself to me and our children. She was always Lee also played her part. there when I needed her. She has lived a life full of warmth and The letters said: “Madam Kwa provided legal advice to meaning. I should find solace at her 89 years of her life well lived. But the NTUC quietly, on a pro bono basis, never seeking credit at this moment of the final parting, my heart is heavy with sorrow and for herself. She was also a principal drafter of the Singapore grief.” Labour Foundation Act. Her selfless service will not In his equally moving eulogy, PM Lee said: “Over these last few days, I and my family have been deeply touched by the outpouring be forgotten by successive generations of of condolences and fond recollections from people of all walks of life. younger union leaders.” She touched the lives of all those who met her, and many more who The letters also highlighted Mrs Lee’s critical role over the knew of her only through television images, media reports or word of years in taking care of the family and giving MM Lee the peace of mouth. They sensed what a special person she was, and how much mind to focus on building up Singapore, for which “the workers of she had quietly contributed to Singapore.” We in the Labour Movement are saddened by the passing of Mrs Lee. Together with Minister “Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, Mrs Lee helped unions fight unscrupulous employers in the 1950s and 1960s for better wages and working conditions. The legal assistance given by Lee & Lee then helped to lay the foundation for the Labour Movement to progress to where we are today. For this, we Courtesy of MICA A Labour Movement delegation led by NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say paid their last respects are deeply indebted to Mrs Lee, an to Madam Kwa Geok Choo on 4 October 2010 at the wake in Sri Temasek, the Prime Minister’s official outstanding person who cared a lot residence at the Istana. Bowing are (from right) NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Heng Chee How, Mrs for our workers. She will be missed.” Lim Swee Say, NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say, NTUC Vice-President Nora Kang and NTUC Vice- President Cyrille Tan. On the far left are Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Madam Ho Ching. NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say In Memoriam: Kwa Geok Choo - 21 December 1920 to 2 October 2010 In Memoriam: Kwa Geok Choo - 21 December 1920 to 2 October 2010 Hsien Loong’s National Day Rally On Her speech in 2008, Mr Lee revealed that growing up, he and We will also his siblings were never not forget Watch short of their mother’s Madam Kwa’s attention. Mrs Lee “steadfast support for Early Contributions Built always placed family you and your work ahead of work. over the decades, Foundation For Strong “My mother was a lawyer. But every and her dedication Labour Movement Of Today day, she came home to the upbringing of to have lunch with us. your children. Her IN THE NTUC GALLERY at One Marina Every day, we would abiding love and quiet Boulevard, a watch takes its pride of place. It come home from devotion behind the is a Rolex. On the back of the watch case are school, the three of scenes gave you the these words: us, and my mother mental fortitude to TO Mrs L.K.Y. was there, and we had battle all odds and FROM S.U.P.T.W. lunch. Nowadays you 11-4-53 would call it quality lead Singapore from time. This was before Third World to First. From 1952, Mr Lee Kuan Yew started people invented such For this, the workers of representing a large number of unions. For big words. All it meant Singapore are deeply example, the Postal & Telecommunications was she had time for Week This NTUC indebted.” Uniformed Staff Union whose postmen went on us, we had time to talk Mrs Lee, an Honorary NTUC Member, had her strike in 1952 and the Singapore Union of Postal to her. And it was a tremendous help. image captured for the Membership Wall when NTUC’s Letter of she and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan visited the Condolence to Minister and Telecommunications Clerical Workers “She avoided going out at night for functions. She had to NTUC Gallery on 13 December 2004. Mentor Lee Kuan Yew whose case went to arbitration in 1953. go for some, to accompany my father, but business functions, Mrs Lee, also a lawyer, was always by Mr very seldom. What it meant was less takings as a lawyer, less Lee’s side frequently helping him with his clients, work, less conveyancing, but she decided her children were especially the unions. For the price of one - more important to her. And she acted on that and though it was only a nominal sum - the unions I think she was happy with that. And we’re often got the services of two lawyers. This was definitely very grateful for that.” appreciated by SUPTW, which presented the Remembering watch to Mr Lee after he won better wages for its members, but clearly, it was intended for Mrs Lee. In July 2003, 50 years after SUPTW gave Mrs Lee the watch, the Amalgamated Union Roots of Public Employees successfully bid for it at the Sotheby’s-Lee Kuan Yew Family Auction. The costumes used in the Monies raised by the auction benefitted play were borrowed from charities. The watch was donated to the NTUC a Chinese wayang troop. They Gallery. And there, it will serve as a memory of “had under-garments of fine cane Mrs Lee Kuan Yew and her many contributions to make sure they did not touch to the Labour Movement. your body and get soiled with sweat! Talk of wearing a camel Family First shirt! But my outfit, a coolie In 1955, Mrs Lee, whose maiden name was Kwa Geok Choo, Mr Lee and his younger costume, was an authentic outfit. brother, Mr Lee Kim Yew, founded the law firm My mother and I went down to of Lee & Lee. While Mr Lee Kuan Yew went on Sungei Road and bought what to become the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mrs the coolies would have bought. Lee and Mr Lee Kim Yew took over the reins of Pure cotton, dyed with indigo. Lee & Lee. When I had it washed, I would Although lawyers have longer workdays not wear it unwashed, the blue than most professions and the demands of colour ran - real indigo.” running a successful law firm were great, Mrs Lee balanced it excellently with the role of wife Mrs Lee Kuan Yew (picture, right), and mother. Her steadfast support for Mr Lee MGS MGS Class of 1936 and his work in turn became instrumental to our nation’s tremendous growth and development GROWING UP, Mrs Lee Kuan Yew attended events and help raise funds. In 1991, she was a class trip to Kota Tinggi waterfalls for a from a Third World to a First World country. the Methodist Girls’ School under her maiden the guest-of-honour at the school’s Heritage picnic. The other showed her on stage, acting She was always seen by his side, whether he name, Kwa Geok Choo. “Buy-a Brick” Dinner that raised more than the part of a coolie in a school play. was a lawyer, Prime Minister, Senior Minister or She was the top student in the Senior $1 million for the building of the school’s new On 15 August 1998, when MGS together Minister Mentor, especially on diplomatic trips Cambridge examinations in 1936.
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