Unveiling the Final Will of Singapore’s Founding Father
In a whirlwind of emails and last‑minute drafts, the story of Lee Kuan Yew’s (LKY) final will has turned into almost a courtroom drama—minus the gavel. Let’s dive into the highlights, sprinkled with a bit of humor to keep it light.
1. A Family of Six Wills
- LKY’s legal history: six draft wills before the December 2013 masterpiece.
- All drafted by lawyer Kwa Kim Li – maybe he was the real “lawyer” behind it all.
- First Will: every child gets a slice of the pie.
- Sixth Will: added an extra brownie for daughter Wei Ling.
- Final Will: came full circle – everyone gets an equal share.
2. The Mysterious Email
On 16 December 2013, at 7:08 pm, Mrs. Lee Suet Fern (a.k.a. LSF) fired off an email to LKY, CCed to her husband Mr. Lee Hsien Yang (LHY) and Ms. Kwa. The email included a file – allegedly the “original” will dictating equal shares for all three children. She also asked Ms. Kwa to engross the document.
Why is this intriguing? Because LSF’s lawyer did end up drafting the final clause, a move that let her stay “on standby” for the signing session. Talk about teamwork, right?
3. The Brother’s Side‑Quest
LHY sent a follow‑up at 7:31 pm saying he couldn’t reach Ms. Kwa and suggested the will be updated right away. Ms. Wong Lin Hoe, LKY’s secretary, was CCed, but Ms. Kwa wasn’t. LHY seemed to think the timing was urgent—despite the fact his wife was also benefiting.
“It’s unclear why LHY felt the matter was urgent,” PM Lee noted. “And interestingly he left it to his wife (an interested party) and her partners to handle the draft.”
4. The 41‑Minute Digest
From 7:31 pm to 8:12 pm on 16 December, LSF orchestrated the new will’s preparation, involvement of a lawyer, and attainment of physician signatures. LKY replied at 9:42 pm, giving the green light.
The next morning, 17 December, two lawyers from Mrs. LSF’s firm came to LKY’s home—just for 15 minutes—to witness the signature. “Only to witness, not advise,” PM Lee said.
5. The Family Tension
Later revelations showed that PM Lee and sister Wei Ling were not kept in the loop, no emails to them about the process. In the grand scheme of a bipartite family drama, this feels like a missed call.
6. The Rebuttal
Two days after the statutory declarations, LHY clarified that LSF’s firm had not drafted the will. He said one lawyer from LSF’s firm witnessed a signed draft, not the actual writing. Yet he couldn’t explain how a clause about demolishing the house at 38 Oxley Road (deleted in earlier drafts) made its way back into the final version.
Bottom Line
Lee Kuan Yew’s final will, a document that would theoretically set the sons and the daughter on equal footing, ended up being a product of an extraordinary mix of family influence, lawyer involvement, and hurried decisions. While the process may have seemed “shaky” to some, it does underscore the complexities of legacy planning within high‑profile families.
Remember, even the most powerful leaders can find their wills entwined in a web of personal and professional relationships. And that, my friends, is the real intrigue of estate planning.
