Singapore’s tough Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was a caring dad, devoted husband

Soulmates: Lee was a devoted husband in a long, happy marriage. His wife, Kwa, who died in 2010 at age 89, was the bedrock of his life. Photo: Reuters (Inset) ‘Material things never enticed or interested him,’ says Hsien Yang of his father. Photo: The Straits Times, Singapore

Close-knit family and a small circle of friends – these are the people who got to witness the tender, nurturing side of Lee Kuan Yew.

Lee Kuan Yew was a man with few close friends. Those who knew him best and saw his tender, caring side came mainly from his tight family circle.