Treasures – Artefacts of Lee Kuan Yew (c. 1950s)

A rising star in politics, friend of the unions, Lee Kuan Yew was instrumental in shaping the road to independence.

Lee Kuan Yew’s Barrister Robe

1950s | Wool | Gift of Lee Kuan Yew, National Museum of Singapore collection

On admission to the English Bar, Lee Kuan Yew bought his barrister robe. It was made by Ede & Ravenscroft, an established wig and robe maker in London.

He became widely recognised as an advocate for union workers, after he helped the Postal and Telecommunications Uniformed Staff Union in its 1952 strike for better pay and employment terms.

A Cambridge-trained lawyer, Lee Kuan Yew (16 September 1923 – 23 March 2015) became politically active in the early 1950s, when he acted as legal advisor to several trade unions.

Oyster Perpetual Watches of Mr and Mrs Lee Kuan Yew

1953 | Metal | (Men’s watch, L) Gift of Lee Kuan Yew, (Ladies’ watch, R) On loan from National Trades Union Congress

This pair of watches was presented to Lee Kuan Yew and his wife, Kwa Geok Choo (Mrs Lee), by the Singapore Union of Postal and Telecommunications Workers on 11 April 1953 as a token of appreciation. The union had served a strike notice for higher pay, but withdrew it in favour of arbitration offered by the colonial government. Mr Lee represented the union and succeeded in winning almost 1,000 clerks 28 months of back pay and other increases amounting to about $1 million.

Mr Lee also represented Chinese school students who were arrested in the National Service riots of 1954. This led to him meeting Lim Chin Siong and Fong Swee Suan, who were Chinese student leaders and trade union activists. They joined Mr Lee in the People’s Action Party (PAP) when it was founded in 1954.

Trade Union Badges

1950s | Metal | National Museum of Singapore collection

These badges provide a glimpse into the different trade unions that existed in Singapore during the post-war years. Many of them were involved in industrial disputes and strikes as they sought better wages and working conditions for the workers. Up to the late 1940s, most of the strikes were instigated by the communist-backed Singapore Federation of Trade Unions, symbolising the struggle between the communists and the British as the former attempted to overthrow colonial rule.

Mr Lee successfully stood for the Legislative Assembly elections in 1955 and participated in the three all-party missions to London, which discussed the terms for full internal self-government for Singapore. In the 1959 Legislative Assembly general election, the PAP won 43 out of 51 seats and Mr Lee, its secretary-general, became Singapore’s first prime minister.

Lee Kuan Yew’s Red Ministerial Box

Mid-20th century | Leather, metal | National Museum of Singapore collection

Lee Kuan Yew was Prime Minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990, thereafter serving as Senior Minister from 1990 to 2004, when he became Minister Mentor. This is the last red ministerial box used by Lee until 4 February 2015; he was hospitalised the day after and passed away on 23 March 2015. The red box contained his work – papers, speech drafts, letters. readings, notes and cassette tapes with his recorded instructions – and was locked and delivered to his office at 9 every morning.

History of Singapore

Singapore’s history is a journey from ancient settlement to modern metropolis. Initially known as Temasek, it was a 14th-century trading post, later falling under the influence of various empires. Sir Stamford Raffles established a British trading post in 1819, transforming the island into a thriving port. Post-World War II, Singapore gained self-governance and eventually independence, first as part of Malaysia and then as a sovereign nation in 1965.

The Singapore Treasures series focuses on the artefacts, relics and key monuments and moments that shaped this young nation. It is divided into four main parts.

Pre-colonial before 1819
British Colonial Rule (1819-1942), Japanese Occupation (1942-1945) and Post-War (1945-1955)
Self government (1955-1963) and merger with Malaysia (1963-1965)
Independence since 1965