Singapore’s split from Malaysia is often told as a political story of a short-lived union. But in the background was another, quieter partnership - between Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew and his wife, Kwa Geok Choo. What role did the famously private Mdm Kwa play? In this special standalone episode, we hear her for the first time in her own words, through recently released oral history tapes.

Credit: From the oral history interview of Kwa Geok Choo (Accession No 000118, Track No 32), oral history interview of Devan Nair (Accession Number 000049, Track 25) and oral history of Lee Kuan Yew (Accession Number 000080, Track 82), Oral History Centre, National Archives of Singapore.

The Albatross File: Singapore’s Independence Declassified is a permanent exhibition at Level 10 of the National Library Building. Admission is free but visitors have to make a booking at https://thealbatrossfile.nlb.gov.sg/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.