Table of Biography
Wong Ming Yang is famous as the first and late wife of Singaporean politician Lee Hsien Loong. Wong Ming Yang is a Malaysian physician who married her university lover of Singaporean descent.
Early Life and Education
Wong Ming Yang was born in the year 1951 and she was only 31 years old at the time of her demise on 28 October 1982.
Wong was from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Likewise, Wong’s parents worked as insurance managers and a teacher.
Her father’s name is Wong Nac Leong. Likewise, Wong Ming Yang had a brother named Wong Kok Kien. Her brother was also a doctor.
Talking about her educational journey, Ming Yang was a student at Bukit Bintang Girls’ School. She later joined Victoria Institution. Both of these institutions were located in Kuala Lumpur.
Likewise, Wong attended Girton College at Cambridge University. From there, Wong graduated with two Bachelor’s degrees in Medicine and Chiropody.
Chiropody is a branch of medicine that is dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of the feet. Further, Ming Yang was also a graduate with a Master of Arts degree.
Wong Ming Yang- Relationship Status
Ming Yang was married to Lee Hsien Loong. They met each other for the first time in the year 1973. At the time, both Wong and Lee attended Cambridge University.
After university, Wong continued working as a doctor in Cambridge whereas Lee returned to Singapore in 1974. He went back to his home country to serve in the Singapore Armed Forces.
The lovers then tied the knot in May 1978. Back then, Ming Yang was 27 years old whereas her husband was 26 years old.
The couple had a quiet ceremony at the Registry of Marriages in Singapore. Only their immediate family members attended the couple’s wedding. The guests also included Lee Hsien Loong’s paternal grandparents.
Later in the year 1980, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Li Xiuqi. The lovers then welcomed their son Li Yipeng on 7 October 1982. Wang’s second child was born with Asperger’s Syndrome confounded by Albinism.
In an account that Dr. Lee Wei Ling wrote in April 2011, she mentioned that Wing’s son is a polite, gentle, and determined 29-year-old young man who graduated from the National University of Singapore.
After her demise, her husband – Lee Hsien Loong – married Ho Ching in the year 1985. His new wife is the CEO of Temasek Holdings. The two have two sons together who studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Caption: Ming Yang’s children were captured with her parents-in-law. Source: Singapore Matters
Wong Ming Yang – Untimely Demise
Ming Yang passed away at the young age of 31 years. She died only three weeks after giving birth to her youngest child, Li Yipeng.
Her exact date of death is 28 October 1982. As per reports, Wong suffered a heart attack on the night of 27 October.
She was then taken to the Coronary Care Unit at Singapore General Hospital. Sadly, she passed away at 12.30 AM. The exact cause of death is considered myocardial infarction.
After her demise, Ming Yang’s family opted to donate her corneas to patients who required cornea transplants.
Yeo Buck Hock and Low Thoe Guan received Wong’s donated corneas on the same day that Wong passed away.
Yeo was a student whereas Low was a mechanic. Both the recipients could see and read a few weeks after their operations.
In her husband’s eulogy for Wong during her funeral service on 31 October 1982, Lee Hsien Loong remembered Wong for her support and encouragement in tough/rough times. He also talked about how he remembers his late wife for her strength in adversity and tactful advice in all matters.
Her parents traveled from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Singapore for her funeral service. On the same day, the late Wong Ming Yang was cremated at Mount Vernon Crematorium.
As per reports by The Straits Times, the then-president of Singapore, Devan Nair, and his wife also attended Wong’s funeral service.
Caption: Ming Yang’s family thanked the hospital and the people who gave donations. Source: Wiki. sg
Wong Ming Yang- Professional Life
Professionally, Wong Ming Yang was a physician/doctor. She completed her training at Middlesex Hospital in London and later started her tenure at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, the United Kingdom.
She worked at the aforementioned hospital when she married her husband – Lee Hsien Loong.
Besides being a physician, Wong was also the first wife of Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore’s 3rd Prime Minister. Her husband served as the Prime Minister since the year 2001 to 2007.
Her husband’s party, i.e. PAP, won 83 parliamentary seats out of 93, thus winning the General Elections of 2020 in Singapore.
Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, was also among many who congratulated Wong’s husband.
Moreover, Wong’s husband is also a politician and former army general who has also served as secretary-general of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).
From 1990 to 2004, Wong’s husband also served as the deputy prime minister to Goh Chok Tong.
Caption: Ming Yang posing for a photo with her husband Lee Hsien Loong during their marriage ceremony. Source: Wiki. sg
Body Measurements
Wong Ming Yang was 5 feet 4 inches tall and her weight was 55 kg. Likewise, Wong had dark brown eyes and hair of the same color.
Social Media
As Wong Ming Yang passed away long before the time of social media and the internet, there are no official accounts on any social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.
There is no verified information regarding Wong’s net worth and earnings either.
Net Worth 2023
Talking about her husband Lee Hsien Loong’s net worth and earnings, he is regarded as the highest-paid national leader in the world. Lee has an annual salary of S$2.2 million ($1.6 million).