BARISAN VETERAN'S EXPERIENCE ST Forum

[Ah Hai]

An example for aspiring politicians

I WAS moved by Dr Lim Hock Siew's steely resolve to stand by his convictions and ideals, even after his ordeal against his political rivals, as reported in last Friday's feature, 'Still dreaming of a socialist Singapore'.

Today's aspiring politicians can learn much from his story in their bid for public office.

Our young scholarship holders who have dreams of entering Parliament will do well to emulate Dr Lim's admirable qualities. He is sincere, unflappable, principled and courageous; he provides a human face to the cold facade of political rivalry.

Men and women with such qualities should be accorded due respect by friends and foes alike.

Politicians of Dr Lim's calibre are rare, and it behooves us to seek them out to help move the nation forward.

Their presence in all parties, and on both benches in Parliament, makes for healthier and more meaningful exchanges and debates, all to the good of Singapore.

Never let it be said that only one party has a monopoly on the best and brightest.

We have come a long way from the volatile 1960s. In future elections, I hope good sense prevails and that politicians of all stripes will set out to win the hearts and minds of the electorate with verve, fairness and respectability.

Lee Seck Kay

 

[Ah Hai]

What if Tunku had formed an alliance?

IT WAS refreshing to read the thoughts and comments of former leftist stalwart and Barisan Sosialis leader, Dr Lim Hock Siew, last Friday ('Still dreaming of a socialist Singapore').

The good doctor seems convinced that his party, the Barisan Sosialis, would have won the 1963 General Election and assumed power if not for the security crackdown under Operation Cold Store some eight months before, in which more than 100 left-wing leaders were detained under the Internal Security Act.

Given the advantage of incumbency and the tactical brilliance then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and his People's Action Party (PAP) comrades displayed at that time, a PAP victory over the Barisan was a surer outcome than the reverse.

The victory in the Referendum on Merger held in September 1962, by which Singaporeans agreed with the PAP's call for Singapore to join Malaysia, is a clear testimony to the PAP's astuteness.

The entire left-wing leadership was given free reign to campaign and champion its cause in a gruelling political battle, which it lost.

But the Barisan could have possibly won a subsequent general election after the 1963 polls if then Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman and his Cabinet colleagues had struck a deal with the leftists to take on the PAP jointly.

The leftists were not against Malaysia per se as they were seen to be quibbling only over the terms of merger.

The Tunku could have been far-sighted enough to free the leftist leaders from detention and allow them to contest in the subsequent general election after 1963.

The Tunku could have been as canny as the PAP, by allying his ruling Alliance coalition (the predecessor to Malaysia's current ruling coalition, the Barisan Nasional) as the junior partner to the Barisan Sosialis in subsequent Singapore general elections.

Without control over the police and intelligence services, which came under the federal government in Kuala Lumpur, and with the withdrawal of federal support, the PAP would have been substantially weakened at the hustings.

The PAP could have lost a critical election and would have faced a possible meltdown, and Singapore might still have remained within Malaysia.