Lim Hock Siew , Poh Soo Guan and Old Man

[scroobal]

With the recent ban of Lim Hock Siew's recorded speech, I thought it was interesting to note that all 3 men share a common friendship with one man - Dr Arthur Lim. Probably the most bizarre relationship that I have come across. It is not ordinary relationship either. It has been going on for decades.

A puzzle of human dynamics

 

[elephanto]

Old Man had a certain regard towards Arthur Lim & the LIm Famiily borne from his young impressionable days.

He has mentioned in his memoirs something along the lines of 'people like Richard Lim Chuan Ho (Arthur Lim's father) - a prominent lawyer of his time - managed to be less hit by the Great Depression of the 30s, unlike Old Man's own father (profession-less, employee of Shell). This observation spur him to either be a doctor or lawyer in his chosen profession. Young Harry finally decided on the Law because legal training is shorter & hence cheaper than medical training.

Thus, Arthur Lim's father (the law firm still exists in the 90s as R.C.H.Lim & Co in Maxwell House), can be said to be some sort of career model for the Young Lee.

Of course, Arthur Lim turned out to be a rare local talent, achieving worldwide fame in cataract/eye specialization in world opthalmologists circles. In spite of his Progressive/Labour leanings, Arthur's patriotism is unquestioned & further cemented by the sterling act of his handing over evidence of Chew Swee Kee's corruption to PAP's Lee.

The Chew Bombshell was, amongst other factors, the spark to the 1959 PAP Ascent to Power.

So long as Arthur do not rock the boat too much, Lee will give him his due place in Spore Society.

p.s. Arthur's niece also married to one of the Lee's nephews (his bro's sons). Don't forget a certain Wong Kan Seng is also related this way.
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[zuoom]

guan xi perhaps?

pretty common place. even in regular business.

 

[scroobal]

Actually the relationship did not begin with the law firm. It began when they were young kids in the East Coast. Arthur and his brother William. The friendship with him has remained. since. William cannot be be bothered bothered politically but his wife heads the old man's guts with a vengence and ran Select Bookstore as a hobby to bring books that old man hated.

Arthur is a genuine friend to the dissident of that era. He was the first to meet them on their release, organise dinners and meetings for them to meet their ex-friends. This is despite some friends ignoring them. He protected the Fajar group when the British raided the hostels.

Here is another weird thing - Arthur is also good friend with Mahathir. He and another doctor would host mahathir on the latter's private visits. The thing that blew me away is Arthur organising old man's birthday at Shangrila.

And tidbit is that all his kids have migrated.

Old Man had a certain regard towards Arthur Lim & the LIm Famiily borne from his young impressionable days.

He has mentioned in his memoirs something along the lines of 'people like Richard Lim Chuan Ho (Arthur Lim's father) - a prominent lawyer of his time - managed to be less hit by the Great Depression of the 30s, unlike Old Man's own father (profession-less, employee of Shell). This observation spur him to either be a doctor or lawyer in his chosen profession. Young Harry finally decided on the Law because legal training is shorter & hence cheaper than medical training.

Thus, Arthur Lim's father (the law firm still exists in the 90s as R.C.H.Lim & Co in Maxwell House), can be said to be some sort of career model for the Young Lee.

Of course, Arthur Lim turned out to be a rare local talent, achieving worldwide fame in cataract/eye specialization in world opthalmologists circles. In spite of his Progressive/Labour leanings, Arthur's patriotism is unquestioned & further cemented by the sterling act of his handing over evidence of Chew Swee Kee's corruption to PAP's Lee.

The Chew Bombshell was, amongst other factors, the spark to the 1959 PAP Ascent to Power.

So long as Arthur do not rock the boat too much, Lee will give him his due place in Spore Society.

p.s. Arthur's niece also married to one of the Lee's nephews (his bro's sons). Don't forget a certain Wong Kan Seng is also related this way.
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[Merl Haggard]

Actually the relationship did not begin with the law firm. It began when they were young kids in the East Coast. Arthur and his brother William. The friendship with him has remained. since. William cannot be be bothered bothered politically but his wife heads the old man's guts with a vengence and ran Select Bookstore as a hobby to bring books that old man hated.

Arthur is a genuine friend to the dissident of that era. He was the first to meet them on their release, organise dinners and meetings for them to meet their ex-friends. This is despite some friends ignoring them. He protected the Fajar group when the British raided the hostels.

Here is another weird thing - Arthur is also good friend with Mahathir. He and another doctor would host mahathir on the latter's private visits. The thing that blew me away is Arthur organising old man's birthday at Shangrila.

And tidbit is that all his kids have migrated.

Hi Scroobal,

Is Ernest Lim, Richard's younger brother still around? Met him in HK in the the late 80's when he was appointed a senior Judge in HK.

Yes Richard and one Dr Koh still entertain Tun Mahathir & his S'porean mistress at Koh's bungalow in Clementi Park.

I believe they were university mates in S'pore.

 

[downgrader]

In the end everybody dies， fame power glory are all transience

人生自古谁无死，留取丹心照汗青

 

[Merl Haggard]

Hi Scroobal,

Is Ernest Lim, Richard's younger brother still around? Met him in HK in the the late 80's when he was appointed a senior Judge in HK.

Yes Richard and one Dr Koh still entertain Tun Mahathir & his S'porean mistress at Koh's bungalow in Clementi Park.

I believe they were university mates in S'pore.

I beg your pardon. It shud be Arthur and not Richard.

Must be the different time zone.

 

[kingrant]

Anybody has titbits on the chapter of MDU - figures like Lim Hong Bee, Lim Kean Chye, Eu Chooi Yip? These are guys who figured even more prominently during the ABL long before the birth of PAP. Before these men, LKY was just a political infant. Raja, Devan Nair and GKS were said to have associated with these 'giants'. But the 'new' history of LKY conveniently starts after these men have merged into the shadows.

I'm now reading this book by Dennis Bloodworth, "The Tiger and the Trojan Horse". It contains lots of backstory to the period 1945 up to 1955. Also lying beside it I've Turnbull's A History of Modern Singapore 1819-2005.

Will try to tell you guys more...

 

[scroobal]

Bro, you are unbelievable . You even know about Koh and his Clementi Park Place. Yes, they were in the Uni together. No idea about Ernest.

Hi Scroobal,

Is Ernest Lim, Richard's younger brother still around? Met him in HK in the the late 80's when he was appointed a senior Judge in HK.

Yes Richard and one Dr Koh still entertain Tun Mahathir & his S'porean mistress at Koh's bungalow in Clementi Park.

I believe they were university mates in S'pore.

 

[scroobal]

Eu has recorded his oral archives and hopefully it will tell more. He agreed to a full debrief. His 2 daughters are working for SPH, Chinese section. Eu, GKS, Kin San and Raja are good friends. Sharma who was Eu's no 2 mentored Devan who then joined his cell. Sharma who was an ACS teacher worked on Lee Kip Lin ( Dick Lee's father) to join the communist but he Kip Lin had no time. Soo Guan is Lee Kong Chian's Nephew . It was Lee Kong Chian that the QC and old man to defend the Fajar guys.

This entire era was not intriguing but illuminating. However the pen continues to miss the paper. Hock Siew stopped writing his book. Lee Siew Choh kids do not want to publish his memoirs. Said Zahari is in denial.

The nature of the cell structure adopted by the communist will not allow collaboration to take place. The only known card carrying member of the communist party was Jek Yuen Tong who became an MP and a Minister.

Anybody has titbits on the chapter of MDU - figures like Lim Hong Bee, Lim Kean Chye, Eu Chooi Yip? .

Will try to tell you guys more...