Who led the barisan walkout from parliament?

[scroobal]

Know your Political History Series:

Name the first person who led the walkout from parliament over the merger referendum issue. Clue: famous politician.

 

[Ramseth]

Lee Siew Choh?

 

[scroobal]

Lee Siew Choh?

It was David Marshall of the newly formed WP after his usual tirade on old man for failing to get full independence. In support, Dr Lee Siew Choh followed with his Barisan colleagues and 4 other opposition party members. This allowed old man to get 33 yes votes again nil votes for going ahead with referendum.

This was actually the merger walkout and the first by Barisan in 1962. The second walkout and was in Dec 1965 led by Dr Lee Siew Choh.

Its a good lessons for budding politicians never to walkout, sitout, boycott or seek blank votes as nothing meaningful can be achieved. All it does is immediately hand over power completely to the ruling party. And never ever seek disqualification other than to seek an excuse if the battle is going to be lost.

Both David Marshall and Dr Lee were known for their emotional outbursts and passionate approach to politics and not surprisingly. David Marshall quit politics twice and came back.

Good politics calls for good research, measured and opportunistic approach to issues where the likely fallout can be reasonable determined.

 

[myjohnson]

From what I've read, there was no walkout from the Legislative Assembly, the precursor to our present Parliament established after getting our arse kicked out of Malaysia. The Barisan Socialis called for a total boycott of the referendum by way of casting blank votes. September 1st 1962 , the pricks won 73% of the votes while 26% were blank votes representing the dissenting voters. The Pricks also tried to rub in the insult by offering the 26% blank votes as for the Barisan. As for the answer to your question, obviously as Barisan's head, it has to fall on his desk, the responsibility of the boycott.

 

[myjohnson]

Bro Scroobal, how about staring a new thread with your heading on your thread's post,
"Know your political history". A good idea, thread heading deserving to remain as a sticky.

 

[Ramseth]

It was David Marshall of the newly formed WP after his usual tirade on old man for failing to get full independence. In support, Dr Lee Siew Choh followed with his Barisan colleagues and 4 other opposition party members. This allowed old man to get 33 yes votes again nil votes for going again with referendum.

Your question is "Who led the Barisan to walkout from Parliament?" David Marshall led the WP, not the Barisan. When the Barisan followed suit, they were led by Lee Siew Choh.

 

[one2unite]

It was David Marshall of the newly formed WP after his usual tirade on old man for failing to get full independence. In support, Dr Lee Siew Choh followed with his Barisan colleagues and 4 other opposition party members. This allowed old man to get 33 yes votes again nil votes for going ahead with referendum.

This was actually the merger walkout and the first by Barisan in 1962. The second walkout and was in Dec 1965 led by Dr Lee Siew Choh.

What a distortion of Singapore's contemporary history!? First, there was no parliament until Singapore became independent in Aug 1965. Second, Dr Lee Siew Choh did not get elected in the 1963 legislative assembly elections. So, how could Dr Lee have led the walkout in Dec 1965!?

 

[scroobal]

Your question is "Who led the Barisan to walkout from Parliament?" David Marshall led the WP, not the Barisan. When the Barisan followed suit, they were led by Lee Siew Choh.

apologies got the question set up wrong.

 

[cleareyes]

Its a good lessons for budding politicians never to walkout, sitout, boycott or seek blank votes as nothing meaningful can be achieved. All it does is immediately hand over power completely to the ruling party. And never ever seek disqualification other than to seek an excuse if the battle is going to be lost.

unfortunatly, we still have idiots here who not only doesnt study history, they failed to even understand the basics of politics 101.

boycotts of any kind would never force an incumbent out, in fact when the willpower and power base of the incumbent is strong, any such actions would strengthen the position and hold of power.

history had provide for us many examples of how decisions made at haste would end up creating long term harm. too bad many who want to be in politics just dun like to read history and hence not learn anything, thinking their own "smartness" is enough to carry the day.

 

[cleareyes]

What a distortion of Singapore's contemporary history!? First, there was no parliament until Singapore became independent in Aug 1965. Second, Dr Lee Siew Choh did not get elected in the 1963 legislative assembly elections. So, how could Dr Lee have led the walkout in Dec 1965!?

pls show us where in historical facts with links that no parlimentary session was called between the period of 1962 to 1965.

 

[scroobal]

pls show us where in historical facts with links that no parlimentary session was called between the period of 1962 to 1965.

He is looking at the technicalities at the point of splitting hairs and he is right technically.

Though it was no different to parliament in form, shape and conduct, it was called legislative assembly then. Dr Lee was president of Barisan but had lost to Toh Chin Chye in 63 and asked his party members to walkout the second time. During the first time he was MLA for Queenstown (MP to you and me) when he walked out with his team after David Marshall started it.

63 elections was a disaster for Barisan as Ops Cold Store had crippled the party and its Sec Gen Lim chinSiong and the bulk of the party machinary was locked up.

Its a Singaporean habit of missing the significance of the issues while delving on technicalities which you correctly spoke about - why boycotts, walkouts are errors politically and has never known to serve a purpose.

 

[scroobal]

Bro Scroobal, how about staring a new thread with your heading on your thread's post,
"Know your political history". A good idea, thread heading deserving to remain as a sticky.

I think its a great idea. As one other forummer pointed out there are alot of contradictions and things tend to be hazy. We all can learn from it.

 

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

Include spoilt/blank votes.

Its a Singaporean habit of missing the significance of the issues while delving on technicalities which you correctly spoke about - why boycotts, walkouts are errors politically and has never known to serve a purpose.

 

[scroobal]

Include spoilt/blank votes.

yes, historically, all these either failed as a tactic or in some cases proven to be excuses provided by sinking ships or those with bankrupt ideas.