by: Teo Soh Lung/
Tan Jing Quee, historian, writer, poet and lawyer who passed away on 14 June 2011, was the person who has given us, Singaporeans back our history of a powerful local progressive movement, which has been erased from our memory.
The textbooks and mainstream memoirs only tell us about the Cambridge-educated leaders and their friends in the Malayan Forum based in London who decided that the British must go. In fact, the main forces which persisted at bringing colonial rule in Singapore to an end were the Chinese middle school students, the English-educated University Socialist Club members, and the trade union movement led by Lim Chin Siong.
A leader of the University Socialist Club from 1960 to his graduation in 1963, a trade unionist at the Singapore Business Houses Employees’ Union, a Barisan Sosialis candidate in the 1963 general election and detained under the Internal Security Act in 1963, Tan Jing Quee wrote about all three groups, and the ties that bound them. One common feature that the groups shared aside from their anti-colonial position was that they supported Lee Kuan Yew as the key English-speaking champion of the left, and regarded the PAP of the time as their party.
However, the PAP left was expelled by the faction led by Lee Kuan Yew in 1961 over the terms of the merger with Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah, which they argued was not workable as it was based on accommodating to the racial politics of the traditionalist leaders in Malaya.
They were proven to be correct with the race riots in 1964 in Singapore, and the island’s separation from Malaysia in 1965, but this did not bring to an end the detention without trial of the left-wing leaders from the trade unions, Barisan Sosialis and the Nanyang University who were arrested in Operation Cold Store (February 1963) and subsequent detentions. Tan Jing Quee had planned to write a volume on the Malay left as well.
Like people of his generation, he believed in the Malayan dream, which saw Singapore as part of a socialist Malaya. To them, the politics of race in Malaysia today, as well as the persistent vulnerability of Singapore, and its problematic attempts at nation-building are a result of the betrayal of this dream. The decimation of the left was not achieved through the strength of popular mandate against them, but through using state power to effect detention without trial and other forms of persecution such as banishment orders. The repressive measures were undertaken in the name of battling communism.
Singapore has had the same rulers since 1959. They have institutionalized their disdain for the people’s will in the name of knowing best what is good for them. Tan Jing Quee has reminded us of how these rulers came to power, consolidated their regime, and also how our society had been, and can be more politically inclusive, socially egalitarian and culturally vibrant.
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There will be a memorial gathering in honour of Tan Jing Quee on Saturday, 20 August 2011 at 2.00 p.m. at the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. All are welcome to attend.
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what does this man want to rewrite history? History is always decided for by the victors.
We have the safe and secure Singapore today because LKY won, not this man..
What we must however abhor is the means in which this was done… I must add that one will never feel the anguish of those imprisoned whether rightly or wrongfully (not communist)..
But what i believe is that there is no point harping about what has been done, because nothing will change that.. what one can change however, is their future.. How they live as citizens (if they want to contribute positively to society by enriching the lives of the less fortunate) but if they do not wish to contribute, then i wish them all the best in their new abode.
I do not adhere to the suggestion made by Nigel Yong that we forget the past. So those who were imprisoned without trial be damned.Those who were bankrupted for daring to oppose the Ruling Party also be damned. This is because in the last two decades there are signs that the oppression is spreading out to non politicians and non political cases. It is a case of when we have the police and judicail machinery why not use it to the fullest extent. For example Elite Law firms who have from time to time represented prominent members of the Ruling Party can now commandeer State Institutions to do their bidding. Specifically these favored Law firms have harnessed the ISD to go after enemies of their clients for non criminal, non political reasons. The ISD has been sent to humiliate people involved in domestic litigation like divorce cases. When the ISD springs to action against any citizen, other State Institutions like the ICA, MUIS, MCYS fall in line with the persecution. The AG will do nothing but encourage and orchestrate the persecution. Thus, when you let sleeping dogs lie, these dogs will rise up in force to bite you. In Egypt Government agents openly haul people out of cars to slap them. here in Singapore it is much more subtle. The State Institutions will slap you with threats and road blocks till you succumb to whatever is required of you. We must recognise these acts of the Elites as human rights violation. We have to be prepared to apply to the UN Huma Rights Council for assistance. Granted that when it is not genocide, no action will be taken by the UN, yet we have to show these centres of power that we do not accept the bullying by their bull dogs. There is a possibility that we will react in ways that will matter.
It is too early for anyone to claim success of Lee Kuan Yew.
All the writings are on the walls. Just look at the social media where the true feelings of people are too clearly written to be ignored.
Although LKY has tried to make it look like a success, it is only in his own imagination Singapore is successful.
A new generation of educated people are now growing up. They know the truths, They have expressed great resentments over autocratic rule with use of ISA and other machinations like political libel suits to eliminate political threats like Fracis Seow, Tang Liang Hong, and others so as to entrench in autocratic rule.
One third of the population are living from hand to mouth. They are being sidelined by government’s elitist policies which are only interested in protecting the elites and the rich. They are being discriminated from mass participation in knowledge application and prospects for progress and advancements in their livelihood due to such elitists policies that protect the rich and the elites.
As Jack Welch has revealed, a good leader is one who truly motivates and empowers his people in the right way according to law, respecting the voice, aspirations and values of all not only based on self-praise success. There is no sign despite all the self-claimed leadership and talents with self-writing of their own ministers’ pay cheque of truly effective pro-people performance supported by KPIs or Six sigma made world famous by Welch powering GE to achieve sustainable growth of 20% over 20 years.
Alternatives like Welch’s truly good leadership success are many. It is doubtful LKY has anything of real abilities like these to show for all his talented ministers despite the millions of self-reward taken from people with autocratic rule.
The only method used is the use of fear tactics and gutter politics like use of election time goodies and threat to withold estate improvements to frighten the ordinary citizens into submissions.
Not today, as people are unlikely to fall for such fear tactics to give autocrats the power to rule with fear.
When the temporary property and IR play lose their steam, we will likely be back to helplessness with constant blames on citizens for lack of skills or re-training to get by.
This then is the real legacy of LKY – use of fear tactics, self-praising and self-glorifications nothing more nothing less.
History knows best.
LKY is like super banyan tree that think spore is his baby n only his .
Teo is right in her analysis n a fast learner in politics..Why LKY up todate did not clarify his job as a translator for Japanese Army during second war world.His buddy Nathan hold same job too–why this golden silence?
“Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as a heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors. ”
This is from A.Lincoln n is relevant to the results of ISA on Singaporeans
In the 1950s and 60s, barely a decade and a half after the end of World War II, a “domino theory” gained credence in the West and was aggressively pushed by John Foster Dulles, then Secretary of State for the US. This theory said that if one country fell to communism, others would follow in quick succession. This policy led directly to the Vietnam war which ended only in 1975.
In the meantime, in post-WWII Britain, the Labour government came to power and introduced sweeping changes to create a welfare state. The excesses of the welfare state and power of the labour unions were only curtailed after Margaret Thatcher came to power 1979.
In the meantime, Europe had been partitioned and the cold war had started.
It is against this background that we must see the actions of the PAP government against the leftists in the 1960s.
The PAP’s brand of arch-capitalism, however, has left many Singaporeans behind and in that respect, I agree the jury is still out on the real legacy of LKY and successive PAP governments. Recent events in the West have proven that unbridled capitalism can wreak havoc with economies as well as countries.
It is ironic that voices such as those of Tan Jing Quee’s and Dr Lim Hock Siew’s were suppressed so brutally. If they had not, perhaps Singapore would have been a different place today.
Truth need to be told whenever possible. Victors often lied to give themselves legitimacy and prolong their rule to erase any traces of their past deeds. Hence, we should take main stream historical records with a pinch of salt.
In Singapore politics non but the BRAVE are willing to stand up against tyranny and oppression ultimately paying a price only the BRAVE can.
To all these BRAVE men & women historians must write and unveil the TRUTH or only the WINNERS version will be accepted as the Gospel Truth when it is NOT
Internet is a powerful tool, now everybody knows the true of LKY and what evils he has done.
Without this media, all evils are still under cover. We also discovered , he is not so great after all and being con by him for so many years.
Our lives could be better now without him leading Singapore? Historians would decide.
Nathan, the outgoing President, is coming up with his own book on his Presidency.
We are also interested exactly what was his role as a translator with the Japs in WW2, the kind of relationship between the Jap Army and he, and between the subjugated Singaporeans and he. What benefits he got in the process.
Also, tell us about his colleague, LKY, the latter’s role with him (Nathan), and LKY’s and the Japs in the war years.
These are the “Hard Truths” we baby boomers would like to know.
President Nathan, be a historian writer
like Tan Jing Quee, as the war years are a part of Singapore’s history too.
Can’t be all things glorifying yourself only in your book, you are not God without faults, else your book would lack credibility.
I find it sad that some self-styled “revolutionaries” who were involved in the party politics of the 50′s and 60′s are trying to claim credit for their roles in the development of Singapore.
They are all crawling out of the woodwork to bask in the progress made by Singapore, giving their interpretations and versions of what had transpired.
Such views are always controversial at best, and very often erroneous in its subjectivity. Does it really matter who exactly did what — the credit if any goes to the entire populace, whatever the role of the individuals.
Enough of pseudo-history.
As a saying goes, he is uneasy who wears the crown.
Should a leader keep pushing away responsibilities by using fear tactics and constantly blaming opponents, critics and people a good and desirable system of government.
As Albert Einstein has said: “The highest destiny of an individual is to serve and not to rule”
Is a system of relentless taxing and privatizing out essential services for hoarding of taxes and profiteering against the people a just system.
Who is to blame for people unhappiness over such unjust practices of ceaselessly exploiting and manipulating the people for superficial self-claimed leadership success?
Is such a system a true success one is is truly serving the people and sustainable?
It is time to bring proudness to it’s knees. The people of Singapore (born, bred and suffered) must unite to riot and bring this govt to a realization that they are not God. They are tyrants who refuse to heed the needs and cries of the people who are suffering in the hands of thier high handed policies which favor foreigners and make singaporeans (not converted ones) look and feel like total losers. PAP, it is time for you to face the wrath of the people that you supposingly serve. But it is your own pockets and glorification that you serve. Let us march from AMK to Shenton Way in peace but strength and unity to show this govt that they should stop their bullying and striking fear in people. who is ready to lead this MARCH! This march to Democratic FREEDOM!!!!!
To foreget one’s past is to forget where one came from.
the history of what happened to those who fought against tyranny serves as a reminder to us future generations of what not to do.
as for lky,his entry into the history books will be nothing more than a politician who used every scheme in his books to attain power.
he is not a hero(as much as he likes to believe),he is not a fighter for democracy(his famous quote on repression like making love),he is simply a man who took all the credits for himself and pushed all the blame to others.
@popcorn 7 Aug 2011
“Also, tell us about his colleague, LKY, the latter’s role with him (Nathan), and LKY’s and the Japs in the war years.”
Why would they tell? We have to wait for some Japanese soldier or civilan to recall his or her experience in Syonan to learn the truth. Dead men tell no tales, so hope the old Japs can cough up some juicy bits before they go.
History is never one version. But the first comment here is right – the victor’s version is the version. Is this version more correct or more wrong? Honestly, no one really know. However, the end result of LKY model has worked in its time. It is in some degree the same model adopted by China. The transformation of China nd Russia also proved some the old thinking is purist not relevant.
LKY succes is already cast in stone. We are evident of it. Educated, reasonably well off and a country of “have” but yet full of complaints. His model worked for his time.
This is a new generation, a new era, a new world. Singapore like the rest of the world is facing similar challenges. It shows that the world is in transition and we are no exception. I have travelled a lot to various parts and the under current of unhappiness can be found everywhere – China, USA, Britain, Middle East, SE Asia etc. Our internet are full of it too, but the scale in Singapore is still manageable and more philosophical. The issues faced by others are more urgent for some and more frightening. The world is faced with a need of change. LKY’s model worked for his time. The new leader be it PAP or Opposite parties will need new solution for this generation. This is a new world. All our objective comments are good but emotional outburst will not move us forward. We all need to write a new history for this era so that our grandchildren can be proud of us.
A coin has 2 sides. Currently, our history as it is written today is showing just one side of the coin. There is no disagreement that LKY has been successful with the economic progress of the country. Only question is what have we sacrifice in return for this.
When we are able to compare and reflect on what we have on both sides, then we can make a fair and balance judgement whether LKY is truly a great leader. As the saying goes, “if it is too good to be true, it probably is!”.