SINGAPORE: Lim Chin Joo (林清如), former political detainee and younger brother of Barisan Socialis leader Lim Chin Siong  (林清祥), has passed away at the age of 87.

According to an obituary seen by The Online Citizen, the former student activist’s wake was held from 3 October to 6 October at Singapore Casket, Regency Hall, located at 131 Lavender Street.

His funeral service took place on Sunday (6 October), at 8.35 am, followed by cremation at Mandai Crematorium Hall 3 at 10.20 am.

According to Lianhe Zaobao, Lim sustained a severe head injury on 1 October after an accidental fall and was taken to the hospital.

He passed away the following night. Lim leaves behind his widow, four children, and several grandchildren.

His daughter, Lim Danliang, noted that despite surviving two major heart surgeries in the last five years, he had come to terms with his deteriorating health and made clear arrangements for his funeral, keeping it a private affair for close family members only.

Born in 1937 in Pontian, Johor, Lim Chin Joo was the third of 12 children.

His early life was marked by the challenges of the Japanese occupation, during which his family fled to the rubber plantations to escape the conflict.

In the aftermath of the war, Lim attended The Chinese High School (now part of Hwa Chong Institution) in Singapore, where he became involved in local student and labour movements.

He was a key member of the Singapore Chinese Middle School Student Union and became deeply engaged in the political climate of the time.

Detained in August 1957

In August 1957, at the age of 20, he was detained under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance, now known as the Internal Security Act (ISA).

His detention lasted nine years, during which he was held in various locations, including Changi Prison, the Central Police Station, and St. John’s Island.

This period of his life coincided with pivotal moments in Singapore’s history, including the 1959 Legislative Assembly election, the 1962 merger referendum, the 1963 election, and the separation of Singapore from Malaysia in 1965.

While incarcerated, Lim took the opportunity to further his education. He pursued academic qualifications and, at the age of 28, obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree with second-class honours from the University of London.

Lim Accepted Lee Kuan Yew’s Offer and Became Land Revenue Collector

Upon his release in 1966, he took up a position in the Singapore government’s elite administrative service.

In a 2019 interview with Mothership, Lim shared that he had met with then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who offered him a role in the Ministry of Law as a collector of land revenue.

Lim accepted the position and played a role in the acquisition of Pulau Tekong, remaining in public service for seven years.

In 1973, Lim transitioned to private legal practice, establishing himself as a lawyer. He continued his law career until his retirement in 2002.

Lim also authored several books, including memoirs that reflected on his life and his relationship with his older brother, Lim Chin Siong.

In his book My Youth in Black and White, Lim chronicled his experiences from childhood through to his years as a student activist and brief stint as a trade unionist before his arrest.

He described his brother as “a man with a big heart” who always sought to bring people together.

In his later years, Lim volunteered as an honorary adviser to the Ee Hoe Hean Club, a gathering place for Chinese businessmen in Singapore.

Bryan Lim, vice-chairman of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), has urged Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat and SMRT to take full responsibility for the ongoing issues with Singapore’s train system, following the unprecedented six-day breakdown of the East-West Line in September 2024.

In the statement from the party, Lim stressed that the public deserves full transparency regarding the management of the rail network and an itemised account of the more than S$2.5 billion spent on upgrading the North-South and East-West lines.

In the SDP’s statement, Lim pointed to a series of major incidents in recent years, including the deaths of two SMRT maintenance staff, the flooding of the Bishan MRT tunnel, and the Joo Koon train collision in 2016 and 2017.

He argued that these should have served as clear signals that the 35-year-old rail system required a thorough review to ensure the safety of millions of commuters and staff. Despite these warning signs and the substantial investments made to improve reliability, the recent breakdown reflects deeper, unresolved issues within the system.

Lim noted that former Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan had, in 2017, promised a “quantum improvement” in the rail system’s performance following core replacements. However, seven years later, commuters are still grappling with major disruptions, despite the massive financial outlay.

According to the SDP, this raises serious questions about how effectively these funds have been used and whether SMRT’s focus on profits has compromised public safety.

Adding to public dissatisfaction, public transport fares have steadily increased over recent years. Since 2021, fares have risen by 2.2%, followed by a 2.9% increase in 2022 and a significant 7% hike in 2023. Another fare rise of 6% is expected in December 2024.

Authorities have justified these increases by citing the need to keep operators financially sustainable and ensure the provision of reliable services and fair wages for employees. However, Lim criticised this reasoning, pointing out that despite the rising fares, commuters continue to face significant service disruptions.

Lim further expressed concerns over remarks made by SMRT Chairman Seah Moon Ming, who emphasised the need to balance rail reliability with the cost of maintenance.

The SDP questioned whether this focus on financial considerations was coming at the expense of commuter safety and called for a detailed breakdown of the S$2.5 billion spent on upgrading the rail system.

Lim asserted that Mr Chee  and SMRT must be fully transparent with the public, providing clear explanations for the disruptions and disclosing how the funds were allocated.

Following the six-day disruption, multiple investigations into the incident are now underway. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has launched an investigation into the root cause of the axle box failure that caused the disruption.

This investigation will include a forensic analysis of the component and an evaluation of SMRT’s procedures for fault detection and incident handling.

To support this effort, the LTA has appointed an Expert Advisory Panel (EAP) to review the findings and offer technical advice.

The EAP will be led by Malcolm Dobell, an expert with more than 45 years of experience in railway operations and engineering.

Dobell, who previously served as Head of Train Systems for London Underground, will be joined by a team of experts with extensive knowledge in railway engineering, maintenance, and safety protocols.

The panel’s goal is to ensure that all aspects of the disruption are thoroughly examined, and appropriate recommendations are made to prevent similar incidents in the future.

In addition to the LTA’s investigation, SMRT has also announced the formation of an internal committee to review the East-West Line disruption.

This committee will be chaired by Quek Gim Pew, a former Chief Defence Scientist and SMRT Independent Board Member, with Ng Chin Hwee, former CEO of SIA Engineering Company, serving as the deputy chairman.

The committee will include other independent panel members to provide impartial insights into the incident.

The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB), a department within the Ministry of Transport, is also conducting a separate investigation.

Mr Chee confirmed this in a Facebook post, noting that TSIB’s investigation will focus on safety-related aspects of the disruption. The results of the investigations, which are expected to take a few months, will be made public once completed.