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 is being held from 3 October to 6 October at Singapore Casket, Regency Hall, located at 131 Lavender Street.

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

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.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong reaffirmed on Thursday (3 Oct) that the government will prioritise doing what is right for Singapore, even at the potential cost of political fallout.

His statement was issued on the same day former minister S Iswaran was sentenced to one year in prison for accepting gifts worth over S$400,000 over seven years from two businessmen.

PM Wong acknowledged the gravity of Iswaran’s actions and reiterated that public servants must always uphold the highest standards of integrity.

He expressed sadness over Iswaran’s downfall, highlighting his 25-year parliamentary career and contributions as a minister in several key portfolios.

However, PM Wong stressed that these past achievements could not absolve Iswaran of his wrongdoing, stating, “As painful as it is to act against a colleague and friend, it is our duty to do so when necessary.”

Government’s Stand Against Corruption

PM Wong emphasised the government’s uncompromising stance on corruption, noting that public servants’ conduct must be “beyond reproach” to maintain public trust.

He asserted, “Our system of government and politics must always stay clean and free from corruption.” While acknowledging that no political system is immune to human failings, he emphasised that individuals who stray from the path of integrity will be held accountable once their actions come to light.

The Prime Minister made it clear that the political cost of addressing misconduct would not deter the government from taking the necessary action.

His statement reaffirmed the government’s commitment to integrity in public service, even when it involves personal and political pain.

Iswaran’s Conviction and Sentencing

Iswaran, 62, was convicted under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which addresses corrupt practices involving public servants, after pleading guilty to five amended charges, with 30 other charges taken into consideration.

Most of the charges related to his acceptance of valuable gifts while holding various ministerial positions, including Minister for Transport and Minister for Trade and Industry.

The gifts Iswaran received included tickets to musical and sporting events, bottles of whisky and wine, and a Brompton bicycle. Notably, he received Formula 1 race tickets from Ong Beng Seng, majority shareholder of Singapore GP, and gifts from construction boss Lum Kok Seng. Both businessmen had dealings with the ministries Iswaran was overseeing at the time.

For example, Lum’s company, Lum Chang Building Contractors, secured a S$325 million contract with the Land Transport Authority in 2016, a period during which Iswaran held senior governmental roles. Ong’s company was involved in contracts related to the Singapore Grand Prix, an event overseen by a steering committee chaired by Iswaran.

However, the prosecution accepted that Iswaran did not directly interfere in the awarding of these contracts.

In addition to the Section 165 charges, Iswaran was also charged with obstructing justice under Section 204A(a) of the Penal Code.

After learning that the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) was investigating a flight he had taken on Ong’s private jet, Iswaran requested that Singapore GP bill him for part of the flight’s cost. He eventually paid S$5,700 for the return flight, but the court viewed this as an attempt to cover up the improper nature of the trip.

Corruption Charges Dropped

In a case that garnered significant public attention, Justice Vincent Hoong sentenced Iswaran to 12 months imprisonment, a longer term than what both the prosecution and defence had recommended.

Deputy Attorney-General Tai Wei Shyong had called for a sentence of six to seven months, while Iswaran’s lawyer, Davinder Singh, argued for a jail term of no more than eight weeks.

Justice Hoong found that both proposed sentences were inadequate, noting that the offence’s impact on public trust and the integrity of public institutions warranted a more severe punishment.

He emphasised that the higher the public servant’s position, the greater the damage to public trust when corruption is involved.

Iswaran had pleaded guilty to the charges on the day of the hearing despite earlier indications that he would contest them.

His guilty plea followed the prosecution’s decision to amend some of the charges, dropping two counts of corruption in favour of the less severe charges under Section 165, citing evidential challenges despite the presumption clauses in Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.