勇立时代潮头的左翼队伍
——纪念新加坡社会主义阵线成立60周年

Foreword
Translated by Chin Wey Tze

18th Sept 2020 marks the 60th anniversary of the Singapore Socialist Front (Barisan Sosialis).(Note 13th Aug 1961 granted registration permit. Officially formed on 18th Sept 1961)

For Singapore's left-wing masses, in particular the Barisan Sosialis members, cadres and activists, the sixty years of turbulence, the hardships they went through are memorable and worthy of reflection.

The Barisan lasted 28 years from its birth to its disappearance from Singapore’s political stage.

In the course of the 28 years (in particular the first ten years) the Barisan led the left-wing organizations and their members in unity, mobilizing the masses against the rule of the British colonialists in the fight to realise immediate and genuine independence, freedom and democracy. To this end, the Barisan opposed the Merger plan for Singapore to join Malaysia. After Separation, the Barisan continued to fight against the dictatorship of the PAP government, and to work towards achieving the ideals of genuine democracy and freedom. The contribution that the Barisan made to Singapore’s development, the progress of Singapore and the protection of rights of the people cannot be erased.

This volume is a collection of significant historical materials which showcase the journey of Barisan Sosialis from its formation to its break up, reflecting the various phases of the process.

1. 1959-1961, which covers the historical background prior to the formation of the Barisan Sosialis.

2. 1961-1863, following the formation of the Barisan Sosialis. The party worked on strengthening its organization, party unity, publicity, mobilisation of its members, the anti-colonial, the anti-merger campaign. The Barisan was met with attacks by the colonial authorities, the Federation government which was against the people, and the Lee Kuan Yew ruling clique. From 2 February 1963 on, they continuously detained a large number of Barisan and other left-wing leaders (including Lim Chin Siong, Poh Soo Kai, Lim Hock Siew, Woodhull and others) as well as active members. They suppressed the left-wing vigorously to prevent it from growing even stronger. The Barisan participated in the general election against this background and managed to get 13 representatives elected, gaining 33.2% of the votes.

3. 1964-1970, where against this backdrop of high-handed repression, the Barisan persisted in its fight against colonialism, the merger plan, and Lee Kuan Yew’s rule. They fought hard to maintain the political rights of the people, their right to live, to vernacular education and other social issues. In this period, political conflicts emerged among the Barisan and left-wing organisations, and internal contradictions within the party itself developed. Lee Siew Choh announced his withdrawal from the Barisan in May 1964. He re-joined the party in March 1965. The Barisan proposed the boycott of National Service in 1964. The party boycotted the Parliament in 1965. Barisan Members of Parliament resigned in 1966. The Barisan boycotted the General Election in 1968 and continued their fight outside of the parliament. During this period, the party held protests against the Vietnam war. Toward the end of the 1960s, Barisan publications carried reports on the Malayan war of national liberation. During this period, Barisan leaders (including its members) and leaders of other left-wing organizations and progressive forces were continuously subjected to detention without trial. labour unions and other progressive organisations were forced to close down.

4. 1971-1988. The leadership and membership of the Barisan declined in number, and activities died down. The Barisan returned to participating in general election in 1972 but failed to secure any seats. This was repeated in 1976, 1980 and 1984 where none of its candidates were elected. In 1988 Lee Siew Choh, together with a few other Barisan members joined the Workers’ Party. The Barisan thus became history.

When the Barisan was formed, the left wing was a mighty force, accepted and supported by the masses in the anti-colonial movement, and the struggle for a genuinely independent Malaya (including Singapore) where freedom, democracy, the livelihood of the people and their right to education were valued. The Barisan indeed played a vital role in fighting for these rights. Clearly, the Barisan was on the right path in terms of the ideal society it envisaged, the objectives that the country held, the direction of the government it charted, its understanding of what the people stood for, and the prospects in life they hoped to realise. The party was in alignment with the wishes of the people.

In the initial phase of the Barisan’s development, it met with the onslaught of pressure, oppression and crippling blows from the ruling government which was against the people. The attack on the Barisan was fatal. Under such circumstances, the party was wracked with internal differences and fell into making ideological errors and deviation. The disagreements and mutual denunciations led to splits in the rank and file, resulting in the party’s demise and the end of its disappearance from the historical stage. We hope that those who participated in these events in particular the leaders as well as researchers who stand with the people, and who have a scientific outlook can produce concrete evaluations and write the history of the Barisan and the left-wing movement so that their valuable experiences and lessons learnt will be bequeathed to those who come after them.

These are the aims of this publication. We are grateful to Barisan elder, founding member and Assistant Secretary-General Dr Poh Soo Kai for his essay “60th anniversary of the formation of the Barisan Sosialis”. In it he reveals the real face of the complex and vicious political battles that were faced with. Dr Poh exemplifies the leaders who stood steadfastly with the people, the noblest spirit that they upheld, and the historical contributions that they made. Dr Poh, we thank you. We also appreciate the assistance rendered by Dr Hong Lysa who provided Dr Poh with relevant materials and assisted in the completion of the essay.

Finally, we need to clarify that owing to the large amount of materials that there are and the number of pages that we are limited to, we have had to exclude a substantial amount of materials such as the key speeches of the Barisan members of the Legislative Assembly in 1963, and the 1964 criticisms of the financial policies and increases in taxation; the new resettlement policies and the instigation of racial tensions. In 1965 there was also the review and policy recommendations on reforms on education; negotiations with the authorities on the impact on the livelihood of the fisherfolk of the imposition of the night curfew at sea; condemnation of the violence against Nanyang University students; the exposure of the Report of the Nanyang University Curriculum Review Committee’s intention to displace Chinese as the main medium of instruction. In 1967 there was the opposition to the authority’s destroying of the left-wing labour unions and suppressing the fight by workers for improved working conditions, etc

In conclusion, we should reflect on history; in reflecting on the past we hope to be able to gain new insights. With the truths of the past as our guide, we should now get in step with the times, and embrace our ideals as we head toward the future.