Operation
Malaya had a strong anti-communist policy. During the Malayan Emergency, Malaya managed to contain communist influence. However, the communists had substantial influence in Singapore. Fearing a communist resurgency, the Malayan Prime Minister Tengku Abdul Rahman insisted that Singapore round up all pro-communists before the merger occurred. Despite Lee Kuan Yew's initial objection, the British and the Malayans cast the decisive ballots at the Internal Security Council to launch the operation.
Those arrested were detained under the Prevention of Public Security Order (PPSO). They were alleged to be involved in subversive activities aiming to establish a "Communist Cuba" in Singapore. The arrestees include
- Lim Chin Siong, secretary-general, Barisan Sosialis
- S Woodhull, vice-chairman, Barisan Sosialis
- Fong Swee Suan, secretary-general SATU and executive committee member, Barisan Sosialis
- James Puthucheary,
- Dominic Puthucheary, committee member SATU and Barisan Sosialis; vice-president Singapore General Employees' Union
- Said Zahari, former editor of Utusan Melayu
- Tan Teck Wah, president Singapore General Employees' Union; vice-president, SATU
- A Wahab Shah, chairman, Party Rakyat
- Lim Hock Siew
- Poh Soo Kai
Read more about this topic: Operation Coldstore
Famous quotes containing the word operation:
“Waiting for the race to become official, he began to feel as if he had as much effect on the final outcome of the operation as a single piece of a jumbo jigsaw puzzle has to its predetermined final design. Only the addition of the missing fragments of the puzzle would reveal if the picture was as he guessed it would be.”
—Stanley Kubrick (b. 1928)