Lim Chin Siong - Disputed Communism

Disputed Communism

Doubts have surfaced about Lim Chin Siong's status as a communist. The erstwhile Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, later Minister Mentor of Singapore, maintained that Lim was communist, but this claim had been denied by Lim. Lim had also stated that he felt that labelling one a Communist was the quickest way to justify a detention without trial. The secretary general of the Malayan Communist Party, Chin Peng, never acknowledged Lim to be a party member, while the MCP in Southern Thailand had also stated that they did not exercise direct control over the Singapore left. Lee Kuan Yew had once introduced Lim Chin Siong as "our future Prime Minister". He had also perceived Lim to be a challenge to his authority.

Declassified British documents have stated that Lim was not actually a Communist. However, history textbooks in Singapore have stated that he is one. Dr Greg Poulgrain of Griffith University has also observed that the British Governor of Singapore and his Chief Secretary in their reports to London stated that the police found no evidence to establish that Lim was Communist. During Lim's rallies, the British and anticommunist Chief Minister Lim Yew Hock incited riots among the unionists and students in attendance. Lee Kuan Yew later used these incidents as reasons to imprison Lim under the charge of Communism, after Lim split from PAP to spearhead the Barisan Sosialis. Lim was imprisoned not because of what he knew about Singapore. He was imprisoned because he had met the leader of the Brunei revolt, A.M. Azahari. He had promised his party's support to A.M. Azahari and the PRB. The then Brunei Sultan, Sir Omar Ali Saifuddin who was rebelled against by the PRB was furious. At his instigation, Lee Kuan Yew did the bidding of the Brunei Sultan to lock up Lim Chin Siong. This was so that the true history of the Brunei revolt would never be known. The complete story of this revolt in 1962 is not known even until today despite the passing of more than sixty years. Part of his jailing was to ensure that Lee Kuan Yew also had no competitors for the premiership during the early days of Singapore's establishment. Because of Lim Chin Siong's exile Lee was able to stay as premier of Singapore unchallenged for a longer time. The political survival of Lee Kuan Yew was furthered by Lim's exile. Lim later resided in England. Chin Peng, the leader of the MCP, stated that the Malaya Communist Party had never controlled and manipulated Lim Chin Siong or Barisan Sosialis, in contradiction of the claims of Lee Kuan Yew.