3 - The Curious Case of Lim Chin Siong

Summary

THE ALTERNATE HISTORY OF LIM CHIN SIONG

To recapitulate, the titular leader of the BSS and the central figure in the ambitious Alternate attempt to construct a New Singapore History — with Coldstore as its point of departure — has been the enigmatic Lim Chin Siong. It is worth reiterating how Lim has become almost a mythical symbol amongst the Alternate community. One former Coldstore detainee, Dr Lim Hock Siew, on the occasion of Lim's passing on 5 February 1996, declared:

His ability to communicate with the common man, his ability to explain complex political issues in simple layman's language, his complete identification with the oppressed and downtrodden — these were the hallmarks of Chin Siong's political leadership — a leader whose ability, sincerity and dedication aroused the people to free themselves from colonial domination.

Lim's long-time friend and comrade Fong Swee Suan recalled that people who listened to the former's speeches likened his performance to “watching a classic drama”, while the PAP's Toh Chin Chye marvelled at how “huge crowds” used to greet him at PAP rallies. Even Lee Kuan Yew admitted that Lim's speeches had a “hypnotic effect”. Lim Chin Siong's personal charisma always seemed to make an impression. When the Australian journalist Peter Hastings interviewed him in September 1961, he made the following observation:

Lim is youthful, firm and good-looking. His manners are quiet. He is polite but his essential toughness shows through. He has a sense of humour and laughs quite readily although sometimes out of politeness. His English is rapid, fluent and at times hard to follow …

To be sure, a great deal has been made of one major Path Not Taken by Singaporeans: having Lim Chin Siong instead of Lee Kuan Yew as independent Singapore's first Prime Minister. The following anecdote related by David Marshall when he was Chief Minister in the mid-1950s has been well trodden in accounts sympathetic to the Alternate perspective:

Chin Siong was introduced to me by Lee Kuan Yew [LKY]. Kuan Yew came to visit me in my little office underneath the stairs and said, “Meet the future Prime Minister of Singapore!” I looked at Lim Chin Siong and I laughed.