李思东是1963年社阵13名国会议员之一

Mr Lee Tee Tong was one of 13 elected
Barisan Sosialis candidates in the September 1963 general election
Teo Soh Lung

Mr Lee Tee Tong was one of 13 elected Barisan Sosialis candidates in the September 1963 general election. If Operation Coldstore (2 Feb 63) had not taken place earlier that year, the ruling PAP would have been trounced. Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his team knew their chances of winning was non-existent. That was why they misused their power with the help of the British and the Tunku. They arrested more than 130 members of the opposition, leaders of trade unions, activists, students and even school children under the ISA. Almost all members of the Central Executive Committee of the Barisan Sosialis were arrested. Many of them were tortured and imprisoned for decades.

Having taken all the prominent political opponents to prison, the PAP was surprised that Barisan Sosialis was still able to field 46 candidates in the September general election and won 13 seats. Afraid of losing power even though the PAP had won 37 seats, they arrested Mr Lee Tee Tong who represented Bukit Timah, Ms Loh Miao Gong (Havelock) and Mr S T Bani (Crawford) on 8 October 1963 under the ISA even before the legislative assembly was convened. It was deliberate.

It is pretty incredible that three parliamentarians could strike so much fear in the leadership of the PAP that they had to resort to such cowardly action. But that has always been the opus operandi of the PAP. They are afraid of any form of opposition, no matter how miniscule they may be. Their policy has always been “NIP IN THE BUD”.

In 2005, Mr Lee Tee Tong gave an interview to historian Dr Loh Kah Seng. See chapter 11 of THE 1963 OPERATION COLDSTORE IN SINGAPORE, COMMEMORATING 50 YEARS. That interview was not made public until the publication of the book in 2013. According to Dr Loh, Mr Lee Tee Tong did give an interview to The Straits Times in April 2011.

Mr Lee Tee Tong was born in 1932 on Hainan Island, China. He came to Singapore at the age of eight. Escaping the war in China, he landed in Singapore at the beginning of the war! But he survived. He started work at 16. He was a blue collar worker, mastering many trades. Back then, the general population, especially the Chinese educated were deeply involved in social issues. Workers were paid badly and there was high unemployment. It was natural for Mr Lee to be involved in the activities of workers.

Mr Lee Tee Tong joined the PAP when it was founded in 1954 because he believed in the ideals of the party. He joined the trade unions when these entities were legalised under the Marshall Government. He left the PAP to join the Barisan Sosialis when he realised that the PAP did not practise socialism even though that was the foundation of the party.

Mr Lee was an orator and it was natural for him to be picked as a candidate for Bukit Timah after Operation Coldstore wiped out the entire leadership of the Barisan Sosialis. He was imprisoned for 18 years.

Rest in peace Mr Lee Tee Tong.

There will be a memorial service at 8pm tonight at Block 157 Lorong 1, Toa Payoh, Singapore.