Friends bid farewell to Lim Hock Siew

[makapaaa]

Friends bid farewell to Lim Hock Siew
[h=2]They honour the 'people's doctor', recall his humour and optimism[/h]




Published on Jun 9, 2012

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(From left) Dr Beatrice Chen (wife of Dr Lim
Hock Siew), Mrs Lim Poh Geok (wife of Prof Arthur Lim), Mrs Doris Poh (wife of
Dr Poh Soo Chuan), Dr Poh Soo Chuan (brother of Poh Soo Kai), Dr Arthur Lim, and
Mr Lim Chin Joo (brother of Lim Chin Siong) at the coffin of former political
detainee Lim Hock Siew, who has died aged 81, at the wake on June 5, 2012. -- ST
PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

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By Phua Mei Pin
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Dr Lim Hock Siew was remembered on Friday by fellow political detainee Tan
Kok Fang as a shining light in the dark days they spent in Changi Prison's 'E
Dormitory'.

Mr Tan, 71, recalled of Dr Lim: 'He often said, 'They can imprison my body,
but they cannot imprison my spirit'.'

Dr Lim, a founding member of the PAP and Barisan Sosialis, was detained
without trial under the Internal Security Act from 1963 to 1982.

That made him Singapore's longest-held political prisoner after Dr Chia Thye
Poh.

 

[scroobal]

Only an insane and detached mind would imprison a practicising medical doctor for 20 odd years without trial. The rest of us are just as guilty for watching this tragedy unfold. I have no issues with the ISA. I am also aware of the insidious nature of communism then. But this is a clear case of abuse of a legal system.

 

[makapaaa]

Old Dud: Hello! I am the Emperor OK?

Minion: Zhaaaa...

 

[besotted]

Only read of him in the last few years and obviously he was a kind hearted soul.

With his good karma, he will be reborn as a PRC who will spread his influence and kindess on a much larger scale

RIP Dr Lim

 

[Balls2U]

Why wasn't old fart there at the wake? Afterall, LHS was originally a member of the old guard right?

 

[Rogue Trader]

I am also aware of the insidious nature of communism then.

Dr Lim was a Socialist. Why do you people always bundle all left leaning ideologies under the same red spectre?

 

[Kinana]

Lim and hang were leftists. Had they taken over Singapore, we would be like north Korea today

 

[zeddy]

Lim and hang were leftists. Had they taken over Singapore, we would be like north Korea today

Wow Kinana this is new to me.. Where you learnt of this? From the History textbooks issued by the MOE back then during your O Level days?

 

[Kinana]

What is the name of the party Lim help founded?

 

[Rogue Trader]

What is the name of the party Lim help founded?

People's action party

 

[Cruxx]

Dr Lim was a Socialist. Why do you people always bundle all left leaning ideologies under the same red spectre?

Socialism is actually a much more dangerous idea than communism, if you ask me. Communism is Marx's purported final stage of historical development where the state, according to Engels, "withers away". The atrocities of Mao, Pol Pot and Kim Jong Il can hardly be attributed to a political system where no state should exist.

 

[Kinana]

People's action party

It's Barisan Socialis.
Says it all

 

[Kinana]

People's action party

It's Barisan Socialis.
Says it all

 

[Psalm23]

It's Barisan Socialis.
Says it all

Sadly, if we look at Britain, America, Australia we see that these countries are not more socialist than many communist countries!

But we still don't really know whether Singapore will be for the better or for worse under LHS....but chances we may not end up so good (in fact too good) economically-speaking.

But we have to admit also, a big population of our people are suffering and we can see in the hawker centers and food courts, very old men and women work as garbage collectors, clearing plates and cleaning tables. We don't see these old people doing such jobs in China (and North Korea....I don't know, never visited).

 

[Rogue Trader]

It's Barisan Socialis.
Says it all

If you want to be a decent troll please know your history first.

Don't bring a knife to a gun fight. It's embarrassing.

 

[RoyMcFarland]

Only an insane and detached mind would imprison a practicising medical doctor for 20 odd years without trial. The rest of us are just as guilty for watching this tragedy unfold. I have no issues with the ISA. I am also aware of the insidious nature of communism then. But this is a clear case of abuse of a legal system.

Exactly. Most of us are not privy to what exactly happened more than half a century ago. Communism, in itself is not a crime. It is a political system. If you are able to persuade a majority of your people, peacefully, that it is the answer to their problems, then you deserve to be the government. If the other side does a better job in persuading the population and wins a fair and free election, then its their prize. Perpetrators of riotings, lootings, murders should be charged and jailed. ISA has been used for the right reasons in some situations in the past, dealing with communist insurgents, JI terrorists, secret soceity thugs etc. But, unless some secrets are released into the public domain, I remain unconvinced that everybody who have been charged and detained under the ISA deserves it.

 

[blissquek]

Only read of him in the last few years and obviously he was a kind hearted soul.

With his good karma, he will be reborn as a PRC who will spread his influence and kindess on a much larger scale

RIP Dr Lim

Have a good journey..Dr. Lim..

May your descendents be blessed by your good deeds.

You are truely our Singapore Freedom Icon...

 

[myfoot123]

Any PAP ministers or the 35% Tony Tan there.