Episode 23: Living in a Time of Deception

Dr Poh Soo Kai was the president of the University of Malaya Socialist Club in 1954-55 and its secretary general in 1955-56. He was a member of the eight-person editorial board of the Socialist Club newsletter, Fajar, who were charged by the colonial government in 1954 with sedition.
He was a founding member of the People’s Action Party in 1954 and was later the Assistant Secretary-General of Barisan Socialis when it was established in 1961. In 1963, he was detained without trial under Operation Coldstore and was held for a total of 17 years. He has recently published his memoir, “Living in a Time of Deception”, has just launched in Singapore and Malaysia. In this episode, PJ Thum sits down with Dr Poh to discuss his book, his political career, and what he’s learnt from his long life. 

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