N.Z. education helped none’ Singaporean M.P.

Press, 9 January 1987, Page 23

N.Z. education helped none’ Singaporean M.P.

NZPA Singapore New Zealand-educated Mr Chiam See Tong found himself the one opposition M.P. in Singapore’s Parliament when his fellow M.P., Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam, was jailed recently. A Workers’ Party M.P., Mr Jeyaretnam lost his seat when the High Court fined him $5OOO for falsely declaring party finances.

Mr Jeyaretnam wais also jailed for a month. Under the Singapore constitution, a member of Parliament loses his seat if he is fined at least $2OOO or if he has to serve a jail term of at least 12 months.

Mr Jeyaretnam’s fine left the Singapore Democratic Party member, Mr Chiam, who studied engineering and science in Christchurch and Wellington from 1956-61, as the one opposition member in the 79-seat Parliament. When Parliament sat for a day recently, Mr

Chiam, ' a Singaporetrained lawyer, found himself surrounded by M.P.S from the ruling People’s Action Party.

He said in an interview with NZPA that his educa•tion in New Zealand had helped him to handle the isolated position he now found himself in.

Mr Chiam graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Victoria University of Wellington. “Although I did not finish my studies in quick time the longer stay in New Zealand was a blessing in disguise,” Mr Chiam said. “I had more time to become immersed in ...

the egalitarian way of life you have there.” Mr Chiam said studying and working during university holidays on the wharf and in freezing works led hinr to appreciate New Zealand society. “Equal opportunities, dignity for workers and self-respect for indivi-

duals are very important concepts in New Zealand,” Mr Chiam said.

He said it did not worry him that most Government M.Ps in Singapore shunned him.

“It just shows their lack of confidence perhaps.” Mr Chiam, aged 50, said his time in New Zealand had given him independence and helped him become self-confident “When I went to New Zealand I was introduced to socialism and the political role played by the workers,” he said. While his party had no international political affiliations it was very much socialist orientated.

During Mr Chiam’s time as an M.P. he had been awarded damages in two actions involving slander and a third (in an out-of-court settlement) involving alleged libel. Mr Jeyaretnam, a lawyer and a former district court judge, was released from prison earlier.