Alt history: A political prisoner’s view of Singapore’s early years

In his book, Poh Soo Kai challenges the mainstream version of the actions taken by Singapore’s People’s Action Party in the early years. Photo: Straits Times

More than 50 years after Singapore arrested 113 Barisan Sosialis party leaders and labour unionists in Operation Coldstore, another of the former political prisoners has published his historical memoir.

Launched in both Singapore and Malaysia earlier this year, Dr Poh Soo Kai’s Living In A Time Of Deception has sold out. The English version, printed in Singapore, is now in its third run while the Chinese version, printed in Malaysia, is in its second run.