Operation Coldstore: How Lee Kuan Yew Destroyed Singapore’s Left-Wing

Dr Poh Soo Kai, Founding Member, People's Action Party (PAP) & Barisan Sosialis

21-Feb-23 15:00

Operation Coldstore: How Lee Kuan Yew Destroyed Singapore’s Left-Wing

Pause
Embed

In February 1963, the Singapore government, under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew, launched a covert operation, which led to the arrest of 113 left-wing political players and activists, all of whom were detained without trial. This operation was called Operation Coldstore.

One of the victims of the operation was Dr Poh Soo Kai, one of the founding members of PAP and later, Barisan Sosialis. Under the Internal Security Act (ISA), Dr Poh was placed behind bars for more than 20 years.

Dr Poh joins us on the show today to discuss Operation Coldstore and how it shaped Singapore.

Podcast Image credit: Mariam Mokhtar YouTube

Produced by: Dashran Yohan

Presented by: Dashran Yohan

This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories: politics, international

Tags: the bigger picture, , beyond the ballot box, singapore, politics, people's action party, pap, barisan sosialis, social justice, lee kuan yew,

Today’s Shows

6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Joe Quinlan, Chief Market Strategist, US Trust-BOA Private Wealth Management tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Pramod Anthe, Head of Institutional Equity Research at InCred Capital, discusses outlook of India's equities in 2026.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Independent Business Writer P. Gunasegaram weighs in on the High Court’s decision rejecting former Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak’s bid for house arrest.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

We revisit conversations on the Breakfast Grille in the past year about global trade and tariffs.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Dato' Seri Wong Siew Hai, President of the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA) gives us an outlook for the sector in 2026.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

(REPEAT) Independent Business Writer P. Gunasegaram weighs in on the High Court’s decision rejecting former Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak’s bid for house arrest.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Joe Quinlan, Chief Market Strategist, US Trust-BOA Private Wealth Management tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Pramod Anthe, Head of Institutional Equity Research at InCred Capital, discusses outlook of India's equities in 2026.

9:35 AM

People, Planet, Profit

We replay the 18th November episode on boosting Malaysia’s climate and disaster resilience with Avtandil Mekudishvili of PlanRadar.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

11:00 AM

Marketing Mojo

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

We revisit conversations on the Breakfast Grille in the past year about global trade and tariffs

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Beyond the Ballot Box

In this Best of 2025 replay, we revisit a conversation with Professor Edmund Terence Gomez on corruption and Malaysia’s political–GLC complex.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

In this ‘Best of 2025’ replay, we speak to mental health advocates about how stigma continues to persist in our society.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

A countdown of the 5 biggest stories of the day, to catch you up on all you need to know!

6:00 PM

Talkback Tuesday

PROGRAMMES