From the Archives: Recalling old times in Serangoon Gardens (1980) 

THE PAP has stood by the residents of Serangoon Gardens in good times and bad. Flashback to the PAP’s secret meetings there, and their first PAP branch, located in a joss-stick shop. Learn how Comrade Tan Chor Kia stood up for us in the politically dangerous 1960s — so that we could bring jobs and development to Serangoon’s villagers.  

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December 1980  

Tan Boon Seng | Asst Secretary, PAP Serangoon Gardens Branch 

WHEN I look at the new Serangoon Gardens Community Centre at the junction of Berwick Drive and Cheng San Road, or while driving along the new broad stretch of Yio Chu Kang near Jalan Teck Kee, my thoughts would often travel down memory lane to as far back as 1954 when Serangoon Gardens Estate had just been completed. 

I also wonder how many of the present residents of Serangoon Gardens Estate knew that these localities were once “political hot-spots”, especially in the early 60s. These two areas in particular, besides Lorong Kinchir and Lorong Harapan, were the strongholds of the Barisan Sosialis and other anti-Government elements. The four villages, namely, Cheng San, Teck Kee, Harapan and Kinchir happen to be situated near the boundary of Serangoon Gardens Estate. The residents of these four villages were predominantly Chinese by race and engaged in such occupations as farmers, labourers, daily-rated employees, shopkeepers, factory-workers and various kinds of vendors. In short, they belonged to the lower-income group. 

But from this strata of society emerged the early pioneers of the PAP Serangoon Gardens Branch amongst whom were people like Comrades Tan Pan Beng, Tan Chor Kia, Koh Koon Hong, Toh Howe Lui, Ong Tiaw Chan, Yeo Han Poh, Lim Chin Huat, Tan Ai Geok, Tan Eng Yeow, Lim Kit Soon, Ong Kim Leng, Ong Teow Koon, Ng Cheng Chua and Lim Siew Kim (who later left to join the Barisan Sosialis). 

During the days when the Lim Yew Hock Government was in power, the early branch pioneers were forced by the prevailing circumstances to hold meetings secretly at the premises of Comrade Toh Howe Lui for fear of being arrested by the police. Although the stakes were high, these brave and dedicated men carried on their political activities in secrecy until the PAP Serangoon Gardens Branch was officially formed in March 1968. Through the generosity of Comrade Toh Howe Li, part of his joss-stick shop at No. 1064-B, Yio Chu Kang Road was used as the official premises of the PAP Serangoon Gardens Branch. 

It was as this small and humble joss-stick shop that the Serangoon Gardens Branch operated for slightly more than a year before renting a small attap house a few doors away. Within a short period of time, it was found that the building was unsuitable for proper branch operations. 

Comrade Tan Pan Beng came to the rescue and offered his shophouse at No. 64, Yio Chu Kang Road for use by the Branch at a token rent of $100 per month, although the current rent then was about $350. It was a sacrifice on the part of Comrade Tan Pan Beng simply for the welfare and promotion of the Branch. From May 1960 to December 1973 the Serangoon Gardens Branch occupied Comrade Tan Pan Beng’s premises before removing to the present place at No. 56, Chartwell Drive. 

Dedicated Members 

The months preceding the 1959 General Elections saw the Serangoon Gardens branch developing from strength to strength. The various sub-committees of the Branch were in top gear and continued to gain momentum as time went by. The dedicated members not only gave their time, but also donated cash, food, drinks and other forms of assistance. In fact, every cent of the expenses for the 1959 pre-election campaign in Serangoon Gardens Constituency came from the Branch members. 

The Branch started with about 15 members in March 1959 but after the General Elections held on 30 May 1959, the membership soared to an all-time record of not less than 400 members. One significant point about the Branch members was the fact that all of them were Chinese-educated and residing in either one of the four villages or in wooden atap houses along the fringe of Serangoon Gardens Estate. 

Leong Keng Seng won the May 1959 General Elections on a PAP ticket with a majority of 1,079 votes out of an electorate of 8,631 voters. But he did not remain in office longer than 25 months. In July 1961, he crossed over to join the Barisan Sosialis camp; and along with went his supporters including the Branch Secretary, Lim Siew Kim. 

It was the beginning of a brief but tumultuous period of political turmoil. The Branch membership suffered a landslide. From a total membership of more than 400 members, only a handful of 15 members, all elderly persons, remained in the Branch. Approximately 50 per cent of the members either gave up politics or were sitting on the fence to watch future developments. The rest followed Leong Keng Seng into the Barisan Camp. I salute the 15 loyal comrades who undauntedly kept the Branch going even though the political weather was rough. These were steadfast men with very strong political convictions who stood by the Party when the odds were against them. Men of such calibre are hard to come by. 

Under such circumstances, the remaining members in the three constituencies joined to form a “Combined Branch” in August 1961. There were ten members on the Committee comprising Comrades Tan Pan Beng, Tan Chor Kia, Toh Howe Lui, Tan Bak Chor, Koh Koon Heng, Tan Sia Kar, Tan Eng Yeow and three others. The late Comrade Goh Chwee Hua and the late Comrade Lim Cheng Lock helped to look after the interests of residents in the three constituencies with no Legislative Assemblymen. 

The main bone of political contention at the time was the subject of “Merger and Malaysia”. The issue had the support of the moderates in the PAP while the left-wing group in the Party strongly opposed it. As the Barisan Sosialis had a good grip in the rural areas, it was therefore no surprise to learn that the villages mentioned were Barisan’s strongholds in the Serangoon Gardens Constituency. 

From the result of the Referendum held on 1 September 1962 it was clear that 71% of the population was in favour of a merger. Although it was a victory for the Party, it did not in any way make life easier for PAP supporters living in some of the villages. 

It was indeed a trying time for those involved in politics, but it was also a testing time to identify and separate the goats from the sheep in the Branch. Many members showed their true colours, and eventually only a few made the grade. 

Heading the list of loyal and brave men of strong political convictions is Comrade Tan Chor Kia who was residing at Teck Kee Village. He had the courage to appear and give evidence in Court for the recovery of the Party’s property taken by the Barisan supporters. It must be borne in mind that it was no easy task for a village-dweller to give evidence against those living nearby. Yet, he did what he thought was right. Consequently, his relationship with some of his former friends became understandably strained, and it was not uncommon for members of his family to be exposed to abuse and subtle threats. 

The pre-election campaign of the General Election in 1963 is an interesting chapter in the history of the Serangoon Gardens branch, Barisan supporters had by that time taken the political struggle to the streets, and the Serangoon Gardens Branch also became a victim. The showcases fronting the Branch premises at No. 64, Yio Chu Kang Road were wrecked during a Barisan street parade. To damage or deface PAP property, especially posters of PAP candidates, was then a favourite sport of the Barisan supporters.   

The car of Comrade R. A. Gonzales (a PAP candidate for the 1963 General Elections) was badly scratched on several occasions at Lorong Kinchir and Cheng San Road. It was considered unwise to do any campaigning in either Lorong Kinchir or Kampong Cheng San unless there was a big number of supporters accompanying the campaigners. Unsuccessful attempts were made to burn the community centres of Jalan Teck Kee, Lorong Kinchir and Jalan Hwi Yoh. It was truly a period when hooliganism, with the collaboration and assistance of the Barisan supporters, projected its ugly image. However, the results of the General Elections held in September 1963 were not only a severe but also decisive and devastating blow to the Barisan and their stooges. 

Comrade Gonzales was elected with a majority of 1,758 votes in an electorate of 8,765 voters. His majority of 1,758 was 679 votes more than that Leong Keng Seng had in the 1959 General Elections (a majority of 1,079), although the electorate only increased by 134 voters. It was, therefore, clear that more people were beginning to support the PAP. The political conflict had come to an end, at least on the surface. Thus it was time to appraise the Branch’s performance and plan for the future. 

Respect and Confidence Won 

After the political upheaval, the Branch also won the respect and confidence of many residents of the Serangoon Gardens estate proper. It must also be noted that no political disturbance of any kind ever took place in the estate proper, probably because of the different strata of society. The residents were mostly middle-class income group and a number of British servicemen and their families. The Barisan Sosialis knew that they could not gain any support or sympathy from this class of people. That was perhaps the reason why all the political struggle took place in the surrounding villages. 

It was not long after the 1963 General Elections that the English-educated residents began to show an interest in the activities of the Party and soon Comrades Lye Yuen Weng, Peter Toh, Koh Joo Hock and M. Ramachandran, who were already Branch members, began to introduce new members to the Branch. New faces appeared in the Branch Committee and the task ahead was to raise funds for the betterment of the Branch and its activities. With that in view, a cinema show was organised in 1964 at the Kok Wah Theatre which added about $14,000 to the Branch’s coffers.   

During Comrade Gonzales’ term of office the problems of the people were different from the present ones. The number of constituents who sought assistance from the Branch was comparatively small. The majority were attap-dwellers from the villages and only a small number from the village proper would come to see the Legislative Assemblyman for assistance. It was a common problem for the English-educated residents to try and solve their own problem; and only in their last resort would they come to see the Member of Parliament. 

Requests for pipe-water, electricity and employment top the list, followed by domestic and miscellaneous problems, including quarrels between neighbours. Comrade Gonzales’ frequent tours of the Constituency greatly enhanced the image of the Party and subsequently won the support and confidence of the constituents.