I read the following today while doing research at the UK National Archives at Kew (what a terrific place!) in a file entitled "Singapore Constitional Conference 1958: Internal Security Arrangements" (CO 1030/438). The context is that in 1958, Lim Yew Hock took a small group to London to hammer out the final details of the new constitution for Singapore, the broad details of which had been agreed upon at the Constitutional Conference the year before, and which would grant Singapore internal self-government from 1959. I read some of the minutes from this meeting, which also involved Lee Kuan Yew.

One clause which the Secretary of State for the Colonies (Alan Lennox-Boyd) wanted was to ensure that anyone who had previously been imprisoned for offences against the state (such as sedition) or under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance would be disqualified from public office. The Chief Minister (Lim Yew Hock) objected on the basis that this was contrary to normal democratic practice. Then I read this:

MR. LEE KUAN YEW said that the condition was disturbing both because it was a departure from democratic practice and because there was no guarantee that the government in power would not use this procedure to prevent not only Communists but also democratic opponents of their policy from standing for election.

I offer this selection without comment.

Seperately, a British official in Bangkok who met Lee offered the priceless observation that, "he carried a chip like a cross." If there has ever been a pithier description than that of Lee, I'd love to hear it.