Comments on: Speech at the Memorial Gathering for Dr. M.K. Rajakumar http://s-pores.com/2009/02/speech/ new directions in singapore studies Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:25:52 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Michael Fernandez http://s-pores.com/2009/02/speech/#comment-37 Michael Fernandez Sat, 07 Mar 2009 02:55:25 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=239#comment-37 Some comments. 1. The Pan Malayan Students Federation officially formed in March 1953 was an initiative of the University of Malaya Students Union when in 1952 . Wang Gung-wu was President of the Students Union and Abdullah Majid was also involved. He was the Editor of the Malayan Undegrad in 1950 2. The 30th Oct. 1952, the Malayan Undegrad ran a long report by the chairman of the External Relations Committee headed by RS Mcoy, which laid the groundwork to organise a Malayan Students’ Conference in Nov 1952. Wang Gung-wu wrote two pieces in the .Malayan Undergrad in Oct. 1952 and then a Report as President of the UMSU in Nov.1952.. As the Organising Secretary, RS Macoy was incapacitated, , Philomen Oorjitham was named and the other delegates were Wang Gung-wu and KR Chandra. At the same time both MK Rajakumar and Poh Soo Kai were also student Councillors. The Technical College nominated 2 delegates, the Sultan Idris training College also named 2 delegates while the Agricultural College and the Singapore Teachers Training College 2 delegates each. 2. The University of Malaya Socialist Club was formed in Feb. 1953 and as reported in the Straits Times only 3 main officials were named: Wang Gung-wu as President, Philomen Oorjitham as Sec-Gen and S. Woodhull as its Publication Secretary. In his Oral History recording and his interview with Dr. Yeo Kim Wah, 12/3/1991, he revealed that after his release from his first detention in 1952, at a tea-meeting with the then Vice Chancellor, Sidney Caine, he managed to convince Sidney Caine that it would be politically expedient to allow the students to set up political clubs so that they would not be tempted to join the communists as has happened to him. Thus the approval was given to a group of radical students, including Rajakumar and Poh Soo Kai who have been discussing the idea for some time without any tangible success. 3. After Wang Gung-wu finished his term as President, Poh Soo Kai became President of the USC and Rajakumar its Sec -Gen and the editor of Fajar which was reorganised. 4. In the meantime, Philomen Oorjitham was already President of the Pan Malayan Students Federation since its inception in March, 1953 till 1955.. There was a “NEWS” flash in the Dec. 1953 issue of Fajar that James Puthucheary resigned from the Central Working Committee of the USC and yet he was one of the Fajar-8 sedition arrest in May 1954. Some comments.

1. The Pan Malayan Students Federation officially formed in March 1953 was an initiative of the University of Malaya Students Union when in 1952 . Wang Gung-wu was President of the Students Union and Abdullah Majid was also involved. He was the Editor of the Malayan Undegrad in 1950

2. The 30th Oct. 1952, the Malayan Undegrad ran a long report by the chairman of the External Relations Committee headed by RS Mcoy, which laid the groundwork to organise a Malayan Students’ Conference in Nov 1952. Wang Gung-wu wrote two pieces in the .Malayan Undergrad in Oct. 1952 and then a Report as President of the UMSU in Nov.1952..

As the Organising Secretary, RS Macoy was incapacitated, , Philomen Oorjitham was named and the other delegates were Wang Gung-wu and KR Chandra. At the same time both MK Rajakumar and Poh Soo Kai were also student Councillors. The Technical College nominated 2 delegates, the Sultan Idris training College also named 2 delegates while the Agricultural College and the Singapore Teachers Training College 2 delegates each.

2. The University of Malaya Socialist Club was formed in Feb. 1953 and as reported in the Straits Times only 3 main officials were named: Wang Gung-wu as President, Philomen Oorjitham as Sec-Gen and S. Woodhull as its Publication Secretary.

In his Oral History recording and his interview with Dr. Yeo Kim Wah, 12/3/1991, he revealed that after his release from his first detention in 1952, at a tea-meeting with the then Vice Chancellor, Sidney Caine, he managed to convince Sidney Caine that it would be politically expedient to allow the students to set up political clubs so that they would not be tempted to join the communists as has happened to him. Thus the approval was given to a group of radical students, including Rajakumar and Poh Soo Kai who have been discussing the idea for some time without any tangible success.

3. After Wang Gung-wu finished his term as President, Poh Soo Kai became President of the USC and Rajakumar its Sec -Gen and the editor of Fajar which was reorganised.

4. In the meantime, Philomen Oorjitham was already President of the Pan Malayan Students Federation since its inception in March, 1953 till 1955..

There was a “NEWS” flash in the Dec. 1953 issue of Fajar that James Puthucheary resigned from the Central Working Committee of the USC and yet he was one of the Fajar-8 sedition arrest in May 1954.

]]> By: jette http://s-pores.com/2009/02/speech/#comment-36 jette Sat, 28 Feb 2009 05:48:48 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=239#comment-36 Thanks to s/pore. i got to read about a man and writing by a man that my father mentioned vaguely to me. for a few minutes, the article transported me back in time-space to my days as a student in a certain socio-political enclave in northern california. pls keep up the great work of continuing to excavate into s’pore’s multiple pasts. Thanks to s/pore. i got to read about a man and writing by a man that my father mentioned vaguely to me. for a few minutes, the article transported me back in time-space to my days as a student in a certain socio-political enclave in northern california. pls keep up the great work of continuing to excavate into s’pore’s multiple pasts.

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