16 are arrested for Marxist Conspiracy

On 21 May 1987, 16 people were arrested under Singapore's Internal Security Act (ISA) on grounds that they were members of a clandestine communist network.^[1] In its press  statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the mostly English-educated group had planned to “subvert the existing social and political system in Singapore through communist united front tactics to establish a communist state”.^[2] On 20 June the following month, another six people were detained while four women from the first arrest were released on the same day.^[3]

The mastermind of the conspiracy was Tan Wah Piow, a former student activist who was convicted in February 1975 for rioting within the premises of the Pioneer Industries Employees Union (PIEU) in October the year before.^[4] After Tan’s release in October 1975, he disappeared and failed to report for National Service. He was later found living on a visitor's pass in Britain, having fled Singapore to London in June 1976 on a Singapore passport with a forged renewal endorsement.^[5]

In Britain, Tan continued with his Marxist activities and hatched a plan to establish a network of communist infiltrators who would penetrate and eventually dominate lawful organisations in Singapore. His ultimate aim was to return to Singapore and establish a Marxist regime in the city state.^[6] Tan’s network in Singapore was spearheaded by Vincent Cheng, a Catholic lay worker, who used the Catholic church, various church-based groups and church publications as a cover for subversive activities.^[7] In 1986, Cheng set up the Coalition of Organisations for Religious Development (CORD), which was made up of eight student and religious organisations. The organisations that Cheng infiltrated included the Student Christian Movement of Singapore, the Young Christian Workers' Movement, Singapore Polytechnic Catholic Students' Society,  the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Church  and  the Geylang Catholic Welfare Centre.^[8]

Two other groups that were also part of the network were the Workers’ Party and Third Stage, an English language drama group.^[9]

By the end of 1987, all the detainees with the exception of Cheng had been released.^[10]

In April 1988, eight former detainees were re-arrested following their release of a signed public statement denying the accusations against them and alleging mistreatment in detention.^[11] Among those arrested were lawyers Teo Soh Lung and Tang Lay Lee, law graduate Kevin De Souza, lecturer Chng Suan Tze, advertising executive Kenneth Tsang Chi Seng, former social worker Ng Bee Leng, Singapore Broadcasting Centre subtitling editor William Yap Hon Ngian and Wong Souk Yee, who was active in theatre.^[12] Businessman Chew Kheng Chuan, another former detainee, was also re-arrested in May the same year for his role in editing and distributing the statement.^[13] By 1990, all detainees, including Vincent Cheng, were released from detention.^[14]

References
1. 16 held in security swoop. (1987, May 22). The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
2. Two main fronts in conspiracy. (1987, May 27). The Straits Times, p. 14. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. John, A. (1987, June 21). Govt detains six more. The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
4. Wah Piow, the mastermind. (1987, May 27). The Straits Times, p. 1; Davidson, B. (1975, February 23). Student leader jailed. The Straits Times, p. 1; From student agitation to communist conspiracy. (1987. May 28). The Straits Times, p. 10. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
5. Wah Piow: ‘Arrest on sight’ order. (1975, October 30). The Straits Times, p. 17; Ngoo, I. (1976, October 21). The Tan Wah Piow riddle deepens. The Straits Times, p. 17; The Straits Times, 27 May 1987, p. 14; How Tan Wah Piow fled Singapore without proper documents. (1987, May 28). The Straits Times, p. 10. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
6. Tan Wah Piow hopes to set up Marxist regime. (1987, May 27). The Straits Times, p. 14; How I used the church. (1987, May 29). The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
7. How church was used as cover for subversion. (1987, May 29). The Straits Times, p. 16. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
8. Plans to link grassroots group revealed. (1987, May 29). The Straits Times, p. 18; Vincent Cheng – theology student turned Marxist. (1987, May 29). The Straits Times, p. 16; The Straits Times, 27 May 1987, p. 14.
9. How Workers’ Party was infiltrated. (1987, June 30). The Straits Times, p. 12; ‘Through drama, you can criticise’. (1987, July 20). The Straits Times, p. 10; The Straits Times, 21 Jun 1986, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
10. The Straits Times, 21 Jun 1986, p. 1; Govt frees two more detainees linked to Marxist plot. (1987, September 13). The Straits Times, p. 1; Govt frees seven more detainees. (1987, September 27). The Straits Times, p. 1; Government frees five more detainees. (1987, December 21). The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
11. Henson, B., & Tan, T. H. (1988, April 20).  Govt re-arrests eight former ISA detainees. The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
12. The Straits Times, 20 Apr 1988, p. 1.
13. Former detainee Chew arrested again. (1988, May 9). The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
14. Govt frees another ISA detainee. (1988, June 20). The Straits Times, p. 1; Three more ISA detainees freed. (1989, March 12). The Straits Times, p. 1; Two under ISA detention for Marxist conspiracy freed early. (1989, February 21). The Straits Times, p. 1; Soong, M. (1990, June 20). Vincent Cheng released from detention. The Straits Times, p. 28. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.