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A 'God in the Labour Movement' Who Fell to Earth

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A 'God in the Labour Movement' Who Fell to Earth A6 TOP OF THE NEWS # THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 HE SHOULD HAVE STAYED TO ANSWER CHARGES NO COMMENT LEAVE IT TO DUE PROCESS ‘We were very close parliamentary colleagues and, to this day, ‘I’m not able to have a conversation with ‘As long as there are reasonable prospects of bringing I feel it was very silly of him to run away. He should have you.’ Phey Yew Kok to trial, nothing should be done which can stayed to answer the charges against him. After so many years, – Mr David Phey Teck Ann, one of Phey’s sons, be said to jeopardise the process of law.’ he still has to face the consequences of what he did.’ when approached by The Straits Times for a – Then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (far left, with Phey in 1976) – Mr Chan Chee Seng, 83, who was Senior Parliamentary Secretary for comment last night at his home. at a March 3, 1982 parliamentary session where opposition MP J.B. Social Affairs when Phey jumped bail in 1980. Jeyaretnam called for the charges against Phey to be withdrawn and a commission of inquiry to investigate the matter instead. Phey’s return may solve political mystery Answers sought to questions of why he fled and how he evaded capture By TOH YONG CHUAN and a top union leader trusted by MANPOWER CORRESPONDENT the political leadership. “There was a sense of disbelief WHEN Phey Yew Kok fled Singa- that it could happen to a PAP MP DEC 3, 1979: pore to escape prosecution in like him,” said Mr Joseph. Phey Yew Kok 1979, he was aged 45, a second- Even Phey’s former parliamen- (far left) and term MP and one of the three tary colleagues could not fathom NTUC president most powerful union leaders in why he jumped bail after being Devan Nair at the country. charged with criminal breach of the press Yesterday, at age 81, the man trust. conference infamous as the fugitive who Mr Chan Chee Seng, 83, who where the NTUC stayed on the run from the Singa- was Senior Parliamentary Secre- announced that pore authorities longer than any- tary for Social Affairs when Phey Phey had one else looked almost nondes- absconded, said: “We were very resigned as cript as he stood in the dock listen- close parliamentary colleagues secretary- ing to the charges he faced in 1979 and, to this day, I feel it was very general of the Pioneer being read out to him again. silly of him to run away. He Industries His unexpected return to Singa- should have stayed to answer the Employees pore took many veteran union charges against him. After so Union and the leaders and retired MPs by sur- many years, he still has to face the Singapore prise yesterday and brought back consequences of what he did.” Industrial questions they had long wondered Mr Chandra Das, 76, who was Labour about. chairman of NTUC FairPrice from Organisation, Topping their list is: Why did 1993 to 2005, said Phey’s re-ar- two of the most he flee the country? One more rest was astonishing news. “There influential question has been added to that was no inkling that it would hap- unions here at list: Why has he returned now? pen,” he said. the time. “His arrest and disappearance Mr Lee Khoon Choy, 91, who FILE PHOTO created a big buzz at that time,” was Senior Minister of State in said retired National Trades Un- the Prime Minister’s Office be- ion Congress president John De tween 1978 and 1984, was equally took place so long ago. “He has al- able to run away and evade the day, he would only say: “I’m not Phey’s trial will be watched Payva, 66, last night. surprised that Phey surrendered ready paid a price in having to be law for so long, said Mr Joseph. able to have a conversation with closely by many, especially those Added retired NTUC vice-presi- himself after so many years. away from his family for 35 When The Straits Times visited you.” seeking the long-awaited answers dent Cyrille Tan, 65: “Many peo- “I thought he won’t be back af- years.” the homes of Phey’s two sons last His older son, Mr Phey Teck to their questions. ple wondered what happened and ter hiding so long in Thailand. I What people want to know night, both declined to comment. Moh, 53, is listed as the director Said Mr Chan: “I am glad he is why he absconded.” was told he had been in Thailand now is “what happened to him in Mr David Phey Teck Ann, 52, is of investment and advisory com- back finally to answer the charges Retired journalist George all these years. I cannot even re- the past 35 years and what prompt- the chief operating officer of the pany Xpanasia. He was previously against him and bring closure to Joseph, 65, who covered the la- call the details of the charges ed him to return”, he added. Weekender Group, which publish- Asia-Pacific corporate vice-presi- the case after more than 30 bour beat for The Straits Times, against him now,” said Mr Lee. Phey’s return will solve one of es the weekly lifestyle paper Week- dent for Motorola Solutions, and years.” recalled the shock across the coun- Mr Joseph feels the authorities of the most intriguing political ender. president and chief executive of [email protected] try because Phey was a rising star may not be “baying for blood” mysteries in Singapore, on how When asked if he had seen his Pacific Internet before that. Additional reporting by Leong Weng Kam in the People’s Action Party (PAP) now as Phey’s alleged offences such a high-profile figure was father since his return on Tues- He, too, would not comment. and Yeo Sam Jo A ‘god in the From rising star to fugitive ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CORRUPTION labour movement’ Phey Yew Kok is appointed March: Minister of State for We have maintained a 1970 president of National Trades 1998 Home Affairs Ho Peng Kee tells Union Congress (NTUC). Parliament that Phey remains on clean and non-corrupt who fell to earth Interpol’s wanted list, but efforts to track system in Singapore Elected MP for Boon Teck him depend on intelligence. 1972 constituency (below). for half a century June 22: At the age of 81, Phey because we have By FIONA CHAN ion run by Phey, also dismissed May: Appointed NTUC chairman. 2015 surrenders at the Singapore DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR him as its secretary-general in 1979 Some time in the middle of the Embassy in Bangkok. The next zero tolerance 1980. Less than two years later, year, Phey is investigated for day, he is escorted back to Singapore. for corruption. HE WAS a rising star in the members of both Silo and PIEU corruption. People’s Action Party (PAP) in the voted to wind up the huge omni- June 24: He is read the same charges he When we discover 1970s, a second-term MP for bus unions. Dec 1: He is arrested, and charged with faced in 1979. He is placed on remand and wrongdoing, we Boon Teck who headed the labour It was a sad end to the stellar criminal breach of trust and other offences a pre-trial conference has been fixed for do not hesitate to act. movement and three of its most in- career of Phey, now 81, a former under the Trade Unions Act. Around July 23. fluential unions. primary school teacher from a Te- $100,000 of union funds is involved. Phey ST FILE PHOTO We will not allow any But the man once described as ochew family in Pontian, Johor. pleads not guilty and is released on bail of a “god in the labour movement” In 1964, he became an industri- cover-up, even when $100,000. by a subordinate may not have al relations officer with the NTUC it is awkward or been immune to mortal tempta- while working as an accounts Dec 31: tions. clerk at Malaysia-Singapore Air- Unknown to the authorities, Phey embarrassing for Ten years after becoming presi- lines, the predecessor of Singa- leaves for Kuala Lumpur on a train. He the Government. dent of the National Trades Union pore Airlines. He joined Satu and later moves on to Bangkok, where he Congress (NTUC) in 1970 at the was named treasurer of the disappears. Perhaps not many youthful age of 35, Phey Yew Kok 10,500-strong union in 1966. of you remember was charged in December 1979 After displaying good organisa- Jan 7: Phey fails to turn up in with misusing more than tional and fund-raising skills – as 1980 court. A warrant for his arrest is Phey Yew Kok. $100,000 in union funds and in- well as a crucial proficiency in issued and his home put under vesting union money in a private Mandarin that allowed him to surveillance. Interpol is alerted and his He was a PAP MP and supermarket without approval. communicate with blue-collar passports are cancelled. senior union leader. His sensational fall from grace workers – Phey was made Satu In 1979, he was was matched only by the shocking president within a few years. March: Minister for Home Affairs news of him jumping bail in Janu- In 1970, he headed Silo and 1989 S. Jayakumar tells Parliament charged with criminal ary 1980. It caused his two bailors PIEU – which together had about that all possible measures to breach of trust and to forfeit $95,000 of the 80,000 workers – plus NTUC.
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