Men in White: The Untold Story of Singapore's Ruling Poltical Party

by Sonny Yap, Richard Lim, Leong Weng Kam

Men In White is the inside story of one of the world’s most successful political parties. Narrated in three parts, it is oral history spun in a journalistic mode and spiced unapologetically with anecdotes, quotes and human interest to breathe life into past events. Three writers from The Straits Times backed by four researchers conducted some 300 interviews in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and China. The result is a dramatic account of the PAP – warts, blemishes and all – and of the pivotal moments in its history which changed the course of Singapore forever.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Asia

692 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2009

Reviews

[Marcus Tay · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who read LKY's double memoirs, Hard Truths and Goh Keng Swee Biography, there were still many things I learnt from the book - and I am referring to the first 1/3 of the book - which was still about the Lee and team.

2nd portion of the book then covered other PAP stories under Goh and Lee Hsien Loong which included recent elections which as someone like me 31 years old (2013) did not have the chance to experience. And of course then, it made an interesting read.

True to what was mentioned, this book covered the viewpoints from the losers of history and all these made it a good read even if one had read many other books of pre 1968.

However, I gave it only 3 stars cause the 3rd portion of the book was horrible. For a few chapters, it went on like newspaper headlines to highlight the period, and in that few chapters about the hypothetical future after "Lee", it was just quotes and quotes and quotes from various people. It felt like the writers could distill nothing and write a summary or story - it was like an endless academic listing.

Of course, though I already knew something about the Lee's cabinet at 1965 - this book still deserves special mention for introducing comet star Ong Eng Guan who frightened the whites when he became Singapore's first mayor. Somehow the impression of Mr Ong Eng Guan didn't permeate through in LKY Memoirs to me.

This book also allowed me to learn more about the other non cabinet PAP leaders whose lives were all threatened in the communist heady days of 1960s:

An example would be SMMWU secretary-general Joseph Tan Meng Kwang who help the rise of NTUC against the pro-communist unions:" He was one of those who really believed that we were all going to lose but decided that we would fight with our backs to the wall and we would die fighting on our feet and not on our knees."

Sounds just like Churchill heh?

Drop the third portion of the book and I will give it 4 stars. Drop the 2nd portion further and it will get 4.5 stars.

[Damon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deep dive into the history behind Singapore's dominant political party, Men In White gives a story of the PAP in thee acts. Written by journalists from Singapore's paper-of-record The Straits Times, the book, extensively researched, attempts to give an overview of the PAP on its own terms, in the eyes of its current and former opponents, and in the sweep of Singapore's history. The book tries to reconcile conflicting views of historical events by publishing several viewpoints, which I appreciated. The effect became Rashomon-like at times though, which could irritate some readers.

Act I: Wherein we learn how Lee Kuan Yew returned from the UK to found an anti-colonial party that would win independence and merge with Malaya. The first part of the book, written chronologically, was the most interesting for those familiar with contemporary Singapore. The PAP was at one point an opposition party, and had to manage factions of communists and socialists within its own ranks. Naturally, Lee Kuan Yew emerges as the mastermind (though there is plenty of attention given to other members) who plays his hand expertly and is able to manage the colonial government, attempted communist takeover of the PAP, merger and expulsion from Malaysia, and Singapore's development. For a party that has a reputation for being fairly boring, this was a fun and interesting read.

Act II: Wherein we see how the PAP led Singapore into prosperity. This section, written by a different author, saw the main policies of the PAP, and the transition to the second Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong. In Act I we saw scrappy and tense elections. In Act II, the tension is measured in the difference between an absolute victory and a simple landslide victory. Perhaps it is the measure of a political party's success that it becomes a dry read, but this section was a bit of a struggle to get through.

Act III: Wherein we learn what the PAP is worried about, and the future of the party and Singapore itself. Act III talks about some of the tough policy choices that the PAP made, like education policy, social welfare policy, and national development policy. A fair amount of statistics there. PAP members also talk about what they see as the secret to Singapore's success. Spoiler alert: it's integrity. This section also talked about how the PAP grooms its own leaders. More on that below.

If there are motifs that shed light on the PAPs approach to governance, it might be the pervasive sense that they are besieged. The PAP's English-educated founders were outnumbered by the working-level rank and file and supporters. Singapore is dwarfed (in population, NOT GDP) by its neighbors. Its minority populations are dwarfed by its ethnically Chinese population. Its ethnically population is dwarfed by the non-Chinese populations next door, etc.

Act III also takes time to point out that the PAP is really not a political party in the Western sense. I found it frustrating that that line was repeated several times, but that Western values /Western political parties was never really defined for the reader. Moreover, if the PAP represents an Asian style of political party, then why are there so few (if any?) similar such parties to be found around Asia? Japan's LDP was mired in corruption scandal after corruption scandal (the PAP has avoided nearly all of that among its leaders). The Grand National Party of South Korea and KMT in Taiwan had major differences (ethnic based parties, very different relations to industry, and also a lot of corruption). The CPV or CPC? Historical corruption aside, those political parties have very different approaches to governing. I felt like the authors wanted to say that the PAP was a unique animal in the world, but instead it was grouped with a bunch of geographically close, but dissimilar parties.

Finally, for the few out there who are truly interested in Singapore's current politics, reading this book now is a good reminder that the current transfer of party leadership to Lawrence Wong is still a work in progress. Yes, he is the PM, but he is not in charge of the Party (Lee Hsien Loong is still party leader). He is still being supported by the scaffolding of the PAP. Crucially, he has not been tested by an election. Goh Chok Tong had to prove himself in an election once he became PM. And once he did, GCT (likely) breathed a sigh of relief when he demonstrated the confidence of the Singaporean voters. For the next "chapter" we will have to see the results of those elections. Having read this book, I will be interested to see the results myself.

[clem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beyond the first part of this book, there is not much that is "untold" about the PAP. The first part helps you understand the early struggles of the PAP and what shaped the eventual PAP that saw massive success in turning Singapore from third world to first world. Beyond that you would find greater wisdom from reading the memoirs of the individual key players of PAP's first generation leaders.

[Rish · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first and second parts were excellent discourses charting the history of the party from it's formation to the years of transition in leadership to Goh Chok Tong and later, Lee Hsien Loong.

Things got a lot more technical and consequently rather dry in the third part as the authors chose to cover the future challenges of the party both within itself and in terms of policies to address the rising needs and demands of Singaporean society.

Definitely a good book for people interested in the history of Singapore. Not remotely suggesting that the PAP and Singapore are one and the same, but it is important to understand the foundations, trials and tribulations of a party that has chartered our nation through both still and troubled waters in the past 50 years and more.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great 1st Part; skip the 3rd.

The first part was invaluable and very well written, as it detailed the very early years of the PAP party and the internal power struggles inside the PAP. Mr Lee Kuan Yew had not always been so powerful; even he suffered betrayals and defections. Twice he wanted to give up but his colleagues refused to accept his resignation. A must read for everyone living in Singapore.

The second part about the transfer of power to Goh Chok Tong was alright, but the third part was just plain boring.

[ah li · Rating 5 out of 5]

eally interesting to look back at Singapore's history besides reading it from history textbooks; massive book but good to hear from the different people (founding fathers and opposition) but sadly, Ong Eng Guan did not grant the authors an interview. But kudos to the team for doing such extensive fieldwork; but I wished there were more views from Chua Beng Huat, President Nathan and Lim Hwee Hua though, a book packed with punch. Really like the photographs they included but wished there was more, but nevertheless a really interesting read

[Titus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part 1 is superb, parts 2 and 3 optional