LAU Teik Soon (Dr.)
Political History of Singapore 1965–1985,
Accession Number 001871
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 30
Total Reels
- Chua Ai Lin
Interviewer
- 14:39:31
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 30
Metadata
- 3 Apr 1997
Recording Date
- 00:30:39
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Born in 1939, Bukit Mertajam. Poor background; youngest of five children raised single-handedly by midwife mother. Only Lau was educated and had to do English paperwork for his illiterate mother from a young age. Mother was very strict. Went to High School at Bukit Mertajam. Little awareness of political happenings in Malaya at the time. Had multi-racial friendships. Became a Catholic in late teens. Describes childhood games and leisure activities. After leaving school became a teacher in Penang at Hutchings School.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 30
Metadata
- 3 Apr 1997
Recording Date
- 00:30:19
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Taught in Hutchings School, a boys' primary school, previously Penang Free School. Did two years teacher training at Brinsford Lodge, UK. Local alternative was 'normal training'. Description of Brinsford Lodge; fairly isolated from British society. Spent holidays travelling in Europe. Grew up intellectually and physically in Britain. Found European society very developed. Did teaching practice in British schools; no racial discrimination. Brinsford curriculum. Became a Catholic. Close network between Brinsfordians, even much later in life.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 30
Metadata
- 4 Apr 1997
Recording Date
- 00:30:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Applied for job in Kuala Terengganu but posted to isolated school in Alor Lintah, near Besut. The school was a close-knit community. The first English medium secondary school in the area. Sensitivities of living in a very Malay area, under the Pan Malayan Islamic Party state government. Did his A-levels as private candidate. Took leave to study Arts at the University of Singapore. Supported by his wife, a teacher in Batu Pahat, who had recently given birth.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 30
Metadata
- 4 Apr 1997
Recording Date
- 00:29:25
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Chose to study History at University of Singapore. Formation and activities of the Democratic Socialist Club (DSC), of which he was a member. DSC supportive of People's Action Party (PAP) in merger with Malaysia. Majority of students not politically active. Became president of the Historical Society. Recollection of 1964 racial riots. Shocked reaction to Singapore's separation from Malaysia. After being discriminated against in the Education Service in Malaysia, interviewee returned to Singapore to work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an Administrative Officer.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 30
Metadata
- 5 Apr 1997
Recording Date
- 00:29:34
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Main issue at Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in 1966 was normalisation of Singapore-Malaysia relations. Policy formulation in MFA. Camp Temasek affair. Personal involvement in issue of the two Indonesian Confrontation bombers who were sentenced to death. Problems in relations with Indonesia. Singapore's joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
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Reel/Disc 6 of 30
Metadata
- 5 Apr 1997
Recording Date
- 00:29:21
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
No briefings for new Foreign Ministry officers on how to deal with foreign diplomats. Brief experiences in ministerial meetings. Impression of Lee Kuan Yew on meeting him. Many Malaysians working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Cabinet. Difference between Malaysians and Singaporeans. Personal reactions to the separation of Singapore from Malaysia. Formation of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); economics, not security, was the priority.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 30
Metadata
- 8 Apr 1997
Recording Date
- 00:29:29
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Lack of progress and interest in early years of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Left job when awarded research scholarship at the Australian National University (ANU). Specialised in International Relations. Interest in the 1969 racial riots. Heated political debate among Malaysians in ANU on the New Economic Policy; against which interviewee argued strongly at the time. Closer to Singapore rather than Malaysian High Commission staff, e.g. Stanley Stewart and P.S. Raman.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 30
Metadata
- 8 Apr 1997
Recording Date
- 00:29:29
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Despite the gulf between Singaporeans and Malaysians, interviewee related well to both. Description of, and reactions to 'The Singapore Mirror' published by the Ministry of Culture. Anti-Asian experiences in Australia made him decide to return to Singapore. Took up Research Fellowship at Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) to wait for vacancy at the University of Singapore. Description of staff and projects at ISEAS. In 1971 many lecturers left Department of Political Science at University of Singapore in protest, opening vacancy for interviewee to join.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 30
Metadata
- 9 Apr 1997
Recording Date
- 00:29:33
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Local academics criticised by Lee Kuan Yew and told to contribute to nation building process so many left University of Singapore. Interviewee as Head of Dept of Political Science, 1976-1995. Direction of the department set by Prof Wu Teh Yao to focus on Asia and job prospects for its graduates. Departmental recruitment of staff. Generally good experiences with expatriate staff. Disciplining staff. Willingness of academics to contribute to nation building . Many opportunities for young academics in the department during the mid-1970s.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 30
Metadata
- 9 Apr 1997
Recording Date
- 00:30:18
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Regularised University of Singapore staff promotional procedures. Reasons for interviewee's own speedy promotion. Attitude to succeeding in life. Interviewee's demanding style of teaching. Experience with two lecturers who did not allow alternative political views in the classroom. Interviewee's conscious effort to separate his academic and political roles. Joint Campus Scheme in 1978-9 as a prelude to the merger of Nanyang University and the University of Singapore.
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