The John Soh saga Part 2
Lee Yew Meng, Malay Mail Online
The first director of the Singapore Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) in a chapter of his book Glenn Knight: The Prosecutor in 2012, apologised to Tan Koon Swan (former MCA president 1985-86 and top corporate figure) for wrongful prosecution (stock market manipulation and abetment of criminal breach of trust) which resulted in Tan’s subsequent conviction in 1986.
Former chief justice Yong Pung How felt it was wrong to convict anyone for stealing money if the wrong charge had been used to begin with. He opined Tan’s should have been a civil case, not criminal.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers have disputed Knight’s contention while political analysts have formed various conspiracy theories worthy of a John Le Carre plot.
Tan, a man of humble origins, was a highly regarded political and business strategist, whom many missed during those critical years. I was told during an economic seminar, that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad while clarifying the increasingly bumiputra centric government policies, turned to Tan and said, “… but the Chinese community have Koon Swan”, sounding like an intent to placate.
That was before Tan was elected MCA president.
Tan had chosen not to make any public statements in response to Knight’s admission.
Outside business and politics
In 1993, the school board chairman of SJKC Sin Ming, Puchong, approached Datuk John Soh for RM30,000 to replace their old school bus, among the literally dozens of requests he receives yearly.
When he found out chairman Goh, a small-time coffee shop operator, had been waking up at 5am every school morning to make several trips to ferry students for free, he had to find out more.
Goh had to maintain the enrolment, fearing it may drop below 60, then the threshold for school relocation or closure.
Lee Chai Huat, Soh’s long-time special assistant said the school was in such a dilapidated state, just a row of wooden structures with zinc roofs and bare — as if time had stood still, circa 1940s. John was so moved by Goh’s “heroism”, as he puts it, that he decided to absorb the school as a “turnaround” project.
Soh designed a 10-year programme to bring the school to contemporary times, with advanced computer labs, badminton courts, auditoriums, library, proper classrooms, suitable chairs and tables etc. Enrolment kept increasing and the programme stretched past 20 years.
Soh designed a 10-year programme to bring this school to contemporary times.
They couldn’t keep turning away hundreds of students every year, so they kept building. The enrolment this year reached 2,045, and with additional new blocks, the capacity would be 2,700 students by 2018.
The assembly hall, the size of 12 badminton courts, is named Joanne Lau May Foong Hall, after John’s late wife. The new school block is named after his mother and the auditorium after his late grandmother. Those are the three women in his life.
Sia Lian Sem, a long-time member of the school board of governors, said: “Without Soh, Sin Ming wouldn’t have been possible. He has been our pillar for over 20 years and we pray he will continue for many more years.”
The total costs have exceeded RM12 million. Soh is not an alumnus of any SJKC.
The saddest moment in Soh’s life was in 2011 when he lost his wife to colon cancer. He was battling it with her, side by side, for four years.
They first met when she joined Wings as its second staff in 1979. They were both 20 years old and had clicked instantly, becoming inseparable for 32 years.
During the wake, John said,: “Joanne had the most infectious smile, laughter and never-say-die spirit. She was the most loyal and faithful buddy and wife, never complaining and remained steadfast through all my ups and downs. Nothing fazed her as long as she could spend time with me.”
“Throughout the wake, visitors listened to:
Through the years, you’ve never let me down
You’ve turned my life around
The sweetest days I’ve found
I’ve found with you”
John said the lyrics to the 1981 hit by Kenny Rogers best summed up what precious Joanne meant to him.
Little known facts
John didn’t evade arrest in the 1999 episode. He left for a business trip to the US on April 14. The warrant of arrest issued by the Securities Commission was dated April 19. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sentenced the day after his departure.
While out of the country, John was residing in either Singapore or Indonesia. There was no Interpol alert on him and he conducted his businesses unhampered. He was charged immediately upon his return in 2002 and after five years, it was settled with a plea on a significantly reduced charge and a fine of RM6 million.
Sources said there was actually a negotiated deal but it didn’t follow through owing to the change in administration.
John assisted Anwar in forming an alternative party to Umno/BN, which became known as PKR. He was very involved in all activities of the “war room” during the 12th general election.
John has stopped being an active member since 2010.
He enjoys fishing immensely.
Postscript
Some Singapore authorities have enormous, unchecked power and over time, can think they have the franchise on righteousness. The rule of law is then “confused” with rule by law. The CAD is one of them.
A case in point — the very recent reported case of 14-year-old Benjamin Lim committing suicide after interrogation by police (picked from his school) in the absence of his parents is too outrageous to be an incident in Singapore.
Kiasu (fear of losing) is a moniker merely as a lark at highly competitive Singapore. It must never graduate to become a slur to suggest Singapore would bend to ridiculous contortions to avoid “losing”.
Soh’s case must not become like a repeat of the regretful 1986 Tan Koon Swan incident.
The John Soh saga Part 1
