Barisan Sosialis

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Barisan Sosialis often misspelt as Barisan Socialists

[edit] Cold Store and the 1963 Election

In February 1963, many members of Barisan Sosialis were arrested during Operation Coldstore by the Internal Security Department. Despite that, in the 1963 state elections, the Barisan Sosialis won 13 out of 51 seats, becoming the second largest and the leading opposition party. Nonetheless, the election results were viewed as a setback as the party had expected to win power. In addition, partly because of a split in the opposition vote, the opposition could only win 14 seats (including one from the United People's Party) despite winning 53% of the popular votes. After the elections, in a series of 'anti-Communist' and 'anti-subversive' activities, the Internal Security Department would continue to arrest members of the Barisan Sosialis, including MPs. One of them was Chia Thye Poh, a MP who was imprisoned in 1965 and was only released in 1998. The government has repeatedly insisted that Chia is a Communist and has testimonies from 2 ex-members of the underground Malayan Communist Party to prove this. Chia has repeatedly denied that he is one and insisted that he is a prisoner of conscience.