Former detainee Chia free to travel abroad

FORMER political detainee Chia Thye Poh is looking forward to his first overseas trip in more than 30 years now that he is free to travel abroad.

He is planning a trip to Hamburg, Germany, at the end of this month or early next month if his doctor gives him the green light after a medical check-up next week.

He has accepted a one-year fellowship offered by the Hamburg Foundation to study different aspects of life in Germany and plans to visit several cities there.

"It is an opportunity to learn something which I hope can be of some use to Singapore," he said yesterday at his parents' flat in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10.

"But my biggest wish is that all the other restrictions imposed on me since I was released from detention would be lifted. I told officers of the Internal Security Department that all the restrictions should have been lifted long ago. I am not a free man."

As of last Nov 28, Mr Chia has been free to travel abroad without prior written approval from the ISD director.

A Home Affairs Ministry spokesman said yesterday that other restrictions on him were also lifted the same day.

The soft-spoken 56-year-old bachelor, who earns a living doing translation work for the Sentosa Development Corporation, can now change his address and look for a job without prior written approval.

But he still needs the written approval of the ISD director to make public statements and address public meetings, the spokesman said. He also needs written permission to take part in any political activity or be a member, adviser, helper, official or participant in any organisation or association.

He cannot knowingly associate or be in touch with current or former political detainees, except those who belong to the Singapore Ex-Political Detainees' Association, if he is also a member.

Mr Chia was an opposition Member of Parliament belonging to the Barisan Socialis before he was arrested under the Internal Security Act on Oct 29, 1966, for involvement in the Communist Party of Malaya and communist united front activities.

He stayed in detention for almost 23 years before being released to Sentosa island on a Suspension Direction on May 17, 1989. Further easing of restrictions let him visit the main island of Singapore and work there from Sept 21, 1990, and to live on it from Nov 28, 1992.

Mr Chia maintained yesterday that he was never a member of the Communist Party of Malaya. He said he was carrying out his duties as a Barisan Socialis MP before he was arrested and detained without trial. He also said he seldom left his parents' flat these days because of the restrictions on his movement, which he said should be removed.

"I am getting older and my health is not very good now," he said, adding that the prostate antigen level in his blood is high.

"The doctor did a biopsy a few months ago and found that I did not have cancer. The high antigen level may be due to an enlargement or infection of the prostate. I have to wait for the result of my blood test and my check-up before I can set the date for my departure for Germany."