“When I went to the university, it was a completely placid place where the English-educated, future civil servants and teachers, would never say boo to a goose.“
1948
James enrolled in Raffles College in 1948. Picnic And Activities at the Beach Student Life Rugger XV As later noted in the Special Branch report, James was a keen rugby player during his time at Raffles College.
1949
That year I, without anybody's prompting, ...I stood for secretary of the [student] union and I won it. James became a member of the Executive Committee of Raffles College Union. Later that year Raffles College was upgraded to University of Malaya. On 22 November 1949, James is appointed as the...
For all his militancy, [James] shared Carr-Saunders’s view that the social function of the university was to develop a united, non communal and self-governing Malayan nation and, as general secretary of the students’ union, he strove to avoid compromising its apolitical standing or incurring the hostility of the majority of...
1950
James lost the election for the President of University of Malaya's Student Union after announcing that he stood against ragging.
1951
Lim Chan Yong, Joseph Tan and a group of them. And Lim Chan Yong squealed like a stuck pig. And Joseph Tan also squealed like a stuck pig. Then about five days later, they arrested all, the whole group. And the English-speaking revolutionaries got wiped out to a man. And...
1952
While James was in Outram Remand Centre he was offered voluntary repatriation to India. Earlier, a friend he made during his stay in India after the war - called Kamath - had learnt of his detention. Kamath was now an MP in India and he raised the matter in the...
James was released from detention along with Abdullah Majid and Loh Wah Lean and rejoined the University of Malaya to repeat his third year. ~ The Straits Times When James was released from Outram Remand Center, he stayed in Corridon's house for a few days until he found proper accommodation....
1953
1954
During the trial the prosecution called Ong Pang Boon, later a PAP MP and Minsiter of Education as well as Ngiam Tong Dow as their witnesses. On the third day of trial Judge FA Chua threw out the case and acquitted the members of the Fajar 8 of all charges....