22nd September 1961 : “Advisor” to the Central Executive Committee of Barisan Sosialis

At the inaugural meeting of the Barisan Sosialis, James was appointed as an “advisor” to the party. James maintained that he was not consulted about this appointment prior to the announcement.

James was a lecturer in economics at the University of Malaya in Singapore at the time and also a member of the employees’ panel of the Industrial Arbitration Court.