Syed Jaafar Albar claimed that Communist agents had infiltrated the government. Among those named was James who was alleged to be a member of Razak’s kitchen cabinet, which also included Samad Ismail, Abdullah Majid and Sidney Woodhull. A few days later Tunku Abdul Rahman took up the same theme, warning about the Communists in the government and the expansion of Soviet influence.
In response to “confessions” in Singapore, the Malaysian Minister for Home Affairs Ghazali Shafie who immediately ordered the arrest under the Internal Security Act of Samad Ismail. The “confessions” were obtained from two Malay journalists in Singapore who were arrested and accused of involvement since 1972 “in a Communist scheme masterminded by Samad Ismail.” It was alleged that the journalists slanted news with the intention of ” softening the Malay ground for Communist ideas.”
Lee Kuan Yew had crossed swords with Samad and others in the 1950’s and early 60’s, and Samad’s influence on Tun Razak had been a constant worry for him.
In November 1976, Ghazali Shafie presented evidence against two deputy ministers, Datuk Abdullah Ahmad and Abdullah Majid who were both arrested under ISA for “being influenced by communist activities and ideology.
Other close associates of Tun Razak such Mahathir Mohamed, Musa Hitam and Tengku Razaleigh were also linke to the “Communists”.
James was not incarcerated and took on the role of providing assistance to the detainees.