Kit Siang - from journalist to MP’s aide

The following is an exclusive excerpt from Chapter 7 of ‘Lim Kit Siang: Malaysian First, Volume One: None But the Bold’, a new biography by Kee Thuan Chye.

Devan Nair offered Kit a job.

It happened in September [1965], the month after Singapore had separated from Malaysia. Kit had already got a verbal affirmation from RTS [Radio Television Singapore] that the editor’s position would be his. Then Devan called him and asked to meet up.

When they did, he told the young man, “Despite the separation, I’m still MP for Bungsar. I’m not going to abandon my constituents.”

“You’re going back to KL?” Kit asked.

“Yes, but I’ll need help. Someone to assist with my work when I’m not there. I need a political secretary.”

Kit sensed there and then what Devan was leading up to. But he was also taken aback because this was something he had never expected. Suddenly, his pulse was racing. His ears were throbbing. And the words came tumbling out: “So, you’re asking me here for an interview? You want to employ me to be your pol-sec? If that’s the case, you don’t even need to say it, I accept.”

Now it was Devan’s turn to be surprised. “Are you sure? Don’t you want to consider it first? That RTS job, what does it pay?”

“A thousand plus a month.”

“I’m afraid I can’t match that. You’d definitely have to take a pay cut. Why don’t you go back and think about it, discuss it with your family?”

“No need to think about it,” said Kit. “I accept.”

Devan was...