About Mr S Rajaratnam

While Mr S Rajaratnam was studying in King's collage, London, World War Two broke out. Due to the lack of communication between London and Malaysia during World War two, Mr S Rajaratnam was unable to receive funding from his family to continue his studies. Therefore, he turned to journalism to earn a living. On his return to Singapore in 1948, Mr S Rajaratnam joined the Malayan Tribune. In 1950, he was appointed Associate Editor of the Singapore Standard and held that post for four years. Mr S Rajaratnam then worked for The Straits Times till 1959. He was the secretary of the Malayan Indian Congress and a founder member of the Singapore Union of Journalists. His writing was clearly of the Left and anti-British, but at the same time he was not for the Communists.

Mr S Rajaratnam met Mr Lee Kuan Yew by chance at the Chinese Swimming Club. Recognising that they were both dissatisfied with the prevailing political situation, they arranged to meet to discuss the situation. Rajaratnam became a founding member of the People's Action Party. In 1959, he resigned from The Straits Times to run for the Legislative Assembly seat of Kampong Glam.