Singapore expels union activist

Singapore expels union activist
By Andrew Wood
BBC, Singapore

Singapore has expelled a union activist who angered the country's influential senior statesman, Lee Kuan Yew.
Captain Ryan Goh, a Malaysian, led a campaign at Singapore Airlines to oust union leaders who accepted pay cuts and redundancies last year.

The authorities told Mr Goh that he was an undesirable immigrant in March.

As he departed from Changi airport, Mr Goh said he hoped to remain a pilot - but restrictions on visiting Singapore might cause problems.

"Singapore Changi Airport is an international hub so most of the airlines will fly into Singapore," he told reporters.

"And if I do get a job with the international airlines, naturally I will fly into Singapore. And with the prohibition on me it will be difficult to get a job as a crew."

Mr Goh says he will live in Australia. The authorities have allowed one of his four children to remain in Singapore to finish school.

Strikes and labour protests are rare in Singapore.

In February, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's senior minister, intervened in the dispute at Singapore Airlines.

He singled out Mr Goh as the instigator of a revolt by union members, who had voted out union leaders after they accepted pay cuts at the state-owned airline.

The authorities then ordered Mr Goh and his family to leave.


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/3676881.stm

Published: 2004/05/01 17:07:56 GMT

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