This came between them
by Toh Li Lin
INDUSTRIAL strikes put ex-unionist Michael Fernandez (left) behind bars and left him with twin aches.
First, his then girlfriend asked him to choose: Marry me now or never. (See report below.)
But Mr Fernandez was a political detainee who didn't have the faintest idea when he would be released.
Second, his union activities were breaking his mother's heart.
The family was upset because he was giving up a law career.
Mr Fernandez was detained under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance (1955) in 1964 for his active involvement in promoting Communist United Front activities among workers in the trade unions. Those were turbulent times and the labour movement was divided.
On one side was the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), which supported the People's Action Party.
On the opposing side was the Singapore Association of Trade Unions (Satu), which supported the Barisan Sosialis and was behind many strikes in the early '60s.
Mr Fernandez was active at the Naval Base, leading about 10,000 workers in a strike for more benefits in September, 1963.
After 33 days, their union was declared illegal and Mr Fernandez was fined $1,800 for leading the protest.
Looking back, Mr Fernandez feels he should not have been so politically involved.
He believes the trade union should have kept to addressing economic issues like more pay, tenure of employment and job security.
Instead, some were influenced into supporting political causes at the expense of workers, he said.
In all, Mr Fernandez spent nearly nine years in a cockroach-infested prison cell - from 1964 to 1973.
His mother lost her mind and fell ill.
His brother never once visited him in prison.
Workers and employers saw the start of happier times when the Employment Act and Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act was passed in Aug 1968.
The first strike-free year was 1969.
Behind bars, Mr Fernandez wondered what route his life would have taken if he had remained a law student at the University of Singapore.
He did not complete his law studies because he had to stop teaching evening classes.
This was the source of income that helped to pay for his law studies.
Mr Fernandez, 64, is now an insurance businessman with Prudential.
Last November, he made an appearance in the play Changi by playwright Robert Yeo.
The lead character in the play, Reginald Fernandez, was loosely based on Mr Fernandez's life.
Love dilemma
THE "now-or-never" letter from Mary shook Mr Fernandez.
She was the woman he wanted to marry. But he could promise her nothing.
Then aged 30, he was serving his seventh year in Changi Prison.
Said Mr Fernandez: "I took the biggest risk of my life. I told her not to wait for me. But if she still wanted me after I was released, I would marry her."
Luckily for him, Mary waited. Eight months after his release from prison, they became man and wife. The couple will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary this year.
They have four children - two boys and two girls. Their eldest son is 23, their youngest child 11. They live in Kallang.
Mr Fernandez, who was born in the South Indian state of Kerala, is still active in the community. He used to be president of the Singapore Kerala Association.
He has also been organising activities for the NUS Guild House for the past 12 years.
Prudential Time Line
PRUDENTIAL was among the early multinational companies here. It set up operations in Singapore 67 years ago.
Then, it had three people on its staff, and one agent.
Today, the staff strength is 280, and there are 2,800 agents.
-- The New Paper, July 28, 1998
Copyright © 1998 Singapore Press Holdings. All Rights Reserved.
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