Yew used the Internal Security Act, a law put in place by the British, to put away his political opponents through the expedient that they were Communists and therefore a threat to Singapore's security.

In the video "Zahari's 17 years" by Singapore filmmaker Martyn See, Zahari publicly called Lee Kuan Yew "a political coward". He said only a coward would resort to jailing his opponents instead of taking them in a political discourse and letting the best man win. According to Zahari, Lee Kuan Yew knows that he cannot win in a contest of ideas with his critics. Fearing he would lose, he eliminates his opponents by abusing the law, using his police force and compliant judges to put away those who disagree with him. According to Zahari, theseare the acts of “a political coward”.

You can watch Martyn See's film, "Zahari's 17 years" on his blog "the Singapore Rebel" www.singaporerebel.blogspot.com. The film was shot in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia where Zahari lives as a permanent resident. Zahari is still a Singapore citizen.

There is no doubt. Zahari was spot on when he said Lee Kuan Yew is "a political coward". His cowardice continues to this day. Yes, Singapore has some skyscrapers and manicured lawns. But these things do not make him any less "a political coward". These are some shameful instances that drive home this fact.

JB Jeyaretnam, a worthy opposition politician of the Worker's Party challenged Lee Kuan Yew's policies since 1974. As Lee Kuan Yew feared taking on the late JB Jeyaretnam in free and fair elections,