Poh Soo Kai

Poh Soo Kai (; born February 5, 1930) is a Singaporean medical doctor, politician, political prisoner. He was a founding member of the University Socialist Club, People's Action Party (PAP) and Barisan Sosialis (BS).

Early life and education Poh was born in Singapore on February 5, 1930. He is the maternal grandson of prominent businessman Tan Kah Kee. His family fled Singapore before the Japanese invasion and landed in Bombay, he studied at a Catholic mission school for four years. Poh and his family returned to Singapore after the Japanese surrender in 1945, continued his studies at Raffles Institution and entered the University of Malaya in 1950.

Poh was a founding member of the Socialist Club in 1953 and became its second President from August that year till the following year. Poh was one of the eight members of the Fajar editorial board charged with sedition in 1954. He graduated three years later with a degree in medicine.

Political career Poh became acquainted with Lee Kuan Yew, who was the honorary legal advisor to Fajar, during his time in university.

He was released in 1973.

Medical career After his release in 1982, Poh practised as a doctor for eight years in Singapore.

Poh published his memoir titled Living in a Time of Deception in 2016. Based on his own recollection and records of the UK government, he provided a new perspective on key events in the political development of Singapore. His thesis is that Lee's main purpose in seeking independence in conjunction with the merger with the Federation of Malaysia was to leverage the Malaysian government to immobilize his left-wing opponents and that Lee feared that the left wing led by Lim Chin Siong would have defeated him in free elections.

His ex-wife Grace Lim died on 26 October 2025 at the age of 91.