Prominent individuals such as former President of Singapore, S R Nathan (1999 – 2011), Malaysia’s Democratic Alliance Party’s third chairperson Karpal Singh (2004 – 2014) and former Malaysian minister of transport, Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik (1986 – 2003) were some of his former hostel mates.
Within the volatile political climate of the 60s and 70s, DRH was a hotbed of political activity. In the same speech, Mr Chua sketched out the turmoil during that period, highlighting the Malayan Emergency and the constitutional struggles that shaped the climate of student activities then.
Students including former Malaysian Police Chief Tun Haniff Omar recounted how the students from the hostel would ‘go to Fullerton Square listen to Lee Kuan Yew’s lunch-time public rallies’ . Others, such as James Puthucheary, M K Rajakumar, Lim Hock Siew and Singaporean poet Edwin Thumboo were directly involved in politics, participating actively in the University Socialist Club and its magazine, Fajar.