[6] Early in 1959, Organizing Secretary of the Labour Front, Gerald de Cruz, was told that Chew Swee Kee had bought a tin mine in Ipoh, Malaya, for $350,000.

de Cruz alerted Communications and Works Minister and Secretary General of the Labour Front, Francis Thomas.

[7] Disgruntled, Thomas passed the information to Lee Kuan Yew, Secretary General of the opposition People's Action Party (PAP).

[7][8] On 15 February 1959, at a pre-election rally, PAP Chairman, Toh Chin Chye, said that "the Americans" had given $500,000 to the Singapore's People's Alliance.

[9][10] Two days later, on 17 February, Lee tabled a motion in the Legislative Assembly naming Chew as receiving foreign money and calling for a Commission of Inquiry.

[13] At the inquiry, Lee said that he had received the information about Chew's receipt of foreign funds from K. M. Byrne, formerly Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.