The Barisan Socialis was formed by left-wing members of the People’s Action Party. In 1963, Barisan Socialis had two official organs – the Chinese “Barisan” and the English “Plebeian”. The Plebeian Express was published due obstacles faced by the Plebeian’s printers who did not want to print the Plebeian in the face of mass arrests and a previous suspension of their license.Circulation of the Plebeian Express was communal – the inaugural issue included in this collection calls for its reader to “pass this Express-news on to your friends. This is the only way to break the news gag.”
