In his latest Malay-language memoirs Dalam Ribuan Mimpi Gelisah (Utusan, Kuala Lumpur, 2006), former editor-in-chief of Utusan Melayu and Singapore political detainees for 17 years, Said Zahari challenges the official reasons for the island-state's two rounds of mass arrests of political dissidents in 1963 and 1987 respectively.

According to Said, Operation Cold Store which saw himself and some 100 other leaders and activists of opposition parties, trade and university students' unions as well as journalists detained without trial on Feb 2 that year was to ensure that "the political security of Lee Kuan Yew and PAP (People's Action Party)" would not be threatened by "a democratic movement " led by the now defunct Socialist Front and People's Party. (p.53)

Said himself was detained without trial for 17 years from 1963 to 1979. He was first accused as "a communist" and then "an Indonesian agent" but he was never charged in any open court.