J B Jeyaretnam has passed away

[one2unite]

Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Singapore Democrats

The SDP has received information that Mr Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam has died. He passed away in the hospital this morning apparently of a heart attack. We will update readers as and when we receive more information. His body is at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Mr Jeyaretnam was in court arguing a case up until yesterday. Singapore Democrats mourn the heartbreaking loss.

(source:yoursdp.org)

 

[BlueCat]

A lawyer, Mr Jeyaretnam was the first opposition member to win a Parliamentary seat in 15 years when he defeated the People's Action Party's Pang Kim Hin and the United People's Front's Harbans Singh in the Anson By-Election in 1981.

He left the Workers' Party in 2001, and in July this year, had launched a new party called the Reform Party.

there goes another opposition,who never say die attitude even when he is being sued till bankrupt.
thanks him for his contribution toward the political's scene.
another of the opposition who did not outlive the SMM.

 

[tookara]

god bless his brave soul.

 

[captainxerox]

a giant has left us.

 

[jbsmith]

Thank you, you had done a lot for Singapore.

Rest in peace.

 

[NgEjay]

The SDP has received information that Mr Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam has died. He passed away in the hospital this morning apparently of a heart attack. We will update readers as and when we receive more information. His body is at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Mr Jeyaretnam was in court arguing a case up until yesterday. Singapore Democrats mourn the heartbreaking loss.

My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and supporters.

 

[fanta]

Opposition politician JBJ dies

Sep 30, 2008

Opposition politician JBJ dies

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Mr Jeyaretam, died of heart problems early Tuesday morning. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Veteran opposition politician, Mr J.B. Jeyaretam, died of heart failure early on Tuesday morning. He was 82.

The pugnacious former head of the Workers' Party, who recently formed the Reform Party, died at a local hospital, said his close friend and chairman of Mr Jeyaretnam's new political party.

He leaves behind two sons, Kenneth and Philip.

He was the first opposition member to break the ruling People's action Party's grip on parliament 27 years ago.

He was unable to contest the 2006 general election after he was made bankrupt in 2001 for failing to pay S$265,000 in defamation damages to then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.

He was discharged from bankruptcy in May last year.

Mr Jeyaretnam made his final political comeback earlier this year.

He left the Workers' Party after years at its helm and was succeeded by Mr Low Thia Khiang, who is now MP for Hougang.

When he broke the PAP's 15-year monopoly of the Parliament in 1981, most of today's young Singaporeans were not even born yet.

After losing his parliamentary seat in 1986 for making a false declaration of the WP accounts and being jailed for a month and fined $5,000, he spent most of the last two decades battling outside the legislature.

Of the five General Elections since then, he has contested only once, in 1997.

He finished as top loser through the bruising Cheng San GRC bout, earning a 45.2 per cent of the valid votes.

That brought him back into the House as a Non-Constituency MP, a brief tenure that ended in 2001, when he was declared a bankrupt for failing to pay after losing a defamation suit against five Indian PAP MPs, among others.

When he left his 30-year-long WP vehicle in that same year, after accusing his successor Low of not helping him clear his debts, he was effectively banished to the margins of the opposition scene here.

Yet, the old warhorse refuses to believe that he is irrelevant to Singaporeans.

 

[Wobble]

Re: Opposition politician JBJ dies

/mourns........

 

[Echo_O]

Re: Opposition politician JBJ dies

RIP Mr JBJ...

 

[myjohnson]

Re: Opposition politician JBJ dies

My grief is too deep to say more than, thank you Mr. J.B. Jeyaratnam, Sir! for all your sacifices for all of us undeserving sinkaporeons. Rest In Peace, dear Sir.

 

[hillary888]

Re: Opposition politician JBJ dies

Who is going to take over his Reform agenda and lead his Reform Party now. RIP

 

[jw5]

This is indeed very sad news.
He was a hero of Singapore and a true gentleman as well.
It is even sadder that so many Singaporeans did not realize how much he did for the country and how much he tried to do.

 

[kakowi]

My condolences to his family.

My condolences to him. He was a fighter in every sense of the word. He could have gotten a wonderful life, filled with money, glory, status and power. With people pulling each other shirts so that they can get to walk beside him. With power to run a Ministry. With money to keep without paying estate duty. With reputation of being a kind and people-oriented MP.

He had none of these.

Instead he gave his life for what he believed in. The cause of what is good for Singaporeans. And ended up a bankrupt.

There are many who admired him. Admired him yet who fear to vote for him when it really counts. Admired him yet feared to shake his hands or buy his books. His books allowed him to share his beliefs. At the same time put food on his table. He would stand mutely and just hold up his books in his hands. Smiled wanly at anyone who would look at him in the face. And his penetrating gaze seems to send a message which his sealed mouth cannot.

Not every dream ends in happiness.

But his persistence and ability to walk his path, listen to his own drummer and live the low road whilst people less capable lived in grandeur is something that is not easily understood. He exemplify the words of Thoreau, "be true to your work, your word and your friend."

Yet, perhaps the greatest thing that is revered lies not in the winning. Rather, it is the reputation of a man's life. It is the fragrance of a man's life, a fragrance that brings a sense of wonder at his commitment to his path, a fragrance that will last a very very long time.

And a lingering fragrance that is an encouragement to every men to walk their own unique paths.

 

[Patriot]

My condolences to his family.

My condolences to him. He was a fighter in every sense of the word. He could have gotten a wonderful life, filled with money, glory, status and power. With people pulling each other shirts so that they can get to walk beside him. With power to run a Ministry. With money to keep without paying estate duty. With reputation of being a kind and people-oriented MP.

He had none of these.

Instead he gave his life for what he believed in. The cause of what is good for Singaporeans. And ended up a bankrupt.

There are many who admired him. Admired him yet who fear to vote for him when it really counts. Admired him yet feared to shake his hands or buy his books. His books allowed him to share his beliefs. At the same time put food on his table. He would stand mutely and just hold up his books in his hands. Smiled wanly at anyone who would look at him in the face. And his penetrating gaze seems to send a message which his sealed mouth cannot.

Not every dream ends in happiness.

But his persistence and ability to walk his path, listen to his own drummer and live the low road whilst people less capable lived in grandeur is something that is not easily understood. He exemplify the words of Thoreau, "be true to your work, your word and your friend."

Yet, perhaps the greatest thing that is revered lies not in the winning. Rather, it is the reputation of a man's life. It is the fragrance of a man's life, a fragrance that brings a sense of wonder at his commitment to his path, a fragrance that will last a very very long time.

And a lingering fragrance that is an encouragement to every men to walk their own unique paths.

Well said, bro.

My great respect & admiration for a true son of Singapore.

Sad day for Singapore!

Deepest condolences to his bereaved family.
:(:(:(

 

[csi88]

I am very sad.Indeed very sad that we have lost a CAPABLE opposition member.JBJ will be forever be remember.My deepest condolences to the family.

 

[BlueSubmarine]

Re: Opposition politician JBJ dies

RIP JBJ. You'll always be remembered.

ST and their world class reporting.

Sep 30, 2008

Opposition politician JBJ dies

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Mr Jeyaretam, died of heart problems early Tuesday morning. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Yet, the old warhorse refuses to believe that he is irrelevant to Singaporeans.

 

[apogee]

Singapore has lost a true son in JBJ. Rest in peace and may God bless your soul.

 

[ThePlen]

we've lost a true fighter
Rest in peace good sir

 

[Sideswipe]

That was a shocker :(

I almost thought it was those stupid threads.

 

[kakowi]

me too.

wish they will stop fighting.