Obituaries 01 (Sep 08 - Jul 11)

[blid2def]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/ ... 03/1/.html

Former opposition MP JB Jeyaretnam dies of heart failure
By Lee Foong Ming, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 30 September 2008 0814 hrs

SINGAPORE: Former opposition MP and former Secretary-General of the Workers' Party, Mr JB Jeyaretnam died of heart failure early Tuesday.

He was 82-years-old.

His son Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam told Channel NewsAsia that Mr Jeyaretnam, who had a pre-existing heart condition, had complained of breathing difficulties at about 1.30am on Tuesday.

He was rushed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital but doctors were unable to revive him.

He died of heart failure with both his sons, Kenneth and Philip, by his side.

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

He retained the seat in the 1984 General Election, but had to vacate it in 1986 after he was convicted on charges of mis-stating his party's accounts.

Barred subsequently from standing for office, Mr Jeyaretnam returned to Parliament following the 1997 General Election.

That year, he was part of a 5-member team from the Workers' Party who contested in Cheng San Group Representation Constituency (GRC), and garnered 45.18 per cent of the votes against the PAP's 54.82 per cent.

A Non-Constituency MP seat was offered to the Workers' Party for turning in the highest votes by an opposition party, and this was taken up by Mr Jeyaretnam.

In the late 1980s and 1990s, the fiery opposition member faced several defamation lawsuits brought against him by PAP leaders, among them Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

In 2001, Mr Jeyeratnam was declared a bankrupt and disbarred as a lawyer.

As a bankrupt, he was also barred from taking part in the General Election held that year.

Later, in October 2001 he left the Workers' Party he had led since 1971.

After he was discharged as a bankrupt in 2008, a new political party, the Reform Party was formed in July by the 82 year old.

Mr Jeyaretnam leaves behind two sons.

The family later said in a statement that the family is overwhelmed with grief and we will make further announcements after the necessary arrangements have been made.

According to the statement from both his sons, Mr Jeyaretnam had spent his last hours at the Evelyn Road apartment of his son Kenneth.

"Earlier this evening he and I had enjoyed a light dinner and chatted and then he sat out on the balcony for a while before retiring."

The statement went on to say that the family was woken up at about 1:30am by Mr Jeyaretnam who was "obviously in distress" and was rushed to hospital.

"But unfortunately the medical team working on him were unable to revive him despite their lengthy and strenuous attempts. My brother Philip joined me at the hospital and we were then informed by the doctor in charge of his care that he had passed away" said the family in their statment which also gave thanks the medical team.

[sesdaqfan]

My depeest condolences to the greatest fighter there is in Singapore.

[kennynah]

sad day for singapore...

[LenaHuat]

He was a great fighter all his life. Both he and his wife were immigrants who gave Singapore 2 excellent citizens (fine sons they are)

[iam802]

all the old guards (regardless of which party they are in)... are moving on.

The kids today would not remember about all these great names.

[winston]

PM Lee, SM Goh send condolences to JB Jeyaretnam’s family

Channel NewsAsia - Wednesday, October 1SINGAPORE : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said he is saddened to learn of JB Jeyaretnam’s death.

In his condolence letter to Mr Jeyaretnam’s sons, Mr Lee said Mr Jeyaretnam and the People’s Action Party (PAP) never saw eye to eye on any major political issue.

And Mr Jeyaretnam sought by all means to demolish the PAP and Singapore’s system of government. Unfortunately this helped neither to build up a constructive opposition nor Singapore’s Parliamentary tradition.

But Mr Lee said one had to respect Mr Jeyaretnam’s dogged tenacity to be active in politics at his age. And such differences were not personal.

For example, Mr Lee said that in 1993, Mr Jeyaretnam’s son Kenneth wrote to then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong to say employers were reluctant to hire him because they felt the authorities would not welcome his employment because of his name.

Mr Goh replied with a letter which could be shown to prospective employers, saying the government did not hold anything against him and employers should evaluate him fairly on his merits.

Mr Goh had previously made the same point to Kenneth’s brother, Philip.

In his condolence letter, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said that even though he did not agree with Mr Jeyaretnam’s political cause, he respected his fighting spirit to advance it and his willingness to pay a price for it.
While the PAP leaders and the opposition politician had many heated exchanges, Mr Goh said he did not allow such fights to affect Mr Jeyaretnam’s sons’ place in society. — CNA/ms

[LenaHuat]

We've lost Kenneth Jeyaratnam to HongKong for a long long time. So we now know publicly abt the cowardice of some employers Such a shame

[kennynah]

fear is very real n the price to pay can astronomically large ignoring this here. Tang Liang Hong is one great example. Instilling fear politics is a well known tactic
Back to my original idea. Who cares who's king. I am only a mere mortal recognizing I do not possess the tenacity of some men who have been willing to stake their emtire lives for the country

[Cheng]

Regards to condolence letters from PM and SM:

"Mr JB Jeyaretnam was a Member of Parliament for Anson constituency from 1981 till 1986, and a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament from 1997 till 2001. He used to engage in heated debates in the House. Perhaps it was because he and the PAP never saw eye to eye on any major political issue and he sought by all means to demolish the PAP and our system of government. Unfortunately, this helped neither to build up a constructive opposition nor our Parliamentary tradition. Nevertheless, one had to respect Mr JB Jeyaretnam’s dogged tenacity to be active in politics at his age." --PM Lee

"What do I remember or respect most about Mr J B Jeyaretnam? Even though I did not agree with his political cause, I respect his fighting sprit to advance it and his willingness to pay a price for it." --SM Goh

I think the leaders have set a higher standard for Singapore to be a gracious society.

[sidney]

Forumies are quite right. From my generation, I have no memories of this person whom many respects except read on newspapers his laywer license is restored.