Tuesday, September 30, 2008
In Memory: Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam (1926 - 2008)
Mr Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam, more affectionately (or not!) known as JBJ, passed away due to heart failure at 1.30am today.
Channelnewsasia covered it here.
Say what you want about him, but I have admiration for the man for having beliefs, and for following his heart, in his desire for a better country for Singapore. No other motives.. just the welfare of his fellow countrymen (unlike some other so-called 'politican' I know!).
Even at 82 years of age, he was still working - his last 'political action' (for want of a better phrase) was the filing of a class action lawsuit re the decision not to hold by-elections for the Jurong GRC Bukit Batok GRC.
He spent 1 1/2hrs meeting residents in three blocks in Bukit Batok and collected 39 signatories.
Of course there was talk over whether or not JBJ had a strong case, by basing his argument on Article 49(1) of the Constitution. The application was supposed to be heard on 15 Oct - don't know what's going to happen now.
His Reform Party was just approved by the Registry of Societies on 18 June 2008.
And I've seen the man selling his book 'Make it Right for Singapore' - a book with his parliamentary speeches from 1997 to 2000 - outside Centrepoint.
And who can forget JBJ winning the Anson seat in 1981, and later again in 1984 - the first Opposition politician to win a parliamentary seat in Singapore... paving the way for others.
Don't get me wrong... I'm not totally pro-Opposition, and neither am I totally pro-PAP. I don't care whether you're a PAP member or from an opposition party - I only care about how well you can serve me.
I didn't agree with all of JBJ's political beliefs and proposed policies - but I still respected the man because he did sincerely care.
I salute you, Mr Jeyaretnam.. and I hope you're enjoying heaven now.
Channelnewsasia covered it here.
Say what you want about him, but I have admiration for the man for having beliefs, and for following his heart, in his desire for a better country for Singapore. No other motives.. just the welfare of his fellow countrymen (unlike some other so-called 'politican' I know!).
Even at 82 years of age, he was still working - his last 'political action' (for want of a better phrase) was the filing of a class action lawsuit re the decision not to hold by-elections for the Jurong GRC Bukit Batok GRC.
He spent 1 1/2hrs meeting residents in three blocks in Bukit Batok and collected 39 signatories.
Of course there was talk over whether or not JBJ had a strong case, by basing his argument on Article 49(1) of the Constitution. The application was supposed to be heard on 15 Oct - don't know what's going to happen now.
His Reform Party was just approved by the Registry of Societies on 18 June 2008.
And I've seen the man selling his book 'Make it Right for Singapore' - a book with his parliamentary speeches from 1997 to 2000 - outside Centrepoint.
And who can forget JBJ winning the Anson seat in 1981, and later again in 1984 - the first Opposition politician to win a parliamentary seat in Singapore... paving the way for others.
Don't get me wrong... I'm not totally pro-Opposition, and neither am I totally pro-PAP. I don't care whether you're a PAP member or from an opposition party - I only care about how well you can serve me.
I didn't agree with all of JBJ's political beliefs and proposed policies - but I still respected the man because he did sincerely care.
I salute you, Mr Jeyaretnam.. and I hope you're enjoying heaven now.
