in memoriam

been kinda a morbid week. if that is the word for it. in short, legendary big screen icon Paul Newman has passed on. Maverick Singapore opposition figure-head Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam has passed away due to heart failure. Popular South Korean actress Choi Jin-sil was found hanged at her home.

of all of these the loss that cuts deepest is the death of JBJ. many scribes have already expounded on his contributions and legacy, so i will not have anything of note to add. have had the pleasure to have met the man himself a couple of times. although it was barely enough to make a scratch into the person behind the larger-than-life persona we seen on the campaign trails and in Parliament, he did come across a man of dogged determination and strong convictions.
despite all the obstacles he faced and the liability to his legal firm, he pushed ahead for his beliefs. it is really something when even your political foes relent to give praise to your tenacity and single-mindedness. his ezxchanges with the formidable Lee Kuan Yew are the stuff of legends. few dared to cross the 'father of modern Singapore', let alone come out on the other side in relatively one piece. His erstwhile comrade in Parliament, Chiam See Tong, put it best when he said JBJ was a man ahead in ideals for his time. He fought for the freedom of expression and civil rights at a time when Singaporeans were still mostly preoccupied with bread-and-butter issues. But his tenacity exposed cracks in the PAP monolith that they had to evolve their style of governance and thus become more consultative and seemingly less authoritative to placate the post 1966 generation, who were increasingly mobile and more plugged into the global shifts and trends. JBJ's style, though combative to some,would certainly have struck a chord with this current electorate.


As he said recently: “The strength is in the ordinary people.”

will try to attend the memorial service tomorrow if possible. and subsequently go for the funeral

anyway here are some tributes to the late Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam. nothing quite speaks of the measure of the man than the heartfelt words of the man in the street:

"A salute to you Sir for your fighting spirit. A man that fought not for self-glorification but for the compassion of wanting to genuinely serve the country’s citizenry. You will be terribly missed and may you rest in peace. Deepest condolences to your family. Mr. JBJ may have passed on but his fighting spirit will be cherish and served as an inspiration."

"JBJ was the finest example of what it means to be pro people.
Despite the despicable means to put JBJ down, we see a man with steadfast conviction to provide a voice for the people to the very end.
JBJ was indeed a patriot and a gentleman ! "

"

Allow me to take my hat off to a great politician. He deserves all the accolades that go his way.

In his heyday, none of our current crop of government leaders is a fraction of a worthy match for his reverberating convictions. He has more principles and focus than the entire 82 PAP Members of Parliament combined, including one octogenarian who will not have the pleasure of seeing Mr. Jeyaretnam crawl on his bended knees to ask for mercy.

Mr. Jeyaretnam’s had shown iron-grit determination and courage even at the nadir of his existence. This great man did not need mercy, and will not ask for one. The never-say-die spirit he embodied will live on amongst the courageous. It is a gift which all Singaporeans, especially the members of the Opposition, should emulate in their long and laborious quest towards winning a lasting and substantial change for this country.

The esteemed gentleman is a legend, and his moral legacy will outlast that of undeserved pretenders. I pay my earnest respect to one of Singapore’s last true hero."

"Mr JBJ shows that non-race based politics works.

Mr JBJ does not speak a word of Hokkien or Mandarin (By the way, myself and my family are all Chinese educated.)… He speaks only English.

Through his sincereity, his perseverence.. he managed to reach out and touched the hearts of all Singaporeans…. Many Ah Pek and Ah Mmmm, who speaks only dialect, also know that this is a fearless and honourable man…."

"JBJ - The “Nelson Mandela” of Singapore…he was imprisoned thru defamations suits, bankruptcy and barred from practising law…. a tough path you walked but with your head held high!
JBJ - You broke the ice when you won the bye-elections in Anson and your continued march into parliament was awesome even as nominated MP;
JBJ - An icon who drew the other side of the coin which changed the political scenario and opened up many closed minds. A true warrior, politician, lawyer, son, husband, father and foremost incredible believer of common man causes!"

"I would like to remember Mr. Joshua Benjamin Jayaretnam as the man who defies all odds and the full weight of the ruling machinery of PAP to survive in the harsh political scene in Singapore.
The bible says in 1 Corinthians 9:24 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? in my belief, Mr JBJ you have received this prize.
God Bless."

"LKY set up the GRC system because of the BS that we vote along racial lines. Well, Mr Jeyaretnam is the example to disprove this for he won in
a Chinese majority constituency against the govt Chinese candidates TWICE . For they all see in him a non-quiter, a determined upright man fearlessly facing a bully in the form of the PAP govt. He could well live comfortably in his previous positions but chose to fight for what he believed in and as a result became a broken man afew times financially but not spiritually.
How many us could measure to the stature of this man?"

"I will never forget what he said many years ago in one of the rallies - “Now, get that straight in your head”. The man with the biggest and strongest heart has died of heart failure - how ironic life can be. But he went as a hero, discharged from Bankruptcy and revived his political career, contented being the father of 2 loving sons. Who at 82 years old had the spirit to continue fighting for his beliefs and ordinary folks. He had the opportunity to live his life with a silver spoon but gave it all up to pursue justice and humanity. I was at his wake just now - heavy rain so not many people. But the place is well sheltered, ventilated and spacious. Many seats available as well as a memorial hall. The family is expecting a big crowd - so do turn up and pay respects to Singapore’s beacon of democracy. Vivian Balakrishnan turned up around 10.45pm alone and dressed ordinarily."

"JBJ is a legend. Our very own Singapore hero. No other comes close. He gave us his best years, his best intentions, his best effort….his all. What a fearless, courageous and honourable man he was. He feared no one, because he knew very well his convictions were just! He could’ve had a cushy life, not wanting of anything. But his sense of righteousness and the desire to see justice took him on another path. A very dangerous path which eventually led to his ruin. But being the old war-horse that he was, he bounced back again and again and again. He was the personification of courage, guts, passion, and love…….love for his countrymen."

"
My heartfelt condolence to JBJ’s family. I am actually at a lost for words because I feel a certain sense of shame, minding my own business for far too long when it is clear for all to see that the country is being run by a bunch of despicable people. Singaporeans perhaps do not deserve some one like JBJ who literally gave up everything to represent the ordinary people. JBJ soldiered on in a wicked political environment and never did he yield to the scums in white who relentlessly persecuted him.
Rest in peace JBJ, as a true patriot !"

"As a Young Boy, I hear the name JB Jayeratnam during election rallies, As a teenager, I saw Mr JB Jayeratnam in his election rallies. He handed Workers Party magazine during his rounds to various markets. As an Adult, I voted for Mr JB Jayeratnam. Now that he is gone…… Sadness….. I don’t see anymore of a 2nd Mr JB Jayeratnam fighting bread & butter for Singaporean…..sad, there is no replacement for Mr JB Rayeratnam. My Deepest Condolences………… Till we meet again, in HEAVEN.

You are A GREAT Man !!!"

JBJ’s funeral cortege leaves Funeral Parlour 1, Mount Vernon, at 1 pm on 4 Oct; for 2pm service at St Andrews Cathedral; Cremation at 4.30pm, Mandai Crematorium, Hall 3

In Memoriam: JBJ event at Speakers Corner on 4 Oct (Sat) at 6.30pm.