JBJ’s son Kenneth joins Reform Party
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JBJ’s son Kenneth joins Reform Party
MR KENNETH Jeyaretnam, the elder son of late opposition leader J.B. Jeyaretnam, has joined the opposition ranks and is not ruling out contesting the next general election.
Three weeks ago, he joined the Reform Party, which was set up by his father a few months before he died last September.
The 50-year-old hedge fund manager was co-opted into the party’s 13-man central executive committee (CEC) a week later.
Mr Jeyaretnam confirmed to The Straits Times yesterday that he had joined the opposition party. ‘The timing was right. My father founded the party, so this is one way to honour him and to continue his legacy,’ he said.
The party was set up by the late Mr Jeyaretnam - better known as JBJ - after he was discharged from bankruptcy in 2007. It was registered last July.
But he died of heart failure two months later. He was 82.
There has been speculation on the opposition scene in recent months that the younger Jeyaretnam would be entering the fray. This was in the light of speeches he made at events organised by opposition parties in memory of his father.
Mr Jeyaretnam said he had recently thought about entering politics, after Reform Party CEC member James Teo invited him to join the party. He next met Mr Ng Teck Siong, the party chairman and his father’s long-time ally, and made his decision.
Married with a 12-year-old son, Mr Jeyaretnam worked in London’s financial sector for several years before he returned with his family to Singapore last April.
His brother Philip, 45, is a Senior Counsel and partner at Rodyk & Davidson, and a former president of the Law Society.
The brothers graduated from Cambridge University with first-class honours degrees in economics and law respectively.
Asked if his brother would join politics too, Mr Jeyaretnam said: ‘My brother is his own man. You would have to ask him.’
Mr Philip Jeyaretnam could not be reached for comment.
Mr Ng said the Reform Party plans to tap Mr Jeyaretnam’s economics expertise, and might also field him at the next polls.
‘As a party, we will try to get the best people to run for elections. Kenneth is a potential candidate,’ he said.
Mr Jeyaretnam said he is open to standing as a candidate, and he sees a need for a ‘real economist’ on the political scene, to raise economic issues.
He added: ‘Like the Prime Minister, I also have a double first from Cambridge.’
PM Lee Hsien Loong, 57, earned double first-class honours in mathematics at Cambridge.
Is Mr Jeyaretnam a potential successor to his father’s secretary-general post in the Reform Party? ‘The CEC will have to decide on that,’ Mr Ng replied.
That post has been left vacant since Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam’s death. Other vacant posts are those of assistant secretary-general and treasurer, added Mr Ng.
The party has recruited 20 members since October. Among them is Mr Ng E-Jay, 32, a blogger who is doing a doctorate in mathematics at the National University of Singapore.
Political observer Eugene Tan, a law lecturer at Singapore Management University, said Mr Jeyaretnam has given the Reform Party a ‘tremendous boost’, given his academic achievements, professional background and political pedigree.
Meanwhile, the party that the late Mr Jeyaretnam used to lead, the Workers’ Party, has also seen changes in its membership, but in the form of resignations. Four members have quit in the past two weeks.
They include Mr Abdul Salim Harun, 27, and Ms Lee Wai Leng, 30, who were part of the Workers’ Party team that lost to PM Lee’s team in Ang Mo Kio GRC during the 2006 polls.
The party’s organising secretary, Mr Yaw Shin Leong, who led the Ang Mo Kio team, said: ‘In all organisations, members come and go. They have contributed to the party. We wish them well.’
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it would be poetic justice if his son were to wrestle control back from his father's nemesis.
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Good for Kenneth Jeyaratnam, and great for Singaporeans.
"Double Firsts" from Cambridge is now no longer the exclusive turf of the First Family, and the debate will start if the "Double Firsts" in "Economics" is better than "Mathematics".
At the end of the day, Academic Qualification is just a window to the disciplined ability of the person's mind to focus on issues.
Political savvy will show the person's maturity in handling tight situations will help to boost the person's standing in public.
If Kenneth Jeyaratnam can hold his own without a major political machinery to help build his image, he will have fulfilled his father's political dreams.
He will recover his father's good name that has been sullied by the dirty political methods by those claiming to be honorable leaders, but will dishonor even their own words given in public.
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Originally posted by Ah Chia:
JBJ’s son Kenneth joins Reform Party
MR KENNETH Jeyaretnam, the elder son of late opposition leader J.B. Jeyaretnam, has joined the opposition ranks and is not ruling out contesting the next general election.
Three weeks ago, he joined the Reform Party, which was set up by his father a few months before he died last September.
The 50-year-old hedge fund manager was co-opted into the party’s 13-man central executive committee (CEC) a week later.
Mr Jeyaretnam confirmed to The Straits Times yesterday that he had joined the opposition party. ‘The timing was right. My father founded the party, so this is one way to honour him and to continue his legacy,’ he said.
The party was set up by the late Mr Jeyaretnam - better known as JBJ - after he was discharged from bankruptcy in 2007. It was registered last July.
But he died of heart failure two months later. He was 82.
There has been speculation on the opposition scene in recent months that the younger Jeyaretnam would be entering the fray. This was in the light of speeches he made at events organised by opposition parties in memory of his father.
Mr Jeyaretnam said he had recently thought about entering politics, after Reform Party CEC member James Teo invited him to join the party. He next met Mr Ng Teck Siong, the party chairman and his father’s long-time ally, and made his decision.
Married with a 12-year-old son, Mr Jeyaretnam worked in London’s financial sector for several years before he returned with his family to Singapore last April.
His brother Philip, 45, is a Senior Counsel and partner at Rodyk & Davidson, and a former president of the Law Society.
The brothers graduated from Cambridge University with first-class honours degrees in economics and law respectively.
Asked if his brother would join politics too, Mr Jeyaretnam said: ‘My brother is his own man. You would have to ask him.’
Mr Philip Jeyaretnam could not be reached for comment.
Mr Ng said the Reform Party plans to tap Mr Jeyaretnam’s economics expertise, and might also field him at the next polls.
‘As a party, we will try to get the best people to run for elections. Kenneth is a potential candidate,’ he said.
Mr Jeyaretnam said he is open to standing as a candidate, and he sees a need for a ‘real economist’ on the political scene, to raise economic issues.
He added: ‘Like the Prime Minister, I also have a double first from Cambridge.’
PM Lee Hsien Loong, 57, earned double first-class honours in mathematics at Cambridge.
Is Mr Jeyaretnam a potential successor to his father’s secretary-general post in the Reform Party? ‘The CEC will have to decide on that,’ Mr Ng replied.
That post has been left vacant since Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam’s death. Other vacant posts are those of assistant secretary-general and treasurer, added Mr Ng.
The party has recruited 20 members since October. Among them is Mr Ng E-Jay, 32, a blogger who is doing a doctorate in mathematics at the National University of Singapore.
Political observer Eugene Tan, a law lecturer at Singapore Management University, said Mr Jeyaretnam has given the Reform Party a ‘tremendous boost’, given his academic achievements, professional background and political pedigree.
Meanwhile, the party that the late Mr Jeyaretnam used to lead, the Workers’ Party, has also seen changes in its membership, but in the form of resignations. Four members have quit in the past two weeks.
They include Mr Abdul Salim Harun, 27, and Ms Lee Wai Leng, 30, who were part of the Workers’ Party team that lost to PM Lee’s team in Ang Mo Kio GRC during the 2006 polls.
The party’s organising secretary, Mr Yaw Shin Leong, who led the Ang Mo Kio team, said: ‘In all organisations, members come and go. They have contributed to the party. We wish them well.’
Singapore is not India and JBJ isn't Gandhi
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Originally posted by wilhelm:
it would be poetic justice if his son were to wrestle control back from his father's nemesis.
Just hope he dun fall into deeper nemesis -
Must have make a big lost in his hedge fund and hoping to be prominent again just to help to pump up his managing fund.
It will be fun seeing an opposition ah neh fighting with PAP ah nehs.
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Hope he can defeat the smelly dirty old dog.
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Theoden: Gandalf.
Gandalf: Breathe the free air again, my friend.
Theoden: [stands up from the throne] Dark have been my dreams of late.
[looks at his hands]
Gandalf: Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword. -
Gandalf: I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. Go back to the shadow. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun! You shall not pass!
Galadriel: The power of the enemy is growing. Sauron will use his puppet Saruman to destroy the people of Rohan. Isengard has been unleashed. The Eye of Sauron now turns to Gondor, the last free kingdom of men. His war on this country will come swiftly. He senses the Ring is close. The strength of the Ringbearer is failing. In his heart, Frodo begins to understand. The quest will claim his life. You know this. You have foreseen it. It is the risk we all took. In the gathering dark, the will of the Ring grows strong. It works hard now to find its way back into the hands of men. Men, who are so easily seduced by its power. The young captain of Gondor has but to extend his hand, take the Ring for his own and the world will fall. It is close now, so close to achieving its goal. For Sauron will have dominion over all life on this Earth, even unto the ending of the world. The time of the elves is over. Do we leave Middle-Earth to its fate? Do we let them stand alone? -
Gandalf: The battle of Helm's Deep is over; the battle for Middle Earth is about to begin.
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Best wishes to Kenneth for joining a political party and engage in politics that his Dad held so dearly. I would like him to engage in real politics in Sg and not only giving economic views that was reported in the newspapers. More learned Singaporeans should join political parties so that there would be an engaging forums on politics in Sg which would be good for the state.
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Speak for those who do not have a voice
The people who are weak or uneducated do not have a voice. In democratic societies, they can only demonstrate and protest - but this is not allowed in Singapore. Here, they can only suffer in silence, or voice their grievances in the coffee shop. They receive low wages that are not sufficient to feed a family. Many cannot afford to have a family.
The people who are better educated and able to take care of themselves argue in favour of free market - no minimum wage, no unemployment insurance and low taxation. They are in favour of "survival of the fittest". Let the weak die.The day will come when these people became the weak, the exploited, the victims of the free market. They will lose their job and cannot feed their family/ They will then complain about being exploited, but it will be too late.I wish to introduce to you the letter from the grave, written by a brave journalist (Lasantha Wikrewatunga) who was willing to speak for others. He paid the price with his life - he was assassinated by his enemies.In his letter, he quoted a poem from Martin Niemoller, which said, "there was nobody left to speak for me". I quote it below.First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.Martin Niemoller was a German. At a young age, he admired what Adolf Hitler did to build up Germany. Later, he spoke against the repressive actions taken by Hitler to build his power, and was sent to concentration camp. He wrote the peom while in prison.I hope that Signaporeans will reflect on what we can do for the people who are not able to speak for themselves.Tan Kin LianMore and more people despise PAP regime.This is very good for future development of Singapore. -
hmm.......
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hhmmmm
should LHL be PM because he is LKY's son? Or because he is the best choice?
Should JBJ's son win election because of his dad's fame?
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Too bad it is not Phillip Jeyaretnam....he is a capable man......
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From AFP
Son of Singapore's late opposition icon enters politics
A son of Singapore's late opposition icon J.B. Jeyaretnam said Friday he had joined his father's pro-democracy party and may run for parliament in the next general elections.
British-trained economist Kenneth Jeyaretnam, 50, told AFP he had been approached to join other parties but decided going with the Reform Party was the right thing to do.
"This is examining my conscience... I should go with the Reform Party because it was set up by my father," Jeyaretnam said.
"I want to honour what he stood for, everything that he said, but I will be my own man," he said.
Jeyaretnam's father, who died in September last year from a heart attack aged 82, suffered jail stints and libel suits in his lonely battle for greater political freedom in the wealthy city-state.
"My message to Singaporeans out there is don't be afraid," said Jeyaretnam.
"I want to show that competition is vital in politics as it is in business, so it's not to be feared but to be embraced," he said.
Jeyaretnam, who worked in the financial sector in London after earning a double first-class honours degree from the University of Cambridge and returned to Singapore last year, says he can offer alternative economic policies to those espoused by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP).
"I want to create an image of economic competency of the opposition, meaning that I can advocate policies for economic prosperity and I can advocate better economic policies than the present government," he said.
Jeyaretnam joined the Reform Party three weeks ago and said he was ready to go out and meet Singaporeans just like his father, a fiery orator who peddled anti-PAP books in the waning years of his political career.
"There is a lot of work to be done... I have a lot to do and go out to meet people," said Jeyaretnam.
"My father was always a firm believer that you have to go out and meet with the ordinary people," he said.
Asked if he was prepared to run for office, he replied: "Absolutely ready."
The late Jeyaretnam was a bitter foe of Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew, whose son Lee Hsien Loong became prime minister in 2004 after Goh Chok Tong stepped down. The younger Lee led the PAP to victory in the 2006 general elections.
J.B. Jeyaretnam founded the Reform Party a few months before his sudden death and was hoping to run for office again despite his age.
He was one of the few Singaporeans who spoke out consistently against the PAP, espousing causes such as human rights and greater political freedoms in the city-state, and made history by breaking the PAP's total grip on parliament in 1981.
His younger son Philip, 45, also educated at Cambridge, is an author and senior lawyer who has served as president of the Law Society of Singapore.
The PAP, which has been in power since 1959, says its tough laws against dissent are necessary to ensure the stability which has helped Singapore progress economically to become among the wealthiest in Asia.
It controls all but two of the 84 seats in parliament.
General elections are not due until 2011 but there is speculation that the PAP will seek a mandate earlier, hoping Singaporeans would support its record of economic progress and stability instead of voting for untested opposition leaders during an economic recession.
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Originally posted by parn:
Singapore is not India and JBJ isn't Gandhi
True, Singapore is Soviet style governed country with the Lee Kuan Yew family acting as Stalin.
Here's the proof
Gary: He said to me at the lift lobby 90% of the exact words - ”Mr Tan,if you walk out of here tomorrow,you might get killed.You might meet with a mysterious accident,you might disappear and nobody will know what happened to you! Mr Tan, some things and people in this country you cannot offend! Some people are above all things! You better make sure you know this! Mr Tan,we can arrange for things to happen to you.You understand or not!”
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[OFFICIAL] Judge informs that Iskander Tang has been placed under detention!
Statement on Court Appearance 01/04/09
I was required to attend court on the 01/04/09 for Pre-Trial Conference,it was scheduled at Court 3 for 10am.
The hearing was conducted in chambers.The judge and i had a close discussion about the alleged shoplifting case,the police death threats case and my video interview.
During this discussion,the judge,the Honorable Mr Ng Peng Hong had this to say about my video interview,"You were supposed to ignite a bomb,but you defused it instead."
After i stated that my instructions from my lawyer was to claim trial and see the evidence the police have against me, the Judge had this to say,"Maybe you should just plead guilty.What your lawyer want may not be what you want."
After i made repeated requests for SSGT Iskander Tang of CID Bomb Investigation Squad to appear as a witness,the Judge had this to say,"I cannot allow you to call on Iskander Tang as a witness because he has been placed under detention. Since he's under detention, how to get him out as a witness?"
At this point,i made a request of the Judge,i requested that the Deputy Public Prosecutor(DPP)was NOT allowed to withdraw the charges and that this case must go to trial and that i would be calling upon Mr Iskander Tang as a witness.The DPP's face turned ashen,he mumbled something and the Judge granted me the request.
The Judge also announced that the case was adjourned for me to get my lawyer to attend court together with me,next court appearance was to be on the 07/04/09 for PTC.
As i walked out of chambers,i noticed that there were 2 other persons in addition to the 2 court clerks.The 2 new persons were a male and female,both dress in white/light peach coloured attire.
The minute i stepped out of the door,the female went,"Great,now we've got him.Prepare the documents and hand him over to us."
I was thinking,"Huh?WTF?!"
The female court clerk went,"Didn't you hear?The case has been adjourned."
The male court clerk went,"He has a lawyer,the case has been adjourned.You guys are not going to get him."
I wonder who and where these 2 persons are from,and how they know the "verdict" before the Judge made any ruling.
As i left the court room,IO Makmur,who is in charge of the shoplifting case,beckoned me over.He had a chinese colleage with him,i do not know his name.They asked me various questions about the cases.
When we reached the outside of the Sub Courts,i enquired the chinese officer as to whether Iskander Tang was really under detention,he affirmed that it was so.IO Makmur asked me what i was going to do,and i said the same thing as i did to the Judge & the DPP,that i wanted to go to trial & that i wanted to call upon Iskander Tang as a witness.
The chinese officer seemed overcome with emotion at this,as he closed his eyes tightly and visibly shook.
IO Makmur turned and looked me in the face,"You think you can get him out of detention?"
I said to him,"I don't know what the current culture in the SPF is,but where i come from,we don't leave our people behind."
IO Makmur,"Oh,so he's your people ah?"
I said,"Whoa,don't get me wrong.We are not together in some conspiracy against the state of Singapore.What i am trying to say is,metaphorically speaking,Iskander took a bullet for me and for the thousands of netizens out there.So it is not right for us to leave him behind.Maybe you feel that Iskander has betrayed the SPF and deserve to be punished,but i feel that maybe he feels he is doing his duty,which is protecting innocent citizens of Singapore."
We parted ways.
PoThePanda
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Originally posted by skythewood:
hhmmmm
should LHL be PM because he is LKY's son? Or because he is the best choice?
Should JBJ's son win election because of his dad's fame?
"Should" ? Or "could" LHL become a PM - if LKY had never existed ?Could LHL or his brother could have attained the rank of "Brigadier General" in the SAF - if they were not sons of LKY ?
If Kenneth Jeyaratnam win an election - it is not due to JBJ being around, but that Kenneth himself is an accomplished person by his own account.
It will be entirely his qualifications, and known or published personal abilities that he can bring forth to serve Singaporeans and Singapore.
It will be a shame for LKY to attempt to prevent a more capable person than his own sons - or even his own selected and supposed talents - to serve Singaporeans.
Let Singapore see Kenneth Jeyaratnam for the person that he truly is WITHOUT the dirty "gangster style" politics that LKY has displayed since 1957 - while attempting to be the clean politician that he pretend to be.
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Congratulations Kenneth Jeyaretnam
Ladies and Gentlemen,
My tribute to Kenneth Jeyaretnam
Gopalan Nair
Gopalan Nair Attorneys at Law
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, California 94538
USA
April 09, 2009 By Air Mail
Kenneth Jeyaretnam
The Reform Party
18A, Smith Street
Singapore 058932
Dear Kenneth,
I congratulate you for your courageous decision in joining the Reform Party. You have chosen the honorable path by this action. There is no doubt this momentous decision that you made was not for any personal gain but to do the right thing for the people of Singapore. Singapore today is a one party totalitarian dictatorship which is a far cry from what it was meant to be in 1963 when it broke from colonial rule.
I have personally known your father throughout the 1980s when I was his colleague in the Worker's Party. He was an honest man, passionately committed to democracy in Singapore. Sadly he did not live long enough to see the fruits of his struggle.
With this vindictive government in Singapore, I have no doubt that this is the beginning of your troubles. I am sure you too are fully aware of it. If you stood by your principles to fight for Singaporeans rights, to use Churchill's words, you have nothing to hope for but "blood toil tears and sweat".This is how, this small minded government goes about it's business to stay in power.
At least this is how it must be in the immediate future. But I am sure, in the end, if you have the courage to stand your ground, without faltering, without wavering and without baulking; in the end you will be vindicated. I have no doubt in my mind of it.
The memory of your illustrious father lives with you and walks with you. That memory alone which is vivid in the minds of all Singaporeans will cause many to join you and the political opposition. Your attraction is also your admirable qualifications as an economist.
You are walking the righteous path. You have my admiration and respect. I have no doubt that you will succeed. I wish you success.
Yours sincerely,
Gopalan Nair -
Wonder if he is joining opposition for the sake of filial piety or for the future of singapore?? If for the sake of filial piety to his late father, it will be just another ribbon cutting ceremony, and after that, nothing liao.
I think since Philip decided not to enter, MM LKY called upon kenny to enter just to show some respect to his long time opponent and perhaps it may help to remove some of his sins. LKY very clever one.
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MM LKY called upon kenny to enter just to show some respect to his long time opponent
You new in Singapore?
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Originally posted by angel7030:
Must have make a big lost in his hedge fund and hoping to be prominent again just to help to pump up his managing fund.
It will be fun seeing an opposition ah neh fighting with PAP ah nehs.
don't care if it's PAP's nehs or opposition nehs, the one that can help lower the cost of living and provide better life for singaporean is the good nehs.
**will vote only depending on the solutions of the nehs and not on the brand of the nehs.
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Originally posted by angel7030:
Must have make a big lost in his hedge fund and hoping to be prominent again just to help to pump up his managing fund.
It will be fun seeing an opposition ah neh fighting with PAP ah nehs.
don't care if it's PAP's nehs or opposition nehs, the one that can help lower the cost of living and provide better life for singaporean is the good nehs.
**will vote only depending on the solutions of the nehs and not on the brand of the nehs.
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Originally posted by Ah Chia:
MM LKY called upon kenny to enter just to show some respect to his long time opponent
You new in Singapore?
After this year, i will be eligble to vote, so what you expect.Uncle, in politic science, sometime you need to tame and respect the opposition so as to gain gentlemanship with an uterior motives, this is the skill of LKY. And most of the time, opposition falls into the trap.
Take yr medicines hor