JBJ Facebook group “largest” in S’pore
Tuesday, 14 October 2008, 11:27 am | 1,436 views
Teng Jingwei and Koh Yi Na
A public group dedicated to the memory of veteran Singapore opposition politician Mr JB Jeyaretnam on the popular social networking website, Facebook, has attracted more than 3000 members to date, making it the largest Facebook group in Singapore, according to its creators.
The group, titled “In Memory of JB Jeyaretnam”, was created by Mr Melvin Tan, Mr Jacob George and is jointly managed by Mr Arif Khan. One of its “officers” is Kenneth Jeyaretnam, the eldest son of the late opposition icon. Information available on the group webpage includes Mr JBJ’s recent biography and election results, as well as links to tributes by 73 different bloggers, several unofficial websites and Mr JBJ’s online obituary.
The Facebook group also includes an open letter to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet to preserve Mr Jeyaretnam’s public-spiritedness and love for the law through the creation of a professorial chair in the name of the veteran opposition politician in NUS’ Faculty of Law, as well as the establishment of a scholarship fund in his name for graduate studies in political science and/or constitutional law and/or civil society studies.
A previous Facebook group, “JBJ Supporters”, also created by Mr Melvin Tan of the Workers’ Party Youth Wing Executive Committee, and Mr Jacob George, a former member of the Think Centre, initially saw 40 members sign up. This current “in memoriam” group, however, was met with unprecedented success.
In comparison, the “I <3 sg” Singapore Day ‘08 group on Facebook attracted some 740 members, while the “Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games” group has about 220 members.
Group a spontaneous initiative
In an email interview with TOC, Mr George revealed that the group was created spontaneously, where group members accumulated via word of mouth and invitations from online friends; blogs, online forums and various websites also helped to publicise the group. The group was conceived as a platform for Mr. JBJ’s many admirers to express their love and respect; akin to an “Online Mausoleum”, in the words of Mr Tan.
Members of the group range from secondary school students to retirees; some have met Mr Jeyaretnam in person and attended his rallies, most have not, but all hold him in high regard and remember his contributions to Singapore.
That his contribution to Singaporean politics and civil society is highly valued is undeniable from the barrage of comments, numbering some 250 at last count. Almost all of these included fond memories or words of remembrances, as Singaporeans of all creeds, races and faiths converged to remember a man described as “representing true courage in Singapore.”
More comments by members included: “Singaporeans, young or old, remember and admire this remarkable man”, “A true legend, and an inspiration. He cannot be replaced.” and “…a brave man who held steadfastly to his beliefs. He had a vision for a better Singapore and kept that as his northern star.” Both creators are indeed touched and heartened to see so many pay their tribute to Mr Jeyaretnam.
When Mr Tan, also a former member of the Think Centre, was interviewed by TOC on his reaction to the popularity of the group, he said, “Of course I am glad – for him up there, not for me or the administrators – that more people remember and celebrate his role in Singapore. I only wish that more people could have shown their support for him while he was alive. Had he seen for himself that he had about 3000 Singaporeans supporting him, and non-anonymously, I believe he would have rejoiced.”
Indeed, Singapore has lost a proud and triumphant lion, and with it, one of the strongest and most resounding roars in its political scene.
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It is only natural for the son to take over and argue the case….. if not in the capacity of the son of the father; he should do it at least as a lawyer…
I think the Internet has gone a tiny way in making for political openness in Singapore.
Really, these numbers only go to show how much pent-up desire there is for political and civic engagement in Singapore. We’re a bit like China in a sense; clamoring and showing our support for political openness via online blogs and sites like Facebook;but not daring to do so in the open.
Can’t be blamed, given the climate of fear in Singapore that makes for a resigned political apathy.
A simple check of Facebook shows:
Support Singapore Youth Olympics Games 2010 Bid – 5408 members
Singapore Youth Olympic Games 2010 – 2574 members
Yes, there’s a “Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games” page with 218 fans. But your selective use of figures is bias and misrepresentation.
Just because the MSM is biased, doesn’t mean The Online Citizen must also be biased. Why must you be 144th next to the 145th?
Its gotta start somewhere and this is a good start! I hope more Singaporean brothers and sisters come on board without fear. With the emergence of websites such as the online citizen, it opens up everyone to information which mainstream don’t normally highlight.
Have been trying to post the below comments but each time it gets deleted as almost immediately after posting.
caught BlogTV just now . Think got repeat telecast at around 11pm.
I feel good after listening to FD and his co-host and that CEO who says is not from Pay And Pa… They make me feel good….
Gerald of TOC also appeared. Different TOC writers have been invited by this MSM program to appear on BlogTV. I wonder why LTK or Sylvia Lim not invited?
In case none of you have watched the program, let me share with u what happened: Gerald lamented that Opposition has not been as proactive in voicing up concerns for the people on issues like Hikes.
Personally, I also wonder where have all the Opposition members been doing .
what minority want? people to speak up for them? If so, what if there are non-
political activists who can speak up for them on social issues?
will activists providing voice for the people reduce the need for opposition and
will they help release some steam of the people such that less swing towards the opposition? Will opposition’s role and importance be reduced in anyway by the support gained by activists?
Allow me to caution the opposition – your days may be numbered 1 2 3 …. if u continue not to get the kind of TV exposure others are getting….
People, you expect this blog not to delete comments?
You expect all views be heard?
Reminds me of Channel ….. forum.
love TOC, but for all the critique TOC does on the mainstream media, such a manipulative and downright ludicrous headline should have never been published.
“Yes, there’s a “Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games” page with 218 fans. But your selective use of figures is bias and misrepresentation.
Just because the MSM is biased, doesn’t mean The Online Citizen must also be biased. Why must you be 144th next to the 145th?”
“love TOC, but for all the critique TOC does on the mainstream media, such a manipulative and downright ludicrous headline should have never been published.”
Exactly.
I’ve always been worried that the alternative media community ends up being similar to what they are trying to change in the first place.
If you do a search on Facebook you will know it is not easy to find all the S’pore groups. Maybe the TOC people missed it out.
#5 Reality of Opps said:
“If so, what if there are non-political activists who can speak up for them on social issues? will activists providing voice for the people reduce the need for opposition and will they help release some steam of the people such that less swing towards the opposition? Will opposition’s role and importance be reduced in anyway by the support gained by activists?”
Let me clarify that I said BOTH opposition and civil society should speak out more on the price hikes. I think both have a role to play in civil and political discourse and debate.
Civil society is generally seen as being “non-partisan” compared to the opposition, which will always be accused by the ruling party of simply “playing politics” rather than being genuinely concerned about Singaporeans. (Whether this is true or not is a separate matter altogether.)
Opposition, if they have sufficient numbers, has the power to influence or even change (or at least block) legislation. For example, if the opposition had more than one-third of seats in Parliament, Constitutional amendments like the introduction of GRCs would have never passed. And we have learned from our esteemed PM that 10 opposition MPs is all it takes to make his life miserable.
#5 Reality of Opps said:
“I wonder why LTK or Sylvia Lim not invited?”
How do you know they weren’t invited? Perhaps they declined? I know EMA and SP were invited but declined to send a representative.
Sylvia Lim appeared on Channel NewsAsia’s Insight programme about the liberalization of the new media some weeks back.
Dear TOC and readers,
Please note that the “JBJ Facebook Group” tagline has been changed from “Singapore’s Largest Facebook Group” to “Singapore’s Largest Facebook Personality Group”.
TOC was informed of the difficulty in deriving a suitable tagline earlier. “Largest Political Group”, “Largest Group on a Singapore Politician” and “Largest National Group” were some of the unsuitable options.
In consideration of the feedback, the new tagline was a recent brainwave and the best tagline we could offer.
Thank you.
Admin Team
JBJ Facebook Group
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26481019410
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